Well, keep in mind the mechanics have shifted significantly in 1.3. From 1.0->1.2, there was good reason to use DPS gear as a PT/VG tank, because the mechanics enabled them to deliver solid single-target damage. That's no longer the case. With 1.3, the main value that a PT/VG tank can provide aside from protection and pulls is being a durable node defender - but to do so requires investing in tanking gear not DPS gear. Also, keep in mind that the mechanics for Jug/Guard were and continue to be different than that of PT/VG. The latter deal a lot of damage than can't be dodged or shielded, so there was good reason to gear a PT/VG more offensively relative to a Jug/Guard.

Indeed. Given the current mechanics, I recommend running Pyrotech (Assault Specialist) or Advanced Prototype (Tactics). If you are set on tanking, you can run a 31-pt spec but understand that your damage output is going to be limited.

Austin from BW provided context on the changes for 1.3 tanking. The intent was not to "nerf hybrids". Rather the intent was to improve PVE tanking, especially against multiples. http://www.swtor.com/blog/class-changes-and-balance-game-update-1.3 It's pretty clear from reading the responses from PVE tanks that the changes have improved their experience. Most of the frustration sounds like it's coming from people who played tank specs in PVP.

Yes, as folks have already surmised, the spec no longer is viable given the changes to the mechanics of the tank tree to improve PVE tanking. For Vanguards, at least the good news is that Pulse Generator is fixed. Given the current mechanics, I recommend running Pyrotech (Assault Specialist) or Advanced Prototype (Tactics). If you are set on tanking, you can run a 31-pt spec but understand that your damage output is going to be limited. /sigh I have always given my objective opinions about SWTOR. I am one of the hosts on GAMEBREAKER's The Republic show, but that does not mean I am going to lose my objectivity. If you don't agree with my opinions, you don't agree with my opinions. That's doesn't mean my opinions are biased.

I created a narrated video guide for playing Sharpshooter, using footage at level 37: The video covers talent points, rotation, etc.

Those 2 statements conflict with one another. I love Novare Coast, because it's capping mechanic is not an all-or-nothing. The slider is great, especially that multiple cappers speed up the flipping. It allows sneaky players to ninja cap a node during heavy fighting and aware players to prevent it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massively_multiplayer_online_role-playing_game#History

Understood. I *usually* avoid responding to trolls (waste of time), but that one was too tempting to pass up.

That would be quite a feat, considering that MMOs didn't exist 20 years ago (i.e. 1992). Let me do the arithmetic for you: 2012 - 20 = 1992 I've been playing mass-market MMOs since 2005, starting with Knight Online. 2012 - 2005 = 7 I've been PVP'ing for 7 years.

I expect to get trolled by people who don't know me, for any number of reasons. E.g. they don't like the specs I play, they disagree with my opinions, I'm perceived competition, etc. Anyone who writes guides or blogs expects this, it's par for the course. However, as you said, you know me. Moreover, you regarded me in a completely different light in terms of skill level prior to SWTOR. For example, here's a post from you about me in RIFT (red emphasis mine): http://forums.riftgame.com/rift-general-discussions/classes-telara/cleric-discussion/cleric-guides/248919-video-m-s-h-justicar-shaman-warden-pvp-rank-4-a-13.html#post3318904 http://imageshack.us/f/845/mtop1.png So somehow I went from being an "exceptional gamer" and "top tier (1%)" in RIFT to "average player at best" now. You and I have held differing views in terms of the viability of specs, e.g. some of the hybrid ones I've played. But there has never been a question of our respecting one another's ability, until now. Regardless what happened in SWTOR between us, I've tried to be publicly respectful of your guild and you.

There is a reasonably valid argument that purchasing different WH pieces instead of the WH weapon would have been a better choice. To argue that downtrading RWZ comms to WZ comms to buy BM gear is plain stupid, however.

Yep. I rolled a Sentinel alt back in mid-January, but after the repeated comments from players in my Twitch Chat Room and elsewhere on social media and on the SWTOR forums about how much Gunslingers sucked, in particular the Sharpshooter/Marksmanship tree, so I decided to roll a Sharpshooter Gunslinger alt and reached level 10 on March 1st. This was before Patch 1.2 notes went up on the PTS in mid-March, in which GS/Sniper got some buffs, and well before the 5% damage buffs (which were unneeded in PVP) were made after 1.2 went live. I have often played and blogged about classes that people regarded as broken or underpowered, when I believed that they were viable. This is how I got into blogging in the first place. The community often has a very narrow view of what works and doesn't work. An example of this was Prot Pally in Cataclysm. Prot was very good in PVP in WotLK, but when Cataclysm launched most Prot Pally players gave up the spec for dead and useless in PVP and the Arena. So I played my Prot with a friend (Enh Shammy), we got to 2k rating in 2v2 after sorting out how to play our unorthodox comp. Doubters then predictably stated "well so what you won't be able to do that in another bracket" so we found a Resto Druid who hadn't yet reached 2k in any bracket, and the 3 of us got to 2k in the first week of playing together (61 matches). At any rate, it's rather entertaining to read the amount of misinformation that people post about me. My gaming experience (which really meaningfully started in 2005 for MMORPGs) has been well documented. Am I the "best" PVP player? No. Am I competent? I've had opponents and allies tell me I am across games. And I am very willing to share my understanding of mechanics and classes with other players.

You would propose downtrading RWZ commendations to WZ commendations to buy BM gear? Downtrading is 1:1. Trading up from WZ to RWZ commendations is 3:1. If you are suggesting, for example, that I should have traded in my 3.5k RWZ comms for 3.5k WZ comms to buy Battlemaster gear, when 3.5k RWZ comms are worth 10.5k WZ comms, well, let's just say you and I have a fundamentally different understanding of basic arithmetic. I can't say it any other way without potentially getting flagged by the mods. It's far more efficient to spend RWZ comms on WH gear. I had 4-pc BM within a few days of dinging 50.

I intentionally did not post my blog article on the forums here, because I didn't want to initiate a flamefest. FWIW, I've been blogging my concerns - based on predictions and actual experience - about Patch 1.2 since the notes about the patch first hit the PTS back in mid-March. BioWare reads every thread posted on their forums. I think many players do not realize how heavily BW has invested in their Community Management team. I have been a huge of fan from SWTOR since I first tried the game last October at New York Comic Con. I was excited about the game and the team working on it. I've had the opportunity to talk in person (and over the phone) with various members of the BW teams, from Writing, Design, Community Management, and Live Services, and IMO they are collectively some of the most passionate and friendly developers I've ever met from gaming companies. They're awesome people. For those of you who don't know me, let me simply say this: BioWare has delivered some amazing things in terms of PVP. The warzone design, in particular Huttball and Novare Coast, is highly innovative. The combat animations / sound are epic. The 10-49 bracket is arguably the most fun PVP battleground experience I've had in any game. I'm just bummed because I think 1.2 as far as the PVP was a step backwards. The Interface Editor, AH changes, other content changes, etc were all good things in 1.2. But IMO PVP has taken a significant hit, esp at endgame, for the reasons I stated in my article. I just hope that things get sorted out fast enough to make a meaningful difference to the playerbase, to retain a critical mass of subscribers.

I ended up going 31/7/3 within a few matches of dinging 50. Why? Even with full Recruit gear plus the WH mainhand that I bought as soon as I hit 50 (I had 3500 RWZ / 2000 WZ commendations saved up), I was too squishy. Holed Up helps a bit. I've grown to like Rapid Fire the more I use it.