Development Cycle Archive

Thread: 19 answers (6-10-04)

Tralmek
Thu Jun 10, 2004 11:54 pm
#27






Foth wrote:

correspondants ask them i believe.


Im a bit upset as the answere to some of the questions from last time and this time was already known.







*cough* *cough*


Maybe other professions' correspondants got to ask the questions, but the Music and Dance correspondants didn't get to ask...they were told that our questions wern't to be asked until next week. So,he goes from telling us things we already know last week to just answering a question from our community that we didn't even submit!


*Lilo bites his tongue hard enough to draw blood...how the *#&@ do they expect us to deal with bull like this?!!!*


You sir, say you're a bit upset, well I am not a "bit upset," I'm totally outraged at how far they have gone this time. They allow AFK macrotainers to kill our profession inside the game, they tell us for 6 months that new content is coming (but it still hasn't--unless you count the new things on TC right now, but those don't even work at last check), they even apologize to the smuggling community about the delay of the Hutt Casino (a themepark devoted to Entertainers AND Smugglers), but they totally ignore the entertainment community throughout all this, never posting in our forums, never giving a whit about entertainers being driven from the profession and/or game.


*takes a breath to calm himself a tad, but it doesn't work*


Perhaps while AFK dancing on the graves of Entertainers, the Devs will finally take note that these are actual people they are dealing with. We are not simply wallets from which 15 dollars is plucked each month, we are people too, and as members of the "exciting new style of play" introduced with SWG I think we deserve a little bit of Dev attention. If we aren't, I challenge any Dev or other representative of SOE to come forward and tell us directly that they don't care. In fact, instead of stringing us out, why not just announce that the Entertainer professions will be removed from the game with the next patch and every account with an Entertainer will be suspended. Hmm? It would be a lot more humane than the slow death we're being given now!


If there is a Dev who does care the slighetest about Entertainers, I submit this challenge: Come to our forums and challenge the dev pro temp for the spot as the Entertainer Dev. A player seems to be doing a better job of answering community questions than anyone from SOE ever has.


-Liloman Hammons
Master Entertainer, Master Musician


Yes, I know I'll probably think better of all these words in a few hours, but right now they are what I'm thinking. I may get flamed for this, who knows it's been awhile since I've heard of someone getting the ban bat, maybe that will happen. Regardless, I DON'T CARE RIGHT NOW!





Feeling no connection with the Force since 2003
*feels an outer glow*. The HAWT side is with me
Have a question? Read the Stickies!
Remember: Only YOU can prevent forum fires
!
Official AFKophobe


Landlubber
Fri Jun 11, 2004 1:50 am
#28



Okay, here are two questions for you. One should be answerable in one word (a name), the other might be a bit trickier:


1) Who is the Developer currently assigned to the Musician and Dancer professions


2) As a musician, what are my mid-term incentives(say, the next 6 months) for keepingup my SWGsubscription? What new content developed especially for the entertaining professions is on the plate for that time-frame?





Thunderheart wrote:



Musician

What force skills will you be implementing for specific advantage to the musician profession?...

The answer is “none”. Please work with NewJedi to develop a reasonable list and I will work with the team to see what is possible and what is not.







Now isn't it always this way... If one of you Devs had even bothered to take a look at the musician's forum at any time in the past... uh, let's say 4 or 5 months, you would have seen that there are tons of suggestions on how to improve the profession in general, and in the last few weeks we had our fair share of ideas for FS entertainer skills too (two words: BUFF DURATION. Now would it have been so hard to think of that yourself? That's your job, after all).


But then, Musicians (and Dancers for that matter) aren't really on the radar at all, are they? It's all (in this order) Jedi, combat professions (including GCW) and crafters, but whatever happened to what was originally announced as the third distinctive play-style next to combat and crafting, the so-called sozializing professions? Do you assume we don't need any content (or any bug-fixes for that matter) because all we ever do is socialize anyway, and for that all we need are our chat boxes??


More than anything else, it's the attitudethat the Devs (and you in particular TH) have been displaying towards the entertainer professions that's really starting to get to me (and if you would bother to check the musicians forum every once in a while you would see that this is more or less the general feeling there).

You don't even bother to hide the fact anymore that you just couldn't care less.

