Development Cycle Archive
Thread: Should Force Sensitivity be a known path or a mysterious one? (II)
TheLordReignth
Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:41 pm
#820
On page 36 of the seemingly endless replys, there sits a lone reply hoping to be read...
Alright, This is the way I would do it.
I hate the hologrinding system for these reasons:
When I first heard about this game, I became extremely excited. I began going to the site alot, though I didn't post on the forums (didn't want to get caught up in that pissing match), but I did meet alot of people in the chatroom. I began imagining how wonderful the game would be and how awesome it would be to become a Jedi. I imagined the dangers to becoming a Jedi, the mysterious path of becoming force sensitive, the enthralling storyline that would incorporate the best parts of the GCW. But when I finally began power playing, I discovered hologrinding, holocrons, and fighting alongside of not only one but seven Jedi at a time. I found this to be disheartening. My dreams were shot. So, here's what
DesertLost
Thu Jul 29, 2004 12:58 am
#821
FlashAdam wrote:
that would be good but won't it lead to people just starting and ending conversations with npc's until they get a FS related response?
Just another from of grinding.
It's gotta be partlyquest based and it's gotta bring some content to the game
And dont standardise it pls.
Im sorry i only started SWG in december and missed out on the excitement of new stuff in the game. Everything i have experienced so far has been known to someone else. Please give us that WOW factor back and try to suprise us.
Nah, that was just one possible suggestion for getting the clue to the player. And the situation could be easily controlled by not making it based on a random number of times you start conversations with an NPC, but basing it off several other actions you did in game before you walked up to that NPC. Then the response is simply an outlet for the information as a result of your overall game play, not just speaking with NPCs.
Ideally you would have several different outlets like this to give the clues. That way, combined withthe mystery on how it's earned to begin with,it's never consistent and very difficult to find the pattern.
Just more food for thought. 
TheLordReignth
Thu Jul 29, 2004 12:25 pm
#822
On the thirty-sixth page of countless replys to an already over-analyzed topic sits a lone reply that hopes it won't be overlooked....
When I first heard about this game years ago, I became very very excited. I started coming to the website alot, reading the forums (not commenting....didn't want to get caught up in that pissing match), and meeting people in the chatroom. When I first imagined Jeid, I imagine how intensely fun the game would be as on. It would be a hard dangerous journey that could only be completed alone. An entralling, mysteriousstoryline would captivate you from start to finish. It'd almost be an entire game by itself, not another class.
Equally enthralling and mysterious would be the path to Force Sensitivity. I imagined it as a seemingly random occurance. After certain things happened (random things like a certain waypoint on a core planet was reached, a certain item was collected, a certain NPC was conversed with; each thing being specificallypredestined for my character at creation), I would stumble upon an NPC quest that would take me on a very hard and ardeouspath thatI would only complete if I was determined that one or twodeaths wouldn't stop me fromcompletingit. Determination was a factor in this path. Afterthis questwas completed, and it would take weeks, even months, with several legs branching to several planets with several NPCs guiding me along the way. Finally, I would be sent to aNPC-Jedi Knight (not master, mind you)would reveal thatmy character was Force Sensitive. I didn't becomeForce Sensitive, I was all along, and that questwasthe determining factor of why I should be allowed to be trained in the ways of the Force.
When I first heard about this game years ago, I became very very excited. I started coming to the website alot, reading the forums (not commenting....didn't want to get caught up in that pissing match), and meeting people in the chatroom. When I first imagined Jeid, I imagine how intensely fun the game would be as on. It would be a hard dangerous journey that could only be completed alone. An entralling, mysteriousstoryline would captivate you from start to finish. It'd almost be an entire game by itself, not another class.
Equally enthralling and mysterious would be the path to Force Sensitivity. I imagined it as a seemingly random occurance. After certain things happened (random things like a certain waypoint on a core planet was reached, a certain item was collected, a certain NPC was conversed with; each thing being specificallypredestined for my character at creation), I would stumble upon an NPC quest that would take me on a very hard and ardeouspath thatI would only complete if I was determined that one or twodeaths wouldn't stop me fromcompletingit. Determination was a factor in this path. Afterthis questwas completed, and it would take weeks, even months, with several legs branching to several planets with several NPCs guiding me along the way. Finally, I would be sent to aNPC-Jedi Knight (not master, mind you)would reveal thatmy character was Force Sensitive. I didn't becomeForce Sensitive, I was all along, and that questwasthe determining factor of why I should be allowed to be trained in the ways of the Force.
