1.3 Changes, Buffs and Nerfs and my Verdict!

1.3 patch is right now on the PTS and as always, it brings changes in classes. Not a lot of changes like 1.2 did but still...


I would also want to add those are MY OPINION. You are free to disagree and comment. My reason for posting this is to summarize the incoming changes. This post summarizes the patch notes up to the 06/25.

TL;DR

Tanks dps and PvP performance has decreased a lot and some hybrid tank specs are now required to a viable PvP performance as their cap abilities are almost useless. Tanking in PvE situation has been made a lot more easier. Gunslingers/Snipers and Commandos/Mercenaries have had their dps and resource management improved greatly.

TANKS

AoE threat was certainly a big issue for tanking specs and has gotten fixed. Overall, threat generated has been increased by 50%. That would be most welcomed for the group finder as I believe, tanks would be in high demand. Making tanking easier would surely encourages more players to try this role and would in long terms help the community. For even more convenience, they introduced 'smart' AoEs. Now, most of the tanks main AoE attacks that helped them increase their threat, doesn't hit enemies that are in any form of Crowd Control. Another downgrade for tanking difficulty.

KNIGHT/WARRIOR

SENTINEL/MARAUDER

Only Combat/Carnage 21-points ability Precision Slash/Gore has changed. It now costs 1 focus/rage and lasts 1.5sec less. It's duration is still the same as it's now out of the GCD and it's cost was reduced by 2 focus/rage. IT'S A BUFF!

GUARDIAN/JUGGERNAUT

Biggest change for all three specs is the redesign of Single Saber Mastery on the Vigilance/Vengeance tree: 
Single Saber Mastery now applies different effects based on your current Form. Shii-Cho Form now increases all Force damage dealt by 2% per point. Shien Form now increases all melee damage dealt by 2% per point. Soresu Form now increases melee and ranged defense by 1% per point and increases the threat generated by Smash and Sweeping Slash by 10% per point.
This is what this talent should have been from the start. Instead of a plain damage increase, it benefits each spec on their perspective field. Those changes really improve and polish the game.
There's no reason to get into details about the changes the made to the Defense/Immortal tree. Overall, they have based the spec's gameplay to stacking armor debuffs and accuracy debuffs. Their damage overall has decreased. The changes on Guardian Slash/Crushing Blow, their big hitter, have decreased their damage a lot and decrease their performance in 1v1 PvP situations.


VERDICT:
TANKING PvE: BUFFED
TANKING PvP: NERFED

CONSULAR/INQUISITOR

No changes for Sages/Sorceres.

SHADOW/ASSASSIN

They decrease the cost of their Ambush ability (Spinning Kick/Spike) by 10 force points and increased their AoE threat generation. Also, they decreased the self-healing of their tanking tree by 4%.
Overall, Shadows/Assassins tanks were OVERPOWERED both for PvE and PvP. Even though the nerf was much needed, we can't say that they were thrown into abyss. It was time and knocked off their Superman socks.


VERDICT:
TANKING PvE: NERFED
TANKING PvP: NERFED

SMUGGLER/IMPERIAL AGENT

Best change for both AC? The amount absorbed by Shield Probe/Defense Screen now scales properly based on character stats. As they are both classes with very few defensive cooldown, this is a major buff for their survivability. We don't yet know on which stat it scales (hopefully endurance), buffing a short cooldown (45 sec) it's definitely going to increase their performance, especially on PvP.

SCOUNDREL/OPERATIVE

Survivor's Scars/Survival Training healing received increase has lowered from 3% to 1%. Even though this is a minor nerf all classes with similar talents has been affected. I don't believe it would affect the class' gameplay.

GUNSLINGER/SNIPER

Lot's of changes in the Gunslinger/Sniper trees. First of all, the change to the cap abilities are mostly done to prevent a hybrid spec. Rapid Fire has now become a passive ability providing a 1-second CD reduction per point on bot Ambush/Aimed Shots and Series of Shots/Speed shot, certainly a buff here. Also, casting will be taking a bit of a hit with Target Acquired/Illegal Mod’s switch from Alacrity to Accuracy and Armor Penetration, but Rapid Fire and Sniper/Burst Volleys new traits should help make up for it, as they're effect is enhanced even though their cd has increased. Enginneering/Saboteur has also their DoT's damage increased.

