This is Technohic on my sons account which I pay for and I check in pretty regular to read up, often times wanting to play the game again and I would like to chime in here to give my feedback as someone who is put off every time I consider coming back. I intend to be constructive as there is nothing for me to quit, and I would not threaten anything as my son still enjoys the game. I left when PvP gear went away and I feel got replaced with a god awful RNG grind. At some point, I can remember some of the RNG parts got addressed and it seemed like for the better but as I read up, it just got more confusing to me. Every time I think about coming back because I have not been able to find anything that feels like sniper/gunslinger did that I love; it seems like yet something else has changed and its even more convoluted and confusing, or in this case; just plain out off putting. To say SWTOR has a gearing issue is an understatement. Its not just a slight downside to the game for people to complain about. If am any indication; it turns people away who would actually like to play. To see you say "Keep giving us your feedback" is frustrating as I feel I have seen plenty point out just exactly how they feel only for any means to address it as actually being just kind of shuffling the cards to make it look improved at times when it really doesnt seem like it from the outside looking in. I have watched so long; hoping for positives and I just felt I'd share. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. I'll remain watching quietly

I left when they did away with PvP gear and started the current gearing system and come to the forum to read up what all has changed from time to time, and this sounds like an attempt by them to get some players back. Started thinking about it and at least for me, it probably doesn't matter. Too far gone.

Well; my son wanted this account activated to play the story; which he then said was awful so it can go inactive again. And since its still going to be RNG gearing, mine will stay inactive. I'll check in 4 months from now. Or rather probably more like 5 or 6 months in reality vs SWTOR time.

I kind of agree and I have stopped complaining. I just stopped playing also. Activated one account for my son to play through the latest story and reading through here; I'm sure thats where it will end when he is done. I'm sure I'm not alone.

Thanks I think I'll pass

For players that have been gone or are gone since the system was put out; can someone explain to me er..them; what that means? How many tiers of gear are there? What are the power level differences between them and top level gear and say; the last PvP gear set that was out before they destroyed it? I've been waiting for them to make some effort to change the course but I am afraid that once they do, I may already be too far gone.

Keith; I just did this sub for my son. I am waiting to see your plans before I reactivity my own account. I just want to participate in PVP without grinding this galactic command monstrosity. I'm sure I'm not alone. I have high hopes in having you lead this game. Also; please go easy on my engi sniper. I hear they are OP. Figures their time in the sun is while I'm not playing.

Been here since launch off and on with my account (Technohic) and now this account of my sons is being cancelled. He's not playing it either and this one has been around probably most of the time SWTOR has been out. He might want to play it when the raid is complete in a year.

You should offer your stuff as RNG. Just randomly grab junk loot off and send it to whoever asks.

For the bold and underlined; since it is a different company and all, I don't believe there was a direct relation unless Lucas Arts was pulling the strings and there is really nothing more than coincidence; but I always felt like SWTOR with classes and theme park is exactly what they tried to do with SWG with the NGE. What I think the reality is, was there was a thing called WOW. SWG tried to shape into it and SWTOR was designed with that mold in mind. So as it relates to a new game in development by EA or the path being taken here in SWTOR; I have not played Destiny or the Division. Are they doing something similar with loot and content released as 1 boss at a time or chapters?

No. It is a PC game ported to console. Limited skills are there to have you focus on movement and I find it a lot more engaging. Animations are annoying only to new players that do not learn animation cancelling. Once you do; I find my character being much more an extension of myself than MMOs with tons of keybinds and GCDs. End game grinding does have a similar system as SWTOR, but with the no champ point campaigns; there is a way to enjoy PvP without it. Even people with max CP seem to enjoy the non-champ points campaign. You do need to get geared up but you can come up with a really easy to aquire set build out then work on anything else you want as you have time Check out the expansion pack they announced today. 4v4v4 arenas incoming with leaderboards. Sounds like it is PUG only though and I sure hope they do matchmaking. I personally prefer the RvRvR stuff as it feels like a more imersive PvP experience but it does take a lot more time to get a fight if you're in a hurry so, this should be a good change. Crafting produces useable gear, albeit not as strong as some things you get from loot; but definitely has a purpose. I generally want at least one full set of crafted on most builds just to trait it the way I want. It's not perfect. Lag can be an issue in the top level, full champion point campaigns. Just be forewarned. Ganking is real, so if you don't like the risk of getting insta gibbed (if you are not set up to take a hit) then you might reconsider. Going in a group when new is ideal so you kind of get a feel for what happens and where to find the fights. Balance has its issues just like any MMO but I find that I can find a build that is competetive. It just may require you to play a style you don't like if you insist on sticking with a specific class. As an example; magicka based Templars and particularly tankish health trolls seem to be popular for my main but I hate the play style. So right now I am running full stam and seem almost like a poor mans night blade but it fits how I like to play better and I have been able to make it work. ideally; I should level my nightblade in stead for this kind of playstyle but I haven't taken the time. I have been having too much fun with my underperforming Stamplar. So pick your class based on your style wisely. You can chase the meta and it can last a while, but then you can be left high and dry if they chose to nerf something at some point, just like any MMO.

