No need to prove anything. Common sense is enough. Just look at the amount of content provided in first half of life of the game and the second. Just a small example with operations: between 1.0 and 3.0 (included) total amount of 48 operation bosses were released. Between 3.3 and 6.0 (included) only 12 operation bosses. Too lazy to count other type of content, but with FP you would see similar difference in numbers. Daily areas, events...everything. 215 servers shrank to 5. Skill Trees converted to Discipline Paths for faster class balance that never happened, actually exact opposite did happen. Do I have to continue?

No, you need to actually read the link I sent. You are sharing your opinion, but it is far from common sense, especially since they were hiring a bunch of people when Keith took over.

The issues with the game are happening for reasons other than funding, and you'd do well to read the article in the forum post I linked to acquaint yourself with why.

No, you need to actually read the link I sent. You are sharing your opinion, but it is far from common sense, especially since they were hiring a bunch of people when Keith took over.

And what is this bunch of people working on? Definitely not content, unless you consider regular new gearing systems as a content. I didn't share any opinion here. I shared the comparation of actual amount of content produced in the past and now. Between 2.0 and 3.0 there were regular patches with content updates every 8 weeks! One of those regular patches (2.4 The Dread War) contained more content than this whole 6.0 expansion does. Where is the funding then? What the developers are doing???

In 2.4 The Dread War two new operations were released with total amount of 10 bosses. In 6.0 only one is being released with 5 bosses. 6.0 has one new FP, 2.4 had zero, but previous 2.3 had 2 new FPs. (only 8 weeks before). Both have some new story tied to some new daily area. But 2.4 also had new PvP mode released (4vs4), including bunch of new arena maps. 6.0 has nothing for PvPers. 2.4 had new PvP and PvE gear sets released, 6.0 has certainly more (but mostly only to piss lots of players due to its RNG nature).

This is basically what is content now, the gearing, this is where the funding goes...Again, no opinions, just comparing the amount of content. Anyone can say what he wants, I judge not based on post of some previous dev, nor BW fans, I judge based on amount of content released, and if the funding is good, but it doesn't go towards content released, then sorry, the result is the same as underfunded game.

No, you need to actually read the link I sent. You are sharing your opinion, but it is far from common sense, especially since they were hiring a bunch of people when Keith took over.

 

The issues with the game are happening for reasons other than funding, and you'd do well to read the article in the forum post I linked to acquaint yourself with why.

The linked post is interesting in terms of "context", however without actually knowing the internal processes working within the BioWare sphere, it is just opinion. It's the age old "Chinese whispers" scenario, where something gets said, then gets altered slightly and so forth.

I do think when Keith came on-board there has been a distinct course correction from the 4.0 era which had a fairly solid focus on story driven content (whether it was the right type of story driven content is debatable, especially where it was instanced and not progress-able by multiple players at the same time). Since then the focus has switched back during 5.0 to more additions to the MMO type of content that was seriously lacking during the 4.0 era, such as PvP / Operations / Daily areas etc.

However I still think there is a fundamental issue here that gets ignored by BioWare. SWTOR is a story driven MMO (emphasis latter part). There needs to be a solid balance during the major patch cycles between story (of the right type, not some KOTOR style cutscene rubbish either), leading into the MMO parts of new world areas, flashpoints, operations, PvP, daily areas, events, starfighter areas, strongholds, reputation grinds etc (that list isn't meant to be exclusive).

For that to happen, you need the funding and the developer resources to be available, as well as the community interaction both here and on other sites not just dedicated to SWTOR (I only joined this game after watching the trailer for the Eternity Vault operation on PCGamer for example). That requires some backing from EA to advertise this game, resources are key here.

Unless Keith gets that support from above financially, a few extra developers here and there isn't really going to make that dent. Either that or BioWare as a development studio completely lost its focus with Anthem, which in turn damaged other projects (including this one).

Just my opinion though.