VERDICT:
PvE: BUFFFED
PvP: BUFFED

TROOPER/BOUNTY HUNTER

COMMANDO/MERCENARY

Most Commando/Mercenary changes were made to the Gunnery/Arsenal talent trees. In addition to some talents being shifted to depend on other talents, sustained damage received buffs. Changes to Armor Piercing Cell/High-velocity Gas Cylinder would buff Commando/Mercenary sustained resource management by making energy cell generation and heat ventilation less reliant on critical hits. Sustained damage has been buffed through changes to the Gravity Surge/Light 'em Up  skill, which now applies an extra stack of Charged Barrel/Tracer Lock and Charged Barrier/Power Barrier with each Grav Round/Tracer Missile. Overall, more predictable resource generation is a good change and should help with the resource management difficulty many Commandos/Mercenaries and stacking debuff problens they've experienced after patch 1.2.

VERDICT:
PvE DPS: BUFFFED
PvP DPS: BUFFED

VANGUARD/POWERTECH

Powertech/Tanguard tanks gained a 50% threat generation increase but tank burst has been significantly decreased due to the flame shield and static shield skills changes. The critical chance bonus from these talents now gives 8% critical chance to Stockstrike/Rocket Punch and Explosive Surge/Flame Sweep.
The Flame surge skill has been redesigned so that it provides a free Flame Sweep, to provide Vanguards/Powertechs with more AoE damage even though that decreased their damage against single target fights. 
Overall, they nerfed the crit rate of the classes basic attacks (16% bonus , down from 30%) and cancelled the surge bonus (0% bonus, down from 30%). 
This patch decreased the burst dps and this is why this spec is heavily nerfed for PvP while probably buffed for PvE with the AoE changes.

VERDICT:
TANKING PvE: NERFED
TANKING PvP: NERFED

Imperial Tier 3 Preview!

During E3, Bioware showed some new gear set and probably, this is the 3rd tier for the Imperial classes.

Tier 3

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.

Guide for Gearing up 1.2

This guide will provide the new gear that is introduced with patch 1.2

Lost Island Heroic Mode

LR-5 Sentinel Droid: Columi boots

Project Sav-Rak: Columi Legs

Transgenic Sample Eleven: Relic

Doctor Lorrick: Columi Mainhand, Rakata Chest

Explosive Conflict – Storymode

Toth and Zorn: Rakata Bracer, Rakata Implant, Rakata Chest

Stormcaller and Firebrand: Rakata Belt, Rakata Offhand, Rakata Boot

Colonel Vorgath: Rakata Legs, Rakata Gloves, Rakata Implant

Warload Kephess: Rakata Helmet, Rakata Mainhand, Random Black Hole MK2/MK3 gear  or Campaign Relic

Explosive Conflict – Hardmode

Toth and Zorn: Campaign Legs, Campaign Bracers, Random Black Hole gear or Campaign Relic

Stormcaller and Firebrand: Campaign Belt, Campaign Offhand, Random Black Hole gear or Campaign Relic

Colonel Vorgath: Campaign Chest, Campaign Gloves, Random Black Hole gear or Campaign Relic

Warload Kephess: Campaign Mainhand, Campaign Helm, Random Black Hole gear or Campaign Relic

Sith Juggernaut Rage Spec Burst DPS Guide/Tutorial

After spending some time with my family and friends, I'm back in game and I'm pushing myself through the 1.2 content. With the introduction of dummies, I decided to make a video guide about jugg's rage spec burst damage. Through the next days, my old guides would be updated and new ones would be posted. Also expect more and more videos on youtube so, I recommend you to subscribe in my channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/kingofkalamos/

Hope you'll like the guide and I'm looking forward for your thoughts and comments

Group Finder coming in 1.3!

Two days ago the Game Director of SWTOR James Ohlen requested feedback about the upcoming feature of Group Finder.

What part of a Group Finder feature is most important to you? Is it forming a group for Operations, for Flashpoints, for Heroics, for something else - or do you have no preference?

In a note he added that the feature now is server only. So, they'll be probably be asking about what the community would like added in the future, regarding Group Finder.


I would love it as a feature. I have been leveling many character and when I'll hit the level cap I would not have the time or the patience to find a group myself. A cross-server group finder would do miracles to low population servers (I still believe server transfers/server merges would be a better solution) in additionaly to leveling a new character. Finally, I believe that a Group Finder for operations could be a success if they would only allow Story Mode Operations to use the feature.


