Update 5.0 -- Knights of the Eternal Throne

[Kiralynn of Rohan]

SWTOR patch 5.0 goes live today.

 

The update is massive.  Here are some highlights:

• There are significant UI changes.
• Look for massive class changes. It'll take some time to get used to, but so far it feels like a definite improvement.
• There are two new planets: Iokath and Nathema.
• The max level is now 70. Max level characters can earn XP toward prize packs.
• Dark vs. Light has become a permanent feature in a new form, with results visible in real-time on each server. Once one side wins, it gets access to special rewards and vendors, but the opposing side gets bonuses to win the next round.
• Galactic Command, Uprisings, and other small group content systems are in place.
• Craftable gear is now nearly as powerful as rare drop gear, so massive group content is no longer necessary. Crew skills have a cap increase to 600, with new missions, schematics, and resource nodes available.
• Graphics, movement, and facial expressions have been upgraded for those using the higher settings. Performance in combat and large groups has been improved.
• The number of currencies in the game has been reduced to simplify things and give more access to gear.
• All missions can be played in any of three difficulty modes. Both story and regular missions can be replayed at will, however only the choices on the first run affect the plot going forward.
• Expertise is now Mastery, so there is no longer a need for PVP gear.
• We can simultaneously queue for flashpoints, uprisings, warzones, operations, starfighter matches, etc.
• Players can earn portrait and nameplate decorations called "flair" by increasing command rank or buying them in the market.

[Kiralynn of Rohan]

This post will be updated with important news from the developers:

• The currencies have been removed with today's patch but the credits will not be granted until Friday.

• DvL will now show as being 0% for everyone and has been reset. This will have no effect on you receiving your rewards on Friday. The reason this happened is that since the DvL event is over, the Achievements have been wiped/reset should they run it in the future.

• If you open your crew skills window and see none available, press "B" (the crew skills window hotkey) and it will re-populate your skills. Once you've pressed B the first time, you can use the drop down menu option.

[Kiralynn of Rohan]

Game Update 5.0.1 Patch Notes

Highlights

In-game Event Schedule! There is a whole host of events going on in the galaxy this December! All events start and end at 4AM PST (12PM GMT):

• Life Day (Dec 13 – Jan 10)
• 5th Anniversary (Dec 13 – Jan 17)
• Rakghoul Resurgence on Corellia (Dec 13 – Dec 20)
• Bounty Contract Week (Dec 20 – Jan 3)
• Relics of the Gree (Jan 3 - Jan 10)

General

• Fixed an issue that was causing poor performance in the Zakuul Spire area.
• The method of tallying points for Dark versus Light battles has been adjusted to make them more competitive across all servers.
• Start @ 65 Characters no longer receive abilities that were replaced by better abilities when loading in Chapter II of Knights of the Eternal Throne.
• Master Ranos is now summonable by using the holocommunicator and by completing the Alliance Alert “The Light Triumphant.” 
• Shae Vizla is now summonable by using the holocommunicator and by completing her Alliance Alert.
• The client no longer crashes when exiting the game from Full Screen mode.
• In-game music no longer plays on top of the Betrayed cinematic when starting Knights of the Eternal Throne for the first time.
• Female body types are no longer distorted when knocked down.
• Bipedal mounts are no longer causing female characters’ bodies to distort.

Cartel Market

• The Command Experience Boost and Leveling Experience Boost no longer share a cooldown timer.
• Command Experience Boosts can no longer be stacked to increase the percentage of boost gained.

Flashpoints + Operations

• Silaraz, a Dark vs Light World Boss, no longer remains spawned on Tatooine, and now only appears during a Light Side victory state as intended.
• Veteran Battle of Ilum now grants 300 Command Experience (up from 100).
• Veteran Czerka Core Meltdown now grants 300 Command Experience (up from 100).
• The Command Experience values of Command Experience items dropped from Flashpoint encounters has been increased.
• Additional enemies summoned by Dread Master Calphayus in the Dread Palace no longer grant Command Experience.

Missions + NPCs

• The KT-55 and PR-98 droids in the Crimson Fang Uprising will now do much less damage in Story Mode.
• Command Experience gained by completing Uprisings has been increased. Story Mode Uprisings now give 340 Command Experience (up from 160), and Veteran Mode Uprisings now give 680 (up from 200).
• Players who are defeated during the final encounter of the Fractured Uprising are no longer blocked from entering the final room, making them unable to collect their loot.
• The Imperial Spy in Uprising: Inferno is now accessible as intended.
• The highlighted Galactic Command activity now grants bonus Command Experience as intended.
• Heroic and Daily missions completed on previous days will no longer count toward or autocomplete Galactic Command Planetary Mission activities. All Heroic or Daily missions must be completed that day in order to count toward Planetary Mission activities.
• Gold Elite enemies now reward 2 Command Experience (up from 1).
• It is no longer possible for a player to end up in a state where they can see two highlighted Galactic Command activities.
• Players starting Knights of the Fallen Empire now have their Class Companions removed as intended.
• Fixed a number of issues in Class Story cinematics that were causing faces to appear distorted.
• It is no longer possible to start a Chapter if you still have pending rewards for the same Chapter.
• The Corrupted Cave Stoneray is no longer worth any Command Experience.

Classes + Combat

Jedi Consular

Jedi Shadow

• Using Mind Maze no longer grants Martial Prowess if the corresponding Utility is not selected.

Sith Inquisitor

Sith Assassin

• Using Mind Trap no longer grants Hand of Darkness if the corresponding Utility is not selected.

Bounty Hunter

Powertech
Shield Tech

• Flame Engine passive ability proc now removes the Heat cost from Firestorm.

Trooper

Vanguard
Shield Specialist

• Pulse Engine passive ability proc now removes the Energy Cell cost from Ion Storm.

Crew Skills