The free character transfer service that was first mentioned in December kicks off tomorrow, Jan. 13, in an attempt to alleviate some players' concerns regarding server populations. The transfers will be offered to accounts with characters created on or before Dec. 11, 2008 on specific galaxies. The opportunity will end on March 31.

Here's some links to all the information you'll need regarding any transfers, including the list of eligible galaxies:

• Step-by-Step Guide to Transferring
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Notes on the Free CTS from the GM Team

You can also keep reading after the jump for a wealth of information on the topic, including the answers to the Frequently Asked Questions.

Free Character Transfer Service

In response to requests from our players we are offering a limited time opportunity to move any characters on identified servers to a designated target galaxy at no charge. We believe that by offering a Free Character Transfer Service (CTS) in this manner we can address the concerns we have heard players voice with respect to server population. It is our hope that those of you who are looking to move will take this opportunity to do so beginning on January 13, 2009, and that this will bring with it a fresh sense of excitement and enthusiasm that will extend across all the galaxies.

Free Character Transfer will begin at 12:01AM PST on January 13, 2009, and will only be offered to those accounts with characters created on or before December 11, 2008 at 11:59 PM PST on the identified galaxies listed below. Again, the only way to qualify for the Free Character Transfer is to be on one of the identified Free Character Transfer servers and move to one of the targeted galaxy servers and this is only available on a one-time/once per character basis. The Free Character Transfer service will end on March 31, 2009 at 11:59PM PST.

More Details

Effective January 13, 2009, and ending on March 31, 2009, the character(s) you have active on the identified current "transferred from" galaxies* listed below, that were created on or before December 11, 2008 at 11:59PM PST, may be moved to one of the destination servers at no charge*.   This option will be available on a one-time/once per characterbasis.

The current "transferred from" galaxy servers include:

• Corbantis
• Europe-Infinity
• Intrepid
• Kauri
• Kettemoor
• Lowca
• Naritus
• Scylla
• Tarquinas
• Tempest
• Valcyn
• Wanderhome

 The valid destination galaxy servers include:

• Ahazi
• Bloodfin
• Bria
• Chilastra
• Eclipse
• Europe-Chimaera
• Europe-FarStar
• Flurry
• Gorath
• Radiant
• Shadowfire
• Starsider
• Sunrunner

Free Character Transfer Service Rewards – Available to Transferred Characters that Meet Free CTS Requirements

In the spirit of galactic friendship, all characters who move to a valid destination galaxy will receive a relocation gift of a painting which when "examined" will carry the name of the transferred character and the home (transferred from) galaxy on it.  Only characters who transfer to a valid destination server as part of this promotional free character transfer service are eligible to receive the painting gift. 

Along with the painting, players who transfer to a valid destination galaxy as part of the promotional free CTS will also receive a gift box which can only be used as a gift to give to a waiting welcomer on the new galaxy.  Once the gift box is given to another player, it can be opened to reveal the same painting received by the transferor but with a new inscription which includes the "welcomer" recipient's name and the moving character's name and home galaxy, as a "thank you" for their warm welcome of the newcomer (the inscription is only visible when you use the "Examine" option to view the painting). 

It is in the spirit of peace and friendship that we offer these gifts and hope that the goodwill that comes from sharing these gifts will spread across the galaxy like the stars overhead. 

We want your experience with Star Wars Galaxies to be the best possible and look forward to seeing you in your new home galaxy!

More details on this promotion will be released in the coming days and weeks.

May the Force be with you!

Terms and Conditions Apply:

