Hey guys! Wanted to follow up with you all. Two weeks after starting my PT BH I am level 55, 450 all crew skills, Mako/Blizz/Torian max affection (their avg item ratings about 130) , with about 1mil in credits, and an average item rating 140+. As this was my first leveled character in Star Wars, I am pleased with my progress and more than that, surprised at how much fun it was. By far the most enjoyable leveling experience I've had in an MMO! I wanted to thank TACeMossie again for the advice here and via private message. His rotation above is exactly what you should do while leveling. A few tips he gave me and some I picked up on my own: 1) Prioritize Aim and Power (then crit/surge) --> I tried to going absorption/shield/defense for a few levels and killing mobs was painfully slow! Not worth for FP tanking either as I never die even with no defensive stats (changing now that I plan to tank end game content) --> I got a bunch of Accuracy for a few levels and again was killing slow. My understanding is that as I was leveling in zones 1-3 levels lower than myself Accuracy had little benefit. 2) Leveling got really slow around level 30. I switched to Torian and Blizz when I got him and it was much better! --> I still geared out Mako and used her for most tough elite fights or to solo the 2+ Heroics -->Torian and Blizz can use your gear as "hand me downs" making gearing them up very easy. I preferred Blizz because he hit just as hard, and could taunt off me (used him with a generator and in offensive mode with both taunts on auto) . --> When I first switched from Mako I died A LOT! With her you rarely HAVE to use your defensive cooldowns, and you definitive don't have to use the right ones /use them correctly. Once I learned how to alternate tanking with Blizz and was using my defensive CDs correctly, 40—55 was so fast! --> I had to get used to pausing every two or three packs to heal up, because with Mako I could just pull non stop. However, it was still much faster with a DPS companion. That is all I have for now (and my flight is boarding :-)) If I think of anything else I will update this post. Jae

This is a good point. No gear rating will replace common sense and/or correct allocation of stats on gear. To reiterate, this would be a convenience and game-play improvement, not a fundamental change to the game. As you have said several times, someone can spend a few moments and inspect if so desired.

This was a hilarious and very well put rationale against having a "gear score". Which is essentially what I am looking for in SWTOR. There will always be misuse of stats/gear priorities when forming groups. Even without a "score" Ops leaders will be inspecting and sifting out players they think aren't "qualified" due to gear alone. In any case, some content does have a minimum gear prerequisite.

Trolls are going to troll... I'll have to re-post later at a later date, albeit the suggestion was initially poorly worded. But since that's all this post is fetching atm, I will respond for fun! Really Styxx... you went to school? we all have? you can average some numbers? Tell me this, why do they even bother adding your primary stat, endurance and put the other values on there (crit %, crit multiplier, etc). This should have went WITHOUT saying, but it's for convenience and gameplay. When you switch a piece of gear over, you should be evaluating how it effects your stats, if not readily apparent (which is the cases you really need these values). An item rating is even more complicated than summing primary stats. The game currently gives an item rating of 112 to a piece of gear with 112 armoring, and 140+ mods/enhancements. Only an idiot would say that is good averaging! What kind of idiot posts on the suggestion forum that he can do math? They should take out all the stats for you, and let you add/average to your hearts content!

Earth, good point! This is why it should be an incorporated stat. The "average" item rating is a bit more complicated than what I stated above. It does usually prioritize Main Hand/Off Hand, then Chest/Legs/Helm over Bracers/Belt. It should give a player a general idea of how well their gear is scaling. 1) This is not a new concept 2) It would still be easy to put into the game 3) Takes the tediousness and ambiguity of checking out of overall gear stats especially for new players No one on the Forums thinks this is a good idea? or people just played SWTOR so long that they wouldn't find it useful?

You just made my point. Why should a player have to hover his mouse over all of his gear and calculate an average item rating. It should be a built in stat like every other MMO.

I took your advice and posted the suggestion, via adding it to the only other Suggestion along the same line back in Feb. http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=722610

I am new to the game (not to MMOs), and the queue for hard modes at 50 says average item rating of 126. Only to find out 10 minutes later this has to be guesstimated by the player and the game has no Stat for this. This should be an easy addition . A stat that calculates the average value of your gear. Should be a simple calculation of average item rating of mods/armor/etc divided by number of mods/armor etc.

I just asked about this in the New Users Forum... Searched and found this before i posted my suggestion... I totally agree with this. Should be easy to implement and would definitely help when pulling out companions which are most used.

Is it possible? I am a PowerTech Bounter Hunter using Blizz mostly. I would like Blizz to be the first one listed in the Crew Management menu. Is this possible? Thanks a ton!

I figured you meant Flame Burst. I like the tank leveling for the moment, but I may switch it up later, we'll see. Thanks again man!

Told you I might have follow-ups... 1) Do you recommend I go Pyrotech come 2.8? 2) What is Ion Pulse? I put it in google/torhead and it appears to be a Vangaurd skill...? Thanks again bro!

@TACeMossie - You Rock Man!!! I've read so many post but nothing comes close to the information you gave me here!!! I changed up my rotation and now I can actually KILL mobs and NOT overheat every fight! I took Missile Blast and Unload out of my rotation, and now PRIORITIZE my Rocket Punch + Rail Shot combo. Then Flamethrower. Then Rapid shots if I am getting hot or everything is on CD. If you will indulge me a few follow-up questions? 1) With the Power Tech spec I am using a Shield (as I have on Ion Gas Cylinder for the Ion Overload talent). Is this correct or should I be using a Generator with Combustible Gas Cylinder? 2) Should I just spam Flame Burst if I am not overheating, or if the target has the damage debuff then spam Rapid Shots? I may have more as I get smarter in the class, I am level 18 now and am hoping to be in the 40s after this double XP weekend. Thanks again! - Jae

Hey guys, I am new back to SWTOR, just leveled my Sorc to 47 and thought I would take a quick break to level a BH PT. I am really enjoying it, and only at level 13!!! However, I am not sure on what my rotation should be? Also, is there a site that someone could go to for leveling specs and rotations? or maybe a specific post for PTs? My current rotation: Explosive dart Flame burst Flame Thrower Unload Rocket Punch Using Rail Shot on CD when I can Then spam Missile Blast and Rapid Shots while those are on CD Any suggestions for this level and beyond? BTW I am doing shield spec as I plan on tanking a bunch of FPs to grind up. I also heard it makes for easy/fun leveling.