Dancer Archive

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Xyrdre wrote:

My thinking for why mini-games are a general Good Thing™ for a cantina environment as a social hub is that it forms more of an attraction for a greater part of the playerbase to think of the cantina as a destination location for game content and fun rather than either a 'needed' stopover on the way someplace else (combat prep), or a 'forced' destination to get rid of some affliction (BF/mind wound healing).

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But what if the cantina was someplace that players planned into their gaming sessions, and did so because they wanted to, because there was fun, cool stuff for everyone to do there?

"What's the plan for tonight?"
"Dunno, how 'bout we drop that base on Talus, then head out to the cantina for some Sabacc to celebrate?"

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I'm pretty excited that we won't have 24/7 pressure to be chained to a cantina anymore after BF is retired. If we get the kind of new buffs I hope we do, they won't be a 24/7 need for the general public. People will be able to meet a Dancer, build up a relationship, and then meet with them at a Cantina when they need their buff.

The rest of the time we are in the Cantinas, we can be there just to perform, socialize, and role play (yay!).

Still though, even though I don't doubt we'll still use the cantinas to good use, I dothink the Cantinas were intended to be the Social hubs for all players, not just those of uswho are Social/RPers/Performers. I don't ever want us to go back to forcing people into the Cantinas who don't want to be there once that's done away with, I think that was an awful thing that created a negative mood and I'm glad to see it go....

... but I would like to see more people who could look at Cantinas as a final destination. I'd just like to see them invited in the future and not held hostage, lol. Here's some things I've heard talked about:

Service and Trade
ATMs (mini-bank terms)
Mini-Bazaar Terminals
A Service Terminal (for Smugglers, IDs, Doctors, and Rangers to put up their rates and say that they are available)

New Income Option (a city option to go along with the Combat, Crafting, and Space income areas)
Gambling
Arena style prize fighting with view screens (think KOTOR 1)
Creature fights (done like the above, EQ2 and WoW have done something like this and CH fights have always been a popular Cantina event and money maker)
Other mini-games with NPCs (again, think KOTOR - something like the Dancer that needed a partner)
Open Mic contests (story telling, comedy, whatever, doesn't have to be Ent skill related - use an audience vote)

New Additions for Entertainers (hey, we will need some stuff just for us if everybody really starts using these places )
A Dressing Room Area (Ent Only - Maybe you have to be on the Entertainment Schedule to use it)
A real stage area, orchestra pit, band stand, and/or dance floor at every location
Fame game (compete with other Ents for fame titles and prizes for that location - cash prizes, item prizes like vehicles and jewelry, and neat things like getting your name on a big marquee sign in front of the Cantina)

I'm sure additions like these would still be down the road a bit, but anybody have any other ideasto help Cantinas be a real final destination for other player types?

I agree completely, Cantinas should be sought after for their activites and "end game" stuff. Like gambling, or other board games. I know i loved in UO just taking out the chess board and playing a few round with some friends as we waited or just RPed a little.

I think another idea would be to have something like a flight sim in the cantinas. It would allow you to take your ships out on a space sim and try out new components or maybe spar with some friends. If possible they could even connect all cantinas to that one "Sim" space zone.

KStarfire

Some nice ideas there.

In fact I would propose... Get rid of bank buildings. Put a couple of bank and bazaar machines in each cantina. This way people have a good reason to go in there, for purchases or bank manipulation if nothing else.

C

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Panthu wrote:

I'm sure additions like these would still be down the road a bit, but anybody have any other ideasto help Cantinas be a real final destination for other player types?

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A mechanic that increased with the amount of time one was in a hazardous situation away from the comforts of civilization, that reduced their effectiveness to perform certain tasks with optimum efficiency. Players would seek out the cantina, because they would see it as an oasis, or a port in a storm. This would give us the opportunity to put on a show, so they can be amused and impressed with our skills, and be grateful for our concern.

But wait. We are getting nerfed of that because some dancers don't feel it is their place to amuse combat types.

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Xyrdre wrote:

My thinking for why mini-games are a general Good Thing™ for a cantina environment as a social hub is that it forms more of an attraction for a greater part of the playerbase to think of the cantina as a destination location for game content and fun rather than either a 'needed' stopover on the way someplace else (combat prep), or a 'forced' destination to get rid of some affliction (BF/mind wound healing).

---*snip*---

But what if the cantina was someplace that players planned into their gaming sessions, and did so because they wanted to, because there was fun, cool stuff for everyone to do there?

"What's the plan for tonight?"
"Dunno, how 'bout we drop that base on Talus, then head out to the cantina for some Sabacc to celebrate?"

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This thread made me remember thethe revitalize the cities focus threadawhile back. Alot ofpeople suggested apartments in the cities. I know there are oftenpeople in and around ourplayer city cantina.... They stop by when they log in to group up or stop to chat before logging out. I truly think the apartment idea would help the catinas in NPC cities alot.

*sniff* *misses Tyrant*

I loved that thread and almost all of the suggestions in it! Apartments would be such a huge step in offering a city game. Which, if we really are going to have finished templates with no increased CL, I think is more important than ever. Being able to seek out full game content just going from Starport to Starport and never having to step foot in the wild would be great for a lot of us.

For others, the cities would just be one more option for play. I love the idea of store fronts that could beleased out in NPC structures and renting out stuctures for events (ballrooms in hotels, etc) too.

I'd love for SWG toget a full stand-on-its-own city game! *drools*

Edit: Uh, I'm not even sure what I had written there, lol.

Message Edited by Panthu on 06-23-2005 02:42 AM

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Chessack wrote:
Some nice ideas there.

In fact I would propose... Get rid of bank buildings. Put a couple of bank and bazaar machines in each cantina. This way people have a good reason to go in there, for purchases or bank manipulation if nothing else.

C

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I've always liked this idea, though it would make someplace like Mos Eisley a graphics card challenge at times. heh Even just right outside the cantina on the wall would be a great place. Even with them outside, it would promptsome players to think "Hey, I'm right here anyway."

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Chessack wrote:
Some nice ideas there.

In fact I would propose... Get rid of bank buildings. Put a couple of bank and bazaar machines in each cantina. This way people have a good reason to go in there, for purchases or bank manipulation if nothing else.

C

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I love that idea! Put an ATM in the cantina. /wink

At least we'd get rid of "I can't tip you because I need to go to the bank".

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Chessack wrote:
Some nice ideas there.

In fact I would propose... Get rid of bank buildings. Put a couple of bank and bazaar machines in each cantina. This way people have a good reason to go in there, for purchases or bank manipulation if nothing else.

C

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Petronela wrote:

As for gambling …. Was there not a treat not long ago explaining why it’s problematic to implement because in order to do so SOE would have to change the game’s rating or something like that, don’t remember the details.

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Nah, there are gambling machines in game already. They're just rush job MUD style text things *cough*lame*cough* and upgrading them to real 3D objects or at least mini-game screens shouldn't change a rating at all.

Anyway, SOE doesn't set their games' ratings. They reccomend what rating they think the game should be when they submit it, but the ESRB can totally ignore what the developer says.

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Panthu wrote:
Anyway, SOE doesn't set their games' ratings. They reccomend what rating they think the game should be when they submit it, but the ESRB can totally ignore what the developer says.

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Clarification, as we asked this at the Fan Fest. It's not SOE, it's Lucas Arts that is concerned about the ratings and putting gambling in the game, as in Jabba's Casino that they were thinking of adding. They've put it on hold and are considering it still, but it would have to be remarketed/labeled or whatnot.