• Free Character Transfer is available beginning at 12:01AM PST on January 13, 2009, through 11:59PM PST on March 31, 2009.  This "Free" Character Transfer Service only applies to a one-time/once per character move from an identified server to a designated target galaxy server as determined by SOE in its sole and absolute discretion.   To qualify for the Free Character Transfer the character must have been created on or before December 11, 2008 at 11:59PM PST.  All characters must be transferred to and from the same Station account.
• Your character must be located on one of the original 10 ground planets at the time of your transfer request to perform a server transfer.  The original 10 ground planets are Corellia, Dantooine, Dathomir, Endor, Lok, Naboo, Rori, Talus, Tatooine, and Yavin 4.
• For purposes of this promotion, current "transferred from" servers include: Corbantis, Intrepid, Kauri, Kettemoor, Lowca, Naritus, Scylla, Tarquinas, Tempest, Valcyn, Europe-Infinity and Wanderhome. 
• Valid destination servers include: Ahazi, Bloodfin, Bria, Chilastra, Eclipse, Europe-Chimaera, Europe-FarStar, Flurry, Gorath, Radiant, Shadowfire, Starsider, and Sunrunner.
• To access the Free Character Transfer service, you must login to Star Wars Galaxies with the character you would like to transfer.  You will be notified via in-game message that your character qualifies for the free character transfer service opportunity when you login.  Eligible characters may also enter "/freects" to begin the transfer process.  Only one character may be transferred at a time.  Please read and respond carefully to each question and answer entry you type.  All Character Transfers are considered final and cannot be reversed.
• Character Transfer Service terms and limitations: Please be aware that Vendors and contents of Vendors will not transfer.  Items equipped by the character (and/or contained within items equipped by the character) will transfer. Items in the character's inventory (and/or contained within items in the character's inventory) will transfer.  Items in the character's bank (and/or contained within items in the character's bank) will transfer.  Items in the character's datapad (and/or contained within items in the character's datapad) will transfer.  Items that do not qualify as either "items equipped by the character" or "items in the character's datapad" as noted in the aforementioned terms, will not transfer.
• Please note that any items that are connected to your in-game structures must be packed up with the structure(s) or they will not be transferred. 
• Character names are not guaranteed on galaxy-to-galaxy transfers. If the character's name has already been used on the Galaxy you wish to move to, you will be able to enter a new name in the field provided (subject to the terms and conditions of the Character Naming Policy).
• Character transfers from one account to another are not part of the free Character Transfer Service promotion.
• The Free Character Transfer painting that a player who transfers to a new galaxy receives, is available immediately upon completion of the character transfer and will be available as a reward (and can be claimed) using the existing /claim reward interface.  The reward will appear in the character's inventory when it is claimed.  There is no limit to how many gift boxes and painting(s) a character can receive and both items are tradeable.  The inscription is only viewable in the viewer's Examine window.
• If you attempt to transfer characters in violation of these rules, the Terms of Use for Star Wars Galaxies or the Rules and Policies (for instance, attempting to transfer characters from another person's account or to or from an account purchased by or for you for another person on which you are not the original registered user of that account), the characters will not be moved, your request will not be processed or approved, and your account(s) will be subject to review and appropriate disciplinary action taken.
• Sony Online Entertainment and LucasArts do not ensure continuous or error-free access, use or availability of any game content, feature, game-play or server and may change, modify, disable, suspend or remove any such content, feature, game-play or server at their sole discretion.

The details found below about items, names, character slots, player associations, vendors, and server firsts apply to both standard (paid) character transfer and the free character transfer service promotion. The only difference between free CTS and standard CTS is that a same account transfer between certain designated galaxies during the free CTS period will be free of charge.

Please see the FAQ below for more details about the free promotion and character transfer service.

Free Character Transfer Service FAQ  

Why is Sony Online Entertainment offering free character transfers?

The goal of this upcoming promotion is to address players' concerns about server populations with the most player-friendly option possible – by putting the power in the players' hands. This promotion gives players the opportunity to make their own choice by taking advantage of one server transfer per character at no charge.

When does the promotion begin?

The free character transfer service is planned to begin January 13, 2009 and end on March 31, 2009.

Where can I find a list of servers that will be offering a free transfer?

The current "transferred from" galaxy servers include:

• Corbantis
• Europe-Infinity
• Intrepid
• Kauri
• Kettemoor
• Lowca
• Naritus
• Scylla
• Tarquinas
• Tempest
• Valcyn
• Wanderhome

 The valid destination galaxy servers include:

• Ahazi
• Bloodfin
• Bria
• Chilastra
• Eclipse
• Europe-Chimaera
• Europe-FarStar
• Flurry
• Gorath
• Radiant
• Shadowfire
• Starsider
• Sunrunner

Are any servers going to be closed due to this promotion?

We do not have any plans to close any servers at this time.

Can I move my character from a non-free CTS server to another server at no charge?

Standard character transfer service fees apply when transferring from a non-free CTS server ("target server") to any other galaxy. Only characters moved from a Free Character Transfer galaxy to a target galaxy can move for no charge.

Can I move my character from a Free Character Transfer server to another Free Character Transfer server at no charge?

Standard character transfer service fees apply when transferring from a Free Character Transfer server to another Free Character Transfer server. Only characters moved from a Free Character Transfer galaxy to a target galaxy can move for no charge.

If I move to a target server from a Free Character Transfer server, can I move again to a different target server at no charge?

A character is only allowed one move to a target galaxy for no charge.

Can I move my character to a different account at no charge?

Standard character transfer service fees apply when transferring a character to a different account.

Are there limitations to the items that will transfer with my character?

