The Old Republic for Dummies

[mimartin]

Originally Posted by Miltiades

Guess I'm gonna have to start spending more time with my Guardian. I bet it'll take some time before we'll have enough decently geared level 50's at the Empire side to team up for HM's and ops. I think my Mercenary's almost at that point where he's ready for those, but I might be the only one at the IMB at this time.

I'm working on getting my agent to level 50. Mass Effect 3 may slow me down a little, but I need to play her at least some this weekend to get my credits back up.

Originally Posted by Lynk Former

Well I'm willing to do dailies with people too, I'm just not around 24/7 with uni and all

The Lynk does not sleep...who are you?

[Pho3nix]

So yeah, a few questions:

1. Is weapon training any essential part of the game or are you just supposed to use your default from when you choose your specialization? just wondering if I'm gonna use the same type of minigun as a Commando all the way to 50.

2. Companion skills, I've noticed that there's no option to train new spells for them - so do they just "update" automatically when I level?

[mimartin]

Originally Posted by Pho3nix

So yeah, a few questions:

1. Is weapon training any essential part of the game or are you just supposed to use your default from when you choose your specialization? just wondering if I'm gonna use the same type of minigun as a Commando all the way to 50.

2. Companion skills, I've noticed that there's no option to train new spells for them - so do they just "update" automatically when I level?

1. You can use the same type, or even the same one if it is slotted and can be upgraded. Just be sure to keep it up to date. I'm still using the same blaster pistol I received in the middle of the game, only updated with level 50 mods.

2. The missions are automatic, but you will also find more in chest that are one time use only. You can also buy them on the network. You can also find schematics or buy them off the network. Also check with crew skill trainer once in awhile as you progress they offer more training (at least in biochem they did).

[snommism]

Originally Posted by Pho3nix

1. Is weapon training any essential part of the game or are you just supposed to use your default from when you choose your specialization? just wondering if I'm gonna use the same type of minigun as a Commando all the way to 50.

You don't train any, I'm not sure what type(s) a Commando is allowed to use though.

Originally Posted by Pho3nix

2. Companion skills, I've noticed that there's no option to train new spells for them - so do they just "update" automatically when I level?

Gathering & Mission skills you are granted new "missions" automatically, but Crafting skills need new recipes to craft anything new.

[Lynk Former]

@ Pho3nix:

1. Commando's can use Assault Cannons and Blaster Rifles as well as Power Generators. Vanguards only use Blaster Rifles but have their pick between Power Generators and Shield Generators.

2. If you mean you want to get new schematics, you can do so by going back to your crafting trainer to buy new schematics from them.

[Pho3nix]

Alright, thanks for the answers guys

[CrisG]

I am going to post here since Lynk told me about this thread....

i am trying to reach two of the datacrons in the captial and there are two places you need to jump..i mean MORE than just jump with the space key which i have known about from the day one. They made it very hard on purpose i guess...and i gave up last night after trying for a long time.... is there any way to enhance our JUMPING other than the sprint abiltiy which i have got already?

I wish they gave us a force power like in Jedi Academy but i guess this demands other things. Someone said there is a clever way to get to these places but three of the datcrons i found need a lot of jumping and climbing and i was hoping there might be an advanced abiltity to enhance jumping. Any info on this?

[Lynk Former]

Turn sprint off, it'll make things easier.

[CrisG]

I tried that Lynk, the biggest pain was that first jump from the first pile of boxes to the second in the Justicar one, not too far from the entrance to the Justical area. I did not see any normal way to make that jump as the box you have to stand on is too far from the next pile to make the jump. hence my questions.

[Lynk Former]

Lots of youtube vids online of people doing it maybe you're just not jumping from the right place. Good to check vids to see what's what.

[Canderis]

What are the skill trainers exactly? Are the skills they teach for you or your companion?

[adamqd]

The Skill Trainer allows you to buy skills for your Base class, Advanced class and Vehicle permits, Your Companion will gain new skills and attributes (Combat-wise) automatically as you level.

(In my case I was too poor to buy all the skills nearer 50, but made some cash from crafting and eventually paid for them all)

[mimartin]

Originally Posted by CrisG

I wish they gave us a force power like in Jedi Academy but i guess this demands other things.

You don't need no Jedi tricks to get the datacrons on Coruscant. You do have to have persistence and patience. I got them with my smuggler and my trooper, it isn't always easy, but that is kind of the point.

