i like the E313 Heavy Repeating Disrupter. http://i.imgur.com/nYR2Xsr.png

Yes I agree with you. That was / is my sentiment. I do not play my Vanguard ranged.. am not a noob Vanguard... I am not interested in playing a commando. I am interested if anyone has tried to develop or experimented with a ranged dps build for the vanguard and if they did, how they did it. I do realize that it wouldn't / couldn't be an optimized build because it wouldn't have SS/Gut or even Pulse Generator among other skills. so... as my initial post mentioned, does anyone have [useful] input on what a ranged DPS build would look like and what rotation you'd go through (post 2.0)? Positive replies only please - ie if you've done this or experimented with it. Negative replies stating the obvious not needed. thanks. - M.

Hellos... When reviewing the skill set of the vanguard I always come away with the impression that the Vanguard is a melee DPS class if he is not tanking, since near every rotation includes gut or SS. However I've read a few mentions off-site and heard other people say Vanguard is or can be a Ranged DPS build. Any input on what a ranged DPS build would look like and what rotation you'd go through (post 2.0)? thanks - M.

I thought this was just a load / lag issue with the animation... Since the last update I have experienced this but usually fix it before raiding by attacking / storming a target dummy or other convenient enemy before I go in. Maybe it'd work for you? - M.

ty for the clarification. I did / do understand the difference, but didn't notice it mentioned in the post. It seems to me however that the disparity between stacking defense and abs seems almost negligible. especially when you consider the diminishing returns for each stat (Defense scales about 2x as slow as absorb according to kbn here and shown here). It seems to me that it might be easier to acquire more absorption to near equal or greater effect than it would be to stack defense at least until the returns diminish. If I can get 30% absorption or under 15% defense... intuitively I want to take the absorption, at least until the returns diminish. If you are getting more for your investment and with a lower stat budget I just don't understand why you wouldn't. Someone might say that the 15% evasion means you'll take less damage. Assume two set ups. the first - D 15% / S 50% / A 20% (from shield base) .The heavy tank takes a potential of 3k incoming damage. 15% of that is negated due to dodge. leaving 2550 potential damage. 50% of that is shielded at 20% leaving 2295 damage. Heavy armor takes 40% of that leaving 1377 damage total. In comparison, the second - D 0% / S 50% / A 50%. The VG Tank takes a potential of 3k incoming damage. all of it hits but 50% shielded. so the Heavy tank takes 2250 damage (1500 unshielded + 750 absorbed). Heavy armor takes 40% of that leaving 1350 damage total. So at least with lower stat budgets (before you hit any diminishing returns), isn't absorption the better choice? especially when you consider that RNG evasion rolls don't always go your way? Can someone please explain to me why this isn't the case. thanks. - M.

reading KeyboardNinja's great thread on Ideal Tank Stat Distribution, I have a question in regards to absorption... His post implies that new Vanguards and Guardians should be stacking 0 absorption if they have a stat budget with under 1300... and initial absorb should be stacked low. My reaction to this is... what da huh? I need clarification... I was under the impression that combat hit / miss was broken down in two steps. Your shield chance is taken into consideration on any successful non-critted hit. If you successfully shield the attack your absorption reflects how much of the damage you will negate. So... if you are stacking 500 points into shield and 0 points into absorption... it is a wasted effort because even if you do successfully shield the attack you are still taking full damage. Is my understanding flawed? Or does keyboardNinja's proposed Stat Distribution post not apply to new tanks with lower stat budge... If it doesn't apply, then isn't the math suspect if the first 13 or 14 assertions of the theorem are obviously wrong or fundamentally flawed? Please correct my understanding in regards to the stats and in particular how shield rating and absorption relate to each other. thanks. - M.

ahhh.... it's broken then? It reads as if it would affect all of your other skills in that tree. As you say it doesn't it is quite fail then. EDIT: I'm still off on this. With 2.0 Ion Cell nerfs all damage dealt by 5%. Shouldn't the 8% increase in damage from blaster augs likewise apply to all damage? by implication it would seem that the devs meant to offset the nerf if you traited this skill (it used to be a 3% buff pre 2.0 if I remember right). If it really doesn't apply to all skills then I'd say it is broken and needs to be fixed.

if you're tanking you should really spec shield all the way up to energy blast, making sure to pick up riot gas, static surge, pulse engine, deflective guards and power screen... which you've not done on your spec... Once you're traited right you'll need to watch for skills that proc and take advantage of them. - M.

not just free damage but free heals if you're traited shield

Heya, nice guide so far. Regarding choosing Focused Impact over Demolition and Blaster Augs 8%.. I know that 'everyone' traits this way however... Demolition will increase crit chance of all elemental attacks by 6%. In a common rotation you will spam ion pulse, Pulse Cannon (when it procs), and Energy Blast. I would propose that the damage and threat gained by a 6% increase in critical chance to these skills outweighs the increase to HiB accuracy that Focused Impact gives, especially since HiB is something of an 'off rotation' skill... (you will likely prioritize skills that generate powerscreen for your Energy Blast over HiB). Taking this argument further if you trait Blaster Augs your Damage by Ion Cell is increased 8%. Surely this 8% is also going to generate greater damage and more threat than Focused Impact as well. Thoughts? Again, Thanks for the guide! - M.

I'm level 46 atm.. here is the shield build that i've been building into for PVE tanking: http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#801GMGrdorordRRZbsZb.3 To level, I have been using Jorgan to cut through mobs quickly. Whenever there was a very difficult boss I would switch to Dorne and have her heal me through it. Ideally, I would try to get through content without the extra heals so that I don't become dependent on them and so that I test my playstyle/durability. Cheers - M.

here's my Vanguard... Nothing epic.. just a Trooper doing his job. http://i.imgur.com/nYR2Xsr.png

my Trooper's current look. http://i.imgur.com/nYR2Xsr.png

Heya, probably a noob question... I would like to confirm my understanding of how the combat mechanics work.. I have read that the skills / combat are based off of an RNG system.. Are there any skills that are tied into crit or is it all based on random chance / Rolls? Is there anything you can do to affect this the chance of a skill opening up? For instance, when skill's say something like 'Ion Pulse has a 45% chance and Stockstrike has a 60% chance to finish the cooldown on HiB and make the next HiB free...' that is all RNG and crit has no influence over this? Is there any benefit (aside from increased damage potential) to stacking any crit? thanks - M.

In case you haven't seen it: http://www.swtor.com/info/news/blog/20130418-0 Some of the changes look really good/interesting. Especially the change with shields and Adrenaline Rush Into the Fray and the changes to Energy Blast are also noteworthy imho. - M.