And what is this bunch of people working on? Definitely not content, unless you consider regular new gearing systems as a content. I didn't share any opinion here. I shared the comparation of actual amount of content produced in the past and now. Between 2.0 and 3.0 there were regular patches with content updates every 8 weeks! One of those regular patches (2.4 The Dread War) contained more content than this whole 6.0 expansion does. Where is the funding then? What the developers are doing???

 

In 2.4 The Dread War two new operations were released with total amount of 10 bosses. In 6.0 only one is being released with 5 bosses. 6.0 has one new FP, 2.4 had zero, but previous 2.3 had 2 new FPs. (only 8 weeks before). Both have some new story tied to some new daily area. But 2.4 also had new PvP mode released (4vs4), including bunch of new arena maps. 6.0 has nothing for PvPers. 2.4 had new PvP and PvE gear sets released, 6.0 has certainly more (but mostly only to piss lots of players due to its RNG nature).

 

This is basically what is content now, the gearing, this is where the funding goes...Again, no opinions, just comparing the amount of content. Anyone can say what he wants, I judge not based on post of some previous dev, nor BW fans, I judge based on amount of content released, and if the funding is good, but it doesn't go towards content released, then sorry, the result is the same as underfunded game.

Its kind of incredible that on the precipice of a major expansion coming out in which we get 2 planets, an operation and a flashpoint as well as a new gearing system, that you have the nerve to say they haven't been working on content. On top of that, they for the first time have been actually making engine improvements as was given to us in the March under the hood article.

If we get Onslaught launched, and we find out Mek Sha and Onderon are the size of Oricon and the Czerka base, THEN you may have a point on "content". Having play tested it myself, I can safely say Onderon is much bigger than both of those put together, times 3.

So yeah, you come off extremely ignorant.

The linked post is interesting in terms of "context", however without actually knowing the internal processes working within the BioWare sphere, it is just opinion. It's the age old "Chinese whispers" scenario, where something gets said, then gets altered slightly and so forth.

 

I do think when Keith came on-board there has been a distinct course correction from the 4.0 era which had a fairly solid focus on story driven content (whether it was the right type of story driven content is debatable, especially where it was instanced and not progress-able by multiple players at the same time). Since then the focus has switched back during 5.0 to more additions to the MMO type of content that was seriously lacking during the 4.0 era, such as PvP / Operations / Daily areas etc.

 

However I still think there is a fundamental issue here that gets ignored by BioWare. SWTOR is a story driven MMO (emphasis latter part). There needs to be a solid balance during the major patch cycles between story (of the right type, not some KOTOR style cutscene rubbish either), leading into the MMO parts of new world areas, flashpoints, operations, PvP, daily areas, events, starfighter areas, strongholds, reputation grinds etc (that list isn't meant to be exclusive).

 

For that to happen, you need the funding and the developer resources to be available, as well as the community interaction both here and on other sites not just dedicated to SWTOR (I only joined this game after watching the trailer for the Eternity Vault operation on PCGamer for example). That requires some backing from EA to advertise this game, resources are key here.

 

Unless Keith gets that support from above financially, a few extra developers here and there isn't really going to make that dent. Either that or BioWare as a development studio completely lost its focus with Anthem, which in turn damaged other projects (including this one).

 

Just my opinion though.

Oh, I think it provides a lot more than that. The details are too specific and fit too well with what we already know.

I mean, when you consider Bioware just wanted what essentially amounted to a combo of the Jedi and Sith stories playing through KotFE from the get go, but just with some multiplayer trappings around it, and that EA forced them into the full blown chapters in order to compete with WOW in the MMO space, THAT is groundbreaking stuff.

It explains everything - all their decisions till now, their openly stated business model that they are OK with people leaving and not providing a steady stream of content, etc....

BIOWARE NEVER WANTED TO MAKE A REAL MMO IN THE FIRST PLACE.

That go over your head in terms of impact?

