Its just fine... 400 UT mission skill and it only took me three days to get the metal to make some armorings for my friend's lv 28 mara. (Because I couldn't get any blasted metal missions.)

For a lv 50 they actually aren't that difficult to acquire. The only 'hard parts' are the rare adgen(spelling?) crystals on Alderann; and killing the force ghost on Illum. Link above has all the relevant information.

Troopers / Bounty Hunters have your giggle. They traded the Bounty Hunter Tracer Missile sound to Operatives for ours. Very sad. (It procs every time they get a Rail Shot / High Impact Bolt refresh.)

I feel like I post this at least once a day... but I come bearing information. ~ Courtesy of the unofficially elected Chancellor of Information, Dulfy. http://dulfy.net/2012/05/07/endgame-color-crystals-post-1-2-and-how-to-obtain-them/

The "issue" is companions are cool-down based; where players are resource based. In instances where intense healing isn't required; companions will be superior because they effectively never go "oom". Granted the heals aren't as powerful; it just means the dps and tank have to be sure to put more effort into mitigation. (Also they have to pay attention because there is no healer for them to point at and yell "Its your fault!" to.)

Finally someone around here with a little sense! Back on topic: the easiest way to obtain a purple crystal (arguably) is to purchase the main-hand weapon you found on the ops vender and canabalize it for the gem. Better yet; consult the unofficially elected Chancellor of Information: Dulfy. http://dulfy.net/2012/05/07/endgame-color-crystals-post-1-2-and-how-to-obtain-them/

QFT. Healing spec simply does not have the damage output to be a threat; it is nothing short of a miracle that you got him down as far as you did. One of two things was happening here: -1. He is an exceptionally bad Mara, and was kited about for a few minutes or longer while your one dot and companion ticked away at his health slowly. -2. You are actually the greatest Sage to ever live; and if you had any actual damage output or gear: he would be a red smear on Illum's surface. In all seriousness though; Sage vs Mara is a game of lethal tag. If he touches you, your health can drop in about four seconds. If you kite flawlessly, and he makes a few crucial mistakes you can theoretically win. But you're in for a long, uphill battle.

Let your sub lapse and list it as the reason? Honestly I'm just feeling... detached from the game at the moment. Have had no inclination to log in for just over a week now.

Career healer here as well. If I see a guard; you automatically get my MVP vote. I like being alive...

Thank you for the information. However; *ahem* http://i.imgur.com/3JPwo.jpg

Where there are guidelines; there will be people cheesing them. Look at the random group thing this way: Its like jumping into a shark tank, head first; without safety gear. Sometimes: the rest of the group jumps in with you, and random antics ensue. Sometimes; one guy stands on the side and pours chum into the tank and the whole thing turns into a mess. Sometimes; one guy blows his whistle and says, "*** do you think you're doing!?" and breaks out the safety gear. Maybe he even teaches you how to use it! In the last instance; my friends list grows by one, and the random-lfg becomes less necessary.

Glad I could brighten up someone's day, if only a little. Also Jung'Ma is always looking to expand!

Pardon if I didn't elaborate; I forget at times that others have not been in the genre as long as I have. Enrage is a mechanic in bosses in hard-mode flash-points that works as follows: When the boss is engaged, an invisible count down timer starts. When that timer hits zero: the boss gains an Enraged buff; that increases their damage output to the point where they can one shot even the best geared tanks. Its essentially: a damage checking mechanic. The only way to beat it: is to kill the boss before it happens. As outlined in my last post: the reason we were cutting it so close each time was the Sniper's weapon was far, far behind (a level 40 barrel). I offered to help him acquire a significant upgrade to make future runs easier; but instead got blown up on.

I would normally say its completely un-neccessary, until I got into a HM-BT run recently. The first clue that there was something wrong with the group was when we wiped on the bonus boss twice due to enrage. Group composition was: Powertech, (Average rating on gear: 140) Operative, (Average rating on gear: 128) Sniper, (Average rating on gear: 108 (Weapon: 90)) Merc. (Average rating on gear: 126 (Weapons: 140)) Our problem was lacking DPS; took four attempts to kill the last boss (again due to enrage), but we did it. The worst part about the run? When I suggested we hit the dailies on Belsavis so the sniper could rip a 124 cunning barrel out of the companion modable reward (The blowing up generators one) he got _very_ offended and spent the rest of the run spewing profanities along with statements like, "Well I'm @#%(ing sorry I'm not up to your god-#*@&$( elitest standards! Some of us have jobs and lives outside of the game!"

Pardon me sir; but Smugglers are not special in losing the proc-giggle. (At least in the manner of 'Faction Imbalance') http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=403846 My sincerest condolences for your friends "harpoon" though.