Ultima Online?

Um... Because blasters aren't lasers, they throw bolts of high energy plasma. Quoting wikipedia: . That is why they travel at a sub sonic speed and why it can be stopped mid air by the force.

I wouldn't exactly put Lucas on the level with Bardbury or Tolkein. That being said, Bradbury was always consistent concerning the meanings and images in his novels. Tolkein the same. While he rewrote major portions of Lord of the Rings to make it all fit while he was still writing it. He never went back and played revisionist on it, nor did any of his statements about meanings or images or audience ever self contradict themselves. Ewoks and BB-8 were Lawrence Kasdan by the way, not Lucas. R2 and especially C3-PO, at least in their initial forms were not necessarily aimed at children as much as they were tropes common to ScyFy at the time. That leaves Jar Jar that you can solidly blame on Lucas.... If you really want to go down this rabbit whole, I suggest you look up Frank Herbert the We're too big to sue Lucas society to get exactly where he got his themes and their meanings.

This would be the same George Lucas that has denied making the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special? If you google it you can find his original pitch to Fox, it wasn't kids he was aiming at, but a teen to young adult primarily male audience. That he didn't pitch a kid audience, and Fox didn't think there would be kid crossover from a more mature film is why they declined options for the toy line and other kid tie ins that made Lucas his fortune. Sorry buy Lucas is the king of revisionist history. Google up his various explanations for why the light saber duels were so much more dynamic in the prequel trilogy than they were in the original trilogy. Or his various explanations of anything... up to and including the Star Wars Holiday Special...

Just curious. Which version of the EU did you most enjoy? You know considering that Lucas had wiped it out three times previously. How did you feel about his stated plans to wipe it out again before starting the next trilogy? Were you cool with that because Lucas? What did you think of his plan for Episodes 7, 8 &9 to be all about Luke and Leia's pre-pubescent children being mentored by Jar Jar Binks? I guess you also liked Lucas' descisison to defy Disney and nix Revan from the Clone Wars series, and thus leave TOR up in the air as to canon? So what are your feelings about Disney looking to do a TOR trilogy?

I hear that. If the 246 drop rate in crates was better I would have less of a complaint. Also the need for a legendary item in order to upgrade it via UCs is a bit of a headache. Take my main for instance, never got a legendary chest piece, or main hand(there were a few other pieces as well, but they weren't as expensive). So for the main hand, to get 248 piece, I had to grind just over 600 UCs, so that I could purchase a 236MH that I didn't need, to upgrade it to a 242MH that I didn't need, so that I could finally upgrade to a 248. Repeat the same process for the chest piece. On a less lucky alt, I've only gotten legendary(and thus upgradable pieces) for half my gear. That's a lot of UC grinding. The legacy wide bit will be an improvement, and getting them for the crates will be an improvement, but it still is, in my opinion an overly slow process that should be sped up more than a little. Especially as they are adding yet another gear grind in.

Yes the statement was rude, but it contains an element of truth. The rate of gearing in this game currently is too low. We were encouraged by BW last year to have at least 8 alts. Trying to gear them all is tedious, and for me a major turn off to playing this game. For those of us who love the game but have limited playing time, it simply isn't realistic. I currently have seven alts that are GC 300. None of them broke 238 overall gear rating when they hit GC 300. Which, by the way means I can't queue for the hard modes of newer FPs with random groups, because not 242+. Then comes the grind to upgrade gear, which can, depending on your luck take significantly more time than 8 hrs per gear slot. Sure I enjoy playing the game, but since 5.0 launched I have only been able to get one of my alts to full 248. I understand not wanting folks to get BiS gear for no work, but getting BiS gear for alts you actively play in all manner of group content shouldn't be a second job either.

Video or it didn't happen. Prove it mathematically or move on.

