Star Fortress rant.

[AhsokaTanorules]

Okay so recently I replayed a character which means I have to recollect certain Star Fortress characters again.  Problem is no one wants to do them and they seem to scale them to the current max level so that even with a ridiculously high gear score, healer companion, all the alliance toys and heroic moment I find it impossible to solo.

I mean if star fortresses are going to be treated as antiquated garbage that no one wants to do anymore then they should have

1.  Left it lower scaled so that at least max characters can do them easier (i mean canonically the star fortresses are supposed to be destroyed by the time you are dealing with heta kol no?)

2.  Make them qeueable  dungeons like flashpoints are uprisings.

3.  Turn them into one of those special solo dungeons that you can use the OP gsi droid for.

[Traceguy]

When they first released Star Fortresses, the devs called them "Flashpoints". The problem is, the game doesn't treat them as flashpoints other than in level scaling. It would be great if they could add them to group finder, and remove the unlock restraints.

[AhsokaTanorules]

Or maybe just let the companions be recruited without having to run the dungeon part (like say after the shield is taken down)

[VegaMist]

Are you max level? If you're check your gear (maybe it needs an upgrade) and make sure to bring level 50 companion (either Z0-0M or any two-gunner work the best). Been doing it solo on a variety of specs and can't say I faced much trouble on Veteran. The third room on top floor can get a little tricky due to multiple mob waves plus circles and may require little practice, but it's mostly a matter of prioritizing your attacks.

Another thing that helps is to get your influence with 4 Commanders on Odessen to at least level 10 which gives you access to helpful perks within Star Fortress.

If you do have to advertise for it, point out the amount of Conquest points one gets for completing Veteran Weekly (which is over 100K with stronghold bonuses, plus additional points for each individual planet) and you may get more takers. The mission can be picked up from terminal near Star Fortress entrance.

[AhsokaTanorules]

10 hours ago, VegaMist said:

Are you max level? If you're check your gear (maybe it needs an upgrade) and make sure to bring level 50 companion (either Z0-0M or any two-gunner work the best). Been doing it solo on a variety of specs and can't say I faced much trouble on Veteran. The third room on top floor can get a little tricky due to multiple mob waves plus circles and may require little practice, but it's mostly a matter of prioritizing your attacks.

Another thing that helps is to get your influence with 4 Commanders on Odessen to at least level 10 which gives you access to helpful perks within Star Fortress.

If you do have to advertise for it, point out the amount of Conquest points one gets for completing Veteran Weekly (which is over 100K with stronghold bonuses, plus additional points for each individual planet) and you may get more takers. The mission can be picked up from terminal near Star Fortress entrance.

Max level, gear score 330, all alliance commanders 10.  Even heroic moment wasn't helping me on final boss.

[Traceguy]

24 minutes ago, AhsokaTanorules said:

Max level, gear score 330, all alliance commanders 10.  Even heroic moment wasn't helping me on final boss.

Did you mean to say 340 instead of 330?

Edited April 19 by Traceguy

[AhsokaTanorules]

I meant 330.  I have had others suggest to me in reddit that 320 was okay.

[VegaMist]

3 hours ago, AhsokaTanorules said:

Max level, gear score 330, all alliance commanders 10.  Even heroic moment wasn't helping me on final boss.

330 is a little bit low, but should be ok if you know your rotation. 340 would have been better.

On the last boss, start by setting down a turret, since you have bonuses, and that will keep him busy for a while. And then set down another one, once it comes off cool-down.

[tsteenburg]

5 minutes ago, VegaMist said:

On the last boss, start by setting down a turret, since you have bonuses, and that will keep him busy for a while. And then set down another one, once it comes off cool-down.

Yep, Turret, heroic moment and drop the heroic orbital strike and then pop the zakuul knight box (blanking on the name atm) when the boss is close.  And some of the bosses of healing abilities you need to interrupt. And remember the turret is acting as a tank with threat, so attack accordingly.

[Setta]

On 4/17/2024 at 9:26 PM, AhsokaTanorules said:

Problem is no one wants to do them and they seem to scale them to the current max level so that even with a ridiculously high gear score, healer companion, all the alliance toys and heroic moment I find it impossible to solo.

2 hours ago, AhsokaTanorules said:

I meant 330.  I have had others suggest to me in reddit that 320 was okay.

