I only use Guss when grouped with a non-healer for heroics.. I have always used Risha (once I got her) to burn through the groups much faster than any other companion. She's dps like Akaavi, but I could gear her in my hand-me-downs. Sure she takes a beating in the medium armor, sure I can pull aggro off of her when I try, sure I normally have a couple seconds of healing after a tough/rare/champion mob fight, but I still found it much faster than Guss. Here's my strategy in case you want to try it yourselves: Target the toughest mob Tell Risha to attack it Target the weaker mob(s) Attack Kill the weaker mobs Tab to Risha's target (if you're fast enough Risha's still alive) Attack and try to pull aggro before Risha dies; more dps to down it faster if she barely lives Pop a defense cooldown, use push-backs, stuns, etc if needed...you have a lot of skills, use them all Dismiss and resummon Risha Recover your own health (may not be necessary if you killed fast enough) Tab to forums and give this advice to other die-hard Guss only users

Just an idea I've tossed around in a guild and friends is to add another area in the fleet, perhaps a 4th elevator, that takes you to an open social area. Ideally, I see another level on the main fleet stations where players can go to just hang out rather than all congregating around the GTN, cargo access, and PVP terminals. I would suggest the area allow duels (since currently we have to leave the fleet to request a duel). It can also be used eventually to house some mini-games when/if they are implemented; games like pazaak and swoop racing. Maybe there can also be some daily mission(s) to help populate the area and give people who don't care for mini-games or dueling a reason to visit.

Risha 1) She's the easiest to keep geared since she can take all hand-me-downs 2) More dps kills mobs faster to get on to the next group faster, hence faster missions/leveling 3) I'm a male smuggler so why not bring the companion I married along Of course, it also depends on your strategy and most likely on your skill tree, but one basic strategy always works for me as a SS... - Risha attacks first, choose the toughest mob in the group if one and single target only skills - I take out the smaller mobs while Risha builds aggro from her dps on tough mob - I attack Risha's mob last and usually pull aggro just before the mob and/or Risha die - When all is dead, I dismiss Risha and resummon and she returns at full health - If necessary, I heal the little bit of damage I may take (almost always after an elite though) Side note: Guss may be a better choice when grouped to make sure we have at least one healing character/companion

Sharpshooter GS is tough to play in PVP. 1 v 1 isn't too bad as long as I can hunker down to keep from being CC and preferably shoot first. In a group though, I need to stay back...way back...and hope to not be noticed for a little bit at least. It pretty much boils down to: stay at range and make sure to keep them away...leg shot, flash grenade, detonator pulse, aimed shot knockback if skilled, dirty kick, even freighter flyby can scare them into retreating or eating the AOE. Just takes using a lot of tricks, a bit of practice, and a touch of luck.