Next patch name: "Allies"

Apparently during Q4 financial report Bioware announced that the 2 next patch would be introduced in the next quarter and would be named "Legacy" and "Allies". I would say "Legacy" is patch 1.2 and I would add 1.3 as the incoming patch is mostly a tool's patch than a continuation to PvE and PvP endgame. "Allies" would probably be the new tier of operations and etc so let's see what else would be added in summer.

Juggernaut Vengeance Spec, Abilities Breakdown

After spending my time playing Rage PvP, I decided to try WZ as Vengeance. My spec is 3/31/7, I don’t really know if it’s the best but as I was in a rush to kill some reps I decided to go with this anyway.

My server is quite dead and I had a long queue so I decided to try the PvP dummy. My PvP gear is quite lame, mostly of Champion parts and not customized, with low critical and surge rating. That means that my dps was quite low but when I used my parser to analyze my damage, I got some really interesting results.

FORCE SCREAM, IMPALE, SHATTER. WHICH IS THE STRONGEST?

As you can see, the order is Force Scream>Impale>Ravage>Shatter from higher to lower. Bad thing with the parsers right now, is that all 3 bleeding dots that are results of Force Scream, Impale and Shatter have the same name but different ability ID. That means that they are measured differently but cannot say which one is which. Looking through the talents I know that all three abilities have a 9sec CD and that Shatter has the strongest dot. So I would say that Bleeding #3 is Shatter, Bleeding #1 is Impale and Bleeding #2 is Force Scream.

That means that the order changes to Shatter>Ravage>Impale>Force Scream.  I already use Shatter and Impale first, to get a standard critical Force Scream and I use Ravage on CD. Ravage is 3 sec casting ability but the 2/3 of its damage is done at the first 1.5sec of its duration with the final blow landed at the end.

I’ll play my Juggernaut more this week, I’ll try new builds and I would try to gear up a little. So expect more details and more abilities breakdowns in near future.

Relic list from Lost Island

Lost Island's third boss, Transgenic Sample Eleven is dropping random relics and because I didn't find them listed as his droplist in any of the major databanks on the Internet, I decided to make some research of my own and here they are. Obviously BW continues with the proc relic something that I find very interesting and dynamic.

(51) Relic of Vital Rupturing

Binds on Pickup

Relic

Total Stats:

+61 Endurance

Requires Level 50

On Hit: Damaging attacks have a 30% chance to deal 128 additional internal damage to the target. This effect can only occur once every 4.5 seconds, and shares this limit with similar damage-dealing effects.

(51) Relic of Kinetic Force

Binds on Pickup

Relic

Total Stats:

+61 Endurance

Requires Level 50

On Hit: Damaging attacks have a 30% chance to deal 170 additional kinetic damage to the target. This effect can only occur once every 4.5 seconds, and shares this limit with similar damage-dealing effects.

(51) Relic of Vital Mending

Binds on Pickup

Relic

Total Stats:

+61 Endurance

Requires Level 50

On Hit: Healing an ally has a 50% chance to restore an additional 307 health over 3 seconds. This effect can only occur once every 20 seconds, and shares this limit with similar healing effects.

(51) Volatile Energy Module

Binds on Pickup

Relic

Total Stats:

+61 Endurance

Requires Level 50

On Hit: Damaging attacks have a 30% chance to deal 170 additional energy damage to the target. This effect can only occur once every 4.5 seconds, and shares this limit with similar damage-dealing effects.

(51) Plasma Injection Nanobots

Binds on Pickup

Relic

Total Stats:

+61 Endurance

Requires Level 50

On Hit: Damaging attacks have a 30% chance to deal 128 additional elemental damage to the target. This effect can only occur once every 4.5 seconds, and shares this limit with similar damage-dealing effects.

Corellia dailies and new relics

The 1.2 game update includes a new series of daily missions in Corellia tha would provide a new Daily Commendation that would be used to purchase new gear. Among others you'll be able to buy the new Campaign relics. Bioware finally takes a step forwards to proc and dynamic relics that where for the first time introduced in Karagga's Palace but where not strong enough to be honest, as to replace the on-use ones.


So, here's the list of the new Campaign relics that are obtainable with 200 COMMENDATION EACH:

Campaign Relic of Boundless Ages

Use: 405 power for 20 sec.