Please read what I wrote carefully. I didn't claim 9k for HM(Vet) I claimed that for NiM(MM). In Hardmode, you can cheat the mechanics a bit, and many do, by having a tank Respec to DPS, and taking in 5 DPS, instead of the normal ops group of 2T 4D and 2H. Sure with 5 DPS no class should have a problem especially in full 248 gear. How many classes, pre-nerf even could clear the content in recommended gear? When 5.0 Dropped, there were only the three tiers, 230, 236 and 242... Simply put if every class cannot put out sufficient numbers to clear all content in recomended gear, there is a problem. If classes have to be over geared, that isn't learn to play, that is a design problem. If all classes cannot clear all content(they can't), that isn't learn to play, that is a design problem. Finally Parseley is a bad place to pull your numbers from. If one member of raid team is putting out 13k DPS and another 7k DPS, they average out to 10k each... Also you don't know if they subbed a DPS for a Tank. Again, if you have to sub a DPS for a Tank, it isn't learn to play it is a design problem.

Sorry but that simply isn't true. Take the DPS check on Styrak, and then look at average dummy parse potentials with optimized gear... Here are the pre-nerf numbers: http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=918622 Factor in Kell Dragon spin and mechanic necessitated DPS drop off and there are classes, that even in 248 gear can't pass the DPS check, and a good number that would need a near perfect rotation. Never mind with the original 236 gear recommendation for HM ops. If you take the NiM DPS check on Styrak(9.2k sustained for duration of fight), factor in Kell Dragon spin and other mechanics necessitated DPS drops, and pre-nerf roughly a third of the classes couldn't hit the check even in full 248 even with a perfect rotation(never mind the recommended 242), post nerf it has only gotten worse. If you can prove me wrong mathematically I would love to hear it. However, we both know you can't.

This is how every player has felt as their main class was nerfed to the point that it was no longer viable for HM(Vet) or NiM(MM) content. It started with Mercs, who had decent DPS but whose defensive utilities made them a problem in PvP. Defensives got left alone and their DPS was reduced to the point where they can no longer put out sufficient DPS to clear all NiM content. When Merc players complained, everyone else cheered and said something along the lines of "learn to play." Now it comes to one of the most popular classes, Sent/Mara, and there is an outcry. Well, from those of us who have seen their Seer/Sorc and Mando/Merc nerfed to uselessness, I would like to say welcome to the party of discontent. I hope Bioware follows through on all of these nerfs so that we can all be equally unhappy.

Go check the vendor, it's on Odessan. See for yourself.

Have you checked the price for the key on the vendor? It is 10k not 5k. Not saying that an additional 5k is that much more. Just saying that it is symptomatic of the garbled communication coming out of Bioware currently. They couldn't even give us an accurate and clear explanation of how much the stronghold would cost and how to buy it.

Hey gentle being, you sound like a great person, and a real asset to any guild you are in. If you want to give large fun loving guild a try, we would be happy to have you at Eternal Insanity. We're an active guild, that has guild events almost nightly. We may even be able to convince you to stay in game:D

That makes no sense. When 5.0 dropped up until 5.2 SM dropped 230, HM 236 and NiM 242. Typically the ops dropped a tier above what was needed to clear them.

Yeah, but no class could pass Styrak in 236 gear. Not just sorcs, none. Here are the numbers for 240 gear. Please note that the highest parsing class is on average well below the threshold for being able to pass NiM Styrak when you factor in the mechanics of just the Kell Dragon spin. PvE balancing in 5.X has just been an absolute mess, and they are only making it worse. I really wish the Devs would answer this. Either they have to buff the classes, or nerf the ops bosses. Personally I believe that every class should be viable, with mechanics factored in, for all content at the recommended gear level. However, what we have is that no class can put out sufficient dmg to clear all content at recommended gear rating. If that problem is sorted, personally I don't care about 10% spread or whatever. They want 10% spread, fine, so long as the lowest DPSing class can still, mehanics included, clear the content at recommended gear rating. Then we can talk about PvP balance, which is admittedly a mess, but we cannot continue to break one for the sake of the other.

