Thanks for breaking this down for me gentlemen. I figured you would have the answer and show me the reasons behind it. I'll be respeccing next time I log on.

Hello all, in the past week or so I have switched from a hybrid madness spec to full lightning. I have looked at all the posted specs out there and I have taken a lot of information from Nibbon. Now, the question I have. This is the lightning spec posted by Nibbon. http://www.swtor-spy.com/skill-tree-calculator/sorcerer/12/?build=210000000000000000000000000000000323022202120210023001020230001003020002000000000000000000000000&ver=20 Who has done the leg work for the rest of us. This is the current spec I am using. http://www.swtor-spy.com/skill-tree-calculator/sorcerer/12/?build=000000000000000000000000000000000323022202120010023201020230001003020302000000000000000000000000&ver=20 There are a few differences that I would like to talk about. The first being: Suppression vs Lightning Swarm This I feel is a matter of playstyle and has really no impact on dps. The second and my main question is: His points in Force Weaver and Sweeping Darkness compared to my points in Force Horrors. We don't really gear for crit at all until later in the tier sets and even then it's not many. (taken from Nibbon's Sage guide that is updated more than his Sorc guide.) So why put points in to Sweeping Darkness? We also don't gear for alacrity except a few enhancements to balance stats. So in my opinion ( and that is my opinion. I haven't crunched the numbers) It seems 9% damage to our dots would be better. Since we cast crushing darkness on cd and keep affliction up at all times. If I am flat out wrong I apologize. However I am not sure. So I bring the question to you.

I have learned to line of sight a lot as a tankasin. Once you get this down and you have semi-patient dps this problem pretty much goes away. Also, you don't necessarily have to get threat on normal mobs. The dps should be blowing them up first and quickly. So Usually you can cc and just focus on one or two mobs.

I leveled a sorc to 50 as my first toon and an assassin right after that. I actually found the assassin much easier to level. Partially due to i knew what was coming, but mainly due to being unkillable as a tank.

Leveling as a Tank is fully viable and probably the easiest way to go. Fill out darkness first then in to madness. I played around with a few specs while leveling. I used the death field spec for a bit, but after wither got a buff, went back to it. It hits more mobs and has a shorter cooldown.

Leveling my tankasin I used Khem in dps stance, then andro when I got him, Then used Ashara from the time I got her until 50. I used talos for the final battle. I mainly use talos while doing dailes just to help with down time, but still pull out Ashara for fun sometimes. Hell I'm even gearing up Khem now for funsies and he is fine.

I don't pvp, but if you wait until three stacks that's 75% more damage and the heal. I know the heal is very useful in pve, and I can only imagine it is just as useful in pvp. and you only need to wait another 2-3 seconds for wither to come back off cd to get the 3rd stack.

It puts a debuff on all three targets. that has 10 stacks.

I've seen it around these forums many times, and I believe in the stickies in this forum. Also Check sithwarrior.com I believe it's discussed there.

I think you need 8% accuracy to hit boss mobs, any thing over that reduces their chance to dodge and parry you.

I leveled as darkness. I used khem in dps stance until I got Andro. Used him until I got Ashara. Used Ashara from the time I had her until 50. I used talos in the final fight, and usually use him doing dailes just so I don't have to regen after each battle. However Ashara is more then viable as long as you keep her geared.

You should be using force lightning. Not only does 3 stacks of harnessed darkness heal you, but it also causes FL to to do 75% more damage. Also it's a good way to get some breathing room. Use your knock back and then FL.

You should be weaving saber strike in between attacks. If you have a second before shock comes off cd. Hit saber strike instead of thrash. That will generally mean you have enough force to shock as soon as it's up. If you do completely deplete your force hit a saber strike or two. and you will be gold to start hitting your other abilities again. All the classes have this mechanic built in. It slows down burst. If you know you have a burst scenario coming up poll a bit and then launch in to an assault. You will never be able to take it off your bar. Especially since there is no auto attack. Also if you are a dps assassin, don't spam maul. I believe you should only be using it when you have the buff up.

Roll madness, Then you have one lightning attack. two if you use shock, but that's a spark.

So for madness, I can't see alacrity being any good. You have 1 channel time, FL. Every once in awhile if you get unlucky and have to cast crushing darkness. So if it doesn't affect dots and we have 1 channel time. I surmise that Madness should be stacking crit and surge and forgoing alacrity. Which really blows because it looks like most of our tier gear has alacrity. I suppose we can switch out mods.

There are 2 classes inside the Si base class. The companions need to work with both of them. Khem is a tank and meant to work well with the sorc. The other dps and healer companions work well with with the assassin. If you don't want to use Khem, learn to use interrupts and how to kite. (force slow plus force speed plus Force lightning =Win) There are many play styles available in this class. Some of them are not meant for the noobs. I personally had no problems soloing anything in this class until a story quest in Voss. (Which I was under level by 3 levels) Which I could have soloed, but had a friend near by to help. Interupts, cc, heals, bubble. Use everything at your disposal and you should be fine. If not reroll and see how the other classes live. I have watched my room mate have many more problems then me as a Warrior.

Khem=tank=great for dps leveling. If you really find Khem that appalling then use him to tank and switch out to another companion for story and quest stuff. As a sorcerer he is your best bet until Xalek. As an assassin tank, you might be better served with a dps companion. As madness spec I actually had khem in dps stance once I got death field in to my mid 30's at which point I started taking to much damage and switched him back to tank.

Mask helmet, Same thing. And yes. There are "masks" that go around your head neck area not obscuring your face that will change your voice. So, yes there are alternatives to circlets. There are "helmets" that surround your head and obscure your face. There are "masks" that do not obscure your face, and there are circlets that go over your head and do not interfere with your hood. Either option has moddable choices.

Thanks Dastion. It seems there is nobody who knows. So I will try it out and see how it does.

You get a mask from a class quest. I have been wearing it since I got it. Putting new mods in it every planet. I got it in my late 20s and I'm 45 now. There are some other masks I have seen, but most of them look horrid. The only bad thing about the mask I am wearing now is it hides my darkside corruption. I was in a quest and my mask bugged and I thought my graphics messed up because I was so white. I started as a deep red pure blood.

Is it confirmed that alacrity effects dots? In Astral's guide it says it does, but I have heard over and over again that it doesn't. I want to confirm as I am getting close to 50 and want to start thinking about gear. Until it's confirmed for sure I am going to start leaning on crit and surge.