Noob questions

[Miasma]

Is there a shared vault between characters?

No, you have to mail.

They come at various story points, yeah. I don't think they're specifically gated by level, just by when you can actually finish the missions you get them on?

They are somewhat gated by levels, i got to Hoth severely underleveled and i wasn't even let out of the space port.

That's odd, I was running around Hoth at level 28 just to look around.  I went to all the planets and the only one that barred me was the destoryed city world that wanted me to be vaccinated.

The first companion is when you finish your starting world, then you get your ship and the droid in there sort of counts as a companion, the rest are entirely class specific.

[Ingmar]

Hoth had the same sort of entry quest as the vaccination planet (Quesh) it looked like - I had to get my 'winter survival gear' or something from the guy in the orbital station.

[Threash]

My mistake, i meant Quesh.

[rattran]

I went to Hoth, noodled around well before I got my cold weather gear. Level 33 when I finished the initial story arc (and got stomped by Wampa)  Quesh is gated though.

[Soln]

Is companion affection just another grind?   And for gifts, do we have to have underworld or the correct tradeskill for the items they want, or can we buy them off the AH? 

[Thrawn]

Is companion affection just another grind?   And for gifts, do we have to have underworld or the correct tradeskill for the items they want, or can we buy them off the AH? 

You can buy gifts from vendors.  It's a cheap easy way to level affection quickly.

[tmp]

I just view the affection bar as compatibility meter with the companion -- if it grows it's nice, if it doesn't too bad but nothing to cry over.

[eldaec]

Is there any way to use medpacks or stims on a companion?

[Zetor]

There are special medpacks made with biochem that heal both you and the companion. That's about it, IIRC -- of course if you use your out-of-combat regen skill, it regens your companion as well.

The only way I know of to increase the companion's power (other than gear) is by stacking the 'Presence' stat.

[Hawkbit]

Is there an obvious way to tell what class a companion is?  Mako, for example, has a pretty high cunning stat.  I assume that means she is an agent type companion and I'm giving her cunning weighted gear.  Or am I missing something?

[calapine]

Is there an obvious way to tell what class a companion is?  Mako, for example, has a pretty high cunning stat.  I assume that means she is an agent type companion and I'm giving her cunning weighted gear.  Or am I missing something?

Look at the companions codex entry. (Same tab as mission log.) It not only has fluff text but lists the companions primary/secondary stat and preferred weapon.

[eldaec]

Also you can look at any piece of gear that has their name on it and see what stats it gives (everything they start with and all companion specific quest rewards are called 'Mako's knickers' or whatever).

[cironian]

Like so many things in this game, the companion stats are a good game mechanic but UI fail.

It wouldn't have been hard to find some way to mark the one primary stat in the character sheet (text highlighting, mouseover tooltip, whatever), but instead you have to either scan specific gear for the stat or navigate away from outfitting your companion through several levels of UI to read through a block of text in the codex.

[Zetor]

Some of the companions are also pretty much mirror images from the other faction, without accounting for gear availability. For example Elara (trooper healing companion) is a mirror of Mako (BH healing companion), but she's supposed to be a trooper so her main stat is Aim instead of Cunning. This is OK for the most part (since you can just pass your own gear down to her or take the companion-specific quest rewards), but she's using a blaster pistol instead of a blaster rifle, and blaster pistols on the republic side are itemized for Cunning instead of Aim (smugglers). You *can* get an orange blaster pistol for some commendations and use +Aim mods to fix this, but that's not a very intuitive solution.

Qyzen (consular companion) also has some issues, since he is a melee tank but his main stat is Aim. He also uses electrostaffs that are very rare to find and I haven't run across any drops or oranges -- your only options are to do the planet quests that upgrade his weapon, or find an armstech that can make electrostaffs. Even then I'm not sure there is a good blue/purple-quality option for him at level 50...

[DraconianOne]

It wouldn't have been hard to find some way to mark the one primary stat in the character sheet (text highlighting, mouseover tooltip, whatever), but instead you have to either scan specific gear for the stat or navigate away from outfitting your companion through several levels of UI to read through a block of text in the codex.

If you mouseover the stats on the companion sheet then, as I understand it, the primary stat is the one that you'll see one that affects multiple attributes.

