SWTOR Battles

New abilities LEAKED!!

2013-02-10T15:43:00.000-08:00

The new, level 55 abilities are leaked!!

Jedi Consular
Sage: Force Barrier: Projects a Force Barrier about you, granting immunity to all control, damage, and negative effects while channeled. This ability does not respect the global cooldown and can be used while controlled.
Shadow: Phase Walk: Activating this ability marks your current location for <<1>> seconds. When this ability is activated again, if you are within 60 meters of the marked location, you instantly return to the marked location. When returning to the marked location or when the effect ends, Phase Walk goes on cooldown for 45 seconds. Does not break stealth.

Jedi Knight
Sentinel: Dual Saber Throw: Throws both lightsabers in a straight line towards the target, dealing <<1>> weapon damage to all enemies directly in front of you up to 30 meters away. Affected enemies are slowed by 50% for <<2>> seconds. Requires two lightsabers.
Guardian: Saber Reflect: Reflects all direct single target ranged, Force, and tech attacks back to the attacker for <<1>> seconds.

Trooper
Vanguard: Electro Net: Fires an electro net that ensnares the target, reducing its movement speed by 50% and dealing <<1>> energy damage over 9 seconds. The damage dealt by the electro net increases by 20% for every second that the target remains moving. This effect stacks up to 10 times on enemy players or up to 5 times on any other target. Additionally, the electro net hinders the target, preventing the use of high mobility actions and escapes such as charges, vanishes, and speed boosts. Lasts <<2>> seconds.
Commando: Shoulder Cannon: Deploys a shoulder cannon that gradually loads 4 missiles over time. Once loaded, the shoulder cannon can be triggered again to fire against an enemy target within 10 meters, launching 1 missile that deals <<1>> kinetic damage. A missile can be launched up to once per second. Loading and launching the shoulder cannon does not respect the global cooldown and can be done while controlled. Once all missiles have been loaded, depleting all missiles puts the shoulder cannon on cooldown for 1.5 minutes.

Smuggler
Gunslinger: Hightail It: Roll forward 18 meters, freeing yourself from movement-impairing effects and landing crouched behind cover. While rolling, your chance to dodge attacks is increased by 100%.Can't do that while hindered.
Gunslinger: Ready for Anything: Upon entering cover, your stealth detection level begins to increase gradually, reaching up to 30 additional levels of stealth detection over the following 30 seconds. This effect ends when you leave cover.
Scoundrel: Scamper: Roll forward 12 meters. When slowed, you only roll forward 6 meters. While rolling, your chance to dodge melee and ranged attacks is increased by 30%. Does not break stealth. Cannot be used while immobilized.

This is AMAZING!!!

New trailer of RotH!!

2013-01-24T10:20:00.002-08:00

A new trailer for Rise of the Hutts were released yesterday. Hopefully we will learn more about the planet soon.

1.4 Gear Preview of the Jedi Sentinal and Commando!

2012-09-10T12:28:00.001-07:00

This is an early picture of the new tier, Dread Guard set of the Jedi Sentinel and Commando!

SWTOR 1.4 NOW ON THE PTS!

2012-09-10T11:51:00.002-07:00

Patch 1.4 is now on the test servers! People can test the new operation, Terror from Beyond and try the new features that are added. Unfortunately, some changes that were promised for patch 1.4 are in the current state absent, p.ex. dual-spec, Explosive Conflict Nightmare Mode.

HITTING PTS TODAY, 09/10 I WOULD TRY TO GUESS THAT 1.4 WOULD COME LIVE IN 3 WEEKS, THAT MEANS IN THE 2ND OF OCTOBER!

Check the Patch notes here:

http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=523625

The Trailer for Terror from Beyond:

Blog Update

2012-09-02T07:50:00.001-07:00

Hey guys, what's up? Sorry for being inactive during last month but I was in vacations and I didn't have an easy access to the internet.
Anyway, I'm back to my HQ and I'm ready to roll once more. To be honest, SWTOR isn't at its best right now and there aren't really any news going on. Things are the same for the past months and we're all waiting for news about new content.
What troubles me the most are the secresive about the stuff they are working on. They have announced an expansion and we really haven't got nothing more than a ridiculous small trailer.
I'm still planning to play the game, I'm enjoying it but I have already accepted that it's prime is gone. Let's hope that F2P would bring a fresh wave of players back to game.

SWTOR Free to Play Plans!

