BOXability of SWTOR

[Mercbeast]

Technically it is possible to get two clients open on one PC as of last build. However, these are not very viable options for MBing.

So yes, you can install a virtual machine and run a second copy of TOR but it probably isn't going to run very well, it probably won't even be playable.

Last build I leveled one character to 50, boxed two more to 50 and boxed another duo to 35. ISboxer running in multiple computer mode with two accounts is perfectly manageable. I ran my second character on a 4 year old gaming laptop that cost about 700 dollars then, it was a little slower in terms of loading but it was perfectly playable.

[Esca]

Technically it is possible to get two clients open on one PC as of last build. However, these are not very viable options for MBing.

So yes, you can install a virtual machine and run a second copy of TOR but it probably isn't going to run very well, it probably won't even be playable.

Last build I leveled one character to 50, boxed two more to 50 and boxed another duo to 35. ISboxer running in multiple computer mode with two accounts is perfectly manageable. I ran my second character on a 4 year old gaming laptop that cost about 700 dollars then, it was a little slower in terms of loading but it was perfectly playable.

Were you doing Flashpoints with your duos? If so, what were their advanced classes and which companions did you use most of the time?

[Mercbeast]

Yes I ran some flash points.

I cleared District 7 I think it is called, with a level 50 Mercenary + Mako the healer and a level 50 Operative and Scorpio the melee tank.

The Operative didn't actually level up with the Mercenary, I leveled the Operative with an Assassin. That team face rolled pretty much all the content with the exception of a couple of boss fights in flash points due to agro switching mechanics.

One fight in particular in the flashpoint boarding party has you fight 2 bosses + an elite medic. One boss cannot be tanked because it has a huge damage reflection shield on it, and it automatically swaps it's agro every 10s or so. This made it very difficult to manage tanking and healing with a boss that could basically "global" my operative.

I think in retail I will run one of these duo's, double operatives, Powertech + Operative, Mercenary + Operative, Mercenary + Powertech or the Republic equivalents. Who am I kidding, I will eventually run all of them!

For leveling and doing all the content pretty much any combination that has you with a tank or a healer will work.

Double juggernaughts + 2 companion healers will clear everything I think. Double assassion + 2 companion healers will also clear everything. Jugg+Marauder will probably also clear everything. The only real advantage I see of running double tank over tank + dps is that companion healers do not heal as well as a player. Two companion healers will be enough healing for 95% of everything you do, but, with double tanks you can switch tanks and rotate like that.

Obviously sorcerors and sages will be extremely viable and in terms of what I think the absolute best possible duo for PvP AND PvE will be, they are going to be right there with Merc/Merc Merc/PT. Operative/Operative is the sleeper for me, this coming build I will try to hit 50 with Op/Op before skyrim I think and do a little PvP. Healing wise Op/Op will be INSANE, they also will boast INSANE burst DPS. The only question will be how will autofollow work in PvP when you don't autoface.

[Lyonheart]

Yes I ran some flash points.

I cleared District 7 I think it is called, with a level 50 Mercenary + Mako the healer and a level 50 Operative and Scorpio the melee tank.

The Operative didn't actually level up with the Mercenary, I leveled the Operative with an Assassin. That team face rolled pretty much all the content with the exception of a couple of boss fights in flash points due to agro switching mechanics.

One fight in particular in the flashpoint boarding party has you fight 2 bosses + an elite medic. One boss cannot be tanked because it has a huge damage reflection shield on it, and it automatically swaps it's agro every 10s or so. This made it very difficult to manage tanking and healing with a boss that could basically "global" my operative.

I think in retail I will run one of these duo's, double operatives, Powertech + Operative, Mercenary + Operative, Mercenary + Powertech or the Republic equivalents. Who am I kidding, I will eventually run all of them!

For leveling and doing all the content pretty much any combination that has you with a tank or a healer will work.

Double juggernaughts + 2 companion healers will clear everything I think. Double assassion + 2 companion healers will also clear everything. Jugg+Marauder will probably also clear everything. The only real advantage I see of running double tank over tank + dps is that companion healers do not heal as well as a player. Two companion healers will be enough healing for 95% of everything you do, but, with double tanks you can switch tanks and rotate like that.

