If you have only one or two 2* items in your loadout, then un-flag that loadout for PvP. Make a loadout of only your 1* or less items that is flagged for PvP and stay in T1 PvP until you have at least a gained T2 access in PvE (at least).
Seriously you will have a better time playing T1 lockdown in a full Proto loadout then you will taking your Proto armor and shiny new Calibur into T2 PvP Lockdown.
The Lockdown Tier you are in is determined by the highest star item you have on any of your loadouts that are flagged for PvP. As fun as it is to destroy people who show up in T2 lockdown with a 90% T1 loadout it really just creates a bad time for everybody. Also, it is really cheat to make a competitive T1 lockdown loadout (fully heated 1* gear).
One final note. If you accidentally find yourself in T2 lockdown with your proto armor on... Go ahead and stick out the 5 minute game. You still get 1 Krogmo coin for losing. Just switch to Guardian class and shield for your team (or do Recon & death mark for your teammates).
I genuinely want to help here. It is no fun slaughtering basically naked people & it is even less fun being stuck on a team of said lames who typically end up rage quitting and make things even worse.
Sometimes you get the thirst and want to quench it with the tears of ragequitty noobs.
That aside, BSOD has some great points. If you find yourself undergeared, one of the best ways to maximize your utility to the team is to pick Recon or Guardian, and stick close to a better-geared teammate. While he dukes it out, you can tank a few hits for him (guardian shield) or you can scout ahead and deathmark his opponents. If he is particularly skilled, the two of you can go a long ways.
Another thing to do as a guardian is hold up your shield whenever you are sitting with a bunch of teammates, for example after a battle while capturing the control point. The guardian shield provides healing that cannot be underestimated- a few seconds under a guardian shield can recover enough health to take one more hit. That extra hit can easily be decisive in a battle.
In fact, all of these point are valid even if you are properly geared. Unless you are that crack A-team striker, odds are you will fare better in a team rather than solo.