I may have ran into 1 or 2 mixed PUB teams early Sunday morning, but from the afternoon on, it was all high level groups with all 55 plus. If this is how it is going to be, they can at least mix the teams up a little. Many people on IMP side quit midmatch. I played through each match, but it was lame.

First of all, it does suck being a lev 31 IO Merc on the Harbinger when it *seems" nearly every PUB team is 55 Plus. I played around 10-15 wz between yesterday and today, and most were either premade and/or 55 plus teams. I am fine with losing and learning and whatnot, but these groups of Twinks is ridiculous. The majority only want to gank lowbies (30s and 40s) and then taunt you in general chat. That's fine because we all know PVPers are ******es and that is the culture. You can take advantage of the broken mid tier PVP and hide behind a keyboard to taunt, it doesn't get easier than that in life. I know it's not personal, it is just what people do... But anyway, my real question is for IO Mercs and trying to be useful.. What points are best in the 3 utility spots? I have 1 in the sweeping blasters, 1 in the rocket punch stun, and 1 in the 3% increase in endurance and healing received. I find sweeping basters to be huge for me because it helps "back off" enemies from their positions and the skills in IO lead to increased sweeping blaster damage. I use it all the time. Plus is procs railshot. As a 31 and a merc, it seems that is what helps my team most. Take and hold position with aoe damage. The rocket punch stun and knockback are pretty common among PVP mercs (from what I see) I need to constantly spam my self heals as we know solo players are rarely have healing support (though I had a few matches recently with healers). Any other tips and strength of IO mercs are appreciated. I always use try to get supercharged gas active, fire my inc. missile around then use fusion missile to spread it if i get a second to caste without a sin attacking me.

Since you can only really play 3 or 4 classes in ranked, why not make ques of only 4 vs. 4 of the same AC (4 Mercs vs. 4 Commandos)? Then ALL of the classes can get the true skill tested by playing against players with the exact same abilities. Believe it or not, not everyone wants to only Play Sins or PT or PVE.

good tips. I will use them as I level.

I am on the Harbinger and there are a few very good scoundrels, but most are at the bottom at the end of the wz (in low pvp). All my friends who play this game say go sin if you want stealth or sorc to put up big numbers. I do try to whisper them after the match since to figure out what they are doing. None have answered or seem to want to answer. I also notice there are 3 or so in one guild Watchmen Elite, so maybe that is some wort of scoundrel training school for noobs. don't know.

I agree if you master their playstyle, a good player can do well with them. But in regards to noob-avg pvpers it is harder to learn. Stealth and all sounds great, but it also means you can't stand back and pew-pew with an effectiveness. They are probably the worst class in the game to get cheap aoe damage.

I have tried all classes in low to mid pvp trying to figure out what to be my main and now realize Scoundrel is absolutely the hardest to play well. It really is a try-hard class, you have to do some work and setup to be effective compared to other classes. I had way more success and found easier to use the sin effectively, as an example. The PT and Sorcs destroy in all levels PVP and have fewer things abilities to rotate. Even a merc gets some nice easy damage with all of the AOE at their disposal..really DFA and Sweeping Blasters are great for putting up numbers. Juggs have it tough early on, but as you level their defensive cooldowns make your mistakes very forgivng. It just sort of sucks they made the sin playstyle so much more forgivng..not calling for nerfs or buffs, just seeing if anyone else has seen this. And I know someone will say how great they are and scoundrel dominates..yes I KNOW it does. But the learning curve is a pain, that is what I am asking.

Like or not people, you can't hide and run support in 4 v 4. You can't sit on the fringes and drop fluff aoe people (as easily). It is way more stressful and challenging to go team death match 4 v 4. I personally enjoy 8 v 8, but realize there are a lot of "paper tigers" running around. I'm not disagreeing the Sorcs/Hate Sims, PT are very strong in this format. There probably should be buffs to mercs and maras to make it closer to an even playing field. Ops and Juggs are prob just right. Check out the swtor your tube pvp and most of the great matches people post are non-ranked pvp. It is way easier to put up big numbers and not sweat. I have a lev 22 scoundrel and want 4 v 4 to pop so I can learn to play this format and be put under high stress to perform well. Hopefully it will pay off when this toon reaches 60. BTW, I have a merc lev 60 so it isn't like I don't know what it is like.

This happens to me a lot. As a scrapper, I stealth behind the sorc healer. They almost always have a bubble. Do you wait for the bubble to wear off to pop back blast or attack someone else and come back when it is over? I don't want to waste my rotation as it is mostly absorbed. I ask because in low/mid pvp, you have to kill sorcs fast or they will just wipe your team with force storm and/or heal. It doesn't feel right waiting a few seconds for the bubble to wear off while my team has already started the fight so I am in a tough situation...I noticed if I do leave the sorc alone, it is almost always trouble. These are PUG low./mid, but I am trying to practice knowing this scenario will continue.

For a new player, a sin is a better version of an OP. I have tried all the classes in lowbie and sorc\pt are easiest to pick up and do well.

I also try to put the HOT on as many of my teammates as possible to start the match? Good idea or waste? I start it at about 5-8 seconds before knowing it runs for 18 seconds total and may only get the them 5 seconds or less of the heal if they run straight into battle.

Thanks, really appreciate the dps priority scenarios. I was pretty good applying both DOTs before culling, but as you said, it is more difficult and the built-up take some time, so I am pressing the next ability (or 2nd cull) before the first one is caste. PVP for an Op/Scoundrel is more frantic than say a rdps, so the timing for me is the key when going one on with people. In PUGs, that happens a lot..no support..I am the support plus trying to take on people one on one. I do love the class though.

I have a Lethality and now Ruffin I am leveling. I recently switched to Dirty Fighting for the burst and because Cull doesn't caste very smooth. In 1 on 1 situations, the slight delay throws me off since it isn't a caste, but takes a split second longer than most instant abilities. In contract, the Ruffin sucker punch is smoother for me since the 2 punches are easier to time. The other odd thing is I end up being the "healer" in PUG warzones. I only PUG for now and there are few dedicated healers. The Lethality Op has pretty strong heals so I end up being one of the top 2-3 on my warzone for healing. It really isn't my intention to be a "healer", but I am trying to adapt to the circumstance. How do other people handle this spec? I know it is one of the least popular..in fact, I see very few scoundrels on the Pub side, but a lot of Operatives when playing opposing teams.

How do some get high up on the leaderboard (solo)if mercs are just dogmeat? I also know you post a lot of good answers(like the operative/gunslinger post today) so genuinely curious.

I dismissed mercs since the forums are always crapping on them. But after reading the 3.0 posts and youtube videos, the IO seems to be strong, just "hard to play" But I have been leveling a Scoundrel DPS in PVP and you also need to manage multiple situations so it shouldn't be mission impossible. I have always like the Mandalorian, 2 blaster look but didn't want to be a turret that gets **** on either.