Saturday 31 March 2012

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!

Friday 30 March 2012

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.






Wednesday 28 March 2012

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

Friday 23 March 2012

New Legacy Abilities Coming at 1.3!

In the new interface of the Legacy System, there a tab of the upcoming bonus that'll come at 1.3. Some amazing things that many people would love. Those characters perks are traits that would be available to obtain once you hit hit certain legacy levels.

In the section ADVANCEMENT:


FLASHPOINT XP BONUS: Increase xp gains from killing major enemies in flashpoints. (has 5 ranks)
SPACE XP BONUS: Increase xp gains from completing space missions. (has 5 ranks)
WARZONE XP BONUS: Increase xp gains from completing warzones. (has 5 ranks)



In the section TRAVEL:


CELERITY: Increase sprint speed. (has 2 ranks)
LEGACY SPEEDER LICENSE: Grants the ability to use lvl 25 speeders at lvl 10.


In the section COMPANION:


LEGACY OF ALTRUISM: Increase affection gains from gifts to companions. (has 3 ranks)
LEGACY OF PERSUASION: Increase affection gains from conversation options. (has 3 ranks)
LEGACY OF CRAFTING: Increase chance of critical success while crafting. (has 3 ranks)
LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP: Companions sell junk faster. (has 2 ranks)

In the section CONVENIENCE:


REPAIR DROID: Creates a repair droid that players and their allies may use to repair items in the field. (has 3 ranks)
PRIORITY MEDEVAC: Returns at increase health after dying and respawning at a medical center. (has 2 ranks)
FIELD RESPEC: Reset your skill tree in the field.
PORTABLE MAILBOX: Drop a mailbox in the field for you and your allies to use.

Awesome perks, BW shows that has great plans for the Legacy System.

1.2 PTR Legacy Heroic Moments!

Devs announced that the renewed Legacy System will allow alts to use some abilities that are from another character of the Legacy. Some requirements are ment to be reached before the Legacy Heroic Moments are met. First of all, a companion must be present, that means that they can not be used in Warzones or Operations. But can still be used at Flashpoints and World PvP. To unlock one of those abilities you have first complete the class story of the specific class. Here's the list of the abilities that each class grands:

Imperial Agent: Orbital Strike.


Bounty Hunter: Flamethrower


Sith Warrior: Force Choke


Sith Inquisitor: Lightning Storm


Smuggler: Dirty Kick


Trooper: Sticky Grenade


Jedi Knight: Force Sweep


Jedi Consular: Project

After these abilities are unlocked it can be used by any other member of your Legacy, regardless their faction or class.

Thursday 22 March 2012

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.

Tuesday 20 March 2012

1.2 Novare Coast PvP video!

I've played my Sage in the PTR for the last days and I've spending my time on PvP and Class Quests only as I want to finish Act 1 and see the new features. I have to say that the changes in medals have made matches more fast paced and that something I really, really like. Needless to say, I've tried Novare Coast and I LOVE it! This WZ has a lot of fighting, as the objectives are close to the bases and it's easily to turn the table. I've recorded a full match, hope you'll enjoy it; I know I did. Expect a guide coming soon, so stay tuned!


Monday 19 March 2012

1.2 PvP: Medal Changes

During Guild Summit, Developers said that they won't to redesign the medal system as it was not working as intended. So they make a cap to the medals that can be earned in a match. When you get 10 medals, a buff named HIGHLY DECORATED that will prevent you from earning more. Still, if some requirements are met, more than 10 medals can be earned after a match has ended. That medals are named DAUNTLESS and is rewarded depending how fast you won a match. 
Medal list from Hutball
Medal list from Voistar
 Also, there more objective medals. Additionally to the original medals for damage, healing and defensive done, new objective medals are introduced, divided to OFFENCE and DEFENCE. Passing the ball at Hutball rewards 500 Attacker Points, killing the ball carrier rewards 500 Defender Points, interrupting enemy capturing an Emplacement rewards 500 Defender Points at Novare Coast. Collecting enough defender and attacking points, rewards offence and defence medals. Surely Bioware reacted fast and solved the imbalance of the medal earnings. Healers tended to be left behind whereas dps with taunting abilities could easily get 12+ medals in a match. Also, those changes will avert dragging the matches for medal farming and also encourage more teamwork, more fast paced and more engaging battle.

