I just can't make up my mind between Commando of Vanguard, and would like to know more about each.

 

Let me start by saying I have never played and mmo before, so I don't what my playstyle is but I've been doing my research and I think I need the best specialization for soloing PvE.

I was thinking of choosing Commando but I don't know it I have to be a healer or is that an option and if I play solo, would healing be useful to me or is that best for groups? Vanguard seems better for going solo, but I see that there's a lot of close combat involved, which I don't like, I don't know if there is a lot melee, but it doesn't seem right for a trooper.

 

Also are armor options the same?, because I've seen high level trooper's and they seem different, I like the look of the trooper from the cgi trailers

Play vanguard to 50...either tank or dps. It is the easier AC to play and is fun for the PVE game. Then if you get interested in PVP you will do well their also.

well if you dont like close combat, I would avoid the Vanguard.

You dont have to be a healer when grouping, but some groups might be looking for a healer and thus as you to join as one. But if you are a DPS specced Commando, then your healing will be somewhat limited.

 

I play DPS specced Commando and it is my favorite class.

I played a BH Merc to 50 and I have a Commando at 45.....love it.....

I was thinking of choosing Commando but I don't know it I have to be a healer or is that an option and if I play solo, would healing be useful to me or is that best for groups?

 

Depending on your Commando build, you can heal solo just fine. You end up either healing yourself as you and your companion take on enemies. Or you heal your tank-companion as it takes on the enemies. It's really up to you, but even solo a healer commando can end up healing a lot.

 

Vanguard seems better for going solo, but I see that there's a lot of close combat involved, which I don't like, I don't know if there is a lot melee, but it doesn't seem right for a trooper.

 

They're both fine for soloing. But Vanguard is definitely a close combat class because of the range on its bread and butter attacks (like stock strike).

 

Still Vanguard's are really sturdy and cut through content like butter while levelling.

 

Also are armor options the same?, because I've seen high level trooper's and they seem different, I like the look of the trooper from the cgi trailers

 

Kind of the same. They both wear heavy armor. But you end up choosing different secondary and tertiary stats dependent on your build. So like a tank Vanguard will choose different equipment than a DPS Vanguard. A Combat Medic Commando wants different items than a Gunnery Commando.

 

But it's all heavy armor and Aim is the primary stat for each trooper regardless of build.

 

Hope that helps.

Took a Commando to 50 and ended up shelving her on the fleet and wishing I had gone with a Vanguard instead. While leveling up It is good class to play, and quite fun in pre-50 pvp. May go back to it sometime rather than delete it but given a choice between the 2 right now? I'd go vanguard.

Vanguard for sure. I've tried to level a commando multiple times, but I always end up going back Vanguard. I hit 20 with a commando, and rerolled a PT and hit 50. Then hit 30 with my vanguard before he got f-'d up. Recently, I rerolled a Commando, hit 12, and deleted and remade him a vanguard. He's now level 24, and I love it. You can't go wrong with VG unless you want to heal.

Go Commando! I tried both classes, and gotta say, a hybrid Commando can heal themselves while kicking someone's bum. Pubs on The Harbringer need more heals, and on all servers, queues speed up when you go heals. I regret deleting my hybrid commando to try out Vanguard, and I am remaking him. I once held off two attackers during the Alderaan pvp map 'til my peeps got to the turret. Edited January 4, 2013 by NabooJedi

They are definitely very different classes. I play a Vanguard tank spec and I think he's great for both solo and group play.

 

The great thing about troopers is Commando is also a very powerful class and great for soloing.

 

Vanguard pros:

 

-Very durable, especially if you go tank.

-No drop off in productivity if you're getting swarmed by enemies. You don't really rely on cast bars to get your damage out.

 

Vanguard cons:

 

-You're melee. So, you have to run up to your enemies, which can make it a little slower feeling class than a ranged.

-No crowd control. Ranged classes get crowd control abilities which are very good for soloing.

 

Commando pros:

 

-Crowd Control. You can take the strongest guy out of the fight until you deal with all his little buddies, greatly improving your survivability against tough groups.

-Healing. Even as a dps, you can throw some heals out, which is very nice if you're in trouble.

-Very strong AOE's. No one does area of effect as well as a commando. You can take out whole groups in seconds.

 

Commando cons:

-Fairly simple. Especially while you're levelling, commandos don't rely on alot of different moves, making them one of the more simple (and I think boring) classes to play.

-Susceptible to getting swarmed. If you have a bunch of guys attacking you (especially if they're ranged and not bunched up), you can be a little weak against that. Your aoe's only work against tightly bunched enemies, and you rely pretty heavily on cast bars that take longer to cast if you're getting hit.

