After some medical complications I am finally able to come back to SWTOR. I love melee dps and have both a guardian and sentinel. How are both looking in this expac? I'd like to focus on one and am not sure which route to go. Is it true guardian dps got a buff? Or should I be looking at the sentinel this time around? Good to be back!

Thank you all for the amazing input. Ginger, I will add you in game when you're online next! It's great to see that a lot of players support guardian dps. I am still deciding between the two but it really feels like a guardian is what I should be playing. I really appreciate the constructive feedback all of you have given and I look forward to keeping this threat going to show future guardians that we can dps and do it well!

Thank you so much for the feedback. What mods should I be getting to replace them? Also, I wasnt aware that maxing out each companion gave some stat increases. I thought I read somewhere that both dreadguard relics were BIS (the 30% proc one and the click to activate, internal I think?). Thanks again, I'm looking forward to maxing this guy out!

I've recently been in limbo when deciding between my sentinel and guardian. My guardian was my first 50 and I play him as dps 99% of the time. I really enjoy the single saber style and my taunt has saved my FP/Ops group a few times. Since I primarily dps, some friends have been tempting me to go with a sentinel and I resist since I'm not a fan of two sabers and I like having a tanking option to experience more content. I just feel that I'm hitting a dead end and though I know I need new gear, I feel like I'm not doing something right. My gear: http://swtor.askmrrobot.com/character/bd3e9061-e33e-4c07-bba6-604073c815d4 My priority/rotation: "Opening: Saber Throw - Force Leap OR Combat Focus Rotation 1: Master Strike - Sunder Rotation 2: Overhead Slash - Blade Storm - Sunder Rotation 3: Plasma Brand - Strike - Sunder Start with rotation 1 - then go into rotation 2 - then if MS procs go back to rotation 1; if it dosent go to rotation 3 - if MS Procs after PB consider skiping the Strike - Sunder and go straght back to rotation 1. This method creates the greatest flexibility around the use of PB while keeping a simple 3 macro structure, if you have a lot of focus you can always use PB before rotation two so you go MS - PB - OS - BS - MS (if it procs). " I dont want to give up and walk away from my guardian but I have friends that tell me if I spent as much time on a sent tweaking my stats and doing little things as I do on my guardian, I'd be a great sentinel. I want to prove them wrong. Right now I'm pulling 1550's +/- with all class buffs and an exotech might stim, no adrenals on a ship dummy for 3 minutes. I know I need to upgrade my relics, hilt and so forth. If anyone could give some helpful advice, I'd be grateful. Thanks

Hello all and Happy Holidays, I recently came back to SWTOR and I've been debating on which class to go with. I'm mainly a melee dps type of guy is which why I've leveled a sentinel, guardian, and vanguard. I did level a gunslinger to 50 but I found that I just enjoy melee much more. I want to pick one class and stick with it since I'm a min/max type of person and am willing to really sit down and master a class. Like I said, I mainly want to dps but having another role would be a bonus since I can always fill different roles and not miss content. I am looking at also pvping once in a while. Here we go: Vanguard (Assault) Pros: Can produce some of the best dps, can also tank, great utility Cons: Lack of a distance closer, lack of a distance attack after patch a while back Sentinel Pros: Can produce top dps, only focuses on dps, has a range closer (force leap), great buffs/utility Cons: So many sents, can only dps Guardian Pros: Can dps well if played correctly, can tank, has a range closer (force leap), has armor debuff Cons: Even played correctly dps isnt as good as it could be, lack of utility Well there it is. If anyone can provide their insights or advice, that would be great. At this time it does feel like its between my vanguard and my sentinel. If guardian was more competitive, I think it would easily be my main. Thanks for your advice and Happy Holidays!

I've recently started to tweak my gear and I'm finding mixed results on what the soft caps are for crit and surge. I've read everything from 25%-35% unbuffed for crit and 70-75% unbuffed for surge. Does anyone have an advice on this topic? Thanks

For vanguard, is tactics more stationary? It looks like it's main ability, pulse cannon, is channeled.

Hello all, I leveled both of these classes for the storyline and love the lore behind both. I left for a few months and have recently come back. I am no longer required to tank for my ops team and have been given the opportunity to dps. I was wondering which class pulls ahead and which brings more for an Ops team. I understand that vanguards had some of their ranged attacks reduced to 10m, which shouldn't matter since the class plays in melee anyway. Which class is better for dps?

I was looking at trooper pics when I came across this chestpiece: http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/3715/clipboard01pn.jpg Does anyone know what that is? I'm currently looking for mostly black and white armor, though not the plain standard white from the movies. The armor pictures has a lot of black on it and looks like the basic chestpiece a but I haven't had any luck finding it. I'm trying to build a dark armor set. I did get the MA-44 set from the Cartel store but the chestpiece in the picture is more of what I'm aiming for.

My last two questions are: 1. Should I only be using HIB initially and when it procs or even when comes off CD without a proc? 2. Should I not spec into AP or is it a better filler than MV and PC?

Ok that makes more sense. Typically what's best to fill up the 3 GCDs? I was readying that some people use full auto or pulse cannon. It appears the basic rule would be: SS-(proc)HIB-Filler-Filler-Filler-SS. If you hit 8 ammo or less, HS. If not, IP, Full auto or Pulse cannon. Is this correct? Also, is it still best not to spec into AP?

Hello fellow troopers, I recently got back into my trooper after a long break from SWTOR. Prior to my break I played a guardian and I wanted something different. I decided to go with a vanguard since essentially they are melee fighters and I like that they can tank. I am now having issues with ammo and my rotation. Here is my starting rotation: Battle Focus-Relic-IR-HIB-SS-IP From there I try to keep my ammo above 8. When it looks like I'm getting low, I hit HS. My priority system: Keep IR up at all times but don't clip. Keep HIB on CD. SS when up. IP as much when others are on CD and when I won't dip below 8 ammo. Here is my spec as well: http://swtor.askmrrobot.com/skills/vanguard#i2i-32-32ikdccif Stat Priority: Aim>Accuracy to 110%>Power>Crit 35%>Surge75% I seem to mess up the priority system and then find myself trying to play catch up due to dipping below 8 ammo. Should I be weaving in HS between IPs? I want to keep sticking with this guy because even for his level of gear he's pulling some great numbers during parsing. My guardian just doesn't seem to scale well with his gear now and he's not that fun anymore. Does anyone have any suggestions? I am also open to spec suggestions as well. Thanks!

Hello all, After leveling up a few 50's and gearing up my mains I am very interested in dpsing as a scoundrel. I know that people will say that the class is subpar as dps and I don't really care. I'm having a blast right now leveling him up and I would like to master both healing and dpsing as a scoundrel. I've been looking around for guides on this class and it seems that a lot of the material I am finding is out of date by several months. Sithwarrior.com is a good example of this. Can anyone direct me to any guides that are worth reading? I am willing to take the time necessary to play this class correctly!

I'm currently looking at rolling a scoundrel or vanguard for dps. I am looking at both of these classes because they sound like fun but I'm not sure how each will perform when compared side by side. I understand that vanguards don't really have ranged attacks anymore but can pull great numbers. Meanwhile scoundrels can put out decent numbers if played correctly and do have some ranged attacks. Both are mobile and that's why I'm gravitating toward them. Does anyone have any suggestions on which to go with?

Thanks for linking that. I'm having to adjust my playstyle with a majority of our attacks being within 10m now. I was told that I should check out an assault commando if I wanted mobile range?