It's this kind of attitude that ruins games. You don't want a reward to be available because it will then make the game boring. a. You are perfectly able to not acquire that item which you obviously don't want b. Others may like it and prefer to obtain those things, because they don't have as much time or like doing the other things you would rather be doing. Asking for something like this to be changed because it's 'shortsighted' by allowing players to have options is just redunculous. Don't request options be taken away because you are compelled to 'ruin' your own gaming experience.

Again comparing value of other industries to MMOs is moot. Another example. Do you go I can buy 1000 apples at the store or I can buy a plane ticket and go to an orchard. No, you don't make that comparison. Although those things you mentioned all are made to entertain you, and I believe some people might break down there entertained time into $. It's just not fiesable. Comparing movies to games or books, is just to subjective of a thing to say this is now much time you spent therefore this is your value.

Attempting to compare the MMO genre to others in terms of value is pretty moot. Example, in wow you can purchase a mount for $25, as well, wow offers many paid services all of which are fairly expensive. It is kept expensive on purpose, because there is no competition on wow for that same service. As well some people may pay $.99 cents for a song on Itunes or what have you. That's 3 minutes or more depending on how many times you listen to said song. And as you pointed out TV and Cinema costs range wide as well. The pricing involved in entertainment between industries never comes down to time + cost = value. It just doesn't happen. The Genre in question, MMOs stay priced at $15 a month because it's the industry standard, not because that's it's value. It's the individuals job to determine that for themselves. So some of you may think it's a good value some may not.

Sounds like a legitimate request OP. A mentoring system would def fit this game. Allowing you to experience those quests again while playing with a friend. Nothing wrong with that.

From the point of view of the OP. I feel that $15 a month is not justified. I have scrolled through some of the replies and see a lot of people comparing this game to games of the past, and how those particular games unfolded. However, as of today, I myself have played many many MMOs. I feel I have a good grasp on the various concepts used. In regards to the format of SWtor which focuses only on Endgame without much social play, and apparently lack-luster Pvp, they have pigeon-holed themselves into having to release new content to justify the cost. At an ever increasing pace. It is unfortunate they chose this model at this stage of the industry, which has been saturated with the same end-game focus MMOs. In the end games like this are needing to produce content at a rate that is simply un-realistic in order to keep up with the evolving players. It's a dying format. Games are needing to have social play / distractions and strong pvp (both designs which players can entertain themselves) in order to curb the public's hunger for more and more content.

You bring up some good points about how the player base has been 'allowed' to treat one another in this fashion. I use the word allowed because again in refer to SWG. In SWG you had 1 character unless you unlocked a jedi. Unless you wanted to reroll your character you didn't act like a douche, and it was actually beneficial to help out other players. In turn they would help you out. That wall of anonymity (such as changing characters or changing a characters name) allows people to behave in negative ways with little consequence or impact to there overall game experience. I played wow as well and specifically remember a player who had ninjaed the Ony mount, when it was a big deal. The guy was harassed in general chat and boycotted any run he attempted to create for weeks. He was stubborn enough to not change his name and eventually left the server. This is a extreme example especially for wow, and was only possible because the guy refused to change his name. Now he eventually was able to move and start anew with his mount. On a game like SWG he wouldn't have ninjaed in the first place because he literally couldn't have escaped the community back-lash from his actions. Unfortunately people will act poorly if they think no one is looking. And to have a respectful community people need to know they can be held accountable.

I would have to disagree with you. You're underplaying the importance of a strong community oriented game, and the impact that can have on the individual. You are right that those games fill a niche. And the gaming community has not come to a resolution between the super strong community aspects of SWG and the action packed endgame content of wow. To date the genre has moved from the former to the ladder. I for one am keeping my eye out for a game that bridges the two.

I find it funny that the OP mentioned SWG, I to played that game and adored the community aspect of the game. I do not agree on your conclusion that bioware should be given slack and the community needs to pick up the ball. SWG was a game built from the ground up, around being a community game. To just name a few examples. Mastering a profession required you to train / mentor other players, had to go to a cantina and pay a dancer for certain buffs. Doctor buffs worked much the same way. And the biggest reason, player cities. These are all game design choices that allowed and even rewarded players for building / participating in a community. SWTOR has none of that. It's the same wowish style game revolving souly around endgame gear and dungeons. Not only that but the ridiculously linear level designs left me as a player (playing on a PVP-RP server) to only find 1 republic enemy player the entire course of my leveling, this was immediately after launch. Bioware developed a single player game with MMOish endgame. Building or supporting a community isn't going to solve the fundamental design flaws. Although it is the only way to attempt to delude ones self from these problems, into believing that this game is actually playable.

Fella you jumped into a convo that had just turned into an argument and got the butt end. Just disregard my comments because I have no wish to continue it.

I agree, And seeing the new skill list, after they abolished the talent tree. It's ridiculous. they took all that nonsense from the talent trees and piled it into the spell book. I think this is ridiculous. In the end I feel like what most people in this forum who are unhappy want, is a unique MMO experience. I know I for one was hoping SWtor would deliver on that. For me it did not.

Well I suggest those readers, read the posts leading up to a quip they might read, instead of just taking it as a "sound bite" their is context to our forum discussion. And it is not to be simply argumentative.

I agree, do what you enjoy. My participation in this convo got started on me mentioning that in my opinion, companions are a disappointment in SWtor, and contributed to my dislike and cancellation of my account.

a couple of words over from the section you highlighted I said in my opinion. I'm one of the few who acknowledge that what I say is not law, and I am only stating my opinion. You don't need to try to convince me.

I agree 1000%, I only keep going back to wow because they have the best responsiveness from combat, and by comparison when I try other MMOs i am very harsh about this aspect.

I'm done with you, this is no longer a constructive convo you and I are having. You like them, I don't.

Someone had mentioned that it would possible in the future. And I acknowledge that using your companions in end game content would make the companions useful in my opinion.

I never said it was. I simply stated form this small sample, you are the minority.

From this thread alone I feel you may be the minority.

If companions are useless to a max level player, adding more dosn't really mean anything to that player. However if they allow players to use companions for real in end game flash points as substitutes so you can 2 man them. that I would consider a good use of your companion

You can RP with your companion, and the things you mentioned before would be considered RP elements. Affection and so forth. However if you look at the server list count the number of RP servers and consider how important that is to most people. It can be said that for most companions are useless at max level

The game really dons't have alot going on for it atm beside PVE and PVP, and to boot most people say they hate Ilum world pvp. I understand that you CAN bring your companion out and fiddle with it even at max level. But doing the things that the game focuses on they are not a part of. Exception of crafting

This is a good point, but because it was so easy to avoid story content in Wow. Yes their are stories in the game, but the devs really never paid to much attention to bring them forward, it always required some digging on the players part. Wows focus quickly became content as fast as possible, gear focus and min maxing encounters. Story fell by the way side

Once you hit 50, and engage in PVE content or PVP your companion can no longer accompany you. These aspects are traditionally what is focused on at max level. They can still assist you crafting and such, however I am let down by they focus on companions all the way up to 50 and the let down of not being able to utilize them.

Most people are still only in their first real paid month of play time for SWtor, So no the fact that people can post really isn't a good indication of them putting their money were their month is. A few months down the road you might beable to make that argument. And a few people here understand wow is past it's time, I do.

I don't know, I really wanted to love this game. But the locked in linear zones, stale play style, useless companions at max level, and even if it doesn't mean to the game "feels" like wow. Which I've said it before I don't understand what kind of player SWtor wanted to attract by making a game that feels so much like wow, but missing important elements.