werko I didn't get my mail yet, please resend. kthx

I will say this: just remember to have fun! I was doing the quests solo this morning and was getting ganked left and right...but I don't mind. It's what you sign up for when you go into the PVP section! Game on

Yeah, its not a reward sadly

I'm almost at min-maxed Obroan. 8-10k might be the minimum for a standard smash hit. Put that to the 30% AoE reduction. That 10k hit becomes 7k, that 8k hit becomes 5.6k. Not to mention all you do in AP is Retractable Blade (Hydraulic Overrides) > get to 10m > kite while using Immolate, Flame Burst, and Flamethrower till Juggs/Mara's are dead. I'm not disagreeing with you that Focus/Rage is very strong in PVP. I'm just saying that AP is in a very good place right now and works great for all aspects of PVP. Pyro needs you to be more aware of your team/opponents since it doesn't have a lot of passive defenses, but can certainly face-melt people if played right. And Operative/Scoundrel DPS have zero survivability, that's what I was referring to. That's why most teams either A) don't use one or B) if the other has one, hard switches to them the moment they pop out of stealth. They are amazing classes for objective based matches (specifically node guarding/node stealing), but are seriously gimped in arenas.

Wait, what? 8k-10k smashes? Er, no. AP is super strong right now in PVP, especially since you have 30% damage reduction to ALL AoE's, not to mention the additional 30% damage reduction to everything when stunned. Yes, FT is clunky to use in PVP, thus making it a situational move rather than your bread and butter like in PVE. Pyro is also in a solid spot right now, offering good burst and easy-to-apply DoT's. In no way is OP DPS in a better spot...OP DPS is terribad right now and needs so much TLC it isn't even funny.

1) No. That wouldn't help in PVP, and it would certainly hurt PVE. 2) In addition to the periodic defense already given? 3) Would be very, very overpowered...not saying I don't like it, but too much. 4) No. Would be a nerf to AP, Pyro, and S/T in PVE.

Noooo Whooter! I need to focus-fire you more Have you tried logging on from a different computer? Maybe you said that and I'm terrible at reading, but I'd give that a shot.

TheMustache I must say, every time I play against you specifically, I feel terrible targeting you...I don't want to mess up that beautiful, majestic 'stache you have going on. It is simply radiant!

Pyro/Assault Merc/Mando is indeed very, VERY strong in PVE right now. Anyone who suggests otherwise is foolish. However, both Merc/Mando specs still need help in PVP...hence, the brainstorming thread. Thoughts on how to improve PVE DPS (assuming they lock PFT to HEGC to combat AP/Ion Cell users in PVP, thus killing our hybrid): - Rework set bonuses based on cylinders for tier 1. Tier 2 (8% damage to Rail Shot stays), but Tier 1 is now "Increases the critical hit chance of Flame Burst by 15% while CGC is active, or increases the critical chance of Retractable Blade by 15% while HEGC is active" - Another idea is for Tier 1 of the set bonus to increase our heat pool by 10. So now, we still dissipate 5 heat while <50 instead of <40. - Explosive Fuel is now a 1:45 cool down permanently. - Slightly increase the damage of both Retractable Blade and Incendiary Missile (to the levels they were before 2.4) - Prototype Cylinders now increases internal and elemental damage while HEGC by 3% (up from 1% to it's old levels) - In Power Bracer talent: While Incendiary Missile is on the target, Thermal Detonator's kinetic explosion gains 15% armor penetration. OR: Each rocket from shoulder cannon burns the target, doing an additional xxx amount of elemental damage over 6 seconds. Stacks up to 4 times.

Shout out to Rico's Roughnecks for being based off one of my favorite films. Zim, Ace, Rico...sadly, I don't recall seeing Rasczak. I know, I know...he technically wasn't part of Rico's outfit since, you know, he died, but you could still honor the man!

Must be really nice being able to apply that armor debuff on the dummy now, eh Daha? >_> <_<

While I don't have a team, I can say I hope this takes off. More ranked can only be a good thing on this server

Just wanted to chime back in and say that what you all said about key binding is true...it's kinda awesome. Granted, if something unexpected happens (I.E. last arena match I got pulled at the start and wasn't expecting it), my mind freaks out and forgets where my keys are (it's only day 3 for me of key binds)...but being able to mouse turn and stay an an opponents back really helps. Thanks guys.

