PvP was everywhere you went, player cities, Theed, Mining outpost, Bestine/Anchorhead, hell even in the middle of Dath and Endor at times and this was even common on low populated servers.
PvP still happens in random locations, with people roaming the Galaxy overt. Yes, Restuss is probably the more popular place to PvP but that's more a choice rather then a restriction.
Pre-CU offered better elite encounters?
At least we didn't have to deal with buggy ass instances and NS Elders were an extordenary challenge back then, you obviously never fought one wielding a stun baton and force choked you at the same time eh?
Being that NS Elders are Gold Elites now, fighting and winning against one is something only the very best will be able to do even today. As for the "buggy ass instances", is that something you've experienced or just something you threw in because it sounds good and fits in with your supposed argument?
Pre-CU space was better than NGE?
JTL was untouched from November 2004 to Janurary 2008.
Not entirely true, it did get an update when Rage of the Wookies launched in April 2005.
Pre-CU crafting was better?
There was decay and it brought back customers, there was an economy, crafted weapons and armor were actually useful, need I say more?
Crafted Armour has always been useful and crafted weapons are once again the best choice. While weapons might be a different story, armour has no problems with the lack of decay, infact IMO, it's better off without it.
Pre-CU collections were better?
Pre-CU wasn't loot-based, this is what we call "sandbox", figure out what that means.
Pre-cu's had its share of loots that everyone wanted. MOBs that dropped tapes and the uber weapon drops massively were massively camped for their loots, for example. In most cases in SWG today, the loots you get all involve a crafter in some way - you generally don't use a loot item raw. Most collections give schematics as rewards rather then a finished product.
Obraik, funny you would say SWG is better off without decay...
The economy is 100% shot now.
You people will defend this game to your dying days or until SOE does something yet again to further ruin the game.
Problem is that SWG is as bad as it could be and there isn't much SOE could do to ruin it again.
Obraik, there is nothing that SOE could do to get you to quit playing this game and I highly doubt you ever played Pre-CU and have no personal reference to compare. You turn a blind eye to everything that SWG fails in, which is just about everything. There is good reason this game is considered by the masses to be one of the worst on the market.
Only SOE employees would so defiantly defend the game blindly, like you are.
Obraik, funny you would say SWG is better off without decay... The economy is 100% shot now. You people will defend this game to your dying days or until SOE does something yet again to further ruin the game. Problem is that SWG is as bad as it could be and there isn't much SOE could do to ruin it again. Obraik, there is nothing that SOE could do to get you to quit playing this game and I highly doubt you ever played Pre-CU and have no personal reference to compare. You turn a blind eye to everything that SWG fails in, which is just about everything. There is good reason this game is considered by the masses to be one of the worst on the market. Only SOE employees would so defiantly defend the game blindly, like you are.
Once again, you've twisted what I wrote to suit the argument you want to make. What I actually said is that armour, IMO, is better off without decay - at least without CU style decay. During the CU, making layered armour was not worth it since no one wanted to pay the higher prices for it since it'd be decayed by the end of the week. Without layers, armour is rather boring to make as there's no difference in resists from armour to armour and there's little interaction involved with selling it since it's able to be mass produced in factories reducing armoursmiths to simply being a mule from factory to vendor.
Without decay, layered armour is what sells and it gives armoursmiths MUCH more customisation options allowing us to differentiate ourselves from other armoursmiths on the server. It's also more hands on since the majority of orders are all custom designed to suit the customers needs. Lack of sales is not an issue either - as it is I have about a 1 week wait time for anyone placing orders.
I'm sure there's plenty SOE could do that would make me quit. Fortunately, that hasn't happened yet We've been through the whole issue of me playing pre-cu - I gave you the proof to show that yes, I did play back then however if you don't want to believe that then that's your own prerogative.
Well, first and foremost in Pre-CU the player had CHOICE.
We had the choice of what to do, what skill to level, how to level it, and to make our character anything we wanted him/her to be.
I rarely got bored "grinding" un Pre-CU because I knew that I had freedom. The NGE sticks you in a restricted linear path, and you simply grind your way to a high level, with very little uniqueness.
The NGE took away freedom and never gave it back. Almost EVERYTHING in way of content SOE has added since the NGE the Pre-CU offered in a better way.
Sure the Pre-CU lacked content, as does the NGE. But it offered freedom. The NGE will NEVER offer that.
You can still be whatever class you want in NGE via the respec NPC. Now, I'm not here to argue which is better or worse. I'm just here to say that regardless of how horrible people think the game is, I personally find it ironic that they are saying it is horrible for the same things that existed pre-CU.
