I understand that the difficulty of this game has decreased significantly and that most classes can complete the story even under suboptimal condition. The reason I'm asking if for the other content, such as veteran flashpoints and operations. If I'm looking for classes with less to manage, where might I start. I'd prefer to keep it under 12 keybinds, but can manage up to 24 without difficulty, 36 starts pushing me a bit. The real disconnect for me has been in cooldowns. It's easy to get a rotation or priority down, but I often forget about cooldowns. This was the hardest part of being a Paladin in FFXIV, and that was supposedly an 'easy" class. Right now I'm looking at Vanguard/Powertech or Sage/Sorcerer, but other classes are still on my radar.

Currently in the process of leveling a Vanguard alongside my Sith Warrior. It was recommended I try out Vanguard for simplicity sake. I can say I'm really enjoying the class. I like the aesthetic of a rifle over a hulking cannon for some reason. I guess it just fits the standard Star Wars trope better. Just got off Ord Mantell and did the Esseles. I feel like I'm just mashing buttons at this point. I'm trying to get a feel for some semblance of a rotation/priority, but I can't quite get there. Right now I'm currently running Tactics. I've been reading some guides and trying to filter out the relevant information, as I am not quite at end game, or near the level of the min/max openers and such that are suggested. I keep hearing that Tactics is the "press buttons on cooldown class" but I'm just not seeing it. I've considered switching over to Plasmatech so I don't really have to worry about a separate ST and AoE rotation. I don't really know much about it however. I'd also like to give tanking on this character a try, after I learn DPS that is. What is the recommended spec for solo play and the occasional tactical flashpoint? I really like the way the character is shaping up, but he feels really clunky right now.

I will start this off by saying I have never tanked in an MMO before. I know I've got a long road ahead of me and it's not exactly the easiest one either. I have chosen this path out of interest for the saber wielding classes and a desire to be melee. I also have a pocket healer partner, so it should make things easier. They have healing experience. I have nothing. With that, I have begun reading numerous tank guides and attempted making sense of them, as well as posts on the forums. I will say it has been a lot to take in. I am a bit frightened by the amount of keybinds that might be needed. Once i get past 12 or so I start to struggle. I'm also not too keen on Defensive Cooldowns, they seem difficult to use properly. I hear recommendations for a Vanguard/Powertech tank everywhere, but they don't seem as easy to use as everyone seems to think. Mind you this is mostly based on reading guides. I am, however, leveling one solo to feel out the class. Feels kind of clunky right now, but I'm only on my 20's. The Kenetic Combat Shadow is the next class I want to try. It seems to play more like a DPS rotation than anything else from what I've seen. I don't know how hard it is to monitor stacks, but they seem to need very few abilities. They do rely heavily on their cooldowns, which is a weak point of mine so I may struggle. I haven't even touched the warrior or guardian outside of level 10. The sheer number of cooldowns is scary, and the number of abilities also seems the highest. If I've only ever been an average DPS player in one other MMO, how can I get into tanking?

Looking into making my alt, I started a thread in the new player section and the consensus was that I should try and Tactics Vanguard. Least amount of keybinds and an easy priority system were some of the reasons listed. I kind of also wanted to level a Force user for KotFE. I'm leveling a Juggernaut, but I don't know if the class really suits me. I was actually beginning to look into Consular for on alt. Right now I'm torn between a Vanguard and a Shadow. Both have the potential to be tanks, something I eventually want to learn, and have been said to have intuitive DPS priorities. Some have gone so far as to say you play a Shadow based on what button lights up. Hyperbole I assume. Is there a clear winner between the two for a first playthrough? Does when have a lesser burden come endgame? I mainly here to see the content. I have no idea what the end of the line is like, but it would be a shame if I ended up shelving this character in the end.

That's a bit of a shame. Everything I've looked into says the expansion makes much more sense if you are force sensitive, but I was trying to avoid playing a force user. I've tried getting into the Jedi classes, but they just don't click for me. As Han Solo said "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side kid."

