Hi, I'm currently in the application process with Pax Dominus and they have been, so far, very welcoming and an extremely nice group of folks to game with. I'd highly encourage folks to join!

I wouldn't say the story is ruined for me in the least even with Skadage. I actually find him completely necessary as a crew member. Keep in mind every companion serves a specific role... I used Mako for all combat missions from 1-50 and still use her as my primary companion for dailies etc. If I'm out an about and my speeder bike breaks down... I summon Bliz to fix it. If Bliz doesn't have the parts he needs... I summon the droid so Bliz can take him apart for whatever items he's missing. If after taking apart the driod Bliz still doesn't have the parts he needs I summon Gault to go swindle the parts from someone. Last but not least if the ships latrine needs cleaning... you guessed it... Skadage gets to comes out. I also make him use his personal toothbrush then force him to brush his teeth with it for the remainder of the crew. They really get a kick out of it.

Honestly when you kill someone with a rocket punch I think their head should come flying off and roll away from their corpse across the ground! Now that would be awsome! Just thought I'd throw that in there...

Darth Canterbury, one of the Empire's finest sith marauders, has been captured by Republic commandos and is being transported to the prision planet of Belsavis. I believe there is a quest to free him in todays patch (source):

^^This. I'd like to add that I have a 50 assassin tank as well. I really enjoy the assassin but the PT mechaincs really work better for my playstyle. I also wanted to breifly touch on a few of your points. Threat: I haven't found it to be an issue at all. As mentioned above alot of FP bosses have an agro drop which requires a taunt but outside of that I haven't experienced any real issue with threat. Heat Blast: I can't argue that its lack luster for a 31 point skill but it does its job. Maybe make it a high threat move? Outside of that I don't know what else to do with it. Survivability: I can't comment on the jug as I don't have one but to me the PT feels much more stable in terms of damage influx, as compaired to my assassin, so while our defensive cooldowns may not seem all that wonderful I certianly think they are sufficient to get the job done. Grapple: I kind of like grapple as is... I don't want the added responsibility of having to worry about other players standing in stuff and pulling them out too. I honestly feel like not standing in stuff myself, picking up all the adds and holding agro on the boss all while managing my heat is enough of a job. Shoulder Slam: Here is where I would like to see a change. I'd like for this simply to be a single target knockback in line with the jugs force push ability from a damage prospective. Oil Slick: I think your idea sounds cool about igniting the oil slick for some sustained AE threat so you have my vote for that I think that may also address your Shield Vents issue when AE tanking. Shield Vents: Honestly I don't know about this one...one of the things that distinguishes good PT tanks from not so good PT tanks is heat management. I really don't want to see heat management trivialized I feel like if you don't want to have to manage a resource while tanking then you are probably more of an Assassin tank material. Not you specifically I was just generalizing in that last statment.

Sounds to me someone is upset that they are "force sensitive" and still getting stuffed into the trash can at school... "HOW DARE YOU... I'm, I'm a Jedi!". As numerous other people have pointed out interrupts are your friend but I won't belabor that point. What I would suggest is drying thoes tears, at least enough so you can see your screen again, and do some research on both BH Merc and Jedi Shadow game play mechanics. Then maybe test out some new tactics based on your findings. Crying and demanding nerfs when you simply don't understand the class mechanics of the shadow or merc is definately not the way to go. This is more of a L2P issue than a balance issue.

Its a bit lengthy but if your interested in a good read with supporting numbers I'd honestly take a look in the Powertech forums here: MorningMusume's Powertech/Vanguard Spreadsheet: http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=123306

I'd venture to say Shieldtech w/ Mako I would use (PVE): http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#301G0GrdorogzZMsbZb.1 OR http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#301G0GrdorogzZMcdZb.1 There is currently some turmoil about whether or not the direct damage component of "Ion Gas Cylinder" is functioning correctly. I personally haven't tested it out but if it is broken, as it has been suggested, then the point in "Hot Iron" would probably be a clear winner over a point in "Prototype Cylinders". Leveling as a Shieldtech I haven't really found any issues taking stuff down. I like the first build personally because I feel like I'm using "Rocket Punch" alot more than flame burst but as I said your mileage may vary.

Darkness specced here which is what I would recommend for leveling... I used Reval until I got Ashara and leveled with her solely until 50 without any issues. At 50 I prefer Talos for dailies so I have to do little to no kiting. Keep in mind that leveling with a dps companion requires you to NOT stand there and just tank... here is what i found works decently when dealing with strongs (only the hard hitting ones) / elites. If you are dealing with multiple mobs ALWAYS cc the strongest one and kill the normals. If you are dealing with a single mob... Stealth->Mind Trap(to get in closer)->Spike->Tamult(if non-elite)-> From here go into your normal meele rotation... once YOUR health gets down to about 50% use force slow and run out of meele range, or if you are fighting a ranged mob use the line of site mechanic behind some piece of the enviorment. Kite the elite around the object while Ashara is putting the smack down on him...at range you'll want to be shocking, wither, discharge etc to maintain agro also reapply slows and spike whenever possible. Once you get effective at kiting you should be able to easily take an elite 2-3 levels higher than you. There are exceptions like some of the named elites like Zash etc that I wouldn't suggest being lower level than they are but the majority of the normal elites should go without any issues. I hope this helps. EDIT: I also wanted to add to get the most out of your chain lightning heal from harnessed darkness use electrocute prior to casting chain lighting. Obvoiusly you want to ensure you have your 3 stacks first prior to burning your electrocute / chain lightning. The reason for stunning them first is the ensure that you aren't knocked down or knock back by one of the mobs abilities.

Assuming torhead is correct it looks like a knockdown Source: http://www.torhead.com/ability/5HDJ5qS I'm only level 31 so I have a ways to go before I get there! If the damage increase on Nerve Wracking doesn't effect bosses I'm looking at one of these two builds assuming the theory crafters come up with something definative on Shroud of Darkness vs Swelling Shadows: W/O Swelling Shadows: http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#200rIMckrsk0sZZf0cM.1 With Swelling Shadows: http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#200rsrckrsk0sZZf0cM.1 If it does I'd definately make some adjustments to use it.

Humm... so am I correct in assuming that Nerve Wracking would only be dps increase on trash and NOT bosses? I just can't see them allowing us to stun bosses at that point you'd just stack assassins and rotate stuns on the boss. The reason I'm bring this up is because I'm analyzing the talents for my build and trying to work out what will best suit me. Thanks!

@Shaclad New Assassin tank here so bear with me please. I read all of you posts in this thread and agree with most of what your saying. I just needed clarification on this one part though. Nerve Wracking: http://www.torhead.com/ability/4Tkyh37 The wording on the talent indicates that its a damage increase on targets "controlled" by spike or electrocute. To me that means the mob is stunned from either the 2 second spike effect or the 4 second electrocute stun. Is this correct or does the talent behave differently from the wording? This thread has generated some fantastic discussion. Awsome job OP. This is definately an excellent begining!

Lots of great information here (builds included): http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=778

My personal preference would be to drop two points out of Shroud of Darkness and add them to Lightning Reflexes. I just can't see giving up the 4% meele and ranged Defense for the extra 2% endurance. Out side of that slight adjustment looks good to me. The build I'm going for: http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#200rsrokrskbsZZf0cM.1