For the record, that highlighted sentence is utter nonsense. Pre-CU offered a better version of Restuss? Oh, that's right, battlefields were deactivated. Pre-CU offered better elite encounters? Oh, that's right, Krayt's, DWB, squall cave, force crystal caves etc were such wonderful dungeons and encounters compared to the dozens of instances and other encounters now. Pre-CU space was better than NGE? Yeah, I never wanted elite NPC ships to battle in space either. Pre-CU crafting was better? Yeah, no crafter would have ever wanted to be able to reverse engineer skill tapes for weapons, armor, and clothing like they can now. Pre-CU collections were better? Yeah, there was the NS arband, rare paintings, mando armor, jetpacks, etc, but now there is even more on top of that. Oh, and how about those great pre-CU quest lines? I think you get my point, but I am sure you will argue it...
Oh really, I can go respec to a Master Fencer/Pistoleer in the NGE? Funny, it didn't give the option last time I logged.
By the way, utter nonsense? In Pre-CU we didn't need grindfest like "Elite Encounters" or "Heroic Encounters" to entertain us.
We had a world and we entertained ourselves. We had the FREEDOM to entertain ourselves.
We had better Jedi, we had a BETTER form of BM in Creature Handler, we had FAR BETTER melee combat. Everything was better.
The developers didn't need to add worthless content to keep us busy so we would resub, the game itself kept us busy, the virtual world kept us busy, a working economy kept us busy.
Oh really, I can go respec to a Master Fencer/Pistoleer in the NGE? Funny, it didn't give the option last time I logged.
By the way, utter nonsense? In Pre-CU we didn't need grindfest like "Elite Encounters" or "Heroic Encounters" to entertain us.
We had a world and we entertained ourselves. We had the FREEDOM to entertain ourselves.
We had better Jedi, we had a BETTER form of BM in Creature Handler, we had FAR BETTER melee combat. Everything was better.
The developers didn't need to add worthless content to keep us busy so we would resub, the game itself kept us busy, the virtual world kept us busy, a working economy kept us busy.
You just have to be right don't you? Even when you know nothing about the subject. No, you cannot respec to pre-NGE skillboxes since they no longer exist. That is a horrible example. Pre-CU was a grindfest except in the cantinas. Your precious world still exists in NGE almost unchanged, people just refuse to see it because of their blind hatred for what they feel SWG has become. You still have the freedom to entertain yourself, but now you choose not to. You have become in this age what people like you, during pre-CU, called the fantasy folks who came in and couldn't understand a sandbox.
Oh, and that last comment is utter BS. People were screaming on the forums in pre-CU for SOE to add content. Add BH content, add smuggler content, add pvp content, add space content, add Jedi content, add Commando content, add entertainer content, etc. Yes, we used to find ways to do it ourselves, but SOE *did* listen and added the content and now you say it is a bad thing? What hypocritical BS.
The greatest flaw in the "disgruntled veteran" argument has become over time, the same argument people used to use against SWG during the pre-CU era. People would say, there is nothing to do with any substance to it, yet the pre-CU fanboy ("disgruntled veteran") would reply, 'then make something to do.' Yes, it is freedom that gave SWG it's uniqueness, yet today "disgruntled veterans" fail to use the freedom inherent in SWG (still) to make the game fun like they used to.
Oh really, I can go respec to a Master Fencer/Pistoleer in the NGE? Funny, it didn't give the option last time I logged.....
You just have to be right don't you? Even when you know nothing about the subject. No, you cannot respec to pre-NGE skillboxes since they no longer exist. That is a horrible example...
Um... don't you recognize sarcasm? Do they not have sarcasm on the planet you come from? Where are you from Betelgeuse 5?
-- When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather; not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
Oh really, I can go respec to a Master Fencer/Pistoleer in the NGE? Funny, it didn't give the option last time I logged.....
You just have to be right don't you? Even when you know nothing about the subject. No, you cannot respec to pre-NGE skillboxes since they no longer exist. That is a horrible example...
Um... don't you recognize sarcasm? Do they not have sarcasm on the planet you come from? Where are you from Betelgeuse 5?
How to be Sarcastic. I'm glad you asked because, you know, the "Oh really" and "Funny" portion of his question did not give me any clue.
Oh really, I can go respec to a Master Fencer/Pistoleer in the NGE? Funny, it didn't give the option last time I logged.