The ability to put out 9k DPS on a dummy, does not mean you can put out 9k DPS in a boss fight. Take Styrak, you really need to parse 9,2k to be carrying your own weight. That included Kell Dragon spin(where your DPS drops through the floor), target switches, nightmare ect, knock backs and interrupts and all the other mechanics that lower your DPS. Sure a Sorc in 248 can finally put out the necessary DPS on a dummy. But they don't stand a chance in a fight where the inescapable mechanics lower their DPS significantly.

Well HM and NiM, even before the 5.3 nerfs could not be accomplished by many classes in the recommended gear. Here are the pre-5.2 output numbers Note that HM Styrak and HM Terror both require over 8k sustained DPS despite mechanics that caused serious DPS drop offs. Yet many classes were struggling to put that out in 242(NiM gear) pre 5.2. Then we got 5.2 and the new 248 gear and here are those numbers: Again note that both Styrak and the Terror in NiM require more than 9k sustained DPS, yet many classes were struggling to put that out on a dummy, let alone with game mechanics that caused DPS drop offs. Then came the nerfs in 5.3 which dropped more classes into the not viable category. This has been brought up many times. Simply when you need top tier gear to have the possibility of putting out sufficient DPS to clear your middle tier of difficulty, your game is simply too hard. The class balancing is frankly breaking endgame PVE.

I agree with you on this mostly. If the balancing was done correctly than 242 gear would be more than adequate and easily enough accessible if a raid group wanted to power gear one of their members. The problem is that the balancing is so messed up that most classes absolutely need full 248 which is still a grind, a serious grind in PvP. Many classes need full 248 and a Crystal of Nightmare Fury, and there are classes that even with full 248 and expensive consumable still simply can't get the output numbers. The gearing issue and GC thing is an issue only because PvE balance is such a shambles. Fix PvE balance and I think the complaints about GC will evaporate. I know mine would.

