Dancer Archive
Thread: A Developer statement about entertainers from a recent IGN interview
The most relevant quote would be (there's a bit more, mostly about the "entertainers as fantasy-type bards?" aspect, it's on page 3 of the interview):
IGNPC: You mentioned the focus on professions. It's interesting that this combat upgrade spills over to affect other professions. What are entertainers supposed to do, now that the mind pool doesn't take damage in combat?
Dallas Dickinson: We already have and will continue to extend the inspiration buff system. The entertainer's interaction with the combat classes will have a lot to do with that particular mechanic. One of the issues that the players have had that we've addressed with the combat upgrade is the ability of someone to create a buffbot entertainer. Most people didn't like that. They were just used to it as a way to get a sense of healing. We deliberately said we didn't want them to just be buffbots; we wanted entertainers to actually be entertainers and have people actually enjoy playing the game, rather than just creating character in order to grind it up. Julio actually plays as an entertainer, so he can probably respond better to it.
Julio Torres: [Laughs] It was my favorite profession when I started this game. Specifically, the inspiration buff gives the entertainer the ability to enhance the experience for the combatants. That's our first step, one of more to come, that will allow an entertainer to interact with a combatant and give them a buff that will enhance your experience, because with it you'll get a little more experience when you're out there. Obviously, if they kill something, that will increase their progression. It will give them the ability to have a better chance to getting loot. Third, if you're a crafter and you want to craft something and get some experimentation, it gives you a higher rate of success to produce a product or item at the end. That's the first stage for it and it's a step forward.
I'm not going to disagree with the community by commenting against the fact that we should do more with the entertainer and we will. We do have publishes in the future that will enhance them further.
Debysue Wolfcale: I think it's fair to say that the combat upgrade was about combat and upgrading the fun factor of combat. It wasn't an entire game upgrade. There are always elements of the game we need to continue to polish and many things that change because they're so interrelated. When we started it, we wanted to demystify the combat experience so more people can participate and have fun, and we wanted to make it feel more like Star Wars. That's what we're hearing from players. That's what they like about this game, and that's what brings them in. That's what we need to deliver on.
Take it for what it's worth, I'm only reporting and not commmenting on the content of these answers. However, one question does come to mind for me:
Why does news like this only ever reach us via 3rd parties like interviews? Why don't the Developers ever bother to tell US, the paying customers, first? Especially with the mood among the entertainers in recent months...
The most relevant quote would be (there's a bit more, mostly about the "entertainers as fantasy-type bards?" aspect, it's on page 3 of the interview):
IGNPC: You mentioned the focus on professions. It's interesting that this combat upgrade spills over to affect other professions. What are entertainers supposed to do, now that the mind pool doesn't take damage in combat?
Dallas Dickinson: We already have and will continue to extend the inspiration buff system. The entertainer's interaction with the combat classes will have a lot to do with that particular mechanic. One of the issues that the players have had that we've addressed with the combat upgrade is the ability of someone to create a buffbot entertainer. Most people didn't like that. They were just used to it as a way to get a sense of healing. We deliberately said we didn't want them to just be buffbots; we wanted entertainers to actually be entertainers and have people actually enjoy playing the game, rather than just creating character in order to grind it up. Julio actually plays as an entertainer, so he can probably respond better to it.
Julio Torres: [Laughs] It was my favorite profession when I started this game. Specifically, the inspiration buff gives the entertainer the ability to enhance the experience for the combatants. That's our first step, one of more to come, that will allow an entertainer to interact with a combatant and give them a buff that will enhance your experience, because with it you'll get a little more experience when you're out there. Obviously, if they kill something, that will increase their progression. It will give them the ability to have a better chance to getting loot. Third, if you're a crafter and you want to craft something and get some experimentation, it gives you a higher rate of success to produce a product or item at the end. That's the first stage for it and it's a step forward.
I'm not going to disagree with the community by commenting against the fact that we should do more with the entertainer and we will. We do have publishes in the future that will enhance them further.
Debysue Wolfcale: I think it's fair to say that the combat upgrade was about combat and upgrading the fun factor of combat. It wasn't an entire game upgrade. There are always elements of the game we need to continue to polish and many things that change because they're so interrelated. When we started it, we wanted to demystify the combat experience so more people can participate and have fun, and we wanted to make it feel more like Star Wars. That's what we're hearing from players. That's what they like about this game, and that's what brings them in. That's what we need to deliver on.
Take it for what it's worth, I'm only reporting and not commenting on the content of these answers. However, one question does come to mind for me:
Why does news like this only ever reach us via 3rd parties like interviews? Why don't the Developers ever bother to tell US, the paying customers, first? Especially with the mood among the entertainers in recent months...
/tsk Ailar... Why would you leave this part out? I think it speaks hugely of the "direction" of Entertainers and is something that I think is a huge communication break down in between the Devs and the Players:
Julio Torres: In addition, the entertainer's perception of bards, that would pretty much go against any kind of Star Wars fantasy. A perception of that might come across from a miscommunication that we need to clarify. The ability to enhance a combatant in this game is really not like a bard, who speeds you up, gives you more strength, or buffs you in a particular direction.