What your thoughts guys? I would also add the link to the official site to give feedback.


http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=420543

1.2 state of PvP

With 1.2 being live for a couple of days now, it's time to talk about the state of PvP. To be clear from the beginning, I won't go through classes' nerfs and buffs as I've done it in a previous post. So, let's start.

One big change is the adjustment to the expertise rating. They have changed the curve of the diminishing returns and now, expertise gives a hell bigger advantage in PvP making PvP gearing up a true upgrade. If we add the healing reduction for all healing classes, you understand that damage dealt means more right now. Melee classes seem to have gotten an overall buff, as they stand better toe-to-toe against ranged dps. Overall, fights are faster and more bursty and for me, Bioware hit in the nail in the head with those changes as their battle system has been accused many times for being clunky and slow.

Sadly, they let a of people down as they didn't solve the low population servers problems. They could either allow cross-server queueing or/and allow server transfers. The second big dissapointment is the withdraw of the rated warzones. Let's hope that they make the correct changes and make rated PvP a smooth and enjoyable feature.

As far as the new warzone, Novare Coast, I'm having a blast and Ι have to admit that it's now, along with Huttball, my favourites. I really really hope, they add some new warzones soon, even if they are different stadiums for Huttball.

To coclude this post, I can't say that I'm dissapointed with 1.2 but I feel that they could do better. Giving free game time is a way to appease the subscribes but if they don't solve the problems, especially the low population servers ones, soon, people are just gonna lose their faith in BW and leave the game.

Bioware Rewards Subscribers with 1.2!

I've just received a new mail from BW that awards their subscribers, old and current. First of all, I'll begin with the e-mail.

You are one of our most active and valued high level players and we know you have been waiting patiently for Game Update 1.2: Legacy. To show our appreciation, check out all the great new features this update has to offer-on us. We will be adding an additional 30 days of game time to your account at no charge*. The free 30 days will appear on your account by April 24, 11:59PM CDT, April 25, 4:59AM GMT.As an added bonus, we will be awarding all active subscribers an in-game Legacy reward, the Legacy Tauntaun Ram Pet**, as our way of saying thanks for your support. The Tauntaun Ram Pet will be delivered to you via in-game mail by April 24, 2012, 11:59PM CDT/ April 25, 2012, 4:59AM GMT.

If you visit the official site you can find the conditiotion for the rewards:
In order to make sure that you receive your in-game Legacy Tauntaun Ram, your account must meet the following criteria by April 12, 2012 ,12:00PM CDT, 5:00PM GMT or April 21, 2012, 12:00PM CDT, 5:00PM GMT: 
You must have purchased the game and redeemed an official Game Product Registration Code at the Code Redemption Center.
You must have signed up for a recurring subscription using a valid payment method OR redeemed a Game Time Code.
Your account must not be banned.


You can still obtain the pet if your account is inactive, as soon as you purchase and activate your account before the 21th of April.


For any active account with a level 50 character, BW provides a month free! The month will be added at the end of the current subscribtion plan.


Finally, I think Bioware just won some points from the mmo community when they also announced that they will give 7 days (from 13th of April to the 19th of April) free game time for their inactive subscribers.


Obviously, with Mist of Pandaria and Guild Wars 2 in the corner waiting to steal the subscribers, Bioware's Devs try their best to win the race before it begins. Will see if that will work

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

10,000 views!

I'm very happy to announce that my blog has reached 10,000 views! I would like to thank all of you that have spent their time to visit my blog, read my opinions, my guides and watching my videos. I'm really enjoying SWTOR and this blog and I promise for more content and more frequent amount of news in the future. As soon as 1.2 hits live, I'm going to revisit my 3 guides about Vengeance Juggernauts PvE, Rage Juggernauts PvP and Concealment Operatives.

My plan is to move to a site some time in the future but until then I would like to suggest to all of the 'anonymous' users to spend less than one minute of their time and create a google account. By doing so you will be able to follow my blog and be up to date on all newest entries!

See you all around,

and may the Force be with you!

1.2 Changes, Buffs and Nerfs and my Verdict

1.2 Brings a lot of changes in most of the classes. Overall, the style of the game is going to change, PvP mostly. First of all, healing is getting reduced. Damage would now mean more in PvP. Also, that way, PvE content is going to be harder if the damage dealt by bosses is unchanged. Secondly, players will live longer due to high expertise and more endurance; they will do less damage and less healing. In general, most damage dealing specs have their rotation changed.

