I think I've made a mistake.

[Hakkz]

I chose myself Vanguard because I thought that Commandos were only good for healing, but it seems that they rock more balls than Vanguard does.. I've got about 13 training points unspent because I havent found a good build to go with.

 

Any help here? Or should I just DELETE my vanguard and go Commando or Shadow Assassin (Or whatever the double LS consular is)

[hallucigenocide]

go assault specialist and start kicking ***! i find it to be very fun and especially in pvp where i just melt faces all day long...

 

way more fun than the ever so popular 1 button spam build that is gunnery for commandos.

 

just ask yourself if you wanna be fully ranged or something that is abit of both

[Hakkz]

Do share your knowledge with me. I also want to melt faces. I'm currently on level 27 if I remember correctly and doing PvP from time to time. What I really want to do is, get through a quest without dying even once. I'm having trouble with that too but I guess it's just my weapon that sells me out.

[Mightywombat]

dont delete the vanguard theyr good, just gotta specc them right and find the style of the class...unlike commando wich will get a nerf bat in theyr heads soon enough vanguards will be in the clear.

[FluxWing]

This perception changes once you reach lvl 50. Dying without getting a single cast off sometimes. You can't interupt a Vanguard.

 

You play a Vanguard because you like short range, almost melee fighting, and being mobile at the same time.

 

You play a Commando if you like to be a ranged dps that stands still most of the time.

 

 

I did the same on my bounty hunter, reached lvl 24 powertech realized that I could be better off as a mercenary. Reached lvl 30 with my merc and realized that heck powertechs aren't so bad after all, they are alot more mobile and better when fighting melee.

 

Now I don't know if I should level up my Powertech or reroll a Vanguard. (Since lvl 50 pvp sucks on my server)

[AetherMcLoud]

"I've made a huge mistake."

[xcimeister]

I chose myself Vanguard because I thought that Commandos were only good for healing, but it seems that they rock more balls than Vanguard does.. I've got about 13 training points unspent because I havent found a good build to go with.

 

Any help here? Or should I just DELETE my vanguard and go Commando or Shadow Assassin (Or whatever the double LS consular is)

 

Define rock more balls then Vanguard? Is it so, that you see commandos pull off more damage then you, and that's what you're focusing on?

If this is the case, let me give you a pro tip, aight? Forget damage done. When you chose a class in a MMO, like this, if you only look at how effective the class is, you will end up changing class after every major patch because of the balancing.

 

Vanguard is a close to medium range class with tanking possibilities. Good movement, no casting. Commando is a long range class with healing possibilities, with longer casts and pushbacks and the likes. The usual caster tools. This is what you should focus on, along with what kind of story you'd like since it's a massive part of this game. You can find all this info under the Game Info on this site, no problem. This way you will be more happy with your class, even with balancing and ups and downs.

 

If you don't know if you like melee or caster the most, tank or healer, then only way to find out is trial and error. Level to about 25, test a bit of pvp and pve, get a taste of the storyline, and you should find out. No one can tell you what you'd enjoy, since we are all bloody different, right?

 

You also asked about Consular Shadow, which is completely different from the two being a stealth class, but in the essence have more in common with Vanguard then Commando. No idea what line of thought you were in at all including it in the list, but there you have it.

[Hakkz]

Define rock more balls then Vanguard? Is it so, that you see commandos pull off more damage then you, and that's what you're focusing on?

If this is the case, let me give you a pro tip, aight? Forget damage done. When you chose a class in a MMO, like this, if you only look at how effective the class is, you will end up changing class after every major patch because of the balancing.

 

Vanguard is a close to medium range class with tanking possibilities. Good movement, no casting. Commando is a long range class with healing possibilities, with longer casts and pushbacks and the likes. The usual caster tools. This is what you should focus on, along with what kind of story you'd like since it's a massive part of this game. You can find all this info under the Game Info on this site, no problem. This way you will be more happy with your class, even with balancing and ups and downs.

 

If you don't know if you like melee or caster the most, tank or healer, then only way to find out is trial and error. Level to about 25, test a bit of pvp and pve, get a taste of the storyline, and you should find out. No one can tell you what you'd enjoy, since we are all bloody different, right?

 

You also asked about Consular Shadow, which is completely different from the two being a stealth class, but in the essence have more in common with Vanguard then Commando. No idea what line of thought you were in at all including it in the list, but there you have it.

 

Consular shadow was just a random thing I came up with because it felt way different than JKG or Vanguard after looking it's gear and skills.

 

In my experience in MMOs (which isnt much) I've noted that either you have high def / hp and medium damage plus a healing partner, or medium-little def / hp and very high damage with DPS or Tank partner. With my vanguard, I'm neither of these things. While I have two DPS partners(companions) and two medics (if you count the droid) I still stay alive barely while doing quests equal to my level or lower. Going against Elite or Champion mobs, let alone bosses.. I have to kill the adds first -> die and spawn so I can concentrate on the mainboss itself. Which is really annoying and I'm running out of funds to pay for my repairs. I just want a decent allrounder so I dont have to wait 10 minutes after each death to try again.