Take your answer to our last question from two weeks ago: we were very clearly asking about a way to see if our buffs are successful, because asit stands now, we are completely reliant about our customer's honesty about this. We have no way of knowing if the buffs we applied are working, not even a short system message like "You increase %TT's focus/willpower by xxx". And what did we get as an answer? Some complete drivel on how the customer could see that information on his stat sheet. And don't even get me started on self-buffs. Yeah right, Masters (who by definition don't need any healing xp anymore) getting 50 heal xp every two hours from buffing themselves would completely unbalance the game, and that's why we can't buff ourselves. Now that was plain insulting, not that you'd care.


And what is it about everyone working on JTL anyway? I know that didn't come up in this week's answer, and frankly I didn't bother about reading any other answers this week except for the ones pertaining to Dancer and Musician (and the Dancer answer this week was pretty condescending as well, as seems to be the norm whenever you guys bother to acknowledge our presence in the first place), but that theme "Everyone is working on JTL right now, so we'll have to get back to you after that is released" was allover the last few answers threads.

Let me remind you of something: we are paying subscription for an existing game which is called Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided, and we have every right to expect that this game gets your full attention, and that problems are being taken care of. And if you choose to develop what is basically another game on the side, well that's fine for you, but there is no reason whatsoever that work on the original SWG should suffer because of it. Because I'm not paying subscription to JTL, you know.

And mentioning subscriptions: last I checked, I was paying the full $15 per month, same as everyone else.


But since I happen to prefer spending my time ingame performing for people, I had to use the same 10 songs ever since this game started, and now the one new piece of content (recording and effects droids are not even worth mentioning here, they do nothing to help us. Recording droids might very well be another nail in our coffin, when it comes to that), which would have been the Hutt Casino seems to be on hold for an indefinite time. Is there any official word on this? And if it should get pushed back to a time after JTL (see the last few paragraphs about my views on this), then what exactly are the chances of a Dev posting in the Musician's forum about this, explaining it, and *gasp* maybe even apologizing for it? Because that's what happened at the Smuggler's forum lately too, you know (nothing against smugglers. I know that you guys also badly need attention, and I hope you'll get it soon).



______________________________________________________
The Ti'lya Brothers: Ailar (Entertainer/Chimaera, DG Trader/Bria),
Klofi (Smuggler/Chimaera) -- Cancelled,
"You have a right to be upset. Anyone who is attached to any profession that doesn't get a lot of new content has a right to be upset." -- HanseSOE
______________________________________________________
Raph Koster on: "SWG: What went wrong?"


KardenTyrell
Fri Jun 11, 2004 2:32 am
#29






Thunderheart wrote:



Core Systems
Are there any plans to increase the amount of music and sounds for a more Star Wars feel? If so, when? (space expansion doesn’t count

There are plans in place to add more music and sounds, but the new items/sounds won’t be added until after JTL.






Wooohoooo! As this is one of the most immersive factors to a game, making maybe a simple walk through the valley fun.....can we get more information on this?




- "TK-231 reporting in" -
[|Arresting hawtpants members for a living|]
SaintJohn
Fri Jun 11, 2004 3:23 am
#30

Thanks! Always love hearing from the devs.



Jaini Aire [ TIO ]
Swordsman of the Empire
" You will find your destiny at the end of my blade "
Rockweaver
Fri Jun 11, 2004 5:02 am
#31

Thank you TH, that was a very informative set of posts. I at least understand that you can't give us all the information, and have given opinions in the past only to have something change and then be verbally assaulted over it, those of us with half a brain don't expect you to spill the beans 100%.

Just know there are those of us out here that support the Team 110%

As to everyone else, stop comparing the current systems workings to his above comments. The ENTIRE system is going to be different, so don't worry about your Stun Baton's Damage, it'll surely be balanced with everything else. Currently it is TOO strong, it is not going to become useless, but it and many other items will be adjusted in the future so the game will have a more even Damge Range across the board.

The game will be different at Publish 11. Stop Comparing the planned changes to the current systems as they are not compatible. Everything will be better after each subsequent Publish. These things just take time. I have been here since before Day 1 too, I have the same goals and desires as the rest of you, but you only raise your blood presure by ranting and getting upset, post your comments, submit your /bug reports, but overall just relax and enjoy the game. You'll all be better off for it.



Sace Delora Jedi Knight
Kyrin T'enar Shipwright
Visit my vendor and gallery at -388, 5291 in New MEKsico, Naboo
Please deliver auction winnings to the Loot Sales vendor. Thanks!

The Right to Choose is Universal
Dark_0ne
Fri Jun 11, 2004 5:22 am
#32

Hi TH - thanks for the answers.

However - I would like to raise a couple of points/questions .......


