I don't have a problem with F2P. Many fun games have gone that route. What concerns me the most is this... "We have a great lineup in development including: a new Operation, Terror From Beyond, a new heroic mission series on the planet of Belsavis; a set of level 50 space combat missions for those looking for the ultimate challenge mode; introduction of a dangerous new Companion to accompany you; and for our PvP fans, a new warzone, Ancient Hypergate!" Absolutely nothing mentioned here is going to keep me playing SWTOR. Nothing. What this game desperately needs more than anything is repeatable randomized soloable content. Think along the lines of BH missions in SWG or newspaper missions in City of Heroes. Voice acting isn't necessary, text-driven from terminals is perfectly fine. But the bottom line is that solo gameplay post-level cap is beyond broken and doesn't seem to be any sort of priority to the devs. Leveling up is such a joy in SWTOR. I'd say the best in any MMO I've ever played. But unless THAT experience continues post-cap (not heroics, not flashpoints, not PvP....I mean soloable story-driven gameplay) then ultimately this will only be a game that I return to once a year or so, play a toon to level cap, and then drop out until the urge hits me to level a new one a year or so down the road. In short, it will be like a typical console game, not a continuing MMO universe. Bottom line: For me leveling is the best part of this game by far, and I'd like to see continuing that experience to be the priority. Otherwise I will just be an occasional player.

I agree 100% with the OP. If it's a PVE server than PVP should never be forced on anyone for any reason.

Thank you Bioware for making this game low on grind. Grinding absolutely sucks. The less grinding there is, the better it makes the game. Period.

I'm sorry, but after playing this game for some time I have to admit the story is *********** AMAZING. The Bounty Hunter story in particular is one of the best stories I have come across in any video game, let alone an MMO. TOR certainly has a few wrinkles to iron out, but storywise it demolishes every other MMO with ease.

I think it's off to a very good start. Certainly a better start than a lot of other MMOs I've played, some of which would go on to become favorites. There are still a few things that need to be addressed, but that is to be expected with any new MMO. TOR has a solid foundation to build on, and now it's on them to keep building. I feel good about the future of this game.

The funny thing is you're answering your own question and then ignoring yourself. TOR is a new game. Give it time. All we have right now is the foundation. Improvements are on the way and will continue indefinitely. This is not unique to TOR. It is the industry standard. Your own comparison to STO supports this fact. I'm a longtime CoH player. I think it's one of the best MMOs out there, despite signs of age. But let me tell you, when it started out it was so unpolished it made current TOR shine like a diamond. There weren't even enough missions to get you to level cap. That's how underdeveloped it was. You reached level 20-ish and suddenly you either had to PvP or just grind random mobs with no quest xp until you made it to your mid-late 20s and quests resumed. It was awful, and only after a lot of forum rage did they institute newspaper missions (essentially, randomized repeatable quests) as a quick fix. Really, I don't think a lot of people here realize how spoiled they sound when they gripe about the state of TOR in it's infancy. Things can and have been much much worse in a ton of other MMOs. TOR definitely needs work, but considering how long it's been out and compared to other games when they were in the same stage of development it is doing very very well. Patience people, seriously. If it bothers you that much, take a break and come back when you're ready. But Bioware is in no way behind the curve. This is just the way MMOs work, that's all.

That's the way to get people on your side.

I was begged for credits once. He was kind of rude about it too...more a demand than asking. Of course I completely ignored him.

Yeah. Sounds like a fair and equal balance across all classes to me too. It's just a slot that can't be crit crafted. No biggie.

Exactly. Even KotORs 1 & 2 have tons of side quests. Every RPG does. And honestly, I have no idea why anyone would want it otherwise. Leaving the beaten path and exploring different avenues is a large part of the fun. Hell, I remember when CoH first came out and there weren't enough quests to get you to level cap. Not class quests...QUESTS, period. Every so often you had no choice but to either PvP or grind random mobs with no quest XP. And we're talking about a game with almost no voice acting at all, let alone the completely immersive voice acting of TOR. Now that was worth griping about. But as time went on CoH became an excellent MMO, and that is the key word...time. Is TOR perfect? Definitely not. But it does offer quite a lot for a game that is so new. There's a solid foundation in place. It's off to a respectable start. While there are many valid complaints, threads like this just show a complete and total lack of understanding of how MMOs work, not to mention an overwhelming sense of self-entitlement. Level to 50 doing nothing but class missions in an MMO only a few months old? Seriously? I suppose next somebody's going to gripe because they can't hit 50 without leaving the starter planet? It redefines ridiculous.

