Star Wars Galaxies: Friday Feature: Exploring Expertise

At a Glance:

Bounty Hunter Expertise Skill Sets

• Defensive Tank Skill Set
• Sustained Damage Skill Set
• First Strike Skill Set

Jedi Expertise Skill Sets

• Classical Dark Jedi Skill Set
• Classical Light Jedi Skill Set
• Gray jedi Skill Set

Officer Expertise Skill Sets

• Self Defense / Group Support Skill Set
• Area Control and Devastation Skill Set
• Traditional Pistol Specialist Skill Set

Smuggler Expertise Skill Sets

• The Fast Talker Skill Set
• The Scoundrel Skill Set
• he Expert Smuggler Skill Set

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Helpful Links:

• [font color=black]Introduction to Expertise
• [font color=black]Bounty Hunter Expertise
• [font color=black]Jedi Expertise
• [font color=black]Officer Expertise
• [font color=black]Smuggler Expertise

Expertise Skill Sets

Profession Expertise expands the possibilities to create unique professional differences with your characters in Star Wars Galaxies. The choices you make to define your character's skill set will bring new depth to your character and how it can be played.

Since the total list of Profession Expertise abilities available for each profession cost more Expertise points than any one player has to spend, the challenge becomes understanding the different ways Expertise points can be spent to customize your character.

In Exploring Expertise, we will suggest a few different skill sets for the bounty hunter, Jedi, officer, and smuggler professions to demonstrate how different arrangements of Expertise abilities can be used to create different ways to play a given profession. Each arrangement of abilities is an Expertise "skill set" that will define the different aspects for any given profession.

Let's look at some of the different skill sets that can open up new ways to play your character.

Please Note: These Expertise skill sets are suggested skills sets to help you explore different ways to use Profession Expertise. If you choose Expertise abilities that don't suit your style of play, you can see a Profession Councelor to change your Expertise selections.

Bounty Hunter Skill Sets

Bounty hunting is an exciting profession with some interesting possibilities. You might choose to focus on hunting bounties or you might prefer to concentrate on the war effort and "base busting". When you choose your Expertise abilities, you'll want to know how different arrangements of Expertise points can help you make just the kind of bounty hunter you would like to play.

Here are some sample skill sets that you might choose to define your bounty hunter:

• Defensive Tank Skill Set
• Sustained Damage Skill Set
• First Strike Skill Set

Bounty Hunter: Defensive Tank Skill Set

This expertise skill set is a great collection of defensive abilities that focuses on the ability to absorb considerable amounts of damage. When all of these abilities are combined, they allow exceptional staying power against a single tough target. By choosing abilities that will toughen up your bounty hunter, this skill set makes a great tank for groups. Here are the Expertise abilities you should purchase to build this "Defensive Tank" skill set:

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Bounty Hunting

• Antagonize: 1/1
• Fumble: 1/1
• Stun: 1/1
• Absorption: 4/4
• Deflection: 4/4
• Shields: 1/1
• Intimidating Strike: 1/1
• Dread Strike: 1/1

Bounty Specialization

• Energy Defense: 4/4
• Kinetic Defense: 4/4
• Melee Defense: 3/3
• Ranged Defense: 3/3
• Duelist Stance: 1/1

Skill Set Highlights

Some highlights of the "defensive Bounty Hunter" combine all of the passive mitigation and avoidance skills such as Assault Energy Defense and Assault Ranged Defense on top of the active defenses Duelist Stance and Shields.

This skill set also incorporates de-buff abilities such as Fumble , Stun and Dread Strike to not only withstand damage, but also reduce your opponent's ability to cause damage to you. If you use this expertise skill set, you may want to spend remaining points on some offensive abilities to help balance your overall combat effectiveness. [/TD]

Bounty Hunter: Sustained Damage Skill Set

The "sustained damage" skill set for Bbounty hunters focuses on being able to deliver sustained damage over a relatively long period of time. As a sustained damage dealer, this bounty hunter will keep bringing the hurt in prolonged battles.