Let me give those numbers some more context. Here are the max DPS output(assuming you don't win the RNG lottery with crit but what could be on average expected) of all classes post 5.2. Note it hasn't been adjusted down yet for the various nerfs: https://torcommunity.com/guides/miscellaneous/class-rankings Here some helpful people have done the math to figure out the DPS checks for every NiM boss: http://yourcompanion.clanwebsite.com/372356/topic/50-nightmare-checks-jpq Note that say NiM Styrak requires over 9k sustained DPS. That is with the various mechanics that reduce your DPS like the Kell Dragon spin. Even before the nerfs there were several classes that could only get over 9k DPS in full 248 gear and with a perfect rotation devoid of human error on a dummy without limiting mechanics. For those classes to be able to clear content they will realistically need full 248 gear and a very expensive consumable known as Crystal of Nightmare Fury. I would like to point out that the recommended gear for NiM is 236, but let's be honest most classes can't put out the necessary DPS in 236. Starparse gathers its metrics from people using it for raid parses(not solo parases). So we are talking serious raid groups trying to clear content. That drop off in numbers isn't about "tantrums" it's about non-viability. With upcoming balance nerfs I don't think there will be any class that can reliably put out the numbers needed to clear NiM content even in full 248 gear without the use of Crystal of Nightmare Fury, which is an insanely expensive consumable. Even then many classes, probably roughly 1/3 simply will not be viable. So if you are using Starparse in raid mode, and you are it's target audience, you probably won't be back for weeks or months if the reason you left was that your class was nerfed(merc/mando, Sniper/GS for example). The reason being that you have to level something else, and grind all the way back to full 248 gear simply to be viable in HM and NiM content. Me personally I was maining a merc for the prog team I was leading. I've pretty much thrown in the towel for prog raiding this expac. My char is simply not viable, which means wipes, which means really high repair bills. Or I can put the prog team on pause until I can get a replacement(better wait until after 5.4 to make sure the problem won't be repeated). That really isn't much of a solution either. So nope, I'm out until 6.0. Lots more like me. Here is some more data. The top ten Lightening sorcs can potentially put out enough dps that with game mechanics they could still clear NiM Styrak in 248 gear(though I've heard that they were using an exploit): http://parsely.io/parser/leaderboard/sorcerer/lightning/2500000/all/live/1/ No one in the madness category can do so, which is really bad: http://parsely.io/parser/leaderboard/sorcerer/madness/2500000/all/live/1/ I'm guessing I could go through all the classes listed shallow end of the DPS pool here https://torcommunity.com/guides/miscellaneous/class-rankings and find the same result. There may be some 1%ers in their various classes that can hit the necessary numbers. What about the other 99% of paying players though? I write these posts because I want BW to realize that they have a broken system where some classes, some very popular classes, simply are not viable for endgame content and work to fix that. I'm not asking for buffs, or even my own favorite classes, PT and Guardian for those who wonder, to be boosted up to be the highest parsing classes. I simply want them to balance PvE so that all classes are viable for all content at the recommended gear ratings. I shouldn't have to have two tiers above recommended rating to simply be viable in certain content. I certainly shouldn't be able to be 2 tiers above recommended rating and not be viable for certain content. For me the drop rate of tier 4 gear from crates is only part of a bigger problem. That balance in this game simply doesn't exist in any rational form. PvE is a total mess and only gettig worse with the "balancing" nerfs that instead of balancing things only made greater disparities and sunk more classes into the not viable for all content category. PvP is also a mess, so playing that to get 242 and 248 gear is frustrating at best, especiall with the drop rates. Ideally here is what I would like to see happen that I think would be the best for both PvE and PvP: 1) Nerf ops bosses so that they can be realistically cleared by all classes in the recommended gear. Taking into account actual DPS drop offs resulting from mechanics. 2) Make unassembled components act like WZ coms did in 4.0. Namely a base number gained for participation, more for a win, and additional ones earned for WZ medals gained. There is no reason that someone who is actually trying and earns 20 medals should get the same amount as the guy who goes AFK in stealth in a corner somewhere. Nevermind when the AFKer says he'll guard objective, but allows it to be captured because he really just wants the WZ to end earlier. Also make them legacy transferrable, just as WZ coms were. 3) Actually balance the classes and as much as possible do away with the FOTM class. Make that balance not just about theoretical DPS output but what actually happens in game mechanics. 4) Return to the 1.0&2.0 system of abilities having different PvE and PvP characteristics so that PvE and PvP can be balanced separately once again. That is my personal wish list(and recommendations). To be honest even if BW were to do those things, I don't think or expect that they would get it right straight away, but the attempt with necessary tweaks over time to get it right(not ignoring problems for 6+ mos) would make me and I think a lot of other people very happy campers