Specific items that will not transfer:

• Vendors and contents of vendors will not transfer
• Any structures left in the environment of the departure server, and their contents

Specific items that will transfer:

• Items equipped by the character (and contained in items equipped by the character)
• Items in the character's inventory (and contained in items in the character's inventory)
• Items in the character's bank (and contained in items in the character's bank)
• Resources and factory crates

Specific items in the datapad that will transfer:

Everything in the datapad, except a packed vendor and contents of the packed vendor, will transfer, including:

• Packed up structures and all of their contents
• Packed up factories and all of their contents
• Ships and all equipped components
• POB ships and all of their contents
• Pets and beasts
• Vehicles
• Droids
• Waypoints
• All draft schematics, including temporary schematics

Items that do not qualify as either "items equipped by the character" or "items in the character's datapad" as noted in the aforementioned terms will not transfer.

If I have a vendor obtained as loot via the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game, how do I transfer it?

TCG vendors must be destroyed in-game before the transfer. Be sure to remove all items from them before destroying them!

After destroying the vendor you will regain the ability to create that vendor again. The ability to create that TCG vendor will transfer properly. This process only works on vendors obtained as loot in the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game.

Will my in-game mail transfer?

In-game mail will not transfer.

What if my character name is taken on the target server?

Character names are not guaranteed on galaxy-to-galaxy transfers. If the character's name has already been used on the galaxy you wish to move to, you will be able to enter a new name in the field provided (subject to the terms and conditions of the Character Naming Policy).

Will my house/structure also transfer with my character?

To transfer structures and their contents with the character, use the pack-up structure option on the maintenance terminal to pack up the structure to the datapad. Structures that are left in the world, as well as their contents, will not be transferred with your character. Use the /locateStructure command to check for houses you own before moving.

What exactly will happen to abandoned structures left on the departure server?

They will be left in the world, and will behave just as if the resident never, ever logs in again into their original galaxy.

Will my player association also transfer with my character?

Any player association affiliation is removed as part of the character move process.

What if I already have two characters (or three with an unlocked slot) on the target server I wish to transfer to?

You must have an empty character slot on the target server in order to move a character there.

What if all eight of my character slots are filled?

An account that has the maximum 8 characters will be allowed to do a same account transfer without having to delete a character to temporarily "make room" for the new character.

If I have three characters on one galaxy, can I move all three to a galaxy where I did not unlock the third character slot?

Yes, if you don't have any other characters on that destination galaxy. Transfer the unlocked character first, then after the transfer, use the /occupyUnlockedSlot command to make that the unlocked slot character on the destination galaxy. There are now two free slots on the destination galaxy to transfer the other two characters as normal characters.

Will I lose my current quests or collections?

Collection and collection status will transfer, as will quests and quest status. We are not aware of any issue at this time with transferring collections, collection status, quests, or quest status.

Terminal missions and space missions should be completed / dropped before the transfer. Transferring with these missions may cause them to become stuck in the datapad, or cause them to cease functioning.

Will I lose my Server First recognition?

If you have completed a Server First on your original server and transfer to a different server, you will keep your badge, title, recognition on the original server's list on the official web site, and recognition on the original server's Collection window. You will not be recognized on the destination server's Collection window or the destination server's list on the official web site.

What happens to the Friend's List on a transferred character? Will it be cleared, or stay the same?

In-game mail, friends list, and ignore list will not transfer.

Will any item that I own be changed to No Trade as a result of a transfer?

The 2007 community painting (named A Festive Gathering) will be changed to No Trade upon transfer.

What will happen to the admin list on a structure that is packed up and moved?

The admin and ban lists are removed upon transfer.

Are there any crafted items that will be magically renamed as a part of the transfer process?

As far as the dev team is aware, no crafted items should be re-named after transferring.

Will the creator's name of a crafted item be retained on the object when it is moved to a new server?

No, the creator's name on crafted items will not transfer/be retained on the new galaxy. The exception to this rule is factory crates. If the creator of the factory crate is the one who is transferring the factory crate, then on the destination galaxy, the factory crate's creator's name will be set to the destination galaxy character name, resulting in items subsequently pulled from the factory crate to have the destination galaxy character name as the creator's name.

There are some reports that we will need to take all the parts off of our ships and re-deed them before we transfer. Is this true?

We are not aware of any issue at this time with ships, or installed ship components, or POB ship contents not transferring.

Someone reported losing items from their datapad such as a lava flea and a lava skiff after a transfer. Is this still a possibility? How should a player handle this issue if it should come up again?

We are not aware of any issue at this time with transferring the lava flea or lava skiff. If you feel that you are missing any item after transferring, please contact the GM team through the Support web site for assistance.

Will we need to reset our toolbars and settings?

Only “per character” settings will need to be set/reset for the new destination character. “Per account”/”Per computer” settings will just use whatever settings currently exist for the destination account on that particular computer.

When can I log in after transferring?

To prevent issues with the transfer, close the game immediately after completing the transfer process. Please do not log into any character on the account for at least two hours after transferring.