Here are the Expertise abilities that make up the Sustained Damage Skill Set.

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Bounty Hunting

• Assault Efficiency: 4/4
• Intense Assault: 3/3
• Return Fire: 1/1
• Rapid Assault: 2/2
• Innate Assault: 1/1

Bounty Specialization

• Endurance: 4/4
• Carbine Efficiency: 4/4
• Carbine Accuracy: 2/2
• Deadly Strikes: 1/1
• Relentless Onslaught: 1/1

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Skill Set Highlights

Efficient attacks are the name of the game for this Bounty Hunter. You can make your attacks more efficient first by reducing the Action point costs for carbines and then take the Assault line of Expertise abilities. Leading up to the powerful ability Relentless Onslaught which nearly eliminates actions costs while active.

Improvements to the Assault line of abilities can open up Innate Assault which boosts attack efficiency by allowing a chance for an assault special ability to be used without action cost.

Passive bonuses that will increase your damage output include the stacked critical chance bonuses of Man Hunter and Deadly Strikes, Carbine Accuracy, Return Fire and Intense Assault . If this skill set is appealing to you, you may want to spend some additional points to improve your defenses. Doing this will help make sure you'll survive long enough to keep dishing out that damage! [/TD]

Bounty Hunter: First Strike Skill Set

First strike is a key element for successful predators. The "first strike" Expertise skill set for bounty hunters effectively specializes in causing very quick, high damage attacks. Giving a bounty hunter that first-strike advantage, this is a great skill set for defeating single opponents handily.

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Bounty Hunting

• Ambush Efficiency: 4/4
• Ambush Intensity: 3/3
• Swift Ambush: 2/2
• Advanced Ambush: 1/1
• Man Hunter: 4/4

Bounty Specialization

• Endurance: 4/4
• Rifle Efficiency: 4/4
• Rifle Marksmanship: 2/2
• Sniper Shot: 1/1
• Take Cover: 1/1

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Skill Set Highlights

This skill set is about a big barrage of opening attacks. Sniper Shot and Take Cover feature prominently for a devastating opening attack.

Improved Ambush not only allows another powerful attack to be worked into the opening attack chain, it also improves your critical chance versus your opponent which stacks nicely with the bonuses from Man Hunter.

One thing to keep in mind is that while it does give you great first strike capabilities, it tends to be a little heavy on action costs. If you're not careful about picking the time and place for your battles, you can be left at a disadvantage against multiple opponents. The ability Take Cover will afford you some great protection versus ranged attackers, but you might want to spend points to improve your defense in other areas. [/TD]

Jedi Expertise Skill Sets

Jedi are at the center of the Star Wars experience. Deciding to follow the path of the Dark side or the Light side defines a Jedi. Profession Expertise for Jedi makes this concept part of developing your character. With Expertise abilities available for both the Light and Dark sides of the Force to choose from, your choices will play an important role in building the Jedi you want to play.

The three main concepts for Jedi Expertise that you can use to customize your Jedi are combat offense, combat defense, and combat control.  To demonstrate how different Expertise choices can be developed into different types of Jedi characters, let's explore these the Jedi Expertise skill sets that make up a classical Dark Jedi, a classical Light side Jedi, and a third "gray Jedi" that uses abilities from both the Light and Dark skill sets:

Jedi: Classical "Dark Jedi" Skill Set

This selection of expertise choices will create a Dark Jedi that focuses on aggressive combat, spending more on offensive attacks rather than defensive heals.[/TD]

Jedi Path: Dark Side Abilities

• Remorseless Nature: 4/4
• Brutality: 4/4
• Force Choke: 1/1
• Tempt Hatred: 2/2
• Dark Lightning: 1/1
• Improved Force Choke: 2/2
• Wracking Energy: 3/3
• Maelstrom: 1/1
  

