I think if you chose your advanced class at character creation it would change a lot. It'd break away from the idea that they're the same class with different specialties, and instead make it clear that they're two different classes that share a story and a group of companions.

Integrating the advanced class choice into character creation and making it clear that each pair of classes shares a story wouldn't be too difficult. Keep the same four class buttons, but have a line dividing each one in half. For example, the Smuggler button could have the Gunslinger icon on one side, and the Scoundrel icon on the other. Clicking it pulls up the same popup you currently get when talking to your advanced class trainer for the first time, describing the differences between the two and prompting you to choose one. As for my Collection argument, the price to register an item is far less than it costs to buy the item in the first place. So, instead of cutting your losses on, say, a $20 investment on the character you're not quite happy with, you can instead spend a few more dollars to transfer that investment to a new character you'll like better.

The strongest argument I've seen in favor of advanced class changes is a result of the Cartel Market. It was possible to invest real money in getting your character's look just right, and then decide you'd picked the wrong advanced class. I have to admit that sucks a whole lot. But now we have Collections, so that argument doesn't really apply anymore.

I understand. I have a level 42 Sentinel that I think I'd rather turn into a Guardian. I'm against the idea of advanced class changes, but if it happened I have to admit that I'd probably take advantage of it on that one character.

If you allow a limited number of changes, no matter what that limit is, it would never be quite enough. Either don't allow the change at all, or allow free changes at any time. I'd prefer the former, because I really don't like the idea of forgetting one skill set and suddenly becoming an expert with another.

Problem with this idea is, some players would switch for one night because their guild needed a tank instead of a healer. Then they'd switch back to the healer class and, after thinking about it, decide they liked the tank class better. But now they'd be stuck in the healer class for good, and they'd be right back here on the forums begging for just one more advanced class change.

Everquest 2 used to do something similar to what they do here. You'd pick a basic class at level 1, an intermediate class at level 10, and an advanced class at level 20. These choices were likewise final and immutable. Many players there wanted to change class, too. "Why can't I change my Inquisitor to a Fury? They're both Priests! That doesn't change just because one wears plate armor and carries a big hammer while the other wears leather and shapeshifts! So their healing methods are also completely different; big deal." Same argument you see here, more or less, except each basic class branched out into six advanced classes rather than just two. Eventually, Sony dropped the whole idea of class tiers, and just had you pick your advanced class at level 1. This was the best way to handle the situation, IMO, because it took away that feeling some people had that Berserkers and Paladins were just different specializations of the same basic class (Warrior) and so switching back and forth between them should be as easy as swapping gear sets. Their intent all along was that Bard and Ranger were supposed to be completely different classes, despite the fact that they'd both started out as Rogues. It would've been dumb for them to allow you to forget how to sing and thus somehow become a great archer instantly. By the same token, you shouldn't be able to forget how to heal and use an autocannon on the spot and suddenly become far tougher and highly skilled at keeping enemy attention off your friends rather than killing them quickly. That, too, would be dumb. I really think BioWare should also skip basic classes and just have you pick your advanced class at character creation. It'd clear up a lot of misconceptions.

Your assumption is correct. I'm sorry I don't have better news for you on that front.

Technically, claiming is free. It's just registering that costs coins. And the amounts vary so widely, I don't think it'd make a whole lot of sense to make them free. If, say, all costs were reduced by up to 100 for subscribers, that'd be pretty cool. On the other hand, Collection already greatly reduces what you'd spend on the Cartel Market otherwise. I actually have some doubts as to the wisdom of this system in the long run. Get a nice vehicle, a couple of good crystals and a few cool suits of armor in your Collection, and honestly, do you really have any need for the Cartel Market after that?

I don't think that's the case. I have the Clandestine Officer's Uniform on my Sniper. It cost me something like 1400 CC to buy outright from the market. I have the option of registering it for 600 CC. The reason I haven't already done so is that's the only character I'm inclined to put that outfit on, so there's no point in making it available to my other characters.

Yep, it's not ludicrous at all. Once you have it, you pay a little bit extra to be able to reproduce it as many times as you like. It's a far better deal than having to buy it separately on every character you want to have it. For example, I pulled an Aratech Nethian out of a Contraband pack. Spending 60 CC to register it in my Collection means I can get a free Nethian on every character I have now or will ever create, on any server. It sure beats having to buy a scooter separately for each character. The Collection system does have a little quirk that might explain the trouble you're having. Equipping your scooter on your main puts it in your Collection, but to register it properly, you'll have to log in on a different character. Pull up your Collection on that character, and look for the scooter. You should see the Cartel Market icon there. Click on that, and you'll see how many CC you have to spend to register it. You'll see that it's much cheaper than buying the scooter was in the first place. Once you've paid that registration fee once, every character on your account will be able to get that scooter out of your Collection for free. I think it's totally worth it.