This whole time, the script has been "the evil EA forced BioWare to abandon their chapter story plans and now we are stuck because BioWare doesn't make money and is under funded".

And what I just bolded above changes that ENTIRELY.

BIOWARE killed chapter stories themselves, and then forced KotFE down our throats, because they never WANTED vanilla SWTOR, and they didn't care who they ran off to make THEIR game. It explains all the lazy writing, the rush to minimize companion characters, the entire 4.0 debacle. ALL of it.

And it isn't just hearsay. The key, the REAL key to that article that lends its authenticity to me is the part where the author mentioned the story would end at KOTET and then a new one with a character from your original's legacy would pick up a new story much later in the timeline.

It is not very well known, but back when the first rumors of SWTOR being made were circulating, there was a questionnaire sent out to some focus groups. It was based around a potential Star Wars game, and many of the questions centered around the idea of the same Legacy system that the tester mentioned. And I mean DEAD on.

THAT is what sold me that this tester was speaking the truth, however he got it.

So yeah, that article isn't just horsewhispering to me. Too many details that he shouldn't know, unless he or someone he knew was a part of this from the beginning.

That article is essentially SWTOR's Rosetta Stone....

Gearing and content:

IMO …. the entire debate over the personalities inside of BW is totally pointless and counter productive. Sorry … that's just how it is !

Gearing and Content:

1. Gearing: As soon as the PTS went active no one could believe what we were seeing. Only a very few expressed a genuine like for the system. Even one or two (like my self) actually posted that some changes were going to b implemented in an updated version of PTS … ssooo we ALL need to wait and see. What happened next was even MORE unexpected. (not in a good sense either).

Many felt as though so much of the posts / threads on this subject (and there were a LOT) .. hand apparently been ignored.

Bottom line for me personally: I don't give one royal-rippity-roo-ha about who designed what part or who's original idea it was. What DOES matter is that now that it is here what can (if anything) be done about it.

It will be up to me to figure out this complex system that is largely dependent upon RNG. sooo yeah good information is always appreciated

2. Content: Need some !

I do agree that it seems some "short cuts" have been taken here lately.

I do not care how much money BW has … or not ! What I DO care about is a game that once had 8 stories and now that's no longer "feasible" ??? (really??)

I do care about a game that has watched PvP players well.. let's just say it's a mess. ( sorry I'm just going to write up a whole column on that … but it could be)

I do care about a game that in the beginning was fun to play and we were able to save back credits and gear our characters accordingly. RNG has been a part of a lot of MMO's … I get that. But a vendor is a vendor not a trip to the casino !

I do care about a game that really does have FUN companions (not some flea bag from a WOW throw back). Now those are being bricked or worse ! We really don't need space Barbie Dolls do we ?? Companions should be a part of the game. They use to be … and it proved to help the game for a large part of the audience.

I do care about a game that has the SW theme to it … There are so many possibilities.

I do care about content: seems like there has been a shortage for several years now.

I don't care about some of the other stuff that goes on... that is inside of BW. And regardless of who is really responsible … they know ( or at the very least SHOULD) when things are not right. They know what's going on. Their game should do a BETTER reflection of that knowledge !

If they continue to push a product that is seriously lacking there is only one direction that the game can go ! AND that is just not good !

GEARING .. and Content !

Yes some minor changes were made with Ossus as far as the story was concerned. But so much has been left out. People expect a lot from a game any more... it COSTS a lot for the initial development PLUS additional funding to keep it going … PLUS EVEN MORE to do a proper expansion... And yes (do I dare say it) … YET EVEN MORE to go beyond where we are now. This is a long term commitment. It should never be reviewed as anything different !

BUT... when that all comes together … There is nothing like it !!

I care about a game that IS FUN !!

And so it begins: I will be watching 6.0... as I'm sure a lot of others will be also.

Its kind of incredible that on the precipice of a major expansion coming out in which we get 2 planets, an operation and a flashpoint as well as a new gearing system, that you have the nerve to say they haven't been working on content.

