This is what really gets me. As a healer (I play a sorc healer in full BM except for a couple WH pieces) I should not be able to be solo'd by a dps. Any dps. I can count on one hand the number of times I've *not* been top healing in any warzone, so it's not like I'm bad or something. Powertechs and to a slightly lesser extent Marauders are just ridiculous. Is this **** going to get balanced any time soon?

Why? o.O

Consular Storyline Redesigned: Fixed so that I actually like how this goes now and reposted for a friend to read. So I leveled a Sage up to 38, and about halfway through Hoth I gave up on it for various reasons. The main reason, though, was that I found the storyline to be bland at best, frustratingly boring at worst, and it was all the more frustrating because it could have been awesome in so many ways. Thus, because I am annoyed that the Consular story did not live up to my hopes, I here have written the Consular storyline, redone in a direction I like more. For those who have not played a Consular, here is the basic background you might want to know to understand this (spoils all of Act I): Anyway, enjoy! Tython was truly a beautiful place. Even the little that was visible through the tiny view-port of the shuttle was beautiful. Rays of sunlight illuminated the low-set clouds on their way down to the forests that swept over mountains and through valleys, an endless sea of green washing over rivers, waterfalls and lakes, then vanishing into the horizon. Rakka shifted closer to the window to get a better angle. Looking out as she was, she could see the Jedi Temple emerging out of the landscape as if it were a living, growing thing, larger and larger, past the scope of the view-port, until the shuttle landed with a jolt that seemed to dispel her reverie. Rakka Alkar was the perfect Jedi. Not only was she stronger in the Force than any Jedi born in generations, but she was considered the embodiment of what the Jedi Code was. She never showed emotion and was merciful, rational, and calm. No one really understood why that was, though. Some Jedi who knew her simply surmised that Rakka had been born to be a part of the Order. Others thought to themselves that it was unnatural for a person to act in such a manner all her life, especially without training. She had first been found on Coruscant in the ruins of the old Jedi Temple by a survey team led by Jedi Master Syo Bakarn. It had been strange enough to find a six-year-old orphan hiding in the ruined temple. Even more surprising, though, was the fallen column she hurled at the workmen. No one was injured, and it was later determined that she thought the survey crew was there to hurt the Temple, but the incident, and the girl herself, still made those who knew her as she grew up wonder. Now, at 19, she had finished her training and been recognized as a Jedi. Since her trials as a Padawan began she had been fighting - fighting Flesh Raiders and criminals and Imperials and Sith. Yet she had faced all these challenges as if they were some sort of routine and kept the same blank expression she had worn since childhood throughout it all. Her personality melded with her unique strength in the Force to make her seem like an unstoppable avalanche that crushed all obstacles to dust. Such was her strength in the Force, in fact, that she had been giving it away to the Jedi Masters who had almost been forcibly turned to the Dark Side, in order to save them. The constant strain and fighting she had been enduring would have exhausted most Jedi. Now, with the crisis brought about by the Sith Lord Vivicar reaching a breaking point, she had been summoned to Tython in preparation to hunt him down. Master Syo Bakarn waited at the bottom of the ramp emerging from the shuttle. He chuckled inwardly and made a mental note to talk to the Padawan who was staring at Rakka as she descended. She had jet-black hair that would have fallen to her shoulders had she not tied it back in a tail hastily, a curvaceous figure that clashed with her quick pace and somehow disconcerting manner, and open grey eyes that seemed to stare without actually staring, as if she really looked at each and every thing that passed through her vision. She was of medium height and fair skin and wore the traditional tan robe of a Jedi like a piece of luggage. Behind her, Tharan Cedrax took his time stretching before starting down the ramp after her. He wore his usual red coat and swaggering manner ostensibly, and of course his hair was flipped back in that ridiculous manner he thought dashing. Bakarn, having known him for so long, could tell that he was tense. He hummed an indecipherable song as he followed Rakka out of the shuttle, almost every note out of tune. As they reached the bottom of the ramp Master Bakarn gestured for the two of them to follow and started talking right away. Time was precious. "The Jedi Council is convening as we speak. We should go straight there," he began as they started off towards an archway leading into the Temple proper. "I understand you have just returned from Alderaan and were able to shield Master Sidonie from the plague. Your master, Yuon, believes she has a way to find Lord Vivicar. She will be speaking to the Council about her plans as soon as we join them." Rakka glanced over at his mention of Yuon, "How is Master Yuon doing? Has she really recovered enough to be exerting herself? She should be resting" Master Bakarn nodded. "She has been recovering well and insists on being active - you know how she is." Then he stopped walking suddenly - so suddenly that Rakka walked a few more steps before she realized and turned to him. Tharan almost bumped into her, which stopped his humming. Bakarn wore an expression more serious than she had ever seen and Rakka frowned at that. He looked directly into her eyes as she tried to ask, "Master Bakarn? Wha-" His voice that interrupted her was as tense as steel, and grabbed her attention almost forcibly. "Rakka, no matter what, you must see this through. You must kill Lord Vivicar. You must do this, or we will all perish. Do you understand?" She blinked before answering, "Of course I do. You know that." His pose relaxed a bit, his expression lightened, and he started walking again."I do know, you're right. I can't understate how important this