Development Cycle Archive

Wayfarer's Designs

Relocating on CHILASTRA

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This particular post details a small list of possible solutions that would allow Jedi to play completely PVE, yet not allow Jedi to run around town freely, which has bothered a great deal of players.

The problem: Jedi don’t feel rare because players see them walking around all the time.

The goal of this change: To decrease the visibility, meaning how often player see Jedi, while allowing non-FRS Jedi to stay entirely PVE, with the exception of bounty hunters.

The point is that these solutions keep Jedi “feeling” more rare, even though the system is still PVE and it doesn’t change the number of Jedi actually around at all. This is a repost from the publish 9 issues thread, but there were over 20 pages in that thread, so it may not have been read.

Here is the general idea before discussing the possibilities:

Jedi can be a PVE profession, but in order to keep Jedi “feeling” rare, we must reduce their visibility in the areas that are the most traveled by players. Being a Jedi with a saber out, in the middle of a town, could be like being overt. On the other hand, a Jedi running around in the wilderness using force powers alerts no one, except for the occasional bounty hunter.

So here are some of the possible Solutions that would allow PVE Jedi, but reduce their “feeling” commonplace:

1. Jedi get a TEF for using their saber or a force power in town.




1. One option: This applies only in developer created cities.


2. Another option is this TEF occurs in all cities, player or dev built.


2. Jedi get a TEF for using their saber or a force power within a certain range of a town. For example, if a Jedi is within 500m of Coronet and they use their saber or a force power, they get a TEF.


3. Jedi get a TEF if “seen” by players. The developers could then discuss the appropriate range at which a player must be at for a Jedi to be considered “seen.” This is not the best option, because players should not be able to grant TEF’s to Jedi, at least not if the system is to remain PVE viable. This could cause exploits to the system, but I am mentioning it nonetheless as a possibility. However, if this choice is considered, there are some options:




• Jedi get a TEF if seen by a single player of an opposing faction, which smells of exploits.


• Jedi get a TEF if seen by x number of opposing faction members, perhaps 5 or even 20. This still smells of exploits.


• Jedi get a TEF if seen by any one person, opposing or not. Again, this smells of exploits and I recommend against this option.


• Jedi get a TEF if seen by any x number of people, like for example 20 people in the starport in coronet. (Sniff, Sniff, exploits)


4. Jedi get a TEF if “seen” by an NPC of another faction. Players seeing a Jedi does not grant the TEF, which is probably a good thing if the system is to remain PVE viable. With that said, if there are NPC storm troopers in a Jedi’s local area, the Jedi must be wary as to pulling out her saber. This makes sense, because if storm troopers see a Jedi they probably would want to attack him (It being a suicide mission aside).


5. Jedi get a TEF, again in town etc, if they have their saber out, use a force power, or have their saber equipped.


6. Jedi get a TEF, again in town etc, if they have their saber out, use a force power, have their saber equipped, or have their robes on.


7. Jedi get a TEF, again in town etc, if they have their saber out, use a force power, have their saber equipped, have their robes on, or have a Jedi Title above their head. (Note, the bug that has existed for some time with titles, it reverts incorrectly to a previous title after you log off, must be fixed for this option to be viable)

My own suggestion would be a combination of number 1, 4, and 6, although this post is just one possible set of ideas to fix the problemof Jedi "feeling" to common, and reducing their presence without forcing PVP. There are thousands of posts on the board; sorry if this was mentioned already. This would mean Jedi can play the game completely PVE, up to the force rank system, yet they cannot use their saber around town, or next to a group of storm troopers, without getting a TEF. Conceptually this sort of idea makes sense, because a Jedi brandishing his saber in a highly populated area like a town is exactly equivalent to a rebel going to the recruiter and going overt. If a Jedi throws around force powers near an armada of storm troopers, he very much should get a TEF. However, as long as a player unequips his saber, turns off his title, takes off his robes, etc, the player is guaranteed to not be forced into PVP. In other words, it is just like saying you don’t have to do PVP as a rebel if you never declare yourself overt.

The last topic is about warnings to the Jedi, so they don’t accidentally go PVP. If a Jedi forgets to take off his robes, lets say upon entering a town, it would be nice for a system message to pop up saying, “You have 30 seconds to hide the fact that you are a Jedi, by unequipping your saber, removing your robes, and taking off your title(Or whatever criteria from those listed above), or the empire may find you! Hide!!!” This would give the Jedi 30 seconds, and a reminder, to take off his equipment and not show off.

Using this system, Jedi must not show off in the middle of town or pay the price, just as rebels must not go Overt, or pay the price. Jedi are warned if they are about to get a TEF and it is their choice whether to prevent the TEF from occurring. They can always, under all circumstances, avoid the TEF described in this post(In other words, bounty hunters can still attack like usual, that is a different system not under discussion in this little essay). Jedi will still never be forced into PVP(Again besides bounty hunters), which in my opinion is a good thing, but Jedi also won’t be able to show off in town. Jedi doing any of these things outside of town never grants a TEF, just like it is under patch 9. Consequently, the player base will see Jedi walking around less often, and Jedi will feel more rare without forcing PVP.

Thanks for making a fun and rewarding game to play. There is a huge array of great changes that were made in this patch. With a little more tweaking, make force powers do more damage, and defender work better Jedi vs. Jedi, and perhaps a change analogous to this one that makes Jedi feel more rare, it could be truly excellent. Thanks a ton for doing the revamp!

11. XP loss should have a decay timer.

Should be moot with XP Loss removal

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OK so now thatXP LOSS has NOT been removed can this point be revisited?

Honestly, if you guys are going to tell players things, firstly make sure they are ACCURATE. If something changes which makes a previous statement false UPDATE the information you give us.

There is already a thread with 35 pages of feedback on this publish, all ofwhich has been ignored, apart from a question on new dances and songs for entertainers

The question of xp loss is not moot. We lose xp accumualted from doctor resses/force res when we cloneeven though it appears we don't lose xp when ressed by a doc/force powers.

Where are the promised defence stats on the robes? Better yet, where is the communication from SOE about the lack of them?

Thunderheart wrote:

Publish 9 brings us The Secrets of the Force. In The Secrets of the Force, existing Jedi may now re-allocate their skill points based on the type of Jedi they would like to create. When you log on, you will see a window pop up that will prompt you to convert your Jedi to the new Jedi skill system.

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Where was the information posted prior to release of this publish on which existing jedi could base their new templates?

Even now with the publish being live we still have no descriptions telling us what certain Force Sensitive skills do.

Perhaps we should all include a question about dancing in these posts to get a response?