I just used Google for a grand total of 30 seconds, and found a page answering nearly all of your questions: http://www.gamezone.com/editorials/how-to-buy-pvp-gear-in-swtor

Related to this - has anyone else noticed the rest experience gets eaten up as you gain legacy experience. Is it affecting it or just artificially being used?

I am ashamed - but I laughed. +1 internet cookie.

This does not currently work for weapons, which I believe is why the poster is asking.

That makes sense. If it is a big enough issue (as you say it is) it deserves some review like you are asking for. I guess I'll need to fire up my Sentinel earlier than expected and see for myself. On an unrelated note: How refreshing to have an intelligent, non-insulting conversation on the forums with someone. *looks over shoulder* Are we in the Twilight Zone?

So I completed this and never came back to say thank you or give some insight. This is the hardest fight I encountered up to and including the last fight we have in our class line. The issue here is that he has a seemingly very short CD gap closer that tele-ports him to your location, making kiting much more difficult than normal. What I had to do here was the following: 1) Start up on the stairs to his right 2) Start with Aimed shot / Vital Shot 3) Interupt the first cast of his teleport ability (not sure what it is called, its not a leap) 4) When he starts to cast second one, strafe right and LoS it 5) continue up stairs and around 6) Stand near edge - use instant shots and keep vital shot up 7) Continue to use the edge of the platform to LoS each cast of teleport 8) In the event he gets one off and reaches you, use pulse detonator to send him back to the ground This worked for me. Was a very frustrating fight but finally nailed it down.

I do understand the value of a first impression, and I think you have a valid concern there. That being said, my post was meant to reflect that in an MMO it is simply not possible to have a game balanced across all levels, unless you resort to standardization which most folks do not like (i.e "All classes now get their 4 second interrupt at level 12 - it just has a different name"). To elaborate - MMO's are about gaining levels and strengthening your character through gear, skills, abilities, and practice. With that many variables, if you want real variety, there are going to be classes that are better at soloing, better at X level, worse at Y level, better at healing X man content, worse at tanking Y man content, and so forth. This is the price you pay for having true variety in the classes. And if you'd like an example about homogenization - we can have a quick chat about the tanking classes in World of Warcraft. Whether for better or worse - they are an example of the path homogenization leads to.

Balance at level 11 is really not something worth analyzing or worrying about.....

Just a few points here: 1) Commando's are not tanks 2) Putting a box for DPS without covering mobility, gap closers, burst ratios, etc, is over-simplification.

This is correct. However, I am not sure that is a big issue. Those that have taken the time to gear a character and practice in PvP are naturally going to be better off than those new to level 50. This is just the nature of MMO's. Much like those that have gotten Heroic Flash Point gear will hold their own better in an Operation than a new level 50 character. The challenge of course, and I think your post encapsulates this, is balancing both of: 1) Keeping new players engaged and giving them a chance 2) Allowing long time, geared characters to feel their success for their effort

Hey Thogre - That could very well be it. At this point, I think one of two things happened, and unfortunately this is all speculation / from memory, since there is not a lot of this data floating around at the moment (did some searching and digging through TorHead, couldn't come up with anything conclusive). But, with the above in mind, I would try the following: Hope this helps =/. Sorry you are having these issues.

Hey Rahl -

I believe the first poster was confused about where you are. Now, in reference to the end of Act II - a couple of things can go wrong. I'll spoiler tag from here on in since I will be discussing events. Hope this gets you back on track.

Glad you found a class you enjoy! I would caution you, however, to not put *too* much emphasis on how PvP feels prior to gearing at 50. The reason I bring this up is that the game is in an awkward spot at the moment. You have folks at level 50 in large amounts of Champion gear, and then a large, leveling player base with no expertise (or little) on their gear. It doesn't add up to a fully-enjoyable experience at all times. I am not sure how it can be done better at launch - this may be the best way - but the above is still a side-effect.

Get to Voss and you will understand where the complaints come from. (this is not sarcastic - meant to be serious).

It probably comes down to what you mean by "viable". Before 30 I imagine most content is doable with no talent points spent at all. I don't mean to be rude here, im just merely pointing out that at that level of content there is a bit more leway in combat. In short: If you like the spec (or think you might) give it a shot! =) As for rotation - i'll let the DF folks weigh in as I roll SS all the way.

Indeed. I am aware I could get a friend to come help (and I will), but that is frustrating on solo quest content. When I analyze the forums, the content, and what I have learned about this game, I am starting think this: Higher level solo content may be over-tuned for Advanced-classes with ZERO healing abilities. Guss simply can't keep me up, and I don't have the option to switch to a tank and rock some solid healing to draw out the fight and win.

I really tend to disagree with this. I myself am a *very* experienced MMO player. This will sound very egotistical - but when I die 10+ times to an elite, on a solo-marked quest, with three different types of companions geared just to try this quest - trust me when I say something is wrong. I am the kind of player that pulls optional elites just to see what I can do with them. But there are some fights I simply cannot do - with 20 minute cooldown, medpacks, stims, etc. And bear in mind - these are single pull elites, on solo quests, 2 levels *below* me. I am not trying to stretch to heroic or higher level content here.

I have not seen many other complaints about cover itself being slow - I think you are experiencing two things: 1) Warzone lag - this is a widespread issue that the community has voiced 2) Ability Delay - See the general forums - confirmed to be actively being worked on by development. Both of the above have no relation to the Gunslinger AC, or the sharpshooter tree.

With respect, and not being rude, can you link to this math? Making a claim that a certain AC is the highest DPS is pretty bold given the combat log-less state of the game.

You can turn off the harpoon from auto use. Simply press "`" (to the left of the "1" on a standard US keyboard). This will move the companions abilities to the main bar, and you can right click to toggle off the auto cast (the green square in the top right of each ability). There is an issue where it will toggle back on if you have to resurrect or re-summon Corso - so remember to re-toggle off. (This issue is confirmed as being fixed in Patch 1.1 - see notes in PTS forums).

This will be fixed in Patch 1.1. Please see the patch notes here: http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=173371

I don't even....

I am lurking today because of this exact issue. I am questing on Voss at the moment with my 46 gunslinger. Liked her for most of the game, got to Voss, can't solo a single elite when needed even by solo quests. That includes 20 minute CD, and trying out three separate companion setups which I wasted mucho credits on. (Gus, Bowdar, Corso). I'm not asking to solo group quests.. but these are a single elite mob, two levels below me, for a normal, one person quest (non class).

The faster you can travel - the smaller the perspective of the world comes. When that happens, immersion is lost. It is a trade off - running and riding long distances does have a pay-off - and that is the more immersive feeling of a more-expansive world. Not everyone likes that, but some do.