You simply don't read what I say. I never said, they don't produce content. I said, they produce way less content than in the past and also gave comparision for that. You are just ignorant to that. Also this less content produced is a sign, they have less funds than before.

If we get Onslaught launched, and we find out Mek Sha and Onderon are the size of Oricon and the Czerka base, THEN you may have a point on "content". Having play tested it myself, I can safely say Onderon is much bigger than both of those put together, times 3.

 

So yeah, you come off extremely ignorant.

You are conveniently missing the fact, that Onslaught has just one operation, that it has zero content for PvPers and also that it's an expansion released after 3 years since last expansion, while The Dread War was a content patch, and those were released every 8 weeks back then. So who is extremely ignorant here?

They have slowed down on the volume of content released over the recent years.

It's reasonably well known that at least some of the staff working on SWTOR was allocated for Anthem. It wasn't as well known if all, or some, or none, were shifted back.

Honestly, that's to be expected. As games age the budget shrinks and the staff move on to other projects. The older games can even become the "training ground" for newer employees. I'm not saying that is what happened here with this game.

The history post was interesting, but none of it matters to me. No amount of "look at it through this lense" is going to change how I feel about how the game is presented to me.

I don't need to know the life story of the cow that gets made into a hamburger (why it's called a hamburger, when ham is from pigs, baffles me. I've never bothered to look that up, but I think I may). The burger is going to taste exactly the same with or without that knowledge.

You simply don't read what I say. I never said, they don't produce content. I said, they produce way less content than in the past and also gave comparision for that. You are just ignorant to that. Also this less content produced is a sign, they have less funds than before.

Let me see - Onslaught bigger than Rothc?

Seems like it.

Sor? - About on Par

Kotfe? You'd think it was bigger, but lot of corridor fights and the fact that it didn't come out all at once sort of screws that idea.

Maybe you are referring to just after launch when we were waiting for a year and a half or more for ANY content?

Sorry, but your examples really don't hold water.

Now, if you wanted to compare SWTOR to OTHER MMOs, I would agree - other MMOs absolutely release content at a much quicker clip.

But then that goes back to the article I quoted - BioWare from the BEGINNING never had ANY intention of trying to push out content to keep people engaged. Its not because they are understaffed - it was a business decision made from the very BEGINNING...

They have slowed down on the volume of content released over the recent years.

It's reasonably well known that at least some of the staff working on SWTOR was allocated for Anthem. It wasn't as well known if all, or some, or none, were shifted back.

Honestly, that's to be expected. As games age the budget shrinks and the staff move on to other projects. The older games can even become the "training ground" for newer employees. I'm not saying that is what happened here with this game.

 

The history post was interesting, but none of it matters to me. No amount of "look at it through this lense" is going to change how I feel about how the game is presented to me.

I don't need to know the life story of the cow that gets made into a hamburger (why it's called a hamburger, when ham is from pigs, baffles me. I've never bothered to look that up, but I think I may). The burger is going to taste exactly the same with or without that knowledge.

I am well aware of the article in question that mentioned this. However, at this point, I think there may have been some errors with that article. People close to BioWare were saying that while yes, there was increased hiring for Anthem, it wasn't true that other people in the BioWare Austin studio house got pulled into Anthem. There were other items too in that article that framed it more like a hit piece.

Given that, I think it is something to be cautious of.

Let me see - Onslaught bigger than Rothc?

 

Seems like it.

 

Sor? - About on Par

 

Kotfe? You'd think it was bigger, but lot of corridor fights and the fact that it didn't come out all at once sort of screws that idea.

 

Maybe you are referring to just after launch when we were waiting for a year and a half or more for ANY content?

 

 

Sorry, but your examples really don't hold water.

 

Now, if you wanted to compare SWTOR to OTHER MMOs, I would agree - other MMOs absolutely release content at a much quicker clip.