You can also make an educated guess based on preferred weapon and armour types (eg. a ranged weapon and heavy armour suggests Aim as a primary stat).

[cironian]

Sure, and that's good enough for us poopsockers who already know how the whole stat system is supposed to work, but it's not much help for the newcomers who need the information the most. Like any bad UI, it hurts newbies far more than those who have gotten used to working around the problems.

[DraconianOne]

Who are you calling a poopsocker? I think it's one of the loading screen tips - I'm pretty sure that's how I found out about it. Yes it would be nice to have the UI flag it straight away but it's really not hard to find the info if you want to know. It just seems like a little thing to worry about, UI wise, when you've got fucking monstrosities like the AH interface that doesn't even filter by slot. 

[Cyrrex]

I would also submit that the average noob who can't figure it out from the various clues probably also doesn't give two shits.  You get companion gear pretty early, and you can see what the primary and secondary stats on them are for your companion (they never change).  If you can't figure it out from that, then either you'll never care, or it's too early in the game for it to matter much.

[cironian]

Who are you calling a poopsocker?

Well, "us" refers to a group including the speaker, but not necessarily the one being spoken to, if it makes your fragile ego feel better. Perhaps "hardcore MMO gamers who actually care enough read forums and shit" would have been clearer, but not as funny.

[angry.bob]

Ugh, approximately when do I get a ship?

[apocrypha]

Level 15-17 depending on how fast you get through your class quests.

[tmp]

Sure, and that's good enough for us poopsockers who already know how the whole stat system is supposed to work, but it's not much help for the newcomers who need the information the most. Like any bad UI, it hurts newbies far more than those who have gotten used to working around the problems.

The UI pops up with a "here's a codex about your companion, please click the button to read it, oh god why don't you read it" when your companion joins you. I reckon someone who is supposed to be a newcomer that can't figure that or is unwilling to follow... will have far more trouble figuring out how the fuck put equipment on the companion in the first place or that it's even possible. Since it requires all the fancy tab switching in the character UI window and whatnot.

Which is a in itself, but that's another story.

[Ghambit]

Is it not possible to apply both your keyfob security key AND your 'droid app version?  There are times when I dont have my phone but my fob is sitting there, and vice versa.   I got the fob assuming I'd be able to apply it, but alas... no luck so far.

[Nebu]

What's the best way to make credits at level 50?  Skills are so damn expensive... as are repairs (37k after running a Flashpoint... really?) that I need to find a way to keep a steady supply of credits rolling in.  I enjoy pvp, but it doesn't pay well. 

[Sjofn]

It just seems like a little thing to worry about, UI wise, when you've got fucking monstrosities like the AH interface that doesn't even filter by slot. 

Preach it. Figuring out what stat my companion wants was easy. I moused over a piece of their gear when I got them, done. The AH is a fucking abomination.

[Azuredream]

What's the best way to make credits at level 50?  Skills are so damn expensive... as are repairs (37k after running a Flashpoint... really?) that I need to find a way to keep a steady supply of credits rolling in.  I enjoy pvp, but it doesn't pay well. 

I am not sure if it is the same republic side, but there are dailies available on Belsavis and Ilum that reward a decent amount of credits.

[Nebu]

I play empire.  I'll look around Ilum.  I've been doing some quests there, but a few are still buggy.

Any other suggestions welcome.  Teh auction house needs some love in this game.

[Lt.Dan]

So, I've levelled a few classes to around 12-13 to try and find something interesting to play.  About what level would you say each class comes into their own, i.e. class defining ability, able to tank or heal.

- dps Sage to 12 but would like to be a healer longer term (I find the mage gameplay to be pretty boring and the spell effects to be blah. For some reason force throw really disappoints me - dirt storm of death is not particularly interesting).
- Jedi Sentinel to 12 - seems enjoyable but not overly interesting.  Doesn't do what it says on the packet...an agile fighting approach doesn't equate to combat animations of standing in place.
- trooper tank to 13 - fun enough but a paper tank.  Might improve at 14 with boost to shield%
- Working on a Jedi guardian (tank) at the moment to see if melee tanking more fun than ranged tanking.  Plus force jump + sweep never gets old.