It's more like a mind-easing process. If you go to the cantina and someone plays music for you or dances, the fantasy is that you'll feel better out there because you won't be as stressed. When you're out there, you just become more effective. They're not acting like a bard as much as they are something that is more therapeutic. I think that's the angle we want to go for with the entertainers. They definitely aren't needed out in the field. If you're a dancer, you can't go out there and dance while someone is fighting and participate in that way. That's fundamentally different, and we're not going to change that.
Dallas Dickinson: I would argue that the previous incarnation of what entertainers did was very much like the bard system. You would go there for a dancer buff, and the dancer buff would be something that would give you a combat advantage. We're going to be giving people something that's a little more subtle and much more in keeping with the Star Wars idea of the cantina being the place to be to make you feel better in the world.
Anyway, having been both media and a corr, I know the difference in between what they will say in an interview and what they will say on the forums is huge. The reason why is because talking to press is always a form of promotion - where as if the same things were said on the forums, it is taken as a "promise" by the players... the Devs don't like to be casual with this because it tends to "paint them into a corner."
Basically, press is much more forgiving than the forums and actually helps promote the game... so they get more info. It may or may not pan out in the long run though, because plans change (example: Gamespy interview that said IDs would be able to do species changes with the CU). If it's posted on the forums though, it's much less likely to change at a later date.
Good stuff, wish they'd talk to us - instead of game magazines addressing the many players griping at the Devs because the Devs won't talk to them.
Seems like talking on their OWN forums would actually do wonders for their playerbase, go figure.
Also, I felt Debysue's response was pretty insulting. I play this game, too - and pay money to do so.
But, in the end, it doesn't matter to get upset, because nothing is going to be done in any timely manner for us. I've come to that conclusion, and at least I canstill play some tunes and dance around a bit. *sigh*
Well, I SAID that...
Panthu wrote:
/tsk Ailar... Why would you leave this part out? I think it speaks hugely of the "direction" of Entertainers and is something that I think is a huge communication break down in between the Devs and the Players:
Julio Torres: In addition, the entertainer's perception of bards, that would pretty much go against any kind of Star Wars fantasy. A perception of that might come across from a miscommunication that we need to clarify. The ability to enhance a combatant in this game is really not like a bard, who speeds you up, gives you more strength, or buffs you in a particular direction.
It's more like a mind-easing process. If you go to the cantina and someone plays music for you or dances, the fantasy is that you'll feel better out there because you won't be as stressed. When you're out there, you just become more effective. They're not acting like a bard as much as they are something that is more therapeutic. I think that's the angle we want to go for with the entertainers. They definitely aren't needed out in the field. If you're a dancer, you can't go out there and dance while someone is fighting and participate in that way. That's fundamentally different, and we're not going to change that.
Dallas Dickinson: I would argue that the previous incarnation of what entertainers did was very much like the bard system. You would go there for a dancer buff, and the dancer buff would be something that would give you a combat advantage. We're going to be giving people something that's a little more subtle and much more in keeping with the Star Wars idea of the cantina being the place to be to make you feel better in the world.
Anyway, having been both media and a corr, I know the difference in between what they will say in an interview and what they will say on the forums is huge. The reason why is because talking to press is always a form of promotion - where as if the same things were said on the forums, it is taken as a "promise" by the players... the Devs don't like to be casual with this because it tends to "paint them into a corner."
Basically, press is much more forgiving than the forums and actually helps promote the game... so they get more info. It may or may not pan out in the long run though, because plans change (example: Gamespy interview that said IDs would be able to do species changes with the CU). If it's posted on the forums though, it's much less likely to change at a later date.
Landlubberwrote:
The most relevant quote would be (there's a bit more, mostly about the "entertainers as fantasy-type bards?" aspect, it's on page 3 of the interview):
Umm... too lazy to copy & paste that part as well?
And yes, I get the promotion aspect of it, but that still doesn't mean that paying customers do not have a right to know when the Devs have definite plans for their professions. And them saying in an interview "We will do this, we will do that" sounds very definite to me.
Sure, plans can change, even late during development, but they wouldn't even have to make any hard promises here. Some kind of "We're thinking of this and that, no promises folks, but what's your take on it?" wouldn't exactly be out of line I think.
Basically, communication between the developers and us is still extremely weak to the point of being almost non-existant, and just saying "well, they can't very well make any promises if they're not sure they can keep them" lets them off the hook too easily IMO. Most of us aren't asking for promises, we are asking to be acknowledged from time to time as still being on their radar however.
Message Edited by Landlubber on 05-06-2005 10:34 PM
Landlubber wrote:
Julio Torres: [Laughs] It was my favorite profession when I started this game.
Theres probably a reasonwhy entertainer isn't fun for him anymore.
I'd comment on the rest of what they said but they didn't really say anything.
LyteFoot wrote:
It continues to amaze me that the devs don't consider the combat upgrade an entire game upgrade. It only changed 99% of how you play the game, just what does constitute an entire game upgrade? These guys really don't have a clue and seriously could not design their way out of a paper bag.
QFE!