Commando Archive
Thread: Letter I sent to SOE about Commando
Page 1 of 4
Ivoni
Sat Aug 23, 2003 2:06 am
#1
Hello. I play Ivoni on Intrepid and that is also the handle I go by on the boards.
I am a Master Commando. We still do not have a correspondent and so I am re-applying. Also tossing in my thoughts about the class.
I wrote a huge summary about the changes on Test Server here
http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=Development&message.id=395064&highlight=#M395064
Basically these are the problems with the class.
1. Lack of definition. It is the lack of what is the intention of the purpose of the class that leaves us floundering. Even the description of the Master Commando in game makes no sense, as it in no way represents the actual Master Commando.
2. Lack of Damage. Just guessing from the sheer lack of defensive skills, no knockdown, no dizzy, 2 specials, and how ungodly time consuming making a master commando is, one expect to be the bringer of death. We are the elite hybrid combat class after all. We are not. Even with the changes on test server we are still in last place for dealing damage over time. It is our belief we are the bringers of the big boom.
3. Lack of Armor Piercing. It’s offensive to see the lack of serious Armor Piercing weapons on test. ALL of them should be AP3. If they were then the damage they are at on the test server would be fine.
4. Lack of specials for Launcher Pistol. Why is it necessary to become Master Pistoleer to do damage with this weapon? If it gives heavy weapons xp, the only logical thing is to use the ranged weapon support line. In fact all the heavy weapons should (but do not except the pistol). What other class learns 4 trees and then throws them out the window?
5. Misleading IDEAL ranges for Acid Rifle, Flamethrower, and Launcher Pistol. Ideal means where you should be to use the weapon yes? So why is a number given in which neither of the specials are in range to use on the Acid Rifle or the Flamethrower? It should be 16m. Why is the Ideal Range 0.0 on the launcher pistol? I’ll get into accuracies in a minute.
6. Two Different Accuracies for Acid Rifle. The +10 given at Novice Commando does not stack with those given by the Acid Rifle line. You end up having a +10 and a +70.
7. Lack of use of unarmed line prerequisite. This makes no sense. This is not used in any way, shape, or form.
8. NPC’s regarding Flamethrower as melee. If solo and you pull out the flamethrower, the NPC will put away his gun and pull out his melee weapon and charge you.
9. Questions about the knockdown given to Bounty Hunter in Carbine 3. Reading the description of it, well, read. “Fire Knockdown: This ranged attack blasts the target with a quick rush of flame aimed at their upper body, which can cause them bowled over by the sheer force directed at them, causing them to be dizzy as well.”
10. Beam Rifle. No one seems to use this. Give cert to whomever it belongs to.
11. Incorrect titles per column. These reflect beta idea of Commando which has since changed. Field Tactics: Artilleryman (?), Heavy Support Weapon: Expert Commando, Flamethrower Specialization: Grenadeer (?), Acid Rifle Specialization: Ordnance Manufacturer (?)
Things to consider about how this class is balanced if given AP3 and current damages on test server.
1. A novice commando is as accurate/speed as a novice marksman. A Master Commando is barely more accurate/speed than a master marksman. None of the other classes suffer in this regard. At best we get 80/45 (flame & acid). At worst we get 50/50 (heavy acid beam)
2. Due to this fact, no commando is truly useful with any line weapon until level 3 at least. Even with the implemented fixes, they will still miss a lot due to lack of skills. This prevents dabblers from doing what we are doing with Pistoleers. Oh, we don’t have knockdown. Guess I’ll take it from the Pistoleer.
3. We have no defenses. Yes, we get +5 melee/ranged/ vs knockdown. Not really much of a defense. If we want defense we can take the defenses from the other classes. But it’s costly due to our shortage of points.
4. No combat class takes as long to master. Bounty Hunter only takes long because of how slow investigation is. None have to earn 40,000 combat xp with useless weapon xp. Can’t earn heavy weapons xp until a Novice Commando. So whatever you do to earn it (unarmed, pistol, rifle, carbine) is never used for your goal. We EARN master commando. It takes 100 hours of grinding (80 if you’re die-hard) to achieve.
5. This is an elite hybrid class with only 77 skill points free. Unlike Bounty Hunter this does not include scout with exploration (mandatory for combat). All the other combat classes have 158 skill points free. Enough to master another complete elite profession.
6. What is the point of this class if we are not more powerful? We are limited to our variety because of our dedication to destruction. We pay for the right to be feared. Please let us be.
I hope this was clear and succinct. I tried my best to do so. Thank you.
I am a Master Commando. We still do not have a correspondent and so I am re-applying. Also tossing in my thoughts about the class.
I wrote a huge summary about the changes on Test Server here
http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=Development&message.id=395064&highlight=#M395064
Basically these are the problems with the class.
1. Lack of definition. It is the lack of what is the intention of the purpose of the class that leaves us floundering. Even the description of the Master Commando in game makes no sense, as it in no way represents the actual Master Commando.
2. Lack of Damage. Just guessing from the sheer lack of defensive skills, no knockdown, no dizzy, 2 specials, and how ungodly time consuming making a master commando is, one expect to be the bringer of death. We are the elite hybrid combat class after all. We are not. Even with the changes on test server we are still in last place for dealing damage over time. It is our belief we are the bringers of the big boom.
3. Lack of Armor Piercing. It’s offensive to see the lack of serious Armor Piercing weapons on test. ALL of them should be AP3. If they were then the damage they are at on the test server would be fine.