So, with what I know this is the way I believe the great Force-Sensitive problem should be solved:
1. Seemingly unimportant random events should be determined at creation, taking into account almost something of everything in the game (NPCs, items, quests, professions, POIs, badges, faction, etc...). To solve the problem of already created characters, assign them a few of these things through various events in the game. I would model them after the way you handled the new Tatooine quests, except with no option of continuing on a former path.
2. The long quest should start by a not-so-random, yet hidden and mysterious NPC, with hints to this NPC's whereabouts given bynumerous conversations with ANY NPC. These conversations will be instanced once, and only aftereach of the random events has occured. Also, Devs could roam the game, much like they do now when they give out badges, but instead of badges, they drop hints to the NPC's whereabouts, but only hints that one of those NPC conversations would have given out. The Devs would not know the final destination, only the hint, determined by the AI of the system.
3.The long quest will be long and with several branches reaching toa major ciy and a backwater city on each planet. For example: The starting NPC tells you he believes that someone needs help nears Mos Taike, but it would be instanced by crossing a barrier near Mos Taike and a farmer runs up to you asking for help in rescueing a small girl from a party of Sand People,. Another example would be an NPC in a Cantina, with a similar need. But all of this connected by a chain of "underground railroad" type people. Each NPC might be revisited two or three times, before the quest is completed. Each branch would become increasingly difficult, as well as interesting with better storylines. I'd say maybe 9 or 10 branches would suffice in this.
4. At the completion of the quest, the newly away Force Sensitive would be asked if they'd like to be trained in the ways of the Force. There is an option to not, but not many will take that of course. At that time, the final NPC in the quest would give directions to a master hidden in the farthest corner, in a deep cave (get creative with this to increase the mystery, nothing like current caves, could be different creatures that were aggressive leading up to the Master), on a outer rim planet, muchthe wayYoda was hidden. Finally, when you reach the Master, you must do a mission that causing you to come in contact with the first temptations of the Dark Side.
The rest is up to ya'll.
No matter which way you go, this should be such a random/mysterious path to be enlightened of your Force Sensitivity that no guide or walkthrough can be assembled about this material. The evidence should be limited to pointers, no clear cut lines. In theory, it should be possible for every player to become a Jedi, but in practice it should be one of the most impossible things to ever happen in the game. Unless, you randomly came across it.
Just please don't do anything anywhere close to hologrinding....it makes me /puke.
Just please don't do anything anywhere close to hologrinding....it makes me /puke.
-=Drahcur=-
Isaiah 53:5
"But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed."
"But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed."
TheLordReignth
Thu Jul 29, 2004 12:28 pm
#823
how wierd....it posted that unfinished portion twice.
Well, I'm caught...I like to edit my posts....a lot.
Well, I'm caught...I like to edit my posts....a lot.
Elluz
Thu Jul 29, 2004 10:28 pm
#824
I think it should be known but dynamic. Such as, you always go to the same person to start on your path to force sensitivity, but depending on you profession/badges/whatever its slightly different for every peson, even if theres only 2 or 3 base quests and the details are different. Yes, I do realise this would probably be a pain to program, but worth it IMO.
I do not think it should be a grind, but a quest. People should know 3 of the 4 essencial questions before starting to become FS, Who, Where, What, or How, (we all know Why)let the last one be the mystery to be discovered...
CoolMagnet
Fri Jul 30, 2004 7:02 am
#825
Please make it known.
I've been playing this game since beta, and am one of the "quiet" visitors of the board. I remember how frustrating it was not knowing how to unlock, and all the lame theories people were coming up with, and hated it. Then when hologrinding started, I refused to take part in it - not because I didn't want a FS character, but because of lameness of grinding.
I want to PLAY the game, not grind. I think the path to FS should have a known beginning, and pending technical contstraints vary from person to person, with the rest of the path revealed as you complete it. Nothing should really be secret, just mysterious enough to make it a fun and unique experience for the player becoming FS.
Also, I heard a rumor - I don't remember where - that there was the possibility of becomming FS a little bit at a time.Something like FS skill boxes as you get closer and closer, and once you have all of them you can qualify for the padawan trials. This is a GREAT idea as it rewards players slowly for their accomplishments. This would make the experience much more enjoyable.
Now, a question: If the devs are still trying to figure out a system for players becoming FS, does this mean that there will be no new unlocked slots after publish 10 other than people who unlocked during 9? It was my understanding that hologrinding was going to stop at publish 10 - but if there isn't a system prepared to replace hologrinding that doesn't make all that much sense. Thanks for any reply.
-snoobic
Starsider
DUDEMIKE
Fri Jul 30, 2004 8:50 am
#826
I think it should be a little bit of both, a mystery and known. People will know about the quests, but it will be secret enough that Jedi will be as scarce, or uncommon as they are now, like nothing happened, sort of thing. That way people wouldn't have the need to panic because they could do the quest and yet it would be kept private at the same time.