 

What comes to defining Commando 'rocking balls better than vanguard' they just deal more damage, what I've seen and stay alive a lot longer than Vanguard. Of course I'm not trying to say THIS IS THE CASE ALL THE TIME. I'm just going by my experience and what I've seen.

Edited March 5, 2012 by Hakkz

[hallucigenocide]

the only ones that can pull off what you want to do right now is healers.. you're not really meant to be runnig around soloing elites and champions from left to right

[xcimeister]

Consular shadow was just a random thing I came up with because it felt way different than JKG or Vanguard after looking it's gear and skills.

 

In my experience in MMOs (which isnt much) I've noted that either you have high def / hp and medium damage plus a healing partner, or medium-little def / hp and very high damage with DPS or Tank partner. With my vanguard, I'm neither of these things. While I have two DPS partners(companions) and two medics (if you count the droid) I still stay alive barely while doing quests equal to my level or lower. Going against Elite or Champion mobs, let alone bosses.. I have to kill the adds first -> die and spawn so I can concentrate on the mainboss itself. Which is really annoying and I'm running out of funds to pay for my repairs. I just want a decent allrounder so I dont have to wait 10 minutes after each death to try again.

 

What comes to defining Commando 'rocking balls better than vanguard' they just deal more damage, what I've seen and stay alive a lot longer than Vanguard. Of course I'm not trying to say THIS IS THE CASE ALL THE TIME. I'm just going by my experience and what I've seen.

 

I think it may come down to a Learn to Play level to be honest. What I would do is have a good look at the spec, have a good look at the gear, and rethink the abilities used. There are plenty of specs out on the internet, so really just google "Good Vanguard Leveling Spec Swtor" and you should get a nice selection, usually with a lil how to play it best guide.

 

If you get everything right, things will run very smoothly and you wont have much issues at all, if you get all the opposite you will be stuck dying constantly. This goes for what ever class you play.

 

I am not saying you shouldn't reroll, though. Even if you fix everything and still feel "this class just isn't my thing", I really think you should try something else. But see if you at least can find out why you have been dying so much, because I really doubt it's the class. If you know what you did wrong, you wont do it again with your new character.

[skidrows]

Fun to pvp with Vanguard at least if your sadistic in nature, pull players to poison freze them in fire and so

 

Simple make a new character and do fast lvl then you can make a commando to and test with you like better, hell i have Commando, Vanguard, Gunslinger, Scoundroul, Shadow, Jedi guard =)

[Lemmy_DB]

As already mentioned, depends how you want to play.

 

I rolled a Merc first (Commando mirror) but wanted a mobile rdps class not a static caster or healer - so that only left the assault tree (or pyro as it's called for Imps). Vanguards/Powertechs simply do Assault better.

 

Also, the Merc didn't leave me any alternative playstyles/builds that I wanted to explore, vanguard does - Tanking or a more mixed melee+ranged dps build.

 

So I dropped my Merc (lvl38), Rolled a Guardian(lvl50) - to try melee, and now loving my Vanguard - which is really the class I probably wanted all along.

 

At the end of the day, it's all personal playstyle preference.

[Kheldras]

i actually had my Assault-Commando till 27... before i rerolled Vanguard, cause i love the Mobility & Harpoon.

 

But if you have one , as long as you have Space, try out the Commando. Assault, Run & Gun and no Gravspam is something that works very well with Commando.

[Clucker]

Vanguard DPS is actually really good. Great mobility, throw on a shield, switch to Ion Cell and you can be an offtank in HM OPS.

 

Find the hybrid spec, which is heavy assault. You can rip it up. Fret not, Vanguards are good.

 

Our AoE is one of if not the best in the game to.

 

Get 50 though.

[Sporticus]

Do share your knowledge with me. I also want to melt faces. I'm currently on level 27 if I remember correctly and doing PvP from time to time. What I really want to do is, get through a quest without dying even once. I'm having trouble with that too but I guess it's just my weapon that sells me out.

 

You said in your OP that you have 13 points unspent... spend them and see how you do. Also, I'd suggest NOT trying to diversify your build at sub 30. Pour all your points into a tree, adjust your playstyle, and respec later as you get enough available points to actually commit to a build. Also, make sure you have Ellora in her heal stance (you may know about that, but I had to learn it the hard way so i'm just throwing it out there).

[ZeroPlus]

You are dying all the time while questing? That is really strange on a Vanguard. Especially with Elara along to heal you...

 

Are you using a "Shield" off-hand? (that means 20% Shield chance...)

Are you using "Ion Cell"? (60% more armor, 5% less damage *taken* and 15% more shield chance - total of 35% with a shield off-hand...)

Are you prioritizing Endurance over Aim?

Are you using your defensive cooldowns during a fight?

Are you interrupting whenever you can?

 

Seriously, you shouldn't be having any problems surviving content.

 

Thing to remember with the Vanguard is that you will rarely, if ever, be able to kill anything in a few seconds (not counting normals a few levels below you ). Your strength lies in the fact that you can take butt-loads of damage and just keep going.

Edited March 5, 2012 by ZeroPlus

[origional]

 

You play a Vanguard because you like short range, almost melee fighting, and being mobile at the same time.

