Class is amazing, coming from an Operative*

[OldSwab]

I rolled a trooper this week and have played it casually to 15, mostly WZ and Flashpoints so far. I've found it to be incredibly fun. With my Operative in PvP, I have to plan things out, pick targets, stealth up, hit the stim, catch the target, hidden strike them, stun them, shiv, backstab, stun again, energy pop, shiv and backstab, and then be prepared with defensives/heals if when they get up wake up if I want to get a kill.

 

With the Vanguard assault line, I just (typically) pick a low health target and press a couple of u-die-now buttons, mixed in with some bursts for ammo recharge. Mortar volley (while I understand that it's possibly bugged for us?) by the door in Voidstar is more profit. Sure, there are some situational skills (stuns/bolts/the energy field thing) but it seems really really refreshing and just a bit simplistic (in a good way). I racked up 26 kills, 6 medals, and 1 death at lvl 14 last night in Voidstar. Shhh...don't tell the medic

 

Does it stay this fun into end game? Do I still get to tank the occasional Operation/HM as an assault spec? I know about the champ gear grind (44/10/1duplicate on the Op), but I will likely roll out in full orange/purple mods at 50 when I get there, with a piece or two of the champ armor owing to the upcoming changes in 1.1.2.

 

I'm taking up biochem for the reusable stims/adrenal/medpacks. Is that a pretty reasonable choice?

 

*Ok, not a "real" Operative. I'm a valor 54 medic spec by guild request, and I'm missing ALL of the "haha-dead" buttons.

Edited February 7, 2012 by OldSwab

[Zarcharias]

Does it stay this fun into end game? Do I still get to tank the occasional Operation/HM as an assault spec?

 

I think it stays that fun. I play a spec basically the same as Taug's iron fist which is 25/14/2, and I really enjoy my combination of survivability and harrasment in WZs. As assault you have the ability to essential burn down almost anyone without too much survivability sacrifice. This stays consistent.

 

Re: PVE... assault is a DPS spec. Mitigation mechanics (essentially shield) do function in PVE as mobs tend to do "white damage". This means in PVE you would need to run ion cell and carry a shield gen offhand to tank. Also PVE, a fully specced shield tank with shield/absorb/endurance gear is going to be superior to a PVP shield tank wearing DPS gear.

 

You can see in either of Taugrim's topics on this forum a link to his site. As a new vanguard, I would suggest browsing his guide, as he has compiled pretty much all "known data" that folks have gathered to date, and understanding defense mechanics is huge when deciding on how you will play/spec/gear your vanguard. It will also answer many questions before you run into the need to ask them.

 

welcome to the non-stealth side of PVP. You no longer have to sing soprano.

[VragonBral]

"..With the Vanguard assault line, I just (typically) pick a low health target and press a couple of u-die-now buttons.."

"..*Ok, not a "real" Operative. I'm a valor 54 medic spec by guild request, and I'm missing ALL of the "haha-dead" buttons..."

 

You and I will be good friends I think. Just need you to start screaming bloody murder and chasing people down spamming Ion Pulse, then screaming out "GET OVER HERE!" whenever you use Harpoon.

 

Anyway. It's nice to hear those kinds of word's, yes. It's simplistic sometimes, but it also can get very complex with how we can rotate and build our skills. Sure, its not as complex as Operatives. And I think your HAHA-DIE-NAO button's would be more exhilarating if you didin't have to spec into Medic with said Operative.

 

As to your question, DEFINITELY. It stays this fun even into late game PvP for us. It's very fast paced and action packed. We are almost constantly moving in WZ's and tend to work as great disruptors. Sure, we can't harass like mad. We can't take all the damage in the world. We can't stealth and assassinate targets. But we can sure as hell make our enemies scream in utter frustration.

 

More then once I have heard "JUST DIE ALREADY!" in a yell over WZ's from people I have been fighting.

 

You will find it fun. Trust me. Right now I am running a Assault/Shield Spec, and absolutely love it.

[ururururu]

yes, it stays this fun. it gets more fun because you get some key abilities later, like stealth scan and enough abilties/stuns/interrupts to take out sorcerer.

 

no you can't tank hardmodes as assault spec. but you can do parakeet (21/2/18) and tank them in that. (shhh, nobody will know because you have the charge).