General Jedi Expertise

• Crippling Accuracy: 4/4]
• Improved Force Throw: 2/2
• Alacrity: 2/4
• Improved Crippling Accuracy: 3/3 
• Exacting Strikes: 4/4
• Incisiveness: 4/4
• Fidelity: 4/4
• Force Shockwave: 1/1
• Improved Force Shockwave: 3/3
  

Skill Set Highlights

An aggressive Jedi spends points to get as many attacks as possible (Force Shockwave, Force Choke, and Force Lightning) as well as points on maximizing damage with all attacks (Improved Force Throw, Exacting Strikes, Incisiveness, Fidelity, Brutality, and Improved Force Choke). Using this skill set, there is no escape for roots/snares and no combat escape. [/TD]

Jedi: Classical "Light Jedi" Skill Set

This arrangement of Jedi Expertise points will create a more defensive Jedi with a stronger focus on healing and damage mitigation. [/TD]

Jedi Path: Light Side Abilities

• Cautious Nature: 4/4
• Practiced Fluidity: 4/4
• Soothing Aura: 4/4
• Reactive Response: 2/2
• Force Clarity: 1/1
• Lasting Aura: 2/2
• Anticipate Aggression: 1/1
• Hermetic Touch: 1/1

General Jedi Expertise

• Enhanced Constitution: 2/2
• Enhanced Stamina: 2/2
• Crippling Accuracy: 2/2
• Alacrity: 4/4
• Exacting Strikes: 4/4
• Incisiveness: 4/4
• Fidelity: 4/4
• Stance Saber Block: 1/1
• Improved Saber Block: 3/3
  
  

Skill Set Highlights

A defensive Jedi spends points to raise healing and eliminate DOT's (Soothing Aura, Hermetic Touch, and Lasting Aura) while points go to defense (Practiced Fluidity, Anticipate Aggression, Alacrity, Saber Block, Improved Saber Block). [/TD]

Jedi: Gray Jedi Skill Set

The "gray Jedi" skill set uses powers from both the Light and Dark Expertise and is easier to play in PvE and PvP encounters (less deaths/incapacitations). [/TD]

Jedi Path: Dark Side Abilities

• Remorseless Nature: 4/4
• Brutality: 4/4
• Force Choke: 1/1
• Dark Lightning: 1/1

Jedi Path: Light Side Abilities

• Cautious Nature: 4/4
• Practiced Fluidity: 4/4
• Soothing Aura: 4/4
• Reactive Response: 2/2

General Jedi Expertise

• Crippling Accuracy: 4/4
• Alacrity: 4/4
• Exacting Strikes: 4/4
• Stance Saber Block: 1/1
• Improved Saber Block: 3/3
• Force Shockwave: 1/1
• Fidelity: 4/4
  

Skill Set Highlights

This skill set arrangement has no points in the general Expertise tree.  It allows the maximum amount of Light Jedi healing abilities and the Force Choke and Force Lightning abilities of a Dark Jedi.  This Jedi will have to be careful in some combat situations because the versatile skill set is limited by not having the maximum amount of available attacks, any combat escapes, and has lower overall damage and defenses. [/TD]

Officer Expertise

Officer Expertise abilities offer a variety of skill choices that will dramatically change the possibilities of how the profession plays. Try to choose a skill-set that helps define the officer you want to play. Whether or not you usually to play solo or with groups is one of the important considerations you'll want to decide on. The next important decision you'll want to consider is if you prefer to play a defensive or offensive role in combat. These two decisions will play heavily in how your officer Expertise works out, so let's examine 3 very different types of officer skill sets.