 

I think it mostly comes down to if you want to be a melee fighter in the thick of battle all the time, or if you want to be ranged, picking guys off before they can reach you.

If you have any desire to ever PvP, even if you only do 2-4 WZs per day for the daily, roll Vanguard. As a Commando you will hate life and possibly ragequit.

I have both a Vanguard and a Commando at 50 and I have to say, I much prefer Vanguard. I think the beauty of the Vanguard is it's simplicity. Yes you are in melee range, but don't confuse it with melee glow stick combat. It is much easier to handle multiple enemies using a rifle than a glow stick in my humble opinion. You have solid aoe and splash damage at close range, and the tools to single target anything down. Even if tanking isn't your thing, and it is the best thing that Vanguards do in my opinion, there are plenty of DPS Vanguards out there that have a ton of fun. My only gripe is that the gap closer that Shield Spec gives, isn't lower on the tree. My first toon, in any MMO was a Vanguard, and after seeing the other side and even having fun with the Commando in sub 50 PvP, I have to say, that the Vanguard is more enjoyable, easier to pick up for someone new, and still in demand for elder game.

I play a Bounty Hunter Power Tech (Vanguard) and I absolutely love it.

 

Leveling to 50 I have played many different specs or varations of specs from:

* Shield Tech (Specialist) - Tanking, my favourite spec.

* Carolina Parakeet (R.I.P.)

* Iron Fist

* Advanced Prototype (Tactics)

* Pyro (Assault Specialist)

 

And have enjoyed all of them.

 

Yes the Class is a "Melee" type class, but it does not always feel like it since you also have multiple Range abilities which make it useful if you have to Range Tank, or chasing people down in PvP since you are harder to Kite.

 

Also from somone that does not really like PvP that much, the PT or Vanguard is the first class in any MMO that I actually enjoy PvPing with.

 

Also wanted to add, I have a BH Merc (Commando) who is only level 24, and the only thing I enjoy doing on that toon is Healing, I find the DPS Rotation to very simple. Tracer-Tracer-Tracer-Tracer-Tracer-Unload.... But this could just because I am low level and have not unlocked all my abilities. Going Pyro may be a different story though?

Edited January 8, 2013 by Pokupo

As others have said, the main difference in combat style is ranged (Commando) vs. Melee ( Vanguard). Personally I prefer ranged, but that just boils down to personal preference. I have a lvl 50 dps Commando and a lvl 27 Vanguard and both are fun in their own way.

 

I enjoy ranged because I like the challenge of keeping enemies at bay with CC while taking out the others as quickly a possible. I'm also not the kind of player who enjoys running around constantly while fighting, which is something a Vanguard can do really well.

 

I would suggest rolling two Troopers and trying both advanced classes, even if its just for a few levels, if you have the time. Or, roll one Trooper and while you are leveling on Ord Mantell, really think about if you prefer to kill things form range or from up close as you level through 10. Ask yourself, what satisfies you more, picking apart crowd from 20-30 meters with full auto or getting in an enemies face and destroying it with stock strike?

 

It is true about elder game PVP, though, that Commandos (and Mercs) have some major disadvantages in lvl 50 PVP, mainly due to their lack of in-combat mobility and interuptable casts. While I like PVP its not my main focus and I prefer PVE elder game content so its not a deal breaker for me, but if you are a PVP-centric player then Vanguard would probably be the way to go.

 

Another thing to consider, too, is the type of weapon you want to carry. Commando have assault cannons, which are AWESOME, but if you have your heart set on using a blaster (for whatever reason) then go Vanguard (Commandos can use blasters but they lose access to some abilities without an assault cannon equipped).

Vanguard.

 

Commandos don't feel "special ops". Plus, assault cannons are/look stupid. Seriously, who would even think about carrying a gun like that into combat.

Vanguard.

 

Commandos don't feel "special ops". Plus, assault cannons are/look stupid. Seriously, who would even think about carrying a gun like that into combat.

 

I respectfully disagree. I LOVE my Thunderburst Dual-Cannon.

Vanguard.

 

Commandos don't feel "special ops". Plus, assault cannons are/look stupid. Seriously, who would even think about carrying a gun like that into combat.

 

A

, that's who. Edited January 11, 2013 by DariusCalera

I have both a level 50 vanguard and a 50 Commando. I have trouble trying to decide who I like more because they are great for damage, but do it differently.

 

Vanguard does great mid - range to close combat. Very versatile class but relies on opportunity of the pulse cannon to really be effective. The pulse cannon shoots an coned lighting attack in front of the trooper doing elemental damage and if you can do it well, you will have 2 or more people in it getting the health decimated.

