Greetings DocDAM, 1) You will still have access to the areas as you are preferred status. A true F2P (non-preferred) would not. 2) No 3) It is per character and not account wide. You can buy from either CM or GTN as they are the exact same unlock. 4) I would suggest transferring credits out to your other characters until you are as close to the cap of 350k on each as possible. It will save you in the long run as you won't have to spend CC to get the escrow transfers. You will just have to move it between characters. Anything above 350k (even from drops) will get moved into escrow. 5) Make sure to also buy an Event Item unlock as well. It will let you use items/gear you get from events like the Gree or Bounty Contracts. 6) Only what you think is worth it No problem. If you are not into GSF, PvP, or end-game ops/raids then preferred status is ideal for you. There are some drawbacks but with the right purchases/unlocks you can minimize them. I would also add that it is worth it to get the unify color unlock as well. Saves you the headache of having a nice set of gear that doesn't match. I.E. Brown chest piece, orange gloves, blue pants, and yellow boots. That would be a nightmare of epic proportions visually *shudder*. Best of luck to you!

Short answer: Yes Long answer: Yes but you have to find an appearance kiosk. These can be found on fleet (I don't remember exactly where) or on your faction's home planet. For Imperials, this is located in Kaas City. It is to the right as you enter the city. You go up the stairs by the legacy item/weapon vendors and you can't miss it. It's a big blue hologram floating above a machine. Pro-tip: You can preview any changes before making your final decision and it will list the price per item. I.E. species cost ___, body type cost ___, etc..., etc...

Well welcome back to the madness that is SWTOR. I'd like to think of myself as a veteran due to me playing since pre-release and have been a subscriber with the exception of 3 months. To answer your questions: 1. The subscription is definitely worth it in my opinion. It allows you the ability to do so much more than a free to play or preferred status player. As a bonus, if you have someone bring you in under their Refer-A-Friend, you get 7 days free of Subscriber status plus some decent rewards as well. The other person also gets rewards if you subscribe within 14 days. Everyone wins! Side note: due to some "shenanigans" with disguising links, it is now "illegal" to use a refer-a-friend link on the forums. They can still be sent in a private message though . 2. I personally like the Imperial Agent class. I am biased as it was my first toon, first 50/55, and still is my main. Truthfully the choice is all discretionary though. Pick the class that fits your playstyle ad go with it. Marauders put up some decent numbers on the DPS charts. They are also invaluable in raids/ops with their Bloodthirst ability. Though they are only as good as the people that play them. As are all other classes/specs really. 3. Yes and no. It really depends on your faction and server. Prime example: Jedi Covenant had at least 2 full instances on fleet this afternoon (1:30pm est) for the Empire and only 1 instance on the Republic side with 43 being the peak number I saw. Each server has their high times and low times with population. As for which server to choose... pick one and go with it. If it doesn't seem to be populated enough, transfer. Did I mention that with a refer-a-friend link you get 1 free character transfer? If you are unsure about subscribing, see if anyone will give you a RAF link to test out the difference. The main things that you will see in early parts of the game (sub 55) will be rest xp, color unification (makes all items match chestpiece colors), no credit cap, infinite warzones, infinite flashpoint loot rolls, the ability to wear purple grade items, and the ability to whisper other people. Hope this helps and wasn't too much info

Keep in mind also that each class has a unique storyline specific to that basic class. This means that even though the Smuggler is the mirror class of the Imperial Agent, they will have very different storylines to enjoy. As a general overlay (without any spoilers) the Empire classes tend to focus on power and deception with a few small exceptions. The Republic classes tend to focus on benevolence and generally doing the morally right thing. There are exceptions to these rules as you can play an Empire class and be friendly in most situations and also play a Republic class and be ruthless. If you are playing for story, keep in mind that the stories really don't start to have depth until later in chapter 1 and even into chapter 2. Just remember though; if you don't like how the class plays, you will have difficulty enjoying the story. As for your gear questions; You do not necessarily need PvP gear even if you are on a PvP server. In fact, while questing, expertise (a stat given by PvP gear) is actually useless. Its only use is against other players. This means that you will only gain anything by wearing it if you are attacked by (or attack) an enemy player. Expertise also often comes at the expense of another secondary stat. Personal note: I am a PvE person and have no love for PvP. Probably because I suck at it. Thus all of my comments on gear are slightly biased.

