This is sadly true, it was very easy for people to use in game mechanic to make thing harder. I did this in 12xp by not gearing myself or companion up as often as most people do. It was fun sometime to have a challenge but when I'm grinding dailies or just trying to do alliance grind I'm not looking for a challenge. I think this change is going to cost not only old players but as you said new players.

Why do they always do this, they release something that good "maybe too good" and a lot of people like it but then they nerf it into the ground a month later. Its getting really old, please test these feature so the don't come out overpowered. That way you avoid making a lot of people angry who like the feature the way it was.These massive nerf show a lack of testing, neither the companions or slot machine should have ever reached live. This is really harmful behavior that hurting the game as each time some people quite because they feel burned. I will agree companions need tone down a little maybe 5-20%. Why don't you as other said use test center and make small changes for once. At least when the companions were strong it made the terrible alliance grind a little less annoying. It's not that I don't like a challenge but I did all this content a long time ago. The joy of the challenged went away long ago, now it just tedious and thanks to this change slower. Sadly I have to do it over and over for the massive alliance grind. For those that like it I'm happy for you. I still think this change will have a negative impact overall. I believe people are more forgiving when they are overpowered vs under-powered. When they are under powered they can't get through the content easily. You can say what you want about other players skills but there a lot of people who aren't looking for a challenge or are new, thus they lack the skill to be successful. Of course if they are the majority or not could be debated, time will only tell.

I don't like that you remove more items from the pack and then label it quality over quantity, while lowering our odds of getting golds even further. As it stands I will not be buying new pack unless the price/rates is changed. The pack I bought the most of was those that gave out all the items and a guaranteed decoration. Why I actual bought these packs was because I knew my odd of getting either a decoration or item I liked was pretty fair. The question you should have asked is why would we want to buy the new pack at the same price but get less of a chance to get rare gold items plus less items. As for you quality/quantity argument I don't see a difference with these new pack. I see less of a chance to get a gold item as you point out, which we known most often are the cool items. So why would I buy them? I think you get more sale by giving people a good chance at items they want while keeping prices cheap. I was much more likely to buy outfit and unlock them back when they rang 60-260 over the new prices. This is why candy bars and pop do so well because most people can buy them without breaking the budget. PS I also don't like that a companion even a non-combat/crafting one was add to a pack. At least make it a directed buy object, which I still don't like.

I think they need to give more items in gold/silver pack or lower the price. The bronze one are ok but I still think it be nice to get more then one item, as I'm still not that likely to buy them often. I also feel that they should be broken down into shipment, each having a gold, silver, bronze of each of the armor, mounts, etc categories. The problem with this system is how many gold armor set are in the pack, whatever it is, that number will only get worse with each new pack. This mean I'll be less and less likely to get the armors or decoration I'm after. So break it down into shipment would stop them from becoming so inflated it complete pointless to even try.

I for one hope they don't nerf the companions. As people have said there are many easy in game way you can do, to make it more challenging if you want it to become more challenging, don't wear top end gear, put companions on passive, etc. I suppose it'd be nice if they add a debuff for those wanting it, but that would take time and there so many easy fix in game. Another factor mentioned by others in this post is that not everyone is getting the major buff from datacorn, max companion, completed the stories ect vets are getting. Any nerf could make things too hard for new players, after all they often over do there nerfs. Just look at the many feature or skills they complete ruined because people scream for nerfs. I just wish people would simple fix the problem for themselves through the many means listed through out this posted. The sad thing is we can all have what we want, if some people would just fix the problem through one of the mean listed above, instead of complaining about it. Another thing I don't like is the fact people keep talking about challenge, nerfing the companion is not going to make the game more challenging, the same argument was used for level sync. All it does is make thing more tedious and slow.

I think you make a great point, many of the vets feel everything easy and over powered because they have all the perks. I like that as a vet thing get easier, maybe they could add a debuff for players looking for a challenge of course I never understood if you want a challenge simple don't gear or augment your character. That way it will be a challenge. I've done this in the past will doing 12 xp, I was using two planet back gear, and end up being challenge at completing class stories. I think people need to be careful when they call for a nerf, one Bioware rarely don't over due a nerf and two not all players have all the perks.

Yeah my sister and me were trying to figure out if it was a bug. If not what are we suppose to use the other purple mat for? Hopefully we get a dev, answer to this question.

Well, I finally found them. So all good on my end.

It appears I'm also missing the isotope I should have got. Going to double check, but so far I only have only found one, and I should have had at least 27 from one of my stack.

^ I'm also worried this is why they won't talk about it. I hope we are both wrong and that it is fun.

From how I understand you have to click on a button to start the new story. So you should be able to finish up your other mission before you got into the new story.

I want a list of what skills each class get, so I can decide which one is most valuable to me. If I'm going to get a free 60 might as well get one of the crafting skills I haven't maxed out yet. Thankful I can't play till I get off work, so hopeful the date will be available by then.

Love: New Story Hate: they removed gift fragments but I can live with it. I'm also still divided on the whole level sync system and the crafting changes. Both these systems have a mix of pro and cons. I won't make a final decision on them till I get into the game.

As some others have said I'm both excited and nervous for the new expansion. I’m not pro all the feature changes but I try to see the benefit they can bring to the game. My biggest worry is that it going to be one broken by bugs. The last expansion they had major bugs and they weren’t changing nearly as many features, so I have a hard time not believing that there is going to be some major bugs with this expansion. My biggest concern rest on the new level sync system, they struggled a lot with bolster in the past but this time it won’t be just PVP that will be messed up, people could be locked out of class stories. Hopeful they got there testing done and no game breaking bugs will rear there ugly heads and ruin the experiences. I’m really interested in the new Star Forge flashpoint hopeful it will be a lot of fun. Not to mention I’m dying to find out what the Alliance System is all about, finger crossed it not just one massive grind for limited rewards. Sadly as I work I won’t be able to check it out till after work and then only for a limited time because I have to get up early. Well I hope everyone has fun!

