Just recently rolled a Trooper and went with Vanguard (that large cannon looks stupid), and I was wondering if the vanguard is better as a tank or dps. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

Depends on a lot of factors.

1. For leveling, I would certainly recommend DPS. Troopers get their healer companion pretty early on in the storyline, and has some pretty useful AoE abilities, which make mob packs go down pretty quickly. Leveling as a tank (from what I hear) can be a slow process at times, as you don't really put out huge damage numbers and don't have a lot of DPS support besides your companion.

2. As a sort of aside from that. What are you intents for endgame and prior MMO experience? If you want to tank at endgame, and don't have much experience tanking in MMOs, then I would suggest leveling as a tank, so you can learn the intricacies of the class before you're expected to tank in OPs/FPs other endgame PvE.

3. I am primarily a VG Assault DPS, and I think they are in a satisfactory place for PvE DPS at the moment. In a vacuum, all things equal (player skill, debuffs, etc.) VGs will be behind Gunslingers and Sentinels, but are more than viable for any content currently in game (despite what some other people will tell you)

4. Occasionally I'll tank (I'm pretty awful at it and I think it helps knowing the OPs/FPs very well and being in a guild that knows I'm a terrible tank) and I must say again, incredibly viable with a very smooth damage taken profile.

I think in general if 100 people saw a VG, probably close to 70 of them would first assume you're a tank, which I think is a good way of understanding what the expectations are, although, like I said, VG DPS is perfectly viable for PvE at this point in game (especially if you're in a guild, and not trying to PUG everything).

For PvP I can't chime in too much, as I don't PvP on this character, but it seems to be a mixed reaction at the moment, with certain specs/priorities/arena comps being extremely favorable for VGs, while solo queuing has some issues....But I could be wrong about that.

Hope that helps a bit.

I would say play what you feel is the most fun.

If you however want to tank, level as a tank as the previous poster said. Tanking is . . . well it's tanking, situational dependent and will be the hardest to switch to if you decide in the middle "i don't like this and want to try something else"

The middle tree is an Area dps build for the most part, you need a minimum of 22 points in it for the area damage to really come out.

The right tree is mostly single target, however the recent most popular builds on the server i'm on are 8/22/16 to get High Impact Bolt to recycle every 6 seconds, and get pulse cannon to have it's damage boost.

If you've played a Jugg/Guardian or Sentinel/Marauder the middle tree is a lot like the right tree there, you build up your 3 stacks of damage increasers and then you unload. The vanguard/powertech however builds its damage increaser through attacks, and the unload is a 3 second channel (Pulse Cannon/Flamethrower).

The right tree centers mostly around High Impact Bolt/Rail Shot, a big hit on a target that requires a dot on it otherwise you can't use that attack. You need 16 points in this tree to open up the biggest portion of damage which allows you to refresh your High Impact Bolt cooldown every 6 seconds. So the style is instant attacks until you get that Ionic Accelerator then fire off.

the difference between dps and tank spec don't start to show until you get pretty close to 50, assuming you just use dps gear as you level and a healing companion. until you fully flesh out a tree and start dipping into the other trees to get stuff like more aim, harder hitting hib, additional armor penetration etc. all three trees are about equal.

shield i find levels the easiest provided you use dps gear and a healing companion. due to the higher aim stat from talents - which starts to really kick in as you hit the 30's - your overall damage is on par with the dps spec's in spite of teh 5% dmg reduction inherent to ion cell. you will also have an easier time with heroic 2's thanks to riot gas - even in dps gear only, you as a shieldtech vanguard can take a lot more damage than any tank companion can and if you are dps spec'd no healing companion will be able to keep you up doing most heroic 2's.

of the two dps trees, the pyro is the one to go with. i found assault to actually do less damage for general questing than pyro or shield. pyro also has great cell management due to free hib's.

of the two dps trees, the pyro is the one to go with. i found assault to actually do less damage for general questing than pyro or shield. pyro also has great cell management due to free hib's.

assault and pyrotech are the same thing . . . are you talking about Advanced Prototype/Tactics?

The main issue for me is that for some reason I'm not finding a play style for the Vanguard. With the other 3 classes I've played to completion, Merc, Guardian, and Sorc, I knew which attacks I liked, I knew which way I liked to play the classes, but with the Vanguard I can't get a good feel for it. I like dps and tanking either way, but I can't figure out which suits the Vanguard better.

well if Stockstrike and Ion Pulse are going to be your main attacks with any build you choose, and then you have either High Impact Bolt, or Pulse Cannon as your big attack. You fill in Hammer shot as needed to keep your ammunition up.

I think I've decided to go Shield spec, I like the feel of running through mobs with Elara and not stopping. However, I am having a bit of trouble with the ammo system, does anyone have any suggestions to fix that, or even a good rotation to use?

It's sort of tricky ammo management until you get higher up in the tree. Pulse engine helps with ammo, as does static surge. But as we don't know what lvl you are, it's a bit tough to try and help with a good rotation.

Ideally (as a tank) it would be something like MV-Storm-ES-ES-(RG-SS-HIB-PC-EB depending on procs) and rolling through to keep EB up on CD with add management.

But the one issue with leveling as a tank is well..you don't do much damage. So you tend to find yourself spamming high ammo abilities (ER-IP-SS-PC) to try and kill things, without any skills talented that help increase damage or reduce ammo cost.

I'd suggest trying to run with Jorgan or Forex as your companion, and you focus on tanking, and let your companion kill the enemies. I didn't level my VG as a tank, so I don't know how it performs at lower levels, but I know it is probably an inconvenience to say the least.