is, that's all." He seemed dismissive of his warning now, yet the echo of his words sunk into Rakka's mind as they came through the atrium of the Temple . She was about to wonder why when they reached the Council chambers. The dome arching up into holo-lit air dwarfed the Jedi Council that sat at their round table, yet seemed to grant them a sort of majesty that always accompanies grand architecture. Most of the Masters were present through holoprojections, but nodded in greeting as Rakka, Tharan, and Bakarn entered. Grand Master Satele Shan, present herself, greeted them. Master Yuon stood on the steps before them, and smiled a greeting to Rakka before Satele started speaking. "As we understand it, Master Yuon has information that may lead us to Lord Vivicar. Let us hear first from you, Yuon. What have you learned?" Yuon's voice shook with a slight tremor that belied her weariness, "I believe that we can find his location through a reversal of the shielding ritual that Rakka cast on me to protect my mind from the plague. In doing so, I should be able to follow the link between Lord Vivicar's mind and my own and from his thoughts gather where he is hiding. The issue is that this will again make me susceptible to the plague. However, I believe this is a risk worth taking." There was a silence which seemed to echo up through the air as everyone digested what Yuon had said. Satele's voice was low and quiet when she asked, "Will you be able to stave off the plague for long enough to find Vivicar's location?" "I believe so, yes," Yuon responded. "I can help her," Rakka interjected. "I can shield her once she has what she needs so that the plague won't take her. Is that acceptable?" Satele nodded slowly. "It is decided then. Do this and return to us with an answer. May the Force be with you both." As Rakka and Yuon headed to Yuon's chambers, Rakka wondered for a moment why there was no mention of Vivicar's former identity. It was known by now that the Sith Lord who was casting the plague had once been a Jedi, and a friend to the Masters who had first been struck by that plague. Yet no one had said a word about trying to save Parkanas, as his name was - not Yuon, not Satele, not Bakarn, not anyone. Were they simply concerned about the chance of failing to bring him back to the Light? That seemed to make sense; the situation was very grave and they could not afford to take risks. She put the thought aside then and focused on her Master, who now sat across from her in a secluded chamber in the Temple. "Are you ready to begin, Yuon?" Yuon looked pale and tired, but had insisted that she was fine. "I am ready, my child." Yuon answered. "I will begin reversing the ritual now." Rakka sat in a state of heightened tension, readying the motions of the shielding ritual in her mind as she watched Yuon embrace the Light. She could see the fluidly crystalline structure of the shield shift again and again, like the ticking of the cogwheels of a clock, until it reached the catalyst point. Then Yuon opened her eyes and the shield disappeared. Yuon's voice was soft and her eyes focused on something behind Rakka's head as she spoke, "Yes, I can feel his thoughts. The connection worked, I think I ca-" Then she froze, her muscles tensing in the manner of a frightened animal. Her eyes focused on Rakka, but they were not her eyes. Someone else was watching through those eyes. He spoke in a voice like crumbling mountains: "Well, this is unexpected. What did you hope to accomplish? I really shouldn't be surprised, though; you people are stupid when it comes to self-sacrifice." Yuon stood up in a stiff, awkward manner, as though her limbs were pulled upward, but her eyes did not change. Rakka had already stood up and assumed a fighting stance, ready to shield Yuon, but knew she had to give her master as much time as possible to search Vivicar's mind. If he wanted to talk so much, Rakka thought, she could oblige. "Parkanas, list-" A table arced through the air at Rakka, but she quickly deflected it. "- Listen to me. Your friends, the one's you knew when you were in the Order, they all regret what hap-" Lightning burst from Yuon's fingertips and struck Rakka in an instant, slamming her back against a wall. The world went dim, pain erupting from every nerve in her body, until Rakka lashed out with the Force and knocked Yuon across the room. She crashed into the wall and collapsed on the floor like a sack. The pain stopped, giving Rakka the chance to gasp one quick breath before Yuon twitched and moved her head, one eye peering up from where she lay. Lightning flashed again but this time Rakka was able to deflect it with her lightsaber at the last split-second. The energy and heat of it scorched jagged lines across tapestry and furniture, shattered pottery, and ignited the bookcase. This could not go on any longer. Rakka completed the shielding ritual. Yuon's head flopped back down against the stone as though the string which held it had been cut. Rakka sheathed her lightsaber and rushed to her master's side. Yuon groaned and tried to lift herself up before her pupil even reached her, though she flopped back down again when gravity resisted. "I've got it!" Even if her body was exhausted and bruised, Yuon's voice shone with excitement as she turned her head up towards Rakka. "He's on an Imperial Star Destroyer, and I know where to find it. My child, we must tell the Jedi Council!" She tried to help herself up again to no avail. "Yuon, just stay still for now." Three Jedi healers rushed into the room now, and Rakka backed away to give them space. "You can tell me, and I can tell the Council. Let the healers take care of you." Tharan, standing in the doorway, took in the scene. Rakka leaning against a table with burn marks from the lightning covering her, Yuon trying to protest that she could stand on her own as the healers helped her onto a stretcher, the light dusting of smoke and ash and leftover heat assaulting everyone's nose and eyes. He shook his head. "Crazy Jedi." ... "The supplies will be delivered aboard as I instructed. When an inquiry is made as to why the error occurred, you will find that a human mistake resulted in improper input to the computer logs. You will not remember these orders, nor will you remember that I was here." "Yes, Master Jedi." ...