I see the Dancer profession question was about a bugfix to the%TT problem when using /setperform. (Incidentally this is the same for musicians)


They should not have to ask for a bugfix for something that simple. To explain that statement, think about the way the ui works. As a squad leader, it is simple to make a macro which sends a message to your group saying Attack Target <%TT> and the variable is translated into the target's name. So - it works .... and there is obviously a very simple bug with the setperform command.


Recently a politician bug was fixed where we could not place a BE trainer. We knew this was a trivial fix because BE trainers worked in non-player cities, and we knew that placing trainers of any sort worked in player cities - the bug was that someone left BE off the list (pretty simple guess on my part)


The point I am trying to make here is that these 'cosmetic' bugs are sometimes trivial to fix - and it would be easy to throw in a few of these each update just on principle.

Sometimes, just seeing some of the little issues get fixed is enough to keep us going untill the the combat rebalance or JTL.


You wake up in the morning with a spot on your face - a single cosmetic issue ... but nothing really major. Next you wake up with 20 spots ...... all of a sudden this is a critical problem and you can't go out without a paper bag over your head :-)


The number of small irritating bugs in the gamewhich may, in a lot of cases, be quick and easy to fix - is really quite high. As a lot of the answers seem to revolve arround the more experienced resources being targetted (quite rightly) at the combat rebalance and JTL, would nowbe a good time to sweep away some of the small quick and easy fixes which would visibly show people the game is improving whilst not diverting critical resource away from the 'big' stuff ?


PS - I'd just like to add that as anSystems Integration and Test Specialist with the last 6 years as a Test and Acceptance Manager on large software projects, I do know a fair bit about delivering working systems into production and tidying up a few bits afterwards ;-)

(sometimes more than a few bits to tidy up, sometimes less ......lol)



Tony Weyland - semi retired
Joost1000
Fri Jun 11, 2004 5:27 am
#33

thnx for the info
Kenethrios
Fri Jun 11, 2004 5:53 am
#34






Thunderheart wrote:

Doctor
Are there any details about how buffs will be effected in the upcoming combat balance?

The only details available at this point are that we are going to look at all the numbers. The types of things that will change is that multi-thousand point HAM buffs will not be available. Over time, as various combat variables have increased in scale such as armor resistances, weapon efficiencies, equipment slices, buffs have also been pushed beyond balanced limits by exceptionally smart players. As this information works its way through the community, it tilts all the numbers to an extreme imbalance. During the combat balance, we will look at these numbers and also post focus threads on any proposed changes. One thing to remember though is that the HAM revamp is going to change the dynamics of combat so it makes comparing old system and new system numbers difficult to realize in terms of raw game play.





How smart does one have to be to make 930+ buffpacks with all 900+OQ/PE ingredients? Getting this packs doesn't require any "smart" playing or crafting or whatever. Didn't you guys test the upper limit on enhance Ds before giving them to players?


I seriously wonder how fun it will be for us veterans to play if we feel that everything we've worked so hard for in the past will be wiped by one patch. Of course new players will never know how it used to be so they won't have trouble with all this nerfing.


Anyway, my question is, how come you didn't know how high buffpacks or other regular armor/weapons could go before you implemented them into the system? didn't you calculate the theoretical max oncrafted items. If you would have, it would have eliminated the need for nerfing as we would have never had these so-called "overpowered" items.


Also please keep in mind that groups of players aren't online all the time together, so what will we have to do when none of our friends are online or free to go hunting after the "rebalance"? Kill Durni's? What will there be for masters of combat professions when we can only kill low level stuff (without ANY chance for nice loot, not that the current high level stuff drops good loot on a semi-regular basis, but you get the picture"). If we have to go out with 20 people to kill some form of high level content, how do we split for example a SEA or a pearl? That's why people like to hunt solo, because of the way the looting works. SEAs drop far too little to be able to share them with a semi-larger group. Of course if we all loot the same thing when fighting a creature, I would welcome the group play (if one person loots a +5 med exp, everyone gets one) but else, I seriously wonder what there is left to be done in this game? Kill stuff for no exp, no loot, but for armor decay and weapon decay? You know, after killing 100s of mobs the fun tends to go away. And after the "rebalance" the fun will be even less, as I'll probably will be dying constantly, getting armor decay and getting no loot on a regular basis. Me thinks I'll just go do something else. Perhaps in the game, most likely inrl.


Anyway, I should say thank you for help me get rid of the minor addiction swg is.