Campaign Relic of Dark Radiance

Equip: 30% chance to deal 184 Internal damage. 4.5 sec CD

Campaign Relic of Elemental Transcendance

Equip: 30% chance to deal 184 Elemental damage. 4.5 sec CD

Campaign Relic of Ephemeral Mending

Equip: 50% chance to heal your target for 443 health over 3 sec. 20 sec CD

Campaign Relic of Imperiling Serenity

Use: 405 Defense for 20 sec.

Campaign Relic of Shield Amplification

Equip: Shielding an attack grants 405 Absorb Rating for 6 sec. 20 sec CD

Campaign Relic of the Cerulean Nova

Equip: 30% chance to deal 246 Energy damage. 4.5 sec CD

Campaign Relic of the Kinetic Tempest

Equip: 30% chance to deal 246 Kinetic damage. 4.5 sec CD

Campaign Relic of the Primeval Fatesealer

Use: 405 alacrity for 20 sec.

Campaign Relic of the Shrouded Crusader

Use: 255 Shield and Absorb rating for 20 sec.

Small changes that would rise SWTOR above competition!

SWTOR is doing good since launch. The first couple of days were a blast for BW that show more than 2million copies sold. In the past 3 months, bugs have been corrected, issues have been addressed and the game is polished enough with some exceptions of course.


Some would say that SWTOR is doing fine and everything is great but... even I really enjoy the game, there are some things that should be changed. Guild Wars 2 are coming this year, in a month more or less people would play Diablo 3 and last but not least, Mist of Pandaria is somewhere in the horizon. 1.2 is good, would make the game better overall, but would definitely won't save SWTOR against competitors. There are things that should be done, I'm sure Bioware has some ace hidden in their sleeves but if they don't use them in time, SWTOR will fail. I'm not saying that it won't be good anymore, I'm saying that EA, Lucas Arts and Bioware wanted to make the best and most successful MMO and with 2million subscribers you can't say that they'll reached their goal. If they don't kill the competition soon enough, they won't make it. Now, here some ideas that would make SWTOR better in my opinion.


I've put this post in the official site, please visit, read and comment: http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?p=3740918#post3740918


1) Competitive, balanced high level PvP. Don't be afraid to make the game a e-sport. Ranked warzones must be something that would make people want to play the game. A competitive PvP player base would generally help improve the status of the game and would attract more subscribers.


2) Links to stream in www.swtor.com . Pay people to stream to educate others. People that play for lots and lots of hours everyday, people that are good with their class would help and educate worse players. See what Swifty, Hydra, Athene for example are doing to WoW. That's free advertisement!


3) Custom PvP and Tournaments once in a while with big prizes. Promote tournament streaming and make events where the best players will compete with each other.


4) More customisation in the UI. Macros are a must, better ops portraits to help healers, Power Auras and finally ADD ONS! You should restrict add-ons from the official site as to control and permit which ones should be used, something like the Apple Store (but free). By giving tools to the players, you can make harder and more challenging PvE content.


5) A LFG tool There's tons and tons of content, many Flashpoints and I see very few people doing any. Seriously, I am not bothered in creating a group from the general channel but LFG is necessary. I don't care if it would be cross-server or not, it would help people jump in a group and spent their time playing the game, instead of searching for a group. Let people vote for MVP or something after last boss and give prizes for good tanks, good healers and good damage dealers. It could be something like credits, commendations, crafting materials or a shorter queue time for the next Flashpoint.


6) Instead of dailies solo quests, create big ass hard quest that need 2 players to complete. Create something like a smaller scale of a Flashpoint that would take several time for players to complete. It could be done to a new planet, in a group-phase area with mobs to kill, puzzles to solve and some bosses that would require some team play to kill. You don't have to create many of those, just a single one that would have a different enemies, puzzles and bosses each day. That way, people won't get bored and would have something to spent their time.


Those are my suggestions, I really want to hear you opinions and thoughts

1.2 Legacy Unlocks, final part

The final part of the Legacy Perks unlocks

ALIGNMENT

Legacy of Sacrifice: Grants use of Sacrifice ability to all characters. Sacrifice inquires your companion to instant heal yourself.
Requires Dark V or above. Requires Level 50. purchased250,000 credits. Requires Legacy Level 10.

Legacy of Unity: Grants use of Unity ability to all characters. Unity reduces damage taken by you and your companion for a short duration.
Requires Light V or above. Requires Level 50.  purchased 250,000 credits. Requires Legacy Level 10.

