5 encounters is expected for most players at Level 65 (who by this point will be already fully decked in 200-level gear), so I would say 208 (which is what these players will be working on getting with Heroic rewards). 7 encounters, being the next level up, yet for a similar class of player, should get a 216 piece. 10 encounters is the ultimate in single character content, and like other very challenging single level content (such as gaining a large number of Alliance Specialist rewards and redeeming the Radiant crystals) should earn a 220 piece. 224 would remain for the most challenging group content. Depending on how often this can be repeated (weekly? daily?) a full 220 piece of gear may be too extreme. In this case I would look to other challenging repeatable solo content: Heroic Mode Flashpoints, which tend to provide valuable things such as hilts, barrels, and the like. Providing 216 hilts/barrels/armor for 7 encounters and 220 hilts for 10 encounters will make it so that many people still want to try this new content, but it does not become so overpowered that it precludes all other challenges.

You say that as though there's usually extra content. I've been subscribed for most of this year and only once during that time was there actually new content introduced.

I never see any issue with Shadowlands grouping, but there also aren't any non-Flashpoint, non-Operation missions that require grouping at this point.

I noticed this as well, and was asking on Hoth if anybody knew what changed in the mission to cause the reset. All I lost was one World Boss trophy, but still. I'm hoping this is related to the feedback that the random mobs were too rare and the only way to increase frequency was to reset the mission.

Two weeks ago, this board was awash with page after page of more threads than I can count crying because their companion had become stronger than them, and this somehow on its own ruins the entire game for them. Never mind the fact that leaving the companions alone for 10 seconds often seemed to result in companion death. Now, the board is awash with page after page of more threads than I can count crying because companions are no longer powerful enough to allow them to steamroll through content without paying attention. Never mind the fact that it is still pretty simple to solo content intended for multiple players just by using buffs that the game hands you for free, or the fact that gaining rank 10 with your alliance makes you so powerful that you don't even need a companion. You can't have it both ways, people. You can't have companions that are both weaker and stronger than you. Never mind the fact that there is no point to this board even existing if every page is just going to be 10 of the same thread.

And yet, people are still getting the achievement where if you intentionally cripple yourself, you still solo the Heroic Flashpoint. How interesting.

The repeating content complaints seem strange to me, as my Alliance is currently at rank 11 with me only having up to this point done each of the Prologue and Chapter 1 worlds once, and two additional worlds. The game has given all indication that by the time I gain the "Imperial Hero of Quesh", "Imperial Hero of Hoth", "Imperial Hero of Voss", and "Imperial Hero of Coruscant" achievements that I will be pretty close to 20. In the meantime there is so much Star Fortress-related content that I don't see myself running out of things to earn any time soon, even if there isn't all that much difference between the named Paladin fights.

I'm still seeing people get the Achievement for solo-ing it no buffs, even post-companion nerf. As somebody with a mix of 208 and 216 gear, there is only one fight in the entire Flashpoint that I had to attempt more than twice to pass in no-buff mode. Simply beating the Flashpoint the way it's intended also gives you multiple additional buffs and so much additional gear that it actually removes all challenge when solo-ing the area that I had difficulty otherwise (by the way, I'm speaking of the last room before the Exarch).

Agreed. Other spins on this would be to split the vendor, one for Security Key customizations and one for standards, or to add a general Reputation vendor for each Alliance faction, which among other things would sell customizations.

Looking at the Alliance companions, there really was a missed opportunity there. While I understand how little was discussed of the companions' personal lives (what the hell would anybody other an Inquisitor care about what Talos was up to for 5 years, for instance?), I think these missions could have been used for more opportunity to explain what transpired on the various planets. Not just the companions, either. I've returned to Hoth for two distinct reasons - recruiting and Star Fortress - since Chapter IX. Both of these should have had something. Qyzen should have some sort of events occurring around him to do with the Empire and Republic, while the Star Fortress group should have some additional information about the pirate groups. They give some bits and pieces, but so much more could have been done. To a greater extent, look at the Talos mission. Yavin was a landmark planet: a world powerful in the Dark Side, covered in Sith relics, used by multiple Sith factions yet secret to the Empire, best known by the rulers of the galaxy as the site of Revan's last stand and the first of several cease-fires between the Empire and the Republic. Talos's mission should have been brimming with NPC dialogue about what Yavin was used for now, or what military forces still stationed there knew of what was going on. I'm hoping that we get the opportunity to visit such worlds as Makeb and Ziost for companions as further chapters come out, and I'm hoping they take up this missed opportunity.

I've been assuming they're hidden, but I know I'm well past 100 and potentially close to 1,000 with Lana and have yet to see any sign. It does seem very strange that the Alliance companions would have them and not the main character companions, though.

The comparison was more what would have happened if Truman ordered a nuclear strike on, say, Los Angeles. Then moved to Canada and ran for Prime Minister.

I'd agree with this. Having a larger stronghold should not give you any sort of penalty or make it more difficult to get the same bonuses you get for other things.

Yeah, they are both separate and shouldn't affect one another.

It's a few quests, followed by two flashpoints. It's not really necessary for anything, but it doesn't take long and most people seem to enjoy it. Plus other people will spoil it for you if you don't.