Heh, yea I noticed that as well. I am not sure if it is a shirt or just that they do not have an actual skin for her body. Either way, very /facepalm worthy.

BW extended the range of Fearful to 30 yards in a recent patch, so you actually have to back out a few steps to avoid getting it now (I think - not entirely sure as I'm a healer usually). But yea, rDPS getting Fearful or their DoT not getting cleansed would be major dps killers. How is your melee doing though? Are the bosses going down at the same rate?

I can't bring myself to read this guy's entire post. Even just reading the quotes of it in RuQu's response was painful. It continues to amaze me how condescending, arrogant and wrong stupid people can be.

@OP - I wish dps on my server were that good.

How on earth have you gathered that from playing WZs? Or do you not play them? I know this game has *way* less CC than WoW does. Most ACs here are allowed 2-3 CCs in general, all of which have decently long cds. There is *No* spammable CC here, yet in WoW there are 3 going on 4 classes with a spammable CC, and those without spammable CC have other CC or countermeasure options to make up for it. Compared to WoW, pvp in this game is hardly complex and definitely not as bad about CC as you make it out to be. Actually, your guildy put it well: SWTOR Has trivialized CC, by homogenizing it and *Reducing* how much there is compared to other MMOs. That was one of the selling points of this game for my guildies and I: less CC spam in pvp. Problem is, it turns out, that that kind of pvp gameplay gets boring after a while. There's less skill involved. Most of the time in WZs you are just spamming your dps rotation. Lacks variety and complexity. That's not even to mention that all CC types in SWTOR share the same limitation system. So yea, OP is not just wrong, he's about as far from right as you can get on this topic. SWTOR doesn't have *Enough* CC.

Uh... Refer once more to: /facepalm

Responding to OP: Why is endless force an unfair advantage? Why should we be the only class to have a hard-limit on how long we can perform our role? Saying that Sorcerer healers should "not have infinite force" is ridiculous. Maybe if you want to say that we should have a limit on the amount of burst healing we can do it would be fine, but all other classes in this game have infinite resources. Sorcerers should not be different.

Hiya. I can mostly talk about sorc healers since that's what I play, but I know the basics of the other two specs too. Hopefully someone with a 50 of them can weigh in on merc and operative healers. It is hard to really define healers in simple terms though, especially if you're trying to decide what will be more Fun for you. Sorcerer healers are the AoE Bosses right now. Their AoE heal is the single strongest heal in the game in terms of healing per second and for its resource cost. They have less effective single-target burst healing than the other two healers, though. They can shield people like disc priests in WoW, and have a hot that works like Riptide from shamans, complete with 6 sec CD and a proc that increases the power of other heals. Sorcs generally have the highest hps output, but the weakest survivability, due to having to use their own health to restore their resource (Force) and lack of defensive cds. Mercenary heals are more single-target based, but they have a target-reticule aoe heal on a 6 sec cd that heals for much less than Reviv does. Merc healers have more defensive cds than sorcs, but somewhat less mobility. They also base their healing a lot around a hps-CD "Supercharged *something*", which they can use pretty often. Operative healers have the most instant-cast heals, which makes them play somewhat like resto druids from WoW. They can also stealth like rogues. Their healing is based around energy and a proc called "Tactical advantage" which lets them use either a higher hps cast-time heal, or a free, instant cast, slightly lower hps heal. From what I hear, their aoe heal is complete garbage, but they have a HoT similar to druid's Rejuvenation, which can also proc tactical advantage Both operative and mercenary healers use energy for their heals, which regnerates quickly but if you drop below 60/100 energy it regens slower. So they can potentially burst heal a lot, but then take a really long time to recover from breaking from regular hps boundaries. They both have free heals they can use while they wait for energy to recover. Sorcerers use "Force," and while they have more Force than ops/mercs have energy (600 or 650 as opposed to 100 energy) it regens slower and requires you to use a proc from their channeled, Penance-like heal to convert health into force. So in general, Sorcs AoE and manage the health cost of regening force while having weak single-target burst, Mercs manage energy and the targeting of their aoe, have better ST burst and survival CDs, but no mobility cd (sorcerers get a short sprint), and Operatives get to spam their HoT and manage tactical advantage and energy, as well as stealth. That took a bit of time to write up (I was bored) but I figure I can just copy-paste this to other threads that will pop up on this subject from time to time. Have fun!

