Dancer Archive
Thread: Entertainer Upgrade! Newsletter #16 Quote
Echinacea
Fri Mar 04, 2005 9:59 pm
#27
Panthu wrote:
2005 is going to be a great year for SWG...even an Entertainer upgrade! - TH in Newsletter #16
So, what are your wildest dreams for the EU?
Goddess...does the man even realize what a condescending jackass he comes off as? 'Course, as long as it's to us,who cares?
Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight; I wish I may, I wish I might have the wish I wish tonight. I wish for...
...an interface instituted that would require active participation on the part of a performer to heal or enhance another player.
...Image Designers be able to work on Merchant's vendors and Player Event actors.
...body tattoos in the Master Entertainer box for Image Designers.
...a better flow between the base loop movements and flourishes for Formal, Theatrical and Lyrical dance styles.
...eight full, different flourishes for each dance style, including the higher level dance forms.
...the ability to change tempos in songs, to vary the available sounds.
...unique sounds for each instrument, and a greater variety of non-horn instruments.
...instrument quality and experimentation mean something.
...the ability to move while playing an instrument.
...droid modules that would allow for fatigue and wound healing outside a structure or camp.
...use of entertainer droid modules and placement of theaters in the Master Entertainer box.
...moving a base 5 points of Fatigue Healing to Novice Entertainer from Novice Dancer/Musician.
...the ability for Musicians and Dancers to craft recordings that function like pet stims when used in a Cantina/Hotel/Tavern/Theater/scout camp/player structure.
...self-buffing for performer elites.
...a tavern in the Aurellian village.
...fatigue healing and mind enhancement mods in the Enhanced Senses Healing line.
...a way to unlock at least the Healing line of Enhanced Senses using entertainer skills.
...entertainer missions being more like the newbie and theater manager quests, and scaled appropriately to skill and group level.
...active roles for performers and Image Designers in the GCW using their professional entertainer skills.
Tiaga
Fri Mar 04, 2005 10:05 pm
#28
Quick OT here...
<official mode>I just checked on things and confirmed that the announcement was to be parts of what the correspondents have seen. However, it has been delayed so correspondent feedback can be considered.</official mode>
Now that the facts are out of the way... The good news is they seem to be open to that feedback, and trying to understand better what entertainers want. That is the impression I am getting from the team.
Since it came up in this thread, commenting on it here to.
Now back to your wish lists. Some good ideas there.
<official mode>I just checked on things and confirmed that the announcement was to be parts of what the correspondents have seen. However, it has been delayed so correspondent feedback can be considered.</official mode>
Now that the facts are out of the way... The good news is they seem to be open to that feedback, and trying to understand better what entertainers want. That is the impression I am getting from the team.
Since it came up in this thread, commenting on it here to.
Now back to your wish lists. Some good ideas there.
DarkY0da
Fri Mar 04, 2005 10:48 pm
#29
Master Boxes should be something that people WANT to get. But not NEED to get. Currently Master Ent only does that for Musicians. There should be a Xantha for Master Musicians to give them another option. And for dancers /shrug It really needs something to make it worth while(like maybe the ability to teach anyone basic for a limited amount of time). Body Tats wouldn't be "needed" for IDs but it would certainly give many of them a good and valid reason to Master Ent. But at the same time different types of body tats and what not should also be given to master IDs.
Maisland
Fri Mar 04, 2005 11:09 pm
#30
DarkY0da wrote:
Master Boxes should be something that people WANT to get. But not NEED to get. Currently Master Ent only does that for Musicians. There should be a Xantha for Master Musicians to give them another option. And for dancers /shrug It really needs something to make it worth while(like maybe the ability to teach anyone basic for a limited amount of time). Body Tats wouldn't be "needed" for IDs but it would certainly give many of them a good and valid reason to Master Ent. But at the same time different types of body tats and what not should also be given to master IDs.
Any permanent change to an avatar would be required in order for a Master ID to feel that they could provide adequate service to all of their customers. There was at one time a thread on the ID forum in which any suggestions of anything for IDs being added to Master Entertainer was shot down. If a Master ID did not get all possible tattoos, and the ones the MID did not get were in ME, then ME WOULD be a NEED for MIDs.
Heh... much better to move stat migrations to ME as pretty much every ID that I know hates to do those... unfortunately, stat migrations are the primary source of xp for a leveling ID.