2012-08-02T12:14:00.001-07:00

Coming this fall, the first 50 levels of SWTOR are free to play. The game will be on sale and can be purchased for 15 USD and a free month. A subscription fee would still be required for the full experience of the game. The new patch that would introduce Makeb and would also increase the level cap would be out of limits for gamers and only specific content would be allowed. Stay tuned for more news!

Individual server forums are coming

2012-07-22T12:30:00.000-07:00

Individual server forums will be implemented later this summer once they have completed automatic transfers. That means, old servers will close, as for now, you can't create a new character in an origin server if you don't have one already there. Another step towards the mega servers is done.

Rewards for Server Transfers

2012-07-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

New pet Gannifari

Bioware keeps rewarding their subscribers for playing the game. This time they are going to give a new non combat pet, the Gannifari as well as 25 Black Hole Commendations. It should be noted that all subscribers that had their characters either on an original or a destination server would be rewarded.

Your character(s) must be on a qualifying server (which includes destination servers) and your account must be active by July 30, 2012 at 11:59 PM CDT / July 31, 2012 at 4:59AM GMT.

The new pet it's just a bonus where as 25 BH Commendations is the really gift. It seems that BW gives something to new players that were left behind on their PvE progression as before transfers, most servers were dead and groups for FP and Operations were impossible to be formed.

SWTOR: Scoundrel PvP Montage #2!

2012-07-03T04:52:00.002-07:00

Hey guys, a fast update,

I've just uploaded a new Scoundrel PvP Montage video.

Check it out!

1.3 Changes, Buffs and Nerfs and my Verdict!

2012-06-26T06:34:00.003-07:00

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

1.3 Release Date!

2012-06-23T13:01:00.000-07:00

1.3 is coming this TUESDAY 06/26 after the regular Server Maintenance!

The Art of Trolling #3!!!

2012-06-21T15:01:00.001-07:00

Hey guys, as I wait for 1.3 I play as more WZs as I get. Having free time and frapsing almost all of my matches. I have some interesting footage and I decided to do another addition to the The Art of Trolling series. I hope you enjoy this! :D

Imperial Tier 3 Preview!

2012-06-18T07:03:00.000-07:00

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

Tier 3

2 New Videos!

2012-06-17T19:49:00.002-07:00

I have 2 new videos to share with you guys.

The first of all is a "romancing a companion" video and shows what happens if you try to romance 2 of your companions at the same time.

The second one is a Scoundrel PvP montage, the first of the series. Even it would not be the best PvP you'll ever seen, I hope you'll enjoy it!

See you around!

Additional Servers for Transfers! 06/13 UPDATE!

2012-06-13T08:20:00.002-07:00

UPDATE 10:00AM CDT June 13th, 2012

Origin Server --> Destination Server

NA Server
The Defenestrator --> Jedi Covenant
Krayiss Obelisk --> Canderous Ordo
Shien --> The Ebon Hawk
Rwookrrorro --> The Fatman
Ajunta Pall --> Jung Ma
Krath --> The Harbinger
Darth Xedrix --> Drooga's Pleasure Barge
Vrook Lamar --> Begeren Colony
Nadd's Sarcophagus --> The Bastion
Sedyn Kyne --> Jedi Covenant
Whitebeam Run --> Canderous Ordo
Sanctum of the Exalted --> The Ebon Hawk
Cho Mai --> The Fatman
Empress Teta --> The Harbinger
Perlemian Trade Route --> Drooga's Pleasure Barge
The Crucible Pits --> The Bastion

European Server (German)
Handmaidens of Atris --> The Jedi Tower
Cassus Fett --> Vanjervalis Chain
Gnawer's Roost --> Jar'Kai Sword
Dreypa's Oubliette --> The Jedi Tower
The Krath Enchanter --> Jar'Kai Sword

European Server (English)
Ludo Kressh --> The Red Eclipse
Trask Ulgo --> The Progenitor
Senator Contispex --> Tomb of Freedon Nadd
Goluud Corridor --> The Red Eclipse
The Kumumgah --> Tomb of Freedon Nadd

European Server (French)
Kissai Caste --> Mantle of the Force
Dol Grenn --> Darth Nihilus
Vodo-Siosk Baas --> Mantle of the Force
Princess Galia --> Darth Nihilus

More Server Pairings for the Transfers!

