I've found this build works really well for solo questing and leveling: http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#600GRbdd0robZbcZcMcRsMz.3 -I generally use Qyzen as my companion (although Nadia works well too) -Keep Rejuvenation and Force Armor on yourself (or Qyzen) at all times. -DPS rotations are similar to Balance-TK hybrid (use FiB, TK Throw, and Disturbance/Mind Crush when proc)- -Humility's damage reduction is really helpful against elites, hit them with Force Stun!

Just like the title says. Shadows, from what I've seen, hardly get any hype, people seem to put Sages & Sentinels above. On my server (Harbinger) there seem to be easily twice as many Sages as Shadows. Both have the same storyline, but to me the Shadow has is far easier to level with Combat technique, stealth, burst damage, and all of its control abilities. Sages take awhile to get their best abilities, although I understand why they're far more valued in groups. Their telekinetics abilities look cool, and of course they can be that all-important healer. Sadly, IMHO they aren't THAT different or more fun to play than your typical caster class in other MMOs, hence why I prefer the Shadow. While there are other melee classes in SWTOR, and other stealth users in different MMOs, the Shadow’s Force powers, control, and even its theme all add up to a unique experience. It’s highly survivable in Tank spec (seriously - KC + Theran = soloing easy mode), has some really awesome lightsaber strikes (I LOVE the animation for Clairvoyant Strike), and is meant to be a balanced & powerful Jedi and it fully delivered. Maybe it’s the theme, but there’s a larger sense of the experience than just what I’ve described above. It’s tough to put my finger on exactly why, but the Shadow is a special class. Having said that, my experience is that melee classes generally do have more trouble at endgame in most MMOs (especially in PvE) due to the mechanics of many fights favoring ranged. But if anything, I think Shadows are gems in the rough. I've found many people in my guild surprised at how good they are.

I always thought the male Consular voice sounds a lot like Alex Trebek (Jeopardy! host).

I’ve played both Advanced Classes up to level 50. For anyone wondering which one to choose, here’s my thoughts The Consular storyline has often been slammed for being boring, or at least lacking the edge & epicness that the Jedi Knight storyline has. The Sage Advanced Class I worried would feel the same way: a decent caster class that could be found in any other MMO… but SWTOR isn’t just any other MMO. Thankfully, there’s a lot to like about the Sage that makes it feel at home in the Star Wars universe. The force powers it has are commonly carried enough by NPC Jedi bosses that at this point it doesn’t count as a gimmick but just more elements in the Force’s toolbox, and in groups Sages seem to be most valued because of their ability to be healers. The class does suffer a bit from taking awhile to really emerge; most of its best abilities are obtained after Level 30, and the Telekinetics spec is surprisingly reliant on RNG procs (I have definitely had minute-long fights without a single Tidal Force proc). The biggest problem with the Sage is that I’ve found it really hard, or at least annoying, to level through the story as. At times it feels like as a Sage you’re sending your companions to fight in your place rather than fighting alongside them like a Shadow or Jedi Knight - once you get into the harder parts of the game Qyzen dies surprisingly fast, and depending on what it is you’re fighting, you can end up spending as much time (or more) healing as DPSing, which I’ve found really annoying. Because you have light armor & most enemy mobs use blasters, I haven’t had much luck with using the other companions either. I’ve always kind of felt that the setup of the game just isn’t really that friendly to “caster” classes (as opposed to ranged weapon classes like the Trooper). Another minor nitpick I have with the Sage is that single lightsaber. For some reason, your character always draws it whenever you enter combat, and to me it just feels really weird to have that saber and not really use it. I mean, I know that all Jedi carry lightsabers as tradition, but if you’re not going to use it just keep it turned off; you’re wasting the crystal battery thing. Perhaps the Balance tree could be made into a more melee oriented style (same talents as the Shadow’s version) at some point. As for Shadows… From what I’ve heard they’re much less desired in groups unless you’re a Tank, but the Shadow as a class I felt was much more fun to play. It starts off slow, more or less a Double Strike machine with proced Shadow Strikes as a filler, but once you get some of your better abilities, it has a really good mix of psychic powers/Force abilities and lightsaber attacks that all really flow well together. Force Cloak & Mind Maze are also useful for getting out of combat if you’re about to die/need to resurrect a companion. The theme of the Shadow is also quite different. Usually stealth classes convey a theme of being a “rogue” or “thief” who sneaks in, knocks the enemy for a loop, and gets back out alive. With the Shadow, it’s more of a martial priest who uses the Force to become invisible and avoid unnecessary fighting, rather than a “dirty fighter”. I can appreciate the difference and it aligns well with the Jedi as a whole and their goal of galactic peace. While there are other melee classes in SWTOR, and other stealth users in different MMOs, the Shadow’s Force powers, control, and even its theme all add up to a unique experience. It’s highly survivable in Tank spec, has some fun lightsaber strikes, and is meant to be a wide-reaching powerful Jedi and it fully delivered. Maybe it’s the story, but there’s a larger sense of the experience than just what I’ve described above. It’s tough to put my finger on exactly why, but the Shadow is a special class. I think overall I like the Shadow better. It seems like a lot of people disagree though, because I’ve seen (on Harbinger anyway) at least three times as many Sages as Shadows. Thoughts?