He is talking about damage reduction, just like you are. Regardless of how you and try and say it, your opening post is featuring a lvl. 20 VG that is getting bolstered. Your complaints about such high damage reduction at that level are easily dismissed, since all classes receive enormous gains to their damage reduction (not to mention other stats). I'd also like to point out that AP/Tactics has had this damage reduction (vs. AoE and while stunned) since 1.4...yet no one complained about the class being overpowered then. Hell, it was weak as can be. If you want to complain about AP/Tactics running Ion Cell, then specify that. Don't just say "PT/VG are OP!"...because then that means you are saying that Shield Tech, AP, and Pyro full tree builds (all running w/ the correct cylinders) are out of control, and in reality, they are not.

Gotcha. I was looking at the "Targeting" section...is there no way to bind keys to auto-target certain markers? I saw there was an option to toggle the markers on/off...what I mean is can F5 be used to target whomever is marked Cog, F6 to target whomever is marked Flame, etc. etc...

I've been looking into key binding as well, since I used to be a big (and still am) PVE'r I always got away with clicking. If you use both your mouse buttons to run forward, do you still use your S key to back up?

This (to an extent). How many DoT classes do you see getting a 30% AoE reduction? Off the top of my head, I can't think of one. Lethality/DF gets a DoT damage reduction, same as Assault/Pyro. Typically, AoE heavy classes get some sort of AoE defense...just like DoT classes get some sort of DoT defense. AP/Tactics is in a GREAT spot right now and is a blast to play in PVP. Don't go ruining it for those of us that love it. If you want to tie certain talents to HEGC to prevent Ion Cell AP users, doesn't bother me.

Just wanted to ask...why the fudge is Tendon Blast getting a 30% surge multiplier from the Scrapper tree? I mean, for real? That's like putting a surge multiplier on Leg Shot for SS slingers. Stupid. Please replace it with Sucker Punch.

I'm very new to the class, but looking through the skill tree, I can see (like how everyone is pointing out) that are some defensive issues with this class. Here are some of my ideas: Slippery Devil: Get rid of the reduced energy cost of Scamper. Instead, getting attacked has a 50/100% chance to trigger Slippery Devil, which causes your next Scamper to cost no energy. Can only occur once every 20 seconds. Keep the rest of the talent as-is. Put Stopping Power in tier 2, and put Brawler's Grit in it's place. However, scrap Brawler's Grit (perhaps rename it One-v-One) and it now reduces damage taken from AoE effects by 30%.

Big time shout-out to those in the cursed solo ranked WZ tonight. Lydemetta, Xaned, A'sterious, and Nalhious were on the receiving end of the shaft from BioWare. My 4th team member "failed" to load in all the way...but loaded in just enough to the point where he was registered as being in the match, yet out of the safe zone...but he never loaded in. So a 3v4 commenced which we lost, but since they had no way of reaching our "ghost" 4th member, the timer expired, poison creeped in, and we ended up winning. The whole time they were all totally cool about it. Frustrated, but laughing and being good sports. Way to be guys

I have one question for you, but keep in mind I play a Powertech on Pyro. I noticed you open with TD. Doesn't that kind of put you behind on DPS right off the bat? Since the application of TD throws you into combat, and doesn't do any damage initially...do you find this works better? I typically go IM > RS > TD > and then do all my PT stuff...

Shout out to Goddrick...one of the better Merc DPS'ers I've seen in PVP. Will seriously make you pay if you don't focus him, but he is a shifty bastard

I run with a very good Merc DPS on my server. He more than holds his own in ranked. He plays a more defensive style though because he knows he is going to be focused. I can't say I'm a beacon of knowledge about Mercs, but would increasing their range to 35m help? I feel like it would help them get off a Tracer before someone leaps to them, then use jet boost + electro net.

Awesome. One less thing I have to worry about clicking

If there is interest in getting team ranked going, I'd love to contribute. I usually try and bang the drum for solo ranked whenever I'm on in the evenings. Feel free to send me a tell on Kendiaro. I'm no world beater by any means, still relatively new to the whole ranked scene, but I am about halfway to optimized Obroan. I know <Aisthesis> is trying to get into PVP ranked on the pub side, and they are going to run group ranked every other Friday from 6pm - 9pm EST. Perhaps more if it picks up. You can whisper Haka for more details.