In PvE, out of the classes I have played, Operative dps is the hardest (both specs), followed by lightning sorc dps, then the rest of the possible specs/classes in my sig. This (op dps) is simply due to the complexity of the resource system and managing TAs. Jugg dps is fairly easy and hybrid sorcs are close to faceroll. Healing wise, Operatives are harder then Sorcs, but neither are terribly difficult.

Parsing without gear completely ignores class scaling such as Kyo demonstrated above with the 9% cunning example. It's an even less valid way then what we are comparing now. Parsing PvP fights is no better as they skew burst situations and are highly susceptible to RNG effects. Averaging multiple 5 to 6 min parses is the best way currently to replicate boss dps. This has been a really good thread thus far so we should keep this thread clean of whining (which is what these forums are known for) and continue to post parses with the gear level, buffs and rotation used, so that Bioware will recognize the disparity in our dps, if it happens to exist.

The above is true, there was no avoiding it. Though it is quite manageable just healing through it popping defensive abiliies.

OK, here's a log in which I made a few mistakes in and too few lacerates in comparison to shivs, but good rng bumped up the numbers. Full dps buffs and rakata stim in rakata equiv gear. http://www.fryingtime.com/?filename=combat_2012-04-28_16_39_00_768386.txt An earlier log: http://www.fryingtime.com/?filename=combat_2012-04-28_15_49_50_738654.txt Screenshot of stats :http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=6j22xy&s=6 Think the general consensus of the last few post is that we can pull around 1400-1500 dps with a near perfect rotation against a test dummy with full buffs and no debuffs. I still think we are going to lag behind in actual fights because of the lack of uptime due to no gap closers.

/signed, but it'd be nice to be available to all specs as an operative/scoundrel. Gap closers are needed by operatives for pve and pvp reasons.

What does this extra thought on your rotation and gear involve?

The general consensus of my guild/server is that operative dps is terrible. I do not agree this to be the case but I do believe there is greater than a 5% disparity between operative dps and the higher dps classes (in perfect operation conditions). While I do not have any parses to prove this, the lack of a gap closer, stricter rotation/resource systems and greater positional requirements for operatives make the disparity even larger. Although my operative mainly raids as a healer, I have conducted my own tests as dps on a training dummy (with no avoidance on the dummy, my full rakata/black hole [with little alacrity] healing gear is viable for dps testing). I have found the following (with full class buffs, but no boss debuffs): Concealment and Lethality are competitive with each other though would be easily outperformed by other classes I can pull around 1250 as concealment and 1200 dps as lethality Lethality's rotation is more difficult and would be even more difficult in operation conditions becuase of lackluster dot tracking on boss targets Lethality would perform better on certain fights due to greater array of ranged attacks What would improve the disparity? According to my observations, introducing so form of gap closer (such as a sprint or rogue shadowstep in wow) and/or a small increase in damage of a common spell between skill trees (eg. shiv, backstab or corrosive dart) and/or relaxing positional requirements (such as relaxing the dependence on backstab in the rotation or removing the requirement to be behind the target). Remember when uploading logs on training dummys that combat does not end immediately, try to finish your full rotation upon the expiration of your dots, otherwise dps values will lower. Cloaking Screen does not end combat if dots are still running. I will try to upload logs when I am able to test dps again.

I agree with the original poster 100%. I love SWTOR, and I like games that offer a real challenge. Unfortunately SWTOR doesn't quite reach the challenge I was expecting. The only fight that is even remotely difficult in-game atm is Nightmare Soa, and it feels great to down a boss of this difficulty. If all bosses offered this challenge and provided a greater reward for completing this challenge, I'd be an extremely happy customer.