Current Build

GUARDIAN BUILD | SHADOW BUILD | TROOPER BUILD

This is my current build (as of June 28, 2012).  I'll drop an overview of my current talent set and explanations of why I'm specc'd how I am.

Previous Builds:
32/9/0 - More focus and accuracy - Replaced January 30, 2012
33/8/0 - Became obsolete in Patch 1.2 since they re-organized the trees
32/7/2 - Talents changed in Patch 1.3

Guardian Current Talent Build: 32/7/2
Torhead link

I'm still at the mercy of speccing for PvP and PvE with a single spec because I don't like having to pay to change it so much.  There are only minor changes I would make anyway - so it is less onerous than it used to be.

Defence:


Momentum (2/2) - Free bladestorms just can't be beat
Dust Storm (3/3) - PvE Specific.  Accuracy doesn't have much (if any) effect on other players.
Victory Rush (2/2) - Core Ability

Solidified Force (2/2) - This is more of a PvP ability, I decided to decrease my focus cost here since I've started seeing more and more useful situations for a snare
Lunge (2/2) - PvE Specific.  This is my compromise to not filling up Blade Barricade since Defence doesn't do much in PvP combat, at least having a cheap Riposte allows me to spam it in PvE as often as it lights.
Guard Stance (3/3) - Core Ability

Pacification (1/1) - Core Ability
Purifying Sweep (2/2) - Best change to our tree in Patch 1.3
Warding Call (1/1) - Core Ability
Blade Barricade (0/3) - PvE Specific, and this was dropped from 2% per point to 1% per point.  Defence has little or no effect on PvP combat at this point in time, if I was doing less PvP I'd take the points from Solidified Force and put them here.

Courage (2/2) - Core Skill
Blade Barrier (2/2) - This is controversial since people don't feel the damage reduction is high enough to warrant the talent points.  I disagree.  This is essentially a 1k heal skill every time I use blade storm (which is often).  Now scales with stats as of Patch 1.3
Stasis Mastery (1/1) - Core Skill

Command (0/2) - This lost most of it's usefulness when they removed the cooldown for our AoE taunt, with better options now I leave this alone.
Shield Specialization (2/2) - Core Skill
Hilt Strike (1/1) - Core Skill

Cyclonic Sweeps (3/3) - Core Skill
Inner Peace (2/2) - After the respec of our trees I managed to take this and still keep my utility.  I've noticed a large difference in survivability - for anyone that was skipping this, I take back what I said ... it's worth it.

Guardian Slash (1/1) - Core Skill.  Patch 1.3 actually reduced the damage significantly on this attack - enough to really notice it.  I don't have any issues with threat (like I ever did) but I miss the damage.  It is fun to stack sunder and use the AOE on it though.

Vigilance:


Single Saber Mastery (3/3) - This is where I invested my points rather than in Blade Barricade.  With the 1.3 changes this boosts defense by 3% all the time.
Stagger (0/2) - Basically useless, immobilize doesn't do anything for me - I really miss my stun though.
Improved Sundering Strike (2/2) - Core Skill

Accuracy (0/3) - After having this for a while and now not having it for a while, I would never waste my points here again.
Perserverence (2/2) - Best benefit for the talent points.
Defiance (0/2) - PvP specific.  I've been doing more Ops tanking and less PvP - also I am being focused more in PvP and when I'm stunned I usually die too quickly to make use of the built of focus.  I could potentially see this synergising with Focused Defense - something to think about.

Focus:


Master Focus (0/2) - useless for a tank
Insight (0/3) - useless for a tank
Swelling Winds (2/2) - Core Skill.  They moved this to the Focus tree in 1.2 so we have to dip over here to pick it up.

-- I've scrapped the equipment sections, there isn't much point now that I'm modding orange stuff with augments, it's hard to show that in a specific equipment list.  Instead I'm planning to stick a general equipment idea with some specifics on how I've set them up with the overall unbuffed stats.

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# This is my current build (as of March 16, 2012).  I'll drop an overview of my current talent set and explanations of why I'm specc'd how I am.

Previous Builds:
33/0/8 - First attempt at a tanking build - Replaced March 16, 2012

Shadow Current Talent Build: 31/0/10
Torhead link

Kinetic Combat:

Applied Force (0/2) - More damage, but only on double strike which isn't in my rotation very much
Double Bladed Saber Defense (2/2) - Required for Tanking
Technique Mastery (3/3) - Increased Elemental defense, Required for PvP

Mental Fortitude (3/3) - Larger health pool, not necessary, but helpful.
Elusiveness (2/2) - This is an important skill, Resilience is a fantasic cooldown and I personally should use it more often
Rapid Recovery (2/2) - More passive heals and damage, I feel this is a core skill for tanking.
Expertise (0/3) - I thought this meant all technique skills, but it appears to only affect the stance damage effect - way less useful than anticipated.

