Development Cycle Archive
Thread: In-Concept Open Discussion (7-5-04)
There is a major contradiction in the theme chosen for this game & how the majority of players have wanted to play it, & ithas been a nonstop arguement ever since beta. Basically the problem lies in making Jedi seem scarce while at the same time satisfying the majority of the playerbase that wants to be one. This paradox could besolved with a combination of several things:
1. Allow players to be more anonymous & mysterious to other players by making bio's, badges, profession tags etc. be hidden from view if the players wish them to be. This would also require fixing the profession tag bug that won't stay on the"no title" setting.
2. Make it so if a Jedi draws his saber or uses force powers in public for any purpose other than defending himself from an unprovoked attack, an Imperial Assault shuttle lands & dispatches a team of commandos etc that will give the Jedi an instant death. The higher the Jedi's rank the more baddass the response...maybe top level Jedi could get sliced by Vader himself.
3. Get rid of the Jedi specific clothing that was introduced in this last patch. Nothing gives away a Jedi more than clothes that onlyTHEY can wear! BTW, those robes were NEVER Jedi only clothing & were worn by several important non-Jedi characters in the movies of this time period. Jedi are supposed to be blending into the general population to remain hidden, so make the clothing wearable by all to reflect this.
The above suggestions would encourage & better enable Jedi to keep a low profile while in the presence of other non-Jedi chars. But now that they're keeping a low profile, how do they actually get to play & have fun being Jedi? This is where the second part of my suggestion comes into play:
1. Enable Jedi to perform grinding, missions, etc on servers that are "instanced" as is currently done with the Corvette missions, meaning that they actually leave the regular server & connect to a server where other players could not go unless they were on missions to hunt Jedi or something along these lines.
2. Make thisfit nicely with the whole Jedi mystique by making missions or quests take place in mysterious swamps, forests, or ancient temple ruins etc. that are too dangerous for the average player to gain entry to, or that require use of the force to open/unlock secret entryways etc.
As I see it, things like this would solve this "paradox" & be a win-win for Jedi as well as the overall theme of the game.
Message Edited by ToppDog on 07-10-2004 07:30 PM
- First Skill tree would focus on using the dangerous nightsister lance and taming rancors. This tree would also allow them to craft the Nightsister lance plus with added loot drops they can put poison / disease / fire dots in their weapons much like Jedi can put crystals in thiers. Also by the time this skill tree is mastered the nightsister can train and use up to a level 70 rancor as a pet.
- Second Skill Tree would involve using force offensive powers. This could be the same as the Jedi force powers branch. i.e. containing Lightning, choke and weaken.
Profession overview:
- Damage output - Good damage output limited to Kinetic or Electric Damage, augmented bypoison dots and force powers.
- Defensive Abilities - Avoidance Good , Damage Absorbtion Good.
- Noteable Abilities - Can tame a high level Rancor pet and use offensive force powers.
True Terras Kasi Master - Rename the current TKM's to unarmed specialists and make Terras Kasi an actual end-game profession. This profession would have two skill trees and would be issued special robes to work as armor.
- The first skill tree would focus on unarmed combat and it would come close to the offensive strength as a pre combat revamp TKA. Also with this skill tree the TKA would develope damage avoidance techniques to rival that of a Jedi.
- The second skill tree would focus on the TKA meditative techniques. At the beginning the TKA meditate ability would function much like the current TKA meditative ability but later in the tree a TKA could heal himself with a thought or passively heal wounds / poison / disease while hes doing every day activities like walking or fighting.
Profession overview:
- Damage Output - limited to kinetic damage but the damage is quite considerable.
- Defense - Damage Avoidence On par with Jedi, Damage Absorbtion -weak due to no armor but they get toughness.
- Special Abilities - Can use their inner disciplines to heal wounds on the spot and passively heal wounds without meditating at higher levels.