2012-06-12T16:01:00.000-07:00

AS FOR NOW, 06/13

East

Keller’s Void -----> Jedi Covenant (PVE)
Hedarr Soongh -----> The Fatman (PVP)
The Courageous -----> Canderous Ordo (PVE)
Kath Hound -----> The Ebon Hawk (RP-PVE)
Ven Zallow -----> Jung Ma (RP-PVP)

West

Soresu -----> The Harbinger (PVE)
Rakata Mind Prison -----> The Bastion (PVP)
Fa'athra -----> Drooga's Pleasure Barge (PVE)
Lord Ieldis -----> Begeren Colony (RP-PVE)

English

Eye of Ashlanae -----> The Red Eclipse (PVE)
The Shadow Runner -----> Tomb of Freedon Nadd (PVP)
Shaltin Tunnels -----> The Progenitor (RP-PVE)
French

Mecrosa Order -----> Darth Nihilus (PVP)
Phateem Halls of Knowledge -----> Mantle of the Force (PVE)
Kessel Run -----> Battle Meditation (RP-PVE)
German

Stereb Cities -----> The Jedi Tower (PVE)
The Restoration Zone -----> Jar’Kai Sword (PVP)
Zayne Carrick -----> Vanjervalis Chain (RP-PVE)

MORE SERVER PAIRINGS WILL COME TOMORROW. A BRIEF MAINTENANCE TONIGHT!

Server Transfer List!!!

2012-06-12T06:09:00.000-07:00

Character transfers are final here! This is the list for the eligible server transfers.

Certain transfers are complimentary at this time:

Between the following servers:

The Shadow Runner to Tomb of Freedon Nadd

Stereb Cities to The Jedi Tower

The Restoration Zone to Jar'Kai Sword

Phateem Halls of Knowledge to Mantle of the Force

Mecrosa Order to Darth Nihilus

Rakata Mind Prison to The Bastion

Hedarr Soongh to The Fatman

Eye of Ashlanae to The Red Eclipse

Keller's Void to Jedi Covenant

Soresu to The Harbinger

Group Finder Preview and Scoundrel PvP Video!

2012-06-10T20:15:00.000-07:00

A new video, a Scoundrel PvP Video as I talk about Group Finder

ENJOY! :)

1.3 Group Finder, Details, Feedback and Bugs.

2012-06-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

PREVIEW

Group Finder is a new tool that would help you find a group to do most of your PvE activities. You can queue for Story Mode Operations, Heroic FP, Normal FP and Planet Heroic Quests. You can select your role: Tank, Healer, Damage Dealer and when your group is assembled you'll be teleported to the field. Daily Quests would award Black Hole Commendations and to be honest, this tool will make gearing up a piece of cake.

QUEUEING, LOSING A PLAYER, VOTE TO KICK AND FINDING A REPLACEMENT

To begin with, queueing in a group is bugged. Even 3 people in a group cannot find a fourth member to do a run. This a highly disappointing. Right now, if you lose a player during a run QQ. Even though you are supposed to find a replacement if you requeue. this feature is hardly ever working. I know that some people say that it work for them but I have seen it work once, when we were at the begining of a FP and we hadn't killed a mob or a boss. Vote to kick is something that is needed in a group finder but right now, there is no protection to undergeared/new players. There is no restriction to kicks and I can see it being abused. A solution would be if BW makes it as to not be able to begin a vote for the first 10 minute in the run and only allow a kick 2-3 times per run, with this limit being raised after a couple of wipes. I don't want to be unabled to kick when I'm at the final boss boss of Lost Island and my healer for example is underperforming. Also, Make it so that people that are overusing it, that they use it too many times in a row be prevented to start a vote for the next 30 minutes for example. Finally, 2 or more people would group up and would start kicking people mostly because they are trolling. That's why people in an original group should not be able to kick by themselves an extra player.

LOOTING AND LOCKOUTS

Need before Greed looting system for FP is fine. Things should change for Operations. Right now there are no restriction on looting. A Juggernaut can need an Agent item etc. Either make a restriction to class loots or make system closer to the original looting system from the begging of the game. If you are eligible to loot that boss, you'll all get a bag that would have commendations and either a piece of the boss' loot table or some credits, adrenals or stims. That way they'll be no whining about other people wining an item over you and we won't have people grouping together to win rolls for their friends. It would be like a slot machine, where after killing a boss all 8 people could win something or only 1 or 2 gets some loot. Finally, remove the lockouts from Story Mode Ops, even if you can only loot each boss once, it allows those who couldn't complete a raid due to group disband, still have the chance to play from the start, and doesn't punish those who join you because you already killed off some of the bosses.

