Dancer Archive
Thread: Focus: Inspiration Buffs
Einhinder
Tue Apr 05, 2005 1:07 am
#14
Panthu wrote:
Chessack wrote:
One way or another though we should have to AGREE to giving the buff. Otherwise how can we ever earn even the slightest tips?
Well, even on TC5 right now, people are tipping me... and I don't mean just role players. Now, money is free on TC5 so it's a little silly, but I think the point is a lot of people enjoy tipping Dancers for just chatting and being silly.
... BUT, what about the Cantina Salary? I think the Devs might be willing to turn that on during the CU with the Inspiration buffs. Would we like that? I think it might be really good for us.
im a little wary of the cantina salary idea one I dont wanna have a npc tell me to d oa booty shake flourish every 15 minutes however long two if we dont make some kind of ssystme like that how will we make sure it doesnt create ever more afkers. i dunno I think the best option imo would be to turn off the option to turn off auto afk and make it impossible to do anything afk kinda like inventory overload make it so you cant move chat dance craft cant do anything and bingo entire afk problem for the whole community gone from loot ampers to buffbotts.
Coreena
Tue Apr 05, 2005 2:41 am
#15
Oh and since they're planning to completely revamp the buffing system anyway:
Could they make it so we can buff ourselves at least?
Could they make it so we can buff ourselves at least?
menyou
Tue Apr 05, 2005 2:55 am
#16
I have to say you sold it quite well. My initial reaction was I didn't like it, and in many ways I don't because I don't like the CU changes full stop. However as long as the bonuses are worthwhile (i.e. the values are right on the knife edge between not worth the hassle and essential) I think it'll be a good idea. As long as it requires a /setp to get and/or there is a buffing UI.
Caerwynn
Tue Apr 05, 2005 3:27 am
#17
I do like the idea of these buffs, it will encourage more people to visit the cantinas, we may even see player cantinas come alive.
The cantina salary is a good idea, but how would this be implemented? I suppose the easiest thing is using the register thingie.
Apart from the whole passive buffing issue, do we want to wear the same clothes day after day? If the buffs are passive, then we have no indication of when to change into our enhanced leotards/outfits for +25 buffage. I love changing my outfits and have become known for my shopping habit and what colour is Caer wearing today?
All the above becomes purely academic for me if I can't keep a combat elite and dancing after the CU goes live. Dancing will have to go as without a combat elite prof I can't do all I want to in the game and I refuse to pay a sub for something I can only get half the fun out of.
DarkY0da
Tue Apr 05, 2005 3:38 am
#18
It would appear from the idea posted that your +25 would only help speed up the time it takes to give the buff.
I'll try and post my focus thoughts here later after I sleep...
(I'm doing really badly with sleeping for like the last month... Just unable to sleep at all at night and then staying up so long that I end up having to stay up all day as well... maybe I should see my Doc...)
I'll try and post my focus thoughts here later after I sleep...
(I'm doing really badly with sleeping for like the last month... Just unable to sleep at all at night and then staying up so long that I end up having to stay up all day as well... maybe I should see my Doc...)
SFXGenesis
Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:20 am
#19
Other than not dealing with AFK, and not having buffing options that would be valuable to every player, I think this plan is really good.
My only concern (other than the obvious) is that there are still people out there who will see no reason to see us regardless. As was said elsewhere, if someone isn't leveling and isn't doing faction point grinding, they have no reason to come see us. I do believe other 'inspirations' are required so that we can further make these marketable to the playerbase at large. However, this is an excellent start.
First Dev announcement regarding ents that I've been remotely impressed with in a long time. At least someone at SOE has their brain engaged before opening their mouth this time. 
Dani
Allia_Rain
Tue Apr 05, 2005 4:44 am
#20
I really like what the insperation buffs will effect, great ideas for buffs to replace the present mind ones. As for where I see it going if they stick with the way it sounds like it will work from the announcment .... well you wanted us to try and stay positive so I'll stop there 
Kyree-Sunrunner
Tue Apr 05, 2005 5:06 am
#21
I like the idea of this buff very much. They made very good choices in what the buff will enhance. It covers crafters, people who participate in the GCW, and just about everyone who's trying to level a profession. This increases the customer base.
I like the passive idea, and I don't want to have to click a pop-up to allow people to have it. By making the buff passive, I think it reflects the way going to a show works in real life. It makes us muses... a gentle inspiration. Nice to have, but not something they cannot live without.
I like it being only 10%. Why? Because it's not important enough for a buffbot to expect to get paid tons of credits for. If it's not making them any money, they'll leave. At the very least they will stop spamming the public cantinas with instructions for using their services.
I like that a novice entertainer can do the buff. I hope they get the time proportions reasonable on this. A novice should take quite a bit more time than a master to achieve the maximum duration on the buff. A master with a +25 skill tape should be able to send the customer happily on his way in a MUCH shorter period of time.
Personally, I would like to see the entertainer terminals moved to the front door of all the NPC cantinas. Make the mission payouts proportional to the level of the entertainer. Make the terminals pay a reasonable amount so we don't have to stress out about whether or not we get tips. Leave the current payouts for the Novice entertainers, and make them as high as 5000 or 6000 credits for a master. We take very little risk to do our mission, so I think the relatively low payout is appropriate.
I like the passive idea, and I don't want to have to click a pop-up to allow people to have it. By making the buff passive, I think it reflects the way going to a show works in real life. It makes us muses... a gentle inspiration. Nice to have, but not something they cannot live without.
I like it being only 10%. Why? Because it's not important enough for a buffbot to expect to get paid tons of credits for. If it's not making them any money, they'll leave. At the very least they will stop spamming the public cantinas with instructions for using their services.