What it comes down to is that there is not really anything I can think of that could be placed in ME for IDs that would not be a need. 
Tiaga
Fri Mar 04, 2005 11:14 pm
#31
My thought on that was give ME better advertising/registration possibilities.. Like vendor registration, register on the map with their name and what service they are providing. Add registration to ID and salons. Then all 3 professions could benefit from that.
Just my random idea on the subject though.
Just my random idea on the subject though.
NJ62
Sat Mar 05, 2005 1:16 am
#32
Now is the time to start really thinking outside the box and not just focus on tweaking what we have Brainstorm!
Brainstorm!
Groovymarlin
Sat Mar 05, 2005 1:35 am
#33
Some great ideas in this thread! I'm in favor of most of these ideas. My little pet projects have always been:
- Elimination of AFK performance of our mechanics
- Self-buffing
- Fame system or other system of perks for entertainers who actually entertain.
- Mini-games, casino games, casino quests, city quests, etc. (AKA the Panthu Project)
- More tools like group commands, props, and other special abilities for dancers and musicians
Yes, TH as usual chose unfortunate wording. Poor guy. Oh well, he couldn't possibly put a foot in his mouth as horribly and consistently as Haden used to do. Notice how he (Haden) has been conspicuously absent from the boards and other communication channels for the past few months.
Edited for grammar and spelling. I think I'm getting the flu.
- Elimination of AFK performance of our mechanics
- Self-buffing
- Fame system or other system of perks for entertainers who actually entertain.
- Mini-games, casino games, casino quests, city quests, etc. (AKA the Panthu Project)
- More tools like group commands, props, and other special abilities for dancers and musicians
Yes, TH as usual chose unfortunate wording. Poor guy. Oh well, he couldn't possibly put a foot in his mouth as horribly and consistently as Haden used to do. Notice how he (Haden) has been conspicuously absent from the boards and other communication channels for the past few months.
Edited for grammar and spelling. I think I'm getting the flu.
Message Edited by Groovymarlin on 03-04-2005 03:36 PM
Tiaga
Sat Mar 05, 2005 1:36 am
#34
I want to see an entertainer game! I want to see Tiaga's name in lights!
SithLord2600
Sat Mar 05, 2005 1:56 am
#35
I posted something something like this on a GCW thread
My idea is to let musicians be able to march and play with fighters as they battle. This would boost their minds somehow so that everyone would want a musician. Musicians would get new songs like charge and other songs that could change as the tide of battle turns. This music could replace the combat music since everyone hates the combat music. (People may hire us just so they don't have to hear the combat music )
)Message Edited by SithLord2600 on 03-04-2005 03:57 PM
picklesSW
Sat Mar 05, 2005 1:58 am
#36
You're all smoking something.
What they're talking about is the addition of the /spank emote, along with an appropriate animation. While I admit this is nice, and certainly the best addition to the game to date, it's really not a complete revamp...
What they're talking about is the addition of the /spank emote, along with an appropriate animation. While I admit this is nice, and certainly the best addition to the game to date, it's really not a complete revamp...
Kyorlana
Sat Mar 05, 2005 8:07 am
#37
I posted this on your dancer revamp thread, but here is a repost:
In terms of which option I think is viable, it has to be the first. Being a part of the entertainer profession HAS to be satisfying within itself without being so dependent on our individual creativity to make the profession fun. Although I am sure there are more people capable of generating their own content than actually do, fact is it takes time and effort that many just do not have. We need to be able to log on, and have fun for the short time we have available.
Please note that some of what I say here is equally applicable to musicians and entertainers rather than being dancer-specific.
What do I like about being an entertainer?
I started out in beta wanting to be some kind of spy, that was until I saw we could physically dance. I changed to entertainer in beta because I loved the ability to actually dance/play, and be creative in game – not looked back since.
The healing aspect of entertaining holds no interest for me; I view it as an artificial means to making the professions viable and interdependent.
The social interaction is fun and should be encouraged rather than removing every time sink that actually contributed to this, e.g. shuttle port waits – met some cool people there!
Entertaining to me is about performing (I freely admit this is my bias based on rl experience) and finding ways to be creative, have fun, and put on a good show (be this gigs or regular shift work.