 

it depends on your group and everyone is different.. but for pvp I have consistently the most fun in the parakeet spec. with assault I go through ammo too fast. (could be an experience issue, I always go back to parakeet fairly quickly!). gonna retry 4/6/31 when I get 4pc 15% rail shot gear though... getting bad luck on right side champion gear drops.

Edited February 7, 2012 by ururururu

[OldSwab]

Thanks for the replies and advice. I will definitely go check out the links.

 

Meantime, you can't imagine how much I'm enjoying the break from checking to see who needs a refresh on green from a floating spray paint can and hearing my toon chuckle *every* time I proc a heal.

[Cryowolf]

Meantime, you can't imagine how much I'm enjoying the break from...hearing my toon chuckle *every* time I proc a heal.

 

If you continue with Assault you will hear some chuckling when your HIB cd refreshes from talent procs. It's ok though because it is so much fun you be laughing right along with your toon.

[VragonBral]

If you continue with Assault you will hear some chuckling when your HIB cd refreshes from talent procs. It's ok though because it is so much fun you be laughing right along with your toon.

 

*5K Crit, Ion Pulse-HIB proc-5K Crit* MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! *Evil cackling*

[va_wanderer]

Thanks for the replies and advice. I will definitely go check out the links.

 

Meantime, you can't imagine how much I'm enjoying the break from checking to see who needs a refresh on green from a floating spray paint can and hearing my toon chuckle *every* time I proc a heal.

 

Just watch out for Ionic Accelerator. It's our giggle skill proc when you get a freebie High Impact Bolt off of Ion Pulse or Stockstrike. It needs a new sound effect, like:

 

http://www.audiomicro.com/electrical-arcs-sparks-lightning-crack-arc-pe1030601-sound-effects-140145

[zorniza]

You can easily tank HMs in assault spec in tanking gear. You will also be likely off-tanking in your operation group as assault specialist (i even did off-tanking in nightmare Mercenaries boss in Karaga just fine).

[ururururu]

You can easily tank HMs in assault spec in tanking gear. You will also be likely off-tanking in your operation group as assault specialist (i even did off-tanking in nightmare Mercenaries boss in Karaga just fine).

Translation : once you already have hardmode/raid gear and have amazing healers you can tank naked

[dejavy]

I'm gunnery 63 valor lvl. Now my alt vanguard is only 35lvl in game but even now i feel his potential. He lives against Melee(!) what i can't say about my gunner. Cast break, harpoon and mass stun are just amazing for pvp. More over i have cybertech with its grenades which stun as well!!! Who knows, maybe vang will become my main though i really don't want to take 63 valor lvl again Q_o Now i use hybrid spec AS-18, rest in tactic for more often "hahah" procs and gut with bleed

[Godliness]

Yeah, I have a Vanguard main and Sage and Operative alts. The Vanguard is about 9000 times more fun than either. The Sage, at least, can sprint occasionally.

 

I had a priest in WoW whose PvP healing I was pretty happy with. But I find healing with my level 26 Operative to be so resource-dependent (i.e. I'm not just nursing my resource bar, I'm nursing the top HALF of the resource bar) that I lose sight of the battlefield. True, the Vanguard has a similar resource mechanic, but I'm not ALSO watching health bars. The intensive resource bar management AND watching healing bars makes me occasionally lose sight of the battlefield altogether.

 

My Vanguard is pure fun. And I'm totally aware of everything in the WZ. Lately I've been thinking about shelving both alts. I'm really glad I happened to pick Vanguard at character selection.

 

I will say that PvE story wise, the Op had the best story. Followed by Trooper. I thought the Sage story was horrendous.

Edited February 8, 2012 by Godliness

[Ramurdyne]

don't make judgement s about a class if you only played it to lvl 15 please.

[OldSwab]

don't make judgement s about a class if you only played it to lvl 15 please.

English can be difficult when you initially encounter it. Asking questions is actually not the same as making judgements. That's why we have different "words". Keep at it though, all it takes is practice.

 

@ rest--Thanks again for the input. Still enjoying the vanguard immensely, although the class quests thus far seem to be a bit more spread out/run-around-fests compared to the emp I play.

[Savish]

Rolled Vanguard from a lvl 50 Operative as well and I don't miss my operative one bit then again my Merc was way more fun as well, though I played a healer OP and their healing tree is just laughable bland and bad. Edited February 9, 2012 by Savish

[OldSwab]

Rolled Vanguard from a lvl 50 Operative as well and I don't miss my operative one bit then again my Merc was way more fun as well, though I played a healer OP and their healing tree is just laughable bland and bad.