Legacy of Equilibrium: Grants use of  Equilibrium ability to all characters.  Equilibrium increases damage and healing done by you and your companion for a short duration.
Requires Neutral or above. Requires Level 50.  purchased 250,000 credits. Requires Legacy Level 10.


SHIP UPGRADES

Repair Droid. Purchase Requirements:
1,000,000 credits.
Requires Legacy Level 7.

Ship Mailbox. Purchase Requirements:
500,000 credits.
Requires Legacy Level 10.

Operations Training Dummy. Purchase Requirements:
500,000 credits.
Requires Legacy Level 10.

Warzone Training Dummy. Purchase Requirements:
500,000 credits.
Requires Legacy Level 10.

Galactic Market Kiosk. Purchase Requirements:
5,000,000 credits.
Requires Legacy Level 25.

CONVENIENCE

Legacy Fleet Pass: Has three ranks and reduces the cooldown of the Emergency Fleet Pass by 1h/2h/3h. Cost 100,000/200,000/300,000 credits and requires Legacy Level 5/10/15.

Legacy Quick Travel: Has three ranks and reduces the cooldown of the Quick Travel by 1m/2m/3m. Costs Cost 100,000/200,000/300,000 credits and requires Legacy Level 5/10/15.

Rocket Boost: Unlocks use of personal rocket boosters on all characters. The rocket boost provide a brief, intense burst of speed for a short duration. It costs 2,000,000 credits and requires Legacy Level 8. It also has two ranks that decrease the cooldown of the rocket boost by 30sec/60sec . Cost 1,000,000/1,500,000 credits and requires Legacy Level 10/12.

SOCIAL

Companion Dance: Your companion dances with you. Requires Social II or above to unlock it and costs 25,000 credits. Requires Legacy Level 3.

Tech Emotes: Unlocks use of the /datapad, /holocom, and /map emotes. Requires Social IV or above to unlock it and costs 50,000 credits. Requires Legacy Level 8.

Tool Emotes: Unlocks use of the scanred, /scangreen, /binoculars and /wield emotes. Requires Social VI or above to unlock it and costs 100,000 credits. Requires Legacy Level 12.

Double Lasers Emote: Unlocks use of the /doublelasers emote. Requires Social X or above to unlock it and costs 150,000 credits. Requires Legacy Level 15.

VALOR


Legacy of Combat - Punch. Requires Valor Rank 5 and Legacy Level 5.

Legacy of Combat - Jab. Requires Valor Rank 10 and Legacy Level 8.

Legacy of Combat - Uppercut. Requires Valor Rank 15 and Legacy Level 10.

Legacy of Combat - Bash. Requires Valor Rank 25 and Legacy Level 15.

Those moves are unarmed combat moves that can be used as brawling attacks

Changes in Juggernauts/Guardians that makes me happy

I believe that people that have been to this blog and my youtube before, know that my first character is a Sith Juggernaut. It was my first character at SWTOR and I've spent a lot of time doing end game PvP and playing some PvE. As I've experienced most of the end game, I really wanted to try some other classes and after a while, I changed server and faction. I haven't played my Juggernaut since then and the thing is, I'm not really looking forward to do it. Focusing mostly in PvP, I was a little disappointed from the class. Juggs are a melee class that is missing a healing ability and even though they have great mobility, people could kite them easily. AoE tanking was a challenge, Vengeance has ok dps but more fitting for PvE and Rage's dps output relies on one strong hit. I'm not saying that the class is underpowered, I'm just feeling that it has a moderate performance in all fields.

Hopefully, 1.2 will make me play my Juggernaut again. Lots of changes for Juggernauts; they change and increase the dps rotations of all dps specs, better AoE for all three trees and finally, some self healing. So, let's analyse the new additions:

CRASH: You get this passive ability at level 10 and will cause Force Charge to stun your opponent for 2sec. This effect cannot occur more than once every 12sec. That will help a lot, as it can be combined with a Force Choke or Chilling Scream to pin your opponent after closing the gap. Don't know if and how much resolve it cause but definitely, a great tool for a melee class.

ENRAGE DEFENCE: The Juggernaut spend rage to lower threat and while active, one point of rage is spent each time damage is taken, heals the Juggernaut for a small amount. This ability is usable while stunned and is doesn't respect the global cooldown. AWESOME! Much needed, Juggernauts of all tree specs can use it and combined with Soresu Form and Saber Ward would make them un-killable. Enrage is mandatory for this skill as lot's of rage is needed and Vengeance specced would be more benefited, as they generate almost unlimited rage from Shien Form.