Yes, I am one of those performer style entertainers, but that doesn't mean I think it is right to limit options to ONLY this style of entertainer play. Give people options!
What I think we need
We need content and more variety. Since the beginning I have seen many ideas come and go so I’ll try and consolidate those I like here.
Miscellaneous Ideas
Venues
Quests and Missions
Other Income
We already get some from improved mission payouts, tips, and gig payments. We should not have to take up a side profession to survive so add the following:
Dance mechanic changes
Others have already stated pretty clearly everything I would want from a revamped entertainment profession. The post by Shi'ann Dinova most accurately reflects my views and I also think that now they are introducing player event tools, it is an ideal opportunity to look at improving the Master Entertainer tree with event planning abilities.
I know this is the dancer forum but refer back to Bluesbacca’s dream idea for musicians. Perhaps something similar could be developed for both trees?
Normally I wouldn't take the time to write so much, but with recent changes to the game I finally believe we CAN make a difference!
In terms of which option I think is viable, it has to be the first. Being a part of the entertainer profession HAS to be satisfying within itself without being so dependent on our individual creativity to make the profession fun. Although I am sure there are more people capable of generating their own content than actually do, fact is it takes time and effort that many just do not have. We need to be able to log on, and have fun for the short time we have available.
Please note that some of what I say here is equally applicable to musicians and entertainers rather than being dancer-specific.
What do I like about being an entertainer?
I started out in beta wanting to be some kind of spy, that was until I saw we could physically dance. I changed to entertainer in beta because I loved the ability to actually dance/play, and be creative in game – not looked back since.
The healing aspect of entertaining holds no interest for me; I view it as an artificial means to making the professions viable and interdependent.
The social interaction is fun and should be encouraged rather than removing every time sink that actually contributed to this, e.g. shuttle port waits – met some cool people there!
Entertaining to me is about performing (I freely admit this is my bias based on rl experience) and finding ways to be creative, have fun, and put on a good show (be this gigs or regular shift work.
Yes, I am one of those performer style entertainers, but that doesn't mean I think it is right to limit options to ONLY this style of entertainer play. Give people options!
What I think we need
We need content and more variety. Since the beginning I have seen many ideas come and go so I’ll try and consolidate those I like here.
Miscellaneous Ideas
- Ability to join a band (rather than a PA) and have this as an additional title or badge.
- Advertising boards, posters at the cantina, etc.
- Searchable Entertainment Network (built up through those who do the player created missions, registration, and the fame system)
- Fame system
- Move the base flo of basic 1 to /dance and move the animation of /dance to lyrical
- Props – see Panthu’s thread of Nov 2004
- Improved logging facility with option selection screen. E.g. output all tips to tipsreceived.txt whilst spatial text goes into spatial.txt. Yes I know we can do this manually, but it would be nice. Or even better, an in-game tips record!
Venues
- Theatres fixed! – I would go so far as to say completely rebuild them and use the existing building as a Drama Company Theatre.
- With the player event tools, why not create some new venues for us which can be used for events, e.g. grand ball room, disco stage, outdoor stage, etc.
Quests and Missions
- Non-combat Theme parks – others have already talked about this
- Improved missions – Again others have given lots of ideas. I would only add that we should have the ability to create our own as event planners, e.g. x dancers, x musicians required for show at . Pay of x per hour etc. This could then feed into the fame rating system and entertainment network.
Other Income
We already get some from improved mission payouts, tips, and gig payments. We should not have to take up a side profession to survive so add the following:
- Appropriate ways to generating income based upon our profession (e.g. holovids for dancers, sound recordings for musicians). See ‘Making Payment a System Thing’
- The new abilities to create and record performances would also tie in with the ability to trade choreography and music scores with fellow entertainers. Note that these should come in two forms.
- Straight playback – as with current macro/alias system
- Cue card – gives the player a visual cue to trigger a certain flo or command (a la theatre quest) then those that wish to can actually learn to perform a dance routine (at the moment we do this through alias file cues).
Back in October 2003, Slickriptide went on to suggest that if a dance troupe were perfoming a dance together, if an individual hit the timing correctly the group would receive a bonus in their dancer XP. If the individual’s timing was off, the XP for the group would drop.
- Straight playback – as with current macro/alias system
- NPC Cantina Managers - Pay you a rate depending upon your performance abilities. This could also be tied in with the fame rating and other systems. e.g.
