Lots of good names here, I prefer names that have meaning behind them. My Merc is named Provocatori Spacewolf, named after a type of Roman gladiator, provocatores (challengers), that wore heavy armor My PT is named Venatori Spacewolf, also named after a type of Roman gladiator that led hunts of wild beasts.

I concur, I play a pyro PT (from launch) and against a marauder, if played well, is the one class I couldn't take down. So I rolled a marauder to learn their weaknesses, boy was I surprised to learn they have very, very few. I can't get the same overall dmg numbers that I can w/ my pyro, but I rarely die as a marauder, where w/ the pyro, once you commit to a fight, it's 'til death do us part. And just out of curiosity, I out fitted my pyro in med armor to see how much of a difference heavy armor makes, and from my experience, not much (but I was ignored more often). At least not in PvP, PvE is a different story.

I have searched everywhere I can think of, does anyone know if there is a modable (orange) version of this armor: prototype bovin heavy exoskeletal warsuit? This version isn't listed on TORhead or I would link it. I really like the way this armor looks, but I want it for my BH, hence the reason for the orange version.

I was having the same issue with the Mandalorian Iron. I was relying on a guildie who happened to hit it every time. But I kept sending my guys out, and Gault (toon is a BH), who has a under world trading bonus starting bringing it in finally. Bringing in a lot actually now, so I am stockpiling. So I suggest, be patient and keep sending them out.

I agree with all the OP's points, however, a little more tact in presentation would have gone a long way for many to swallow his points. You can tell though that he wrote this in frustration, for that I am empathetic as I have been there many, many times. That said, how about one of you with writing skills, use this as a basis for creating a beginner's guide to PVP and we can make it a sticky? As for his opening remarks, he wasn't trying to say he was better than everyone, he was trying to provide credibility that he is speaking from a massive amount of experience. And for the off key remarks about his lack of social life, this very well could be his job. We have a guild member who gets paid for PVPing 6 hours a day and I am sure he is not the only one in this game.

Well said. Thank you for spending the time to write this up. I had to log out in frustration last night after entering a pug huttball match that was already in progress and down by 2 with 10 min left. More than enough time to catch up and win right? I grabbed the ball, looking for someone to pass it to, no one, my entire team was behind me going for their kills. Needless to say I died quickly, all I could do was jump down into the pit to make it harder for the other team. While in the respawn cage, the other team scores again, they ran from their pit all the way for the score, not once being engaged. as my entire team is on the opposite side of the map, oblivious. Upon release, I run for the middle, the opposing team grabs the ball again, being a PT BH, I yank him into the acid and stun him, then do my 1-2-3 pyro rotation, and take the ball. I get up onto the cat walks while taking heavy fire, finally, I have a teammate, sorceror, ahead of me after the fire trap,as I go to pass, he force pulls me through the fire and kills me. The military term for this is fratricide. While once again I am in the respawn cage, I watch in awe as my team has finally learned to pass the ball. They just happen to be passing the ball backwards, towards our own goal line. Helpless, I watch the last teammate to receive the ball die, on our goal line, giving the other team an easy score. After that, being down by 5, half the team logs out, making it too easy for the other team to make the final score and end the match. I sincerely hope, that those on my pug team can read and learn from what you have written above.

I have to agree with this as Grav Round is identical in every way except for the animation and everyone is silent about it. I play both a Arsenal Merc and a pyro PT. I use flameburst and rocket punch, on my PT, to get my free rail shot way more than I use my TM on my merc, and I never hear anything about that and it hits for a hell of a lot harder.

I second all the great info above and welcome to the hunt. I am also cybertech, I would highly suggest dropping slicing and take underworld trading. In order to craft blue or purple mods and armoring, you must have metals from underworld trading. If you take slicing, you are going to need to purchase these off the GTN, and they are expensive, especially purple metals.

I have both a Pyro specced PT and a Arsenal specced Merc, with either I can top the DMG and kills in WZ's. That said, I usually do higher DMG output with my Pyro PT. The burst output of Pyro spec is crazy, everyone screams when I launch a few Tracer Missiles with my Merc, they don't realize that my Pyro does way more burst dmg. The difference is in the ability animation. But you have to be real careful of your heat management. In PVE, you have to be real careful about pulling aggro, you have to weave in a lot of rapid shots (which helps heat management). If you pull your normal burst rotation, you will pull all aggro. Basically it boils down to playstyle, I have a lot of fun playing both. Just right now the FOTM is QQ over tracer missile (which btw is exactly the same as the Trooper Commando's Grav Round, which you don't hear about. Again, it's the animation.

I have both a lvl 50 Powertech and lvl 28 Merc, it basically boils down to what kind of playstyle do you want; up close and personal, or ranged? Powertech is up close and personal, most of your attacks are instant with a 10m range. This is important as for PVP you want to be within 10m but outside of the 4m range of melee classes. This class is more tactical in use and can be a tank or DPS. Mercenary is almost all ranged >30m. You or more or less a mobile artillery platform. Most of your abilities are 1.5 sec cast times, so you are not as mobile as the Powertech and want to avoid enemies getting in close. This class is more strategic in use, can be a healer or DPS. Both classes specced for DPS, damage output is very similar. Both easily can hit 200k dmg in a warzone. Bottom line, what's your playstyle?

Right on the money, could't agree more! And thanks for the laugh!