By the way, utter nonsense? In Pre-CU we didn't need grindfest like "Elite Encounters" or "Heroic Encounters" to entertain us.
We had a world and we entertained ourselves. We had the FREEDOM to entertain ourselves.
We had better Jedi, we had a BETTER form of BM in Creature Handler, we had FAR BETTER melee combat. Everything was better.
The developers didn't need to add worthless content to keep us busy so we would resub, the game itself kept us busy, the virtual world kept us busy, a working economy kept us busy.
You just have to be right don't you?
Pssst he is right. just a litte fyi.
"Do not fret! Your captain is about to enter Valhalla!" - General Beatrix of Alexandria
"The acquisition of knowledge is of use to the intellect, for nothing can be loved or hated without first being known." - Leo da Vinci
Originally posted by daeandor Oh, and that last comment is utter BS. People were screaming on the forums in pre-CU for SOE to add content. Add BH content, add smuggler content, add pvp content, add space content, add Jedi content, add Commando content, add entertainer content, etc. Yes, we used to find ways to do it ourselves, but SOE *did* listen and added the content and now you say it is a bad thing? What hypocritical BS.
Not really, the devs at one point did say they were going to work on adding content for each profession AFTER the CU, and they did at a slow pace starting with bounty hunter then squad leader, you remember those right? Then came the NGE with almost no notice. Before the CU there were alot of discussion about the expansion Rage of the Wookiees and the combat upgrade and a loooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnng list of promises made for the smuggler community (which never was put through). Jedi actually lost some content, which was the Force Ranking System, I wish it had come back and that Jedi would only be allowed to fight in their own battles instead of the GCW.
And don't forget CH, content was added for them too during CU...
I'm not trying to drag out a pissing contest here, it's just that this derailment started off someone saying that NGE has added essentially nothing and pre-CU was better in every way and I disagree. There was also the grind topic which I feel was not all that different during pre-CU, CU, or NGE. I have never said the NGE class system or even CU's level system was something I liked. You can go back a few posts and see where I talked about what my "perfect SWG" would be, and although it might not be perfect for everyone, I think you might find I am not that far off what some "disgruntled veterans" would be willing to play.
SWG is fun if you are fan of Star Wars or a roleplayer. For roleplaying it is great to have playercities, storyteller system, beast master and the entertainerprofession. I can really understand if players like SWG because of this.
However, professions are very simple compared to other MMO's. PVE gameplay (instance entrances, line of sight, collision detection, stuck mobs etc) is way to bugged for a MMO of this age. I am talking about basic gameplay here, that is still not working as intended.
Beast Master and the crafting professions are good concepts. The downside is that lvling a pet is a grind comparable with the typical 'Korean grindfest' with the difference that you cant buy xp potions As solution, SOE now lets people use AFK macro's to lvl their pet! As long as they are not doing that in questlocations or causing massive lag.
Crafting is partly broken (experiment lines without use, colourschemes that are bugged, complete useless branch of Munitions profession: weapons)
Ive played this game for about 6 months and then got sick of the developers only adding new content for max lvl's and doing nothing about the years old gameplay bugs.
Then you have laggy PVP with the crapload of buffs that you need. Combine that with the simple professions, no strategic objectives and you get static wait and gank pvp. Total disappointment for anyone who is used to quality PVP (DAoC pvpers, GW pvpers be warned).
Space is fun though imo. But not enough for most players to be the single reason to stay in this game.
...NGE has added essentially nothing and pre-CU was better in every way and I disagree. I have never said the NGE class system or even CU's level system was something I liked.
First, minor nuances. When you remove a plethora of game play features to add 4 or 5 it does not count as adding anything to teh game.
Second, it's good to see your not a complete lost cause.
...NGE has added essentially nothing and pre-CU was better in every way and I disagree. I have never said the NGE class system or even CU's level system was something I liked.
First, minor nuances. When you remove a plethora of game play features to add 4 or 5 it does not count as adding anything to teh game.
Second, it's good to see your not a complete lost cause.
I don't disagree that they re-implemented pre-CU / CU stuff and lamely called it "new." There just has been a lot of additions and fixes to the game that were not in existence in pre-CU / CU. The problem I have in these forums is that people make it sound like SOE took 90% of the game away with NGE and it is still as bad as it was during NGE's release. It just isn't nearly that bad anymore. In fact, I tend to return to the game every 2-6 months, and literally play for a month and it gets better every time. I think the fact that I do not stay says enough about what I think overall though.
