Doctor Archive

Its not too hard to make money in the game. Just don't rely on tips.

Well I'm a musician/doctor and a mon cal male on top of that! So I guess I'm screwed when it comes to being an entertainer.

Seriously though I've actually RETURNED my tips as an entertianer since it's a side gig for me (I say I'm moonlighting so I can be a one stop healing shop). So of course my tips as being a doctor are the highest.

There are good arguments on both sides of the coin. Yes they have low overhead, yes they have no consumables, but they also have no control (until this patch) over who gets their services, and they have no "secondary" market.

When I say "secondary" market I mean combat and our consumables of course. I've recently started selling my high power Stim B's (Over 325 a shot and rising!) for 1K a pop on the bazaars. I'm considering raising my prices they're selling so well! What can an entertainer do? Oh they can sell their instraments... hmm.. not too many of those selling for 1K a pop and multiple sales a day now are there? Nor can they go out and be a viable and desired member of a combat group.

That 'secondary market' is the only thing keeping my harvesters running, keeping my factory running, and keeping me in the meds I need to actually be of any use to any hunting group.

As far as skill costs go...Mastering Dancer, or Musician, still leaves an entertainer with enough Skill Points to master an Elite Ranged profession as well. Same as Mastering Doctor.

So...we've been told a lot in the past to simply 'go run missions'. And a lot of us have taken to that, or finding other ways to support ourselves.

Why should Entertainer be any different? They start with the same number of skill points. If they master an Elite Entertainer profession AND an Elite Combat Profession, they actually end up with MORE free skill points then a Master Doctor/Master Pistoleer. They don't have any costs associated with ACTUALLY healing people with the exception of purchasing musical instruments. They don't have any continuing costs to maintain harvesters, purchase resources, or run a factory. They don't have nearly any overhead EXCEPT what they place upon themselves...

And yet, they get the mission terminals first. They get the Devs trying to find a way to make them money. And we can't even geta single one-sentence response to the Doctors Top concerns?

We have to fend for ourselves...and a lot of us are doing just that, AND thriving. Why can't entertainers?

Many of the entertainers i have met who started out as entertainers don't WANT to fight. They chose to become entertainers specifically to avoid combat, so why should they be forced into it?

The same argument applies to Doctors.

If I were to Master Dancer and Musician I would still have enough skill points to get into the bottom tier of an Elite Ranged Profession.

If I were to Master Doctor and Combat Medic I would have enough skill points to get 'Specialist' in any of the ranged weapons.

And that doesn't include what some of us see as a necessity...novice artisan.

So you don't want to run missions or do combat of any kind? Neither did I. But I had to in order to earn creds.

Master Medic/**edit** Close To Master Doc (Med crafting takes forever! gah)

Anywho, I've gotten my best Doc tips from healing pets, namely rebel troopers and occasional rancors or gurrecks. When hanging in a healing center, I usually shout "Healing pets!!! Whip out your animal so I can give it some loving!!!" Gets people's attention regardless of shouting. Just the phrase itself raises eyebrows.

The best thing about healing pets, is thatpets very rarely incur wounds, so it's extremely easy to woundheal a human patient, but at the same time, rock those D stims on that trooper.

I remember getting a 3k tip for healing 3 troopers. With experimented D stims (if you can get them up to 550 or above), and with the high level med knowledge and damage heal augs, healing a rancor takes a matter of 4 minutes, which means you can easily woundheal 1 or 2 patients in that time.

Medics and Doctors need money, I would love a feature that would allow me to charge someone for healing. The facts however are not in the doctors favor.

• Entertainers Can't selectively choose who to 'heal'


• Doctors can choose toheal someone or not.


• Entertainers Have no secondary Income.


• Doctors can sell medicine on the bazaar.


• Entertainers Are restricted to cantina's for some abilites


• Doctors are not restricted except by being required to have a medical droid or an advanced camp.

The problem with doctors is not having a way to charge people, no, the problem is customers who do not respect the services we provide. Who is responsible? Doctors are.

