Thank you for this! The advice - and more importantly the tone - is encouraging and helpful to those of us struggling with the frustration of doing well - or more accurately, not doing so well - in GSF. This was actually, positively, helpful, and a pleasant change from the stock 'git gud' or 'learn to fly' snide comments I've seen far too often posted in the GSF or Ops channel post-match. This post was helpful. A lot!

Any word on if/when the companions will no longer stand about with that stiff-neck/back-half-twisted-at-the-waist-posture? It appears that bi-pedal companions are always standing about (when grouped with the character), with a posture that prevents turning of the head, and half-twisted at the waist... like all joints above the waist are locked in place. Anyone else notice this? Any word on if this sort of display will be amended? Minor aesthetics, yes, but it looks like the bi-pedal companions are in serious need of major back/neck surgery.

I agree. However, what one person might consider a “viable economic crafting market” can depend on what items are being compared between what can be crafted, and what can be attained through drops. Personally, I enjoy the challenge of finding materials for crafting items far more than the break-neck speed heroic instances and flashpoints. But, that’s my preference. While I agree with the statement, I do have difficulty with accepting the concept of something not being 100% enjoyable being classified as “fun”. Given some posts I’ve seen that led to my original post, the perceived tones suggest that some folks find it fun to be aggravated, or at least, less than pleased with some – or more – aspects of the game. If something – MMO’s included – are causing me undo consternation, then that’s not “fun” and I’ll do something else.

I have to politely disagree. This will vary from one playing group to the next, and depends greatly on the cohesiveness and longevity of your regulars. If starting from scratch, or inducting new folks into your ranks, then yes, I would agree. But, without long-time MMO partners for raids and such, then I would have to side with Panda on this. My own experience – that being having a core group of folks over many years and several MMO’s – is that the raid portion, by comparison to the crating portion, is easier. Point: Panda. Like every other aspect of the game, or any other MMO, it’s going to be about individual perception on which is ‘harder’.

Well said, Vish. I’m with you 100%. I mentioned it once in another post, and I’ll say it again here: Like Vish, I’m playing the game for immersion and enjoyment of the game, NOT for the sole purpose of getting the endgame-purple-grade-epic-level-lewt. Much of the griping I read seems to carry that tone, or at least my perception. Again, I say to invest time/money/effort into a game that one is not enjoying 100%+ is senseless and masochistic. So, why would folks invest time/money/effort into SWTOR, or any other game that is not providing them with 100% enjoyment? Just to have an issue to gripe about? If that be the case, if someone is NOT enjoying themselves 100%, then I respectfully suggest that they: 1) Stop griping, as the rest of us are tired of hearing/reading it; 2) Move on elsewhere to find that 100% enjoyment, if you’re not getting it here. Those of us who are enjoying the game could then focus on issues and suggestions that would make the game better without having to slog through the down-bringers and nay-sayers complaints.

I have to disagree that the crafting professions are worthless. It's an individual preference, really, and my preference it to play on a PVE-RP server. I have no trouble making upgrades with artifice, nor with the commendation purchases either. What I can't buy with commendations - as I'm not one to jump into every heroic level instance to get the 'fat lewt' - I supplement with the RE'd gained schematic upgrades. The game is about immersion in a setting and story, not how many credits you can amass, having the top grade stuff all the time, etc. This is not a game to 'be won', but one to be enjoyed. If someone's not enjoying themselves, my question would be: Why are they investing time/money/effort into something they enjoy less than 100%? To do that would seem senseless and masochistic to me. Certain schematics are out there that allow things to be crafted that ARE NOT dropped or available off any vendor (save the GTN), i.e., the Trooper/Knight's plasti-steel chest and leg pieces, or the Consular's Force Initiate Robe. These are just a few things I know of, and there may be more. So, having said that, I cannot see where the crafting portion of the game is useless. Personally, I'm enjoying all aspects of the game 100%, as I try to avoid being senseless and masochistic.