I will say this, these are easier to get either coming back after you finish the planet or doing when it time to go to the next planet. I know with my smuggler I kept falling into the same mob while jumping pipe to pipe, must have had to kill that same mob like 4 times. My tropper, lynk was wait on my, so I skipped the datacron and came back for it later. Way over leveled, so the mob did not attack and once they did they were 1 hit kills.

[CrisG]

I dont mind hard work but in both the ones I tried, and I did try, it got to the point that the frustration was not worth the effort... i know it is supposed to be hard...but also fun. I will try to find some You Tube movies of how people did it, and see. thanks for those suggestions and the posts.

[mimartin]

I'm sure there are better ones, but this is what I've been using. http://www.swtor-spy.com/datacrons/

[CrisG]

thanks mimartin, i will try again tonight and thanks so much for all the help from everyone, i dont mean to be such a light weight...... just trying to do my best....and i am not the best gamer by far, so i will try harder ..

ah that is a good link... ys i found that link last night it helped a lot, i was having trouble findihng where to start the search for the one in the Works, i think that is the one i have the best chance for until i figure out how to make it up the boxes

[Scorge]

I just realized I only got 3 datacrons........I hate trying to get those things.

[CrisG]

I am going back to Tython to get those, maybe get some practice.

[mimartin]

Originally Posted by MrObiWan

I just realized I only got 3 datacrons........I hate trying to get those things.

3 is all you really need, provided they are the right three.

[snommism]

Originally Posted by mimartin

3 is all you really need, provided they are the right three.

I believe you are thinking fo matrix shards?

[mimartin]

Originally Posted by snommism

I believe you are thinking fo matrix shards?

Yes

[CrisG]

I am up to six data crons..has been fun finding them.

Question about Flash missions....i saw one being offered in the space station but when i came back about half an hour later it was gone...so i missed out. Did not realize they were only there for a bit. Is it possible for a single player to do them or do we need a team?

[snommism]

Originally Posted by CrisG

Question about Flash missions....i saw one being offered in the space station but when i came back about half an hour later it was gone...so i missed out. Did not realize they were only there for a bit. Is it possible for a single player to do them or do we need a team?

That's where the "flash" comes in! gotta get em fast.

Just kidding, not sure why it would be gone.

You'll need a team of 4 to do them at the level they are appropriate, you may be able to get away with 3 and 1 companion but that can be tricky.

[mimartin]

Originally Posted by snommism

You'll need a team of 4 to do them at the level they are appropriate, you may be able to get away with 3 and 1 companion but that can be tricky.

Think it more depends on what level you are at. That first flashpoint, Lynk and I did it with companions (two DPS). Think dying was involved, but not beyond giving up. I even did a chunk of one flashpoint with my agent solo, until I found a chest that had the jacket I was looking for. That entailed a lot of stealth and sneak though (and dying). Still way easier with a group, but the lower level flashpoints are possible with 2 people and companions (if you don't mind some dying).

[CrisG]

cool thanks, and thanks for the help with my Sith Lord, that was very cool. I am shy about asking for help as I really am far below the skills of everyone else but i will keep trying and working at it. I am learning the mechanics of the game as i go along, just need to focus on the technical side of using the powers and still unclear about what the "focus" thing is about, for a while my Jedi stopped attacking because i had put a force power that had a Focus cost in first place on my force bar.... changed that and he came back to life but i still need to review the manual to understand what focus is about.

[mimartin]

It was no problem and the reason it was so easy had nothing to do with skill. I even messed up in the fight, but it was not noticeable because I was so over leveled. Ratdog jumped on me during the fight and I healed myself instead of you, so instead of just healing you I decided to attack. The quick death had nothing to do with me being more skilled and everything with me having a max level character.

From what I’ve seen from Lynk and Mav, when playing as a Tank you really do have to pay attention to the technical side. I will say the only way to do that as a Tank is get into groups as much as possible. Don’t make my mistake and play the entire story part of the game without actually learning how to correctly play your class. I played the entire game as a DPS player in a Healers body. All it did was make the game more difficult and did not help me learn my role in groups. I would have been way better off playing the game DPS and then switching to healer when I got to level 50, since I did nothing that taught me to correctly play as healer in a group while soloing the game.

Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help. That is what guild mates are for. I had to have Mav and Lynk rescue me from a couple of nasty characters in one fight. Had another one that gave me a problem later in the game that I was unable to kill until I was a couple levels above the boss. Luckily it was a bonus mission, so I just went to the next planet and came back to it later. I didn’t ask for help with that one because I was just too stupid and hardheaded to ask for help.

[CrisG]

Well it was very nice i really hated that Sith Lord after fighting him over and over for four days ....but i did learn a lot levelling up to try to beat him and even learned how to get to some of the datachrons, thanks for the good advice, i will work on what you advise. and thanks again.