So, I've started a Sith Warrior as part of a duo, but I was going to make another character to play alone, and since everything past the initial class storyline is the same, we wanted to do the expansion on our own first, and then again with the duo. I'm trying to decide what my main "outlander" character will be, and I'm trying to figure out what might "fit." I've poked around google and the forums and a lot of post recommend a Force-user, but I wanted to see what everyone thinks in 2016. I'm trying to dodge spoilers, but I do know you become some sort of commander of an "alliance." Screams Trooper to me, but I''m not so sure I'm reading into it right. Is there a general consensus surrounding the KotFE storyline, especially for a first time player?

I've heard Marauder/sentinel is one of the hardest classes is the game, especially in terms of keybinding. Why would you recommend that over the Juggernaut?

I tried reading some guides, mostly Dulfy, and I struggled to make sense of it. The guides didn't make it sound simple, or maybe I'm just thick. I see a lot of people pointing towards gunnery/arsenal for simplicity, but I'm still looking into that as well. Lighting Sorcerer and immortal Juggernaut are also up there.

Yes, it was WoD, and currently Legion. I like the spec as it has very few abilities, but they connect in a way that feels very satisfying. I also think Execute is my favorite thing in this entire world. Landing that on a big mob is VERY satisfying. It all came down to a nice 5 button spec and I really liked the way it felt. It just felt good charging in, Colossus Smash, and then unloading. No complicated mechanics, nothing mind blowing, just monitoring Colossus Smash. It got even easier when Rend became a talent, giving me only the Smash to worry about. It just made sense, and I would like something intuitive here if possible. 4-8 core abilities that I can put together in a meaningful way to make the magic happen. Nothing fancy, I just want it to work.

I played this game with my fiance around the time of the Hutt Cartel release. We just fixed up our tower and got a second PC and we want to come back. She's already dead set on a Sorceress for our duo, but I'm not sure what I should pick up. I tend to struggle with action bars and keybinds so these games come as a challange to me. I love the story and the way questing I'd done so I want to stick with it. I want to have two characters right now. One for our duo and one for solo play. I've been given a nudge to play a Sith by her, as well as a tank, but I don't know how well I could play a Juggernaut. As for the other character, that's up in the air, but Force users are cool in my book. In terms of past experience I've played similar games, but not as a tank. Most recent was an Arms Warrior. If I could get a class or two that plays straightforward like that I would be a very happy man.

Given the speed of leveling, 32 isn't that for off I feel. I'm sure I'll be 50 before I know it. In terms of spending points, where do I want them?

I guess it's all a matter of getting into the swing of things, weaving priorities and rocket punches. Sounds simple enough. At what level do I "finish" getting all my abilities? I'm currently 15 and I just landed on Dromund Kass. The only abilities I recognize off the list are rocket punch and rail shot. I'll admit I've kind of just been shooting missiles, rail shot, and then closing into melee for flames and punches. It may not be optimal, but it's worked so far. Haven't spent any points yet either. Are the builds still the same, or have they changed?

Is Tactics a better choice for end game PvE/PvP, or will Gunnery work just as well?

This is a spec I've been looking into since it was brought up to me on the New Player forums. I have read that it has limited keybinds and an easy priority system to understand, but I can't seem to wrap my head around Duffy's guides. I've tried watching parse videos, but they to don't teach me much. I feel like an idiot, everyone says the priority is easy, but I can't seem to get there. I thought this spec would be a nice mirror to my Gunnery/Arsenal character while I do both stories, but this spec has kind of left me lost. From what I've rad, there are different priories based on energy, filler, CDs and it just makes my head spin. I don't really view that as easy, so I must be missing something. I'd hoped the class forums can help me understand the spec more.

I can't gather much information from parse videos, it may just be me. The sniper rotation here seems different from most guides, perhaps I am missing something. Opener, flourish shot, AOE usage, a lot for me to take in. I liked the cycles of a marauder. They don't change and I could understand them. I suppose the same could be said for arsenal/gunnery. I just want a spec that I can understand that's not too complex.

