Development Cycle Archive

Hi Q, and thanks for soliciting feedback.

I think shuttle ports will enable people to build cities in more remote areas, as travel to and from will be much more expedient. That being said, I think you should defintiely place "zones" around key points in the game, as you have done with cities. I do not think players should be able to build cities near the jedi temple, the krayt graveyard, or other POI's that will allow them exclusive access to these sites.

For myself, I plan on building a city from scratch with the help of many comrades. IG on the Naritus server has done this. I don't think it's any secret on where they have built, but I won't put it out here on these boards. I think it's a beautiful example, however, of what can be done with the proper amount of imagination and cooperation. When you go there, you feel like you're in a REAL city, complete with store, cantina, med center, etc. Add a shuttle port and it will make it so that the 8K run is no longer a barrier.

On that note Q, I would like you to clarify something if you would please. If a shuttleport is created by a city, and that city is heavily aligned with a faction, will members of the opposing faction be able to use the shuttleport? It would be a shame if someone built a city around a factional base and opposing factions could use that city's own shuttleport as a logistical advantage.

Regards,

Sarien/Naritus

Come to beautiful purple Dantooine, and run for about 15 minutes northish if the mining outpost, if you're ever on Ahazi.

You'll find a dumpload of righteous rebels camped pretty close to Nowhere, just waiting for the player cities. We chose this spot because of it's remote location, as well as it's proximity to the jedi waterfalls.

We call it Banir (taken from the Banir plains where it resides), home of the Northland Alliance.

I think you will see both. Cities way out there with shuttle ports and places like Theed becoming the "Greater Metropolitan Area of Theed" with all it's new city suburbs.

Personally I think this: Elvis has Graceland. Dolly Parton has Dolly World. I want Jedibluesville heh

It depends on our neighbors lol!

We are small squad and we finally found a place to start up at away from all the starting cities. Although we have not guilded ourselves. (do to lots) Hard to give up those 9 lots.

When we first place our houses we were the only ones out there, now across the water from us a PA has sprung up.

At least they are on the same faction. Whew! But I have a feeling that since they have a larger player base for support then they will be the ones who become a city first.

Well my P.A. just recently debated this issue.

We currently have our own Island about 1500 meters outside of Tyrenia. We are going to moving sometime within the next few days. We have decided to move over 80 homes to a pre scouted spot near a major player attraction. Which will be nearly 4000 meters from the nearest city.

We did this for several reasons. 1.) We dont have the space as per the newly posted zoning for the cities to really expand all that much.

2.) It doesnt make sense to create a city right next to another larger city with all the ameneties when we will have little to none.

3.) The desision of aPA only city versus having a city were many player non PA players and PA players can have to launch there hunts from. therby creating (hopefully) luring more players to decalre residency's in the city. which in turn will help our city expand.

Our PA has designated a City Planner which will be Issuesing out lots to each member to set up housing pre patch so when the patch comes we can place the city hall asap and get the ball rolling. Plus wanted that land before some other PA wised up and got there first . Our city is pre planned to that extent considering the zoning of a starting city and the unknown dimensions of some of the new biuldings we are giving it a wide berth. Which is why lots are being given out to our members to maximize space.

Vashadoom

I imagine that a lot of cities are going to show up around points-of-interest.

Shuttle Ports will be a welcome addition to the well developed gathering that we call Safe Haven on the Corbantis server. Seeing as how our home is about 3000m from the nearest city in long anticipation of Player Cities.

We'll be staying put. I think those PAs that already have a claim, so to speak, to a remote area of land will be in better shape then those closer to static cities. Less urban blight to hinder the layout of their perfect city. I'm sure we'll take some inspiration from what others have done, but for the most part it will be an effort by our guild as a whole.

I am curious about a couple things...

Will player city buildings and add-ons automatically level terrain like camps do? I'd love to be able to walk down a cobblestone road lit beautifully by streetlamps.

Will Politicians be able to "zone" certain areas of a player city (indutrial, recreational, commercial, no build, etc)?

Sorry for the Sim-City'ish references

All I can say is that many of us are eagerly anticipating any upcoming developments in Player cities... even more so than player mounts because community is at the core of SWG.

Q-3PO wrote:
In other words, will you move your house to new location for a player city or will the player city come to you?



I'm located just outside Theed. My house is nearly full, given what a pain it is going to be to tranfer all items between my inventory, the bank deposit box and my house in order to move and re-establish, I'm just going to stay right where I'm at. For me it would take at least two entire gaming sessions to accomplish all that and thats assuming I stayed on the same planet.

I suppose I could just buy another house and transfer from house to house, but that would still take some time...

I'm thinking the city needs to come to me at this point.

Actually our guild is taking a different approach. We're located on Lok in remote regions and intend to make our town a hub of freedom. In that sense, no Imperials are allowed and all people who come into the town live by our rules. Pretty hard to argue with a Wookiee Commando that's the mayor no? But we are hoping that it will open up opportunities for people to explore more of Lok and operate without Imperial regulations...

Player cities will be All Over the place. For a small weekly fee, a group of players can get a city with a starport and a couple mission terminals wherever they want. There will be hundreds of cities all over. Most, if not all, will have shuttle ports.


Add in mounts, and there will no longer be remote areas in SWG except on unbuildable planets.

Our city currently is close to Theed (about 1500m) and it is there to stay. Why, you ask? Simple. Theed's starport is instant travel. Our guild travels alot as i am sure many others do, and the convienece of being able to buy a ticket and leave without waiting is too much of an incentive to move away.

Why do we have to wait on shuttles anyway? So we socialize? That is such a lame excuse, because we are already forced to socialize in med centers and cantina's. If a person doenst want to socials in those he isnt gonna socialize while waiting for a shuttle.

PLEASE, for the love of all that is good, and Bounty Hunters especially, make all travel instant.

If our Player City Shuttle port was an instant travel port, i would move to that farest corners of worlds away from everything, but until that time, i just cant fathom anyone who would live anywhere but near to Theed.

As the first player Mayor in the game (Yes test center does count as a server) I can say that people are willing to live in remote areas. However, the first thing they'll need is Mission Terminals to make money with. Cities aren't cheap. We don't know the final pricing on city maintenence, but if you live remotely you'll want a please near home to earn credits.

The problem with a remote location is that it takes 6000xp for a politician to be able to place mission terminals. At 100exp per vote, it could be a couple of weeks of running back and forth, or paying up a lot of maintence and living near an NPC city until the politician has the ability to add mission terminals.

While many people may think that shuttles should be the first thing a mayor goes for, the realities of the situation will hit home as soon as they see their first maintenence bill.

Player cities will cause much wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth when they go live and they aren't going to be what a lot of people expect. But what we'll have in the end is a much richer game offering new styles of play that have yet to be explored.

It's an exciting time in the galaxy.

I will remain on the outskirts on Theed so I don't have to pay taxes in a game.