That's my thoughts about this feature,
See you around, PEACE!

1.3 Loot Changes: Better Loot from Flashpoints!

2012-06-10T15:41:00.000-07:00

Apparently, with the introduction of Group Finder, FP runs would be more common and Bioware decided to change the loot that each FP drops, mostly to lure people to play them.
Early today, 06/10 I did a fast run of Heroic Black Talon and I found out that most bosses drop far better loot than the current live patch.

First boss (We kill the droid) dropped a random TIONESE headgear when it used to drop tionese belt. Second boss, Commander Ghuli dropped a random COLUMNI ear piece when he used to drop energized legs. The final boss dropped the same loot than live, a token for COLUMNI bracers.

Obviously this is a rather welcome change, as people would gear up easier and faster. With Black Hole commendations as daily rewards, people would have lot's of reasons to run HM Flashpoints. Finally people would easier participate on Story Mode Operations and experience more of the end game content, faster and without the painful grind. If they manage to introduce more content in a faster pace, subscribers would always have something to do, something that would make this game bounce back.

Group Finder Level Recommendation for Normal Flashpoints!

2012-06-10T14:35:00.001-07:00

Black Talon/The Esseles: 10-12

Hammer Station: 15-21

Athiss: 19-25

Mandalorian Raiders: 23-29

Cademimu: 27-33

Boarding Paty/Taral V: 31-37

Foundry/Maelstrom Prison: 35-42

Colicoid War Game: 39-45

The Red Reaper: 43-48

Directive 7: 47-50

The Battle for Ilum: 48-50

The False Emperor: 48-50

Kaon Under Siege: 50

Lost Island: 50

This doesn't mean that you are forced to that level range as those are recommendations for each normal mode flashpoint. For example, my level 47 character on the PTR was allowed to queue for Colicoid War Games, The Read Reaper and Directive 7. The daily reward for Normal FP is 5 Daily Commendations.

Server transfers starting on June 12th! Details!

2012-06-06T18:58:00.000-07:00

FINALLY! Server transfers are coming on June 12th! A lot of people are waiting for this (myself including) and today we learnt some new informations about this service.

First of all. Server transfer would be TARGETED! That means that transfers would be allowed from a selected number of servers to selected servers! Servers would be chosen and would have a specific destination that would be allowed to transfer a character. By the time, more options would be available and when the free server transfers would be about to end, we will be informed beforehand. In the future, server transfer would allow more options in the choice of server destination and would require a transfer fee.

That way, Bioware will try to create servers that would be highly populated and balanced, than having one or two overpopulated servers (like Fatman or Tomb of Freedon Nadd). More informations would come in a upcoming FAQ so stay tuned!

1.3 PTS would come live at 06/06

2012-06-05T16:39:00.001-07:00

It was announced that 1.3 would come on the PTS tommorrow (06/06). Stay tuned as I would try the addition that'll come in the next patch. Videos and photos would be posted as soon as possible.

Ranked Warzones are coming at 1.3!

2012-05-25T15:59:00.000-07:00

Good news everyone! Rated Warzones are officially announced for 1.3!

Mindspore: Any update on Ranked Warzones in 1.3?

Daniel: Ranked Warzones is on track for 1.3. All the heavy lifting (ratings, group persistence exiting warzones, etc) is done and right now we are working through some emergent conflicts with Group Finder and the process of queuing for multiple activities at once with multiple temporary groups.

1.3 Group Finder Rewards

2012-05-24T05:01:00.000-07:00

To recap the details we know so far for group finder (SERVER ONLY):

You can queue for:
-Normal and Heroic Flashpoints
-Story Mode Operations
-Planet's Heroic Quests

You can select the role you can fill. The roles are limited from you Advance Class.

It would teleport you to the Flashpoint when your group is assembled.

You can select the specific content you want to do or you can select a random queue.

DAILY REWARDS FOR RANDOM QUEUES:

Mode	Rewards
Normal Flashpoints	5 Daily Commendations
HM Tier 1 Flashpoints	5 Black Hole Commendations
HM Tier 2 Flashpoints	5 Black Hole Commendations
Story Mode Operations	5 Black Hole Commendations