Obviously sorcerors and sages will be extremely viable and in terms of what I think the absolute best possible duo for PvP AND PvE will be, they are going to be right there with Merc/Merc Merc/PT. Operative/Operative is the sleeper for me, this coming build I will try to hit 50 with Op/Op before skyrim I think and do a little PvP. Healing wise Op/Op will be INSANE, they also will boast INSANE burst DPS. The only question will be how will autofollow work in PvP when you don't autoface.

I'm jealous that you get to box the beta..WAaaAAaa! Videos and guides please! ( after NDA lifts of course )

[Altsoba]

Yes I ran some flash points.

I cleared District 7 I think it is called, with a level 50 Mercenary + Mako the healer and a level 50 Operative and Scorpio the melee tank.

The Operative didn't actually level up with the Mercenary, I leveled the Operative with an Assassin. That team face rolled pretty much all the content with the exception of a couple of boss fights in flash points due to agro switching mechanics.

One fight in particular in the flashpoint boarding party has you fight 2 bosses + an elite medic. One boss cannot be tanked because it has a huge damage reflection shield on it, and it automatically swaps it's agro every 10s or so. This made it very difficult to manage tanking and healing with a boss that could basically "global" my operative.

I think in retail I will run one of these duo's, double operatives, Powertech + Operative, Mercenary + Operative, Mercenary + Powertech or the Republic equivalents. Who am I kidding, I will eventually run all of them!

For leveling and doing all the content pretty much any combination that has you with a tank or a healer will work.

Double juggernaughts + 2 companion healers will clear everything I think. Double assassion + 2 companion healers will also clear everything. Jugg+Marauder will probably also clear everything. The only real advantage I see of running double tank over tank + dps is that companion healers do not heal as well as a player. Two companion healers will be enough healing for 95% of everything you do, but, with double tanks you can switch tanks and rotate like that.

Obviously sorcerors and sages will be extremely viable and in terms of what I think the absolute best possible duo for PvP AND PvE will be, they are going to be right there with Merc/Merc Merc/PT. Operative/Operative is the sleeper for me, this coming build I will try to hit 50 with Op/Op before skyrim I think and do a little PvP. Healing wise Op/Op will be INSANE, they also will boast INSANE burst DPS. The only question will be how will autofollow work in PvP when you don't autoface.

Thank you for sharing your experience.
Would it be safe to say that a possible combo would also be:
Jugg+Assassin+ 2 companion Healers?

I'm asking this because they use different types of armor and if I'm not mistaken, with this combo you'll be able to use any kind of loot (heavy-medium-light armor).

Cheers,
A.

[Mercbeast]

Thank you for sharing your experience.
Would it be safe to say that a possible combo would also be:
Jugg+Assassin+ 2 companion Healers?

I'm asking this because they use different types of armor and if I'm not mistaken, with this combo you'll be able to use any kind of loot (heavy-medium-light armor).

Cheers,
A.

This should work absolutely.

I will say this however, any class composition you come up with that relies on your companions to be the primary healers is going to be the bottom tier in terms of effectiveness.

Ranking the effectiveness of companions it quickly becomes clear that the tank companions not only win the marathon, they are collecting their trophy before anyone else starts.

If you do not run a full four man group, I adamantly believe having a group composition that supports a companion tank in PvE is the winner. I can quickly rank the companion archetypes for you and my reasoning for this.

#1 Melee Tanks. Many tank abilities are PBAOE based (point blank area of effect). Melee tanks have to run up to stuff to hit them, this means that generally they are in range to get the most out of their abilities. To put it simply, right now Companion tanks hold threat and mitigate as well as players can.

#2 Ranged Tanks. With the current tank mechanics, these guys suffer slightly from often not being in range to hit enemies with their PBAOE abilities. I expect this mechanic to be fixed promptly!

#3 Ranged DPS. These guys are generally superior for two reasons, they get on target more quickly, and they avoid any PBAOE lowering the healing load. (These guys are far and away #1 for PvP though!) Both DPS classes put out less DPS than a DPS player will.

