Quick Leveling Tips

[leetdancer]

Could someone give tad bit more info on Holocron Quests as I never came across in beta.

[sherlock]

It's already been said in part, but Bonus Series quests are extremely worthwhile. Start them ASAP so you're doing them alongside the quest they're linked to, and note that doing all three parts of a Bonus Series nets you extra commendations (three!).

I also second the post RE: keeping your weapon up to date. It's crucial. And don't waste them running to the GTN and back; either set up a lowbie alt to sit outside, or just stockpile stuff and do it in one hit when you're nearby.

[LagunaD]

Bonus Quests and Bonus Series quests are two different things.

Bonus Quests are what you're referring to (usually involve killing more things, and there can be several stages with different objectives).

Bonus Series Quests are a secondary quest chain on a planet, that is unlocked by finishing your class quest missions there (but sometimes not until a later level). Usually they are bestowed by an NPC on the way back to your ship (if you can do them immediately) or on Space Dock (if the Bonus Series is higher level and requires returning to the planet later). The Bonus Series quests usually involve visiting about 3 quest hubs in unexplored areas of the planet, where there are a number of additional quests (and sometimes Heroics) available. Completing the Bonus Series quest line for a planet sometimes gives a nice item reward.

[misa2]

(12-11-2011 10:01 AM)leetdancer Wrote:  Could someone give tad bit more info on Holocron Quests as I never came across in beta.

There are no "Holocron Quests" as of last weekend beta. Holocrons are meant to be stumbled upon by dedicated world explorers, and provide a reward for them. They are emitting strange sound and light, and you train yourself to watch out for those signs as you explore. The reward is in form of either a minor stat increase or a shard piece (used for making mod of your choice), and a codex entry (lore).

Cheers,
Misa

[Salion]

(12-11-2011 10:30 PM)misa2 Wrote:  

(12-11-2011 10:01 AM)leetdancer Wrote:  Could someone give tad bit more info on Holocron Quests as I never came across in beta.

There are no "Holocron Quests" as of last weekend beta. Holocrons are meant to be stumbled upon by dedicated world explorers, and provide a reward for them. They are emitting strange sound and light, and you train yourself to watch out for those signs as you explore. The reward is in form of either a minor stat increase or a shard piece (used for making mod of your choice), and a codex entry (lore).

Cheers,
Misa

Those are Datacrons, not Holocrons. Datacrons give stat bonuses or a shard; holocrons look the same but emit holograms when activated. A large part of the Consular storyline centers around finding Holocrons.

[Axem]

This is the spec I use for Leveling:

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#101drGcurrkuRZhM.1

This is the spec I use for Hard Modes / Ops:

http://www.torhead.com/skill-calc#101dMGcubrouRZhGM.1

I've leveled a Jugg to 50th 5 times in Beta and can do it in under 80 hours.

Don'ts:

Don't waste your your time with Flashpoints (You will do them ALL on hard modes at 50th)
Don't worry about bonus missions unless you aren't doing heroic content (You will out level areas doing Heroic content + Questing)
Don't waste any time on any broken/untuned Heroic content (If a Boss is broke skip it aka Belsavis North 4 Man Trooper)
Don't worry about gear until you hit Voss (You can level to 50 in greens easily / You replace your gear every 5 levels!)
Forget queing for PvP while leveling! It's not worth it and it will slow you down! (Expect they will nerf PvP exp)
Forget World Bosses waste of time and effort sub 50th level!
Ignore Open World PvP unless they are bothering you!
Don't waste your money on more than 3 bag upgrades and 1 bank slot (You'll need that money for skills/speeder training 44k at 25th/500k at 50th)
Don't bother with crafting/mission skills until you have 1.5 million saved up / Bag/Bank slots purchased and you can afford to drop harvesting!
Don't worry about the story line you have 7 other slots for ALTs that you will end up using! (You will want to grab all your ALT names ASAP!)

Do's:

Do be on vent when you are in game! (I personally wont group with someone not on vent it SLOWS you down!)
Do your homework! Plan your base 4 groups around play schedules! Ideal Group Tank / Healer / Melee DPS / Ranged DPS
Do group up at level 1 with a leveling buddy of the opposite class to do all the content on the starter world in under 2 hours!
Do separate for your class quest turn ins on the start world.
Do make extensive use of the hologram quest turn in feature
Do pound that space bar quickly flicking your mouse over to see the light/dark side options
Starting at DK get your 4 base class group together (Again separate to turn in your class quests)
Do work those social points in 4 man (Be patient it takes a few seconds to take a hologram quest)
Streamline your quests including class quest areas (Pay attention to your map and plot a course together)
Aim to hit 25 that first day of play to stay ahead of the curve
Pay attention to the level of the next zone (You want to hit Quesh right when you hit 35!)
Always try to level with a tank and healer! (DPS is VERY plentiful! And it's non stop killing with a Tank/Healer Combo)
Do take 3 harvesting skills all the way to 50 (Make sure you are harvesting all the nodes you see to get up to the level of the next planet (Run missions if needed) You will make allot of money off your extra crafting mats on the AH!!!)
Be aware of the midnight reset timer when you get 44th+ to catch Heroic resets for extra gear and badges!
Do EVERY quest on Voss/Corilia/Ilum for badge gear! (This is the gear you will be starting the Level 50th Flash Points in)
Put that extra gear you win on the AH!
Chose a pet that you are going to be soling with at 50th to gear out and work on affection with AS SOON AS YOU GET THE PET!
After you finish Ilum quests go do the 50th level FP's there to get some starter raid gear!
Always pick your bind points/taxis throughout the zone!
Make sure you buy your commendation gear as you can afford it when running back to town!

[bluekieran]

(12-12-2011 09:25 AM)Axem Wrote:  Do take 3 harvesting skills all the way to 50 (Make sure you are harvesting all the nodes you see to get up to the level of the next planet (Run missions if needed) You will make allot of money off your extra crafting mats on the AH!!!)

Do you have any info on what level nodes each planet has?

[Pred]

Axem - I'd argue one point. The daily PvP quest gave absolutely fantastic bonus xp. Granted you need to actually win the random warzone you get thrown into, but if you do it really was a big xp boost.

[Salion]

Excellent, excellent post, Axem.

[Rolfson]

A few somewhat trivial but time saving tips I haven't seen mentioned thus far -

Turn on area loot. Saves a couple seconds every time you kill groups, adds up tremendously.

If you're going juggernaut or any melee with gap closing, use that skill to get around the maps quickly. You can jump on an enemy and then kite them while using instant casts / companion to kill them.

GEAR YOUR COMPANION. I can't tell you how many times I saw people hauling companions around with their starter gear past lvl 25. It takes very little effort with the gear you just pick up and is abso-freaking-lutely worth it.