New to TOR, I would prefer to use a rifle at range and use it as....well, a rifle, instead of essentially a shotgun. Is that possible in the trooper class? Or is it a case of Rifles=Melee and Gatling guns=Ranged?

Unfortunately, the two advanced classes that use rifles (Vanguard and Operative) are both primarily melee.

You can use a rifle as a Commando, they can use rifle or cannon.

 

 

You lose some damage and certain cannon-only skills are locked out.

You can use a rifle as a Commando, they can use rifle or cannon.

 

 

You lose some damage and certain cannon-only skills are locked out.

 

This's what I did, as a Medic. And now he uses a Bowcaster. So it ended up working out even better than I could have imagined.

Think of them as assault rifles. Best for medium to short range wet work. Long range is sniper rifle work.

You can use a rifle as a gunnery commando without much consequence. You'll do less damage with your ranged attacks (I don't think it affects your tech attacks, but don't take that as fact), but it's not going to cripple you.

 

That said, I'd keep a cannon around to use for group content.