It would really have depended on what it was. Assuming it was still a sci-fi setting, I'd likely have tried it. What drew me to the game was BioWare more than Star Wars (though SW was gravy). A Mass Effect MMO would've been equally awesome. But if it had been another high-fantasy MMO, I probably would've passed.

I know my raid leaders have been complaining that we have too many melee DPS and have been begging myself and my buddy to join our runs. I just haven't had the time.

Hmm... I didn't realize purple Scavenging missions yielded such good returns. In that case, I may have to invest, because yeah, Zal Alloy is by far my most limited resource (I have well over 100 Ultrachrome). Otherwise, I guess I'll have to look into it more thoroughly. Maybe I've just had bad luck.

There are some blue Vibroknife schematics available on the GTN, and otherwise there are green Vibroknife schematics that Armstechs can learn through their trainer. The problem is that currently, RE'ing a Virboknife will never yield an improved schematic. This is assumed to be a bug (same goes for Scatterguns actually). As such, there are next to no purple Vibroknives in-game, and very few blue ones for that matter.

I use it solo against elites. Othewise, this is a more generic nerf rather than aimed specifically at snipers, as all the other classes with similar abilities had the same change applied.

Not according to the databases. Vendetta bracers and belts are crafted, all other pieces appear to be random world drops. You should be able to find them on the GTN (just don't specify an item quality in the search criteria, because un-modded gear doesn't show if you do).

True. But all Armstech orange schematics take 3x Biometric Crystal Alloy. So you have to run lots of heroic FPs or Ops to get the mats, and then be able to use those mats to craft gear for sale (rather than for yourself or your guild), and then you have to luck into critting the build. I'd be happy if they gave us some unsocketed orange weapons we could make with standard mats. One of my guildies is a Synthweaver and does decent credits making orange gear for sale on the GTN. No one wants to buy blue or even purple weapons on my server, and barrels are a joke since 8 daily commendations gets you better barrels than we can make.

According to the database sites, it's BoE, so you should be able to find it (occasionally) on the GTN. Beyond that, not sure where exactly it comes from (possibly a random world drop). I've seen the red version of it on the GTN (don't know the name), but would love a grey or white version.

I wore the Hammer Lookout's Jacket for a good while, because it just fit the feel of my agent. Around level 50, I decided I needed an upgrade in uniform to fit my standing. I debated between two variations on the high-ranking officer uniform off the GTN, but decided I preferred the more neutral colours of this one: IMAGE - Castellia in TH-16A Master Medic Suit (conversation) Having discovered that a large quantity of orange gear (those without mods) on the GTN don't show up if you specify "prototype & custom" quality in your search criteria, I finally found the look I always wanted in the advanced armour design of the Vendetta jacket: IMAGE - Castellia in RD-07A Vendetta Jacket (game) So this is my current look, and unless they add the awesome white armour from the end of the Agent Progression video to the game, I'll be sticking with this for some time. *NOTE: I'll try to get some better screenshot of the Vendetta Jacket tonight.

Orange items that have no installed mods have no base stats. They are simply a container with a level requirement (and possibly a class requirement, dark/light requirement, or social level requirement). As such, a level 20 orange has the exact same stats as a level 50 orange, assuming the mods in them are the same.

In game meters are not required. BioWare has stated they will be adding a personal combat log in an upcoming patch, which will allow people to review and analyze their own performance.

I fully support this. In fact, it shouldn't be bound to begin with. I can see a reason for having a binding when the game was (officially) beta and the purpose of playing was to file tickets (in theory at least). But now there's no reason. If someone needs to file a ticket, they can easily access that capability through the Help menu.

I believe this is pretty much the reasoning. And yeah, as others have said - level, class, and alignment restrictions can all exist (and in the case of level... DO exist) on even blank orange gear. If you search the GTN (but don't specify a quality level) for Armor, you'll find tons of orange gear that are empty. All have level requirements.

