On the previous articles we have discussed about the Jedi and Bounty Hunter expertise trees. This time we will check how the next SWG patch will change the game for character of the Officer class giving them improved group support ability, increased combat viability, better defensive options and more.
Squad Command Below is a first look at the “Squad Command” expertise tree. This tree allows the officer to choose a number of diverse areas of concentration. These areas include Leadership, Deployment, Explosives and general combat. Leadership provides the Officer with powerful new group buffs and enhancements giving your party a significant edge. Deployment not only offers useful new types of supply drops to support your group and yourself it also includes the ability to call for reinforcement, summoning a soldier you can add to your group, command and control permanently (until they're killed in action). Explosives allow the Officer to improve the destructive power of their Air Strike, Grenade and Bomb area effect abilities. Finally a number of upgrades and improvements to the Officer's existing damage special attacks are available. Detailed information on specific abilities within this tree can be viewed below. 
Detailed descriptions of the individual abilities and bonuses can be found below. | Leadership Expertise | | Name | Tier | Cost | Type | Maximum Effect | | Leadership | 1 | 4 | Modifier | +30 sec group buff durations | | Initiative | 2 | 3 | Modifier | 20% action cost reduction to group buffs. | | Advanced Tactics | 3 | 1 | Ability | Extended Tactics line scaling to level 90. | | Focus Fire | 3 | 1 | Ability | Offensive group buff scaling with level. | | Inspiration | 4 | 1 | Ability | Restores some action to all group members. Reduces action cost for a short time. | | Scatter! | 4 | 1 | Ability | Group buff increasing run speed, removing snare effects and increasing Glancing Blow chance. | | Charge! | 5 | 1 | Ability | Group buff increasing run speed, removing snare effects, increasing damage and reducing action cost. | | Last Words | 5 | 1 | Ability | On officer death all group members heal, have action restored, +10% damage/glancing blow buff. | | Deployment Expertise | | Rapid Deployment | 1 | 4 | Modifier | Reduce supply drop cooldown by 15 minutes. | | Medical Resupply | 3 | 1 | Ability | Delivers 5 level appropriate healing stimpaks. These are temporary items that decay in 1 hour. | | Tactical Resupply | 4 | 1 | Ability | Delivers 5 level appropriate offense buff items. These are temporary items that decay in 1 hour. | | Reinforcements | 5 | 1 | Ability | Summon a level appropriate NPC soldier pet to serve under your command. | | Explosives Expertise | | Explosives Expert | 1 | 4 | Modifier | Reduce action cost of all grenades, air strikes etc. by 25%. | | Surgical Demolition | 2 | 3 | Modifier | Grenades, air strikes, etc have a +50% chance to crit. | | High Explosives | 3 | 2 | Modifier | Increase damage of AOE abilities by 25%. | | Superior Firepower | 4 | 1 | Ability | Buff increases Air Strike/Grenade/Bomb special damage and critical chance dramatically. | | Primacy | 5 | 3 | Modifier | Reduce cooldown of Superior Firepower to five minutes. | | Officer Combat Expertise | | Sure Shot Efficiency | 1 | 4 | Modifier | Reduce action cost of Sureshot by 25% | | Lethal Aim | 2 | 4 | Modifier | Increase Sureshot damage by 10% | | Target Selection | 3 | 3 | Modifier | Reduce action cost of Paint Target by 20% | | Identify Weakness | 4 | 2 | Modifier | Increase Paint Target damage by 20% | | Advanced Paint Target | 5 | 1 | Ability | Extended Paint target line scaling to level 90 | Officer Specialization Next, let's take a look at the Officer Specialization tree. This tree allows the Officer to specialize in and receive abilities useable only with 1-Handed melee weapons, Pistols and Battle armor. It also includes the opportunity to gain permanent bonuses to important skill statistic modifiers. Specialization in Swordsmanship will make enemies think twice about getting too close to the Officer with punishing abilities like Decapitate and Crippling Vortex. For those who would rather maintain their distance specialization in Pistols is possible. You can not only improve your own personal performance with Pistols but also the performance of your entire group should you elect to purchase the Pistol Drillmaster ability. A number of enhancements are available that give the officer increased personal defense while wearing a full suit of Battle Armor. Aside from bonuses to Energy and Kinetic protections, the Officer can gain improved healing and the ability to cure themselves of a number of harmful states and conditions. 
Detailed descriptions of the individual abilities and bonuses can be found below. | Expertise Stat Modifiers | | Name | Tier | Cost | Type | Maximum Effect | | Close Combat | 1 | 4 | Modifier | +50 STR | | Toughness | 1 | 4 | Modifier | +50 CON | | Marksmanship | 1 | 4 | Modifier | +50 PRE | | Endurance | 1 | 4 | Modifier | +50 STA | | Close Quarters Combat Expertise | | Swordsmanship | 2 | 4 | Modifier | Increase damage with 1-H melee weapons by 25% | | Grim Blows | 3 | 2 | Modifier | Increase 1-H melee crit chance by 10% | | Decapitate | 4 | 1 | Ability | High damage 1-H melee special attack. | | Crippling Vortex | 5 | 1 | Ability | 1-H melee AOE crowd control. Short duration root effect followed by a snare. | | Officer Side Arm Expertise | | Side Arm Efficiency | 2 | 4 | Modifier | Reduce Pistol action cost by 15% | | Side Arm Accuracy | 3 | 2 | Modifier | Increase Pistol damage by 5% | | Dire Strikes | 4 | 2 | Modifier | +5% Pistol crit chance. | | Pistol Drillmaster | 5 | 1 | Ability | Group Buff. Reduce pistol action cost and increase pistol damage. | | Officer Defense Expertise | | Energy Defense | 2 | 2 | Modifier | +1000 energy defense. Requires battle armor. | | Synaptic Stimulator | 4 | 1 | Ability | Remove 2 debuffs. Requires battle armor. | | Bacta Flush | 5 | 2 | Modifier | Increase healing effects by 15%. Requires battle armor. | | Kinetic Defense | 2 | 2 | Modifier | +1000 kinetic defense. Requires battle armor. | | Environmental Purge | 4 | 1 | Ability | Remove damage over time effect. | | Automated Diagnosis | 5 | 2 | Modifier | Reduce heal cooldown by 3 seconds. | As you can see, Officers are receiving a wide range of new abilities to choose from that will improve their ability to support their groups, increase their combat viability and solidify their defense against their enemies. I hope you enjoyed this first look at the new Officer Expertise that are coming your way in the next chapter. |
Star Wars Galaxies 