I've been having trouble with this patch as well, sorc healer here. It was really easy for 1-2 dps to burst me down, sometimes in the absence of interupts/cc, when i had around 600 expertise in full champion gear. I've got around 900 expertise now and it feels a lot better though. It takes some gearing up for those like me who went into this patch w/out full battlemaster and were used to just tanking damage. Some advice: we sorc healers have to kite to stay alive now. There's really no point in healing yourself with cast-time spells when you have melee on you, your best bet is to force slow, spam dispel and other instants on yourself, and keep as much distance/LoS as possible between you and the dpser(s) chasing you, and once you get away then spam cast-time heals to get back up to full. Oh, and keeping Revivification down as much as possible is Huge. Reviv is something like our highest hps heal on single target (though weak hpf on 1 target) and at 2+ its hands down our best heal. I've also phased out using Dark Infusion in favor of more Dark Heal in situations where I need to do much single-target burst healing. DI is too much of a time-investment, which makes interupts/cc at the end of the cast very damaging. If you are sure you will be able to get a DI cast off before the person dies, then its better hps and much better hpf, and ofc its better to use DI with recklessness, but DH is better most of the time. This patch seems to have made gear disparities harder to overcome. BM gear seems pretty essential to survive as a sorc healer - even though I've only ug'd about half my champion gear with BM so far, it still feels easier to survive. Also, War Hero gear looks like about as much of an upgrade over BM gear as BM was over Champion last patch, so it shouldn't be very bad if you can't get WH gear very quickly. When this patch first hit I was really pissed at how weak I felt in pvp. I was even leveling an operative to heal with because of it. But with some adjustment and gearing up, it's becoming somewhat more bearable, so I've decided to just stick with sorc heals for now. I also think having 1 sorc healer in rateds will be very helpful just for Revivification. Sorc aoe healing is boss, the other healers just can't keep up in aoe situations. I kinda figure operative/sorc 2 healing RWZs would be ideal, though my guild will probably run Merc/Sorc just because that's what we have. TL,DR - patch sucks for sorc healers but its not an insurmountable problem. We need to get gear and to learn to kite well to survive. Basically its not the end of the world. PS: Please don't flame. I do agree that they kinda overnerfed healing this patch, mostly because they paired the expertise fix with class nerfs to sorc and merc healers. All I'm saying is that we can adapt and overcome.

Our survivability (I am a healing spec'd Sorc) has indeed gone way down. I feel like a rag-doll thrown in the middle of a wrestling match some games. I feel like Bioware doesn't understand how delicate class balance is. It took a long time for the WoW Devs to learn this lesson, too. They used to have a "Flavor of the Month" class in WoW when the Devs would over-buff or nerf something. In MMOs, classes are balanced along a razor thin margin. When one class is overpowered, it can seem like they have a multitude of abilities that are just so much better than everyone else's, but pvp balance can often come down to a small numbers tweak to put a seemingly grossly overpowered class back on a level playing field with everyone else. (for those who play/ed WoW, see Shaman healers this xpac - their utility in pvp stayed around the same, but their heals got stronger, and suddenly they are wildly overpowered for the whole expansion) So I probably would have been fine with a nerf to healing, but the magnitude of the expertise change combined with class nerfs to Sorc and BH healers marginalizes non-Operative healers, especially those without a full set of BM gear (like me). I bet if either the expertise damage bonus or healing bonus were still in line with the damage reduction bonus that we would have pretty balanced pvp right now. Sorc healers could use a slightly more readily-available emergency heal, BHs could use a bit more mobility, and Operatives could do with a small nerf somewhere, but I wouldn't mind too much if none of that happened, either. I'd just like either damage to be toned down a bit (the preferable option imo) or healing to be buffed a bit, through the expertise bonuses.