Well in hopes that Keith will read it, here let me explain to you why players aren't stepping up for HM/NiM(Vet and MM) ops, and why so many are preferring sing player content. Largely it is the same reason that humans long ago stopped attempting unpowered/unassisted human flight, despite a few like Icarus who may have succeeded for the vast majority it is impossible, humans realized it was impossible, and being that are brains are hardwired to avoid unnecessary frustration they ceased attempting it. Here are the max DPS output(assuming you don't win the RNG lottery with crit but what could be on average expected) of all classes post 5.2. Note it hasn't been adjusted down yet for the various nerfs: https://torcommunity.com/guides/miscellaneous/class-rankings Here some helpful people have done the math to figure out the DPS checks for every NiM boss: http://yourcompanion.clanwebsite.com/372356/topic/50-nightmare-checks-jpq Note that say NiM Styrak requires over 9k sustained DPS. That is with the various mechanics that reduce your DPS like the Kell Dragon spin. Even before the nerfs there were several classes that could only get over 9k DPS in full 248 gear and with a perfect rotation devoid of human error on a dummy without limiting mechanics. Even more classes after the first round of nerfs, and I am sure that a few more will be added to that list after the next round of nerfs. For those classes to be able to clear content they will realistically need full 248 gear and a very expensive consumable known as Crystal of Nightmare Fury. For those of us who enjoy progression raiding and attempting harder endgame content with our friends this gear grind to be able to realistically play portions of the game is frustrating in the extreme. To have any hope of clearing content that gives 248 gear, I need to already have full 248 gear. Same with HMs, though there the imbalace is even more glaring, but I'll leave that aside for now. I would like to point out that the recommended gear for NiM(MM) is 236, yes it actually says 236 which is what originally dropped from HM in 5.1, but let's be honest most classes can't put out the necessary DPS in 236. So most classes weren't able to complete MM(NiM) content until 5.2, and then had that ability taken away again in 5.3. I get that people playing PvP don't want to die to fast as that takes away enjoyment from the game. However, people playing PvE want to be able to clear PvE content on their favorite class. Why does one have to suffer for the other? Why are classes being nerfed out of NiM viability for the sake of PvP? Why do PvE bosses have some ridiculously high DPS checks that simply aren't achievable by many classes, and very few classes in the recommended gear? I know someone is going to through out the "L2P" argrument. That if we were good enough it wouldn't be an issue. Yes good players will still be good no matter gear. Will they be good enough to clear conent? Well the top ten Lightening sorcs can potentially put out enough dps that with game mechanics they could still clear NiM Styrak in 248 gear(BTW notice another sorc above claims that many of these were done with an exploit): http://parsely.io/parser/leaderboard/sorcerer/lightning/2500000/all/live/1/ No one in the madness category can do so, which is really bad: http://parsely.io/parser/leaderboard/sorcerer/madness/2500000/all/live/1/ I'm guessing I could go through all the classes listed shallow end of the DPS pool here https://torcommunity.com/guides/miscellaneous/class-rankings and find the same result. There may be some 1%ers in their various classes that can hit the necessary numbers. What about the other 99% of paying players though? To answer any questions about why I continue to pay to play the game, that is simple, over five years of playing I have developed some real friendships in game, and I still enjoy doing stuff with those friends. Enough so to justify the relatively minimal expense of the sub. However, as more of those friends which started as virtual friends and many of whom have become IRL friends, gradually grows frustrated and leaves, I will admit that my incentive to continue to pay said sub is decreasing. I write these posts because I don't want to leave game, and don't want my friends to leave game. I want BW to realize that they have a broken system where some classes, some very popular classes, simply are not viable for endgame content and work to fix that. I'm not asking for buffs, or even my own favorite classes, PT and Guardian for those who wonder, to be boosted up to be the highest parsing classes. I simply want them to balance PvE so that all classes are viable for all content at the recommended gear ratings. I shouldn't have to have two tiers above recommended rating to simply be viable in certain content. I certainly shouldn't be able to be 2 tiers above recommended rating and not be viable for certain content. For me the drop rate of tier 4 gear from crates is only part of a bigger problem. That balance in this game simply doesn't exist in any rational form. PvE is a total mess and only gettig worse with the "balancing" nerfs that instead of balancing things only made greater disparities and sunk more classes into the not viable for all content category. PvP is also a mess, so playing that to get 242 and 248 gear is frustrating at best, especiall with the drop rates. Ideally here is what I would like to see happen that I think would be the best for both PvE and PvP: 1) Nerf ops bosses so that they can be realistically cleared by all classes in the recommended gear. Taking into account actual DPS drop offs resulting from mechanics. 2) Make unassembled components act like WZ coms did in 4.0. Namely a base number gained for participation, more for a win, and additional ones earned for WZ medals gained. There is no reason that someone who is actually trying and earns 20 medals should get the same amount as the guy who goes AFK in stealth in a corner somewhere. Nevermind when the AFKer says he'll guard objective, but allows it to be captured because he really just wants the WZ to end earlier. Also make them legacy transferrable, just as WZ coms were. 3) Actually balance the classes and as much as possible do away with the FOTM class. Make that balance not just about theoretical DPS output but what actually happens in game mechanics. 4) Return to the 1.0&2.0 system of abilities having different PvE and PvP characteristics so that PvE and PvP can be balanced separately once again. That is my personal wish list(and recommendations). To be honest even if BW were to do those things, I don't think or expect that they would get it right straight away, but the attempt with necessary tweaks over time to get it right(not ignoring problems for 6+ mos) would make me and I think a lot of other people very happy campers.