I would also want to add those are MY OPINION. You are free to disagree and comment. My reason for posting this is to summarize the incoming changes. This post summarizes the patch notes up to the 03/30.

SITH WARRIOR/JEDI KNIGHT

Buff: Termination phase. Can now use their execute ability at or below 30% up from 20%.
Buff: Ravage/Master Strike damage is increased by 10%.

JUGGERNAUT/GUARDIAN

Buff: Interrupt don't cost rage/focus anymore.
Buff: Termination phase. Can now use their execute ability at or below 30% up from 20%.

Buff: Single Saber Master now applies for all Forms.

Buff: Ravage/Master Strike has its damage increased by 15%.

Buff: Self healing has been added.


VERDICT:

RAGE/FOCUS: BUFFED

VENGEANCE/VIGILANCE: EVEN~BUFFED

IMMORTAL/DEFENSE: EVEN~NERFED

PvP PERFORMANCE: INCREASED

PvE PERFORMANCE: INCREASED

TANKING PERFORMANCE: EVEN

To be honest, Juggernauts/Guardians needed those changes. They got self healing, an ability that would turn the tables in PvP and an increase to AoE damage for all trees. Rage/Focus has now more mobility and control and an extra burst, perfect for PvP. Vengeance/Vigilance were slightly buffed, they already got what was needed for PvE. Finally, Immortal/Defense would now build threat easier with their abilities and would now depend less to their AoE taunt ability. Some people consider this a nerf but overall, the spec has now more appropriate and class, dps rotation.

MARAUDER/SENTINEL

Buff: Ravage/Master Strike has its damage increased by 15%.

Buff: Trauma cannot be dispelled.

Even: Ataru Form's proc'ed attacks changed to physical damage from force damage and increased the damage dealt by 10%. Overall, no change for PvE, for PvP the attacks can now be blocked/parried.

Buff: Decimate/Swelling Winds has been moved to the Shared tree, that means a potential increase to AoE damage if it's spec'ed.

VERDICT:

RAGE/FOCUS: BUFFED

CARNAGE/COMBAT: EVEN

ANNIHILATION/WATCHMAN: EVEN~BUFFED

PvP PERFORMANCE: INCREASED

PvE PERFORMANCE: EVEN

Annihilation/Watchmen, the PvE tree changed only a little as it was balanced anyway. It’s PvP ability were nerfed and would be avoided from PvPers. The other two trees are dealing a little less damage with more survivability and mobility. Rage would finally be viable for PvP Marauders/Sentinels.

SITH INQUISITOR/JEDI CONSULAR

ASSASSIN/SHADOW

Not touched at all, nothing to comment.

SORCERER/SAGE

Even~Nerf: Redesign of the Force Bending/Conveyance buff. It now applies to fewer abilities but has increased the performance of the remaining ones.

Nerf: Force Surge/Resplendence no longer removes the health cost from Consumption/Noble Sacrifice.

Nerf: Reduced the critical chance of Force Lightning, Lightning Strike/Project, Weakened Mind.

Nerf: Wrath/Presence of Mind now affects Lightning Strike, Crushing Darkness/Disturbance, Mind Crush only.
Buff: Dark Resilience/Valiance now reduces the health spent by Consumption/Noble Sacrifice by 2% per point (up from 1% per point).

VERDICT:

MADNESS/BALANCE: GREATLY NERFED

CORRUPTION/ SEER: NERFED

LIGHTNING/TELEKINETICS: EVEN

PvP PERFORMANCE: EVEN~NERFED

PvE PERFORMANCE: NERFED

TANKING PERFORMANCE: EVEN

HEALING PERFORMANCE: GREATLY NERFED

Bioware decided to nerf the most overpower spec’ed of the game. Most Madness/Balance would expect those changes even though the nerf-bat hit them hard. A bitter taste is left for Sorcerer/Sage healers though, as they see their burst healing to shrink. Lightning/Telekinetics was almost left the same and now is on par with Madness/Balance.

IMPERIAL AGENT/SMUGGLER

Buff: Cover Mechanic. When immobilized, can now crouch and cannot be pushed out of cover via the "cover integrity" mechanic.

OPERATIVE/SCOUNREL

Nerf: Backstab/Backblast has it's CD increased by 3sec and its damage done increased by 5%.

Nerf: Hidden Strike/Shoot First now has a CD (7.5 sec).

Even~Buff: Changes in Culling/Turn the Tables produces almost the same dps.

Nerf: The introduction of Flanking and the change of Waylay/Sawed Off will make Backstab/blast more energy expensive.

