SWTOR Escape Pod Cast 29 – Patch 2.7 Flash Points

SWTOR Escape Pod Cast-Artwork

This week @AIESema, @MaxTheGrey and Astromech EPC-29 talk about the two new tactical Flash Points on the Public Test Server. These Flash Points introduce new characters and kick off the storyline that Bioware alluded to in their summer roadmap blog post. We also cover news for the week from SWTOR in general and from AIE in SWTOR. Of course, you’ll also hear what we have been doing lately.

Direct download link (sorry for the delay!)

Rumor of the century of the week: With the new levels being added to the fleet there is rumor of a secret level as well. Nobody has accessed it yet but data mining has found keywords including, “friendship”, “magic”, and “Darth Celestia”.

On Jedi Covenant, find Max playing as: Imperial (Max’z, Mhax, Mhaxs, Mhaxz) Republic (Maxz, Maxxz, M’axz) and Sema playing as: Imperial (Maurienne, Enne) Republic (Semaperdu)

Podcast theme music by Dan-O at DanoSongs.com

11 thoughts on “SWTOR Escape Pod Cast 29 – Patch 2.7 Flash Points”

  1. Hey guys there’s a quick correction. While both of these are tactical they are not level neutral. They are only role neutral. Tactical Flashpoints only means that they are role neutral. The Czerka Flashpoints are also described as Tactical Flashpoints.

  2. Hmm… is that confirmed? I know they only opened them so far for L55 on the PTS but was under the impression that they would be level bolstered in the sub-55 range similar to how Kuat Drive Yards works. If not, that changes the situation a good bit. I was looking forward to using them as sub-55 bolstered mixed group options. Interesting.

  3. There was an interesting thread on reddit the other day that ties into this episode and a previous one on flashpoints. It suggested that tactical flashpoints might teach players bad habits when it comes to boss fights. Since they’re role neutral it means you can do pretty much anything, tactics-wise, and not have any fear of wiping.

    Sema made a comment in this podcast, talking about her Ass Tank (againk please thank whatever guildie of yours came up with that term), about how tanking in lower level fps isn’t really tanking. But even if it’s not as involved as Ops bosses, those low-level FPs still offer a good way to learn and work on some of the basics of tanking, or healing, or DPSing or whatever. Tactical flashpoints, though, you don’t need to do anything, really, other than just DPSing mobs and maybe occasionally hitting one of the healing stations.

    Anyway, I don’t really know what to think about them in that I don’t have any habits for OPs (since I don’t have any 55s), but I’ve read guides and try to follow the tips for my Ass Tank while doing FPs. What do you guys think about tactical flashpoints and bad habits?

    1. This often comes up as a concern with many aspects of how MMOs are being streamlined today. I think with all the ways to gain XP (level just in PvP, level just in GSF, etc.) plenty of people are getting to max level without deep grouping experience with their classes. However, while being a ‘top’ tank takes plenty of experience, being a ‘good’ tank doesn’t necessarily, as long as someone can come up to speed on abilities, rotations, and tanking mechanics. If we all started with L55 characters and there was no leveling game people would still figure out how to tank in operations!

    2. I agree with you that the lower flashpoints do offer an opportunity to learn the basics of grouping. I probably overstated when I said it’s not like tanking. As a topic, it really deserves more than my off-handed statement. I was thinking of all the trash pulls where the dps just hits whatever they feel like and it pretty much works out anyway. It doesn’t seem to matter that much that I only have a fraction of the tools I will have later.

      However, you are right about boss fights. Even in those low level flashpoints, there is a strat to most boss fights and the strat usually does include something for a tank to do, whether it’s to hold threat on the boss, gather up adds, keep the boss away from the dogs, etc.

  4. My guess/hope is that the SSHP (Housing) will come out with 2.8 in June. Why? Dev’s and community team have said verbally and written that 2.8 will be one of the biggest (if not biggest) updates so far in the game. I hope player housing is one of the reasons why they say that.

    If it’s not the reason why 2.8 will be the Biggest patch so far, then this word “Invasion” that’s related to it must be it…..Is Invasion referring to the fight between the Empire and Republic? OR is a 3rd party like the Gree invading the galaxy?

    If I’m wrong about housing being in 2.8 though, I have to believe it would then be a 3.0 update before the end of the year that is similar in scope to GSF.

    What do you all think?

    May the Cartel Coins be with You!

    1. Certainly this year and in one of those two updates, is my guess. I’m leaning toward the latter update and thinking this may be the “GSF” style update they allude to in the roadmap with the “bigger” update being content, story, operation(s) and likely a planet. All speculation though!

    1. Right. I keep my eye on that roadmap. Regardless of when that stuff hits it is exciting to get the hints as to what is coming. Should be a fun year.

  5. Hi.
    No direct download link for Ep29? I can’t listen ‘on-line’ at work, only if I save the file and play it back.

    Nice work on the past shows.

    Your reference in Ep28 about Codex tracking… you might want to check out the tracking spreadsheet over at OotiniCast.com.

  6. Yikes… apologize for forgetting to add the direct download link! It’s in now.

    I’ll check out the Ootini spreadsheet too. Those guys are great.

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