I am an old vet who purchased a CE back when it came out. To the best of my knowledge, the only way to acquire a legitimate (unopened/unused code) CE is to pay a scalper online. The DDE (Digital Deluxe Edition) is still available as an upgrade on the forums for a ridiculously low $4.99 (US Dollar). I think that this is the only way to get the upgrade though. You can follow the link I will post below (no funny business with the link) and purchase it there. It includes a Flare Gun, Training Droid (hovering type), Holo-Dancer, Holo-Cam (great for first person screenshots), and the STAP mount. The mouse droid was a CE exclusive. There is a similar one that can be gotten off of a drop in Karagga's Palace called the Thrall Droid. It looks nearly identical but has red eyes. Hopefully this helps. Cheers! Link to DDE upgrade page: http://www.swtor.com/buy

Been here since open beta, bought the CE, been a sub since day1, and also bought the new X-pac as soon as it was announced. I don't post very often as I mostly just enjoy reading the posts and the occasional bouts of hilarity from people like Sir Copperfield. Seriously though, that guy is hilarious . I've seen lots of things change over the course of the game. From launch where roughly 70% of people rolled on the Imperial side (and roughly 80% of those rolled Assassins... ugh) to now where the factions are fairly well balanced. I can't help but laugh though. With all of the FOTM madness that has happened I've stayed true to my sniper since day 1 and arguably have a claim to first 50 sniper on Jung Ma (debatable as game first but I make no claim there). Our class has seen very few changes, nerfs, buffs, or any kind of tampering since launch. Though with ROTHC I can tell that it will probably become a FOTM just because of features like "Roll to cover". Anywho, as for the game state: I think that EA/BioWare have made decent progress considering the deadlines that they have rushed to satisfy. Could they have done more sooner? Probably but at the same time, does anyone here remember the nasty bug at launch that was Taris (the one where you could not leave and had to put in a ticket just to do so)? That was nothing short of a rushed feature and I would hate to see it happen again. I can honestly say that I am pleased with the progress (albeit rather slow) that has been made and plan on sticking around for a while yet. P.S. In case anybody feels the need to flame me for loving up on the dev's; I am a SW fanboy, but not a drooling mindless one. I am also a '90's kid (lego jokes anyone?) and very vividly remember the disaster that Ep. 1 was. I also rarely stick around in a thread once I have posted, so don't expect me to "feed the trolls" as I rarely even notice them. May The Force Be With You

I thought that the answer to everything was a purple seven..... Shows what i know

Ok, I said I wasn't going to but oh well... *Jumps on the train - Choo-Choo* OP please go waste someone else's time in another game... Say maybe that "other game".... I've been around since launch and I can say that there are FAR more pressing issues they could be fixing. How long did it take for them to fic the companion lightsaber bug? That was around in Beta.... Just one more example of a player QQ'ing over people using something to their advantage....

As for hanging out on, Nar Shaddaa has some great RP in the cantina from both sides. In terms of exploring though, gotta say I love Belsavis. Lots of different zones to go through... Especially if you are a completionist and have to unlock all locations including enemy bases... Can get really hairy. I must add here a side note though: I actually enjoy Quesh for RP'ing as well. It's prety much useless in other terms but its toxic environment can add that extra oomph to any RP situation.

I personally love my MM sniper. I run with a "pure" MM spec 31/10/0 as it gives me the abilities i want/need from Engi and also gives me 90% of the stuff in MM. When it comes to PvE (my bread and butter if you will) MM is hard to beat. I can consistently do more dps than a full Engi specced sniper and a Lethality can't even come close. Ironically on my serer, Jung Ma, the most recent top dps was a MM specced sniper. As for PvP; I can't really say much. I don't generally PvP but the few times I have, I haven't had any real fun. MM tree has very little survivability rate outside of cover and it doesn't take long to have yourself targeted when you start critting for 4-7k. After that, be prepared to get targeted down and die quickly.