I try GW2 every now and again for that reason; but I just hate the combat, the art, and the lore. I finally sucked it up and dealt with ESO where you do have to work a bit for gear depending on what you want; but then it comes down to build preference more than anything. Its possible to make a really fun set without doing things you don't want. There's a couple of things I would have to do PvE stuff to get and I don't feel like doing but I get by. Its for that reason that I have tried GW2, but in the end; its really not that bad. ESO had what they call Champion Points which does feel a lot like the grind here, but its not to get gear beyond CP 160 as a level requirement for the top tier which is fairly easy to get; but it goes all the way up to about 600 as the cap and each points you spend on passives. The difference is; for PvP, there is a No-CP campaign. SWTOR does not have the population to make a separate non-gear cap queue I'm afraid. Full disclosure. I came to poke around the forums here on my sons account not JUST to gripe and take in the drama; but to see the state of the game. I prefer the RvRvR PvP but every once in a while, I want some quick warzones that ESO does not have yet, and my Sniper, and of course; Star Wars. Looks like it would not be a good time for me so I am not re-subbing. -Technohic

50% starting out may be a little too optimistic once you get to having it be more common for people to have a max set. Expertise is gone but people will once again start looking at stats of teammates and quitting; forming groups with others that they know have the max level gear; then leaving all the bolstered players to be thrown into a group against them due to there being NO MATCHMAKING. This game has failed to deliver too many no-brainer systems that would help PvP and keep killing it with poor decision after poor decision that is going to make even a slight disadvantage, magnified 8 fold.

I don't buy that bolster was broken. I'm pretty sure I remember them saying when asked what the point was of grinding out gear to higher levels with bolster, they said the advantage was being able to customize stats or something along those lines. Reality is; they want you to grind. They want that to be the "content" while they run a thin staff and need some extra time to develop anything and keep an income stream to try to maximize profit. Their gamble is that people will be fool enough to do so and a lot will be.

Why are people still here when they are so unhappy? At 5.0; I know I saw someone say they stay subbed to keep voicing their concerns hoping to make the game better and I told them how that doesn't work. 5.1 is here. How's that going?

LOL Funny because its true.

Full set of ranked would take a bit, but having enough for the first tier down was really easy. Then the gap was not far. That would be part of where this could be bad, since we are talking about what seems like a bigger gear level difference.

Before; you could get prepared in low/mids and buy all the gear and be ready. Now; not only can you not do that, but you have a much longer grind once getting to the top tier. I also wonder how big the gap is.

Well a lot of PvPers asked for that for a long time but I would be willing to bet that it only happens now because the devs have decided that they want people to grind for filler. They sure didn't do it when I could easily prep in lowbies ahead of time. Its funny. Gear mattered in PvP and had a RNG system a long time ago. Bioware made it better by getting rid of RNG and it made the game the most accessible I know of. Now they have done a complete 180 and put the old way on steroids. I'm glad I left and now I can probably shut down this account of my sons as he has been not interested since the patch either.

So if I am reading right; they just made it to where you don't bolster to be any higher stats than level 232 gear? Or gear over 232 doesn't get bolstered?

If a person has been having a hard time finding interest to play stale old content they have done already with full gear; what incentive is there for them to grind gear just to be able to play the same stale old content again? Its a grind where you are working for no new goals other than to get back where you were.

We missed the point I think. Maybe what they meant is; the didn't want to have to come back in Monday to answer it after only having it out there over a weekend. They want an entire week to look at it, then relax on the weekend, then come back to it the following Monday

Well yes; but back at that time of smash bubble; I was perfectly happy on my sniper staying well away from the bubble stuns and with melee not having all the KB and root immunities; staying away from smash was not a problem unless that teamate of yours insisted on standing on top of you. Used to think of smash monkeys as retarded ballerinas twirling around off in the distance. The best part about it was smashers HATED getting ready to set up their huge numbers on a group only to have someone self pop a bubble and sorcs HATED when that smash landed because they really did melt easily back then. Probably wasn't fun for other melee or even ranged classes that could be leapt to and self bubble popped, but it was a good time to be a sab/DF hybrid

My problem with alts is; unless they are at top level and top gear level, then even if I have all my stuff in legacy gear, I will feel like I am not making progress on my main. Kind of keep hoping that they will announce that all warzones will be cross faction at least so I can run my gunslinger without worrying about having a longer time in queue when I will be less inclined to jump to alts.

For me; its a matter of if I would start my own sub back up rather than keep me. This is one account I pay for, for my son who just likes to play the story. I had planned to re-up right about now but there are a few things in 5.0 that has me taking pause. 1. RNG for gearing. The thing I loved about SWTOR is that when I don't have time to play; I could just not play and come back when I do. If this winds up being a grind with the chance of no payoff; I won't get to the point where I am doing what I want to do at top level. Having it take some time and effort is fine, because I have no interest in getting there first; but I do like to eventually get there. 2. Kind of secondary to 1; is how alt friendly this game has been partly because it was so easy to gear in PvP and; you could start your progress gearing before max level while leveling up. Also; for a change of pace and to learn a class that has been killing you in PvP, lowbies and midbies was a good place to go. Now; I fear that lowbies and midbies will take a hit now that you cannot work toward gear there; it pretty much just becomes a slower leveling experience. Then add this to #1; while you are playing an alt, you are not working toward that next RNG box on your main. 3. Adding grind is not an equivalent of adding content. Story is nice but done pretty quickly, yet grinding will not keep me subbed beyond that if thats the intention. Talking about possible future plans of refocusing on group content does not inspire confidence after the entire "better than cross server" thing they have danced around for what? 2 years? So I guess I griped and didn't offer what would keep me here so bullet list 1. No RNG 2. Need to remain alt friendly and add incentives lowbies and mids to where you feel like you're still making progress rather than hindering your main 3. Need to see tangible new content coming. add in as well 4. Cross server or at least every warzone cross faction. Cross faction would be huge for me if I do have to be stuck with a single main. Let me play my gunslinger over my sniper without worrying about giving up on queue pops. 5. Cherry on top would be more communication and quicker action on bugs, cheats and exploits, and balance more than once or twice a year.