 

This is why I don't take people seriously anymore.  330, ridiculously high gear score.... lol no.  Like can I do it in 330 gear?  Yea sure, but I'm not the one having trouble with this, so just cause someone on reddit or elsewhere says it's doable, doesn't mean you will 100% be able to do so too.  You might want to invest some time in getting Hyde & Zeek to upgrade you to 340 at least. Which now leads me to ask other things like, do you have augments on your gear? What lvl is your actual healer companion? Aside from heroic moment do you have the Unity buff if you need it, or at least the sacrifice buff?  Are you using the alliance buffs correctly?  If you have to kite, to give your companion time to heal you up, do you know how to? 


Honestly there are so many things here that need to be addressed first before even thinking about any of the changes you're suggesting.

[absolutetristan]

17 hours ago, AhsokaTanorules said:

Or maybe just let the companions be recruited without having to run the dungeon part (like say after the shield is taken down)

Or add the companions and armor to unlockable from achievements or collections if we've run them  on each faction or something.

...I have two newer characters I'm almost ready to start KOTFE. I don't know if I want to run through the Star Fortresses again. I do like the companions, but not worth it to me. I usually run solo. 

[FreeToSWTORThree]

I used to struggle with Star Fortresses until I learned about kiting and smart use/timing of DCDs. In 6.0 with all the alliance bells and whistles + heroic moment I was able to solo them all with comps on dps. I can still do it now on my 306 level 75s but have not attempted any exarch with comp on dps in 7.0. I've yet to try on level 80 toons as well but I'm working on getting my legendary player status/buffs first.

I think the problem you're having is kiting and maybe dcds, or maybe a comp under level 50 influence. You also said your alliance relations were at level 10, I believe you need them to be at 15 or higher to get the turret/heals etc. That may also be a factor.

[FreeToSWTORThree]

On 4/19/2024 at 9:18 AM, Setta said:

This is why I don't take people seriously anymore.  330, ridiculously high gear score.... lol no.  Like can I do it in 330 gear?  Yea sure, but I'm not the one having trouble with this, so just cause someone on reddit or elsewhere says it's doable, doesn't mean you will 100% be able to do so too.  You might want to invest some time in getting Hyde & Zeek to upgrade you to 340 at least. Which now leads me to ask other things like, do you have augments on your gear? What lvl is your actual healer companion? Aside from heroic moment do you have the Unity buff if you need it, or at least the sacrifice buff?  Are you using the alliance buffs correctly?  If you have to kite, to give your companion time to heal you up, do you know how to? 


Honestly there are so many things here that need to be addressed first before even thinking about any of the changes you're suggesting.

I know it's rare, but some people with handicaps play the game. Though the op hasn't said anything, I do wonder if that may be a factor.

Otherwise, I might agree with your sentiments.

[VegaMist]

1 hour ago, FreeToSWTORThree said:

You also said your alliance relations were at level 10, I believe you need them to be at 15 or higher to get the turret/heals etc.

Nope. All the perks become available at level 10.

[TahliahCOH]

Soloing the vet level SFs is a pain, for sure. I usually skip all the Alliance goodies because I just want to get it done, but they do help if you want to go through all the mobs to get them. I did them on 336 gear and find it easier on melee toons than on range for some reason (may just be me on that point). One of them is super hard to solo, I think it's Voss? The one where the exarch self-heals like crazy. Ugh. Interrupt that for sure.

I do think it would be a good idea to make the vet version (the required version) easier for solo players because it really is hard to get anyone to do them with you. If I happen to be on Odessen and see someone blast that they need a hand,  I always go, usually switching to a toon that needs them, too!  The same is true of that final mission for the macrobinoculars, the one where you HAVE to have four people to complete it. I think I've only got that one on one toon! There are never people willing to endure that awful mission. Sigh.

But the devs are super duper busy gimping our powers and tacticals, raising and inventing new taxes, and taking away our cq, so I don't expect anything to be done about these actual issues.

[Setta]

2 hours ago, FreeToSWTORThree said:

I know it's rare, but some people with handicaps play the game. Though the op hasn't said anything, I do wonder if that may be a factor.

Otherwise, I might agree with your sentiments.

I mean regardless of if they are or not, the main point was that their gear had a long way to go, and isn't "ridiculously" high as they claim.  Hell I believe 7.0 had a cap of 336, nvm the current cap of 343. They probably don't have augments on said gear either if they're sitting at 330.  They may not even have a lvl 50 companion for all i know, could be using like a lvl 20 - 30 one.  Also some comps are better than others say Zoom vs Treek, best vs. worst healer in the game, and a massive difference.   The point wasn't to make them feel bad, but to say that they have room for improvement that isn't hard to get in the current state of the game, and that they should focus on that.