I thought this was a question about the state of the game now. Yet again, people here want to turn it into a debate about Pre_CU and NGE. Well fine, lets hop on this lost cause yet again.
THEN
Pre-CU had a lot more professions and the sandbox was great!
NGE was terribly implemented and the professions were not developed at all.
NOW
Pre-CU is gone.
NGE is mostly gone, granted there are still only nine professions, but BM and expertise have allowed some to stray from the cookie cutter profession.
NOW
The population is down, if you really want to enjoy the game, sadly you need to join a populated server (Bria and Bloodfin have enough of a population in my experience)
The heroic instances are better than the scraps we got during the Pre-CU. Who else remembers those crappy Cries of Alderaan chapters that never actually did anything? (Why we even kept track of who "won" imp v. reb was lost on me.
The downside to the new content is that you need a group to complete and many servers do not support enough people at different times of the day.
THEN
Pre-CU: This comment may irritate people but it is the way I saw it on my server. Near the end of the Pre-CU, all I saw were defense stackers, Master Rifleman/Doctors and Jedi. Despite all the possibilities. CH had been gimped to near oblivion, smugger was a joke.
NOW
All I see are Bounty Hunters and Jedi. BM is gimped and smuggler is a joke.
The biggest problem with the game the devs for some reason still thinks lots of people play. Thanks to natural game attrition and the amazingly incompetent NGE there are not that many players.
To all those who remember the"salad days" when the grass was always greener; in my experience population was already going down in Pre-CU due to nerf wars and bugs and a lack of new content. Sadly while the game is now adding new content, it is still buggy and professions still are not very well balanced, but the balance is better than it was Pre-CU (although by limiting the game to seven combat professions you would think that would be a pretty easy feat).
If the poster is seriously thinking of coming back, and not merely a disgruntled vet trying to rage against the NGE, I would also recommend the free vet trial. In my opinion, the game is still playable and as a Star Wars junkie, it will prob serve as poor man's fix until some really good Star Wars MMO comes out.
Comments
Obraik, funny you would say SWG is better off without decay...
The economy is 100% shot now.
You people will defend this game to your dying days or until SOE does something yet again to further ruin the game.
Problem is that SWG is as bad as it could be and there isn't much SOE could do to ruin it again.
Obraik, there is nothing that SOE could do to get you to quit playing this game and I highly doubt you ever played Pre-CU and have no personal reference to compare. You turn a blind eye to everything that SWG fails in, which is just about everything. There is good reason this game is considered by the masses to be one of the worst on the market.
Only SOE employees would so defiantly defend the game blindly, like you are.
Tecmo Bowl.
Without decay, layered armour is what sells and it gives armoursmiths MUCH more customisation options allowing us to differentiate ourselves from other armoursmiths on the server. It's also more hands on since the majority of orders are all custom designed to suit the customers needs. Lack of sales is not an issue either - as it is I have about a 1 week wait time for anyone placing orders.
I'm sure there's plenty SOE could do that would make me quit. Fortunately, that hasn't happened yet
We've been through the whole issue of me playing pre-cu - I gave you the proof to show that yes, I did play back then however if you don't want to believe that then that's your own prerogative.
lol I've said it before, and I'll say it again.
Eventually everyone becomes "disgruntled".
We had the choice of what to do, what skill to level, how to level it, and to make our character anything we wanted him/her to be.
I rarely got bored "grinding" un Pre-CU because I knew that I had freedom. The NGE sticks you in a restricted linear path, and you simply grind your way to a high level, with very little uniqueness.
The NGE took away freedom and never gave it back. Almost EVERYTHING in way of content SOE has added since the NGE the Pre-CU offered in a better way.
Sure the Pre-CU lacked content, as does the NGE. But it offered freedom. The NGE will NEVER offer that.
You can still be whatever class you want in NGE via the respec NPC. Now, I'm not here to argue which is better or worse. I'm just here to say that regardless of how horrible people think the game is, I personally find it ironic that they are saying it is horrible for the same things that existed pre-CU.For the record, that highlighted sentence is utter nonsense. Pre-CU offered a better version of Restuss? Oh, that's right, battlefields were deactivated. Pre-CU offered better elite encounters? Oh, that's right, Krayt's, DWB, squall cave, force crystal caves etc were such wonderful dungeons and encounters compared to the dozens of instances and other encounters now. Pre-CU space was better than NGE? Yeah, I never wanted elite NPC ships to battle in space either. Pre-CU crafting was better? Yeah, no crafter would have ever wanted to be able to reverse engineer skill tapes for weapons, armor, and clothing like they can now. Pre-CU collections were better? Yeah, there was the NS arband, rare paintings, mando armor, jetpacks, etc, but now there is even more on top of that. Oh, and how about those great pre-CU quest lines? I think you get my point, but I am sure you will argue it...
