Dancer Archive
Thread: What type of Live Entertainer are you?
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Drygo
Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:33 am
#1
Recently, I was thinking about how there are several different ways to play an entertainer. From what I've come up with, there are at least 3 main ways. There may be others, and I invite anyone to share any thoughts they may have on the subject. The three that I came up with, in no particular order are as follows.
1. The Bartender/Therapist. This type of entertainer gets the most joy out of their profession by socially interacting with the customer. They enjoy witty banter, jokes, listening to the customers' problems, and various other social interaction.
2. The Performer. This type of of entertainer gets the most joy from actually putting on shows. They use sync dancing, music band flourishes, instruments, and costumes in an attempt to put on the most interesting show possible.
3. The Healer/Buffer. This type of entertainer enjoys being part of the overall economic and interdependent SWG universe and game mechanics.
Of course, many people enjoy not only one of these facets of entertainer gameplay, but a combination of two or three of them. Personally, I'm more of a mix of #2 and #3. I enjoy being part of the interdependency and I enjoy putting on shows. I do not enjoy playing the first role all that much. I do chitchat. But, I don't go out of my way to be socially interactive, witty, etc. Some may say I'm witty, but that's just how I am naturally. I don't put any extra effort into doing so. It's simply not what I enjoy doing in the game.
However, I do respect those who choose to play that way and only that way. Or, a combination of #1 and something else. They're all equally valid in my book. I don't think I'd ever tell someone who chooses to play role #1 that they *must* play roles #2 or #3 in order to make a living or be a successful entertainer. That's the beauty of our profession, it's many options, all of which must be made and supported as equally valid. Even though I take part in role #2 and can make decent credits from it, if I came across a person who only wanted to be an entertainer for the healing/buffing part, far be it from me to tell that person that it is not valid or that they should not be able to make a living from it. I will give them my support wholeheartedly in trying to make that part of our game valid. Just like I will give my support to an entertainer who only cares about #1, even though I don't want much to do with it myself.
Any other thoughts on the roles of entertainers?
Message Edited by Drygo on 08-24-2004 06:37 AM
Message Edited by Drygo on 08-24-2004 07:11 AM
Panthu
Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:44 am
#2
Uh, I'm a 3/1... pretty heavy on the 3 but never with out the one because I love people!! *crazed look*
I would love to be a 2, but honestly, I will mostly be a chorus girl until we get some better tools. I do make costumes like crazy and I do hand flo and mix because I would go batty if I didn't, but I get really frustrated if I try to get too artsy with our current tools. I love to sit back and watch Dancers like you who do have the patience and talent that I don't though. 
picklesSW
Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:47 am
#3
4. The Gypsy. This less-than-reputable entertainer makes their way by pilfering and swindling the customer. They only care about lining their pockets, enjoying their drink, gambling and getting some action later on in their tent. Oft clad in colorful, almost offensive garb, the gypsy is easily identified by their style of dress, their flamboyant attitude, and their inability to resist flirting with anything that shows a pulse and has two legs.
That's me!
That's me!
Bunkermaster
Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:52 am
#4
type #1 definitally, I dance to chat with peeps and not to buff or even heal since i have no SP to waste on going higher
IrinaStarsinger
Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:56 am
#5
Have to say thart I fall in the 1-2 category pretty wel exclusively. While I dont mind doing buffs, its not something I go out of my way to solicit.
In fact, just as when im in the ID tent and I give the Novice IDs first call on all stats, if there is another dancer buffing I'll go out of my way to send people seeking buffs to him or her.
DarkY0da
Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:58 am
#6
Hmm I think I myself might be something like #1 30% #2 30% #3 30% (10% wants to just kill them all 
) lol Hmm
) lol HmmBut for me I love doing sync and shows but most of my fun is when I manage to get someone to interact with me. It's being able to read them quickly and then trying to go with what I see. Either rp a bit. Talk about ingame stuff or DEV stuff or just talk about some new movie and what not. To be buffing someone and then have them just hang around for a while even after they are done and for them to have not even noticed they "wasted" that extra few minutes. But I would love to get more invites to go out with a group and buff everyone and heal them and then go with them as they lay waste to the corvette or what not.
To me #3 is extremely important. At the start of this game we had/have a very important role in this game. The DEVs put in a huge time sink in the form of BF and by doing so marked cantinas as a very important hub of interaction in the game. People would go there to heal and find a tailor and other crafters and medics and what not. So they would be healing but making friends, finding guilds, buying things they needed.
And with #3 being important like that our jobs then became to more or less make them forget that they were in a time sink and "wasting" so much time there. Some people don't feel like talking sometimes when they come in. Fine I understand that I get like that a lot of the time. So I put on a good show for them. Most people were up for talking since this IS an MMorpg. It's all a balance. With out 1 or 2, #3 sucks really badly and people start to resent it, and looking at it like the true time sink it is.
Then they decided to add buffs... which I myself thought was a great addition. I mean they are already there getting healed doing all this other stuff... AND we can then buff them some helping them to make more money or finish the DWB better or pvp better... well great that's even better. But the implamentation of it wasn't the best. Combat goes out of whack we can be macroed from server up till server down. So a great idea turned into a mill stone tied about our necks.
lol blah sorry I think I started rambling.
