I don't see where he commented or assumed anything about level 55 ops play. He merely gave suggestions on operative play for low levels. Just because level 55 is not enjoyable for you and others, doesn't mean that those of us who are leveling can't find enjoyment in the class. Not everyone plays these games for endgame play, some of us actually enjoy the leveling of a class.

I don't think Vanguards/ Powertechs have a knockback.

Sorry my bad, I must have not copied the new specs when I pasted the links. I updated them now, and also added the spec I used at 36 when I switched to Dirty Fighting if you are interested.

I'm leveling a scoundrel now currently at level 42. Starting out before level 20 I spread my points out in talents that buffed the abilities that I used the most. This is what basic spec I used from 10 to 19. http://db.darthhater.com/skill_calc/smuggler/scoundrel/#::f5efef18ef2df17ef12 10-11 Anatomy Lessons 12-13 Element of Suprise 14-15 Holdout Defense 16-17 Exploratory Surgery 18-19 Browbeater Once I hit 20 I respecced to scrapper to pick up sucker punch, the spec would look something like below. http://db.darthhater.com/skill_calc/smuggler/scoundrel/#::f23ef2ef2ef4ef2ef22 I stayed with scrapper spec till level 31 then I repecced to Sawbones with the below spec http://db.darthhater.com/skill_calc/smuggler/scoundrel/#::e3fe2fef3ef2cefe3f40 From 32 to 36 I put my points back in to the scrapper and df tree picking up talents like holdout defense and element of surprise. At 36 though you pick up shoot first and then I respecced to Dirty Fighting and have stayed there to this date. I absolutely love this spec it has been a blast to play. I had fun playing all the different specs, but Dirty fighting fits my play style the best. The spec I picked up at 36 when I went to dirty fighting. http://db.darthhater.com/skill_calc/smuggler/scoundrel/#::f40e3fe4fe4fef2efe

Really depends on the level. Before level 26 when you can spec Fighting Spirit, you will have to rely on using pugnacity and popping cool head. Also making sure you weave in Flurry of Bolts and liberally before you get 26. I'm not seeing any energy issues. I will normally load up 3 targets or 4 targets with vital shot, then shrap bomb them. At that point I'm either using flurry or going in to my blaster whip and wounding shot rotation. With Fight Spirit you are going to get some energy return on your vital ticks on those targets that you loaded up. If you haven't done so already I would highly suggest reading through this thread that TheOpf started. I have gleaned a lot of knowledge from others tips and feedback. http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=498871

Play what you like and like what you play. Maybe you should ask yourself what is the one key thing about this class you like the most. There is probably another class that does it better or as good. That one class may be more fun and fit your play style.

Level 12 you get pugnacity. It is your first ability to use upper hand. The class builds over time and there are three different trees that have different play styles and MO's.

Revic thanks for the post here, I've been using this strategy and has been working well for me.

I definitely agree with the two above about needing some mid range UH generator. The only thing I can think of is dropping two points in the sawbone tree and picking up Exploratory Surgery and using it to throw out random heals to generate some UH then you can go into your rotation. I'm only 38 right now, but I was thinking of giving this build a try this evening. http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#701rrMorMGd0MZM.2 Any thoughts?

No you can't. Crew skills are broken down into Crafting, Gathering, and Mission skills. You can only have one crafting skill. However you can have more than one of the gathering and mission skills.

deleted info, must have have clicked on the wrong thread.

Well, I mainly leveled up to 31 as a scrapper. Last night when I hit 31 I switched to Sawbones spec, just to try it out. I was surprised at how fast I was still killing things. Honestly I didn't see a huge difference. I start off by loading up HOT on myself and companion (which has been Bowdarr lately). Stealth and pop pungnacity tranquilizer strongest mob. If there is a droid I cc him and go into to killing remaining mob(s). If not droid then I open with a backblast, and rest of the rotation skills (Blasterwhip, Flurry, Quickshot, Flurry). At this point I'm weaving in the HOT on either myself and companion, whoever needs it most. Once I get to the strongest and usually last mob, I throw the Sabo grenade, vital shot, and wake it up with Backblast if it is up. Make sure you turn off the AOE abilities on companion if you use the cc's.

I use a variation of this as well. Below is the link to Taugrim's Keybinding guide. At first when I started using it was extremely awkward, because I normally used the main 1-6 and shift 1-6 with mouse keys. I was able to adapt everything with minimal use of shift + keys option. On the guide it shows S as backwards. Once I got use to strafing left or right all the time, I found that you almost never used the back key. Now S is bound to my stealth key. Only movement keys I use now are both mouse clicks for moving forward, W for strafe left, R for strafe right, and U for auto run. http://taugrim.com/2011/04/07/guide-to-strafing-movement-and-keybindings/

Question on Sedatives in the skill tree. I hit 31 last night so I decided to repec into Sawbones and give it a try. I picked up sedatives as I figure it would be beneficial as I'm using it in almost every fight. However last night I never noticed the debuff didn't show up. So I figured it was due to it me breaking the tranquilizer early, so I waited to let tranquilizer run it's course, but still didn't see the debuff show up on the mob. Here are my questions: 1. Should I see the 25% damage debuff on the mob? 2. Does the tranquilizer have to run it's full course to be applied or can I break the cc early?

No you have always been able to get the 3 gathering skills or 3 mission skills.