Buff: Laceration/Sucker Punch will now be more used in our rotation. It would really show its potential at prolonged fights.
Buff: Lingering Toxins/Nice Try is a new Tier 6 skill that reduces damage taken from periodic effects and gives Corrosive Dart/Vital Shot and Corrosive Grenade/Shrap Bomb a chance to apply a weaker version of the same effect when they end (even if they are cleansed).

Nerf: Decrease by 2% the critical chance that was obtained via ability.

Nerf: Shiv/Blaster Whip has its damage done decreased by 1%. This ability was obtained via ability.

Buff: Tactical Advantage/Upper Hand that is obtained by healers is getting buffed a lot. Abilities now increases the TA/UP stack limit if you heal an ally with your basic healing ability and he has 30% of his life or less. Also, if spec'ed, TA/UP has its duration increased by 2sec.

Buff: Recuperative Nanotech/Kolto Cloud has its CD increased by 3sec, healing done increased by 10% and its duration decreased by 9sec.

Buff: Weaking Blast/Haemorrhaging Blast no longer costs energy.

VERDICT:

MEDIC/SAWBONES: GREATLY BUFFED

CONCEALMENT/SCRAPPER: GREATLY NERFED

LETHALITY/DIRTY FIGHTING: EVEN~NERFED

PvP PERFORMANCE: NERFED

PvE PERFORMANCE: NERFED

HEALING PERFORMANCE: GREATLY BUFFED

Long story, short: Operatives/Scoundrels got FUCKED! Concealment/Scrapper is now unplayable for PvP. Their essential burst is gone; their dps is now more sustained but still lower than what it was. No more, killing an enemy in a lockdown. Only the new combat logs will show us if it’s now viable for PvE. Lethality/Dirty Fighting got some utility and is now viable for PvP. Overall, this class is not the same anymore. The only bright light at the end of the tunnel comes for Operatives/Scoundrels healers. They now have the best healing burst in the game. Their allies cannot die, as they have increased performance when they heal targets that have very low health and finally, their AoE healing has got much, much better.

SNIPER/GUNSLINGER

Buff: Snipers/Gunslingers can now inflict Trauma, a decrease to healing received debuff.

Buff: A new ability decrease the damage received when they use Entrench/Hunker Down. Now they can stay longer still when others have to move.

Buff: Sniper Volley/Burst Volley has been redesigned. Can now be triggered by doing damage; additionally, it increases Alacrity and energy regeneration by 10% for 10sec.

Nerf: Calculated Pursuit/Hot Pursuit now makes the next Overload Shot/Quick Shot cost no energy instead of having 50% change to use Snipe/Charge Burst in any situation.

Buff: EMP Discharge/Sabotage has it's ranged increased by 30m.

Buff: Plasma Probe/Incendiary Grenade has been greatly improved. Can now snares anyone that is inflicted, deals more of its damage in the first seconds and stuns anyone that also suffers from your Interrogation Probe/Shock Charge.

Nerf: Cull/Wounding Shots costs 5 less energy and deals 15% less damage.

Buff: Points can be spent to make Cull, Series of Shots/Wounding Shots, Speed Shots to deal 4% per point. (It was 2% per point).
Buff: Interrogation Probe's/Shock Charge's cooldown now resets if a target is defeated while under its effects.

VERDICT:

MARKMANSHIP/SHARPSHOOTER: BUFFED

ENGINEERING/SABOTEUR: EVEN~BUFFED

LETHALITY/DIRTY FIGHTING: EVEN

PvP PERFORMANCE: BUFFED

PvE PERFORMANCE: BUFFED

Markmanship/Sharpshooter is now what they were intended to be: a living turret, with high defense and little movement requirements. Additionally, the addition of Trauma would help them in their fight and would also make PvP in general more balanced, as Trauma was a debuff provided from Marauder/Sentinel only. The tree is based on RNG as it can do fairly good contained damage in general but can also be quite bursty, if buffs are stacked. Engineering/Saboteur has some few changes, mostly towards a control and utility direction. Lethality/Dirty Fighting stays almost the same. Overall it seems that Bioware plans to make Markmanship/Sharpshooter the PvE spec, Engineering/Saboteur the PvP spec. Both are viable for both activities, it seems though that Markmanship/Sharpshooter leans more to high damage and high defense, mostly for solo PvP whereas Engineering/Saboteur has more area denial abilities and more control over the battlefield, a more preferable playstyle for group PvP. Lethality on the other hand is still good, but benefits more Operatives/Scoundrels that want to play PvP.