Yeah, that's what I thought at first too, the voiceover doesn't sound like the male Consular's dialogue and plus some of the lines I felt don't really sound like things he would say: "Damage report, now!" "You cannot face us." "Sloppy defenses..." Also I know that in the Fondor Escort one of the lines sounds like "Move it Jedi!" which I thought confirmed it was the Republic fleet radio. Then again I always felt space combat was more suited to non-Force sensitive classes lorewise.

I've heard that a lot of people complain that the story for the Jedi Consular is really boring, and I completely disagree. Let me explain... (Warning: Spoilers below!) Bioware themselves have said that the Consular is based on Obi-Wan Kanobi, while the Knight is based on Luke Skywalker. So, first off I will admit that Consular story does start off kind of slow, however, by the start of Chapter 2, the Consular character really finds his feet and he really becomes...well, in terms of personality & abilities you very much become like Master Satele Shan in many ways, you know? You're still a relatively young Jedi, but throughout the prologue even, its heavily implied that there's a stud in there, a rock inside that alien who's exceptionally strong in the Force, that could be a better Jedi leader than Master Yuon was, a better Jedi leader than the Order has seen in a long time. You start off like all jedi, you know, as a padawan. Then you go about saving these afflicted Jedi Masters, and you've got this Jedi Council's pet healer/wise man kind of personality, and by design, you know? You can't just start the character off perfect, there's nowhere to go from there. And up until the end of Chapter 1 your character prefers words to action, much by design. But in Chapter 2 it's time for him to step it up, because the Republic is in danger, and the Empire plans to hit them while they're vulnerable. As thanks for all the Jedi you saved and defeating this plaguemaster, you end up becoming a Jedi Master & Barsenthor,the latter of which is a title of extreme respect given to a trusted diplomat and warden of the order. Your job in Chapter 2 is to convince a number of planets that the Republic cares about them by fighting the Imperial presence on each world - because if those worlds do secede there's no way the Republic will be able to survive the Sith Empire's assault. And then in Chapter 3, when the peace treaty is shattered by the Empire, is where you find that next gear and really become this Jedi Master that all of the Rift Alliance worlds & the races you recruit unequivocally tell, "Yes, we will follow you to the seat of the Empire and beyond." The final boss of the Consular story I won't spoil for you, but suffice it to say that it really played out in a way I did not expect. And at the end of the story, you end up becoming part of the Jedi Council (though you still go off and fight the Empire on Illum). How awesome is that?! As for the Jedi Knight, correct me if I'm wrong (I haven't actually played one), but from what I've seen a lot of it is predictable lightsaber duel after predictable lightsaber duel. Even though it does culminate with you killing the Emperor (which is undeniably EPIC), according to the lore behind the scenes, not only does he ultimately actually survive, but instead of removing the evil influence and allowing the Empire to accept a new path of life as the Knight had intended, they're now more determined than ever to destroy the Republic and the Jedi. Having said that, I think the main reason why so many people prefer the Jedi Knight's storyline is because it involves a lot more action, remembering what the Jedi are supposed to be about. This lawful good overdrive. We're supposed to be superheroes, you know? Even if we are defenders of peace, we can't just sit around while the Empire kills innocents, murders Jedi, and enslaves force-sensitives. And I think a lot of players want to feel that overdrive -- we're in it to make the galaxy a better place. And I think also the Trooper storyline has its own version of that, you know, stopping to consider what's happened the past couple of years and what's been lost and fighting for the good of the Republic and all. Plus I know a lot of people really like classic warrior classes in MMOs (I myself have always kind of liked healer classes and I would definitely point out that the Consular, especially the Sage, is not really intended to be a "warrior" or "fighter" lore-wise) But I definitely think the Consular's story is very well-written in it's own way. You'll be proud to be a Jedi by the end of this thing, regardless of which class you choose. (On an unrelated note: I've always thought the male Consular voice sounds a lot like Alex Trebek.) Anyone else who has played both a JK & JC agree?