Oh really, I can go respec to a Master Fencer/Pistoleer in the NGE? Funny, it didn't give the option last time I logged.
By the way, utter nonsense? In Pre-CU we didn't need grindfest like "Elite Encounters" or "Heroic Encounters" to entertain us.
We had a world and we entertained ourselves. We had the FREEDOM to entertain ourselves.
We had better Jedi, we had a BETTER form of BM in Creature Handler, we had FAR BETTER melee combat. Everything was better.
The developers didn't need to add worthless content to keep us busy so we would resub, the game itself kept us busy, the virtual world kept us busy, a working economy kept us busy.
Tecmo Bowl.
Here's my quick comparrison:
I'll take the choices of the Pre-CU, thank you very much.
-- When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather; not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
Oh really, I can go respec to a Master Fencer/Pistoleer in the NGE? Funny, it didn't give the option last time I logged.
By the way, utter nonsense? In Pre-CU we didn't need grindfest like "Elite Encounters" or "Heroic Encounters" to entertain us.
We had a world and we entertained ourselves. We had the FREEDOM to entertain ourselves.
We had better Jedi, we had a BETTER form of BM in Creature Handler, we had FAR BETTER melee combat. Everything was better.
The developers didn't need to add worthless content to keep us busy so we would resub, the game itself kept us busy, the virtual world kept us busy, a working economy kept us busy.
You just have to be right don't you? Even when you know nothing about the subject. No, you cannot respec to pre-NGE skillboxes since they no longer exist. That is a horrible example. Pre-CU was a grindfest except in the cantinas. Your precious world still exists in NGE almost unchanged, people just refuse to see it because of their blind hatred for what they feel SWG has become. You still have the freedom to entertain yourself, but now you choose not to. You have become in this age what people like you, during pre-CU, called the fantasy folks who came in and couldn't understand a sandbox.
Oh, and that last comment is utter BS. People were screaming on the forums in pre-CU for SOE to add content. Add BH content, add smuggler content, add pvp content, add space content, add Jedi content, add Commando content, add entertainer content, etc. Yes, we used to find ways to do it ourselves, but SOE *did* listen and added the content and now you say it is a bad thing? What hypocritical BS.
The greatest flaw in the "disgruntled veteran" argument has become over time, the same argument people used to use against SWG during the pre-CU era. People would say, there is nothing to do with any substance to it, yet the pre-CU fanboy ("disgruntled veteran") would reply, 'then make something to do.' Yes, it is freedom that gave SWG it's uniqueness, yet today "disgruntled veterans" fail to use the freedom inherent in SWG (still) to make the game fun like they used to.
You just have to be right don't you? Even when you know nothing about the subject. No, you cannot respec to pre-NGE skillboxes since they no longer exist. That is a horrible example...
Um... don't you recognize sarcasm? Do they not have sarcasm on the planet you come from? Where are you from Betelgeuse 5?
-- When I die, I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather; not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
You just have to be right don't you? Even when you know nothing about the subject. No, you cannot respec to pre-NGE skillboxes since they no longer exist. That is a horrible example...
Um... don't you recognize sarcasm? Do they not have sarcasm on the planet you come from? Where are you from Betelgeuse 5?
How to be Sarcastic. I'm glad you asked because, you know, the "Oh really" and "Funny" portion of his question did not give me any clue.
Oh really, I can go respec to a Master Fencer/Pistoleer in the NGE? Funny, it didn't give the option last time I logged.
By the way, utter nonsense? In Pre-CU we didn't need grindfest like "Elite Encounters" or "Heroic Encounters" to entertain us.
We had a world and we entertained ourselves. We had the FREEDOM to entertain ourselves.
We had better Jedi, we had a BETTER form of BM in Creature Handler, we had FAR BETTER melee combat. Everything was better.
The developers didn't need to add worthless content to keep us busy so we would resub, the game itself kept us busy, the virtual world kept us busy, a working economy kept us busy.
You just have to be right don't you?
Pssst he is right.
just a litte fyi.
"Do not fret! Your captain is about to enter Valhalla!" - General Beatrix of Alexandria
"The acquisition of knowledge is of use to the intellect, for nothing can be loved or hated without first being known." - Leo da Vinci
Well, if you say so, then I guess the discussion must end.