On top of those changes, some talents are relocated in different tier of their tree and some other have their effect change. The most important are:

VENGEANCE TREE

Single Saber Mastery: Now benefits all the three Forms.
Stagger: Now in the Tier 1 of the Vengeance tree. Good filler choice for all PvPers.
Rampage: Also generates 2 rage when is triggered.

Not a lot of changes on Vengeance, after all it was a decent spec, with a proper rotation. Still not the best for PvP but more viable now, very reliable in PvE.

RAGE TREE

Decimate: Is now relocated in Tier 1 of the Rage tree, a great filler choice for all speccs that need more AoE damage.

Force Alacrity is now gone. Good riddance I say as it's replaced by OVERPOWER, a new ability that would make Vicious Slash to generate to rage when it criticals hits. Much needed.

Force Crush: It's CD is reduced to 18sec from 21sec. COOL!

Obliterate also immobilizes the target for 1 sec that means it makes it a mini Force Charge.

Relentless Fury is now gone and it's replaced by EMPOWERING RAGE. Empowering Rages requires 2 points in Shockwave skill to be unlocked causes Enrage to immediately grant 2 stacks of Shockwave for each point spent on the talent. Another Smash is good.

Shockwave: now last 20 secs, up from 15.

As you can see, Rage is getting buffed in next patch. More stuns and control and more burst for this spec that were much needed as Rage still is the best PvP spec.

IMMORTAL TREE

There's only one big change for the Juggernaut tank, Thrown Gauntlet no longer reduces the CD of Threatening Scream. It would change their playstyle but with the Decimate in the first tier of Rage tree, level 50 tanks won't have a problem with AoE tanking anymore.

Overall, 1.2 finally buffs the Juggernauts and makes them stronger and more durable. Having access to parsers and combat log will help us evaluate our DPS and compare it to other classes but most of us knew that this class was kind of weak. Especially the nerfing of the Surge rating reduced the base of Rage juggs dps, effecting them more than almost all classes. I can predict from now that Juggernauts would dominate in rated Warzones. They would finally have enough survivability and damage to do what they were designed to do. Taunting off, controlling the battles with their charges and peel their opponents.

1.2 Republic PvE & PvP Gear Preview!

1.2 bring new set of PvP and PvE gear. Here, I give you the looks of the sets as well as the prices for each piece. PvP gear sets have the same set bonuses as the previous tier. No bonus are yet implanted to PTR for the new PvE gear tier.

PvE Gear 

PvE gear can be obtained by either Black Hole Commendations or Unassembled Campaign Tokens, one for each piece. Now, in the PTR BOTH sets have the same rating. Black Hole Commendations can be earned from the new dailies in Corellia. Below are the prices for each piece

BELT	35 BLACK HOLE COMMENDATIONS
BOOTS	50 BLACK HOLE COMMENDATIONS
BRACERS	30 BLACK HOLE COMMENDATIONS
GLOVES	50 BLACK HOLE COMMENDATIONS
HEADGEAR	60 BLACK HOLE COMMENDATIONS
LEGGINGS	55 BLACK HOLE COMMENDATIONS
EARPIECE	35 BLACK HOLE COMMENDATIONS
IMPLANT	35 BLACK HOLE COMMENDATIONS
CHESTGEAR	60 BLACK HOLE COMMENDATIONS
OFF HAND	50 BLACK HOLE COMMENDATIONS

PvP Gear

There are two tiers of PvP gear, the War Hero and the new Rated Gear. They have the SAME stats and rating but rated gear requires a good rating in ranked matches so it's harder to be acquired. Below are the prices for the standard War Hero PvP gear:

BELT	1250 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS
BOOTS	1800 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS
BRACERS	1100 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS
GLOVES	1800 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS
HEADGEAR	2150 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS
LEGGINGS	2000 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS
EARPIECE	1250 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS
IMPLANT	1250 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS
CHEST	2150 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS
OFF HAND	2275 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS
MAIN HAND	3475 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS
RELIC	1100 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS

Ranked gear is more of a prestige reward and requires a specific rating and the standard piece of gear before the ranked one is bought. Here are the prices for Ranked gear:

BELT	1200 RATING AND 250 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS
BOOTS	1600 RATING AND 360 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS
BRACERS	1200 RATING AND 250 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS
GLOVES	1400 RATING AND 360 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS
HEADGEAR	RATING AND 430 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS
LEGGINGS	1800 RATING AND 400 RANKED WARZONE COMMENDATIONS

That's all for now, when I have the time, I would do the same for the Empire side.