Nate714
Fri Jul 30, 2004 9:42 pm
#827
Veteran players become force sensitive? (6 months) PROVIDED they meet certain requirements (no cdefs, must have one master badge minimum)
MasterKev
Fri Jul 30, 2004 10:42 pm
#828
Force Sensitivity is in every potential character, and that is just it. The way to "unlocking it" should be more in understading it for yourself. That is why i think it has to be both known and unknown. Well how could this be?How could it work? Every being in the Star Wars Universe goes about there business not really wondering about things beyond there reach expect for those special few who do. Those beings are either Jedi or untrained beings with a connectionto theForce. How they came to this realization was not through luck but with an understanding that everything is connected. And so the Question remains how could you translate this into SWG. It could be done in a number of ways. One such way that i believe would be the best way to go about doing such a thing would be to have a hidden connection between every player in the galaxy with an NPC. When that connection by chance has them cross there paths suddenly what would of happen with every other player doesn't happen and something out of the ordinary happens like that NPC gets attacked and screams for help or something of that nature. Somehow the NPC reacts to that Player and now it is up to the player to make his choice. Depending on his choice he can either end up unlocking his FS and end up with a understanding for the Force or he can just go about his business. Example: I am running from Bestine Shuttleport to the Spaceport and when ever i run by there is this NPC with the title of (Businessman) who just stands there when ever i run by. Well one day i run by and suddenly he starts to get hassled by a couple of Stormtroopers. I have two options, one mind my own business and run by like usual. Or i can stop and talk to the NPC and learn why he is getting harassed and try and solve the problem there by unlocking my FS and becoming one with the forces will. The end.
You don't have to think anything of this rambling but it is just a thought.
Miksu
Sat Jul 31, 2004 1:15 am
#829
HagakureL wrote:I have a feeling if you make it mysterious someone will eventually figure out what you have to do. And then once that is known its going to become a grind.I think once you have mastered an Elite profession your path to force sensitivity should begin. It would involve doing quests for your elite profession be it crafting/combat. I think those quests should unlock special abilities for the player, i.e. maybe add a few new specials for combat professions or some new schematics for crafting professions. These quests should be story driven and tailored to each profession. At the end of these quests I feel you should have a better understanding of your profession hence unlocking your Force Sensitivity.I just know that a known directed path will have more content and story to it over a mysterious one.
This is the best idea I've yet read.
It feels really annoying if after spending couple months playing your crafter-character you learn that to unlock the FS, you have to give up all your known skills and go to for example melee-character. Imho you should be able to unlock the FS without having to change your skills to do so.
WeeDDemoN
Sat Jul 31, 2004 9:02 am
#830
I'd say i am speaking for 99.9% of veteran players who has hologrinded to no avail like me been here since launch play when we can and i have mastered 29 professions still no jedi ...buddy buys the game 3 months after launch grinds 10 professions bam he a jedi and sells that **edit** on ebay !!!!!....yes yes here comes the point of my blabbing...
Don't really give a rats ass how or what u change it to as long as it still takes casual players a year or so to complete AND US OLD HOLOGRINDERS WHO NEVER UNLOCKED JUST WANT SOME CREDIT WE DONT WANT TO HAVE TO START ALL OVER !!
StrykerXP
Sat Jul 31, 2004 1:36 pm
#831
It should be known... I'm really tired of guessing how to become a jedi after a whole year and to just have to relearn a new system to guess at would be even worse. The continuity of the game is already ruined because there are soooo many jedi in the game now, so why not just make it a known path so everyone can have a jedi. Afterall, it is one of the huge selling features of this game and its personally why I bought the game.
Stryke <SAS>
Esher
Sat Jul 31, 2004 3:54 pm
#832
What you do should is randomly pick some people who aren't jedi now on each server about a handful. Then also make it where every new player that creates a character has 1/10,000 of actually being forse sensativebut make it where people are only allowed a certain amount of created characters perday or limit the allowed jedi per day to just 1. Here's the catch...it won't come up on your screen or any other way of knowing exactly who has this new force sensitivity. Over time people should get "you have a feeling to see (name) on current/different planet at (waypoint)". Each of these people should have 10 missions each. Sorta like jabba missions but there is no idea how many more peopel you have do the quest for are. Finally, when you completed the ammount you are told the person you've help was really a jedi master testing your skills and tells you to go to the jedi temple. There you gain your forse sensativity slot and are explained the ways of the force. If yoru a sith it'd work also the same way but maybe a cave/dungeon that randomly appears only for the person so his training can be one on one with his sith master.