Tips & tricks for swtor **Updated with new info**

Just thought I'd start a thread aimed at sharing info that isn't always obvious to everyone. Please feel free to add stuff, especially if you know it all, Mr Epic SWTOR Loremaster 10+ hehe

UI related
Ctrl-MouseWheel Up/Down: Changes Field of Vision. (Think Quake/Unreal Tournament) At the extremes, this is a trippy way to play, but if it is used moderately, it will pull your camera a little further back so you can see a bit more.
Shift-MouseWheel Up/Down: Changes Height of Camera. If you have a big hulking character, you can use this feature to raise the camera up a higher so you can see over your character better.
Area Looting: Preferences -> Controls -> General -> Enable Area Loot
Extra Bars: Through the Interface section in Preferences, the second section allows you to show up to 4 additional Quickslot Bars. One below the Default Bar. (This will push the Default Bar up.) One on the Right Side of the screen, and one on the Left Side of the screen.
Chat window: Shift+C
If you have interface glitches, try pressing CTRL+U twice: it’ll hide and then show it, forcing a reload.
You can use /stuck command if you get stuck
How to change healing frames:
How to setup and use the Focus frame: www.youtube.com/user/TORHangout#p/u/4/BujnSlyXhGs

Advanced Classes
You actually need to talk to the advanced class trainer, not your trainer, to choose and accept your advanced class at lvl 10. After that, you train your skills as normal from your trainer. One thing I missed at the trainer, which seems so obvious now haha, is that there is also an advanced class TAB, where there is more skills to train.

Crafting
You get 450 exp for each crew skill trainer you visit (there are 14 trainers).
With the current game build you can train crew skills at level one.
After gathering, you can leave your crafting materials in Cargo Hold (bank) and your companions can craft even though the materials aren’t in your bag.

Global Tips
Area Looting: Preferences -> Controls -> General -> Enable Area Loot.
Fast Travel: When you start remember to click on the fast travel droid station located right outside the cantina you start in. It will help you get back to this quest hub faster later on.
Bind Points: There are bind point terminals scattered all over every planet. You can bind to each one. Using your Quick Travel skill you can travel to any of the terminals you previously bound to, not just the latest one.
Switching Instances: To cut down on overcrowding, SWTOR uses an Instanced system to separate the same location into multiple copies. When you join a party for a Heroic, you are not always in the same instance. To change, open your map. In the bottom right corner, there is a "World Map" with a title bar labeled "AREA" click the drop down menu and select the instance with your party leader/party in it. THIS WILL USE YOUR FAST TRAVEL HEARTH and you WILL NOT be able to switch instances again for 30 MINUTES.

Huttball
When in this pvp game, the point is to get the ball, the column of light thingy, and get it across the line. You're actually given an ability to pass it, however the person needs to be in the aoe. Doesn't matter if you're midair or whatnot. Passes are instant.

Companion related
For full list on companions, what skill bonuses they have and what gifts they like, check out this site, (btw its abit spoilerish seeing your full companions and you'll need to go to the specfic companion page to view the complete info): www.swtor-spy.com/companions/

Your ship droid is also a healer companion, be sure to equip gear on him.
Your companion can sell trash (gray) items for you. Just right click on the companion icon and choose the option Sell trash items.
Companion Looting: Shift-Right Clicking sends your companion to loot/gather.
There are level restrictions to how many companions you can send to craft at the same time. You can send 2 companions up to level 27, 3 companions up to level 37, 4 companions up to level 47, and 5 companions at level 48-50.
To show companion tooltips: Preferences > User Interface > Tooltip
"Enable Companion Comparative Tooltips"
Your companion will never leave or attack you, no matter how low is your affection with him.
You will reduce the time for crafting by increasing affection with your companion. Also, the success rate on missions is increased with higher affection.
You can talk with your companion in private in your ship or cantina rooms
You can finish some group content like Heroic quests or Flashpoints with your companion (the group size can not exceed 4), but you cannot take them in PvP Warzones or Raids.

Companions can be customized, there is a special slot in their inventory to equip a new look/skin. These skins are also able to be previewed on the companion, ctrl+right click. Apparently there is more than just three skins, some are available from the social vendor, others from the CE vendor store (BoP though) and there is vendors in the Taris and Balmorra Cantinas also have some for sale.

Read the codex if you're unsure how to make dialogue choices to please a companion. It will tell you their likes and dislikes.

Lastly, your ship is just like a companion, has an inventory for you to gear it up for greatness. Space combat can earn you titles, credits and commendations.

Thanks for reading my wall of text guys, add stuff!! To be informed, is to be forewarned.

How to change healing frames
The group ui isn't the best for healers, this video explains it:

How to setup and use the Focus frame
Again a must for healers: t's really useful! Thanks so much :)

Yep, great post. :) And I... ::looks sheepish:: didn't even know about companion crafting, lol. So much to learn with a new MMO! :)

Quote by jtiegan

Yep, great post. :) And I... ::looks sheepish:: didn't even know about companion crafting, lol. So much to learn with a new MMO! :)

Its all good mate, new game so we are all newbs :)

Thanks also Aldente for the info :D

thank you! very good information which will help. I didn't realize half the stuff you posted! Hugz

[quote="enrapture" post=34669
How to change healing frames
The group ui isn't the best for healers, this video explains it:

How to setup and use the Focus frame
Again a must for healers:
Wow great stuff, new one on me, a must

Awesome... thanks so much!

The bind point thing is pretty funny. I was avoiding the terminals because I thought it would override my current bind point (then wondered why the bind point was locked when I used my teleporter). I LOVE that we can tp to any discovered bind point. (I hate running around).

Here's two more for the list...

You get a protocol droid on your ship (at least both jedi classes do). He says he can't fight implying he can't accompany you on your adventures, but if you do take him out as a companion, he HEALs you.

