This has been the consistent debate in MMOs since the second expansion in another MMO. The idea is "bring the player not the class" (ref. Paladins) that a good dps player does good dps, not a good dps class does good DPS. This is the way it is in the world of MMOs now, something we just have to live with or put our money where our mouth is. For the record I disagree, I think a healing class should heal, and a healing player will roll that class, etc. On topic I agree in part with OP. As a sniper if I'm not going to have any group utility then I better be at the top of that dps list. But I'll stick with it, I still enjoy the class and eventually when they buff us back I'll be able to say I didn't go roll a FOTM [EDIT] I have been getting steamrolled alot more in PVP lately but my thoughts are that it's mainly the restructuring of expertise and the nature of 50 PVP Also just ran HM FE tonight and easily out DPSd the DPS sorc that we PuGed

This They should reward the individual playing the objective. Not punish the individual for getting queued with a bunch of scrubs who arent going to listen anyway

If you go sniper level engineering, there's alot more survivability and things get pretty dicey leading up to getting your healer. I love my 50 Sniper, but it really depends on how you want to play.

Operative Operative Operative I have a 50 Sniper, I love playing him, love PvP with him. but when that Operative opens up on me i just sit back, Ive got nothing, Chain Stun 3 hit kill every time. Also, nothing more frustrating than seeing an Op low on health and have him heal up as you're attacking (i need more expertise me-thinks)

you must be a marauder Seriously though. a fresh 50 going up against full (now with more expertise) BM gear. Especially if theyre, say a sniper. Thats an entire set of medals unavailable. getting 3 can be tough and now they want to say "no rewards for you"?

Im giving them to the end of the free month they gave us to fix the problem or Im unsubbing. I would rather go back to the other MMO than pay any more money for this broken crap they are trying their hardest to break more.

/signed

anyone who plays an MMO should be aware of downtime, its a part of playing the game. The problem everyone is having is this is unscheduled maintenance that, if like the past 2 "patches", are for freeweekenders. So they are hurting their shrinking paying population to cater to people who may not even subscribe anyway. To be fair, Free weekends are good for the community, but fix your base first, then pull in more people. Your best source is the people already paying. make them happy first. take it from the resturant business: The best marketing is solid operations. [edit} Grammar

Theyre not going to care while youre still giving them your money. its companies like this that will push things as far as they can while you pay. If they cared they would issue some comp time to the people they keep hurting with these "Oh btw 4 hour downtime" decisions. Since they wont do that it shows where their priorities are. Theyll learn when they have no subscribers.

Well since I'm DPS it really shouldn't be "you". But yes, there are bad tanks out there who are bad at holding aggro. but unless you're in a burn phase your first thought should be "is this ability going to pull off the tank?" granted since we don't have a threat meter yet its has to be up to the DPS being better at their job than some one on "another MMO" just staring at a threat meter, but if you know what you're doing its second nature. Anyway I think the point OP was trying to make wasn't about using a knockback as an "Oh ****!" button but using it on mobs already aggroed on the tank which he then has to round up again.

If you're a DPS and you're pulling aggro off the tank you're not doing your job right. Period. Learn to manage your threat. This is DPS grouping 101

So for end game PVE, Flashpoints and Operations and such. The sniper is a better class for DoTs than a Madness Sorc, dps wise?

General gamer drink? I would have to say my pick would be Bawls. thats what I used to fuel on during all night raids and such. Now since Bawls is harder to come by its sweet tea (I am from Texas so...)

This is true. A common problem among these threads though is the way they go about expressing those ideas. Frequenting the class forums I see good ideas, unfortunately the post devolves into swearing and general douchebaggery. If im a Dev, these threads are going to be least priority for me.

"Fleshlightsabers" is the guild name of some people ive beeen playing games with for years, currently on a different server "Snotflinger" probably the worst character name, also saw an "Eaubi'wan"

This. The whiners and hardcore players are always the first to find the forums and the hardcore players are always driven to other forums by the whining. The dumbing down of the game to appeal to the masses is almost inevitable but hopefully BW will realize that there are a great deal of reasonably satisfied subscribers who either dont visit these forums -or- havent been posting.

My opinion, take it as it is: I like the idea of classes that are much harder to master and give a better return on investment. this is what made me progression raid with an Affliction Lock in WoW. If you want to faceroll pick another class, if you want to play a Sentinel keep at it until you catch on. If BW always assumes for the lowest common denominator they're going to alienate the players who desire a challenge. Will it happen? most likely, the same changes that affected WoW will probably happen in this game, they'll strive for a broader appeal which is going to involve a dumbing down of the game. theyll pick up a few subscriptions from the casual gamer crowd and lose some "hardcore" players to the next thing. its pretty inevitable.