 

But then that goes back to the article I quoted - BioWare from the BEGINNING never had ANY intention of trying to push out content to keep people engaged. Its not because they are understaffed - it was a business decision made from the very BEGINNING...

Something I wanted to add - it was that at one point in time, BioWare DID spread the content it generated out so that there weren't as many lulls in the action. It resulted in smaller expansions, but more content throughout the year.

But when you really look at it, its the same amount of content any way you shake it - they just changed how they doled it out from time to time based on feedback from players.

They have slowed down on the volume of content released over the recent years.

It's reasonably well known that at least some of the staff working on SWTOR was allocated for Anthem. It wasn't as well known if all, or some, or none, were shifted back.

Honestly, that's to be expected. As games age the budget shrinks and the staff move on to other projects. The older games can even become the "training ground" for newer employees. I'm not saying that is what happened here with this game.

 

The history post was interesting, but none of it matters to me. No amount of "look at it through this lense" is going to change how I feel about how the game is presented to me.

I don't need to know the life story of the cow that gets made into a hamburger (why it's called a hamburger, when ham is from pigs, baffles me. I've never bothered to look that up, but I think I may). The burger is going to taste exactly the same with or without that knowledge.

Well said !

IMO .. about the only thing that "might" be added is that over the last 3+ years a lot of us have been waiting for things to look improve .. particularly with content / companions / strongholds (you get the idea … no need to relist the items we've been wanting) …

Right now it's a hard pill to swallow if this does not pan out that well. IF that IS the case and this new XP drops another bomb shell... then BW can pretty much count on the fact that there will be a LOT of people (me included) that will be more cautious in purchasing additional products with EA or BW name on it !

Before someone gets the wrong idea: I'm hoping for the best. I really am. But as I've said before: the term cautiously optimistic pretty much describes where I'm at in all honesty !

For gearing, I'm reasonably optimistic, having gotten my own toons up to some pretty good stats on PTS, and feeling like the pacing coupled with all gear being legacy bound and non-RNG vendors for set gear and tacticals really making it feel attainable. Not so thrilled with mods acquisition but hopefully that will either just work, or be addressed quickly.

I ran Dxun sm up to last boss and hm first boss, and enjoyed the op, even though it was quite buggy at the time, so really looking forward to running that.

Overall I see a reasonably good amount of content too look forward to. Not enough for a year (or years), but lets get our hands on it and see how it goes!

We'll see soon enough...

The reason is quite clear, isn't it? They are short on funding and it's the cheapest "content" to make.

I’m not so sure that’s correct. I think they got an injection of funds after Anthem was released. Not sure if that was planned or if it was because Anthem flopped.

But I have a feeling there are quite a lot of Anthem guys working on 6.0. It’s why there is such a disconnect with players on what swtor is about (system wise) with regards to the crafting and gearing systems. Also, you only need to look at the newer UI styles some of the systems had on the pts to realise these guys aren’t the usual swtor coders or Devs.

Throw Everything You Know About Gearing Away!

I think gearing is going to go fairly well even with the rng gods hating us at times. I have a gearing plan and it will revolve around one or two farmers to get that gear. From there it is all about the wait for the right internal pieces to drop to fill those slow to get set pieces.

Armorings will be the easiest to get BIS, the hardest will be the Enhancements as I did not see all of those and get a good feel on them. Mods were okay once I figured out what gave the best basic damage.

Armorings 471 409 is BIS

Mods 366 mastery 361 power 313 is about the best I have seen. Might be better ones but I doubt it. 728 is the high number. 366+361=727

Enhancements can go up to 451 for the tertiary stat, but not be the best for you to get as the drop in power is a negative. I still need to find a good balance of numbers, but I expect 431 to be a better target number per enhancement.

I plan to get to the base I need 1214 Alacrity/ 1589 Accuracy with the least overage. Critical I will try to get as high as I can.

Crafting

Hope that it will not be the mess that we fought with on the PTS or you will go Why Bother.