Many people heal for free, or heal for experience. People who do not charge are not only being nice, they are damaging that perons perception of the doctor class and cheaping the value of the entire profession.

How should we combat the negative views of doctors being useless and NEEDING someone to heal to level. Most doctors stop going to the medical center to avoid these people, this doesnt fix the problem, onlyavoids the problem.

Stop looking to developers to fix something that we the players have broken. It is within our own power to fix this issue, which I believe is miss-information and counteracting the distructive people who also play the class.

Ok...here goes.

It is not the Doctors fault that people come into this game with an old-school mentality of 'healing' only costing the 'caster' some 'mana' and nothing more. We have no control over someone elses misconception. The only thing we can do is attempt to educate people that healing, in SWG, costs money. And how do we do that? By charging. And what happens when we charge? We get called greedy. We're told that since we get XP, we don't deserve monetary compensation. And then another Medic/Doc/CM who is trying to advance waltzes in and heals the person for free. And where does that leave us? Back at square one...broke.

Is this a problem that WE created? No. Had there been some form of in-game system for payment from the onset, then it would have given players a heads-up and let them know that this wasn't EQ. This wasn't DAoC. This was SWG, and in SWG it costs creds to get healed. But did we get that? Nope. What we got was a recommendation from Holo, albeitnear the end ofBeta, to simply 'charge' up-front. And we already know where that particular argument leads...

So some of us found other ways to earn creds. We picked up combat skills and ran missions. We picked up artisan skills and sold resources. Or, with what resources we didn't use to make meds for ourselves, we would make Stim-Bs for sale on the bazaar so that any Combat Player wanting to heal themselves in battle, or any CH wanting to heal their pets in battle, could easily do so. Recent CH changes have made a difference in that business, as have the recent changes to mission payouts. But, in all honesty, the Stim business(for me) was only enough to cover the cost of making meds. There was no extra, there was no left-over, there was no profit.

I bust my rear to get to Master Doctor, and Stay there and supplied with meds, and I've had to do a lot of stuff that I don't consider 'fun' just to do so...I never wanted to be a combat type, I never wanted to be an artisan, I never wanted to be a surveyor, or a miner, or a resource seller, or a merchant.

I just wanted to heal.

That was it. That was all. No more, no less. No grand scheme to become rich. No machiavellian scheme to make the other professions/players bow down. Nothing.

I just wanted to heal.

But in SWG, in this game, I found out that in order to do what I wanted to do I'd have to sit through boring missions and mindless harvester runs. All so I can heal. And, because of that, I've been able to have some serious fun with my groupmates out in the field. Healing them as they tackled the big game, or swarmed over the 'Rebel Scum', or crawled through the Drall Cave...

I have to go through a lot just to be a Doc, heal and have fun.

But if I were an entertainer? I'd have to...buy some nice clothes? Hang around a Cantina/Hotel? Set up a Macro so I can go AFK and still get XP? Moreso if I'm in a Group? Run a mission which was specifically designed for my profession? Have the Developers of the game try and come up with a way for me to make money?

For some reason...I just don't see the similarities or equalities between these professions the way some of you do...

vortexala wrote:

Ok...here goes.

It is not the Doctors fault that people come into this game with an old-school mentality of 'healing' only costing the 'caster' some 'mana' and nothing more. We have no control over someone elses misconception. The only thing we can do is attempt to educate people that healing, in SWG, costs money. And how do we do that? By charging. And what happens when we charge? We get called greedy. We're told that since we get XP, we don't deserve monetary compensation. And then another Medic/Doc/CM who is trying to advance waltzes in and heals the person for free. And where does that leave us? Back at square one...broke.

This is all true, I couldn’t have said it better myself. Unfortunately I have encountered the same situations, many of which ended the same way. The problem is the other people playing our profession. They are not interested in the same kind of fun, and have little desire to remain a novice. These people are interested in only one thing, the next level. How they get there is of no importance to them, who they step on or cause grief means little to nothing as well. Who are they? DOCTORS.

