Development Cycle Archive
Thread: In-Concept Open Discussion (7-5-04)
Sha_Ja
Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:46 pm
#66
I just want to be able to drag-highlight more then one item! dragging them one at a time is such a waste. would it really be that hard to put this in th? :\
Sifer2
Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:47 pm
#67
I would like to see you revisit your idea of dynamic content. Such as the Twilek Slave Girl running towards you asking for help. So far the only dynamic content I have experienced in game has been being searched by a Probot(Even though im Imperial) then seeing a shuttle land dropping off troopers when that Probot was attacked by an Animal.
Dynamic content wasa great idea an helps keep things interesting. What needs work is the triggering mechanisms on it. It should spawn specifically for the type of person or group that is in the area an despawn soon after if its ignored. You also might want to guard against it happeneing to the same person too much. I've been yanked of my vehicle by Probots about 6 times now. Its starting to just be annoying.
I also think Group missions with dynamic spawning dungeons would be great. Such as the Factories that would spawn for individual players during the Monthly Story Arc. You could add some spice to group missions by letting the group take on its very own minidungeon with enemies designed for that groups power level an appropriate payouts for the mission. For instance if 10k credits is the max for single person missions then a group mission needs to payout 100k fora 10 mangroup to split evenly. Obviously you could even throw in extra things to make sure the group is involved such as switches that require two people to operate or doors requiring specific professions to open. Many possibilities. So far the closest you guys have come to trully interesting content has been the Correllian Corvette. That was great content but all the missions were hard. You should have thrown in Medium difficulty missions for weaker groups to enjoy. Less valuable loot obviously.
Message Edited by Sifer2 on 06-28-2004 07:52 PM
Rooks
Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:54 pm
#68
Also, the Rangers have been discussing many new ideas that I am sure Calc our Corr. has presented to you already.
Things like harvesting 2 or 3 resources per kill at Master Ranger lv.
Mounted Combat abilities for Rangers including the use of Specials, traps, tracking andmaskscent ALL while mounted for Rangers.
Armor for mounts.
Ranger specific weapon that gives creature to hit and damage bonuses.
Ranger specific building, aka Hunting Lodge at Master Ranger.
FIX the /conceal and Dizzy effect problems. Where conceal is NOT supposed to work on NPCs, even tho its ingame description says it DOES. The Dizzy effect of 2 traps, one Scout and One Ranger that ONLY can be used against Animals, but yet, according to Devs Dizzy has NO EFFECT on Animals?
Put Working Terminals inside the High tech Field Base OR Hunting Lodge.
Allow Factional buildings to be added to HTFB or Hunting Lodge such as Turrets. They go poof when the camp does.
The collecting of "Trophies" from kills, such as Heads to be mounted on walls.
The taxidermy skill for Rangers to re-create ANY wildnerness animal for display purposes only.
ALL of these items have been discussed in detail by better Rangers than myself on our forum with explanations of WHY the Ranger should get it, how it will HELP other classes in such ways and also explains what trees each should be in.
Please check out our Forum or just ask Calc and he will fill in all the details.
"Ranger is a Lifestyle, not a Profession."
AKawolski
Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:01 pm
#69
Craftable or purchasable faction banners. I'm sick of Victor always losing just so Rebels can getugly pictures of Calamari Eyes and no Imperial on our server can have a banner...and even if he wins, there's only a 50/50 chance of getting said banner! What's up with making stuff that should be as common as uniforms be so rare? I'll never understand why decisions like these are being made, and it would be nice to get an explanation why Devs choose to make items extremely rare when they shouldn't be. Just add it back to the Faction Furniture list.
Mabari Helmets look like the Imperial Hat! Make it less girly by removing the outermost rim (except on the front) and call it an Imperial Helmet or something.
Pex's RPing tools... Pex had some excellent ideas! How about some official feedback on them?
Jockothemonkey
Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:09 pm
#70
When the combat balance goes live, please increase the rate at which loot drops, especially off higher level targets. Nothing is as frustrating as spending 10-20 minutes to kill a single mob and get nothing for your trouble. This will become a much larger problem if these mobs will end up taking a group of 10 people the same amount of time to drop a single mob as it takes one person now.