I like that a novice entertainer can do the buff. I hope they get the time proportions reasonable on this. A novice should take quite a bit more time than a master to achieve the maximum duration on the buff. A master with a +25 skill tape should be able to send the customer happily on his way in a MUCH shorter period of time.
Personally, I would like to see the entertainer terminals moved to the front door of all the NPC cantinas. Make the mission payouts proportional to the level of the entertainer. Make the terminals pay a reasonable amount so we don't have to stress out about whether or not we get tips. Leave the current payouts for the Novice entertainers, and make them as high as 5000 or 6000 credits for a master. We take very little risk to do our mission, so I think the relatively low payout is appropriate.
Kristania
Tue Apr 05, 2005 5:24 am
#22
K..here is my thought. Have heard many say its like seeing a real show for ppl who go..how many shows have you gone to that were free? Not many or atleast none worthwhile I am betting. This is just a cover up to show they have made us useless by adding a glorified buff that few will even use. They may as well go ahead and put in npcs but I bet they would have their npcs charge for the buffs. With it being passive..few will tip live performers...that has been the only thing that kept us viable financially with the old buffs...a live performer. Yes there were the ones that gave free buffs..those were few. This wont stop afkers..and certainly wont improve us in eyes of clients. The combatants win again. Their shouting about mind damage..not wanting to have to stop to go to cantinas..not wanting to have to pay to heal bf or get buffs...they win. I can't believe anyone would think this current set up is a plus. the new buffs ya nice but with free with any dance..hope you all have another profession like I do..which actually takes up time I would like to spend in cantina but what can I do...I like buying decorator stuff for my house..paying house maintenance myself. I don't want a sugar daddy to pay for what I want.
Sutarion
Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:24 am
#23
Things that I like about the new buffs:
- The Devs are thinking of us and gave us pleanty of notice in advanced
- The buffs are something useful for many classes (perhaps we could add even more!)
- I can continue to perform without interruption or deviation from my normal performance
- Allows all levels of entertainers to do more than heal wounds (novice ent)
RSQViper
Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:27 am
#24
Ok, I really like the idea of what the buffs can do to a point.
First, once you hit master or finish your template the XP bonuses mean nothing so they will be avoided. Even with the Faction bonuses and crafting success. I'd like to see a nice bonus for faction. At least 30%. It will encourage masters to use entertainers.
Another problem I have, actually the huge problem I have, is the fact this is going to be done passively.
I can't tell you how much of a slap in the face this is. Entertainers are underpaid as it is and now buffs, useful buffs, are going to be something people can "steal" just like they already can BF.
I would like to see a small user interface that acts like the ID window. A customer would come in and ask for a buff and the entertainer would initiate the window. In it, would be the length their buff will last per minute (basically the skill of the entertainer) as well as a place for a tip and accept/cancel buttons for each side.
This window doesn't even have to be open the whole time, just be how inspire is initiated.
Also, make the default button NO, not yes. **MAKE THIS AN ATK ABILITY ONLY**
Third problem: Novice Entertainer can apply these buffs? This is not acceptable. Not acceptable by a long shot I don't care if it does last less time. It only encourages people to drop their master entertainers, dancers, musicians and become buff bots. Can we please not have this happen?
Do not allow Regular Entertainers to buff at all. Only allow them to buff at Master Entertainer and at that point they should be able to inspire as well as a Novice Dancer or Musician. No less than Master Entertainer. Any less and then that is allbuff botswill be and they would be ineven greater numbers than they are now.
Entertainers should aspire to inspire. Their goal should to become a good enough of an entertainer to be able to inspire people. That means working up to a high level of entertainer and earning, yes earning, the right and ability to inspire.
Forth problem: Musician and Dancers buff the same stats? What differentiates the two professions now? They each heal BF and buff the same.
If anything, split the abilities like it is now. And for Master Entertainer's inspiration give them Novice Dancer and Novice Musician abilities for inspiration. So, basically they can do both, just not well. At least not unless they are also a Dancer or Musician.
Esharra, don't let this slide through the cracks and don't accept the dev's proposal. It is an incomplete and not well-thought out idea. But it has promise!
In fact, the design has true merit. But if it is implemented in that fashion without some of the above safeties it will become an AFK, low-level ability.
What it can lead to if done right? Oh, lots. It can get entertainers right into the thick of SWG. We would be needed and really enjoyed/respected because we would make leveling in xp and FP easier and crafting less risky. It can make entertaining a mainstay and give us a real purpose.
An entertainer in every cantina? Maybe. Will a lot of our good friends come back? Most likely.
Message Edited by RSQViper on 04-05-2005 09:33 AM
menyou
Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:38 am
#25
Viper, I think we're all agreed this system should use Setperform or an interface to activate the buffs. Being as it's a new system I'm sure Esharra can push for it to be an active system and have indicaters setup so the watcher doesn't need to /stopwatch to get the buff ( it pops up in the buff window and the watcher can see the buff duration increase by highlighting it ) and the buffer could get a small timer popup so they know the buff duration. Would just need to be a buff progress window with a value showing the length of the buff you've given so far.
NJ62
Tue Apr 05, 2005 6:57 am
#26
I like the idea of inspiration buffs as a function of entertainer. I think they are far better than the current system where entertainers are just a fraction of a full set of buffs.
However, the core problems of the profession remain, most of which stem from a problematic passive services system. Buff-bots, inability to charge for services - these could be remedied by an active system. To give us a new function but leave alone problematic mechanics is not much of a benefit to us.
It's not even bandaiding the problem. It's ignoring it.
However, the core problems of the profession remain, most of which stem from a problematic passive services system. Buff-bots, inability to charge for services - these could be remedied by an active system. To give us a new function but leave alone problematic mechanics is not much of a benefit to us.
It's not even bandaiding the problem. It's ignoring it.