Legacy and Racials!

I hope you are as excited as I am for yesterday's Guild Summit. A lot of things were showed for the first time and some theories and guesses came true. I will post as often as I can for the days coming to give you as much informations I can.


For now, I would give you some insight of racial attributes that would be added in the future.


Daniel Erickson revealed that reaching level 50 with a species will unlock that species for all other classes. Like having a level 50 Sith Pureblood would allow us to make a new Sith Pureblood of all other classes, regardless of faction. Like a Sith Pureblood Bounty Hunter or a Sith Pureblood Jedi Knight. He also said something about new racials. He said that reaching level 50 with a human, would give to all humans in that Legacy a new passive bonus to the presence attribute (to those that don't know about it, presence increase the performance of your companions). Those kind of racial where introduced back to October's beta testing along with the social racial abilities that are now in the live version.




So, this is the list of the beta stat racials:

Human: 3% Bonus to Presence

Miraluka: +1 Stealth Detection

Twi’lek: 5 Minute Reduction on Rapid Travel

Zabrak: Increase healing given and taken by 1%

Miralian: Increase precision of Force and Tech powers by 1%

Cyborg: Increase precision of Force and Tech powers by 1%

Sith Pureblood: 1% force damage and force healing.

Chiss: +1 stealth bonus and +1 stealth detection

Rattataki: 2% Crit Damage

Those abilities where in the creation page and where soon deleted. It seems that some of them would be introduced in Live at 1.2. Miralians and Cyborg were sharing their racial stat bonus, something that would most likely change in the future. Also Precision is a not existent stat right now but I wouldn't be surprised if  accuracy takes it's place in 1.2.

To summit up, race selection WILL matter after 1.2. They also said that they WON'T allow race change in the future. So, for all of you that want to max their performance, I suggest you roll a new character, of a different race than the level 50 you already have.

If the racials are going to be introduced unchanged from the beta, I suggest, those race combinations:

Human and Twi'lek: Shitty racials, I would avoid them for every class.

Miraluka: A small benefit. I would avoid this race for every class.

Zabrak: Great for tanks and healers. Every tank should be Zabrak as it's the only racial that benefits them. Zabrak healers are also in an advantage but Jedi Sages/Sith Sorcerers have the same benefit from Pureblood's racial.

Miralian and Cyborg: If we presume that precision is accuracy in not that good racial. Force and Tech abilities seems to reach accuracy cap easier from talents. Still, with tanking stats changes for PvP in 1.2, it would probably help killing enemy tanks. Should be avoided from healers.

Sith Pureblood: All Force User classes, disregarding their role should be Sith Purebloods.

Rattataki: The best racial right now. I presume that they gave it to boost this underplayed race.

Chiss: PvP boost for stealthers. A good choice for Assassins/Shadows and Operatives/Scoundrels that are damage dealers in PvP. Not that great in PvE, still it has it's uses.

Those are my though right now, things could change in the future. I'll be in the testing of 1.2 and I would see how BW will implant this system. I would update this guide as soon as possible.

Until then, see you online

Add-ons, Combat Log, Cross-Server, Ranked PvP coming soon in SWTOR!

Game Amatangelo gave an interview to an Australian site and said this things:

Gear/Warzone/Commendation Changes
-Lesser end-game commendations (Champion, Centurion, etc.) will not be exchangable.
-There will be two levels of warzones. Regular and Ranked warzones.
-Regular warzones will give out regular WZ commendations, and Ranked warzones will give out ranked WZ commendations.
-New intro PVP set for new level 50 players to fill gap in gear.
-There will be some “fun” uses for commendations you dont need anymore.

Ranked PVP
-Phase one will be server specific.
-Phase two (coming in the future) will have cross-server queuing.

UI Changes & Add- ons
-Combat log coming soon.
-DPS meters/Parsers will be done by 3rd party addons via combat log.
-Free/Paid Server transfers are being worked on but no date provided. They want to make sure the process is perfect before releasing this.

Cross-Server Queuing
-Coming in phase two of pvp changes
-Priority is on playing with people from your own server.
-As soon as you start choosing certain things (which warzone, ranked, etc.). It becomes more difficult for you to get a WZ with server players so you go into the cross-server

When he says phase two he means after patch 1.2 that is meant to come this month. I don't know about you guys but I'm very excited about this changes! Especially for Add ons that were much needed from hardcore players