- They would be the contact who could direct you to other gigs in other cantinas in their 'chain' and specify what is needed.
- If you need training you could register the request with them so it becomes a mission for someone else to complete,
- If you clock on you are registered in the cantina without having to type the command, likewise for clocking off unregistering. This could be combined with some form of advertising names of certain fame ratings outside the cantina perhaps?
- They would be the contact who could direct you to other gigs in other cantinas in their 'chain' and specify what is needed.
Dance mechanic changes
- Remove the 15 second re-start entertaining limit. If you have been entertaining for more than 15 seconds, you should be able to stop/start immediately.
- Fix our broken dances
- Introduce of Dance Troupe Choreographer commands
- Start, stop, change dance troupe in perfect sync.
- Change dance formation
- Start, stop, change dance troupe in perfect sync.
- Partner dancing
- More dance styles, including species specific
- More flo sets for each style
- Different lengths of flo to facilitate more creativity (e.g. for each dance style there are different flo sets, one of 4-8 sec flos, another of 9-15 sec flos, another of 16-30 etc)
Others have already stated pretty clearly everything I would want from a revamped entertainment profession. The post by Shi'ann Dinova most accurately reflects my views and I also think that now they are introducing player event tools, it is an ideal opportunity to look at improving the Master Entertainer tree with event planning abilities.
I know this is the dancer forum but refer back to Bluesbacca’s dream idea for musicians. Perhaps something similar could be developed for both trees?
Normally I wouldn't take the time to write so much, but with recent changes to the game I finally believe we CAN make a difference!
Alurah
Sat Mar 05, 2005 8:33 am
#38
Entertainer Upgrade would be wonderfull. Things I would love to see...
1. Give us some more usefullness in a group setting and variety of buffs. I.E. buff effect for the group while out hunting while we are actively in the group (like a bard type of buffing) Say enhanced accuracy or damage.. or defense..
2. If you don't want afk entertainers.. most don't.. lets give that entertainer grind some sort of tweak so you aren't just there watching yourself dance or play. Maybe like the surveying thing.. you get extra exp or healing bonus if you do this particular flourish at such time.. etc.( I would love to hear from one person that didn't go afk for some time while doing an entertainer grind.)
3. Please give us dancers more dances and flourishes. I got to master Dancer and was not impressed wtih what I could now do.
4. Theme parks.. I saw this a while ago somewhere that entertainers were getting a theme park or it was an idea. I think that is a great and wonderfull thing. Would be great to entertain Jabba or the emperor, etc. We can always fall into a Ranco pit if we stink too. Some rewards could be buff benefit or healing clothing.. new instruments.. obviously new songs or flourishes.. effects .. microphones.. stuff to alter our performances and make them cool to watch. This could be run as you have to figure out what dance and flourish that particular npc likes.. make it a puzzle type of theme park. Figure out stuff for npc's along the way and learn more of what your audience wants from you.. in the end you do your performance. Lets make it an instance thing/variable code..s o that the formula doesn't get posted on the forums for all do just repeat.
5. Entertainers do seriously need more cash.. I think during my entire grind to master I got tipped 5k. Took me about a month or so to do. That didn't even cover the clothes for my character. Need an alt to support her.
6. How about some other neat clothes like costumes to go with our performances.
shadowdefender
Mon Mar 07, 2005 7:57 am
#39
My wildest dreams (not PG 17 rated) ok kidding
1) Removal of ability to play game while in AFK mode = no more buff botts nor more cantinas filled with AFK entertainers.
2) Reduction in skillpoints to be a Master Dancer
3) A vision for our place in the game - the GCW etc.
4) More quests type activities that allow us to trade dancing xp in for either items which will enhance our skills or more dances (but please let them be ones that work)
5) Hopefully enhancements to our profession which will gain us respect instead of where we are today which are commodities.
1) Removal of ability to play game while in AFK mode = no more buff botts nor more cantinas filled with AFK entertainers.
2) Reduction in skillpoints to be a Master Dancer
3) A vision for our place in the game - the GCW etc.
4) More quests type activities that allow us to trade dancing xp in for either items which will enhance our skills or more dances (but please let them be ones that work)
5) Hopefully enhancements to our profession which will gain us respect instead of where we are today which are commodities.