Kahoona
Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:58 pm
#71
How about the planet Hoth... :\ Or speeders getting a weapon on them. Or podracing.
Akinoor
Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:20 pm
#72
Would it ever be possible (for marketing reasons etc) to get a list of bugs/features and your view/intentions of those? I know it's not the market people's favourite, but if you hide it somewhere in the forums, only forum freaks like us would see it (not true but...)
Things that could be there are (in no particular order):
* Nightsisters not using force powers anymore (which has led to that the market of dot weapons is overflowed and seas are more common than they should be imo. Which will only lead to you nerfing them which wouldn't have to be the case)
* Big mobs like krayts and kimos are easily soloed by using their innability to adapt to the terrain and kite them up a hill.
* Repaired bikes will lose their new repaired condition if you shuttle and store/generate instead of store and then shuttle.
* Armor coverage seems to be bugged. It's enough to use chest/helmet/boots (or pants) and gloves today and still be fully covered. Only thing that seems to happen is that your armor loses more condition faster.
* Almost all mouse menues are lagged/bugged so you have to use the same command twice or more to make them work.
* Since you revamped turrets, they are possible to exploit to firing in a VERY fast sequence.
* Imperial hats are still broken
etc...
These are not matters of balance, they're things that has either changed or not SEEM to work as intended so they should be pretty easy to answer. I realize you don't answer things as "CMs are too overpowered" cause that's an opinion and could as well be a part of the dev plan, but these kind of things are much more solid.
I really think you should stop calling this a discussion cause that would mean either we, the community, discusses things (which we don't in theses threads) or that we as community had a discussion with you devs (which very seldom happens).
It's much better to have a shorter format of this kind of feedback. Like the one you posted 2 weeks ago or so, I think you called it issues and was more like the Test Center bug report in format.
Then lets put up a "Community top 5 issues" that all the correspondents collects from their area and pick the most popular ones to answer balance questions like "The community is concerned that Jedis will eat their mamas". That way the issues would get more weight and you could more easily pick your answers.
Things that could be there are (in no particular order):
* Nightsisters not using force powers anymore (which has led to that the market of dot weapons is overflowed and seas are more common than they should be imo. Which will only lead to you nerfing them which wouldn't have to be the case)
* Big mobs like krayts and kimos are easily soloed by using their innability to adapt to the terrain and kite them up a hill.
* Repaired bikes will lose their new repaired condition if you shuttle and store/generate instead of store and then shuttle.
* Armor coverage seems to be bugged. It's enough to use chest/helmet/boots (or pants) and gloves today and still be fully covered. Only thing that seems to happen is that your armor loses more condition faster.
* Almost all mouse menues are lagged/bugged so you have to use the same command twice or more to make them work.
* Since you revamped turrets, they are possible to exploit to firing in a VERY fast sequence.
* Imperial hats are still broken
etc...
These are not matters of balance, they're things that has either changed or not SEEM to work as intended so they should be pretty easy to answer. I realize you don't answer things as "CMs are too overpowered" cause that's an opinion and could as well be a part of the dev plan, but these kind of things are much more solid.
I really think you should stop calling this a discussion cause that would mean either we, the community, discusses things (which we don't in theses threads) or that we as community had a discussion with you devs (which very seldom happens).
It's much better to have a shorter format of this kind of feedback. Like the one you posted 2 weeks ago or so, I think you called it issues and was more like the Test Center bug report in format.
Then lets put up a "Community top 5 issues" that all the correspondents collects from their area and pick the most popular ones to answer balance questions like "The community is concerned that Jedis will eat their mamas". That way the issues would get more weight and you could more easily pick your answers.
lootranger
Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:25 pm
#73
yeah a ranger revamp would be great, atleast fix all of the broken things have.(which is alot)
Akinoor
Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:44 pm
#74
On a more "In-Concept" note...
With this Jedi publish you've turned 180 degrees. Jedi was earlier mainly risk vs. reward but with this revamp you've made it into 90% effort vs. reward and 10% risk.