I hope there are plenty of nodes. I hope the schematics are not full of undesired mats making everything hard to make or impossibly locked behind a time gate like the conquest mats. Sure I would like to see more uses for conquest mats, but not what they had on pts.

Story I hope it is engaging and has many repeatable sections that are not too much of a pain to do. I want it to be interesting and give a well thought out story even if short.

I pray that level sync will not make the operations either too hard or impossible and on the other hand way too easy that you only need four for the eight man ops to complete. I would like it to stay as challenging as it is now were you could maybe get away with one dps down. If they do not plan to keep even a hair of challenge to story mode than they might as well allow companions to fill the empty slots. That would be unexpected.

I don't think there really is going to be any surprises more than what was seen on pts. Getting all remaining missing companions back in the onslaught story line would be the biggest surprise, but we will be lucky with two is how pessimistic I have become.

Will I like Onslaught now that will be a surprise. I just hope it is playable and not too much of a hindrance to those who struggle with gearing. Them giving up will hinder us all.

You are conveniently missing the fact, that Onslaught has just one operation, that it has zero content for PvPers and also that it's an expansion released after 3 years since last expansion, while The Dread War was a content patch, and those were released every 8 weeks back then. So who is extremely ignorant here?

I’m a long term PVPer, that’s all I have really played until pvp turned into a debacle in the last 12 months.

Pvpers do not need any new content. We’ve got plenty of maps or “content”

What we need is the systems improved for pvp and that starts with seperate pvp gear again.

Then we need the bugs fixed and players given incentives to fight to win instead of fight to see how much dps they do on the score board.

Then we need incentives for people to play pvp as they level up and learn to play in the lower brackets instead of end game brackets (that could be tied to pvp gear like to used to be)

Fix the queue systems when it makes teams to be more balanced.

Then we need balanced classes. Which I now think is now impossible with this new gear and abilities. It’s why it’s last on my list.

There are many more things pvp needs instead of content. We went for the first 3 years with no new maps and even then, pvp was better than it is now. Since then we’ve had 5 or 6 arenas added and 5 new 8 man maps added. And pvp has only gotten worse over time.

There are plenty of maps. What we need is all the systems adjusted or fixed that make up the pvp eco systems.

I’m a long term PVPer, that’s all I have really played until pvp turned into a debacle in the last 12 months.

 

Pvpers do not need any new content. We’ve got plenty of maps or “content”

 

What we need is the systems improved for pvp and that starts with seperate pvp gear again.

Then we need the bugs fixed and players given incentives to fight to win instead of fight to see how much dps they do on the score board.

Then we need incentives for people to play pvp as they level up and learn to play in the lower brackets instead of end game brackets (that could be tied to pvp gear like to used to be)

Fix the queue systems when it makes teams to be more balanced.

Then we need balanced classes. Which I now think is now impossible with this new gear and abilities. It’s why it’s last on my list.

 

There are many more things pvp needs instead of content. We went for the first 3 years with no new maps and even then, pvp was better than it is now. Since then we’ve had 5 or 6 arenas added and 5 new 8 man maps added. And pvp has only gotten worse over time.

There are plenty of maps. What we need is all the systems adjusted or fixed that make up the pvp eco systems.

I am PvPer, too, and I respectfully disagree that we don't need more maps, specifially objective maps (I agree they may be enough arenas for now). Some maps added later were just (at least partialy) reskins of previous maps. (Yavin, Vandin). But I can agree, we need these other things, too, perhaps even with higher priority. But the truth is, we are getting none of these with Onslaught.

I am PvPer, too, and I respectfully disagree that we don't need more maps, specifially objective maps (I agree they may be enough arenas for now). Some maps added later were just (at least partialy) reskins of previous maps. (Yavin, Vandin). But I can agree, we need these other things, too, perhaps even with higher priority. But the truth is, we are getting none of these with Onslaught.

Why would you want more maps? We already have 9 and most of the time only Hutt Ball pops, so we don’t even get to play the other maps.

