Development Cycle Archive
Thread: 19 answers (6-10-04)
Echinacea
Fri Jun 11, 2004 6:18 pm
#66
Thunderheart wrote:
These answers are coming to you from a remote location since I am on vacation. The correspondents have said there will be some follow up questions to some of these answers so I’ll work on the follow up answers with the team next week.
Leave it 'til you get back or delegate. Being told this just hammers home that you're not giving us your full attention...which you shouldn't be, because you're on vacation. That means no working.
Musician
What force skills will you be implementing for specific advantage to the musician profession? Will they be implemented with the Jedi system, or how soon after? If the answer is "NONE" may we provide a list of suggested skills that would be specific to this profession for developer consideration?
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.
No. I've been posting ideas on how to improve the Musician, Dancer and Entertainer professions for a year now. If no one who could effect any changes could be bothered to read any of it before, I have no faith that anyone will in the the future. So no, I will not "work with NewJedi to develop a reasonable list" because I don't think anything any of us have to say will ever be "reasonable" to you people.
The glaring lack of respect indicated by you (or whoever it was, if it wasn't you) just lifting things off our, the Dancer's, and apparently the Armorsmith's forums without going through your stated process of taking submitted questions from our respective correspondents (since at least with Musician and Dancer you told them not to submit anything yet) is disheartening beyond measure. Not that there was much heart...or faith...or hope...left.
That being the case, the only suggestion I have anymore is this: remove all the Entertainer professions. Put in ID terminals and NPC buffbots in cantinas (it's not like they're not already there) and admit that your development team couldn't follow through being walked across the street by a Boy Scout. The whole concept of 'social' professions is a bust because of recursive macros and inability to finish something you started before moving on to the next thing, exemplified by the state of the game and the push to create an expansion when the core game is still, effectively, in beta.
I've tried to be patient, but this just sickens me. And people wonder why I refuse to play EverQuest2 or ever buy another Sony Online Entertainment game again....
Let's see how long the only reason I continue to play holds me: the friends I've made. That one thing the game publisher can't control is still the driving force behind why people play these games -- the desire to have fun with others.The others are still here, but the fun's being consistently leeched out. We need content to enjoy with our friends...working content. Not an expansion for a half-baked rendition of Ultima Online In Space. Designer Dragon...you screwed up.
Phomeister
Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:20 am
#67
SioBabble wrote:
Cailid010 wrote:
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.
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If you consider a person to be 'exceptionally smart' for simply gathering resources with the best stats and then using their experimentation points then no wonder this game has so many long lasting bugs in it.
It appears that the ability to read and understand those little boxes in the crafting windows that tell you what resource qualities most effect the final outcime is a sign of being "exceptionally smart".
Once again, the devs blame players for actually playing the game as presented, not as the devs intended.
I don't think thats the reason. They're just pulling an excuse out of their arse to use for when they totally nerf us. I feel nerfs aplenty coming soon.. They're calling it the 'Combat Rebalance'
Arriranha
Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:39 am
#68
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.
That is the biggest load of crapola I have ever seen laid on these forums. This confirms to me the incompetence of those designing, managing and programming this game. You designed the damn systems and you blame us for breaking it?
Utterly ridiculous. I dont care if its being changed, I only care that the Devs have the lack of vision to implement it this way and then say 'well its your fault for being so clever.' No the minimum and maximum possible values should have been considered. You half assed Weapon Crafting and Armour Crafting in just the same manner. This is your fault Devs not ours.
This 19 questions policy has so far been utter crap. You dance around the issues and tell us to wait on so and so revamp, Were tired of this. We want numbers, we want facts, we want the damn truth. You know what? We can handle it.
TheBratman
Sun Jun 13, 2004 8:23 am
#72
/applaud
I would really like to see the changes that the Architects are requesting come into the game. I have having backpacks all over my house with items being stored in them. Let storage chests, etc. do what they were intended to do.
Over allI think the answers were more positive thanprevious '19 Question' responses. Not as much of the 'wait till the GCW or Combat Balance' responses. 