4. Lack of specials for Launcher Pistol. Why is it necessary to become Master Pistoleer to do damage with this weapon? If it gives heavy weapons xp, the only logical thing is to use the ranged weapon support line. In fact all the heavy weapons should (but do not except the pistol). What other class learns 4 trees and then throws them out the window?
5. Misleading IDEAL ranges for Acid Rifle, Flamethrower, and Launcher Pistol. Ideal means where you should be to use the weapon yes? So why is a number given in which neither of the specials are in range to use on the Acid Rifle or the Flamethrower? It should be 16m. Why is the Ideal Range 0.0 on the launcher pistol? I’ll get into accuracies in a minute.
6. Two Different Accuracies for Acid Rifle. The +10 given at Novice Commando does not stack with those given by the Acid Rifle line. You end up having a +10 and a +70.
7. Lack of use of unarmed line prerequisite. This makes no sense. This is not used in any way, shape, or form.
8. NPC’s regarding Flamethrower as melee. If solo and you pull out the flamethrower, the NPC will put away his gun and pull out his melee weapon and charge you.
9. Questions about the knockdown given to Bounty Hunter in Carbine 3. Reading the description of it, well, read. “Fire Knockdown: This ranged attack blasts the target with a quick rush of flame aimed at their upper body, which can cause them bowled over by the sheer force directed at them, causing them to be dizzy as well.”
10. Beam Rifle. No one seems to use this. Give cert to whomever it belongs to.
11. Incorrect titles per column. These reflect beta idea of Commando which has since changed. Field Tactics: Artilleryman (?), Heavy Support Weapon: Expert Commando, Flamethrower Specialization: Grenadeer (?), Acid Rifle Specialization: Ordnance Manufacturer (?)
Things to consider about how this class is balanced if given AP3 and current damages on test server.
1. A novice commando is as accurate/speed as a novice marksman. A Master Commando is barely more accurate/speed than a master marksman. None of the other classes suffer in this regard. At best we get 80/45 (flame & acid). At worst we get 50/50 (heavy acid beam)
2. Due to this fact, no commando is truly useful with any line weapon until level 3 at least. Even with the implemented fixes, they will still miss a lot due to lack of skills. This prevents dabblers from doing what we are doing with Pistoleers. Oh, we don’t have knockdown. Guess I’ll take it from the Pistoleer.
3. We have no defenses. Yes, we get +5 melee/ranged/ vs knockdown. Not really much of a defense. If we want defense we can take the defenses from the other classes. But it’s costly due to our shortage of points.
4. No combat class takes as long to master. Bounty Hunter only takes long because of how slow investigation is. None have to earn 40,000 combat xp with useless weapon xp. Can’t earn heavy weapons xp until a Novice Commando. So whatever you do to earn it (unarmed, pistol, rifle, carbine) is never used for your goal. We EARN master commando. It takes 100 hours of grinding (80 if you’re die-hard) to achieve.
5. This is an elite hybrid class with only 77 skill points free. Unlike Bounty Hunter this does not include scout with exploration (mandatory for combat). All the other combat classes have 158 skill points free. Enough to master another complete elite profession.
6. What is the point of this class if we are not more powerful? We are limited to our variety because of our dedication to destruction. We pay for the right to be feared. Please let us be.
I hope this was clear and succinct. I tried my best to do so. Thank you.
MaDCoW8Me
Sat Aug 23, 2003 2:20 am
#2
You have my vote. Nice and up to date on issues includingthose from master level point of view.
JediSpam
Sat Aug 23, 2003 5:08 am
#4
Well writtenletter with great ideas for inprovement!
Very simple, instructive, constructiveand straight-forward.
I'm with you, Ivoni.
MajorDork
Sat Aug 23, 2003 5:14 am
#5
/salute
Well done I'd like to see a response to every one of these issues very comprehensive and accurate.
Well done I'd like to see a response to every one of these issues very comprehensive and accurate.
GoldSstar
Sat Aug 23, 2003 5:18 am
#6
agree with all
just one thing : launcher pistol needs only 2 changes 1: AP 2: OTHER specials A PART the ones obtained from the pistoleer tree (it's a pistol so it's right that u specialize it more if u master the pistol art)..but just as the scatter pistol for bhs' the gains Eyeshot and torsoshot from the bh's pistol specialization AND can use also pistoleer mods and moves.
Theedage
Sat Aug 23, 2003 5:52 am
#7
Lack of LP specials? You kidding me!? Everyone knows a commando should be part PISTOLEER!!!!!!
It makes so much sense!!!!!! Hello cookie cutter, all commandos Must be part pistoleers.
Ugh.
TarionBesbald
Sat Aug 23, 2003 7:24 am
#8
100% agreed
that's what nearly every commando thinks...
but hey, we're the commandos... not the BHs, riflemen or CHs...
our skill in whining is too low to be taken serious 
Knight1138
Sat Aug 23, 2003 7:30 am
#9
Ivoni ,
You definitely have my vote! It was well thoughted out letter ...WELL DONE !
Drist
Sat Aug 23, 2003 7:58 am
#10
Nice post. I think it covers a lot of what we all want to be said. Too bad it will probably go on deaf ears 
Basherboy
Sat Aug 23, 2003 9:29 am
#11
The part where you say the titles. You mixed up flamethrower and field tactics titles.
Field Tactics - Grenadeer
Flamethrower - Artilleryman
TarionBesbald
Sat Aug 23, 2003 9:39 am
#12
nope, he's right...
i'm at flame 4 and the title for it is "grenadeer"...
i would like to see the title "flamer" 
Decoy7
Sat Aug 23, 2003 10:08 am
#13
Votes for you to be next Commando Corepondent. Maybe with someone who knows whats wrong and how to help something can get done.
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