There are no hybrids in this game. If you are specialised into a dps talent tree you are a pure dps. Though the disparity between some dps trees seems contrary to biowares design philosophy...

Absorption. And more absorption.

If you use flame-thrower every time it is off cool-down, putting 1 point into advanced tools will be a higher net dps increase than hot iron. You should be taking iron fist as its the main source of your damage. Also in the new raid content you have to save your taunt for specific mechanics, so holding threat through raw damage is much more essential.

Its sad that IGC bug was reported during later beta, and still hasn't been fixed. Also, grapple is not really that great, as it has a minimum range, you can't use it on melee mobs and bosses, only before you close in as a threat builder.

Also curious about this. I thought the defence relic was better only because as it provides flat defence rating, we wont hit any DR's by using it. Defence relic + an oil slick is pretty nice. Also, you should be switching your relics depending on the fight. No use using a shield/absorb or a defence relic if the boss does damage that you can't defend or shield against.

I think the OP knows what Ion Gas Cylinder is for...

I see no reason why you shouldn't be using DfA on boss fights, as long as you feel confident you can hit the boss with it. Opening with it though is questionable. I usually save my explosive fuel for a rocket punch> DfA> flamethrower combo. And yes, Oil Slick works on all pve encounters, including bosses, though depending on their damage dealing type it may be more or less effective. Also, if you have 2 powertech tanks in your ops, rotate oil slicks with each-other, as the debuff does not stack.

I find that opening with an explosive dart before the rocket punch and railshot adds a little more initial burst. I follow this with my taunt. I don't use the dart much after that though as it funks with my heat management.

If the MT is knocked back or cc'd in any way, there may be a risk of pulling agro. But if the tank has been using taunts in his rotation, the risk is minimal. In normal tank and spank phases, agro is not pulled, the main tank is loosing it. Dps shouldn't, under any circumstances be expected to hold back, your job is to beat enrage timers and stay alive, not feather your attacks to pander to an inexperienced tank. That is like asking a healer to heal less.

Derp, I forgot about the columi recipes.

If you have reached 50% shield chance and absorption, a defence relic may be better as it would be less affected by DR at that point.

It really depends on your mod and enhancement set up. Assuming you have optimised your def/absorb/shield stats with the mods and enhancements mentioned in the OP, the rakata ear and implants would be best in slot. However, crit crafted ear and implants are an excellent way to make up for any lacking stats until you get the mods and enhancements your after.

I assume you are referring to the +defence and shield rating enhancements? I have replaced my accuracy ones with those, but my absorption is way to low for my liking, its like at 34%. Also, I have used the +absorption rating modifications in place of the default ones where I can. I'm finding it hard to bump up absorption without replacing shield rating. I think I'm at like 48% shield chance atm with that current set up. EDIT: I'm planning to put some of the accuracy enhancements back into some of my armour as they have 20% absorption rating. Once I get my rakata implants, it should result in no loss to shield rating, a drop in defence and a boost to absorb.

The whole getting to your ship system is very clunky. The orbital stations just add another layer of tedium. Solution: 1. Having separate docking areas for each classes ship is unnecessary. There should be a single large landing area with all the classes ships there. The entrance to each ship would be the green phase portal. 2. Remove orbital stations and star-ports and place the same large class ship area mentioned above on each planet. (having them open roofed would be cool, like the pre-release screen shots of the smugglers ship on hoth.) 3. Pre-record and make bik films of the ship docking/un-docking from planets and the fleet. Have these pre-recorded cut-scenes play as part of the loading screen itself.

I'm also trying to get that set. Just need the boots and the belt, but I haven't seen them in the GTN. Can't find info on where / who they drop off.

Now that you have pointed it out... I don't think I could see it any other way.

I was under the impression that defence rating was leaps and bounds more important than shield rating.

I have seen a level 49 prototype helm with that appearance on the GTN. I think it can be crit crafted by armormechs.

From people in beta, they say the tables have been bugged ever since bioware removed a bunch of AC specific armour sets from the loots tables. I have never seen a pair of BT legs drop, and I lived in that place till level 16.

I can't believe this point is being debated as much as it has. If an item drops and it's obviously for a certain class, regardless if its modifiable or not, the class that it's for gets first dibs. What is so complicated about this? Do people seriously need on modifiable gear just to strip the mods out? I have no faith in the human race.

I found the boots and belt on the GTN, no luck with the drops. Still haven't seen the gloves yet, in fact I can't find any info on where they come from. I would assume they drop somewhere on hutta or korriban? anyone know?

Been farming droids for last 2 weeks and no luck so far. Also, haven't seen the gloves or boots on GTN yet.

The first time I tried to do that was against a smuggler in cover. Standin in the acid spamming my grapple trying to wonder why it wasn't working. huuurr.

I'm all for removing alignment restrictions on color crystals. In addition to making sith corruption only apply to force users. Making red and blue colour crystals faction exclusive may have been a better solution.