Rather than coming here asking for changes that will most likely never happen (look at how little content we get as is, anyone really think biosword will prioritize this little nugget? lol...) gear up some and learn the instance, it's really not that difficult.  Or hell ask a guildy, or randoms in general / allies / end game chat people for some help.  I think only like 2 or 3 paladins are scaled way out of proportion where it might be difficult for someone, if they do it wrong.  Rest is easy mode, or at least normal for less skilled players.

[VegaMist]

2 hours ago, FreeToSWTORThree said:

I know it's rare, but some people with handicaps play the game.

People with handicaps know their limitations, and, most of all, know how to overcome them. It's best not to offer people with handicaps extra accommodations unless specifically asked for, since, in many cases, you'd be getting in a way rather than helping, no matter how well meaning you're.

Since OP didn't mention any handicaps, I'd assume they either don't have them or know how to deal with them.

[Ominovin]

It's been many years since I've done the Star Fortresses so I can't speak to their current difficultly level, but they were always kinda rough to solo:  As I recall, the Voss boss was particularly annoying to defeat due to a self-heal, and one of the others (maybe Alderaan?) was nearly as rough, while the other four weren't too bad...

5 hours ago, Setta said:

I mean regardless of if they are or not, the main point was that their gear had a long way to go, and isn't "ridiculously" high as they claim.  Hell I believe 7.0 had a cap of 336, nvm the current cap of 343. They probably don't have augments on said gear either if they're sitting at 330.  They may not even have a lvl 50 companion for all i know, could be using like a lvl 20 - 30 one.  Also some comps are better than others say Zoom vs Treek, best vs. worst healer in the game, and a massive difference.   The point wasn't to make them feel bad, but to say that they have room for improvement that isn't hard to get in the current state of the game, and that they should focus on that.

As I recall:

• 7.0
  • Starting Conquest gear:  320
  • Best Non-Operations gear:  326
  • Best Operations Gear:  330
  • Best Legendary Implants:  330
• 7.1
  • Starting Conquest gear:  320
  • Best non-Operations Gear:  330
  • Best Operations Gear:  334
  • Best Legendary Implants:  334
• 7.2
  • Starting Conquest gear:  326
  • Best Non-Operations Gear:  336
  • Best Operations Gear:  340
  • Best Legendary Implants:  334
• 7.4
  • Starting Conquest gear:  326
  • Best Non-Operations Gear:  340
  • Best Operations Gear:  344
  • Best Legendary Implants:  340

[FreeToSWTORThree]

9 hours ago, VegaMist said:

People with handicaps know their limitations, and, most of all, know how to overcome them. It's best not to offer people with handicaps extra accommodations unless specifically asked for, since, in many cases, you'd be getting in a way rather than helping, no matter how well meaning you're.

Since OP didn't mention any handicaps, I'd assume they either don't have them or know how to deal with them.

It wasn't an accommodation, but consideration. And even people with handicaps can be too prideful or could be in denial to admit having limits, or are a success story of overcoming their handicap.

My intention was not to baby a potentially handicapped person but to remind people that they do exist in even spaces like MMOs. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being considerate.

 

 

 

11 hours ago, VegaMist said:

Nope. All the perks become available at level 10.

Are you absolutely sure? remember trying to unlock the turret etc at level 10 (because years ago it was said by someone else you can do it) and it not working. Ever since that ONE time, I just started getting the alliance relationships all the way to 20 just to be safe. This was in 6.x, maybe things have changed now, but I know it wasn't level 10 before (I wouldn't bother going all the way to level 20 with them if I did not experience this). I have new toons now that I am actually looking forward to doing these star fortresses with once I reach legendary player status. I will come back to confim what the level is.

[Setta]

11 hours ago, Ominovin said:

It's been many years since I've done the Star Fortresses so I can't speak to their current difficultly level, but they were always kinda rough to solo:  As I recall, the Voss boss was particularly annoying to defeat due to a self-heal, and one of the others (maybe Alderaan?) was nearly as rough, while the other four weren't too bad...

As I recall:

• 7.0
  • Starting Conquest gear:  320
  • Best Non-Operations gear:  326
  • Best Operations Gear:  330
  • Best Legendary Implants:  330

My last alt that did SF was in lke 7.2 or something, (and I breezed through them effortlessly) I have another alt coming up to this but I'm in no hurry.  That said to your points.

