Vigilence Guardian is my main. Though I have played Sentinel Combat as well. It all depends if you want to do pure damage or if you want alittle utility. Vigilence Guardians does almost as much damage as Sents do, but have a few tricks up their sleeve such as a extra CC ability and the ability to off tank. Vigilence doesn't rely much on Dots. They have two DOT abilities both of which suck because they cant be upgraded and don't scale. The only thing they are good for is preventing the empire from capturing a node on PVP. If you want DOTS you need to pick Sent/Watchman. Vigilence is mainly sustained and burst damage. IMHO. I'd go Guardian, because the small amount of CC, the ability to off-tank will be useful in Raids. Sents and DPS Commandos are a dime a dozen and often have problems finding groups just because there are so many of them. The reason people are hard on DPS Guardians is because they are harder to succeed with in PVP. This is because their best abilities dont come until level 30+. Guardians have gotten alot of buffs since launch so they are not as weak as they once were That being said, skilled Guardians who know how to play their class can just wreck an enemy team including Maras. Guardian Vigil would be best discribed as "easy to learn, hard to master". And thats not everyones cup of tea...

Vanguard/Powetech is a good suggestion, I'd also suggest a Jedi Guardian/Sith Juggernault with the Vigilence/Vengence Tree. The Vigilence/Veng damage is almost as good are the Sentinel/Maureder but has more permentent protection (Sentinels/Maras have better bubbles) due to its heavy armor. Its also got a few CC abilities giving it a fair amount of utility and a ability to off-tank if the main tank gets overwhelmed or killed. Finally, like the Vanguard/powertech you can easily trade offense for defense by speccing into the Defense/Immortal tree giving you the option of being the main tank and coupled with a good healer..practically invulnerable.

I disagree. What EA/Bioware has said was that there were no plans AT THIS TIME to add new classes and that it would be difficult to do. They never said it was impossible or that they would never do it. YES, It would be difficult, resource intensive, and time consuming. But if they don't add new classes at some point the game will die. Thats what happens to all thing that don't evolve. I wouldnt expect such a announcement anytime soon, but I wouldnt just dismiss it completely right now. EA has got deep pockets they could do it IF there was an arguement for it. One solution would be to make a new class that starts at Level 55 (similar to what WOW did with the DeathKnight) and have it focus on end game content and PVP. And remember there are new Star WARS movies coming out in 2015, thats another reason I wouldnt rule it out completely... Besides we would probably only be talking about 2 new classes not 8 new ones. Nobody is asking them to rewrite the game. However I do expect EA/Bioware to squeeze as much money out the game as it is now before they attempted such a venture, as I said if they did it, it would be in the long term.

A Pet Control Class One thing I thought was really cool about Warhammer Online was the two pet control classes, the White Lion and the Squig Herder. Essentially the class worked one two ways (note: advanced classes) either the pet was your main damager while you the character would buff/aid the pet OR it was the reverse and the pet would do things like CC, knockdowns, stuns, small DOTS etc, while you supplied the smackdown. The third AC was a balance of the 2, whereas the pet would do a mix of buff/damage. Pets would level up with their masters and get new abilities (also got physically bigger) In terms of the Star Wars Universe I would see: Republic: War Droid Engineer - using a Battle Droid (like M1-4X) but with tons of firepower. Empire: Beast Master - using different trained carnivores (Rancor, Manka Cat, Kath Hound, etc)

My Merc is having a tough time with scoundrels in 1v1 RVR. For the second time this week I find myself practically insta-killed by one, even one at a lower level than I. I don't have this problem with shadows or sentinels. Last night Corellia. I in a PVE battle against trash mobs, when a scoundrel sneaks up behind me and within a second crits/stuns/kills me. Full Health to dead in about 3 seconds. He then proceeded to do same 3 more times to me and each time there was nothing I could do (and he knew it too) I couldnt tell where and when he was coming, and I couldnt stop him from killing me within about 3 seconds do to that crit/stun/kill combo. I did manage to kill him once when he attacked another player, I e-netted him to prevent him from stealthing then TM/HS combo so I did get some payback. But then he stealth killed me again in retailiation. I have no problem that he has stealth, but the ability to be invisable AND his ability to utterly shut me down before I can even react is abit much. I have no defense against it. Maybe a tank would have enough def/end to withstand that combo otherwise your a sitting duck. This there anything I can do to protect myself or is this class in need of a nerf?

Yes adding new Base classes would be time consuming, complicated to do, and very expensive and I fully expect them to push it off still the last possible moment (espicially when the coffers are bigger). I do think we see new A/C sooner though. But soon or later they will HAVE to add new classes at some point because otherwise they will start to lose subs. Almost all MMORPGs I can think of have added new classes at some point. Its Darwinism..evolve or die. Its either this, or a new SW MMORPG (which would not be impossible as the new movies are scheduled for 2015).