Since the rest of the system is effort=!reward, this changes things. Every hardcore player can level an elite combat prof in 1-3 days if he/she wants, so after that all we have is skilltapes and equipment before we reach our endgame.
I'm very worried that this 180 degree turn is a taste of what's to come. If the quest to fs and then the fs/jedi-trees is what we can look forward too, then you'll make some players unhappy by locking all hardcore players into the same class. I'm one of them. I've lived in this game since december and with my playtime etc I could have had a Jedi long ago if I wanted. But I don't. And the fs/jedi-trees are not enough for me to want to dabble in it.
My point is, now that you've started the path to effort=reward, then you really should be looking at other areas of the game. SWG has in some ways been a very non-elite game untill now. In many other MMOs, a high level will always smack a lower level, just based on levels, but since it's so easy to level in SWG, it hasn't really been that much of an issue here. It's been about templates, macros and equipment instead. This is in many ways much more unequal and unfair in my opinion. It's much easier to accept that a lvl 50 smacks a lvl 25 than accepting that your template is totally whacked even though you've spent the same amount of experience (time) as the other guy.
Since you've allready started this path and that an equal MMO isn't possible as long as you allow battle, please consider to allow us to advance beyond 4 days playing time and 20M in skilltapes!!! And something else than the fs/jedi thing!! I will never wield a lightsaber! I would like to be able to progress as say a Carbineer or TKM or any elite/hybrid prof.
This could be done either by allowing us to progress through experience points OR revamp the faction point system and allow us to do it in PvP. Or even better, BOTH.
Please, take this discussion with us players cause I think many of us have this kind of thoughts after the last weeks of drama around the Jedi revamp.
Best regards
With this Jedi publish you've turned 180 degrees. Jedi was earlier mainly risk vs. reward but with this revamp you've made it into 90% effort vs. reward and 10% risk.
Since the rest of the system is effort=!reward, this changes things. Every hardcore player can level an elite combat prof in 1-3 days if he/she wants, so after that all we have is skilltapes and equipment before we reach our endgame.
I'm very worried that this 180 degree turn is a taste of what's to come. If the quest to fs and then the fs/jedi-trees is what we can look forward too, then you'll make some players unhappy by locking all hardcore players into the same class. I'm one of them. I've lived in this game since december and with my playtime etc I could have had a Jedi long ago if I wanted. But I don't. And the fs/jedi-trees are not enough for me to want to dabble in it.
My point is, now that you've started the path to effort=reward, then you really should be looking at other areas of the game. SWG has in some ways been a very non-elite game untill now. In many other MMOs, a high level will always smack a lower level, just based on levels, but since it's so easy to level in SWG, it hasn't really been that much of an issue here. It's been about templates, macros and equipment instead. This is in many ways much more unequal and unfair in my opinion. It's much easier to accept that a lvl 50 smacks a lvl 25 than accepting that your template is totally whacked even though you've spent the same amount of experience (time) as the other guy.
Since you've allready started this path and that an equal MMO isn't possible as long as you allow battle, please consider to allow us to advance beyond 4 days playing time and 20M in skilltapes!!! And something else than the fs/jedi thing!! I will never wield a lightsaber! I would like to be able to progress as say a Carbineer or TKM or any elite/hybrid prof.
This could be done either by allowing us to progress through experience points OR revamp the faction point system and allow us to do it in PvP. Or even better, BOTH.
Please, take this discussion with us players cause I think many of us have this kind of thoughts after the last weeks of drama around the Jedi revamp.
Best regards
Message Edited by Akinoor on 06-29-2004 02:32 AM
XackAttacK
Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:54 pm
#75
Idea for GCW Content:
WARNING! I'M GOING TO GET CARRIED AWAY.
System Message [across the screen] -
WARNING! I'M GOING TO GET CARRIED AWAY.
System Message [across the screen] -
"The Empire has deployed a landing force of troopers and armored vehicles to invade the Rebel city of Coronet, Corellia. All members of their affiliated faction are being called to duty. Please check your e-mail for further instructions on how to participate."