BOUNTY HUNTER/TROOPER

MERCENARY/COMMANDO

Buff: Cure now costs 8 heat/ammo less.

Buff: Jet Boost/Concussion Charge now also snares the inflicted enemies.

Nerf: Power Shot, Tracer Missiles/Charged Bolts, Grav Round cost less but needs 1 more second to be activated and also deals 10% less damage. Also, the ability Muzzle Fluting has redesigned and no longer decrease the cost for Power Shot, Tracer Missiles/Charged Bolts, Grav Round and it decreases their activation time.

Buff: Barrage/Full Auto now has a greater chance to occur.

Buff: Heatseekers Missiles/Demolition Rounds has its damage done increased by 10%.

Nerf: Power Barrier/Charged Barrier now provides 1% less damage reduction per stack.

Nerf: Critical Efficiency/Field Triage now reduces the cost of Rapid Scan/Medical Probe by 8 (down from 16)/1 Ammo (down from 2).

Buff: Cure Mind/Psych Aid no longer reduces the cost of Cure/Field Aid. It now causes Cure/Field Aid to heal the target for a small amount.

Nerf: Hired Muscle/Field Training now increases critical chance by 1% per point (down from 2%).

Buff: Kolto Missile/Kolto Bomb now affects up to 4 targets (up from 3).

Nerf: Kolto Residue now increases all healing received by 3% (down from 5%).

Nerf: Kolto Shell/Trauma Probe now has a cost when it's activated.

Nerf: Supercharged Gas/Supercharged Shell now vents 8 Heat (down from 16)/1 Ammo (down from 2) when used and increases all damage and healing dealt by 5% (down from 10%). The shield applied by Kolto Missile/Kolto Bomb now reduces damage taken by 5% (down from 10%).

Buff: NEW ABILITY Onboard AED/Emergency Medical Probe is a new level 50 ability that allows the Mercenary to revive an incapacitated ally. It is usable in combat.

VERDICT:

ARSENAL/GUNNERY: EVEN~NERFED

BODYGUARD/COMBAT MEDIC: GREATLY NERFED

PYROTECH/ASSAULT SPECIALST: EVEN

PvP PERFORMANCE: NERFED

PvE PERFORMANCE: NERFED

Arsemal/Gunnery has its rotation changed a lot. To be honest, that spec was in need of a change as its playstyle was a one-button-spam. As it seems right now, the main abilities have their damage done reduced and their overall rotation would now be more engaging. We don’t know how much more often Barrage/ would now occur so it’s hard to say if the spec would be nerfed and how much its performance would affect it. 1.2 is bad news for Bodyguards/Combat Medic as they are straightly nerfed. Finally, they got a combat resurrection but most of their healing abilities are now weaker and more expensive. The only good change is that their AoE healing now affects one more target. Pyrotech/Assault Specialist has no change.

POWERTECH/VANGUARD

Buff: Interrupt don't cost heat/ammo any more.

Nerf: Self healing has been removed and the skill has been replaced by one that gives slowing effect to one of your abilities.
Buff: Heat Screen/Power Screen is a new 2-point skill that causes Flame Burst and Heat Blast/Ion Pulse and Energy Blast to build a stacking buff that increases shield absorption.
Even~Nerf: Energy Blast/Heat Blast is no longer limited by the global cooldown. Its damage has been reduced by 15%.
Buff: Smoke Grenade/Oil Slick is no longer limited by the global cooldown.
Buff: Prototype Particle Accelerator/Ionic Accelerator now requires Combustible Gas Cylinder/Plasma Shell to trigger. The chance to trigger this effect has been increased significantly but cannot trigger more than once every 6 seconds.

VERDICT:

SHIELD TECH/SHIELD SPECIALIST : BUFFED

ADVANCED PROTOTYPE/TACTICS: EVEN~NERFED

PYROTECH/ ASSAULT SPECIALST: EVEN

PvP PERFORMANCE: EVEN

PvE PERFORMANCE: EVEN

PT/Vanguard tanks will be buffed at 1.2. New mitigation system and some of their abilities are now out of the GCD. Advanced Prototype/Tactics would see their self healing gone and would lose some considerable power in PvP. Finally, the Share Tree doesn't see many changes. Overall, 1.2 would not be a bad patch for PT/Vanguard.