Creature Handler Archive

If I were designing a skillpoint system for a game based on a war backstorywith a player economy driven by crafting professions, I would probably do it this way: Two skillpoint pools. One of 250 and another of 150 (those numbers would have to be balanced with the professions' reqs). Players would have the option to choose whether their character was primarily combat or non-combat.The primary skillset would use points from the larger pool, leaving the smaller pool for "hobbies". If I wanted to be a dancer/tailor with a combat hobby, I could. I wouldn't be able to compete in the heavy combat arena but I wouldbe able to have enough combat to participate in guild outings.If I wanted my character's primary function to be combat, I could still pick up some Entertainer skills or a crafting profession for a little non-combat fun. I wouldn't be able to have the skillset of a full Entertainer, nor would I be able to have the economic impact of a full craftsperson. To me this would be a fair solution to "Template Angst", that annoying, I-can't-dabble-without-destroying-everything-I've-worked-hard-for feeling. I really don't feel threatened by the idea of others being able to take up Entertainer professions.

I still adovcate the idea of having a general and non-combat pool, split 250 - 50. This would allow elite masters in non-combat profs get to level 80 if they so choose, and still be restrictive enough that not everyone is going to want to do it.

The removal of BF from the game takes yet another uniqueness away from the game, Ipersonally dont ;ike this disicion but seems no matter how hard we has players cry for soemthing like this to not happen, it'll happen anyway, no matter what.

The new props, added dances and new effects will be a nice feature to respec back to master dancer just for those alone, nice to be able to hold onto the token respec. I still have the knowledge line though (on Tarq that is, Bria still a mDancer/mTailor ), so didn't give up dancer totally.

Message Edited by CristineA on 06-30-2005 06:19 PM

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karyny wrote:

maybe this has been asked..I didnt read every entry. But - my feelings on these 'improvements' aside, is there any plans to complete the flourishes for the exotic line that has already been in the game a..long..time?

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That's a good question. I don't think that will ever happen. They must be aware of the fact that we want these dances complete, but still SOE does not finish them, while introducing new dances at the same time.

The only reason I can imagine is that they need the original dancer to complete the dance and they can not get them... if anyone has actual info I'd be curious to hear them, too however.

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Panthu wrote:
City Profs: Entertainer, Dancer, Musician, Image Designer, Politician, Merchant
Survival and Strategic: Scout, Ranger, Creature Handler, Squad Leader, Commando
Tradeskills: Artisan, Architect, Armorsmith, Bio-engineer, Chef, Droid Engineer, Shipwright, Tailor, Weaponsmith
Healer: Medic, Doctor, Combat Medic
Space: The three Pilots (already set up this way)

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hm.
What you are proposing is not giving anyone the opportunity to select professions by this pattern, it is forcing them to.
The few choices left would be pathetic.

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Rabenschwinge wrote:
... if anyone has actual info I'd be curious to hear them, too however.

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Rabenschwinge wrote:

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Panthu wrote:
City Profs: Entertainer, Dancer, Musician, Image Designer, Politician, Merchant
Survival and Strategic: Scout, Ranger, Creature Handler, Squad Leader, Commando
Tradeskills: Artisan, Architect, Armorsmith, Bio-engineer, Chef, Droid Engineer, Shipwright, Tailor, Weaponsmith
Healer: Medic, Doctor, Combat Medic
Space: The three Pilots (already set up this way)

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hm.
What you are proposing is not giving anyone the opportunity to select professions by this pattern, it is forcing them to.
The few choices left would be pathetic.

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Message Edited by Panthu on 07-04-2005 06:04 AM

*is still pondering the confusion above*

Just to be painfully clear, the reason why I like the professions broken down the way I was saying is because it gives all the playstyles an equal worth. The thing that bugs me about the whole Combat vs Non-Combat pools is that it gives the impression that everything Non-Combat is being defined in Combat terms. Which is fine for a combatlevel based game like WoW, but seems like a huge backwards step to me for SWG where the concept was whole char - not just what you were in terms of combat.

I picked the cap of 3 from one group but 5 total elite masteries because it allows you to do any template currently possible plus opens up new options in diversity. The limitation of three in one area has always been with us. You can master 3 Ent Elites now, you could always master 3 Artisan Elites, you used to be able to master 3 Combat Elites. If you also master Pol and a Pilot, you have five Elites. I was just trying to open up that option to all prof groups.

If my plan errs on the side of giving a player too much or too little, it's definitely too much like Shi said.

To the flourishes: My I wish there was a way to get those data... I don't know about Maya, but I'd work myself into it for this.

To the classes: I think I understood what you mean I am just saying I don't like the idea... It is still more restrictive than helpful imho.

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Rabenschwinge wrote:
To the flourishes: My I wish there was a way to get those data... I don't know about Maya, but I'd work myself into it for this.

Me too, lol. I think the bigger deal is getting permission to take the time to do this from the producer. Jake always used to say to me "If it was up to me,..." and then send me off to bug Tyrant.

To the classes: I think I understood what you mean I am just saying I don't like the idea... It is still more restrictive than helpful imho.

I don't mind if you hate it but I want you to hate it for the right reasons. *throws fit* This is going to drive me bonkers, lol! What're you seeing that's restrictive? It allows everything that is done now other than Pol/All Ent because I moved pol in with us and that would be more than 3 from one group, but all other current templates are allowed plus a lot more. Pleeeeease explain. /grovel

I really want to understand what you are seeing here. /flower

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First let's say what I understood, since this talking about "mastered" profs confused me a little. You have 350 or 400 points total, but you may only spend 250 of these in a single one of the categories you defined.

I dislike it, because it may forbid me to allocate points they way I would like to have it. Maybe I just wanna dedicate everything I am to one purpose. Why is that so bad? If it ain't possible to allow players to everything they want rules should contain as few restrictions as possible, but not points enough for two masters that you cannot allocate in a group where you don't want it. That's a lot points...
From our points it sounds great, still being trible master. But someone who is new will probably feel quite restricted with 350 points he cannot allocate as he possibly would like to.
And think about the consequences (thinking only in masters, not in allocated skill points):
A BH Character: Bounty Hunter/Commando/Rifleman/Pistolier/Combat Medic

Or then you could master all five professions you need to slice a base in one character:
Squad Leader/Commando/Bio Engineer/Bounty Hunter/Smuggler
And since four of these five professions are ranged combatants this would indeed make the character able to slice a base alone and destroy any resistance.

Besides I don't hate your idea. I can only hate people. And definately not you. /cookie

PS: Let's clarify where the limits are. Being dancer restricts you in being politician. Being smuggler restrict you in being Jedi. Being armorsmith restrict you in being. A likely example: You are mayor of a city and Dancer/Image Designer. After the changes, as I understood politician will cost money. You cannot use your points to become tailor/merchant, but you could become tailor/armorsmith. That's one point where it does not make much sense.

Message Edited by Rabenschwinge on 07-04-2005 01:46 PM

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Rabenschwinge wrote:
First let's say what I understood, since this talking about "mastered" profs confused me a little. You have 350 or 400 points total, but you may only spend 250 of these in a single one of the categories you defined.

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Rabenschwinge wrote:

PS: Let's clarify where the limits are. Being dancer restricts you in being politician. Being smuggler restrict you in being Jedi. Being armorsmith restrict you in being. A likely example: You are mayor of a city and Dancer/Image Designer. After the changes, as I understood politician will cost money. You cannot use your points to become tailor/merchant, but you could become tailor/armorsmith. That's one point where it does not make much sense.

Message Edited by Rabenschwinge on 07-04-2005 01:46 PM

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