Sorry about that.

MV: Mortar Volley

ES: Explosive Surge

RG: Riot Gas

SS: Stock Strike

HIB: High Impact Bolt

PC: Pulse Cannon

EB: Energy Blast

ER: Explosive Round

IP: Ion Pulse

Hope that helps.

Alright thanks, I'll try that rotation out this weekend and see how it works.

One last question, is it better to go straight up one tree with the first 36 points then get the side trees, or get those first?

Alright thanks, I'll try that rotation out this weekend and see how it works.

 

One last question, is it better to go straight up one tree with the first 36 points then get the side trees, or get those first?

It's not really an available tanking rotation until you can unlock the abilities in the shield tree (Riot Gas/Storm/Energy Blast) as they all require x number of skill points to use. So if you're only level 25, you probably have Riot gas, but won't be able to talent Storm until at least lvl 30 and Energy Blast until at least lvl.45.

As far as focusing on one tree first...It doesn't matter that much. I think the only real argument that can be made is:

For some skill trees (Shield Specialist) being one of them, their capstone ability is crucial and makes the whole spec play better. Great synergy with other talents lower in the tree and important to stay alive. If you're interested in being an optimal tank as soon as possible, I would suggest getting to 36pts in the Shield tree first so you can unlock energy blast.

Abilities like Power Armor/Blaster Augs/and the damage boost abilities (Heavy Stock/Focused Impact) are also important for a VG tank, but not as important as Energy Blast.

due to resource management there is no actual rotation.it's a priority, with your highest priority being cell management.

guardians and juggs have a rotation because they must build the resource they spend like a classic rogue.

due to resource management there is no actual rotation.it's a priority, with your highest priority being cell management.

 

guardians and juggs have a rotation because they must build the resource they spend like a classic rogue.

Yes, I hate the resource system for troopers, its so aggravating.

I think I've decided to go Shield spec, I like the feel of running through mobs with Elara and not stopping. However, I am having a bit of trouble with the ammo system, does anyone have any suggestions to fix that, or even a good rotation to use?

Well, just don't use Explosive Round. Too little bang for too much buck. I've leveled a ST(Shield Tech) PT(Powertech) and I didn't have a problem with heat. Just use Explosive Surge once if you've got Static field speced and there's multiple enemies around you and Ion Pulse if there's only one enemy. Once you get Storm, you can get 2 free Explosive Surges, so that helps. Aside from this, I don't really know much about tanking.

Well, just don't use Explosive Round. Too little bang for too much buck. I've leveled a ST(Shield Tech) PT(Powertech) and I didn't have a problem with heat. Just use Explosive Surge once if you've got Static field speced and there's multiple enemies around you and Ion Pulse if there's only one enemy. Once you get Storm, you can get 2 free Explosive Surges, so that helps. Aside from this, I don't really know much about tanking.

This is my Skill Tree that I use:

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#801rRRrdRrRrdRRZbMZb.3

This is my Skill Tree that I use:

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#801rRRrdRrRrdRRZbMZb.3

Really, 40 in Shield? Why so many?

All I have to add is that if you happen to be playing a vanguard, guardian, or shadow everyone will automatically assume you're a tank, and you'll get hundreds of whispers while leveling asking you to tank instances.

If you happen to be playing a sage, commando, or scoundrel, everyone will automatically assume you are a healer and you'll get slightly less whispers asking you to heal.

It gets annoying.

I think I've decided to go Shield spec, I like the feel of running through mobs with Elara and not stopping. However, I am having a bit of trouble with the ammo system, does anyone have any suggestions to fix that, or even a good rotation to use?

My two cents: don't take Ceramic Plating and Rebraced armor until you get to 30-ish or so. You're better off maxing out the damage talents first like Steely Resolve (9% more aim) and Overcharged Cell Capacitator (6% more from elemental attacks) in your pre-30 levels.

I admit, at early levels energy management can be quite tedious at times. But trust me, the more levels you pick up, the more fun talents will unlock: free Explosive Surges, free pulse Cannon and Energy Blast which is not on global cooldown, does a little damage and recharges some cells for you. Honesty, sometimes I don't know what to do with my energy ;-)

Do this in dps gear you pick up along the way and you're questing just as fast as most others.

As for a rotation, try not to overuse Explosive Surge or Ion Pulse. These babies can starve your energy quite quick. The more levels you get, the more you will get a feel for either hitting Hammer Shot one more time or hitting an ability that costs and could put you into a lower energy regen.

It's not really an available tanking rotation until you can unlock the abilities in the shield tree (Riot Gas/Storm/Energy Blast) as they all require x number of skill points to use. So if you're only level 25, you probably have Riot gas, but won't be able to talent Storm until at least lvl 30 and Energy Blast until at least lvl.45.

 

As far as focusing on one tree first...It doesn't matter that much. I think the only real argument that can be made is:

 

For some skill trees (Shield Specialist) being one of them, their capstone ability is crucial and makes the whole spec play better. Great synergy with other talents lower in the tree and important to stay alive. If you're interested in being an optimal tank as soon as possible, I would suggest getting to 36pts in the Shield tree first so you can unlock energy blast.

 

Abilities like Power Armor/Blaster Augs/and the damage boost abilities (Heavy Stock/Focused Impact) are also important for a VG tank, but not as important as Energy Blast.

Blaster augs is useless. Tactical tools is very good because you can have a 16s CD on PC and Pulse Engine has a 18s CD. this allows you to use PC TWICE, increasing DPS and threat. The 50d CD on Harpoon is good, too.