First!!! ... to point out that none of those are AoE.

I prefer to hold Bioware to a higher standard, which they have historically demonstrated they are capable of achieving, instead of giving up and accepting mediocrity. To me, silence signals that the bolster issue is "business as usual," whereas an apology and other actions would indicate they are embarrassed by an uncharacteristic lack of quality (and I do feel that 2.0's bolster qualifies as uncharacteristic lack of quality. As much as we complain about the game, pvp balance, etc., it's been pretty darn playable up until now). I can't speak for everyone else, but for whatever reason I can't help but approach this issue from a "what would I do" standpoint. When I say that they need to apologize, take responsibility, maybe give us something, I'm thinking in terms of the best way to handle the situation from a PR perspective. Modern consumers demand quick action on issues like this, and they are starting to expect whatever that action is to resonate. You could argue that this sets a dangerous precedent, but so does losing subs.

Focus/Rage was a really powerful spec way before 1.4. The animation fix was a must, but all the other little buffs went too far, and led to the spec being simply overtuned. Plenty of good players who play the spec couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the patch notes. And those same players knew they were getting away with something when they took the spec into pvp. The concept of a point blank AoE with a big autocrit is reasonable, as you've pointed out before. But it's not automatically "qq" to think the spec is a little overtuned. Of course, since 2.0 dropped, it's been impossible to comment on the tuning of specs thanks to blolster. The last time I saw Kettlebell he was playing a Focus Sentinel with a pocket healer (he is quite good at coming into your guild's Vent and wooing the ladies) and feeling awesome about himself, but that was forever ago, maybe before 1.4.

Some people think the lag is caused my another instance of that warzone being created.

Exactly, it's an MMO. People pay a subscription, and invest time in their characters. If you don't like the direction the developers are taking the game, that's one thing, especially if they informed you ahead of time. That's like wanting your money back from the movies because you didn't like the end. But it's quite another thing if the developers repeatedly fail to provide a working framework for an entire mode of content. That warrants an apology and some compensation. It's like going to see a movie but the sound won't play.

I would also like an explanation for this, as well as Overtone's set bonus issue. This thread should not fall off the first page.

The question of the day is up, so we should get a response any time now.

It is a big and unwarranted leap to make from "It is ridiculous and embarrassing that they have not gotten Bolster working properly yet" (which is true) to "They will never get bolster working properly yet" (which seems extremely unlikely)

No you don't. Just stop. Maybe you should go play it, since you clearly don't understand the difference between fair pve progression and fair pvp progression.

lol @ over-reacting brats who scream "QQ" every time someone makes a point about operative roll. Grow up.

Bolster, properly implemented and working as intended, would preserve the gear grind that rewards time invested while preventing undergeared players who are recently max-level from being obliterated. It would create more balanced matches where skill gains importance. It would encourage more people to pvp, and not discourage or turn away people who want to try PvP, only to find they are useless. Bolster is a formula that can be tweaked for maximum effectiveness, instead of a gear set that has to be re-released every tier. Bolster doesn't require people to equip special gear to perform while they are getting their pvp gear. Bolster doesn't trivialize the first two steps of your endgame PvE progression like recruit did. It is a much better system, if they can just get it right.

Obtuse comments like this aren't helping. In PvE you can choose the level of your competition. Not so in PvP. PvP players have a reason to want bolster to work well - they shouldn't have to slog through a week or two of uselessness while they gear up. That's not fun for anyone (except bads who need undergeared fresh 55s to squash). Invariably someone will say that you should ignore all the fun leveling content in the game and just farm warzones while you are leveling up if you are "serious about pvp" so you can get a full set of gear when you hit 55. These people insist everyone plays like them and have no tolerance for people with alternate playstyles who still don't want to be useless in pvp when they hit 55.

This is only viable for the one guy on every server who is better at 1v1 than every other player on that server. In which case, his skills are probably wasted guarding.

I see you fall into category 1.

This!

OP, you are not wrong to ask for an apology. This whole Bolster debacle has been a PR catastrophe. Remember when Marco Rubio awkwardly drank a sip of water during the State of the Union response, and then tweeted that pic of the bottle, or when Oreo rushed out some clever marketing during the Superbowl blackout? That nimbleness and wit is what people have come to expect. Bioware should definitely issue a formal apology, but they should back it up with some cool perks for people who were subbed for the launch of 2.0. I am dead serious that they should release a Jawa pet clutching a torn couch pillow ("broken bolster"), along with other cool/useful ingame items. A free month of sub would not be overdoing it. They have lagged utterly behind this whole situation. From ignoring the PTS feedback, to repeated failed patches, to a lack of acknowledgement or response that actually engages the community. Poorly handled on every front.

I will use it on voidstar defense until the operative roll is addressed.

Oh brother, that is not just a minor change, that is a huge change. But can anyone confirm that you actually need to add or remove the augments? You can't just zone in with empty slots and get the bug?

I have had it with this Monkey Fighting Bolster in these Monday to Friday warzones! But in all seriousness, the people crying to get rid of bolster either don't understand the system and how it's supposed to work, or they are selfishly willing to sacrifice long term game balance for short-term gratification.

What ranged dps class do you play?

The system should just track your last, say, 5 warzones that you complete, compare to the other 15 people that you are queued with, and generate the "freshest" map for the group as a whole.

Brought to you by the Department of Redundancy Department?

I rather enjoy my daily heroic space mission, and I will probably continue to do them with the assumption that Bioware will eventually put something worthwhile on the fleet comms vendor, like top grade crafting mats. Because, as we all know, there is nothing actually useful on there now.

Not every 6 seconds, but they can lower the cooldown on it with some skill tree talents that everyone takes. And while Juggs may have a hard time doing a full smash so easily on CD, it's Marauders that are the problem with their Fury mechanic and all their defensive CDs. They can rotate Berserk and Crush pretty easily. But I agree that these complaints are a waste of time until we've all had a chance to test 2.0.1.

lol, +1 for you. I agree it doesn't make sense in the context of the new abilities, but when you consider all the other things sages can do in huttball, they probably figured being able to barrier with the ball would be too much. You forgot to say **edit**