Going by the intended rating system... TOR is kind of the Planescape Torment of MMOs. There's a really awesome IP and big focus on story and characters and I like the story and characters, but there seems to be little to no ingenuity or eventhe polish anywhere else: just more of the same/a six year old formula. I'll totally play through to finish out the story and enjoy doing that, but once that's over I don't see anything else to recommend it or retain my interest. I say this as someone who loves Torment and wants TOR to improve and do well.

C+ I greatly appreciate the storytelling compared to other MMOs, but it's so buggy and the lack of so many features common to other games just make it feel old/unfinished.

In no way does my suggestion circumvent the earning of gear. It enhances that award system by allowing a player to benefit both from their statistical and aesthetic awards as they so choose. Appearance tabs/transmogrify/modification, by their implicit nature, require players to "rise to the top in achieving goals" if they expect the appearance or stats that are rewarded for such. Nothing comes any more cheaply than it already does. Under the present modification system, players are still forced to forgo statistical upgrades while attempting to modify their aesthetic preferences and modifiable gear is not exactly easy to come by, especially as it relates to individual aesthetic preference. This makes the system more onerous and less intuitive than the options of virtually all competing games, including free to plays. It does not behoove BioWare to lag behind in any arena, most especially one as important to the context of TOR as characterization, immersion, and cinematic scope. Or, more simply: forcing my male jedi to wear sparkling white dresses or forgo stats for the majority of his career sucks.

All gear should be modifiable and run on mods so this system actually encourages customization rather than punishes it. Or, rather than rework all itemization in the game, they could just put in an appearance tab/transmogrify.

Since fortune has yet to grace me with modifiable boots, I am currently forced to wear snow-white, silver filigreed, pretty pretty princess boots. This is very much in keeping with the jedi standards of modest robes and earth tones. I want to hurt the artist's feelings as much as possible, this is ridiculous.

Not all upgrades have mods. Thus the system fails.

Technically, it isn't. The modification system isn't half as flexible for players as transmogrify or the appearance tab. Under those systems, I can immediately equip a statistical upgrade while maintaining desired appearance. Modification requires me to slowly build up mods while passing on upgrades because I think they look terrible. Not to mention the hassle of finding modifiable gear you like in the first place. It's a terrible, poorly thought out system that is a marked step behind every other MMORPG and the devs should be ashamed of themselves. We now return to your regularly scheduled programming.

Since they plan on making adjustments based on fan feedback, you know, because "this game is for you guys," I would really like the modification system to brought up to par with an appearance tab as soon as possible. TOR is about your character. Over half the game is watching them in cutscenes with high-res textures. How is a player's character not looking the way they want to due to statistical advantage acceptable in this scenario? It isn't. I say this as someone currently wearing the Noble Consular's Robe as my modifiable gear. I'm pretty sure it isn't possible for me to look more like a consular, and yet I'm put at a constant step behind in order to maintain this appearance as opposed to just strapping on a wedding dress and tiara. This is lame beyond imagining.

Ord Mantell. His dad seemed like a bit of a jerk, but the mother was beside herself. I really didn't pick up an abuse vibe.

I found it very odd that telling a runaway to go back to his sobbing mother was dark side.

Futuristic? "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..." In addition to the bold text, notice the fairy tale feel of that opening line? Star Wars isn't really scifi, it's space opera, which is fantasy in scifi clothing. Vader was called a sorcerer, Obi-Wan was called an old wizard, there are the Witches of Dathomir and Voss Mystics. That said, the sage was initially named wizard and changed due to massive fan reaction. So there's that...

If we can't have an appearance tab, then all gear should run on mods so I can rip and upgrade immediately as necessary. In my experience, keeping up appearances in TOR is not possible while keeping up with stats. Why should looking good be an agonizing process? As pointed out on Penny Arcade, especially in TOR, which runs off cinematic scale and characterization, appearance is vitally important. The mod system, as presently implemented, isn't cutting it. I shouldn't have to wait and save up for mods while a random ugly green drop would be an upgrade.

For me it's a triple tie between annoying companions, the marathon spaceport/hangar/orbital station timewaster, and how frustratingly clunky it is to try and make mod gear keep up with the hideous random greens that drop while leveling.

A thousand times yes. I would love to be able to do this.

Fully agree. We all have personal starship by level 20, fricking beam me up. Contrary to what one might think, tedium does not extend my play/subscription time. In fact, the opposite is true. Similarly, trudging about really does nothing to immerse me. It's like taking a story and inserting chapter after chapter that just say "walking, walking, walking." That may've worked for LOTR, but I think it's generally frowned upon.