Agreed

Pretty much. Must be their first MMO.

VERY awesome. That is music to my ears. (Well, I guess technically "eyes.")

This really truly is a matter of "give it time." This game is new, people. There is no way anyone can realistically expect them to have every class' quest line get you to level cap and have side quests that people can group on to share, and heroics, and flashpoints, and space, and PvP.... I mean Christ, when were you expecting them to release this game, 2054? Have a bit of patience. This is an MMO. New stuff will be added as time goes on, but we can't have it all now Now NOW!!!!!

Put me down as another who doesn't see how it's humanly possible to be underlevel. You guys have got to be missing side quests or bonus threads or something....it's the only explanation that makes sense. I have 3 level 50s and I have never ever PvP'ed, not one single time. I have done a few heroics and flashpoints here and there, but not enough to really tip the balance. And I have always been at least one level ahead of every planet I've been on....usually a comfortable two or three. Actually, tell a lie.....my first toon was underlevel when I did Belsavis the first time. That's when I went online and found out I completely missed the Alderaan bonus series. (And I later found out that I also accidently skipped the Balmorra bonus series.) I am willing to bet money that's what's happening with you guys too. You're missing entire quest threads and not realizing it. That has to be the answer.

Customization is my biggest issue with this game. I shouldn't have to decide between looking the way I want and having good gear. If you ask me, either everything should have moddable versions or we should have separate costume slots a-la (gasp) SWG. Armor coloring kits are also a must. I don't mind working towards the armor I want, but getting my character's look just right while having good stats should not be a literal impossibility. That just sucks the role play right out of RPG.

Such a shame that the greedy and selfish can ruin it for everybody else, but there you have it.

Yes I can. And I do. Nope. I deny it because SWG, especially pre-CU, didn't provide nearly enough plot-driven mission threads for my tastes. We all value different things, and TOR is a much better game so far for what I enjoy in a game. SWG in comparison was threadbare and underdeveloped.

Yep. Welcome to MMOs, OP. That's how it works in every single one of them.

So you're saying Bioware should have waited ten years to release TOR? I mean, it took WoW 10 years to get all that stuff, so....

Yes MMOs need story, no question about it. And TOR does an exceptional job with it's stories. Sorry some people aren't enjoying this game as much as they'd like, but you can't please everybody.

I just go with what I think looks the best. If everyone else is doing the same thing, so what? I'm not going to go for a look I don't like as much just to feel different. If certain skin tones and/or body types are more popular that's just how it goes.

I'm not particularly invested in sandbox or themepark as long as I have plenty of bona-fide, plot-driven quests to play. Knitting sweaters and arranging my house isn't my idea of content, nor is camping an area ad nauseum for loot. I want my character's life to be one big endless Star Wars movie. To hell with mundane everyday chores, I want quests and plenty of them....as far as the eye can see, nonstop. As it stands themepark MMOs seem to accommodate my playstyle better, but if a sandbox can pull it off, power to it.

Yeah, I hear ya. Makes sense. I'd even agree to a point. I too preferred post-NGE SWG as heretical as some might find it. Man, 2005 was a banner year for me, with both the Rage of the Wookiees and Trials of Obi Wan espansions. For a PvE quest-oriented player like me it was heaven. If SWG would have kept pumping out content like that I would have been right there to the bitter end with you. Unfortunately it went from feast to famine, and the lack of content left me more and more disgruntled with the game as time went on. The CCG was the final straw for me. I quit in disgust and never looked back. That's where we really part ways. I have been loving TOR so far. Basically everything I wished SWG did more of, this game does more of. Can't please everyone I guess. I'm gonna give the EMU a pass. That era of SWG never impressed me anyway.

And those people aren't remotely who I am talking about. Having healthy criticism is, well, expected. I have a good handful of criticisms myself. I'm talking about the same people starting the same threads and joining in with the same "it sucks compared to pre-CU SWG" ritual that has been going on ad nauseum since before TOR was even a glimmer in Bioware's eye. Two completely different things entirely.