Also interested in hearing about what you love/hate about each of those classes.

[Reg]

I don't think you've played any of those classes to nearly a high enough level to see what they have to offer. My Juggernaut just hit 31 and it's only now that he's starting to feel like a serious tank.

[Miasma]

You know when I build my impenetrable fortress I'm going to be the one guy smart enough to put the force field generator - inside the force field - that way one random dude can't go smash up my generator and screw everything up.  I have come up with this brilliant strategy after being given what must be my tenth external force field generator to turn off.

[cironian]

You know when I build my impenetrable fortress I'm going to be the one guy smart enough to put the force field generator - inside the force field - that way one random dude can't go smash up my generator and screw everything up.  I have come up with this brilliant strategy after being given what must be my tenth external force field generator to turn off.

Don't count on that tech becoming available soon. They still won't have it figured out by the time of the Battle of Endor.

[Ratman_tf]

So, I've levelled a few classes to around 12-13 to try and find something interesting to play.  About what level would you say each class comes into their own, i.e. class defining ability, able to tank or heal.

- dps Sage to 12 but would like to be a healer longer term (I find the mage gameplay to be pretty boring and the spell effects to be blah. For some reason force throw really disappoints me - dirt storm of death is not particularly interesting).
- Jedi Sentinel to 12 - seems enjoyable but not overly interesting.  Doesn't do what it says on the packet...an agile fighting approach doesn't equate to combat animations of standing in place.
- trooper tank to 13 - fun enough but a paper tank.  Might improve at 14 with boost to shield%
- Working on a Jedi guardian (tank) at the moment to see if melee tanking more fun than ranged tanking.  Plus force jump + sweep never gets old.

Also interested in hearing about what you love/hate about each of those classes.

I don't remember exactly what levels, but my Sith Juggernaut had taunt, stance and a single target aggro debuff when I grouped at level 19. I tanked quite well, we were just missing crowd control.  

[ajax34i]

Played Jedi Sage to level 17 and Jedi Guardian to 23.

Jedi Sage has a bar-full of damage abilities and 2 heals + shield by level 17, but has two rather large issues, in my opinion:

1.  Your only companion is the lizard tank, whom (because he's a tank) you have to gear him up so he can soak the damage, but the only techblades in-game seem to be from NPC weapons vendors and they're horribly overpriced and suck.  So your tank will miss quite a bit of oomph and endurance due to no decent weapon slot.  And, your only companion for a while is this ugly lizard.

2.  Targeting controls suck, and I've found it very difficult to switch from heals to damage to heals on the fly.  You kinda have to focus him and use the focus-modifier key.  Several times an elite caught me by surprise and I died very fast, despite the fact that I didn't freeze and had all the cooldowns available.  I just couldn't control targeting very well.

The Jedi Guardian has quite a few attacks by level 20 and you start getting taunts after that.  Doesn't DPS very well, but at least you get two useful companions who are easy to itemize, and they will DPS for you.  Also had two problems with the tank, imo:

1.  Targeting again sucks.  I kill 3 mobs out of 4 and then I'm standing there like an idiot cause nothing is targeted.

2.  Camera control sucks.  As a tank you kinda need to look behind you to see what the group is doing or if anything's headed for the healer, and between having to target and having to move the camera I just found it too difficult.

Despite no previous MMO tanking experience and plenty of MMO healer experience, I've had more success (and fun) with the guardian than with the seer.  Force Leap is awesome - I've leapt up cliffsides to the top and down from the top, and if it says "you can't see your target" (cause it's behind cover), you can often just jump up and activate Force Leap at the top of your jump and it'll go through.

[Sjofn]

If you know any armswhatever people, they make techblades, for what it's worth.

[Tyrnan]

The focus casting really needs sorting out. As far as I can tell, from casual observation though 18 levels of playing a Scoundrel and screaming at my PC "No heal Corso you stupid fucking thing!", the game will disregard the focus cast key if you try to queue up a focus cast while another ability is animating on another target. As long as you wait for the attack/whatever to finish it seems to work fine.

Might do some more testing on it today (if I manage to update the test server before 4pm), it sounds like it might be a problem with the ability queue not checking for a target change/modifier.