Wow keith this sounds great. However there is one serious problem which I am not sure you have considered. To not put too fine a point on it, you hare hanging rewards out there that simply are unobtainable for many players. As class balance continues with the nerfs you will be making them unobtainable to even more players. I know you seem to be unaware of this so please let me explain it to you and please take the time to read and consider. Here are the max DPS output(assuming you don't win the RNG lottery with crit but what could be on average expected) of all classes post 5.2. Note it hasn't been adjusted down yet for the various nerfs: https://torcommunity.com/guides/miscellaneous/class-rankings Here some helpful people have done the math to figure out the DPS checks for every NiM boss: http://yourcompanion.clanwebsite.com/372356/topic/50-nightmare-checks-jpq Note that say NiM Styrak requires over 9k sustained DPS. That is with the various mechanics that reduce your DPS like the Kell Dragon spin. Even before the nerfs there were several classes that could only get over 9k DPS in full 248 gear and with a perfect rotation devoid of human error on a dummy without limiting mechanics. For those classes to be able to clear content they will realistically need full 248 gear and a very expensive consumable known as Crystal of Nightmare Fury. For those of us who enjoy progression raiding and attempting harder endgame content with our friends this gear grind to be able to realistically play portions of the game is frustrating. The nerf that have been introduced that make even more of our favorite classes unable to achieve the necessary output is frustrating in the extreme. Now that there are going to be rewards gated behind this content for which many of our favorite classes are no longer viable, instead of feeling like, what I am sure was intended, a fun reward it instead comes across as a slap in the face. I would like to point out that the recommended gear for NiM is 236, but let's be honest most classes can't put out the necessary DPS in 236. I get that people playing PvP don't want to die to fast as that takes away enjoyment from the game. However, people playing PvE want to be able to clear PvE content, and get PvE rewards on their favorite class. Why does one have to suffer for the other? Why are classes being nerfed out of NiM viability for the sake of PvP? Why do PvE bosses have some ridiculously high DPS checks that simply aren't achievable by many classes, and very few classes in the recommended gear? Yes good players will still be good no matter gear. Will they be good enough to clear conent? Well the top ten Lightening sorcs can potentially put out enough dps that with game mechanics they could still clear NiM Styrak in 248 gear, and apparently several of them rely on a bug(maybe exploit) to achieve those numbers: http://parsely.io/parser/leaderboard/sorcerer/lightning/2500000/all/live/1/ No one in the madness category can do so, which is really bad: http://parsely.io/parser/leaderboard/sorcerer/madness/2500000/all/live/1/ I'm guessing I could go through all the classes listed shallow end of the DPS pool here https://torcommunity.com/guides/miscellaneous/class-rankings and find the same result. There may be some 1%ers in their various classes that can hit the necessary numbers. What about the other 99% of paying players though? Is your intention to hang these rewards out of the reach of 99% of the SWTOR population? If so that would be nice to know from the start so that we can "manage our expectations." To answer any questions about why I continue to pay to play the game, that is simple, over five years of playing I have developed some real friendships in game, and I still enjoy doing stuff with those friends. Enough so to justify the relatively minimal expense of the sub. However, as more of those friends which started as virtual friends and many of whom have become IRL friends, gradually grows frustrated and leaves, I will admit that my incentive to continue to pay said sub is decreasing. I write these posts because I don't want to leave game, and don't want my friends to leave game. I want BW to realize that they have a broken system where some classes, some very popular classes, simply are not viable for endgame content and work to fix that. I'm not asking for buffs, or even my own favorite classes, PT and Guardian for those who wonder, to be boosted up to be the highest parsing classes. I simply want them to balance PvE so that all classes are viable for all content at the recommended gear ratings. I shouldn't have to have two tiers above recommended rating to simply be viable in certain content. I certainly shouldn't be able to be 2 tiers above recommended rating and not be viable for certain content. I want to be able to get PvE rewards on any class I choose to play based on a realistic skill level. Right now that is only possible for some classes by convincing other people to carry them through content. Let's be honest Keith, that isn't fun. Ketih balance in this game simply doesn't exist in any rational form. PvE is a total mess and only gettig worse with the "balancing" nerfs that instead of balancing things only made greater disparities and sunk more classes into the not viable for all content category. PvP is also a mess, so playing that to get 242 and 248 gear is frustrating at best, especiall with the drop rates. Ideally here is what I would like to see happen that I think would be the best for both PvE and PvP: 1) Nerf ops bosses so that they can be realistically cleared by all classes in the recommended gear. Taking into account actual DPS drop offs resulting from mechanics. 2) Make unassembled components act like WZ coms did in 4.0. Namely a base number gained for participation, more for a win, and additional ones earned for WZ medals gained. There is no reason that someone who is actually trying and earns 20 medals should get the same amount as the guy who goes AFK in stealth in a corner somewhere. Nevermind when the AFKer says he'll guard objective, but allows it to be captured because he really just wants the WZ to end earlier. Also make them legacy transferrable, just as WZ coms were. 3) Actually balance the classes and as much as possible do away with the FOTM class. Make that balance not just about theoretical DPS output but what actually happens in game mechanics. 4) Return to the 1.0&2.0 system of abilities having different PvE and PvP characteristics so that PvE and PvP can be balanced separately once again. That is my personal wish list(and recommendations). To be honest even if BW were to do those things, I don't think or expect that they would get it right straight away, but the attempt with necessary tweaks over time to get it right(not ignoring problems for 6+ mos) would make me and I think a lot of other people very happy campers Thank you for your time and consideration.