 

You play a Commando if you like to be a ranged dps that stands still most of the time.

 

 

 

Both statements are so incorrect.

 

My main is a vanguard and I play at range, rarely ever getting in close by choice. Its not about doing as much damage as possible, its about achieving the mission objectives.

 

I also have a commando and I certainly dont stand still or spam grav round. I constantly move to gain better position or to get out of someones shooting range, or to move out of groups of melee fighter. You have a variety of abilities that can be used on the move.

[Daekarus]

If you're dying constantly as a Vanguard you're doing something wrong. If you're dying constantly as a shield Vanguard, you should check that your keyboard is plugged in. Vanguard is one of the classes they hit on the head... played properly it feels powerful without being OP. As far as Commandos living longer, I can't speak for PVP but in PVE I can say conclusively this isn't the case.

[Nechronix]

To the OP, like other people said here already, if you're losing all the time to same lvl and lower mobs/elites, you'r either doing something wrong or you have horrible gear. Like somebody else mentioned as well, spend those points! Your first respec is free and the next few don't cost TOO much (also, the respec fee resets every week).

 

I've got a lvl 42 Vanguard and I rarely die in PvE. Normally when I die, it's because I run around too much and end up aggro'ing half the map (I tend to play PvP style against mobs, don't like standing still...)

 

What server are you on? If by chance we're on the same server, hit me up in a PM and we can group up and see if you're doing something wrong. Not that I'm a pro or anything, but I don't die as much as you seem to mention. I've got toons on Heddar Soong and The Fatman. Like I said send me a PM if you're on those servers and we can take a look at what's going on.

[Grimgold]

the only ones that can pull off what you want to do right now is healers.. you're not really meant to be runnig around soloing elites and champions from left to right

 

Umm... I solo'd every elite I came across leveling up, almost all of them are interuptable on their hard hitting abilities, but otherwise function like a strong that ate a bunch of protein bars. The most challenging fights were actually two strongs, with no CC you had to take quite a bit of damage to kill one, and hope you had enough health to kill the second (usually the case though not always).

 

At end game vanguards are quite good tanks (being absorption tanks they are easy on healers), and assault specd vanguards are very dangerous in the BGs (a well played vanguard should eat commandos alive). DPS in PvE seems so so, I was usually middle of the pack on the council fight in EV, despite using cool downs and managing ammo well, but without meters it's hard to say for certain.

 

If your looking for a straight dps class, I'd go sentinel for melee or commando for ranged. If your looking to tank or run as damage in BGs, Vanguard is a solid choice.

[MuscarKrone]

go assault specialist and start kicking ***! i find it to be very fun and especially in pvp where i just melt faces all day long...

 

way more fun than the ever so popular 1 button spam build that is gunnery for commandos.

 

just ask yourself if you wanna be fully ranged or something that is abit of both

 

 

Vanguard DPS combat/rotations/skill Is way way more fun than Commando Grav round spam! And if you get down a good spec/rotation as a Vanguard DPS spec, you can melt down any DPS Commando handily! (Intrupt grav round once and see them just break down, throw a cyro gernade once they channel it again, and just unload on them.) (I only have issues with Tanky/DPS hybrid Jedi/Sith classes right now, those are tough to kill.)

 

IMHO Vanguard will always feel weak in PVP until you get to level 50, been this way since beta to me.

 

As soon as I hit 50, got my last few skill points in, what a world of difference.

[MuscarKrone]

Vanguard DPS is actually really good. Great mobility, throw on a shield, switch to Ion Cell and you can be an offtank in HM OPS.

 

Find the hybrid spec, which is heavy assault. You can rip it up. Fret not, Vanguards are good.

 

Our AoE is one of if not the best in the game to.

 

Get 50 though.

 

Off tank? We can main tank too!

[MuscarKrone]

Your strength lies in the fact that you can take butt-loads of damage and just keep going.

 

 

This ^ we are in the fight for the long haul, we don't have very much burst damage (some specs can) But if you choose to burst at the beginning of a long Boss fight, your screwed for ammo the rest of the fight.

 

Troopers have to be the best Ammo/mana/energy managers in the game, because when our Ammo gets low were 4 times more in the hole than any other class! During a boss fight never let your ammo get below 60%!!! (Unless you know you can unload and kill the boss before you run out of ammo)

[Decembrist]

I've played mirrors for both Vanguard and Commando on the Emp side, and Vanguard is much more fun and a more potent class. Commando is really dependent on not being attacked, and its much squishier and less mobile than Vanguard. The two DPS specs have some variety, but both lose to Vanguard in versatility and just the level of fear one strikes into enemies. That being said, Commando in the Gunnery spec is much easier to l2p, but it gets boring pretty fast.

 

I personal liked the Vanguard so much that I re-rolled one as republic instead of my Powertech BH. So yeah, Vanguard wins.

[AtomicDP]

vanguards are amazing, I am ALWAYS top damage and kills as a level 40 vanguard assault specialist. give it some time, you'll realize how much better it is than commando, not to mention funner. but if you really want ez mode, sure go for one of those.