I just returned myself. I made the same mistakes the OP did. All my friends left and I spent to much time on the forums reading hate threads. I'm glad to be back, the game was always fun to me. The only problem I have now is splitting my limited game time between SWTOR and GW2.

First, they consolify my PC games. Now, they've tabletified my Windows. When will the war on the PC end? I didn't like the Win8 preview.

I've just gotten to where fire pulse crits for 3k and stockstrike for 3.3k and they're nerfing surge. Back to assault, I guess.

Guardians get force push. Nuf said.

Former Marine - infantry(O331). Currently finishing up a six year stint in the National Guard as a 25B.

I'm finding that I usually get 8-10 medals per match. I've got around 360 valor (8% damage/reduction/healing) 4 pieces of Champion armor and some of the misc. pieces. However, as other classes obtain the same gear I'm finding it harder and harder to keep up damage wise. These days I'm usually close to around middle of the pack for total damage. I still win most of the one on one fights I get in, but they're getting closer. Operatives in particular are getting out of hand with the amount of damage they do out of stealth. They take so much of my HP away while I'm stunned, that by the time I can react, my DPS isn't sufficient to win the fight. It doesn't matter if I'm running a Tactics PVP spec or an Assault PVP spec. Now, bear in mind, that I don't run with a premade. I generally don't have a healer keeping me up or anyone working with me to take or defend objectives. It does seem to me, however, that as other classes obtain PVP gear Vanguards are starting to fall behind.

Now that we have level 50 brackets I've gone from usually being top 2 or 3 to middle of the pack. Most often I'm seeing Sages/Sorcs and Smuggs/IA's at the top.

I prefer to use Neural Surge and Sonic Round to get my 2k/5k defender medals.

Hmm....I smell a troll.

I've had success with 31 tactics and 31 assault. Assault is easier to play than tactics.

Unless, of course, their resolve bar isn't full....

.....

I would say other classes should put Vanguards/Powertechs at the top of their most feared class.

Wrong. Vanguard is tank or dps, Commando is heals or dps.

I didn't mean to say it was. I was meaning if he wants an actual tank spec he can only spec into shield. Tactics and Assault focus on dps and mobility, not increased armor, absoprtion, shield chance - tank stuff.