AT-AT's, AT-ST's, and Stormtroopers (by many numbers), spawn 4000m north of Coronet, Corellia. The attack vehicles stay in place, as stormtroopers walk about, saying phrases like "Get in formation." "Get in line, Soldier." "For the Empire!" Etc.
On the outskirts of the city of Coronet, Rebel faction turrets spawn, along with Rebel NPC's of course to sort of create a "battle line;" Rebel NPC's begin to walk throughout the streets, shouting phrases such as "Attention: All Citizen! Take refuge in a safe location; the Empire is coming!" This should cause some commotion, building tention.
An e-mail is sent to players, according to their faction.
Imperial E-mail:
The Empire needs you now! Save the waypoint attatched to your e-mail, and rally with your commanding officer, who you will be assigned with once you arrive. YourObjective: Take the city of Coronet; kill all rebels. Leave no survivors.Time is running out; you have 30 minutes to take action before the invasion begins. Long live the Empire!
*End Transmission*
Rebel E-mail:
The Empire has targeted our largest city, Coronet, Corellia, for an invasion. The Rebellion needs you more than ever; it is crucial that we hold this city, it is our main city of commerce. Grab your gun and fight for freedom, we must show the Empire our might more than ever. Save the waypoint attached to your e-mail, and build up the front line with your fellow commrades.
*End Transmission*
Imperial Rally Point -
Once the Imperial player arrives at the waypoint, he talks to an Imperial General NPC that has spawned at the wp, who will give him orders. He will then beplacedin asquad; grouped with players w/ NPCs. Each squad would be determined by the players skill levels, forming some sort of organization and balance.This squad could be lead by a Squad Leader, or a Storm Trooper NPC. Once the 30 minutes is up, all squads begin to advance towards the city of Coronet by foot. The battle is about to begin.
Rebel Rally Point-
Once the Rebel player arives at the waypoint, he talks to a Rebellion General NPC that has spawned at the wp, who will give him orders. He will be either be assigned to be an infantry unit, man a turret [great now since turrets can be controlled by players], or work as a medic, or other designatd job behind-the-scenes of the battle, helping the war effort. Maybe include a special assignment for Jedi characters.
Preventing AWOL and the "General" NPC's-
Since this game does not force players to engage in combat, or participate in anything they wouldn't want to, there is a solution. The Imperial/Rebellion General NPC. If you wish to participate in the event, you MUST talk to the NPC first. That way, you are consenting that you are willing to give up your "free will" to participate in the GCW for a certain period time. Players who do so, will not be alloweded to do the following:
Imperials: Get out of formation (more formal; the Empire works as one, organized unit.)
Rebels: Leave the city boundaries
Logging out should make you exempt of consequences. Going AWOL should have consequences (this ones up to you, Devs). End of story.
The Battle Begins
On the outskirts of the city of Coronet, Rebel faction turrets spawn, along with Rebel NPC's of course to sort of create a "battle line;" Rebel NPC's begin to walk throughout the streets, shouting phrases such as "Attention: All Citizen! Take refuge in a safe location; the Empire is coming!" This should cause some commotion, building tention.
An e-mail is sent to players, according to their faction.
Imperial E-mail:
The Empire needs you now! Save the waypoint attatched to your e-mail, and rally with your commanding officer, who you will be assigned with once you arrive. YourObjective: Take the city of Coronet; kill all rebels. Leave no survivors.Time is running out; you have 30 minutes to take action before the invasion begins. Long live the Empire!
*End Transmission*
Rebel E-mail:
The Empire has targeted our largest city, Coronet, Corellia, for an invasion. The Rebellion needs you more than ever; it is crucial that we hold this city, it is our main city of commerce. Grab your gun and fight for freedom, we must show the Empire our might more than ever. Save the waypoint attached to your e-mail, and build up the front line with your fellow commrades.
*End Transmission*
Imperial Rally Point -
Once the Imperial player arrives at the waypoint, he talks to an Imperial General NPC that has spawned at the wp, who will give him orders. He will then beplacedin asquad; grouped with players w/ NPCs. Each squad would be determined by the players skill levels, forming some sort of organization and balance.This squad could be lead by a Squad Leader, or a Storm Trooper NPC. Once the 30 minutes is up, all squads begin to advance towards the city of Coronet by foot. The battle is about to begin.
