Have done more testing with blaster rifle versus assault cannon and I think that the slight stat differences in the mods that I had equipped in the guns made the difference in dps, not the type itself. That being said, they seem to be equal, and if not equal negligible in difference on an operations test dummy. I think quite a few things in SWTOR are just assumed to be a certain way because someone read them in a forum and took it as true, and never really tested it. So, to the OP if they ever come back to read this: Use a rifle if it pleases you, there will be a dozen that have not tested using one that will say you are 'gimped' but do your own research and see if it actually holds true for you. For me it does not. I'm fully aware that this just might be my combination of stats, but as I said, do your own testing before deciding how to play. My stats: 2151 aim 39% crit 78% crit multiplier 195 acc rating Ranged dmg changes from 1175 top end to 998 top end when I switch weapons. This doesn't effect the dmg of any of my shots except for hammer shot. I have tested them. Seperately. Grav round, demo round, full auto are all the same ranges with both weapons equipped. This really can't be intentional. But, it is true as of right now for my char. 5 hours of testing later, pick whichever you want. Unless you absolutely must have hail of bolts. I rarely use it personally. Yes, it can be a good aoe filler, but that's really not that important in the ops I run.

At 50 on a test dummy I have higher dps with a blaster rifle. I don't know how this is, but I've tested it enough that it's true. 3-4 minute parses on the operation test dummy, 1250-1300 with a cannon (WH barrel) 1300-1400 with a BR (BM barrel) how this makes sense, I don't know. I'm thinking that this is not intentional. My rotation does not include anything other than Grav round, full auto, HIB, demo round and hammer shot. So far as I can tell hammer shot is the only thing 'nerfed' by using a rifle. Tech attacks, which are 90%+ of your damage go un-effected. Very odd. Very odd indeed.

It's exactly the same for me. We have higher stats now with the augments, but I somehow remain at the exact same dps. I think that this has to do with a general adjustment to prevent the content from being significantly easier just from adding augment slots to each piece of gear. I mean, if you add it up that's basically giving yourself at least another full piece of gear, maybe 2. I guess they had to stealth nerf everyone, otherwise enrage timers would be a joke in HM/NM. Numbers: 2150 aim, 40 crit, 80 surge. 98acc (ranged) WH cannon barrel. Gunnery with all the pve options. PVE 2 set bonus. Parses average 1250-1300 on a test dummy over 4 minute fights. This was the same with much lower stats pre 1.3. I don't claim to be the best at rotation, and I do not carry the 'free HIB' 4 set bonus due to my general hate of endgame trooper gear looks.

The stat issue was fixed after the last maint. I went up to 2150 now with augments and an upgrade. Unfortunately, the dps is exactly the same as it was pre-1.3. Now, this is only part of the story, as it really matters where we lie in the dps hierarchy. I mean really it should be: 1.Pure dps (no other role option) 2. Tank dps 3. Healer dps I get that, but it shouldn't be miles behind. Maybe it's not. Very hard to tell since the community as a whole has not embraced parsing in real time like other games. So in short, my issue is resolved. Got my stats back, my dps back. No real upgrade though, and as I understood it, that was intended. Oh well, bosses still fall by my bolts, and in the end that's all that matters.

The hardest and best storyline decision in the game. (Having played 6/8 stories.) I wish that the whole game went this direction.

The 'republic trooper' gear at level 15 is pretty great. I wear it at 50 all augmented and tricked out. The classic all white/orange havoc squad officer look can't be beat imo

Commando is a solid choice. Don't count out the PVE DPS role either, if you're very good at it commando dps is very solid, and much more self sufficient than most dps classes. The healing commando is very solid. I put us up there as the #1 single target healer, and if you know what you're doing with resource, you absolutely never run out.

Gunnery is not a 1v1 spec in pvp. It's a hide behind things kill them before they know you're shooting them, pick off the sickly gazelle quicker than anyone else spec. Yes, our 1v1 is broken. We must adapt. Don't play it like a vanguard/PT, it isn't. If they see you / get the jump on you, you will die. Period. If you don't, they are terrible players. Read the PVP post at the top of the forum. It's useful. The most fun you can have with gunnery is with another ranged dps. Get on voice chat. Call out targets. 2 of you will be nearly unstoppable if they are bursty as well. That's where this kind of pvp role shines.

Mix of rakata/columi/BH gear, 2150 aim 40% crit 80% surge etc. I do around 1300 on a test dummy and 1100-1200 in a real fight. That's enough to beat the timers in HM denova, and that's really all that matters. Now, my equally geared watchman friend can do 300-400 more dps than I can. Is that fair? Absolutely not. But, as has been shown by every other MMO in history, there must always be an "I win!" class. Otherwise you lose a huge % of the better players. Some guys need the deck stacked in their favor, and if you do, commando dps is not for you. We do although get to carry the coolest weapon in the game. It all balances out. Gold plated cannons ftw.

Well, they tried to make it story driven. What happened? 95% of players I group with spacebar, even the first time. No one cares about voice acting and story. They hate that it takes so long. These same people complain that there's 'no content'. In the past 2 months they've effectively fixed low pop servers, and made an easier way for lazy *** people that can't look at a list to group with each other. Should this have been done earlier? Who cares. It's done now. Game is more fun to play now than at any other time. I've played most other major MMO's at launch and a few for years at a time, and no other company has shown as much hands on fixing of major problems in the timespan that bioware has. If you think otherwise, you don't know the market.

I've used the groupfinder a dozen times since it came out with zero issues. Done 20 or so ranked WZ, no issues. I'm a gunnery commando most of the time, while I'm not totally happy, it's satisfactory for now. I have a 50 Guard tank alt, have run HM FP through the groupfinder and have found the changes to be pretty great, makes FP tanking a lot less stressful. The project animation? Really? We're hung up on this? I have a 31 pvp only shadow and I just don't see what the problem is. It's instant. You whined, you got it. Now, even though it's instant, we whine that it's not pretty enough. Sad state of affairs. If it's as bad as the OP says it is I think I would have run into some significant issues that I have not seen. Anyway, I think 1.3 is a thumbs up so far. People will complain about anything.

Bump. Need to be fair about downtimes to non US timezones. This is coming from a yank too. I play on an EST. None of our primetime is ever effected. This is stupid if in fact there are players that are getting shafted for 20% downtime. We can share downtime. Yes we will whine and cry, no we will not /unsub. Those that will already have, a bit of downtime won't do anything to those still playing. Be fair. As for legal action, sounds extreme, but laws are there for a reason.

I have to agree. Patch times need to be rotated. Compltely unfair. I play EST server, which has basically no primetime downtime. Even though it would cause a bit of crybabying on our servers it should be done. Break out the fairness a bit, please.

Pre-1.3 I logged off having 1982 aim, I log back on and I have 1912 similarly spec'd. So it's bait and switch then? Give us augment slots but take stats away so in the end it's pretty much the same? Kind of lame. Would love to know what I'm missing here. Dps on test dummy also went from consistent 1350 to 1200. Woot? Not so much. Gunnery spec, mix of columi and rakata armorings / mods / enhancements.