There is a new theory called the "Holographic Universe". In essence, all our percieved notions, our calculations, tests, etc are a just a view governed by rules. But these are all limited to a small portion of what is REAL. If we are ever able to access the "projector" of the hologram in some way, then ALL THINGS WOULD BE POSSIBLE. This would be the power of GOD, so maybe it would be a good thing if this never happens.

Call me a glutton for punishment, but I am proud that I can put a whoopin on people with my "nerfed, worst class in the game" Merc Arsenal.

It is WAD as only the new armor in 1.2 has the set bonuses attached to the armor mod. BM is considered new. Rakata is not. I have full BM, but only 2 Rakata and 2 Columi set pieces (not chest). I bought a augmented chest, put in a 58 (whatever, top level) armor mod I bought, put in a 56 modification and enhancement and a 50 augment. Wearing that, I have the set bonus, as you only need 4 pieces for that, and I can use the color match to change any other piece to match that chest piece. It is the only way to get an augment and color scheme, plus keep the set bonus if you do not have Campaign or Black Hole armor.

Mods, except for the Armor one, are not tied to there individual slot, and can be mixed and matched as you wish. PvP and PvE end game gear have mods of 51, 56 and 58 (not sure on War Hero, Campaign and Black Hole, all new with 1.2.

If you pull the Armor Mod out of Rakata and lower tier PvE gear, the set bonus will not come with it. So what can you do to give you at least one piece that includes an Augment AND gives you the ability to change the color of your other pieces AND keep all your set bonuses? If you have Tionese or better in all the other slots for the 4 piece set bonus, then buy or make an Augmented Chestguard (upperbody) that you like to most. You can then stuff your 58/56/51 lvl mods into it, put it on and change the color of any of the other pieces (except your helment ) to that of your chest. Its the most you can do to get at least one Augment, get the customized color and keep the 4 piece bonus for your set of Rakata and below armor.

Target Skill Forwarding - press a skill with no target will work as target closest, and NOT fire the skill.

Skill? What the hell skill is there to button pushing that have timers for CD? You can't push them faster than I, and there are only a few good skills. You might hit a CC ability, a few DPS abilities, and a defensive one. You think you win more matches than I because you have found a special combination of those buttons that is so much better than the way I push them? Man you have an ego. This is an MMORPG, you play a CHARACTER. If your character can beat mine is the point. No reflection on if you are better, your character is.

With this arguement that PvP should be based on skill alone, and not gear, why then have levels in the game. Couldn't we just let newly created characters have all the skills? Why put them at a disadvantage of having to work for them?

+1 I agree. As an Arsenal Merc, I find myself constantly thinking about how to deploy in such a way as to limit the enemy access to interrupt / melee me. Not all bad, as that is "strategy". But really what determines if I will do well is if I am NOT a threat. If the other team notices that I have been effective, they easily put an end to that

Bioware is changing this. You will only need one medal to get rewards. For that matter, it may have already been changed. Can anyone confirm?

What about the other way around? I have Full BM (well, almost, I will have the Off Hand Blaster tonight and then I am short only one relic for full BM). But when I raid, I switch to all PvE gear, which is kinda patchwork for me. Rakata Boots, Columi Helmet, Gloves, and Greaves and a (oh no!) Tionese Chestguard. I still use the BM Earpiece, Vambraces and Belt in PvE, but the rest in Columi (Implants and relics). BM Mainhand, and will use BM Off-Hand as well when I get it. So, is an "AVERAGE" of Columi better than BM in PvE (raiding)?

These people remind me of my stepson. Nice kid, but typical of today's crowd. He's 27. He has the attention span of a bacterium. If not IMMEDIATELY gradified, he determines that it SUCKS and moves on. He even let one of his pets DIE once, because he forgot about it. I am sorry this is our fault, we created this world, and our seeds have grown into this.

http://photonics.anu.edu.au/qoptics/Research/qrng.php

I have an 50 Arsenal Merc. Although I do notice some diff in DFA and the other "nerfs" - I find I play pretty much the same as I used to. For one thing, DFA in PvP was only a "Bust them up" skill that I would only use when the enemy packed up. And as for the nerf to TM, if you tried using that to much in PvP, you would get interrupted or your target would LOS or move out of range to fast. So in 1.2 with more Unloads and better HSM, it makes for more tools to use more often.

