CUEmu - Thread Posts

Kalidan

Wed Mar 31, 2004 7:23 pm

I have been reading throught the posts on various forums and have decide to put my opinion and observations down in the forum. I have been playing this game since release and would consider myself as a player somewhere between the two extremes of a roleplayer and power gamer. I have only mastered 9 professions in nine months, have finished the four holo professions, and have only just now started to grind some out. I have dabbled in all of the available fields, having been a medic, scout, marksman, artisan, entertainer, and brawler, and have mastered some elite professions associated with each.

The purpose of this post is to express my discontent with the concept of holo grinding. Last night while playing I had the opportunity to talk with two gamers at the opposite ends of the spectrum, a master dancer in the Theed cantina who is still on her first profession and a power gamer who claimed to have mastered 9 professions in a week. The master dancer was adverting for 110% mind buffs and I immediately started talking with her, not because I wanted a buff, just because it was someone to talk with. She told me that she didn't log on that much anymore because AFKers had ruined the cantina experience for her. I have read enough posts from AFKers that I know why you do it and I am certainly not saying you shouldn't. If you want a Jedi and this is a way for you to get one, then go for it. This statement is being made to show that players on the opposite end are upset. The power gamer was upset that all of his hard work was not paying off. If there is a definitive goal on the horizon it gives you something to struggle for, however if you reach master and get nothing it is very discouraging. Many people have different levels of persistence and some will go through all 32 professions if that what it takes, many though are beginning to quit.

With World of Warcraft in the beta testing stages it is time to ensure that the player base in SWG becomes stable. The devs must make it as enjoyable as possible for all of the types of gamers that are currently involved. Holo grinding has been a nightmare for all of those involved including the devs. There are multiple posts saying as much. So what is the solution? It is as easy as unsilencing the fifth holo. With the new quest system coming everyone will have a clearly laid out path, it may arduous to fulfill but at least you'll know you're on the path. There has been mention that players will be given credit for the professions that have mastered. This will mean that all of us who have completed the four holo professions should have a relatively easy time completing the new quests. If this is the case there will be a fairly large influx of Jedi. Why not begin to stabilize the economy now? Let us know what the fifth professions is. Maybe there should be some type of check on it, mastered 15 professions so far, visited all 45 POIs, completed 25 NPC missions, or have completed a theme park or two. Too many people are beginning to leave or ponder leaving. My city has lost two players this week who have grown tired of doing professions they have no interest in.

If there is an influx of Jedi at least the players who have decided to become real masters of their professions can get back to what they do best. Dancers can begin entertaining again, we may find docs in the med centers tending wounds, and artisans will have a stable market to sell to. Player will actually be able to start depending on vendors again instead of rushing to purchase services before a player who is good at something switches to the next profession in a vain attempt to find the secret one.

This is just one players opinion. Respond as you all see fit. I would ask you to identify yourself as a power gamer, roleplayer, casual gamer, or something in between. This will help the devs determine what each group is looking for. We all may be interested in the amount of differences in the groups or shocked at the unity in our feelings toward holos. Take care.

Chale

Wookiee on Gorath

aazatgrabya

Wed Mar 31, 2004 8:03 pm

#15

You're absolutely right.

As a power/roleplayer I try to get as involved with the profession at hand as possible, rather than just mindlessly grind my way through it. Since the advent of 'holo grinding' businesses have just fallen apart. There are no business relationships available anymore. People are trying their utmost to grind out a profession they have little or no interest in and therefore never devote any time in sharing their skills. I have been dreaming, I kid you not, of a galaxy far far away where your role in your community has some meaning. I am really looking forward to the re-development of the Jedi path and hope that it allows us all todevote our 'professional' playing time to our chosen skills, and our path to enlightenment be a path worthy of those who are able to get the most out of their skills.

Soldier0Fortune

Wed Mar 31, 2004 9:30 pm

#16

What exactly are the new changes? All i know is that its going to be more 'quest driven'. Does that mean they are getting rid of holo grinding or what? I think the best way to do it would be to do some AWESOMELY hard quest or series off quests, and that you had to do them yourself with no help.

That way there wouldnt be an overabundance of jedi and it would be a real sense ofaccomplishment when you reach it, rather than a sense of relief that you dont have to holo grind anymore.

Anyway i doubt thats what's going to happen but i reckon thats still a good idea. If someone could post what the changes exactly are, or post a link to them id appreciate it.

Curehead

Tue Apr 13, 2004 4:39 am

#17

Though I agree with you in principle the way you express that the change should happen does not work for me...for example.. I have mastered 15 professions now and still not opened..will I be counted as nearer to my goal than someone who has mastered 5 professions and unlocked 4 holo's ??? Thier silent holo could still have been any of the remaining professions undr the old system and who is to say that they wouldnt have got lucky on the next one?? how are they going to decide how far up the tree we will go??

I for one will be very pissed off if someone who has been power leveling for only one month is put up into the higher missisons/quests and they have levelled less professions than myself...that isnt to say I'm not happy for people who under this system by shear chance and luck manage jedi after 6 or 7 professions.. it just wouldnt seem right if they throw all levellers in the same boat.. personally i think they need to run the old system in tandem with the new system if only for a transitional period to give those of us that decided on the hologrind path the chance to be rewarded for our grind.. just my H O

Curehead

Tue Apr 13, 2004 4:41 am

#18

and yes I hate having to play out roles I hate...

