The Timeline

[Hans-Erik]

In case anyone hasn't seen: http://swtor.com/info/timeline/timeline1

At the end he says that "This outcome was inevitable and would have come sooner were it not for some of the Republic's less savory allies... I will elaborate on this theory soon."

I'll take that to mean smugglers and mercenaries... perchance Mandalorians?

Edit: Nevermind. Confirmed that Mandalorians have sided with the Sith. The other parts of the timeline which don't have video yet, but you can click above the video, include one saying that.

[Theros]

It does seem to be that Bioware is pointing to the fact that the Mandalorians in general are working with the Sith. It also seems to hint heavily that thier may be a smuggler type class in the game. I am curious to see Bioware expound more on the Mandalorian blockade. Good find laam'inui on the timeline thing to I might not have realized the extra tidbits had I not clicked on them.

[Vorix Felange]

I found the fact Mando's siding with the Sith to be unacceptable. It is unfortunate that Bioware cannot remove itself from KOTOR that much.

[Triso Telex]

Sided with the sith are we?

[Jaro Ombra]

Well, it's how the history went, Sindorin. If they are working with Lucas Arts, then they will have to accept the history. The Mandalorians fought with the Sith because Mandalore had been defeated by the Sith Emperor, thus we fought with them. Of course, we got screwed in the end. >.>

[Heimdall Surtr]

It brings up an interesting situation for us. I think most of us thought Bounty Hunter and other Mandalorian type classes would be able to fight for BOTH the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic. Of course, we need to find out more about game mechanics to see if we are allowed to switch at some point. Otherwise, working a betrayal in by the Republic ( in the RP ) and having us work with the Sith may be something we should look in to.

[Gilamar]

if they make mandalorian a class or race that can only be sith then we may have a problem but unless they do that i don't see a problem, we are a small band of mando's that are seperated from the rest aren't we?

[Rynech Viatl]

It brings up an interesting situation for us. I think most of us thought Bounty Hunter and other Mandalorian type classes would be able to fight for BOTH the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic. Of course, we need to find out more about game mechanics to see if we are allowed to switch at some point. Otherwise, working a betrayal in by the Republic ( in the RP ) and having us work with the Sith may be something we should look in to.

You would think that, with Bioware's emphasis on story and on,"This is your story, so you can do what you want with it", that if you're Mandalorian you woud be able to switch sides. I mean, having some sort of betrayal by the Republic is possible, but that doesn't seem very much like the Reoublic, anf the whole clan's storyline kind of hinges on the fact that we're fighting against the Sith.

[Theros]

I think the Betrayal Idea is interesting one. If we chose to stay sided with the republic. It would allow those who wanted to play bounty hunters for example a way to Actively be in the guild.
As for story purposes I can think of a couple ideas why we would be working for the Sith at the Start of the Game.

The 1st maybe we never are working for the Sith at all but Have sided with them to best help the Republic. After all an entire Mandalarion clan gathering Intel for the Republic from the sith would be valuable beyond measure. Also it allows US to find out where the major strike points are.

Another Idea Maybe most of the Clan leadership was temporarily Influenced by the Darkside of the Force. If For example the leadership was captured and was influenced to serve the Sith instead of the republic. Most of the Rank and File Mandalorians would follow. At least I would. After a bit that Influence loses its Potency and the Clan betrays the Sith and goes back to Fighting them with A Vengeance.

The main problem I see with a betrayal is the fact that the other Mandalarion clans are sided with The sith. We would as much be betraying the Sith as we would the other Mandalorion clans. The second would be if Betrayal was possible and how far along you would have to be to betray.
Either way I have checked out the other Major Mandalorian guilds and I will be sticking around here.

[Verden Fel]

Well, there's still a chance that there will be a Republic Mandalorian class, especially with Mandalore Whovever (end of KotOR II) saying they would protect the Republic. I seriously doubtall of the Mandalorians would fight for the Sith, seeing how that turned out in the past.