I'm trying to gain an understanding of the classes in this game and how I will play at a higher level. From what forum posts have said Arsenal/Gunnery is easiest.. Other have said that Sharpshooters and Snipers and easy to get the hang of, but I'm not so sure about that, at least to me. The Gunslinger guide rotations made my head spin a bit. I've also looked into two more classes, Tactics Vanguard, and Fury Marauder. I did not particularly care for Tactics and the 4 priority lists. The Marauder rotation cycles, however, I did understand. I understood the two cycles, the buffs, and more importantly WHY you do this. It didn't have any additional priorities based on AOE or Raid settings. I almost want to go make a Sith Warrior after writing this post, despite being told they are complex, with many keybinds. It's this conflict that brought me to write this post and start asking about how rotations and priorities work, so I can find classes that work for me and be prepared for higher content. Right now, Arsenal/Gunnery and Fury/Concentration. I just want to make sure I have a full grasp of what I'm getting into before I invest time into these characters, given my limitations and ability.

Good to know. A cyborg marauder does sound like fun. I'll be doing some searching to see if I can find the old racial backgrounds, just for the sake of reading them because Star Wars is cool.

Not sure the sith academy would tolerate weakness, but an interesting class prospect to be sure. It seems a lot of Sith are disabled, Vader being the most obvious.

I've dug up some information on power armor that seems interesting. Most suits employ servomotors to "enhance" the wearers strength. It stands to reason that I could also use this to correct "deficiencies." If I were to incorporate power armor into a character, which classes would be likely to use it? Bounty Hunter is the obvious one that springs to mind, but it also mentions soldiers, mercenaries. and adventurers using power armor. Would it been seen in other classes as well?

Coming back to the game, and I can see a lot has changed. I wound up here when looking for a PvE East server to play on. I have a character or two going for story line, but haven' sunk much time in yet. I wanted to get a feel for the server and see if I can fit myself in here somewhere. Faction choice in and of itself is not that important to me, it's more about what each faction is like and where I will fit in best. I get the feeling Imperials are more numerous, but I'm not sure whether that's a good or a bad thing. As long as I can find groups for Flash Points and have some fun in War Zones, the final numbers don't matter to me much. I would prefer to see imperial vs. republic war zone games for flavor, but it depends on what it will cost me. I'm just a player who's come back to hang out and explore the new expansions and stories. I'm also eager to try out some Galactic Starfighter and some of the other new stuff that''s come out. If I do want to do Flash Points of War Zone I'll typically solo queue for them, or duo with my fiance. I'm not sure if we will seek out a guild or not yet, so if one choice can help solo play, that might be the end of the discussion. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd probably end up Imperial Side on a Mercenary, but the Commando does the same thing, even if I don't favor the background as much.

Maul lives! I'm going to have to go watch this. The armor concept is an interesting one, as I've used the concept before in City of Heroes and Mr. Tony Stark has done the same.

Well, I found out the cover is bound to mouse 3 by default, so that changes things and makes the smuggler a bit more manageable. I know how the green indicators work on cover, but sometimes I don't quite roll in there, so I think it''s going to take some practice. I do like cover because it prevents a LOT of damage and gives me some time, so I'm rethinking this class. I was originally going to try a trooper/bounty hunter, but now I'm not so sure. I''m trying to get an idea of the "rotations" I'll have to learn. Ideally I'd want no more than 10 or so abilities, but I could make more work if needed, that's just the number that fit comfortably on my keypad. I do have the Naga, but it may take me some time to use that effectively. If someone could give me info on rotations for the Commando//Mercenary and Gunslinger/Agent that would be great. I want to compare these and see what works best. Past that I just have to hash out some lore and what class/faction I feel like playing.

It looks like I'm leaning towards these ACs for my character. They seem to fit my criteria rotation wise and I the cover mechanic felt clunky, so it ruled out the other classes I had in mind. With that said, I know these classes are meant to mirror each other, but how do they differ, both game and story wise. On the surface I can see one thing. a Mercenary dual-wields while the commando has a BFG. Does this matter in the long run? Do the companions have differences? Just looking for a simple rundown of differences, if any are significant.

It looks like I'm leaning towards these ACs and specs for my character. They seem to fit my criteria rotation wise and I the cover mechanic felt clunky, so it ruled out the other classes I had in mind. With that said, I know these classes are meant to mirror each other, but how do they differ, both game and story wise. On the surface I can see one thing. a Mercenary dual-wields while the commando has a BFG. Does this matter in the long run? Do the companions have differences? Just looking for a simple rundown of differences, if any are significant.

Thanks for the heads up! I'm looking into medical stuff now. Was thinking of trying a healing class since I may roll a Commando or Mercenary.