Also, make your taunt abilities easily accessible. My key binds: single target taunt - mouse scroll up; area taunt - mouse scroll down.

As a PT DPS I average between 30-70k a game from taunts, keeping in mind that most games are really one-sided, in good games it's 100-120k. I don't guard unless I have or see a competent healer, but with active guard swapping it is usually 200-500k (again depending on the quality of the game). Also as a dps, I tend to receive a lot of damage which make my taunts less efficient.

AP has passive defensives while pyro DCDs have to be activated depending on the situation. Both have very easy damage rotations.

Nobody dares to speak of it because of super effective nerf-warriors or because it's a glass cannon if not played right.

Most effective and easiest is scoundrel/operative. Sage/sorcerer is probably more fun, varied and has more utility. If you are a face tanker (just want to sit there and heal) who doesn't know how to position yourself then playing commando/mercenary instead of sage/sorc might be an overall better experience for you.

Pretty much. For all I care you could buy top tier PvP/PvE gear from the Cartel Market - spend more time contributing to the world and make money (read: work) while spending less time grinding out gear, meaning you'd have more free time enjoy all aspects of the game.

Because the 4th guy probably declined the queue.

No, I think they should be very deadly when/if they get close to you. Melee should require more situational awareness than what they do right now - pick fights or location. Same stuff for ranged - you should be pretty daft to run into a small room with a minigun. Timing, positioning, actual plan of action - tactics you know.

This makes sense to me. Then again this is Star Wars, so **** logic.

There's a reason why people stopped using swords and other melee weapons after firearms were introduced. The idea of jumping into a group of 5+ enemies and hoping to survive is moronic. Expecting to win is even beyond that.

PvE mods, here I come.

I would not focus on using PvE mods for PvP. They do provide an advantage but only if you know which ones to mix with your class. I see so many PTs/VGs running around with 45 mods in their MH just because of what they read from the forums. If you don't get how they work or you just don't care then stick with the PvP pieces, trust me - at least you know what you are getting. Ottoattack and Luckeyduckey gave sound advice.

The number of people that queue up for ranked is so low that it allows people to form premades. At certain times the only way to actually get ranked queue pops is to call your friends or randoms to get them queuing. I've been on both ends. One night I lost 120 rating because I was playing against my guild members while being on the other faction. They were still better games than most regs and I consider that as a win.

My suggestions: 1) Look up Koozie's guide in the PT section 2) Make sure you actually have a decent build: 4/6/36 is good. 3) Your gear seems messed up: you need to have 2018 expertise in a WZ, 4-piece eliminator set with only the following stats: aim, power, crit, surge. Get Obroan aim and power relics. 4) Pyro damage rotation is easy: high impact bolt, assault plastique, stock strike, ion pulse. 5) Learn about, as much as possible, and master your defensive and utility abilities. 6) Realize that you are not there to face tank - keep it short and sweet: you go in, blow (or try to at least) someone up and fall back. Guerrilla tactics, baby.

Maybe he was drunk and queued up for a flashpoint instead of a warzone?

I solely do solo/team ranked because the majority of the player base are not capable and/or willing to do objective based Warzones, meaning arenas are more fun.

What you see on the republic side: scoundrel healers, gunslingers, sages, guardian tanks and commandos.

Someone should do a guide for the Republic that would explain which are effective damage dealing classes and why they should play them.

I applaud the OP for coming to the forums and asking for help, but I would emphasize the underlined section of the quote, both parts of them. Also, a good post by Ottoattack.

Because once you put them into your armor 45s show up as 46s, but do go on using those in your weapon and gimping your weapon damage based abilities.

All I could think of while reading this was: Maul/Shadow Strike. Isn't that 90% of an assassins rotation?

Go play a commando for a few WZs, you'll appreciate sage a lot more.

You are getting that result in a WZ?

On your VG, you will lose max weapon damage but gain min weapon damage with PvE 69 barrel compared to obroan barrel.

Most of those PvE regstars don't even know how to use the bolster system to get their 2018 expertise and then you see them in the WZ with 1000-1600 expertise and their experience is horrible because of it (they think their ****'s fine because they have heard about bolster). That is fine if you are a new player, I won't judge you because of it if it's your first week of doing WZs or playing as 55. My favorites are the pros with 78 PvE mods: you have cleared endgame PvE content but can't be bothered to learn about expertise and bolster? I don't think he would do hard mode OPs with me if I didn't have the gear. My suggestion would be to make all gear craftable - balance gear cap, boost game economy and guild importance. Ranked rating should be about prestige - unique armor looks etc.