I made this little guide for my guild, but I guess I can share it here as well
If you would see any mistakes, please correct me.
Ok, so I joined game yesterday - what are social points?
Social points are points that you receive for being in group and making quest. You'll get them for choosing option in conversation with NPC. Number of SP (social points) depends of number of players in your group and your luck. If f.e you Duo the quest with 1 friend, on 1 conversation you'll get 2 SP if your colleague will win the roll, or you'll get 4 SP if you will win it. If your group have 3 members, you'll get 6 points on won roll, or 3 if you lose. If you have full group, 4 ppl, you''ll get 8 SP when win, and 4 if lose.
Ahh, thats clear - so why do I need social points?
Social points give pure e-pen. They have no practical use, just making you more awesome than people that don't have it.
On every planet you can buy gear that will fit lore from this planet - but to use it you need to have proper number of SP.
You can see available outfits on this screen:
http://i.imgur.com/NK8Ei.jpg
Or, in this video - even better, cause on real, animated model!
But isn't that gear worse than raid/pvp dropped?
Yes, it is ATM - but that will be changed in 1.2. With 1.2 patch you would be able to switch all modifications from your well-earned Battlemaster/Rakata gear to social gear and you will be able to transfer your set bonus as well!
So, that fancy clothes is the only thing I can get from SP?
Of course not! You can get :
Awesome titles
"Party time" at SP level 5 (Party Time Joe Shmoe)
"Big Time" at SP level 10 (Big Time Joe Shmoe)
Unique pet
The Czerka Eye at level 7
Unique mounts
Orlean Rebel (90%) at level 5:
Orlean Flurry (100%) at level 7:
Funny toys that will make people dance!
Party Instigator at level 5:
Galactic Party Bomb at level 10:
OMG! That looks awesome! You got me - so what is the quickest way to get SP?
Well, there's no "easy button" when it comes to gaining social points. You can either:
-Start to farming them since level 1, which means doing as many quests as possible with other people on the way to level 50
-If you are level 50 already and you are doing daily quests, try to do them in full group
-Do few Hard Mode flashpoints every day - that way you will grab gear in addition to Social Points
-Get a group of lvl 50s or even low levels and run normal Eseless/Black Talon - it gives fair amount of SP. WARNING: after few of those you will become zombie.
GL on your way to level 10!