Mandalorian / Death Watch Mercenary - This profession would be the ultimate ranged warrior. He / She would be masters of all ranged weapons ranging from pistols to heavy weapons. Each of these guys would be give the ability to wear BH / Mandalorian armor that is reasonably lightsaber resistant. They will get the armor much like the current Jedi get their robes, the BH armor will be awarded to the player at the non frs ranks while the Mandalorian will be awardedafter the trials rank. Also they will have the ability to use special traps / gadgets to supply an advantage in combat. Each trap or gadget will have limited charges and it would have to be inserted into the Mercenaries armor in order to use, much like a Jedi has to put crystals in his saber. One thing to note is that these gadgets should be used by a skill button and not clicking on the items. This profession would have 2 skill trees and would be able to master one basic profession.
- First tree would consist of mastering all ranged weaponry. With this skill tree they will get the ability to target all HAM pools with any weapon they desire plus they will have the ability to inflict any state with certain weapons. On an afterthought they will get the ability to use any BH and Commando special such as Lightning cone or flame cone but with greater accuracy.
- Second tree will involve using and making gadgets. Gadgets could include grappling hooks to prevent a player from fleeing for 10 seconds, mini-missiles that cause AOE damage or a special Jetpack with limited charges that would allow the Mercenary to run at force run2 speed for a limited duration.
Profession overview:
Damage Output - Has access to all the damage types the game has to offer except Lightsaber. Damage output varies per weapon but nobody can match this guy for pure ranged skill.
Defense - Damage Avoidance - Good, Damage Absorbtion - Good if wearing Mandalorian.
Special Abilities - Can use charged use gadgets and is one of the few professions that can resist Lightsaber Damage.
Morgukai warriors - this was an ancient sect of warriors that specialised in melee weaponry. Through intense mental exercises they were resistant to Jedi force powers and some were even known to use cortosis weapons and armor in battle. This profession would be much like the mandalorian when it came to weaponry but their power would be with melee weaponry. This profession would include 2 trees with the ability to master one basic profession.
- The first tree would focus on all melee weaponry. They would have the ability to target all HAM pools with any melee weapon and have access to all the state attacks.
- The second skill tree would involve force defense, the ability to craft special armor ( maybe RIS ) and melee defensive skills that work with all weapons. Now this profession wouldnt be able to avoid damage like the Jedi or TKM but they have the ability to take a beating like none other.
Profession Overview:
Damage Output - Awesome, has access to all melee weaponry in the game with the exception of the Lightsaber. Matchless in his weaponspeed and accuracy proficiency.
Defense - Damage Avoidance - weak, Damage Absorbtion - Awesome.
Special Abilities - Resistant to force Powers and can use armor made of cortosis to resist Lightsaber Damage.
Black Sun Operative - The black sun is an elite crime organization that ran everything much like the mafia is said to do today. In any such organization there will always be a need for people to do unpleasant jobs and this is the Operatives job to do. This profession will be two skill trees with the option to master a third basic profession.
- The first tree would involve combat skills and defense. This profession would be quick damage and damage avoidance. Also to note they should have a special attack for themselves that would vastly increase the chance of wounding per attack used.
- The second tree would involve stealth skills through this tree the Operative will be able to craft sound dampening and stealth generators so that they can sneak up on opponents unaware. i.e. can be seen on the screen but not on the radar. They will also be given the ability to disguise themselves to avoid detection. i.e. appear to be something they are not. Or throw down a smoke grenade in order to make a hasty retreat.
Profession overview:
Damage - Limited too 1handed weaponry such as vibroblades and rifles. Damage output for this profession is high especially with the fact of them being able to inflict wounds so easily.
Defense - Damage Avoidance - good, Damage Absorbtion - weak. These guys dont wear any armor for stealth purposes.
Special Abilities - Ability to inflict mortal wounds and the ability to stay off of radar. Also if a situation is too hot for them they can pop a smoke grenade to get out of sight and escape.
Imperial Royal Guard - Each of these guards were the elite of the elite when it came to the empires warriors and they were all hand picked by the emporer. Each of these Pikeman are given the ability to use the deadly force pike and they wear the Imperial Royal Guard Armor. I dont know much about the force pike but I dont think I would be going out too much on the limb to think that they are much like a lightsaber in deadliness. This profession would have two trees.
- The first would involve crafting and fighting with the force pike which is a special pike weapon that uses Lightsaber damage as a damage type and is heavy armor piercing.
- The second defense tree would involve the royal guards defensive abilities. These would be able to take damage much like a Morgukai warrior but would also be able to avoid quite a bit of damage also.