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.

Sunday 18 March 2012

SWTOR PTR: 1.2 Patch UI Changes Video Guide

1.2 has hit PTR for a some hours now and I'm rushing myself to more future contend. I want to hit level 10 ASAP to try the new Warzone so, instead of a big article, I've created a video about the changes in the UI.


Hopefully you'll find this guide helpful, stay tuned for more information about 1.2.

Thursday 8 March 2012

PvP Changes in 1.2



With the introduction of 1.2 a lot of changes will come in PvP

CHANGES IN DAILIES AND REWARDS

Right now, daily missions require players to win 3 matches. From 1.2 daily missions will require players to win a certain number of medals. That will make a lot of people happy, as people that don't play WZ in groups, tend to get steamrollered from premades. One day, a friend of mine that was PvPing solo had 9 consecutive loses... It took him more than 5 hours to get 3 victories. I know he's excited about this change.
Now, remember that winning and losing both reward medals. Hopefully this will address the situation where people that had a bad group would just leave the WZ. They said that they will be some restrictions for people abandoning the WZ before it finish but they din't give any details. I speculate that they'll do something like a penalty for leavers that would prevent them to queue for another WZ that would last for some minutes. 

Luckily for us, there are 18 new medals, many of which are objective based, like scoring a goal in Hutball or defusing a bomb in Voidstar. Healers right now are in disadvantage against other classes about wining medals, the new ones will boost them too. Like if an ally you are healing gets a killing enemy point, the healer will get one too. Now, to prevent medal's farming by dragging out matches, there's a cap of medals that can be earned in every match. To encourage faster games and more activity from players, finishing a match fast gives more medals. For example, finishing Huttball under 5 minutes will give you one more metal, finishing it under 4 will give two more metals. Now, there's a lot of AFKers in PvP, especially in Civil War and finally we have some good news: In order for players to earn medals, a minimal level of activity is required and  Vote to kick inactive players is in 1.2 where the open spots would be filled by players in the queue. There are measures in place to prevent abuse, like kicking someone because his level 10.

RANKED WARZONES AND RANKED GEAR

Ranked warzones will be introduced in 1.2. There will be a ranking system for bath group and solo play. For 1.2 Ranked Warzones will be SERVER SPECIFIC ONLY, cross-server matches will come later. Coming in the future will have cross-server queueing. When the new feature will be implemented will have a pre-season period. Each ranked game will reward a specific currency that would buy the new PvP gear. There going to be more than one tier of gear  but all tiers will have the same stats. Gear that require a higher rating are going to have different colours, only for prestige reasons.

NEW PvP GEAR AND VALOR CHANGES

Valor system will not be centralized from now on. It will still be in game and will also provide titles but will not be fundamental for acquiring the PvP gear. A new intro PvP set for new 50 players will be introduce to fill the gap in gear. More emphasis on expertise will be given on PvP to make it less powerful in PvE as they want to address  issues where people with Battle Master gear were raiding Eternity Vault and Karagga's Palace. 

NEW WARZONES AND SAME FACTION MATCHES, NEWS ABOUT ILUM AND WORLD PvP

The new warzone will be Novare Coast. It can also be played with two teams of the same faction. It would be object orient and would has 3 points of focus. Two out of three must be captured from a team to 'do damage' to the object. Existing Warzones will be made same faction. That would either happen in 1.2 or 1.3. For now the matches will be from same servers. Sometime in the future cross-server matches will be introduced.  They want to introduce Tournament brackets to allow for mini-tournaments between PvP teams. Another new feature that would make a lot of people happy, YOU CAN NOW QUEUE WITH A FULL 8 PERSON GROUP AND YOUR GROUP WILL NOT BE DISBANDED AFTER A MATCH. They also enlightened us about some world PvP changes. They will pull back Ilum for a while to redesign it as they are not very pleased with it's current state and there were some technical difficulties. PvP in Outlaw's Den will be supported from now on. For world PvP in general, they said that they'll add a reward drop for world kills.