I don't like the idea of restricting people to 1-2 colors based on their class or role. Sometimes I want to use my cyan because it matches my augmented gear. Sometimes I want to use black-red because it looks cool. Or purple with my tanking gear.

Please moar. I want to level both advanced classes on both factions. I have one slot left and I can't decide if I want to do a Gunslinger or Shadow. ( Will pay in hugs.

I play Madness and use a Razer Naga. I find that these keybindings suit my playstyle well in PvP or PvE since I am constantly having to move or switch targets. I also have really small hands so I try not to go past F or 4. :< 1 - Discharge 2 - Saber Strike 3 - Thrash 4 - Maul 5 - Crushing Darkness 6 - Creeping Terror S1 - Death Field S2 - Overcharge Saber S3 - Recklessness S4 - Power Adrenal ` - Medpac (Side buttons above the keypad on the Naga) S Mouse Button 4 - Single Taunt S Mouse Button 5 - Assassinate S Scroll Up - Lacerate S Scroll Down - Electrocute Mouse Button 4 - Overload Mouse Button 5 - Jolt SD - Force Speed SW - Instant Whirlwind ST - Force Cloak SC - Sap SS - Stealth SV - Unbreakable Will V - Vanish G - Force Slow - - Mount

With full raid buffs and my stim, I'm at 38.7% crit. I rarely use Saber Strike because force regen for Madness is really good with Calculating Mind. The only time I catch myself having to throw a Saber Strike into my rotation is after I pop my cooldowns and start thrashing the **** out of my target or when something gets really low and I Assassinate -> Maul -> Maul (without Exploit Weakness proc) to finish it off. On average, once my dots are up, I just Thrash until I get a Raze proc. If Crushing Darkness is already up, I wait until it falls off or if Death Field is about to come off of cooldown to put it up.

The Hybrid spec isn't very viable for Explosive Conflict. It's decent for PvP Madness, but with the amount of target switching, movement, and less time on the boss, Crushing Darkness spec is going to outperform the hybrid. I would also highly recommend using a Shock/Project-less spec and dropping Unearthed Knowledge/Twin Disciplines. The cost of Shock/Project is way too high and the damage to low to use the GCD/Force on a buff that's actually quite pitiful. I have played as the hybrid spec, standard shock, and shock-less spec and find the latter to do the most damage over a 5 minute period on a target dummy and in raid. It allows for more Thrashes and higher uptime of Crushing Darkness on your target. It also has more passive damage reduction. http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#200Mc0MZhZsrbRrrkMfz.1

Use this spec -- http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#200Mc0MZhZsrbRrrkMfz.1 It's slightly different but you don't use Shock. Using Shock is a DPS loss despite the small damage buff from Unearthed Knowledge. 1. Assassinate (sub 30%) 2. Maul (on proc) 3. Death Field 4. Crushing Darkness (Raze Proc) 5. Discharge (Lightnining Charge, right as it falls off to proc Raze) 6. Creeping Terror 7. Thrash 8. Saber Strike (when low on force) Use Discharge and Creeping Terror together because their durations are both 18 seconds. Creeping Terror has a 9 second cooldown, do you can use it on cooldown for double dotting. Thrash until Raze procs. Once Raze procs, use Death Field and then Crushing Darkness so it's dots benefit most from Death Field. When Exploit Weakness procs, use it for Maul. After 30%, Assassinate on cooldown. I sustain 1600-1800 DPS during operations that don't require constant target switching, but you maintain high DPS due to dots continuing to tick.

The spec that I use is Madness 7/3/31 -- http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#200Mc0MZhZsrbRrrkMfz.1 This is a shock-less spec, because using Shock is a DPS loss due to it having high force cost with low damage output. I prefer the 2/3 Electric Execution over Dark Embrace because I've NEVER had an issue with being low on force being slightly over 35% crit. Additionally, it lets you hold onto Force Cloak for vanishrezzing. I use low willpower-high power mods and Accuracy/Power mods to just over 100%, then Power/Surge.

Comparing melee classes between two games is extremely close-minded. You cannot compare an assassin from SWTOR to a rogue in WoW aside from the stealth mechanic. Additionally, saying that no melee are viable whatsoever is ridiculous. They are quite viable, though I will agree that Deception for raiding as their sustained damage is pitiful while their few second burst periods are good. Perhaps a lack of quality, knowledgeable raiders is your and/or your guild's problem. My guild (16 man) has cleared everything so far, and has a decent world and us rank according to http://www.swtor.raidranks.com. In addition to this, we also run quite melee heavy. On our roster, we have 3 DPS Juggernauts, 2 Marauders (Anni & Carnage), 1 Assassin (Myself), and 2 Powertechs. We also use a Juggernaut tank and an Assassin tank. Of course, we don't bring all of them in at the same time. We all run MOX and our top total damage is quite consistent: #1 Lethality Sniper, #2 Powertech (best geared), #3 Madness Assassin (Myself). We three often hold the top three spots, and not always in that order. Also this is given none of us die or I need to vanishrez a player. My average sustained DPS according to MOX ranges from 1500 to 1800 DPS on fights lasting more than four minutes. TL;DR - Melee is FINE. Deception needs a buff if it wants to be considered raid viable. If you are a DPS assassin that wants to raid, learn to play madness or tank.

It's not like Madness is difficult to play either. The only benefits Deception have over Madness is: 1) They don't use DoTs, so they are able to vanish and OOC rez immediately. Madness has to wait for DoTs to fall off. 2) They have shiny abilities. C'mon, Voltaic Slash looks awesome. Madness has overall higher DPS throughput even when switching targets and movement situations but doesn't have the burst of Deception. I am usually top 3 in my 16 man raid group along with our Powertech DPS and Lethality Sniper while being responsible for calling out mechanics, performing mechanics, interrupting, and nerdraging at melee who stand in stuff. In regards to defensive cooldowns and damage reduction abilities, Madness has nice health return and quite a bit of passive damage mitigation through talents (Sith Defiance, Corrupted Flesh, Parasitism). Plus we're still able to use Force Shroud. Deflection is useless whether you're Madness or Deception because it only increases defenses (which we have zero aside from base) rather than provide damage reduction. I'd like to see an overall AoE damage buff. :] Make Lacerate not terrible! TL;DR - Roll Madness and be worshipped for your amazing DPS. <3

I'm pleased to see some changes are finally being made to customize the UI. While small at first, I'm sure we'll see more options in the future. Definitely looking forward to finally building a UI that suits me and my play style. We will all just have to wait. Good work and let's see MOAR!! Like target of target or threat colored nameplates! <3