The three types of Officer's skill sets here are:

• Self Defense / Group Support
• Area Control and Devastation
• Traditional Pistol Specialist

Officer: Self Defense / Group Support Skill Set

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Squad Command

• Leadership 4/4
• Initiative 3/3
• Advanced Tactics 1/1
• Focus Fire 1/1
• Inspiration 1/1
• Scatter! 1/1
• Charge! 1/1
• Last Words 1/1
• Rapid Deployment 4/4
• Medical Supply Drop 1/1
• Tactical Supply Drop 1/1
• Reinforcements 1/1

Officer Specialization

• Energy Defense 2/2
• Synaptic Stimulator 1/1
• Bacta Flush 2/2
• Kinetic Defense 2/2
• Environmental Purge 1/1
• Automated Diagnosis 2/2

Skill Set Highlights

This skill set focuses on supporting your group while making sure you stay alive in combat. Highlights of course include the entire suite of group buffs as well as the supply line.

The battle armor specialization provides increased damage mitigation. The ability to remove damage-over-time (DoT) effects and de-buffs from yourself as well as improved healing is also key to your survivability.

The stim-packs available from the Medical Supply Drop add to your already impressive healing ability. Though somewhat lacking in the offense department this skill set does include Reinforcements which adds to your ability to damage enemies as well as add another obstacle between you and your enemies. This skill set leaves 15 points remaining for pre-requisites and miscellaneous specialization. These are probably best spent on improving your offensive options. [/TD]

Officer: Area Control and Devastation Skill Set

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Squad Command

• Explosives Expert 4/4
• Surgical Demolitions 3/3
• High Explosives 2/2
• Superior Firepower 1/1
• Primacy 3/3
  

Officer Specialization

• Swordsmanship 4/4
• Grim Blows 2/2
• Decapitate 1/1
• Crippling Vortex 1/1

Skill Set Highlights

This in-your-face skill set is great for controlling and blowing up groups of enemies. Though dangerous, you could start by charging into a group of enemies and unleashing Crippling Vortex to try and keep them from scattering. Then quickly activate Superior Firepower and unleash a devastating Orbital Strike, Core Bomb, White Phosphorus Grenade combo. Anything left standing after that is quickly mowed down with your 1-hand melee weapon. Did that group have an Elite enemy you didn't notice? Give it a quick Decapitate to finish it off.

With 24 points left to spend on fleshing out your abilities, there are a number of directions you can take this skill set. Adding defensive Expertise abilities of some sort is a pretty good idea since you'll find yourself face-to-face with your enemies fairly often.

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Officer: Traditional Pistol Specialist Skill Set

This straightforward skill set focuses on being exceptional with pistols by stacking modifiers from buffs, de-buffs and specializations with the pistol attacks and choice abilities. By improving the Sure Shot abilities and purchasing the upgraded Advanced Paint Target line, an officer will have a powerful two-ability rotation to use in combat.

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Squad Command

• Sure Shot Efficiency 4/4
• Lethal Aim 3/3
• Target Selection 3/3
• Identify Weakness 2/2
• Advanced Paint Target 1/1

Officer Specialization

• Side Arm Efficiency 4/4
• Side Arm Accuracy 2/2
• Dire Strikes 2/2
• Pistol Drillmaster 1/1

Skill Set Highlights

When combined with Pistol Drillmaster your Sure Shot ability will do 30% more damage and cost 45% less Action. You'll see similar results with Paint Target.

Enjoy a hefty +10% critical chance against your enemy as your innate bonus from Dire Strikes stacks with the bonus from Paint Target . It may not be flashy but it definitely gets the job done.

This skill set leaves you 23 Expertise points for playing with group buffs, defenses, supply drops or other specializations.

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Smuggler Expertise Skill Sets

As with other professions, different Expertise trees allow smugglers to choose different styles of play.  The skill sets presented here are the "Fast Talker", "The Scoundrel" and the "Expert Smuggler" skills sets. The "Fast Talker" skill set focuses on being proficient on smuggling missions, "The Scoundrel" concentrates more on being an effective damage dealer and the "Expert Smuggler" uses Expertise that is effective on smuggling missions and also great in groups.

As a general rule for the smuggler profession, you will want to focus your combat Expertise on one of the two available specializations, melee or pistol.