Space battles (which I really enjoy) get much easier when you hit 16 and can buy shields and a shield generator. It's still totally doable before that, but obviously a hull and no shields ain't ideal.

Thank you thank you - excellent post, mainly since I am going to he a primary healer... This was very useful information, and now I also know how to compare my companion items, thank you for asking that question as well.

Quote by Xcentric

Here's two more for the list...

Space battles (which I really enjoy) get much easier when you hit 16 and can buy shields and a shield generator. It's still totally doable before that, but obviously a hull and no shields ain't ideal.

I am jealous of all you people who actually gained a spaceship =/

Quote by Xcentric

Here's two more for the list...

You get a protocol droid on your ship (at least both jedi classes do). He says he can't fight implying he can't accompany you on your adventures, but if you do take him out as a companion, he HEALs you.

Space battles (which I really enjoy) get much easier when you hit 16 and can buy shields and a shield generator. It's still totally doable before that, but obviously a hull and no shields ain't ideal.

WOW - I did not know you could take the droid along to heal you, that is also great information... I guess I need to pay closer attention to my companions :)

I believe all planets have between 3 and 5 Datacrons hidden in various locations throughout the map.

Datacrons will provide you with either a permanent boost to a base stat or will provide you with a matrix shard used to create artifact (I think) items which can give you an equipment style stat boost.

Datacrons may be hidden, but you can sometimes hear the unique sound they make if they are nearby and the glow they emit. The glows usually indicate the type of stat they boost or the colour matrix shard they carry, I think.

Sometimes they are very far out of the way and/or require complex tomb raider-esque jumping puzzles to reach. In one case, you are required to ride inside of a balloon gondola for ~20 minutes to reach a pair of them. Bring a friend, read a book or watch TV, but careful not to miss your chance or you'll be waiting ~40 minutes for the balloon to make it back around.

Quote by Angelsilhouette

I believe all planets have between 3 and 5 Datacrons hidden in various locations throughout the map.

Datacrons will provide you with either a permanent boost to a base stat or will provide you with a matrix shard used to create artifact (I think) items which can give you an equipment style stat boost.

Datacrons may be hidden, but you can sometimes hear the unique sound they make if they are nearby and the glow they emit. The glows usually indicate the type of stat they boost or the colour matrix shard they carry, I think.

Sometimes they are very far out of the way and/or require complex tomb raider-esque jumping puzzles to reach. In one case, you are required to ride inside of a balloon gondola for ~20 minutes to reach a pair of them. Bring a friend, read a book or watch TV, but careful not to miss your chance or you'll be waiting ~40 minutes for the balloon to make it back around.

I inadvertently stumbled upon a Datacron this past weekend in Coruscant and went WOW this is a nice find - again this is such great useful information... I love these forum postings, thank you all!

Same here I stumpled upon two of them, one while doing the first set of heroics on the home planet and then one in the under city.

The one on the started planet was way out of the way on top of some mt that I would have never thought to go to. I just saw something glowing and had to go investigate. The one inthe under city was right out in the open.

Quote by Van

Same here I stumpled upon two of them, one while doing the first set of heroics on the home planet and then one in the under city.

The one on the started planet was way out of the way on top of some mt that I would have never thought to go to. I just saw something glowing and had to go investigate. The one in the under city was right out in the open.

Some are incredibly easy and yet incredibly fun at the same time. One in Coruscant requires you to drop onto a ledge, run around to an abandoned taxi and then (it) drive(s itself) to a little gondola beneath the main taxi platform where you get a Datacron. :)

Some require you to go completely out of the area and then "ledge" hop back.

On Tatooine there is one that, again, you have to drop onto a little ledge and then go through a cave that is lousy with sand people (although some people cheat and lure them to the ledge and use a knockback power to get rid of them) and you end up coming out of a cave mouth above the original level you left.

Not even a keen eye will show you the way, sometimes.

Quote by Angelsilhouette

Quote by Van

Same here I stumpled upon two of them, one while doing the first set of heroics on the home planet and then one in the under city.

The one on the started planet was way out of the way on top of some mt that I would have never thought to go to. I just saw something glowing and had to go investigate. The one in the under city was right out in the open.

Some are incredibly easy and yet incredibly fun at the same time. One in Coruscant requires you to drop onto a ledge, run around to an abandoned taxi and then (it) drive(s itself) to a little gondola beneath the main taxi platform where you get a Datacron. :)

Some require you to go completely out of the area and then "ledge" hop back.

On Tatooine there is one that, again, you have to drop onto a little ledge and then go through a cave that is lousy with sand people (although some people cheat and lure them to the ledge and use a knockback power to get rid of them) and you end up coming out of a cave mouth above the original level you left.

Not even a keen eye will show you the way, sometimes.

Maybe we can start a list somewhere, where we can keep a record of where these are located - for we clueless and/or lazy slobs :silly:

Spoiler: Datacron locations.........
http://www.republictrooper.com/datacron-locations/

Quote by Odioshi

Quote by Xcentric

Here's two more for the list...

Space battles (which I really enjoy) get much easier when you hit 16 and can buy shields and a shield generator. It's still totally doable before that, but obviously a hull and no shields ain't ideal.

I am jealous of all you people who actually gained a spaceship =/

aw... well for what its worth, I was in beta 2 different weekends. both times I got to the point where I had a ship for about 2 hours before the end of beta. pretty cool though... and it's only 2 more weeks or so...

Another thing, though this one most of you probably know...

Diplomacy (the crew mission skill) actually lets you earn additional dark or light side points! Certain gear is only usable if you have reached a certain dark or light side level.

I was wondering what else the Diplomacy skill would be used for, thanks!
Btw, what do space battles feel like? I read they feel like mini-games and such.