Profession Overview:
- Damage Output - Awesome these guys use the same damage type as Jedi but their pikes are AR3 instead of 2 for sabers.
- Defense - Damage Avoidance - Good, Damage Absorbtion - Good.
- Special Abilities - Besides special attacks none, unless these guys were somewhat trained in the force.
Now how would each of these professions lower the amount of Jedi? Its quite simple everyone will be given the option to strive towards different end-game professions with their own strengths and weaknesses. Now each of these professions would have the same xp requirement as Jedi and suffer the same death penalty as Jedi but they wont be content for Bounty Hunters unless they get an option to hunt high ranking faction members in the future.
Another way to lower the Jedi population is that once these professions come out the current Jedi can each be given the choice to convert to the profession of their choice since they have already unlocked and done the long grind for a1 for 1 box transfer.
Please tell me what you think and if you have any ideas on other professions respond below.
1. Does anyone have any idea when Publish 10 will drop? I mean how far into the developement of it are they?
2. Also the same question really for JTL.
I know alot of us that are fairly new to the game are getting kinda antsie about becoming Jedi, but are a little miffed that its gonna be who knows how long until we have any chance of seeing our dreams come to fruition.
Grifter
2. I'd like to see the beginning Jedi quests to unlock force sensitivity come from something like the beginer droids but in the form of a "blue glowie".
3. I think that everyone should get a choice to either have 1 Jedi on one server with no plots or 8 characters on any server (all on the same one or spread out).
4. Advance the time line or move it back to a different time so that we can be free to create a new star wars universe with it's own history instead of a pre mapped out one where our actions has zero effect because we already know the immediate outcome. This would shut people up about continuity and allow the dev team to be more creative.
5. Teras Kasi should be an intermediate class that is gained by mastering Brawler and Teras Kasi Unarmed, Teras Kasi Fencer, Teras Kasi Swordsman and Teras Kasi Pikeman should all be classes that are specific masteries of TKM. This would keep people from dual specing and defence stacking.
6. Get rid of buffs they screw with balance. Doctors should be doctors... not steroid dispensers.
7. Coverts should be able to freely attack overts of the opposite faction and enemies with tefs... this makes sense because the the covert SHOULD have the element of surprise.
8. Make all players of a certain faction rank automaticly overt due to their fame. But give them a reason to be of a high ranking.
9. Jedi should automaticly get a saber meditation skill that allows them to go into a trance and repair their saber. Exacly like TKMs meditating their wounds away. No crystal decay, no pearl decay, no tuning crystals.
10. No xp loss for anyone... this is a horrible idea... your customers are paying to play a game and should not be allowed to make negative progress.
11. Only Master BH should be able to take bounties missions for player characters.
12. Combat Medics should be a hybrid between a combat profession and a doctor. Poisons and disease should not be in this class.
13. More color options on all armor and clothing.
14. To blance out jedi with other classes there should be some armors in the game that sabers can't cut through. This is already in the eu.
15. Add plain old shields to the Teras Kasi class and let there be a true defensive build.
16. Add body tatoos to the image designer choices for all races... Upper arms, lower arm, upper leg, lower leg, chest, back, head, and face.
17. Add short and long loin cloths to the tailor line.
18. Class and faction specific clothing. With new uniforms as you gain rank.
19. Guild heralds for armor and clothing.
20. New planets that are like battle grounds... make people automaticly join their factions side and make neutrals decide upon landing... then make everyone on the planet overt.
Angetenar wrote:
I want a server with no PC Jedi.
someone may have already said this and this might be the wrong place to post it but...
i dont think the devs are just gonna be handing out servers to the people taht whine.
"i dont like TKAs! can i get a TK free server?"
" i dont like riflemen, can i get a rifleman free server?"
"i dont like CMs blah blah blah you get the picture."
i say, play the game like it is, or dont play at all, and at least if you complain, try to suggest things to the devs. i sent in a CSR ticket asking to fix the Text bugs of rebel medic NPCs saying "Where's a medic when you need one?" and other rebel NPCs going "If you're careful with you weapon you wont get harrassed." lol i send in a ticket almost every day. so just cooperate