Rebel Rally Point-
Once the Rebel player arives at the waypoint, he talks to a Rebellion General NPC that has spawned at the wp, who will give him orders. He will be either be assigned to be an infantry unit, man a turret [great now since turrets can be controlled by players], or work as a medic, or other designatd job behind-the-scenes of the battle, helping the war effort. Maybe include a special assignment for Jedi characters.
Preventing AWOL and the "General" NPC's-
Since this game does not force players to engage in combat, or participate in anything they wouldn't want to, there is a solution. The Imperial/Rebellion General NPC. If you wish to participate in the event, you MUST talk to the NPC first. That way, you are consenting that you are willing to give up your "free will" to participate in the GCW for a certain period time. Players who do so, will not be alloweded to do the following:
Imperials: Get out of formation (more formal; the Empire works as one, organized unit.)
Rebels: Leave the city boundaries
Logging out should make you exempt of consequences. Going AWOL should have consequences (this ones up to you, Devs). End of story.
The Battle Begins
*Empire: players should be allowed to break from formation until the command is given to charge. This should be done before they are in range of the enemies.
This type of event should be elimination based. If you die, you are gone - you cannot re-join the battle. Once one side is defeated, the winning faction gets a nice, fat, juicy reward, and the losing side gets a small, minor reward just for participation. Players who kill so many NPCs, players, etc. should get recognized in a system message (willmention later) for some recognition, and should get a achivement-based reward. Just for participating, maybethere should be abadge, saying "Participated in the Battle of Coronet." This would encourage participation by a great deal. After the battle is over, any remaining NPC's should de-spawn within a period of lets say, 10 minutes, for example.
Final System Message -
Imp Victory, IE
"The Empire has made the Rebellion pay dearly for their bold standing in Coronet. During the battle, Imperial player %TT [player's name would go here] displayed oustanding courage, killing X-number of Rebel units. He will be commemorated by the Empire for his valiant efforts."
I'm sure the coding for this would be strenuous, but something like this would help with immersion by 1000%. I could elaborate more on this, but I figure "Why bother, it will most likely just get overlooked." Just a suggestion to stir some thoughts of players and the developers. I'm really pumped about the GCW revamp, and something intense like this should be done.
EV500
Mon Jun 28, 2004 10:03 pm
#76
In concept...ie...pipe dream....When will Rangers get some love?
richor
Mon Jun 28, 2004 10:15 pm
#77
Sounds fun XackAttacK but having a mass of people on one spot would just be wrecked by a lone combat medic.
hawkbatleader1
Mon Jun 28, 2004 10:45 pm
#78
Major needs:
Wookiee Love -
make up for our lost skill bonuses with a 150 capacity stomach. ("always thinking with your stomach" -rotj)
wookiee armor - if the 2 pieces we are getting don't compete with the current levels of comp armor... you need to start working on wookiee armor 4
Ranger Love -
By god, I gave up Ranger in back after the FIRST ranger revamp was left unfinished. here we are...8 months later...and they are still a waste of skillpoints
BH Love -
make them able to compete with a jedi guardian - however, make their risks and rewards comparable. Build a BH ranking system.... then oppose it to the jedi ranks.
PVP love -
boost stun resists, so stun isn't the winning ticket accross the board
make wookiees a viable pvp race
CM love -
fix them. make their poisons and diseases a combat action, so that it can experience the appropriate reduction in pvp. Then increase their damage output in PvE so they can be a viable combat player
Elite/Elite classes. expanded classes for masters...
BH masters can elect to become Jedi Hunters (a ranking system)
Antarian Ranger - Ranger with some actual combat skills.
Brawler specialists - after achieving a double melee mastery, allow a specialty class for melee players.
Ranged Specialists - See Brawler Specialists
and one last request....for those of us who worked the hologrind, and never opened, (stopped about 8 classes after I went silent) - can we find out what class was the magic class?