1) The Voss boss healing..... You know the Voss' boss healing can be interrupted right?  Not just by the interrupt ability itself, but several others as well depending on the class.  The only annoying boss (and I don't even recall who it was now it was so long ago, was getting them to kill themselves via their own fire for the achievo) rest was just easy mode.

2) I double checked, and you got me I was wrong on 7.0 having a gear score of 336, it did not go that high, I accept my F up here.  However by 7.1 since R4 Anomaly was out, the best operation gear was in fact 340, which for some reason the devs never upped since release despite increasing the Rakata stuff.  I realize not many were able (still aren't to this day) to do R4, but since you decided to put "Best Operations Gear" in there well then from 7.1 on words you're already off on your memory as well.

Either way I think we're detracting from the point, of there's a lot of easy improvements to be made first, and that's what the OP should focus on.

[VegaMist]

7 hours ago, FreeToSWTORThree said:

Are you absolutely sure? remember trying to unlock the turret etc at level 10 (because years ago it was said by someone else you can do it) and it not working.

I'm absolutely sure - done it on multiple characters.

7 hours ago, FreeToSWTORThree said:

It wasn't an accommodation, but consideration.

It doesn't matter what you call it. Most handicapped people (and every single one I know personally) don't want any of it unless specifically asked for.

Edited April 22 by VegaMist

[absolutetristan]

23 hours ago, FreeToSWTORThree said:

I think the problem you're having is kiting and maybe dcds, or maybe a comp under level 50 influence. You also said your alliance relations were at level 10, I believe you need them to be at 15 or higher to get the turret/heals etc. That may also be a factor.

Level 10 is for the alliance specialists abilities, Level 20 is for the speeder tokens for each specialist, and between the two every so many levels I think you might get some credit rewards.

I only have one character, the one that's a close to an original as I have at this point and he's the only one at level 20 and that grants the speeder token reward. Everyone elese I get up to ten and that grants the specialists abilities. Last time I ran, a couple of months ago and it was still level 10.

I agree about maybe a low level companion. I don't run SF's unless I'm using a high level or level 50 companion. Now I mainly use Altuur at level 50 for Star Fortress given his extra abilites.

Edited April 22 by absolutetristan

[FreeToSWTORThree]

4 hours ago, VegaMist said:

I'm absolutely sure - done it on multiple characters.

It doesn't matter what you call it. Most handicapped people (and every single one I know personally) don't want any of it unless specifically asked for.

I've done it on multiple characters too, maybe I should clarify that I was referring to the skills and not just the buffs. They don't both become accessible at 10, I really would not be going out of my way to level alliance members past 10 if this were not so.

 

But again, I was not trying to "help" a handicapped person, only trying to remind others that they do exist in these spaces and to be considerate. Big difference.

 

Maybe you should take a breather before reacting, because your pride or your emotions are compromising your comprehension and your attitude.

[VegaMist]

43 minutes ago, FreeToSWTORThree said:

I've done it on multiple characters too, maybe I should clarify that I was referring to the skills and not just the buffs. They don't both become accessible at 10, I really would not be going out of my way to level alliance members past 10 if this were not so.

Everything becomes available at level 10. Don't believe me, go read Sworista's guide https://swtorista.com/articles/swtor-alliance-guide/#Star_Fortress, or just try it. Just because you were doing more levels, doesn't make it necessary to do so.

43 minutes ago, FreeToSWTORThree said:

But again, I was not trying to "help" a handicapped person, only trying to remind others that they do exist in these spaces and to be considerate. Big difference.

Keep justifying it.

43 minutes ago, FreeToSWTORThree said:

Maybe you should take a breather before reacting, because your pride or your emotions are compromising your comprehension and your attitude.

Projecting? Maybe you should apply that advice to yourself.

Edited April 22 by VegaMist

[FreeToSWTORThree]

12 hours ago, VegaMist said:

Everything becomes available at level 10. Don't believe me, go read Sworista's guide https://swtorista.com/articles/swtor-alliance-guide/#Star_Fortress, or just try it. Just because you were doing more levels, doesn't make it necessary to do so.

Keep justifying it.

Projecting? Maybe you should apply that advice to yourself.

I tried it. You were right, They do both unlock at 10.

Justify doing the right thing? Ok... I think you've seen to many movies or videos where a handicapped person doesn't want help. They're not all like that, but that's not even the point. Regardless of how they are, it's NOT WRONG (and therefore no need for justification) to be considerate.

Point taken.