For an Arsenal Merc the FULL nerf was -10% TM and smaller DFA radius. For that you get: +10% HSM Damage 2x procs of Unload (+25%) DFA initiates damage immediately, with 2x the ticks. We can argue back and forth if this should balance out or not. But there is no way it is a big time nerf.

I have yet to use this option. For those that have, I would like to add to the question above. Since you cannot attack thru your ally to their target, can you target the target of target by clicking on the target of target in the UI? That sounded funny

If you are spec'd Arsenl, your TM will generate same heat (16) and have same activation time (1.5 sec). It will do 10% less damage. Barage will proc more often for Unload and your HSM will do 10% more damage. DFA will have a smaller AOE (5m instead of 8m), and you defensive effect from TM will go from 2% per stack to 1%. Overall, I'd say DPS may increase if you spam TM at the Minimum rate to get Barage and at least 4 stack of heat sig. If you ultra spam TM, you will lose DPS. So if you were a good Arsenal Merc, you will be better in 1.2. If you were a bad one, you will be worse.

PvE is the major focus of the game. But I think I see what the OP is aluding to. At 50, if you want to progress your gear (which is most of the progresion availabe at the level cap) then you must do FPs and Ops. That means not only grouping, but grouping with experienced and geared players all inclined to do the instance you are interested in at the same time you are interested in it. Obviously this is mostly available to moderate to large guilds only. So, if you are in a small guild, or not a member at all, it is tough. Or even if your in a good sized guild, you personally might not be available at the times they are scheduling there raids. That is the nature of MMOs. Here is the clincher - there is no such obstacle to PvPing. You can be a totally solo player an progress completely unhindered in PvP.

While I agree that no NERF is in order, and I agree that Mercs are usually around the middle of the pack in damage done in WZ, I think you are missing something. The changes they are enacting are most likely going to INCREASE our DPS. TM with the skill will active in the same 1.5 seconds for 16 heat, exactly the same. We will lose 10% damage per shot, but Unload will proc more often, plus Heatseeker will do 10% more damage. Remember Unload gets +25% damage when proc'd. So we will be using Unload more often, and Heatseeker will be more deadly. TM was never a DPS skill anyway. Now, the NERF to DFA, that does hurt. It may even go from a must have to a remove from my bar type skill.

1) I am not going to make comparisons of this gear vs that gear. 2) I am going to go along with the idea of balanced playing field for PvP. But I will complain about: Why is BW being so heavy handed in negating our time spent grinding Champion/Battlemaster Gear? I can live with the changes. But, com'on Man! All that wasted time grinding gear that you just phase out? Now for you people out there that ask "if you were having fun, what does it matter?". I like PvP, but I certainly would have played it a lot less, and did a lot more other activites (PvE wise) if I knew that any benefits would be trashed.

With the Buff to Heatseeker (+10%) and Unload proc'ing more often, I think our DPS will actual rise. Did I read some of the TM buffs will now stack to 10 instead of 5?

From what I have heard BM pieces that have not had the mods change will convert.

Kanrandor is right. Also know that you must have the equavilent BM piece to buy the WH piece. So no jumping directly to WH.

Man, you guys remind me of that Obi-wan line so much. I play to advance. Be that level, Valor, Gear, Craft Skill, etc. I like doing that. Apparently many have over many years. Otherwise there would not be MMOs that survive and thrive. Now to the point - I go into Flashpoints, Operations, PvP matchs, Open World PvP just like a start leveling, gaining Valor, gearing, crafting, again etc, etc. Start at square one. Everything you do gives you gains... and when you stop gaining, its game over. Just like in life, when your thru learning, your thru. I don't want free (or super EZ to get) gear. I don't want to be Level 50 before I am level 1,2,3....49 either. Crybabies.

Why do you think its going to be obsolete? You will still have it and it will have same stats (except expertise may be boosted on it). Just because some gear will no longer be available, and other armor will become available does not reduce your ability to use what you have.