Artisan Archive

I think I finally can put into words my idea of the difference between Uber/Hardcore players and Casual/Semi-Casual players.

I find myself at Eng III working for IV with 2 harvesters, one wind gen trying to get enough resources to even start my 6000 pt grind. Then I take time to read up on a few Professions and what is required--i.e. 33000 for Novice Architect, same for Ch/BE's and all the others and I notice the Uber/HC people are already up there breaking into the upper end of their desired profession. They sit for hours upon hours with the "grind" plan--turn off all the autos, use the first item in the list to craft and hit enter, enter, enter, enter.

Anyway, I'm going, oh geez, by time I EVER get to where I can even make my first house, the Uber/HC players will be selling the Biggest houses, PA buildings, Factories, etc. and I won't even have a prayer. So, as I looked at the CH/BE end of things--you can't even just do BE effectively without CH abilities, which then makes the CH/BE profession even harder/longer to accomplish. So then I thought, well, ok, just have a house and a pet, right? Not---becaaausse----you have to have CH skills to have a pet. So--I don't think just sitting on my porch with my "droid" is going to be just toooo satisfying.

I think what I am trying to say is that MMORPGs really are for Uber/HC players--Not casual gamers as the exp/skill requirements have to be so high and/or difficult as to "challenge" the Uber/HC gamers. Then that leaves "Us" the casual, get on the game to relax, escape, have a somewhat "brain" challenging profession/craft that is usable/viable for making an income in about half the time of the MMORPGs take now, so we can actually just "play", just frustrated trying to keep up.

Having to spend finger cramping, backaching hours "grinding" so I can be at the "top" fast so I can compete with the Uber/HC people who already are most of the way there, just to be able to have a "Usable" profession/craft in the game and make any money and be able to "play" the game (not just grind the game) is where I guess the line gets drawn between Uber/HC and Casual/Semi-Casual.

How to accomodate both is the million dollar question that I doubt will be answered any time soon. --If it is even possible.

But I still have my delema of which I do not know how to solve. I really would like to be an Architect and my other char a CH/BE but will it all be for naught when, 1,2,3 months down the road I Finally achieve enough skill point levels to do Anything with the field? And, of course, as many of you will saying I'm sure--quit playing. I just hate it that I would have to quit a game that I really enjoy, basically, the whole idea of it and such, because "grinding" just doesn't work for me. Oh I wish the "Dev Gods" had an answer.

I hope I am not offending anyone, or anyone taking this wrong. This is not a Criticism of any kind--it is just a statement of how things are and the differences between Groups.

Shoot, if someone has an idea for me as to how to keep up without requiring day by day, hour by hour, crafting to get to a competitive level with all the "fast" people, then I am open for suggestions. I just don't want to get left in the dust is all; which I'm sure is inevitable anyway.

I just had an idea--What about a Server that is "Timed"? Like a 15-20 hr per week server. All you are allowed is that time per week--However you use it--20 hrs in one day or or 4 hrs a day--whatever you like, but when you hit that

Oh, I don't think you'll offend anyone. The same holds true for mmorpgs as for many other things: the more you do it, the better/more uber you will be. It will take you the same in-game time to get master whatever as it will a hardcore game.. the hardcore gamer just progresses much faster than you because (s)he plays many more hours than a casual gamer.

Look on the bright side... there will always be someone to train you. The powergamers have to pay the npcs a lot of credits for their skills

Tiiquila

The thing is that the Grinders will only be userful to the uber people of other classes. Now everyone will be able to buy the "best" house. So there will always be a market for the mid level players. Those of us that can't play 10 hours a day will just have to realize that we will never be able to compete with the uber grinders. But we don't have to. I'm perfectly with my 1-2 hours a day.Only the other uber playerswill be able to afford the biggest and best new thing so there will always be mid market demand.

We can't compete with the "super-corps" so why try?

Your timer idea will NEVER happen? Why? Because people pay a monthly fee and sho0udl be able to play as long as they like. Even if they were to only charge $5.00 a month they'd still get too many complaints for limiting game play.