1) Yes and no. Some people mix/match certain gear sets to get more of a set bonus or because they like the stats better. 2) Yes and no here as well. You can swap mods/enhancements/armorings into any set that is moddable (purples/oranges) but in order for it to be "endgame" level it would require either having the endgame armor already or have a huge chunk of creds to gt the BiS 26/27 items. As for making it better; If you are able to fully use the 27's and fully augment with kits and items, then yes you will technically be better than top end gear. 3) Pretty much the same answer as #2. Just swap in the mods and presto, you now have gear that looks different than endgame gear but still has the same/better stats. 4) By crafters I am assuming you mean those that craft armor. Unfortunately, most of the armor that these crafters can make is useless at the top tiers. They can, however, make augments and some can also make augment kits. Not to mention that all of those pretty 26/27 things on the GTN are crafted. This list includes; relics, earpieces, implants, mods, enhancements, armorings (rare but out there), hilts, and barrels. Hopefully this answered your questions

There have been a few posts about credits not returning once people go back to sub status. Hopefully you do not find yourself in this situation. If you do, it is extremely useful to have a screenshot of your credit amount before you went to preferred status.

Wow... Literally just got done posting and BAM!! The launcher worked... *shrugs* I was about to throw it out the window and see if the fall/landing would "assist" with the problem

Same issue for me as well. IPCONFIG did not work. IP: Verizon Fios Using authenticator

Couldn't have said it better myself. I have a Sniper (and have also been beaten many a time by a Sniper when I was otherwise) and if left unchecked, they can be a force to be reckoned with... However their greatest strength is also their "Achilles Heel", if you will. Knock a Sniper out of cover and stun when cc breaker is on cd and watch him squirm as he can do nothing about it. Let him be and watch as you get hit for 5k+ consistently (my personal best was 7.8k way back in early 1.5). Tip though: don't rush a sniper blindly and with no assistance. They have 1 distance root (30m), 1 melee stun (4m), their knockback/stun (10m knockback to 15-25m if specced right), and possibly another knockback if they spec into the knockback for Ambush (15m knockback). If they know their rotation, you will be down below 40% before you can even land a single hit on them.

I have been around the block a few times (*whistles*) so I might be able to shed a bit more light on this. Teliks is partially right. Crystals (as of yet) never increase any main stat. They buff secondary stats such as power, crit, and endurance. Enhancements for moddable gear can add willpower if the original schematic lists it as a stat boost. If the original schem. (usually green) does not, then no amount of RE'ing will make it otherwise. As for making creds; unfortunately Artifice isn't what it used to be. You can still make some from the lower lvl stuff but the real "meat" is in the 26/27 enhancements (provided you can get your hands on the schem.) Other than that, there isn't much for it. If you are looking to make creds try rolling with all gathering missions like Diplomacy, Underworld Trading, and Slicing. All have some valuable drops. If you want to be able to craft more gear, then try your hand at Synth or Armstech. As a Sage, I would stay away from the other armor crafting professions as they don't really add much to you. Personally I find a different alternative to be more viable. Biochem. It isn't what it used to be either but you can craft reusable stims and medpacks. Plus the top end Exotech stims go for around 17k a piece on my server (Jung Ma) so you can make serious bank there. On to your next question though. WZ's don't really lvl all that much faster than questing unless you get the legacy perks and use a exp boost. If you do those, you will net around 10k+ exp per match on average. A word of advice though... Learn what the objective is for each match (Huttball, Voidstar, Civil War, Ancient Hypergate all operate slightly different) and plan accordingly. Everyone loves a great healer but sometimes dps is more needed as the enemy tends to single target the healers and if you die; you cant help at all. Also if you spec dps, make sure to assist with the objectives. Nobody likes "that one guy" who just stands around and kills the enemy in Huttball while they could be helping score.... Seriously you should see the comments people make when someone does that. In the end its all up to preference though. Just play the game, have fun, and may the force be with you. P.S. Just a heads up... Once you hit 50 WZ's are a whole new ball game so it's best to come prepared and ready to get your face smashed a few times before you get the WH/EWH gear.