PS. Aargh, that is another example of sarcasm. Tee hee.
And don't forget CH, content was added for them too during CU...
I'm not trying to drag out a pissing contest here, it's just that this derailment started off someone saying that NGE has added essentially nothing and pre-CU was better in every way and I disagree. There was also the grind topic which I feel was not all that different during pre-CU, CU, or NGE. I have never said the NGE class system or even CU's level system was something I liked. You can go back a few posts and see where I talked about what my "perfect SWG" would be, and although it might not be perfect for everyone, I think you might find I am not that far off what some "disgruntled veterans" would be willing to play.
SWG is fun if you are fan of Star Wars or a roleplayer. For roleplaying it is great to have playercities, storyteller system, beast master and the entertainerprofession. I can really understand if players like SWG because of this.
However, professions are very simple compared to other MMO's. PVE gameplay (instance entrances, line of sight, collision detection, stuck mobs etc) is way to bugged for a MMO of this age. I am talking about basic gameplay here, that is still not working as intended.
Beast Master and the crafting professions are good concepts. The downside is that lvling a pet is a grind comparable with the typical 'Korean grindfest' with the difference that you cant buy xp potions
As solution, SOE now lets people use AFK macro's to lvl their pet! As long as they are not doing that in questlocations or causing massive lag.
Crafting is partly broken (experiment lines without use, colourschemes that are bugged, complete useless branch of Munitions profession: weapons)
Ive played this game for about 6 months and then got sick of the developers only adding new content for max lvl's and doing nothing about the years old gameplay bugs.
Then you have laggy PVP with the crapload of buffs that you need. Combine that with the simple professions, no strategic objectives and you get static wait and gank pvp. Total disappointment for anyone who is used to quality PVP (DAoC pvpers, GW pvpers be warned).
Space is fun though imo. But not enough for most players to be the single reason to stay in this game.
Second, it's good to see your not a complete lost cause.
Second, it's good to see your not a complete lost cause.
I don't disagree that they re-implemented pre-CU / CU stuff and lamely called it "new." There just has been a lot of additions and fixes to the game that were not in existence in pre-CU / CU. The problem I have in these forums is that people make it sound like SOE took 90% of the game away with NGE and it is still as bad as it was during NGE's release. It just isn't nearly that bad anymore. In fact, I tend to return to the game every 2-6 months, and literally play for a month and it gets better every time. I think the fact that I do not stay says enough about what I think overall though.
I thought this was a question about the state of the game now. Yet again, people here want to turn it into a debate about Pre_CU and NGE. Well fine, lets hop on this lost cause yet again.
THEN
Pre-CU had a lot more professions and the sandbox was great!
NGE was terribly implemented and the professions were not developed at all.
NOW
Pre-CU is gone.
NGE is mostly gone, granted there are still only nine professions, but BM and expertise have allowed some to stray from the cookie cutter profession.
NOW
The population is down, if you really want to enjoy the game, sadly you need to join a populated server (Bria and Bloodfin have enough of a population in my experience)
The heroic instances are better than the scraps we got during the Pre-CU. Who else remembers those crappy Cries of Alderaan chapters that never actually did anything? (Why we even kept track of who "won" imp v. reb was lost on me.
The downside to the new content is that you need a group to complete and many servers do not support enough people at different times of the day.
THEN
Pre-CU: This comment may irritate people but it is the way I saw it on my server. Near the end of the Pre-CU, all I saw were defense stackers, Master Rifleman/Doctors and Jedi. Despite all the possibilities. CH had been gimped to near oblivion, smugger was a joke.
NOW
All I see are Bounty Hunters and Jedi. BM is gimped and smuggler is a joke.
The biggest problem with the game the devs for some reason still thinks lots of people play. Thanks to natural game attrition and the amazingly incompetent NGE there are not that many players.
To all those who remember the"salad days" when the grass was always greener; in my experience population was already going down in Pre-CU due to nerf wars and bugs and a lack of new content. Sadly while the game is now adding new content, it is still buggy and professions still are not very well balanced, but the balance is better than it was Pre-CU (although by limiting the game to seven combat professions you would think that would be a pretty easy feat).
If the poster is seriously thinking of coming back, and not merely a disgruntled vet trying to rage against the NGE, I would also recommend the free vet trial. In my opinion, the game is still playable and as a Star Wars junkie, it will prob serve as poor man's fix until some really good Star Wars MMO comes out.