Maybe if they fixed it so Hutt ball maps only popped 1/7 instead of 3/9, we could get a chance to play the other maps. That and making the same maps not pop constantly in a row and give them a proper pop rotation instead of an RNG pop chance.

They could revamp some of the maps a little, fix the medal system and fix the bugs and it would feel different to now. Which would revitalise it without needing another map.

There are already sooooooooo many problems that need fixing or adjusting for pvp, that another map should be the last thing they consider.

Please prove that they are short on funding.

 

They hired a bunch of people when Keith came on board, which debunks the whole "short on funding" argument.

 

Don't get me wrong - 6 months ago I would have ignorantly made the same argument.

 

But if you really want to know what's going on, read this. It's instrumental in understanding where BioWare is at and also knowing how they view the game themselves.

 

Cliff notes is that originally BioWare never wanted this game in the first place - they were forced to do an MMO. They've been trying to essentially go back on it ever since, until Keith came on board.

 

People have their reservations about Keith, but under his watch, even if you disagree with his decisions, they are finally starting to treat the game like an actual MMO.

 

Seriously though, go read the link. It gives tremendous context to the inception of the game and explains all of BioWare's decisions through the Ben Irving years and KotFE...

Who are these 'bunches' of people they hired? Also, prove they are not short on funding. Unless you're in their board room meetings or in their inner circle, you're making assumptions that they're not short on funding. Even if they have additional staff and funding, how do you know where the staff and funding is being allocated?

Regarding the article you linked, there's zero proof that any of it's factual, notably after Eric posted in the very same thread refuting it. Whether it's accurate or it's not, you can't prove beyond the shadow of a doubt its authenticity. It's like perusing Wiki and thinking it's all factual.

I'm not saying what you've mentioned isn't true, but unless you're one of their employees, you're doing what some forum posters do, hypothesizing.

Back to your original post, good write up, it'll help a lot of people.

Why would you want more maps? We already have 9 and most of the time only Hutt Ball pops, so we don’t even get to play the other maps.

Maybe if they fixed it so Hutt ball maps only popped 1/7 instead of 3/9, we could get a chance to play the other maps. That and making the same maps not pop constantly in a row and give them a proper pop rotation instead of an RNG pop chance.

They could revamp some of the maps a little, fix the medal system and fix the bugs and it would feel different to now. Which would revitalise it without needing another map.

There are already sooooooooo many problems that need fixing or adjusting for pvp, that another map should be the last thing they consider.

Exactly this. PvP doesn't need new 'content', it needs regular reconfiguring. It needs the basics fixed and to be evened out across all playing fields as best as possible. Lowbies and midbies used to be a joy to play, even though bolster was pure garbage for compensation when facing higher levels with less skills.

The whole idea of pvp in the game is out of whack in it's current iteration and will only get worse in 6.0.

I don't think this statement is correct as you will lose your set bonus, if I remember it right.

Wait, will all current gear lose the set bonuses that are on there once 6.0 hits?

Well NiM EV isn't very good example as that one is laughably easy. I would be more concerned about missing set bonuses in operations like NiM GotM, NiM Dread Council, or HM Revan. Especially for some specs like Corruption sorc, which I can't really imagine to heal that type of content without CD reduction on Innervate.

And wait wut, is EV NiM coming back?

The whole idea of pvp in the game is out of whack in it's current iteration and will only get worse in 6.0.

Which brings up the question - what is the idea of PvP in the game?

I've always thought of PvP as just another "mini-game" you can do for giggles - sort of like the Bounty or Gree events, etc.

Some people seem to think that PvP is the whole purpose of the game.

Unfortunately, I don't actually know what BW's idea of PvP is. I just hope it's only secondary to PvE, I consider SWTOR to be an MMORPG, not an MMOBA.

Exactly this. PvP doesn't need new 'content', it needs regular reconfiguring.

And why does it have to be one or the other? Personally, I preffer both.