I'd disagree. I read that Windu was a JK class. A practitioner of one of the most dangerous and rarest styles of lightsaber combat Vaapad. A consular would have been someone like Yoda. In Real-Life the ability to wield two blades in fencing (Kendo, Florantine style fencing) is the act of a master swordman that requires years of advanced training. In the SW universe, only the JK should have the level of saber training to wield two weapons. Therefore the ability to carry two sabers should stay unique to the JK/SW class. My Idea for a new AC for the JC/SI would be more of hybrid saber/force user. A mix of saber attacks with some ranged force attacks/cc mixed in. However your other idea of have a new JK AC that focuses on wielding the Saber-staff, Lightsaber Pike or other Jedi Weapons certainly has merit. Perhaps a focus in AOE attacks for dealing with mobs?

I want to do a shadow but am having trouble deciding on the advanced class. I don't want to be a tank on this class so its either Infiltration or Balance? Could someone explain the differences? The strategies? If one is superior? How does one play a Shadow in PVP?

For a Arsenal Merc Mako...Excellent all-around choice unless you are playing a dedicated healer, and even then 2 healers isnt bad (its just overkill). Gault...not good. Hes ranged dps so are you. He can do good damage but hes squishy and really better suited for a powertech. He died constantly in my game. Torian..Pretty good for a Merc. Good melee and hes surprisingly resilient, hes sturdier than Skadge (which makes no sense as Skadge is the melee Tank). the only negative about Torian are weapons he can use are not terribly common. Blizz...I dont know why hes listed as a ranged tank, hes squishy as hell. But is rocket launcher is a great opener and hes good comic relief. Skadge..I don't know why I cant keep him alive, even with good gear. He generates alot of threat (which is good) but cannot take a beating (that's bad). You need to watch his health constantly. On the plus side hes got a great knockback attack that sends enemies flying and thats always a riot. Hes definately the best companion for evil mercs dialogue.

Sooner or later Bioware is going to have to address the issue of new classes. Base classes and/or advanced classes. Its a big Bugbear for EA because SWTOR wasn't really designed with the idea to drop in new classes. (Terrible lack for foresight IMHO). Most other MMOs that have been around as long as SWTOR have introduced new classes at some point, its hard to see how EA/Bioware can refuse to do so and still keep players YES! The production costs for one would be tremendous. New story, new voice acting, the other classes would have to be rebalanced, etc. I am not saying its going to be easy or cheap for them. They certainly couldnt do it for free (even for subs). Nontheless they will have to address it one day or people will eventually start to drift to other games. Thats the nature of the beast. So if EA/bioware is smart they should start thinking about how they can implement this.

I have a level 47 Arsenal Merc I was on Belvelis and got the drop on a Level 42 Sentinel last night in a 1v1 scenario. I thought I was going to win as I outleveled him and managed to ambush him but read what happened. (This part is based on memory as it was over so fast) I know I opened with 2-3 tracer missiles on him + a rail shot (might have been either a unload or a HSM to boot) but I know I managed to burn him down to about 40% of Health before he stealthed...managed to bring his health back to about 70-80% somehow and then cut me apart in about 5 secs flat. I might have used jet boost to push him away but he force lept back on me with no problems before he finished me. I know I made 2 mistakes. First I underestimated how quickly he got his health back (medpack I guess) and second I forgot to map the stealth detech button which I should have known he was going to use. But even so, I still I don't get it what did I do wrong? Once he got close I knew I was in trouble....How is a Merc Arsenal supposed to deal with a Sentinel (or maybe I should avoid melees altogether in 1v1?). 5 Lvls below me and he totally kicked my butt without any effort. It was embarrassing. I am used to PVP in groups where I have tanks to keep these guys off me, how do I deal them in 1v1?

Another Vote for Togruta (funny with Asoka tano you'd think they already been in the game) perfect Jedi/Sith Race. Wookies woud be cool...BH, Smuggler, and JK Transdisan...BH, Smuggler and SW(?)

Apology accepted, don't worry about it. You might be right that EA wont change the policy, but they certainly wont if nobody asks them to.

Like I said, I got better things to do than get involved in such childish behavior. And you need to understand that just because someone has a complaint doesn't mean he is a "hater" or is mistreating the employees here.

What on earth are you talking about? I havent spoken directly to either EA or BIOWARE employees yet what is this rudeness you are talking about? And if you nothing more to say, (thats really for the best since you have been wrong on just about every point). Hit the road and get off MY thread.