Here we go. I've giving this another swing Keith: Here are the max DPS output(assuming you don't win the RNG lottery with crit but what could be on average expected) of all classes post 5.2. Note it hasn't been adjusted down yet for the various nerfs: https://torcommunity.com/guides/miscellaneous/class-rankings Here some helpful people have done the math to figure out the DPS checks for every NiM boss: http://yourcompanion.clanwebsite.com/372356/topic/50-nightmare-checks-jpq Note that say NiM Styrak requires over 9k sustained DPS. That is with the various mechanics that reduce your DPS like the Kell Dragon spin. Even before the nerfs there were several classes that could only get over 9k DPS in full 248 gear and with a perfect rotation devoid of human error on a dummy without limiting mechanics. For those classes to be able to clear content they will realistically need full 248 gear and a very expensive consumable known as Crystal of Nightmare Fury. So yes there is actual and real need. For those of us who enjoy progression raiding and attempting harder endgame content with our friends this gear grind to be able to realistically play portions of the game is frustrating in the extreme. I would like to point out that the recommended gear for NiM is 236, but let's be honest most classes can't put out the necessary DPS in 236. I get that people playing PvP don't want to die to fast as that takes away enjoyment from the game. However, people playing PvE want to be able to clear PvE content on their favorite class. Why does one have to suffer for the other? Why are classes being nerfed out of NiM viability for the sake of PvP? Why do PvE bosses have some ridiculously high DPS checks that simply aren't achievable by many classes, and very few classes in the recommended gear? Yes good players will still be good no matter gear. Will they be good enough to clear conent? Well the top ten Lightening sorcs can potentially put out enough dps that with game mechanics they could still clear NiM Styrak in 248 gear: http://parsely.io/parser/leaderboard/sorcerer/lightning/2500000/all/live/1/ No one in the madness category can do so, which is really bad: http://parsely.io/parser/leaderboard/sorcerer/madness/2500000/all/live/1/ I'm guessing I could go through all the classes listed shallow end of the DPS pool here https://torcommunity.com/guides/miscellaneous/class-rankings and find the same result. There may be some 1%ers in their various classes that can hit the necessary numbers. What about the other 99% of paying players though? To answer any questions about why I continue to pay to play the game, that is simple, over five years of playing I have developed some real friendships in game, and I still enjoy doing stuff with those friends. Enough so to justify the relatively minimal expense of the sub. However, as more of those friends which started as virtual friends and many of whom have become IRL friends, gradually grows frustrated and leaves, I will admit that my incentive to continue to pay said sub is decreasing. I write these posts because I don't want to leave game, and don't want my friends to leave game. I want BW to realize that they have a broken system where some classes, some very popular classes, simply are not viable for endgame content and work to fix that. I'm not asking for buffs, or even my own favorite classes, PT and Guardian for those who wonder, to be boosted up to be the highest parsing classes. I simply want them to balance PvE so that all classes are viable for all content at the recommended gear ratings. I shouldn't have to have two tiers above recommended rating to simply be viable in certain content. I certainly shouldn't be able to be 2 tiers above recommended rating and not be viable for certain content. For me the drop rate of tier 4 gear from crates is only part of a bigger problem. That balance in this game simply doesn't exist in any rational form. PvE is a total mess and only gettig worse with the "balancing" nerfs that instead of balancing things only made greater disparities and sunk more classes into the not viable for all content category. PvP is also a mess, so playing that to get 242 and 248 gear is frustrating at best, especiall with the drop rates. Ideally here is what I would like to see happen that I think would be the best for both PvE and PvP: 1) Nerf ops bosses so that they can be realistically cleared by all classes in the recommended gear. Taking into account actual DPS drop offs resulting from mechanics. 2) Make unassembled components act like WZ coms did in 4.0. Namely a base number gained for participation, more for a win, and additional ones earned for WZ medals gained. There is no reason that someone who is actually trying and earns 20 medals should get the same amount as the guy who goes AFK in stealth in a corner somewhere. Nevermind when the AFKer says he'll guard objective, but allows it to be captured because he really just wants the WZ to end earlier. Also make them legacy transferrable, just as WZ coms were. 3) Actually balance the classes and as much as possible do away with the FOTM class. Make that balance not just about theoretical DPS output but what actually happens in game mechanics. 4) Return to the 1.0&2.0 system of abilities having different PvE and PvP characteristics so that PvE and PvP can be balanced separately once again. That is my personal wish list(and recommendations). To be honest even if BW were to do those things, I don't think or expect that they would get it right straight away, but the attempt with necessary tweaks over time to get it right(not ignoring problems for 6+ mos) would make me and I think a lot of other people very happy campers

