But, but my alt needs it! (the alt i don't even have, I'll just sell this on GTN) Yeah, I do have that happen quite a bit sometimes. Like a Jugg rolling need on Sorc gear.

Superheated Plasma is the only Plasma skill, and is required for High Friction Bolts. High Friction adds 30% armor pen, and makes High Impact generate ammo. It's only 3 skills, and they could probably be put somewhere better. I'm still working on that, so I don't know if I'll leave High Impact at 60% and put some into Counterattack or not. Obviously those points will be towards 40-50 level so I'm not worried about it yet.

The whole elemental damage, and not elemental damage is...hard to explain. I'd rather have elemental damage added, because some of the off attacks that get used, are elemental. Uh, it basically helps keep your total damage up there. I'd personally take 2 off of Steely Resolve, and remove Smoke Grenade. Put full points into Defensive Measures, and some into Counter-attack. As a past 32 BH Powertech (mirror class) I tried the whole "melee" thing with it, and found it to not be so great, but instead close range in general to be better. Basically, I initially invested a lot into Stockstrike, and Gut only to find myself not using them enough to get their whole worth, and was more moving around just outside of melee range; thereby making abilities around the 10m range preferred. I never understood people's obsession with Static Surge, and Static Shield, or Smoke Grenade. I feel, putting points into defenses, holds, and good burst skills (90% armor pen for High Impact Shot) to work better/fit the class more. I still use Stockstrike, don't get me wrong, but I don't focus on it, like a lot of Vanguard/Powertechs do. (It's good to get in the proc from Ion Cell for example, so I can then use High Impact Shot.) This can be a falling as you miss the rest of the classes abilities. This is an example build I've been reworking, but it has done me good a lot so far. I tend to not die, and still deal out damage, and give good protection. http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#801hRRrbRMoZbsbZbIbb.1 Lastly, if you want to focus more on melee, then you would probably be better off dropping Neural/Ion Overload, and instead grabbing Battlefield Training, and Cell Generator. Then moving Ion Shield onto Defensive Measures.

Considering vanguard is more melee than commando (Gut, various stockstrike skills etc)...no, I don't think there should be any ability of the sort. While the class doesn't mean you have to melee, it should be expected to be in melee range more.

Gotta say Togruuta or Cathar. Maybe even the devil-looking Devaronian (spelling?)

imo: wasted points in Flame Barrage, and Combust, which could instead be put on Steely Resolve. Also, why put points into Ion, if you're not going to follow through with it? You pick up Neural and Ion Overload, but don't grab Supercharged Gas, or at the very least, Ion Screen? Lastly, Prototype Burn Enhancers could probably be better put on Power Armor since this build doesn't look like it focuses on fire any. What cylinder do you plan on using most? You're putting points towards a variety of different abilities but not following through, which in the end leaves you sub-par.

Bolster helps, but remember the higher level will still have an advantage, 50 or not. Bolster only raises your character 80% to the highest player's level, and your gear by 20% (not entirely sure about gear, need a double check). Naturally people with higher levels will have an easier time.

I don't get the random point in Intimidation...it'd probably be better spent elsewhere if not on Rail Loaders...or maybe Rapid Venting (depending on playstyle)

Don't forget Mouse wheel up and down, and also mouse wheel as a button. That's 3 more binds right there.

I didn''t notice those until you pointed it out. I''ve since found a number of falling points between the two that wouldn''t work (for me mostly). These were just some early builds while I was/am still new to BH, but it''s still nice to get outside opinions.

I recently rerolled a BH after getting tired of being told to heal all the time on my telekinetic Sage (just because I'm a sage, does not mean I'm the healer ). It's going good so far pve/pvp wise, and mapping out some skills before I really start putting points in, I came to an impasse. I got 2 builds, with 2 different play-styles/skills I want, but I can't have them both. Thoughts? First build: Based more around melee combat with Rocket Punch and Retractable Blade, along with Jet Charge to cover extra ground. It would probably focus more on Ion Cylinder because of the skills it has in Shield Tech. http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#301hRGr0RMoZrsrMo0cZb.1 Second Build: Based on the Rail Shot, and doing 90% armor pen with it (if it still stacks), it also has a bit more focus on range and movement, and while there's points for Combust Cylinder, the High Energy would be used more. http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#3010MZrsrMRMckZfIbb.1

I gotta say cybertech. I've taken the social dress you're able to buy, and I constantly mod it, and it's persistently above gear I find, stat-wise.