My wife and I decided to come back and try out the game after a many year break. I played a tanky bounty hunter while she played a healish sorc. I'm a bit baffled as to what to spec for these days. When we left the level cap was 50 so that should give you an idea of how long it has been since we last played.

We both are subscribers if that makes any difference in abilities unlocked or not. Appreciate any help! We are both level 50 and looking to only PVE, mostly as a duo.

Do a little forum reading. In particular, read up on the 5.9 patch notes which will land the first week of May. PTs (tanks) got the brunt of the nerfs. I'd actually recommend you reroll a different class if you intend on tanking post 5.9.

oh no instead of 4.5k single target dps it will do 4k dps.... play what ever you like and vanguards will be fine... dont listen to crybabies

Do a little forum reading. In particular, read up on the 5.9 patch notes which will land the first week of May. PTs (tanks) got the brunt of the nerfs. I'd actually recommend you reroll a different class if you intend on tanking post 5.9.

To be fair, I checked out the stickied threads that haven't been updated in months and went back four pages on this forum trying to find a build for PVE. I found nothing which is why I created this thread. The only builds I see are ones for PVP which I don't have any interest in.

I did see the threads about the nerfs but I've played MMORPGs since Ultima Online. I have lived through so many nerfs that I've lost count. I like the bounty hunter because it is the bounty hunter and I like the flame thrower aspect of tanking.

If you have any specific tips on how to build a spec, a rotation of abilities, etc. I would really appreciate the help.

To be fair, I checked out the stickied threads that haven't been updated in months and went back four pages on this forum trying to find a build for PVE. I found nothing which is why I created this thread. The only builds I see are ones for PVP which I don't have any interest in.

 

I did see the threads about the nerfs but I've played MMORPGs since Ultima Online. I have lived through so many nerfs that I've lost count. I like the bounty hunter because it is the bounty hunter and I like the flame thrower aspect of tanking.

 

If you have any specific tips on how to build a spec, a rotation of abilities, etc. I would really appreciate the help.

For specifics on the changes see this: http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=947256

Mourne is right on one thing: tank wise, PTs were already the weakest and they just got nerfed most.

It's not as big a deal if you don't plan on PvPing. Rotation wise, I dont think much has changed substantially in a while, I'd give advice but the only rotation advice I can give offhand is for guardians (ability names for the other two I dont remember, sorry, you'd get a lot of uselessness like "oh that ability i have bound to my 2 key!").

Gearing can be a subject of some debate. For all tanks currently, defense is well within the realm of the asymptote. (As i posted in the tank thread, 2k defense rsting to 3k defense rating increases you defense chance by a pathetic 4%).

Combine this with the damage nerfs and I would go for the 246 lethal b mods (there are 248 versions of this, but they drop in atrocious rates from command crates. I've seen one... that my healer buddy got and uses for the putpose of steaming my clams every evening).

You want the high endurance, high tertiary (shield or absorb) low defense enhancements. I personally, especially for a VG would not sacrifice shield or absorb for def. Whether to sacrifice it for crit/alac is a subject of some debate. I would not, personally. I can't check the shield/absorb balance for VG, but i do know shield > absorb for "shield specialists"

Relic wise: honestly I'd just throw on serendipitous assault and focused ret for the extra dps. I go with the 246 crafted ones with endurance on my VG but again, this is a subject of debate.

On the other half of mourne's statement- yes the other tanks are better and will be even moreso after 5.9. PT are the squishiest and are now losing their primary advantage of damage dealing.

That said, however, for a PvE setting, especially at lower levels, they will probably continue to function. They will still have good aoe threat generation and excellent mobility (well at max level when you have leap, anyway).

For reference on the other tanks:

Shadows got hit decently damage wise, but I don't see it affecting them as hard as PT. Shadows are the cheese tank - they work by avoiding damage and cheesing mechanics. You bring a shadow for cheese and stealth, not damage.

Guardians were affected least by the changes. The damage nerf is a practical joke and they are buffing focused defense (scaling it properly, finally, after over a year of it not working well, that said i sincerely hope they do not overscale it and make us OP, i don't want another nerf hammer coming out). Guardians are the cooldown tank - we are the slow behemoths who work by simply face tanking the incoming damage.