Perhaps you should put a poll on top with the following options:
1. yes I would like to have my armor, weaponry, buffsreduced by X%
2. no I wouldn't " " " " " " " " ""


if the majority answers number 1, ok, then go ahead with the nerfing, else I seriously suggest you think twice before acting.
Please let this game work a bit like a democracy and let the players vote on this rebalance, I don't recall anyway asking the devs for nerfing, except perhaps new players who thought they were underpowered. I agree with bringing all combat profs on par, but NOT with lower the damage output or protection, more with scaling up the damage of the lesser elites.


Isn't a game about fun? Well, killing high level content on my own is fun, not being able to is not my idea of fun. Killing high level content with a group is fun too, but why not add a planet with creatures like in the DW dungeon and armor doesn't decrease in condition nor weaponry, just a place to have fun with a group without having to fear a blow to your armor from a creature that does 15k+ damage. And we can keep the rest of the planets unaltered and suitable for solo content.







Kriffith Annodotin ----- Jedi Lord (me)Apocalyptic Claymore ----- Armorsmith
12 experimentation points and top resources for custom orders


Nanuu
Fri Jun 11, 2004 6:11 am
#35






Rockweaver wrote:

As to everyone else, stop comparing the current systems workings to his above comments. The ENTIRE system is going to be different, so don't worry about your Stun Baton's Damage, it'll surely be balanced with everything else. Currently it is TOO strong, it is not going to become useless, but it and many other items will be adjusted in the future so the game will have a more even Damge Range across the board.






It's not the stun baton's damage that needs to be fixed, it's the armor vulnerabilities\resists.



Nanuu of RECON, Tempest
Master Teräs Käsi Artist
Watcher of the Jedi
Proud Rebel Wookiee
TEMPT Bodyguard
WOW: Nanuu of Horde's Demise, Azgalor
DarthBallz25
Fri Jun 11, 2004 6:14 am
#36

Maybe its just me, but there seems to be basically only2 types of answers that thunderheart ever gives. No and not right now, but maybeafter JTL. Whats the point in havin the 19 questions every week when all we ever get is those 2 answers. Don't our suggestions and questions mean anything to the devs. It just seems like they brush off our ideas and suggestions all the time.And thats not rightconsidering we are the ones payin for and playin the game. Maybe if u actually took our suggestions, questions, and bug reports seriously, u wouldn't create more problems than u fix with each publish. Having said that, my second complaint is about the armorsmith question. Where the hell did that question come from? I didn't see it listed in the list of questions wecame up within our forum. I don't know whether thunderheart or our correspondant made that question up, but we sure as hell didn't. Well i guess thats enough venting of my frustrations.


Irato

Novice Armorsmith/Novice Tailor/Novice Rifleman/Master Artisan

CrimeDog1
Fri Jun 11, 2004 6:24 am
#37

Um, why are the same professions questions answered two rounds in a row? This weeks answers were supposed to be the second group including BH, Carbineer, Pistoleer etc wasn't it?



Niul Cillian
• Alliance Strike Team <AST> •
————————————————————————————
Criminalus <OE> 10/03 - 11/06

CrimeDog1
Fri Jun 11, 2004 6:26 am
#38

Disregard previous post lol...I had a brain issue....



Niul Cillian
• Alliance Strike Team <AST> •
————————————————————————————
Criminalus <OE> 10/03 - 11/06

TechBoss
Fri Jun 11, 2004 6:33 am
#39

Couple of comments:



  1. Let's see, your going to nerf buffs AND armor. Let's say armor's effectiveness is cut by 50%, either through an increase in the vulnerabilities or reduction in resist. Now we can add on top of that the nerfing of buffs, which is probably going to see their stats cut in half. That means players will see a 75% reduction in "power" BEFORE any of the weapons are balanced. Unless the high end mobs see a damage reduction, players will have no chance to even engage these mobs as they don't have the HAM or damage reduction to take on these mobs. The only other option would be to increase player damage and increase player toughness;this way players are balanced against each other and against higher end mobs.

  2. The heavy use of stun weapons is a result of armor, not the weapons. The jawa, baton, tangle and geo are not the effective in PvE, but really good in PvP as stun damage is resisted the least.

  3. TH, at least you gave us some semi-real answers to some questions. Please try to carry this through to next week with the combat professions.



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"List?..... Where is this "list" you speak of. Writing something on toilet paper and then wiping your ass with that same paper doesn't constitute as a list." from BH forums in regards to combat balance list of issues.
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