Landlubber
Sun Jun 13, 2004 9:35 am
#73
TheBratman wrote:
Over allI think the answers were more positive thanprevious '19 Question' responses. Not as much of the 'wait till the GCW or Combat Balance' responses.
Unless of course you happen to be interested in the answers to any entertainer related profession...
bubbles1
Mon Jun 14, 2004 6:34 am
#74
And the devs want us to group again to "balance" everything. Have they come up with a solution to the ninja looters which is one of the main reasons I rarely group with anyone. I trust a few people to split loot with me but they are not on all the time and unless everyone in group gets a krayt pearl or a mandolorian helmet then I doubt the big combat revamp will make much of an impact. In fact it will be just the opposite of what they want to accomplish. Personally "the good old days of grouping" were not that good. Also if armor is to be nerfed to whatever percentage I think several players should get the millions that we paid for it as it was not my fault tthat a AS made some 90% comp and I bought it.
TechBoss wrote:
Couple of comments:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Warryyr
Mon Jun 14, 2004 8:43 am
#75
Stop ignoring the entertainer professions, please.
Our style of gameplay should be just as valid as power grinders going for Jedi, or crafters.
Get the Devs in gear, and work proactively with the Entertainer community to show us you guys haven't abandoned us. We have a lot of good ideas that get thrown on deaf ears, and that needs to be corrected.
Entertainer protests are in the works. Dancers, Musicians, Image Designers, Master Entertainers are asked to attend. All playersare, of course, very much welcome to take part. Doctors will be needed for quickness buffs to aid in our performances.Anyone who can heal is asked to stop by and heal us up if we need it.
Theed starport should be the meeting place on each server. Form the group in an organized fashion, everyone gets an invitation to the group, everyone bandflourishes. Make it a show. Invite all of your entertainer friends.Constructive comments regarding how we're not AFK and we're real playersshould be given, and statements should be made tothe effect that "our professions should be treated with the respect and attention from the Devs that we need and deserve."
Musicians are especially hard hit in this folks, as we only have 10 songs to play, and we're just as tired of hearing them as you. The most recent news for Musicians is we'll get 1 new song in the next year, after Jump to Lightspeed. Though, even that's been difficult to nail down, due to lack of communication from the Devs. This is unacceptable, and it's time we come out of the shadows of the cantina, and unify to get ourselves some attention!
Time: 6PM EST Tuesday, June 15. Theed Starport, every server. Playing until whenever. This is to be constructive, so try to keep negativite comments to a minimum. I know many of us are very frustrated, but keeping things light will help immeasurably.
For best results, we should continue to form up regularly on Tuesdays to do this. Let's keep it fun, and hopefully show folks we're not some NPC's in a cantina, we're players with a different style of gameplay, and we shouldn't be ignored anymore.
Thank you for your time. Contact Warryyr on Starsider with any comments or suggestions.
Warryyr
Mon Jun 14, 2004 9:25 am
#76
Make the Devs stop ignoring the Entertainers. We will not be ignored.
It's time for us to take some action, form up, unify, and show the Devs and anyone else who will listen that we're tired of our style of gameplay being ignored, and threatened to extinction.
What started this: TH's answer to the Musician question in the 6/10/04 19 questions post:
Musician
What force skills will you be implementing for specific advantage to the musician profession? Will they be implemented with the Jedi system, or how soon after? If the answer is "NONE" may we provide a list of suggested skills that would be specific to this profession for developer consideration?
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.
What force skills will you be implementing for specific advantage to the musician profession? Will they be implemented with the Jedi system, or how soon after? If the answer is "NONE" may we provide a list of suggested skills that would be specific to this profession for developer consideration?
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.
It is unacceptable that an elite profession should be completely ignored in the upcoming Jedi revamp. Some examples for Force skills for entertainers:
1) Increased Buff Duration (to match the length of Doc buffs).
2) Increased Buff Strength.
3) Decreased time to apply a buff.