Smuggler: The Fast Talker Skill Set

This skill set focuses on maximizing your potential for smuggler missions.  You will need to be effective in combat, but you won't need to fight your way out of as many tight spots as much as a smuggler that can't lie about their cargo.

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Scoundrel Specialization

• Gun Oil or Elbow Grease 1 / 1

Smuggler Expertise

• Sly Lie 1 / 1
• Fast Talk 1 / 1
• Easy Money or Ploy 2 / 2
• Half Truth 2 / 2
• Feeling Lucky or Scandal 2 / 4
• Innocent Cargo 2 / 2

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Skill Set Highlights

The main concepts for this skill set are combat specialization with a weapon, debilitating de-buffs, and a combination of damage buffs, crowd control, and expertise that affect smuggling missions.

With this skill set, we recommend choosing either melee or pistol weapon combat specialization to improve your combat effectiveness. After you choose a weapon type, there are many options to choose from. 

The rest of the abilities that can be included in this skill are up to you. It is recommended that you focus on your weapon specialty and also consider Spot a Sucker, Off the Cuff, End of the Line, and/or False Hope.  As you gain rank in the smuggling system, you should leave at least three points open to purchase Fake ID, Underworld Boss, and Long Odds.

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Smuggler: The Scoundrel Skill Set

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Scoundrel Specialization

• Hidden Padding 2 / 2
• Gun Oil or Elbow Grease 1 / 1
• Enhanced Luck 1 / 2
• Off The Cuff 1 / 1
• Spot a Sucker 1 / 1
• Hair Trigger or Switcheroo 2 / 4
• Lined Pockets 2 / 2
• Hair Trigger or Switcheroo 4 / 4
• Meager Fortune 2 / 2
• Double Deal 2 / 2
• Precise Bead or Head Crack 4 / 4
• End of the Line 1 / 1
• Wretched Fate 2 / 2
• Hammer Fanning or One-Two Pummel 4 / 4
• Break the Deal or Bad Odds 1 / 1
• Poor Prospect 2 / 2
• Idiot Proof Plan 2 / 2
• Narrow Escape 1 / 1

Smuggler Expertise

• Easy Money 1 / 2
• Healthy Profits 1 / 1
• Ploy 2 / 2
• Scandal 4 / 4
• Smooth Move 1 / 4
  

Skill Set Highlights

This skill focuses on maximizing your damage with either the pistol or melee lines of attacks with all other Expertise purchased from the scoundrel skill trees.  No points are spent for advantages in the smuggling system. 

With 9 points left over a scoundrel may choose to increase damage with the Scandal line of abilities. The rest of the build is up to you.  It is recommended that you include a weapon specialty and also consider Spot a Sucker, Off the Cuff, End of the Line, and/or False Hope.  [/TD]

Smuggler: The Expert Smuggler Skill Set

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Scoundrel Specialization

• Gun Oil or Elbow Grease 1 / 1
• Hidden Padding 2 / 2
• Enhanced Luck 1 / 2
• Hair Trigger or Switcheroo 4 / 4
• Precise Bead or Head Crack 4 / 4
• Hammer Fanning or One-Two Pummel 4 / 4

Smuggler Expertise

• Sly Lie 1 / 1
• Fast Talk 1 / 1
• Healthy Profits 1 / 1
• Ploy 2 / 2
• Half Truth 2 / 2
• Scandal 4 / 4
• Innocent Cargo 2 / 2
• Smooth Move 4 / 4
• Off the Books 1 / 1
• False Hope 1 / 1
• Under the Counter 2 / 2
• Quick Fix 4 / 4
• Fake Goods 2 / 2
• Best Deal Ever 2 / 2

Skill Set Highlights

This skill set is based on keeping your goods safe and helping out party members with the ability to summon a Junk Dealer.  It is similar to the "Fast Talker" skill set, but focuses on Smuggler expertise instead of concentrating on Scoundrel Expertise.

You might consider changing your expertise to include Fake ID, Underworld Boss, and Long Odds after you have earned ranks within the Smuggling system.

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