I can't see any buffs coming for PT/VG's in the future for PVE, as much as I'd like to. The class is so strong in PVP right now that any increase in damage for PVE is just going to send it over the top in PVP.

You heard wrong. Concealment is getting buffed.

dibs on ur stuff

The diminishing return curve really starts to kick in once you get past 50. It looks weird, but it's working as intended. When your Guardian gets to 55 and is in the same gear min-maxed, your PT w/ Ion will have a higher damage reduction.

I can't convince myself that going the PVP-route opener (TD > IM > Rail) is the best for PVE, especially while parsing. Once your TD goes up, that's basically a dead GCD window of no damage that is being registered. I typically go IM > Rail > TD > Flame Burst (I really, really want to Rocket Punch here, but honest to God, every time I do, it NEVER procs!) > Rail > continue

It does Also, defense chance DOES give you a chance to resist yellow damage. That was changed in 2.0, which is why many classes for PVE all of a sudden needed accuracy (re: Sorcs/Sages). OPs bosses originally had a 10% defense chance, and that defense chance only work against white damage (ranged/melee). Tech/force abilities couldn't be resisted via defense. They changed that. That's why when Degauss gives you that 25% defense chance, you can resist a Smash, a DoT, or anything yellow/white.

Pyro Shield is amazing. Over it's duration, it can dish out around 7k damage. And Superheated Rail is when Rail Shot hits a "burning target". Your Incendiary Missile and Thermal Detonator DoT are both burns. You will still vent 8 heat. CGC spreading is just fluff damage, seriously. If we had the same amount of damage from CGC as we did prior to 2.0 (scaled), then yes, Volatile Ignitor would be useful. But CGC is a weak DoT on it's own.

If by PT Tank you are referring to the AP Hybrid, then alright. Full Shieldtech is meh in PVP. Deception Sins Concealment Ops I hate them both on my PT, especially Sins. FU Shroud.

Because Flame Sweep + CGC is fluff damage. If you're stopping caps using Flame Sweep, that's fine, but it's a last ditch move that means that you're probably the last guy standing for your team. You're going to die anyway. I would not use Flame Sweep to proc CGC on a single target. What happens if your Operative flashbangs a group, and you want to use Flame Sweep to proc your CGC? You're screwing your team over by breaking the mezz. At the end of the day, it's fluff damage. that 2100 over 6 seconds is not going to kill anyone. The 6 seconds of 25% defense is more beneficial than most give it credit for.

Koozie, you say you run with 210 crit...is that an exact number? Because w/ Obroan Mods, I get this math: Nimble 29: + 49 crit Nimble 29: + 49 Crit Battle 29: +44 Crit Battle 29: +44 Crit Two crit mods and two crit enhancements gives me 186 crit rating. Do you use a Nimble 29A (+27 crit) then (which gives you a total of 213 crit), or do you go with another Nimble 29 (+49 crit) and have 235 crit rating?

A few things I'm noticing that may just be typos, or might be incorrect: 1) In your rotation for AP, you never listed a Rail Shot. And I assume the first rotation listed is your opener, in which case you should be using Flame Sweep before the start 3x to build up your PFT. So your rotation opener would be: RB > (EF in GCD window) > IM (start spamming SC as much as possible now) > RP > Rail > FT > FB (continue priority list). 2) In the case of Pyro, you never use Flamethrower unless you are spec'd into the hybrid. Before 2.0, it could be argued that using Flamethrower/Death from Above inbetween PPA procs was a DPS boost. I never agreed, but ever since the change of giving Flame Burst the 30% surge bonus, it is more DPS efficient to spam Flame Burst (still use Rocket Punch when appropriate for a better shot at proc'ing a Rail). That aside, it was never recommended to ever use Explosive Dart in your rotation unless you were stuck at 30m away from the OPs boss. Explosive Dart in rotation is a waste of heat and does very minimal damage.

When you say this: Are you referring to this: Locking PFT to HEGC does kill the PVE hybrid. The PVE hybrid runs Combustible Gas Cylinder and goes up to get PFT, then goes up in Pyro. Or where you referring to locking the AoE damage reduction/stun damage reduction to HEGC and leaving PFT as-is?

I like guarding nodes!

Biggest problem I see is that the easiest solution for PVP (i.e. locking the flamethrower stacks to HEGC) kills the PT/VG hybrid spec for PVE, which is currently the highest DPS spec for the class. While Pyro and AP are still viable for PVE, the hybrid spec out-performs both and is a very welcome addition to any raid team. Both AP and Pyro are respectable, but don't reach the high numbers that Hybrid Gunslingers/Snipers or Pyro/Assault Mercs can right now, or even Mara/Sents. So if they lock PFT to HEGC (which I don't see why it shouldn't happen), they are going to have to compensate in the AP/Pyro trees in some way to increase their sustained DPS. Perhaps bringing back the damage they toned down from Retractable Blade/Gut and Incendiary Missile/Round when they changed PT/VG's in 2.4? It really wouldn't increase the burst damage of either spec in PVP, but would increase their sustained damage in PVE.

...god damnit Courmac

No. Pyro does not need any more buffs. I play Pyro and AP for the new HM content. I run Pyro for single target boss fights and AP for boss fights with adds. I also PVP in both AP (full min-max'd Obroan) and Pyro (almost full min-max'd Obroan). Pyro Mercs do NOT need a DPS increase. They are one of the top DPS classes at the moments. Don't believe me? Go look at the World Leaderboards right now. Incendiary Missile has been fine-tuned to be great in PVP now. As KoozieJr said "PT Pyro is one small buff away from a giant nerf". As for killing healers, I have no trouble pressuring/killing ungaurded ones in AP or in Pyro...hell, Pyro is better at it. If you're struggling to kill a gaurded healer, join the rest of the club...that's kind of the point. Get coordinated, focus fire, and either burn down their DPS or burn through the healer's gaurd. One player should NOT be able to kill a gaurded healer solo.

high-five! In other news: Kendiaro - Pyro. 5/5/36 3180 DPS Spec'd into the extra shoulder cannon missiles from the AP tree at the start, loaded them up, then spec'd pyro. http://www.torparse.com/a/536933 Min/max'd 72's enhancements/armorings, 72 main, belt/bracers/offhand = 78 armorings, all 78 mods, w/ Obroan Relics and 1 DF Implant

It seems as if you play your sorc... ...in a cazual manner.

**** you faatt you stupid ganking sin ******e mother****er feel better now?

Can I have your stuff?

lol I was being sarcastic Jabs. The guy did report me, but it shouldn't matter: he was flagged and in a PVP area

Guys, it's been great knowing you. I have been reported for harassment because I killed another Imperial while on my Powertech, inside the PVP area. My account will be be banned shortly, I'm afraid.

Has anyone suggested that while HtL/HO is active, you gain 2 charges that allow you to cast on the move (so you can cast two abilities while moving)? You can still be interrupted, but I thought it might be a decent idea.

Yup! Another heads up: they have a little bit of a different color than the AC-300, but it's not that big of a deal. I actually just bought one, then transferred another to my inventory via collections...I'm OCD about things matching perfectly

Assault Mandos/Mercs are a wrecking ball in PVE right now. Good spot for them to be in!