#4 Melee DPS. They might actually put out more DPS this build than range DPS, but due to the fact they have to run to the target (can take a bit of time) and then they can take significant damage from AOE, I have to rank them as less useful.

#5 Healers. Keep in mind this is a group rating. When solo I actually prefer healers, even if I can heal myself. The reason why Healers rank 5th in the group environment is simply this, their healing output is low. One player can comfortably out heal two companions.

When I leveled my Operative/Assassin combo I primarily used a ranged tank with a single healer companion. In flashpoints I would be forced to supplement the healing of the healer with the operative.

At the very least I would recommend one healer in your team. So while Jugg Assassin or Jugg Marauder will probably work, Jugg/Sorceror would work better, Assassin/Sorceror is going to be the ideal force user duo IMO. Also, keep this in mind, there will be a flashpoint Hardmode at release. Basically WoW heroics. It might be that at 50 for the Hardmodes a companion tank simply will not suffice in which case Tank/Healer becomes the gold standard. If you only run two Tank/Healer with double ranged DPS companions is the ultimate group. If anyone is planning to run 4, I know there are a few, here are the two groups I expect to be the absolute cream of the crop in PvP and PvE respectively.

In PvP 4x Mercenary (Or drop one Mercenary and drive with a powertech)

In PvE 3x Operative(Sorc's also in this discussion) 1x Powertech.


Mercenaries are quite simply ridiculous. I would argue that they currently reside at number 1 or number 2 in terms of DPS if they are going all out. By going all out they will drop their ultimate DPS potential significantly after about 15 seconds. Stacking Mercenaries counters this, more Mercenaries on a target means they don't need to blast away for as long. Additionally death from above (and the republic analog) is the most devastating ability in the game. Combine this with a passive DR through armor that will hover north of 40% and spike up to around 60% at need, AND they heal. Ya they are beastmode. You could do all the content in the game with 4 Mercs quite easily I think.

Powertechs, and Vanguards are the best tank right now. Ranged tanking doesn't suffer for players like it does with companions.

[Altsoba]

Mercbeast,

This is quite an impressive analysis. Thank you very much for both the awesome content and your time.
I'd love to run 4x too (I'm a former wow 10 boxer) but since no more than one client runs per machine that'll make logistics quite difficult (I have two/three computers).

I believe you're using IS and so am I. Never tried the multi computer setup but I also have no way of trying it with SWtOR at the moment.

I think I'll have more questions for you in the near future but I didn't want to miss the opportunity of thanking you .

Have a good weekend,
A.

PS: Btw, you'll be playing US or EU?

[Lyonheart]

why not two Sorcs? One healing specd and one dps. They can both still heal.. they both have melee tank pets that do good damage. With two Val Khems.. I'm sure they could handle anything non hard mode. Later you can change one of the tank pets for a DPS.

[Mercbeast]

why not two Sorcs? One healing specd and one dps. They can both still heal.. they both have melee tank pets that do good damage. With two Val Khems.. I'm sure they could handle anything non hard mode. Later you can change one of the tank pets for a DPS.

2 Sorcs would work well as well. I thought you were interested in at least some melee component to your group. For easy of leveling initially ya 2 Sorc will beat Sorc/Assassin.

[Mercbeast]

Mercbeast,

This is quite an impressive analysis. Thank you very much for both the awesome content and your time.
I'd love to run 4x too (I'm a former wow 10 boxer) but since no more than one client runs per machine that'll make logistics quite difficult (I have two/three computers).

I believe you're using IS and so am I. Never tried the multi computer setup but I also have no way of trying it with SWtOR at the moment.

I think I'll have more questions for you in the near future but I didn't want to miss the opportunity of thanking you .

Have a good weekend,
A.

PS: Btw, you'll be playing US or EU?

Yea, I am running ISboxer with the multiple computer linkup. I think that two accounts right now is the sweet spot in terms of manageability and group effectiveness. Not having the MBing friendly mod support of WoW really reminds you of how simple playing a single character can be when it comes to the mundane stuff like picking up loot, accepting quests, crafting etc.

I'll be playing US with my guild, we want to go imperial, but Republic will probably win out due to population differences.