Mind over Matter (1/1) - I see this as more of a PvP centric ability
Particle Acceleration (1/1) - Project crits, yay
Kinetic Ward (1/1) - Core skill
Shadowsight (2/2) - I took this for the defense, the stealth detection isn't a big deal, but I couldn't find another skill that would benefit me more.

Impact Control (2/2) - Core Skill for tanking
One with the Force (3/3) - Core skill for anyone

Bombardment (1/1) - Core skill for tanking
Stasis (1/1) - Many people say they play a Kinetic spec just top have kick outside of stealth
Force Pull (1/1) - Core skill
Nerve Wracking (0/3) - This would be more useful in PvP, but not useful enough to take the points from elsewhere.  As a tank skill in PvE it's useless, most things that you want to use it on are immune to kick/stun.

Harnessed Shadows (2/2) - Core skill
Force Break (3/3) - Core skill

Slow Time (1/1) - Awesome AOE threat move, critical for Tanks to have this.

Balance:

Force Synercy (3/3) - Not a better option to get higher in the tree
Jedi Resistance (2/2) - Flat damage reduction, Core Skill

Pinning Resolve (0/2)
Upheaval (3/3) - 50% more damage 45% of the time, great for extra burst.
Focused Insight (0/2)
Psychokinesis (2/2) - Still testing to see if the return is worth the investment here

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# This is my current build (as of June 28, 2012).  I'll drop an overview of my current talent set and explanations of why I'm specc'd how I am.

Previous Builds:
none yet

Trooper Current Talent Build: 31/7/3
Torhead link

Shield Specialist:

Static Field (2/2) - Initially I'd skipped over this, but after the recent respec I came back to it.  5% damage reduction is nothing to sneeze at
Intimidation (1/3) - I'm not in this to do damage, so this point is just mandatory to move up the tree
Brutal Impact (2/2) - I debated for a while on whether I wanted to take this or increase the elemental damage, I opted in for HiB because at this point until I get some more practice in with the new build.

Neural Overload (1/1) - Free Snare on whoever I'm attacking, always nice.  I've debated taking these points and putting them elsewhere for PvE.  PvP you can't beat this skill, but I don't PvP on this guy much.
Ion Overload (2/2) - Core Skill
Steely Resolve (2/3) - Would have liked to finish this off, but couldn't find the poitns
Rebraced Armor (2/2) - Core Skill

Shield Cycler (2/2) - Core skill
Smoke Grenade (1/1) - This is a great cooldown for many boss fights.  I would recommend picking it up.
Ceramic Plating (2/2) - Core skill

Defensive Measures (0/2) - Don't PvP, dont' need this.
Superchanged Ion Cell (1/1) - Core skill, as of 1.3 our best AOE threat skill.
Ion Shield (2/2) - Core Skill
Static Shield (2/2) - Lots of extra damage comes from this skill, less than pre-1.3, but still lots.

Storm (1/1) - Core skill, can't beat a gap closer
Charge (0/1) - Don't need the movement increase
Static Surge (2/2) - This was our new addition in 1.3.  Still testing this out to see if the 2 free Explosive Surges are good or a waste of talent points.  For AOE snap threat I imagine it will be quite helpful.

Counterattack (3/3) - Core skill
Power Screen (2/2) - Core skill

Energy Blast (1/1) - I'm still underwhelmed by this talent, but it's a free damage shot that regens 1 ammo.  Taking it as what it is - I'm not usually disappointed when I use it.

Tactics:

Demolition (0/2) - Could be useful, but not on a priority
Containment Tactics (2/2) - Again I'm planning to test this, these points will probably get move to Demolition later
Focused Impact (3/3) - I consider this a core skill even for the tanking tree.  Vanguards really need that extra single target power.

Blaster Augs (0/1) - Doesn't help tanks much, a small boost on our passive damage isn't necessary
Frontline Offense (0/2) - pure damage skill again, not necessary
Power Armor (2/2) - Core skill, the whole reason I invest points lower in this tree
Tactical Tools (0/2) - Don't need the CD reductions

Assault Specialist:


Ionized Ignition (0/3) - No use for us
Heavy Stock (2/2) - Before 1.3 I took this skill because of the other boosts that SS got.  Now it is less useful than some other talents
Soldier's Endurance (3/3) - Core skill - more HP, what else do you need to know.