These suggestions have been kicking around for a long time, but as no one from the Dev team seems to know the Entertainer professions' forums exist, we may as well not have discussed them at all. Our correspondents have done a wonderful job at trying to communicate to the Devs that we need attention, to no avail.
Protest details:
Time: starting at 6PM EST on Tuesday June 15th until whenever - and every Tuesday thereafter. Heck, do this whenever you feel like - every day, if you want.
Location: Theed Starport, every server, away from all the merchant barkers.
Details:
Folks should form one big group, or several small groups. Dancers should dance Basic so anyone can join, and Musicians should play Starwars1 (this way any Novice, or folks who want to pick up Novice to join us, can play/dance with us too). Use lighting effects, put on a show. Everyone is invited - Dancer, Musician, Image Designers, Entertainers. Contribute by playing any instrument, dancing any dance, or simply just listen and watch, and chat it up. Have fun!
Doctors and Medics will be needed for healing - tell your healing friends this will be a good chance to get some serious xp from lots of flourishing entertainers! Quickness buffs to let us play longer and flourish like mad would be wonderful, too.
Group leaders should run a /bandflourish macro with decent variety, to keep things lively. All group members should *NOT* flourish or run macros - just do a "/bandflo on" and let the group leader (elect one for Musicians and one for Dancers in your group)take charge of your performance. We want to look professional and organized, and really put on a big show!
Bandflo's reduce xp, but folks, this is not for xp, this is not for heals or tips, this is for the future of our professions.
If you run out of action,just stop playing and wait to heal up. Group leaders, if low on action, should set "/bandflo off" and regain some of their action, to avoid stopping the group. Let the rest of the group keep going, but stop your flourishing for the good of the group's performance.
Keep comments constructive, to the likes of "We're not AFK, and we're not NPC's, we need attention from the Devs right now" or "Our professions need attention, too - stop ignoring the entertainers!" "Real Entertainers- we're not just for buffing, we actually *play* this game!" Keep things as positive as possible, I know we've been frustrated for awhile, but too much negativity might turn off folks who could be willing to take our side in the matter.
Be prepared for negative comments towards us. "Get back in the cantina" and such. Most people totally agree with our problems with our professions, and we have their complete support, but some could care less. Do not satisfy them with a response. Jot their name down in your /notepad and decide later whether you want to provide yourservices to them. Who knows, maybe we'll get a lot more support than we think. Maybe people will listen and watch, and be interested in our cause. I'm sure many will.
Send emails to Warryyr on Starsider with any comments or questions.
Let's get the Entertainer professions in this game back into shape. Our style of gameplay is in serious trouble, and we're treated like we don't exist. We are not a priority to the Devs, and they haven't expressed anything to suggest otherwise. We have had very little additions in regards to content, improvements,and bug fixes(though the Image Designers got a little love recently, even they have some serious issues with their revamp that have yet to be resolved).
Let's stop getting ignored, and get some real attention/content/respect from the Devs -that we can take an active part in developing. Let's inform the playerbase that we're not all AFK'ers. That we care about our style of gameplay. We may not be able to buff or heal outside of a cantina (throw that in as a comment in Spatial maybe - "i'd love to buff and heal you, but buffing outside of the cantina is just one of many suggestions to improve our professions that have been completely ignored by the Devs"). But, we can still perform and put on a great show!
These protests should continue every Tuesday (or whenever the mood strikes you all) until some resemblance of attention to the problems with our professions is given. We need some solid word, not placating comments, that action will be taken by the Devs to improve/fix/enhance our professions.
Thank you for your time, now get out to Theed Starport on Tuesday nights, and let's start the Jam for an Entertainer Revamp!
Handsnake
Mon Jun 14, 2004 9:50 am
#77
Warryyr wrote:
LOTS OF LOUD FONT-TYPE FROTHING AND SHOUTING
Too loud, too large, too whiny, didn't read.
Galoopa
Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:14 am
#78
Good luck Warryyr, I'll pop in and do some healing of people on Valcyn. I'm maxed in xp, but will be glad to show some support. Entertaining may not be my cup of tea, but I would be one Battle Fatigued grunt if it weren't for you folks.