Maybe I'm more of #1 35 #2 25 #3 25 and the rest off some odd place some where.
Vorpaks
Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:59 am
#7
#1. Option #1 that is. I will usually forget to flouish (only when I'm dancing though!) I am so busy chatting, reading people's bios, or watching the different channels.
Usually when there is any kind of show going on I am more likely to stare in open mouthed amazement then contribute.
Buffing I have not even tried to do yet. I look at Tiaga's latest "alias" thingies whenever my ego gets too big. /eyescrossing
Er, is there an option for "groupie"? Even on my entertainer character I get the most enjoyment from watching other entertainers at work.
Usually when there is any kind of show going on I am more likely to stare in open mouthed amazement then contribute.
Buffing I have not even tried to do yet. I look at Tiaga's latest "alias" thingies whenever my ego gets too big. /eyescrossing
Er, is there an option for "groupie"? Even on my entertainer character I get the most enjoyment from watching other entertainers at work.
Phantom_M-O-L
Tue Aug 24, 2004 7:02 am
#8
I am a buff bot. I start it up before I go to work and I do not shut it down. I like to help people when ever I can. I use some of the money I get to help new people out in the game. The rest of it I put back into my guild. I love to see the new people face when I tip them 100k. LOL I get the OMG i have not ever see that many 0 before LOL.. that makes me feel good. I give to my guild because some people just do not have money to give it but want to be part of a family. That is why I have a buff bot running 24 7 in this game. It says helper above my head and that is what I like to do.
DrewPA Founder of Merc's of Light "M-O-L
Wanderhome dancing and play music in the cornet cantina
Vorpaks
Tue Aug 24, 2004 7:10 am
#9
Please do not post buff bot stuff in this thread. You know it hurts and depresses the people here and this is trying to be a happy thread. If you want to be a Helper then please do the right thing. Help in-game. Do not hurt on the forums.
Edit: And for the Ents here who I know are hurt by this kind of commentary. The best defense is to ignore further posts. Keep your positive vibe. You rock. We know it. People who try to disrupt that are less than nothing and not worth your attention.
You know it hurts and depresses the people here and this is trying to be a happy thread. If you want to be a Helper then please do the right thing. Help in-game. Do not hurt on the forums.Edit: And for the Ents here who I know are hurt by this kind of commentary. The best defense is to ignore further posts.
Keep your positive vibe. You rock. We know it. People who try to disrupt that are less than nothing and not worth your attention.Message Edited by Vorpaks on 08-24-2004 10:12 AM
Drygo
Tue Aug 24, 2004 7:12 am
#10
I've changed the title of this thread. Thanks everyone so much for the feedback. Surveys are always interesting. And, I hope my point in making the originalpost in this threadwas not lost on people.
Message Edited by Drygo on 08-24-2004 07:13 AM
kirah_ashlin
Tue Aug 24, 2004 7:17 am
#11
I guess I would be #1 and #2 combined. I certainly will buff (although I don't need to financially), and you all know how strong my feelings are regarding buffbots (ahem); however, when all is said and done, I didn't become a dancer to buff. I am social and I love to perform. I look forward to the Cantina Crawls (despite the madness 
) and getting together with other ents to do gigs or just put on spontaneous shows in a cantina somewhere.
) and getting together with other ents to do gigs or just put on spontaneous shows in a cantina somewhere.
Aleyo
Tue Aug 24, 2004 7:19 am
#12
I totally get your point Drygo, and I think we too often don't see the different playstyles availble in our professions.
I would consider myself a mix of #2 and #1, where I strive to be good at #2, and #1 is the surprise playstyle that keeps me happy much of the time. Unfortunately, I'd spent a good amount of time in the game without pushing myself to work at #2, but I finally joined a band and have also been asked to perform at a wedding coming up soon, so I hope that'll jumpstart me into exploring that further as I've always wanted.
Incidentally, I divvied up the playstyles as I saw them maybe about a month ago or so. I put the thread in the context of buffbots (how they harm each of the playstyles), so I'll post a link here, so that if anyone *does* have comments on buffbots and the different playstyles, they can fly away to that thread. Among the replies there is a link to yet another previous description of our different playstyles.
I would consider myself a mix of #2 and #1, where I strive to be good at #2, and #1 is the surprise playstyle that keeps me happy much of the time. Unfortunately, I'd spent a good amount of time in the game without pushing myself to work at #2, but I finally joined a band and have also been asked to perform at a wedding coming up soon, so I hope that'll jumpstart me into exploring that further as I've always wanted.
Incidentally, I divvied up the playstyles as I saw them maybe about a month ago or so. I put the thread in the context of buffbots (how they harm each of the playstyles), so I'll post a link here, so that if anyone *does* have comments on buffbots and the different playstyles, they can fly away to that thread. Among the replies there is a link to yet another previous description of our different playstyles
.
Panthu
Tue Aug 24, 2004 7:22 am
#13
Yeah, I was going to say I really think there is a 4th section that deals just with socializing with other Ents or going to Events.
I didn't start that heavily until after I was done leveling the first time and I really missed all of the Ents I had leveled up with who were doing Events or Ent Jams exclusively. Those players do exist.
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