[snommism]

Focus is the same as ammo, energy, or dare i say... mana? (I've not played a jedi char yet)

If so, and you are running out often, you may need to work on your "rotation." Alternate in skills that have low or no cost. I know as a vanguard tank, and on my smuggler healer, it is easy to use up this pool and not be able to use any worthwhile skills for a while, rendering you almost useless in the meantime.

[Tommycat]

Originally Posted by snommism

Focus is the same as ammo, energy, or dare i say... mana? (I've not played a jedi char yet)

If so, and you are running out often, you may need to work on your "rotation." Alternate in skills that have low or no cost. I know as a vanguard tank, and on my smuggler healer, it is easy to use up this pool and not be able to use any worthwhile skills for a while, rendering you almost useless in the meantime.

With Jedi they build up force. Leap attack gives you 2 points. basic attack gets 2 points, master strike gives you 3, so in 3 attacks you can be at 7 points to spend on attacks(that's just the basic attacks all jedi knights have). But like you said, it's all about rotation. While using your other skills pop one of those off to get your focus up.

[CrisG]

OK thanks, that makes sense after seeing how my character has been in action. i was using them somewhat at random. I will track down more info and go thru the manual. thanks again.

[Prime]

Not sure if this is the best place for this question, but how do I organize doing some of the group missions with other guild members? Both from a request standpoint and the fact that my character is somewhere in the galaxy other than the group mission trigger point. Do we all have to meet at that point, I assume? How do the level differences matter and what do I need to keep in mind?

Yes, I am a complete MMO newb, and up until now I have played TOR SP only.

[Miltiades]

You can group up with people wherever you are in the galaxy, as long as you know the names of the people. To go questing together, you'll obviously all have to be on the same planet. Usually, it doesn't take much longer than a minute to gather the group even if you're all on other planets.

Concerning requests, if I understand what you're wanting to know, you just ask through the guild channel if anyone can help with certain quests. If a guild member's on the same planet as you and around the same level, chances are s/he can help you.

About level differences: just make sure no one in the group is 7 levels above the recommended level for a specific quest, since you don't get any experience points for it then.

Other things to keep in mind: in a balanced group, you should play the role that fits your class and skills. This seems straightforward, but solo gameplay can be quite different from group gameplay. Certain situations require you to adapt, however. For example, my Mercenary (DPS) often took up the role of a modest healer when no other healer was around. In the later stages of the game, a lot more is required from group play and such things will not be sufficient, but for lower levels, this can work.

Also, quests like Heroic +4's can be quite overwhelming, with lots of elites and strong mobs. A CC skill (crowd control skill, which renders a target harmless for some time) is very useful in these situations, always make sure there's at least one member with such a skill for hard quests.

[snommism]

Originally Posted by Miltiades

Also, quests like Heroic +4's can be quite overwhelming, with lots of elites and strong mobs. A CC skill (crowd control skill, which renders a target harmless for some time) is very useful in these situations, always make sure there's at least one member with such a skill for hard quests.

And make sure that people understand that damaging an enemy that is CC'ed will break the CC. In other words, if an enemy is stunned, you will wake it up when you hit it. This means be VERY careful with AoEs and turn off the "auto target next enemy."
I'm always surprised how often I have to say this in operations... I'd be willing to bet money that breaking CC is the most common reason for wipes.

[Miltiades]

Indeed. But just to make sure, I think it's best if the group knows before the fight which mobs will be CC'ed, because it's not always that easy to recognize in the heat of battle.

[snommism]

Originally Posted by Miltiades

Indeed. But just to make sure, I think it's best if the group knows before the fight which mobs will be CC'ed, because it's not always that easy to recognize in the heat of battle.

Yup! Always best when targets are marked and a kill order is proposed. When in doubt, watch the tank and kill what he is targeting. I can't wait for Target of Target for this aspect.

[Mav]

"If you break my CC, I break you" that's the best policy right there.

[snommism]

agreed. I'm in a more casual guild so I don't name names, but make more general (and passive agressive) statements like "ok, we are going to be CCing some mobs here, if whoever broke the last CC can please take their aoes off their skill bar now. Otherwise we WILL wipe. thanks."

[Lynk Former]

Or you could just not be such asshats and take this so seriously. It's a game.

[snommism]

lol that too

[Hallucination]

Originally Posted by Lynk Former

Or you could just not be such asshats and take this so seriously. It's a game.

That's stupid, MMORPG's are descended from tabletop RPG's, and the whole point of those is to win.