I feel your pain. I reject the FOTM classes. I'm not going to switch to sniper or whatever just to complete content. What I want Keith to answer, which is why I will keep writing this again and again, is why can't I complete content on any class with the recommended gear rating? Long before we talk about the difficulties of getting 248 gear(which is hard), why are so many classes simply not viable for content at recommended gear ratings? They want to put ultra-awesome gear into game... Fine. If I can get it or or not I really don't care as long as I can realistically clear content in recommended gear. However, with the nerfs that have happened somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 of classes(haven't run the numbers on all of them which is why the guess) simply are not viable for said content in even 248 gear, never mind the recommended ratings.

If the top 20% can do it in recommended gear rating, then that number expands as other go up a tier or two in gear. Say for instance that they rebalanced ops so that the top twenty percent of players in any given class could clear the NiM in the recommended 236. Then by nature for those who struggle to play that well, they still have an avenue of clearing endgame content in overgearing up a tier or two. Yes I know there some NiM raiders that will be upset that it isn't such a small clique that can clear that content. However, I personally believe, and this is based on being an officer in two of the biggest guilds on my server, that more people will stick around and play content if they believe they have a chance to actually clear it. Which means more paying customers enjoying content that is challenging. Right now I'm watching people get frustrated and quit, either quit their prog teams or even quit game, because they are realizing that content isn't just challenging it is impossible or near enough to impossible to make no difference.