It really wasn't a 15 minute window. JUST tried to log on maybe an hour ago. Incoming 900 Mb patch. Then hung on load screen. Of course *THEN* I came to the forums to find out what's going on. Check again Bioware , it wasn't a 15 minute window -.-

Personally I run a 2/8/31 Lethality build: http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#400bZbIZGbbkrMGdhR.1 I'm contemplating balancing back a bit into the engineering tree, but I'm still a bit on the fence. My personal "parsing" which has basically been done by whaling on one of my tank guildies with each build (very *very* imprecise) showed this to come out on top for my personal dps. In raids, I also seem to be out-dpsing my previous MM build and also my Engineering hybrid. As said earlier, it's an incredibly painful build to energy manage, but as long as you stay on top of things, it outstrips any other build I've tried. (Also kicks serious *** in PvP...though you could change a few skills around to suit PvP or PvE more as per your preference. I do both, hence the build)

I understand both sides of the fence. Firstly, I'm a lethality sniper. Seriously sick dps if you know what you're doing but it takes a *long* time to get used to the appropriate combo to avoid getting major energy management issues. Also, you really don't spend a huge amount of time in cover in this build, sure you want some...but it's not where the majority of your dps comes from. As I'm only valor 59 I can't be the be-all-end-all in PvP, but even as such when competing against everyone else for the WZ dps charts I am *always* top 3-4, usually top 2. As to utility, sure I moan about how ****** our utility is compared to others in the game for PvP...but we have got: Leg Shot for a 0 resolve snare, Flashbangs - AoE stun, a decent cooldown on shield probe and cover pulse and that's just for starters. Perhaps we don't have the leaps or what have you, but unless you've built your skills wrong the only thing I *regularly* complain about is the necessity to be in cover for our knockback (that just blows). Lethality tree, being majority internal damage, tears through the tankiest of opponents. It's not an easy class to play, but they are by no means weak. (also if you're waiting on a 2.5 sec ambush in marksman spec then you're playing the class wrong, take some time to work on your skill rotations)