 

lol, healing ops need a support group. glad you're enjoying the the vanguard as much as i am!

[grueber]

Vanguard is the most fun in PvP compared to a maruader, sniper, and smuggler.

 

I think shield spec is the best, particularly when you get storm.

 

Huttball is a blast when you can harpoon the ball carrier off the ramp or storm up/down ramps. Love the surprised look on the enemy when I'm the ball carrier and storm right to the goal line.

Edited February 9, 2012 by grueber

[Savish]

Vanguard is the most fun in PvP compared to a maruader, sniper, and smuggler.

 

I think shield spec is the best, particularly when you get storm.

 

Huttball is a blast when you can harpoon the ball carrier off the ramp or storm up/down ramps. Love the surprised look on the enemy when I'm the ball carrier and storm right to the goal line.

 

Shield spec is by far the best in huttball nothing better then storm+harpoon, though I'm playing assault spec for the amazing burst since I hardly ever get huttball on my server.

[Shmn]

Rolled Vanguard from a lvl 50 Operative as well and I don't miss my operative one bit then again my Merc was way more fun as well, though I played a healer OP and their healing tree is just laughable bland and bad.

 

Along similar lines here. I wouldn't say I rerolled though because I have all classes but Scoundrel is my only 50 and Vanguard currently second highest at 39. I'm finding Vaggie.. okay not the best nickname I guess, anyway -- liking it a lot because it's adaptive. And most of all rewardingly challenging. You have resource control, range control, taunting, guarding and pulling. The toolset makes for a playstyle that makes you feel useful to your team -- most importantly good uses of taunting and pulling are rewarding to me.

 

Oh, and Van..gie has made me flip 180 on huttball. I didn't like it that much as a Scoundrel (who'd a thunk, huh?) but now I absolutely love it.

[DeputyDan]

^This.

 

I hated huttball for about 5 games, until I understood how resolve works and that harpooning someone at max range only works half the time. After that huttball became my favorite. Best play I've made was harpooning a receiver on the enemy team so my teammate in the endzone could intercept it. Stuff like that just doesn't happen with my alts.

 

I rolled sentinel and sniper alts, both mid-30s, and I consistently wish I had my trooper's skills on them. The only thing I wish I had on the vanguard is no min range for storm like my sent's force leap, but I'll settle for being able to dump damage at both long at short range. Vanguard is just too much fun.

[Trujan]

Yep, I am completely inlove with my vanguard. It's all coming to fruition now, the lovely skills are coming now.

I was a shadow tank before, and I am still a little mystified as to why I can do more damage and survive longer as vanguard, although my shadow was higher!?!!

[Shmn]

Yep, I am completely inlove with my vanguard. It's all coming to fruition now, the lovely skills are coming now.

I was a shadow tank before, and I am still a little mystified as to why I can do more damage and survive longer as vanguard, although my shadow was higher!?!!

 

They have different toolsets and excel at different things. Shadow has stealth, can vanish, has much better mobility with 20s force speed as well as the AOE knockback. Shadow can pick its fights more and maneuver on the field to be in opportune positions. Vanguard is more of a slow moving brick but fares better in stand up fights (which it needs to because it can't avoid them nor escape them).

 

Shadow is kind of an in-between hybrid class that is incredibly flexible but not as good in one role as a dedicated class.

Edited February 10, 2012 by Shmn

[Arrys]

As an operative with a high 20's alt powertech I can assure you, you have more fun to come.

 

eg: that first time your running up on a 1v1 where a conceal operative has just KD'd and is owning someone and you grapple/harppon them off saving their victim and pwning the operative whose CD's you know so well. And think to yourself my operative would never have dropped heals fast enough to save him.

 

the ever enjoyable snatching of a ball carrier from a certain score to a lose position or into the fire.

 

Snatching an enemy healer away from heal range of their team and killing them.

 

I'll assume you like me played operative because you like teamplay. The powertech/vanguard archetype is a very good teamplay charachter with it well rewarded in PvP(better than healing) who can also serve as very good area denial and damage.

 

as an operative I agree the archetype is fun. I had the same exact experience at level 14 in my first WZ on my PT. The experience just kept improving particularly when a healer notices you covering their back and you get the green love.