I like the change as it was annoying not having enough gifts to do a companion story. At least were still being reward with the Influence "bonus to crafting/combat" etc, so it not like we completely wasted our time and money getting them maxed out.

The Star Fortress does sound interesting but I hope the new Alliance system isn't just one massive grind, with little reward at the end. I've been worried about it being nothing more then a massive grind for sometime. Finger crossed that it won't turn out that way.

Not to happy with this change. I mean they make us have to kill the NPC thanks to level sync. system and then give us even less reward for having to do this. It won't kill the game but it is rather annoying.

I'm trying to be positive about the changes even if I think it should have been optional. I think you make some great points, hopeful it will not be buggy which could really ruin it. In the long run I hope it does bring life back to the game.

I see a few pro to the level sync. system but I can see it getting old really fast. As for those saying it going to make grouping so much better, I don't think so. The fact is people either like to group or they don't. I'm curious if they changed how grouping works, as right now you start getting penalties when group with higher players. I hope they did or I believe some planets people may not be able to play together due to the level penalties. Which kind of defeats the purpose of the system. Of course they may have mentioned this and I missed it. As for those that don't like to group they will see if they can solo it, if they can't they won't do it. If they can the entire system become pointless once again. I'm curious if it will be as easy to solo the high level content as the one we saw on the starter world. If it's as easy as it was in the stream then again the system isn't going to make anything more challenge and become irrelevant. If it is to hard it going to turn off the solo people. I guess well find out Tuesday.

I agree that MMO do change but I have never seen an MMO take out all the crafting progression this many years into the game. I have seen crafting system rework and new stuff add, but I personal in all the games I have played have never seen them take away all the work players put into the game just so they can rearrange who crafts what. This is like setting everyone valor back to zero, sadly the crafters are a small population so I think they are betting on it not having a huge impact. Even if I agree changes were needed, they could have given some kind of compensation for taking away years of work. Other have mention random purple schematics, credits, or simple letting vet crafters archive the old schematics while changing them into the new master state. Any of these gesture would have at least acknowledge the work and effort people have put into their crafting but still allowed them to make the changes they feel the game needs. I wish they would also answer if all crafters schematics are being reset, for example will my Biochem still have there implants, purples included or will they too have to re-buy all the schematics or start at ground zero again. Will it cost credit for those profession that have to buy the schematic that have been swapped to them like my Cybernetic? As this would make me irritated as I already bought them once on my other crafter. Not to say I'm going to quite over it, I just wish we had more information on these changes and they been a little more considerate to the vet crafters.

I like the new feature, where you can sub up and get all the new content "chapters" for your subscription fee. Then if your busy due to real life like college you can let your subscription drop but keep all the content that was available since you sub up. Then repeated once you have the time or there has been enough content to warranty the monthly fee. I think this is a nice feature, I known some are against it but in truth the subscription fee is less then buying the previous expansions so I think it a fair trade.

I actual brought this up in another thread, but so far haven't found an answer. Maybe the higher cap level will be enough to include the bonus area? Maybe those areas will have different down scaling level so you will be higher then the rest of the planets but I think that a long shoot. So I can only assume you'll have the level range or it be down leveled to fit in the planet. Other mission they haven't address are GSI/Seeker and dailies such as Belsavie where the planet max and dailies don't match up. I wish we'd get an answer to these questions. This is why I'm more worried about content being bugged or players finding way to exploit the bolster system as they have done before. They struggled to handle the bolster system back when they had it on Illum and in pvp, so I have a hard time believing this new feature won't have some serious issues. Finger crossed they did some serious testing and it won't be a buggy mess. The poster above make a great point about the level range still making it harder to group with low level players. Of course they might have changed the level ranges to allow for the max level differences.

I really never got why people feel others need to be locked out of said items or gear. I suppose it so someone can feel special but personally I couldn't care less who has what. I don't see this as punishing old MMO player but giving people choices and I've been here since day one. Look at it this way you got to enjoy the item longer then said new person. Plus they aren't just handing it out for free, you have to use currency from three events. Two of those events don't occur monthly, so it not like the new player doesn't have to put in some work. In truth more work then we did. Another great thing about this feature is the fact you can now get that cool item for characters, like alts that may not have been created when the event happen. I see it as a win-win for everyone.

That a great question, I didn't even think about it but seeing were all getting a free 60 we do need this answered. I for one will just take my time and not delete it till others have confirm what happens if I do. To be honest I assume it's like anything you delete, you loses it. I don't see them making a token or anything else for the free character. You might have a slim chance with the purchase one of getting help but I still think you'll end up losing it if you delete it.

I think both sides have made some good points, but what I'm most worried about is the system actual working right. I mean they have struggled to get bolster to work. So I'm very worried about them getting it right, when there so many factors to be take into account. Like people wearing mixed gear from leveling, different kind of mission, etc. I will not be surprise if there are mission or content that can't be done due to scaling bugs. Player might even have problem as the system doesn't scale them right. I hope I'm wrong but the track recorder for them releasing content that isn't full of bugs isn't very good. As for group content I think it might increase the number of players willing to do group stuff a little but I think people are acting like its going to make this massive change in group content. I think there getting there hope up a little too much. There isn't going to be a huge shift, those who don't like group content will continue to not do it. Look at how many players have been with the game for years and still haven't complete all the flashpoints of course that why there adding in even more solo flashpoints. I guess well just have to wait and see how it turns out.