 

Commando is for long range; think of the Commando as a mobile artillery unit. Great damage but its all channeling, so if you don't want to be in the fray but still want to make people cry after making almost half their life disappear before they realize it, Commando is the way to go. Problem is, if anyone who plays melee gets close, its very hard to get away let alone survive. Usually when I survive meleers it's because I stalled long enough with the skill I got for an allie to come and help me. Though it can be rough, playing a commando long enough and knowing when to plant yourself and unload, it can be a lot of fun and a tide turning roll.

 

Edit:

Commandos don't feel "special ops". Plus, assault cannons are/look stupid. Seriously, who would even think about carrying a gun like that into combat.

 

it seems we are at odds, I went commando for the gun. The PvP helmets look stupid.

Edited January 11, 2013 by Muzan
adding stuff

I think it depends on playstyle. Long or short range?

 

I love being a ranged player, my Commando is usually at the edge of 30m lighting up people in the middle of the cluster ****. I hate playing my PT(Vanguard) because to do any damage I have to wade into the mess I'm usually pouring firepower into.

 

But once things get hand to hand the PT is awesome. If you like diving in the thick of it and wreaking havoc the Vanguard is great. Personally I think it's too chaotic, I'd rather stand at range up on high choosing which person down below is te next to die.

Took a Commando to 50 and ended up shelving her on the fleet and wishing I had gone with a Vanguard instead. While leveling up It is good class to play, and quite fun in pre-50 pvp. May go back to it sometime rather than delete it but given a choice between the 2 right now? I'd go vanguard.

 

I've recently levelled a vanguard to 50 and immediately switched from dps (used for levelling) to tank. While I get into the queue a lot faster, I find it lacking compared to my shadow tank. Given the choice I'd go commando.

I've recently levelled a vanguard to 50 and immediately switched from dps (used for levelling) to tank. While I get into the queue a lot faster, I find it lacking compared to my shadow tank. Given the choice I'd go commando.

 

Out of curiosity: lacking in what way compared to your shadow? Defensive abilities? Attacks you use? Holding aggro against multiple/single mobs? General "gameplay"?

 

Like I said, I'm curious.

For one thing, no stealth and no soft cc. I guess that's two things actually.

 

Aside from the fact that Shadow suits my play style better, I have a feeling I'm losing aggro a lot more often on a Vanguard than I ever did on a Shadow in lower gear. As I find tanking with my Shadow a walk in the park, I'm hoping that these Vanguard problems I'm having are only a matter of getting used to the class.

For one thing, no stealth and no soft cc. I guess that's two things actually.

 

Aside from the fact that Shadow suits my play style better, I have a feeling I'm losing aggro a lot more often on a Vanguard than I ever did on a Shadow in lower gear. As I find tanking with my Shadow a walk in the park, I'm hoping that these Vanguard problems I'm having are only a matter of getting used to the class.

 

Yep. No stealth.

 

For a soft CC, you get Cryo Grenade at level 12. At 46 you get Neural Surge which is an AoE stun (5 enemies within 8 meters for 2.5 seconds).

 

Never had issues with aggro myself. I notice though that a lot of Vanguard tanks in the early levels don't realize that they need to spend most of their time in melee range. I see them trying to "tank" from 20 meters just using Hammer Shot and High Impact Bolt and complaining about aggro. When I explain that they need to get in close and use Stockstrike, Pulse Generator and Explosive Surge (lvl 24) and they start doing so, things go better. Not sure if that is your case though.

 

Having said the above, if you just aren't comfortable with the class there is nothing you can do . We all have a class we just "click with" and then everything else feels "clumsy".

 

Thanks for the explanation.

Cryo Grenade and Neural Surge aren't soft CC's because they the targets enter combat. I think that's what bugs me most - inability to silently stun mobs and run past them in order to complete my objective quickly.

 

As for tanking, I am in melee range ofcourse but everything seems clumsy compared to Project, Slow Time, Force Breach spam. But what shocked me the most was the fact I was losing aggro on the TFB tentacles. That was a new experience, but I really like the ability to help a bit when the adds come. At the end of the day, I think I just need some getting used to playing Vanguard tank, that's all. After all, guild dragged me to tank TFB the day I levelled to 50.

Cryo Grenade and Neural Surge aren't soft CC's because they the targets enter combat. I think that's what bugs me most - inability to silently stun mobs and run past them in order to complete my objective quickly.

...

 

Ahh... sorry about that... I read "soft CC" and thought you meant a "short term stun effect" like "Force Stun"...

I played a BH Merc to 50 and I have a Commando at 45.....love it.....

Do you PvP?

Thanks:sy_havoc: