Dancer Archive

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picklesSW wrote:
I don't know if this even belongs on this forum, but it's something I believe is a threat to us all. I don't mean buffbots, or AFKers, or JTL.

I believe Jedi are the single biggest danger to this game.

[I don't think it's the Jedi, it's how they've been integrated into the game as a whole and the unlocking methods which have, for the most part, favored the worst possible playstyles you'd want in that role.]

In a week or so, the final Jedi publish will happen. This publish will make the path to Jedi more understandable and more rewarding. I expect to see many many more Jedi in the coming months, and I don't know about your server, but I already see Jedi everywhere. On my server, I'm more likely to run into a Jedi in the world than a master dancer.

[If you call grinding 155 million weapons xpand then setting off to kill a laundry list of large beasties with a training saber, no specials and no armor rewarding...The quests are kind of neat, but it's more of a time-consuming, mindless grind than it ever was. The only differencesare there's no need for profession hopping but the actual grind has increased.There may be an initial jump in numbers depending on how much the post publish 9/pre publish 10 unlockers are compensated, but other than that I expect there will be fewer and fewer new jedi. Older jedi have been quitting in disgust so the actual numbers may well drop.

You've probably always been running into these same jedi, except after publish 9 the high ranking are permanently overt, and all are wearing those sackcloth pajamas that pass for robes for the force pool and regeneration bonuses since they can't wear armor anymore. The unrobed who are trying to keep a low profile will still be carrying a saber because they can be jumped at any moment.There's alwaysthe folks who just can't help themselves from swinging the glowbat around starports, but these are actually a minority albeit a highly noticeable one.]

Originally, the concept was to keep Jedi rare. That is obviously now tossed out the window. Jedi no longer suffer any form of permadeath, just exp loss (which for a Jedi is probably easily recouped). In PvP there is no competing with a Jedi, so I expect everyone who enjoys that part of the game to aim at getting a Jedi first and foremost.

[200k per death may not be much for those at knight level, but it would take me five hours of grinding. It's NOT easily recouped for the great majority.(Oh, it would be if I chose to exploit at the squill or geo caves, and that should have been fixed a long time ago. Not everyone exploits, and jedi haven't been the only offenders at these locations.) Ranged professions are weak against high level jedi due to saber blocking, but there's no jedi template that can stand up well to melee, and jedi simply cannot compete with stacked melee templates. Until now force run hasbeen the "I win" card when a high level jedi with that skill could run at near the speed of a swoop while attacking, but publish 10 fixes that imbalance. Contrary to public opinion, Jedi are far from pvp gods.]

I fear the world will become stratified into "Jedi" and "Those who are Not Jedi". And about half the population will be a Jedi. Or more, over time. The fact is, there are no downsides to being a Jedi, and pretty much no risk left. The only thing holding back the tide was the frustration involved with becoming one, and now that too is being removed.

[See above. It's going to be even more frustrating.]

The fact that Jedi are not rare is kind of a bummer all on its own. The fact that all other combat classes will become obsolete in the new order is also a bummer. You can be a master fencer, but in a world where Jedi are around every corner waiting to kill you, you have no chance and the only option left is to become a Jedi yourself to compete in PvP.

[If you are a master TK/Master Fencer/Master Brawler you will have no trouble owning jedi, or at worst make them flee if they have force run 2 or 3. Again, you need to blame the system to get it changed -- not the players.]

The worst part, though, is the Jedi's independance from the rest of the game world. They don't need crafters, they don't need entertainers, they don't need healing. They are apparently self sufficient, and in a game world that promotes and requires a player-driven economy, when half the population no longer needs the rest of the population for anything, that economy will suffer a collapse.

[This was more true before publish 9. After it, jedi are far more dependent upon other players. Most jedi cannot heal battle fatigue as this is available at only the master healer box, and few will spend the points there since it's not a viable template for pvp. Most can't heal wounds at all for similar reasons. There is no innate buffing ability. Jedi still need clothing, foods, spices, mundane weapons and armor if they're not at the point wheremost of their normal skills have been released.]

I see a black storm on the horizon bigger and far more worse than the hologrinding. What once was the most mysterious and cool profession of the game will become the norm and, in the process, destroy the game itself.

[I don't think it will become the norm, it's still way too difficult and time consuming for that. The real black storm is the grind is far from over, and if anything it's being intensified. So what if you don't need to do the profession swap, players who want jedi will still be dead to the rest of their game while they grind.]

Why am I posting this? I'm kinda hoping someone here will say, "No, that's not the case and here's why." I'm sort of looking to my friends here to put my mind at ease. Please tell me I'm dead wrong.

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