I have been around since pre-launch (CE and subscriber since day 1) and have played all class storylines at least until Chapter 2. My thoughts are this for story: Imperial; Agent: Storyline focuses on the behind the scenes that goes on in the Empire. Lots of drama and plot twists. (My main is a Sniper and I ADORE this class) Bounty Hunter: Horrible storyline to start with but does slowly get better over time Inquisitor: Different... You are being manipulated while manipulating others that are also being manipulated... Different Warrior: Smash. Kill. Kill. Kill. Awkward romances. Kill. (Wasn't a fan) Republic; Smuggler: A bit cliche here and honestly I lost all interest after chapter 1. Trooper: Standard storyline you would expect but is fairly solid all the way through. Consular: Probably the weakest story in the game. Some people enjoy it but overall (judging by posts) most don't. Knight: Standard storyline here too, but has some interesting twists towards the end of Chap. 2 and well into Chap. 3. As for armor, only Troopers and Bounty Hunters have Heavy Armor as a standard type. Knights and Warriors can if they spec correctly (Guardian and Juggernaut respectively). Consulars and Inquisitors are limited to Light Armor. Agents and Smugglers have Medium. Note that all armors are retro-active i.e. Heavy Armor users can wear all types; Medium can use Light as well; Light is stuck with it. As a side note though. If you want the look of Heavy Armor but can't wear it for your class, there is quite a bit of adaptive armor out there that has the look of another type. Lots of info there so sorry if it seems much. Hope it helps

I currently roll a near pure MM tree spec'd sniper on Jung-Ma (Ettrigan 31/10/0) and have been running with said sniper since pre-release. I can tell you that they have had 2 tree shifts since then and have gotten quite a bit stronger since launch because of all of the nerfs the other classes have had. Ever hear of people begging for a Sniper nerf? Not often. Ever hear of a Jugg or BH nerf? Rhetorical question there. I don't PvP much but I can say that in PvE Snipers are beast. Compared to a Sorc (no offense here) there is really no comparison. Heck, with Ballsitic Dampers, the personal shield probe, and the Ballistic shield down; I can literally tank any champion for a good 5-10 seconds without heals. From the little PvP I have done, I can say that a Sniper is great.... Until you get knocked out of cover and cc'd.... Then it sucks because you literally have like 5 seconds tops to watch your health drain and then die. I'm not calling for a nerf of Snipers in any way but I do think, in all fairness, that Sorcs should get a few more utilities to better handle such things. But of course you could just roll a Sniper and then this post would be obsolete...

There is another option as well though. I currently have my armormech maxed (400) and can craft rakata grade armor if I learn the schematic from the skill trainer. These are, however, BOP so unless you want to seriously gear out a companion or strip a few mods out; they are worthless. To be completely honest I have no idea how I was able to leran these schematics (so don't ask) but it is a option. Since it affects Armormech, I assume that it also affects Synthweaving as well since that is another armor crafter.

Sniper is great to play in PvP IF you know how to play it. The key is to remain in cover as long as possible and make use of your cooldowns as often as possible. Basically if you get knocked out of cover and stunned (with your cc breaker on cd), you have about 5-10 seconds left before you die. It is, by far, the greatest single targt DPS'er though and has the longest range in-game (35m for almost half your abilities) so it is a great support role. Operative is also fun to play and gives you the option to be a healer as well as DPS. Their heals rival that of a sorceror and are generally better than a BH because they are mostly instant with no cast. I picked a sniper and have become the go-to-guy for my guild when anything calls for a ranged DPS. My advice: Go sniper if you want to live on the edge. They have amazing DPS but tend to be a bit squishy against melee. Or go OP if you'd rather play it a little safer and still be in demand.

Actually funny story... I was in Kaon earlier tonight and noticed a sage wearing an orange Nylite vest. I think it was Advanced Nylite Vest but I could be off. So, yes there is definetly an orange schematic for it somewhere.

I know that there was an orange schematic for the nylite one (I actually bought a crafted one for my assassin ages ago). This was back in 1.2 and I haven't bothered looking since then. It is possible that it is still in-game but I have no idea where to get one.

You should be able to use the discs as they are not tied to an account.

Holy ......

I started playing on day 3 of early release. I had my Cyborg Agent/Sniper at 50 in 10 days... Granted I did not do much other than sleep and play. So I;m sure that if you crunched hard (and with the new perks for extra xp) you could level to 50 in 6 days. But why would you? I did mine in 10 days and still feel like I may have rushed things. Doing it in 6 seems like you would spacebar through everything and be just playing to get the "Hooray I'm 50... Now what?" emotion.