Uber/HC vs CG is a well utilized argument. It was an argument in Beta, it will continue to be an argument in the live game. The problem the CG'er is going to find is that they will not have the customer base (if in the artisan field) or a regular hunting group (if in the melee field). I do not consider myself an Uber/HC gamer, yet I am a weaponsmith already. As an artisan, I found out what items ofered the best XP at what level, then started surveying and collecting resources. I wrote a macro for sampling and I have obtained enough resources to get me through ENG I-IV, Survey I-IV, Novice Weaponsmith, and INT Firearms. The point to a game like this is to find the items, make the stuff, and then having fun doing it all. I think that the CG'er is going to have trouble, but only if they aren't social and find the social aspects of this game to be less appealing.

WC

Well there are still plenty of lower class marksmen and other classes that don't bring in a lot of money but will need small houses when you can make them. Most of the high up architects will be busy with PA halls and such so you will be the one to make the small houses for the other casual gamers. It all works out, just give it some time.

I think one thing that casual gamers like myself can do is form player's associations that are for fellow casual gamers. We will be advancing at similar paces and can help each other along without competing with the hardcore nerds living in mommy's basement. That way, the artisan has a market for his goods at a fair price, the marksman has a place to get goods without overpaying, a scout has someone to sell his hides to at a reasonable price, a medic has people to heal without being sniped by more powerful medics looking to advance futher, the entertainer doesn't have to worry about finding tips or groups, and the brawler also has services readily available. I don't believe in begging the developers for an answer to a problem that we can help make better ourselves. Let's just try to have fun with it, and make it on our own, with or without the help of the uber-gamers, not all of whom are so terrible and thoughtless.

I think you may be worrying prematurely :-)

SWG seem much more 'casual friendly' than any other MMORPG I have played, sure there is a scale which can be advanced through but the first important thing is it is optional, you dont _have_ to skill up to play the game, sure if you want to make Architect or whatever you need to put the work in but thats a 'choice' the player makes, the player also makes a choice as to how fast he wants to get there and by what route.

While other player will hit the top end first there are a few considerations to be made, by the time they get there they will probably be very bored with the grind. The efect of this will vary from player to player but shouldnt be ruled out (most commonly they begin to complain about lack of content). Then you need to consider the fact that they will be busy filling demand for the high end items (since they are the only ones who can make them) this leaves the lower markets (the ones you are currently working in) still available to you, coupled with the fact that the high end items take huge amounts of resources (and even with harvesters this isnt a cakewalk because of shifting resources) these guys arent going to be able to continue to producing low end stuff alongside the high end items

you dont really need to compete with the ubers because when new players log on they can not afford any uber/advanced items that the hardcore players will be making, letting the lower level players sell their low level items the the new people. or at least thats what i hope

This game is definately not casual gamer friendly. I mean i love this game

and if i had the time to play it alot i would but i'm really to busy with a life.

I don't think becoming an artisan is the best profession to pick if your a

casual gamer which i've learn, but i'm keeping at it because like i said

before this game is great and addicting.

http://www.swgcenter.com/info/article.asp?ID=629

That is a discussion piece we just put up today dealing with a similar subject.

Enjoy!

One problem I've noticed... there never seems to be enough Medics in med centers.

I've managed to progress halfway up the Medic tree without even trying! I currently have: First Aid 2, Diagnostics 2, Phamacology 2, Organic Chemistry 2, and have enough XP to raise one of the first 3 to level 3. I've seen one Novice Combat Medic and one Novice Doctor in this town total.

On the other hand, I've already seen at least 4 Novice Droid Engineers,a Novice Architect, 2 Novice Armorsmiths, and a Novice Weaponsmith... just in the last 30 minutes I was playing earlier today.

The Artisan tree is really vulnerable to people who are grinding their way to the top.

I know exactly how you feel. I split my time between AO and SWG and while I almost have Eng IV....and on my way to Weaponsmith, It was kinda shocking to see all the Weaponsmith running around. But I really dont care. I am becoming a Weaponsmith for my own use. I am training in Rifle and will always use whatI make. When I join a PA I'll supply all there weapon needs. But if it takes me a year to acheive my goals..I am fine with that.

Also I found other things to do. Money is too easy to get in this game. I already have over 100k and have yet to sell an item i make. I made making money by odd ways my goal. Basically I put the "I wanna be the first" goal in the trash....and just have fun.