The videos I've seen at YouTube keep the wheel showing. I'm guessing it's because you can't hide it and keep the subtitles showing.

You can mail it. If it were Bind On Pickup, it couldn't be sold on the GTN to begin with. On a side note, it can also be added to your Collection and made available to all your characters. The CC cost to register it should be pretty cheap, like 60 or 90 CC, I think. At least, that's what the Aratech Nethian costs. I think it's just the really rare scooters, like the skiffs and thrones, that cost more. I have a Fortune Hunter, myself, but only my Gunslinger uses it, so I haven't bothered to register it. My other characters use the Nethian.

It's good to see that Darth Baras has moved on from putting lightbulbs in his mouth and sucking up to Gomez and Morticia. That whole situation was really beneath him.

If the Guildmaster doesn't log in for a long time, eventually another member is automatically promoted to become the new Guildmaster. I'm not sure about the specifics. I think if nobody logs in for a few months, the next member to log in gets that promotion. Or maybe it's the next member above a certain rank to log in. But, yeah, basically, I'm guessing this is what happened.

Power supply is another potential area of concern. Most pre-built computers have low-end power supplies, and any sort of graphics card will probably require an upgrade. That part alone will cost close to the $50-$60 figure you mentioned. Also, Windows XP is not supported by TOR. People with XP have been reporting all sorts of problems running the game.

You can mail stuff cross-faction between your own characters.

I take screenshots with just the Print Screen key; no Alt needed.

Screenshots are only disabled during cutscenes.

It'll be for one character. Since they don't have any way of knowing which characters any of us will want to rename, they'll set up a page where you go to claim the free name change. You'll go there, choose the character from a menu, and next time you log in on that character you'll have a rename token in your mailbox. I'm guessing it'll be a special "Complimentary Name Change" token, BoP like the experience boosts you get as quest rewards, so you won't be able to give it away or put it on the GTN instead of using it.

There's another reason Cathar cost 600 Cartel Coins. You can make them any class, and all customization options are available to both Empire and Republic. In that sense, it functions like any other species unlock. Therefore, it costs the same as any other species unlock. The only difference is, you need that unlock to play them at all. They could've easily charged us maybe 1000 CC for basic access first (limited class options, separate fur colors and patterns for each faction) and then had the full unlock as a separate thing to earn or buy just like any other species. But they instead decided to let us skip a step and go straight to buying the full species unlock. So, it could've easily been worse.

I have a feeling separate class stories are done, as far as our hosts are concerned. The problem I see with continuing them is that at least two of them (Bounty Hunter and Agent) have more than one possible Chapter Three resolution. To continue those, BioWare would have to account for every possible choice you can make in the end, and provide separate paths for all of them. Otherwise, the continued stories wouldn't make sense for a lot of players. I've seen several players complain that the Makeb cutscenes didn't fit with their Chapter Three choices. A Bounty Hunter, for example, can make a choice to... RotHC presumes the latter, which annoyed those players who chose the former option. I chose the latter, so I didn't mind seeing my Powertech act like an Imperial loyalist, but I know a lot of other people were rather irked by it, and I can understand why.

I'm guessing they abandoned the flashpoint and re-queued together.

Interesting comparison. Luke's father is nicknamed Annie, and Paul's father is named Leto. Both girls' names! Coincidence?

I'm one of those people who tend to undercut by a significant amount. I just want the stuff to move. I get good money, and it sells quickly. And whoever buys it gets a good deal. Everybody wins! I also don't put everything I could on the GTN. I vendor or disassemble greens. I try to give blues to my guildies before vendoring or disassembling them. I put purples and oranges on the GTN if I, a companion, or a guildie can't use them. I'm generally happy as long as I have enough money to cover my repairs, buy mats for improving my crewskill schematics, and buy the occasional nice thing for my characters. Oh, and make the occasional contribution to the guild bank. I make enough for this by doing dailies and running flashpoints; anything I'm able to sell on the GTN is just a nice little bonus. Price-fixers often point out that they just buy my stuff and sell it for a profit, and they say that as if it's supposed to make me think twice about undercutting them. But it really doesn't bother me at all. What you do with it once it's yours is your business. Again, it moves quickly, I pocket a nice credit bonus, and you get a good deal on something you can either use or sell for a solid profit. Everybody wins! I'm not willing to put in the extra time to maximize my profits. If you are willing to do the work, more power to you! Enjoy the credits you get; you earned them. Just think of me as a wholesaler whose doors are open to the public.