Creature Handler Archive

Simply stated some of the changes being implimented are more then I can comprehend.

The changes to the core gameplay mechanics so quickly after the CU itself is one thing, but aside from that the casual disregard shown to the player base is amazing. Many people have invested a very great deal into their characters. By this I do notmean the money spent on 2+ years of accounts, I mean the time and feeling they put into their characters. To simply wipe all of their work out, in one fell swoop is something I truely thought I would never see from this game. One thing I have been able to count on, I felt, is that the devs did at least understand the value that we, the players, put into these silly digital avatars of ours (SOE's actually, and this point was never so strongly made as now).

Throughout the CU, and when even other mechanics changes were made I could think that there were options that were outside the realm of possibility, things that simply would not be passed through because of their effect on the players. When item conversions were top priority, the communtiy could see the devs going to great lengthes to insure that what we had spent out time on would be protected. There were numerous conversion threads made for each category of item, ever (or almost) galaxy was phased through the TC conversion process so the player base could see what would happen to their possesions. Even in the jedi revamp when the village was implemented, the devs provided "holo credit" to those that had spent time grinding under the previous system so their work would not be lost.

Now, with the NGE, which proposess changes far larger and far more sweeping then the CU did, is dropped upon us all of this seems to fly out the window. These changes, which were not even hinted at until today, when we have the entire... I really do not want to say "mess", but I have trouble even trying to come to terms with the vastness of these changes (enhancements, forgive me)... hits us all at once, we see much of what we had and strived for lost.

The most starteling example of this, and largest change is with the CH proffesion being completely lost. I remember in the early stages of the game when CH was over powered amd every other char had a 100% kin resist GSP and we had the dreaded "pet wars", there was a large amount of negative backlash against the CH communtiy and massive nerfs came quickly. After the nerfs of 03 even more followed until CH was rendered un playable, along with a significant number of other proffesions (other profs not because of these nerfs but simply because they were inherently broken). But even after that CH remained in the hearts of the people that loved the proffesion and the community became one of the most mature and generally helpful/pleasant that there is. One of the main promises of the CU was that it would make all professions playable, and the changes it introduced actually went a long way to helping many of them. Many players are attached to their proffesion, and I would say none more so then rangers and CH. Even with profs that vast portions of the community shunned because of their basic weakness these people stuck with them because of their love of the game.

To see that CH can be simply ripped out of the game is revolting, it cannot be stated any more clearly then that.

Most profs are incorporated into the nine "iconic" classes that are being introduced in one way or another, so even though there is no more pistoleer or fencer a BH can use their pistol, sword or power hammer to fight in if not the same way they do now, at least ina similar fashion. With the changes to the ranger prof in the ranger revamp (this boggles the mind as well) it can even be said that they have an anolouge in the spy.

But CH, which is indeed a deep part of the Star Wars mythos is left without even that shread. You say that all of these changes are being implenented so that the origanal dream of playing in a living, breathing, realistic Star Wars universe can be attained. Star Warshas always been a fusion of technology and life. The idea of the incorporation of technology into everyday life having gone so far that the tech itself becomes ancient. The dented and dinged blaster caried by the man in a worn and dusty outfit, is something that is a base part of the Star Wars experience. The devs as far as I can see at least recongnize this aspect, the launcher of the game tries to give this impression with the worn and corroded "metal" we see every time we hit play. What they seem to have forgotten is that that man would most likely be riding a dewback or a taun taun out into the wastes for his next adventure. This mixture of technolog and life is central in SW, being the basis even of the Force, which it could be said the whole story revolves around. I even sawa special that George Lucas made on animal planet, where he said that these creatures are half of what made Star Wars, Star Wars, and then wenton totalk about all the work that was put into designig these creatures and specifically how he wanted them to be variations of their real world counter parts so people could more accutely feel that connection.

....but no, apparently CH isn't part of Star Wars, apparently ranger and the scout profession are not either.

What almost makes this worse is that if you go take a trip of to the CH forums now what you will see in the replies is an almost over whelmingly sadness, not screaming or ranting (here is an example and hopefully the poster won't hate me for it):

This shows the work these people have put into their characters, the devotion that they have to them, that SOE could so calously wipe them out I find revolting. I starded playing this game June 26, 2005, and have invested more thousands of hours then I would care to admit or even think about. When people spend such large amounts of their time on one tihing or in one area, it is very easy for them to become physically attached. I can honestly say that up to this point the idea of canceling my accounts had never entered my mind, even with all the changes this game has been through, but the policies that SOE is now showing to its (possibly former) loyal player base is astounding.

-Xenos Allus

-TWD Flagg

Former SOE diehard.

I was here when they started them up, and I will be here when they shut them down.

...or so I always though.