I'll preface this response with the fact that I levelled as full Marksman and only recently switched to Lethality. I also have yet to PvP at all in this game, nor have I spent much time grouped. Mobility: I don't see this as a design flaw at all, but rather an element of the class. We're designed not to be mobile, and I think overall it works very well for us. The only serious issues I have with the requirement of cover is in fights that begin immediately following a conversation (as we really need a few seconds to put space between us and the target and get in cover), and the odd elite/boss fight that requires constant movement. Companions: I really started to hate Kaliyo in my mid-20s (she's die every other fight, no matter how well geared I kept her), and ditched her as soon as I got Vector. I then continued to use Vector to great success until I was in my mid 40s and had Scorpio and was able to gear her. Vector is not a tank, as others have mentioned, so he's not sticky per-se. But if you send him in before you queue-up your Ambush, he has plenty of time (and decent AoE) to grab aggro. When mobs did break off to attack me, because of the distance between Vector and myself, I was able to take them down, leg shot them, or let them approach then bounce them with Cover Pulse. It was only on the very rare elite fight that I had to pull Kaliyo out. Eviscerate & Headshot: I believe these don't work at all on Elites. The tooltip only mentions weaks, standards, and strongs, and I'm pretty sure I've never used them successfully on elites. Crowd Control: The only mobs I found this to be an issue with are strong and (especially) elite Jedi, who bounce around like rabbits. Otherwise, Cover Pulse + Leg Shot buys you 5-6 seconds to with the mob at a distance. If they close again, Debilitate. And there's always Flash Bang. Between these abilities and your defensive buffs (Shield Probe, Ballistic Shield, and Evasion) you've actually got a decent amount of defense versus in-you-face mobs. Lack of damage vs high defense enemies: If you're MM, the Reactive Shot talent makes your Ambushes following SoS as the same cast time as Snipe. Otherwise, stack Accuracy. At 50, with purely crafted gear mods, I was sitting at 104% Accuracy with 39% (self-buffed) Crit. Armor may have had an effect, but I was still tearing things apart and seeing lots of big numbers. I actually found fighting elites got significantly easier as I approached 50, because I had more options and was able to simply power through their armor. As for whether this class is a priority, only BioWare can answer that. I don't think they're purposefully ignoring us, and I hope (expect) that any truly significant issues get resolved. However, I don't think we have any particularly serious issues, as least from what I've experienced - beyond the bugged Act 1 boss fight.

Seeing as how the tripe that was last year's "Green Lantern" cost Hollywood $200 million, I think SWTOR was a great deal for the same price.

There are a few planets I really didn't like. Tatooine wasn't bad, though it's HUGE. Alderaan really pissed me off, and I dragged my feet (and even started one of my alts) before I was able to get past it. But then, this has happened to me in other MMOs as well. There were a good number of zones in WoW I hated from the first time I set foot in them.

I realize this is a bit outside the scope of this guide, but I'm just curious how the 2/8/31 Lethality works out in solo and PvE play at 50? I'm currently Marksman, but have been considering trying out Lethality to learn more about how the class can play.

Yup. Because there'll never, ever be any nerfs to balance PvP in a PvP-based MMO. That's just silly. Good riddance.

Reminds me of the thread 2 weeks ago where a guy posted he had cancelled his sub because he didn't like the font used in game. Seemed he was serious too. Get over yourselves people. Every MMO has tweaks for balance. WoW's had them for the better part of a decade. Don't think that whatever game you switch to will be any different.

I love this game in it's current state, and am having a blast playing it. Is it perfect? No. But I have yet to find any game that is. For those who aren't enjoying it, find a different game. No point in wasting your money on your subscription, and no point in wasting your time on these forums either.

It protects both you as well as allies (companions included). Also, from what I've experienced, even if the targets are inside the Ballistic Shield bubble, you and allies still gain the effects against them. So when fighting elites, I'll regularly move in close (once my companion has aggro) and put up Ballistic Shield to encompass my companion and help keep them alive.

Can you confirm that Vibroknives can be RE'd into improved recipes, because there never was a problem with other melee weapons that I was aware of (I've made a number of Electro and Techstaff upgrades all the way to purple since the game was released).

I take it you're referring to the last armour shown in that video (starting around the 2:04 mark). Yeah, not currently available... much to my dismay!

Vibroknives (and scatterguns) are both currently bugged. At this time, neither of these can be RE'd into improved schematics. These do indeed need to be fixed. Otherwise, Armstech REing works as expected. My 50 sniper is Arms, and I have tons of schematics I've RE'd up to purple, including numerous Pistols, every Sniper Rifle from 19 through 39, and the level 50 Techstaff.

That's what did it for me. I used Vector from when I got him until about 48 when I had geared Scorpio well enough to be useful. I tried Temple a few times after I got her, but didn't like that mobs would just to close range with me because they were attacking her. With Vector, they would bunch up *way over there* where I could shoot them down from a safe distance. If they decided to pull on me, I'd have plenty of time to take them out, pin them in place, or otherwise keep manage them more easily.