I wish I could have stayed architect,marksman for ever...lol

lycanthropy

Tue Apr 13, 2004 4:48 am

#19

being on the roleplay side of the spectrum i understand the upset of the hologrinding...after all i left a guild due to the fact that 90% of the active members were hologrinders who were logged in "afk" but were not accually playing the game (just running macros)

i feel that the ones who are hologrinding, are the majority of the ones who quit swg, they drive through the game so fast, it could be hard to enjoy if all ya do is afk grind. hopefully the new system will not offer us a million jedi's running around, i mean hell! we already have a million TKA's on every corner.

Madcow Disease! MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

rLobster

Tue Apr 13, 2004 4:48 am

#20

/agree

E'on Lateralus

~ Elder Master of many Professions - Nerfed into Oblivion ~ NGE: Not the SWG I loved.

YamadaMan

Tue Apr 13, 2004 5:25 am

#21

there are two things I really like to hear in that game:

players saying "I have to master *** cause my holo said so"
and those saying "I can master *** in * hours"

just can't get those 2, you can potentially do everything you want in the game, and some people stick to stupid "tetris-like-double clicking" gameplay for month.

ruining cantinas, ruining cities (afk kills), ruining community and guilds... actually I don't care that much if those guys quit. I had the hardest time to find a decent PA cause all PAs got ruined by hologrinders.

"This morning, the team made a decision to delay the Smuggler profession revamp to Publish 11." TH

Loot Shop (Painting, CAs etc...) Coronet/junction (860 -4724)
-- Kojirou Sasaki - Emperor's Eye (Black Epsilon Ace)
-- Chieko - Master StyleSmith (Master Tailor)
-- Aki'xianghua - Twilek Thug (Master of the LongPole - Rarities Collector)

Frenzi

Tue Apr 13, 2004 5:27 am

#22

Ive never been interested in becoming a jedi. Ive opened holos up on both characters I have, most recently with my Farstar character...

It told me to go Master Commando which wouldnt have been bad as my Radiant character is Master Commando, but when I started freeing up skill points I just realised I didnt want to get rid of Doctor.

Sod hologrinding...I might give the quest based system a go if it looks good, but im not going to give up professions I enjoy just for the chance of having to grind a ton of jedi points.

____________________________________
Frenzi / Armourer
Cancelled due to the 'NGE'
They destroyed the game we love

fugazzz

Tue Apr 13, 2004 5:48 am

#23

Ditto...i had mastered 3 professions (scout/marksman/creature handler) prior to starting the hologrind craze...then went on to do brawler, tailor, medic and doctor...now the holo's are silent. The only real reason I went on up to completing doctor in all honestly was because I was able to somehow manage to keep CH, the profession I truly love. At this point I am done because I don't feel like randomly grinding professions to what end..? to have a jedi character that everyone is just chomping at the bit to slaughter? **edit** is the point? I'll just stay a doctor...a doctor who feels let down by the system, but a doctor none the less.

I can't wait to see the new system and have some holo-shards left over for rememberance of this failed system...try again SOE, the joke is not funny anymore.

Gond'ok Phillip / Iwent Todash
...has Mastered the Baiter Profession.

"I'm your huckleberry...That's just my game."

darthkoodar

Wed Apr 14, 2004 9:09 pm

#24

I am between a roleplayer and casual gamer and i would love to be a jedi. In fact its the reason i bought the game on opening day! I have 3 characters and have not master one profession! I have got to half way through a profession and want to try another and drop my skills. I would really like a new way to be a jedi because i do hate the thought of grinding holos because i cant even master 1 pro without getting bored. I also dont like having to yell and yell and search for doctors for buffs. I spend most of my time on dantooine unless i have to go pick somin up. I know i could go to coronet and wait in a 20 person line to get a buff but thats boring so i just bought a set of 80% armor. Im pretty sure i will master teras kasi as i am 2-1-3-2 in it now and plan on sticking with it. I just hope they make missions for us based on your profession so the fighters get destroy and crafters get crafting missions!

If AMERICA outlaws hog hunting the last true test for bulldogs will be gone. They have already outlawed bull baiting and pit fighting. If AMERICA loses its bulldogs AMERICA will lose its courage and will be its downfall!!!!

YamadaMan

Thu Apr 15, 2004 4:34 am

#25

and the new system sounds so good regarding to the current one... mixed regular/force character... I really don't get the point to go for a silly stoop1d grind anymore.

"This morning, the team made a decision to delay the Smuggler profession revamp to Publish 11." TH

Loot Shop (Painting, CAs etc...) Coronet/junction (860 -4724)
-- Kojirou Sasaki - Emperor's Eye (Black Epsilon Ace)
-- Chieko - Master StyleSmith (Master Tailor)
-- Aki'xianghua - Twilek Thug (Master of the LongPole - Rarities Collector)

thamightycrow

Thu Apr 15, 2004 4:42 am

#26

glad to see it changing for the better eventually but with just 7 profs left to go im afraid i will have to continue the grind, i personally have realy enjoyed the grind it has allowed me to see what profs i like and the very second i unlock or fail tob4 publish 9 i will take this char back to MHS/MDR as those have been the 2 i have enjoyeda good fighter and a steady income not too great PVP but can hold there own.

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Thread: Holo Grinding