Is this a problem that WE created? No. Had there been some form of in-game system for payment from the onset, then it would have given players a heads-up and let them know that this wasn't EQ. This wasn't DAoC. This was SWG, and in SWG it costs creds to get healed. But did we get that? Nope. What we got was a recommendation from Holo, albeit near the end of Beta, to simply 'charge' up-front. And we already know where that particular argument leads...

If by 'WE' you mean the entire doctor community, yes 'we' created doctors who didnt want to be paid for healing, we created doctors who were only interested in our own progression and not the dignity of our profession.

Had that payment system been created from the onset, how many of the doctors who heal for free would have started charging, and sacrificed experience waiting for someone to pay when all they had to do was heal for free and get to that next skill box.

So some of us found other ways to earn creds. We picked up combat skills and ran missions. We picked up artisan skills and sold resources. Or, with what resources we didn't use to make meds for ourselves, we would make Stim-Bs for sale on the bazaar so that any Combat Player wanting to heal themselves in battle, or any CH wanting to heal their pets in battle, could easily do so. Recent CH changes have made a difference in that business, as have the recent changes to mission payouts. But, in all honesty, the Stim business(for me) was only enough to cover the cost of making meds. There was no extra, there was no left-over, there was no profit.

The problem was too hard, and instead of ban together to fix the problem it was easier to do other things instead, not the things that are enjoyable, but that require less effort.

I bust my rear to get to Master Doctor, and Stay there and supplied with meds, and I've had to do a lot of stuff that I don't consider 'fun' just to do so...I never wanted to be a combat type, I never wanted to be an artisan, I never wanted to be a surveyor, or a miner, or a resource seller, or a merchant.

Were you forced to do all these things you didn’t consider 'fun' or did you choose them because you wanted master doctor sooner? What investment did you make to make the progression of those that follow your footsteps easier and less troublesome than your own?
I just wanted to heal.

This is a very simplistic point of view, I shouldn’t be required to show any dedication to morals or be required to educate uninformed players how to play nice in the world I live in.
Too many times people expect something for nothing, respect without earning it, kindness without being kind, uninformed to be wise. Nice ideals but not likely to happen without lots of hard work.

That was it. That was all. No more, no less. No grand scheme to become rich. No machiavellian scheme to make the other professions/players bow down. Nothing.
I just wanted to heal.

But in SWG, in this game, I found out that in order to do what I wanted to do I'd have to sit through boring missions and mindless harvester runs. All so I can heal. And, because of that, I've been able to have some serious fun with my groupmates out in the field. Healing them as they tackled the big game, or swarmed over the 'Rebel Scum', or crawled through the Drall Cave...

I’m glad you were able to find some fun in your adventures, grouping with friends is probably the single best way to do it, be sure to make lots of friends!

I only have 9 boxes in the doctor tree, and never healed someone without charging. I have been called greedy more times than I care to remember.

When I say without charging, I mean that I told someone upfront they were expected to tip or to find another doctor, and each agreed. Those who ran out on their bill, or failed to give reasonable compensation were confronted.

My ignore list once exceed 50 names as people refused to pay or insulted my request for payment. That ignore list is down to around 10 people right now, and the only way to be removed from this list is to apologize for any rude behavior and a verbal agreement to tip healers.
I have to go through a lot just to be a Doc, heal and have fun.

There are lots of times when being a Doc is anything but fun, but knowing that my determination will lead to the enjoyment of likeminded people is all the encouragement I need.

But if I were an entertainer? I'd have to...buy some nice clothes? Hang around a Cantina/Hotel? Set up a Macro so I can go AFK and still get XP? Moreso if I'm in a Group? Run a mission which was specifically designed for my profession? Have the Developers of the game try and come up with a way for me to make money?

How these people have fun is beyond me, I don’t tip people who are AFK more than 2min. Cantina, Medical Center, its the attitude not the structures name that makes a difference. Their missions are a joke. Entertainers have no visible means of making money, they cant charge for healing if you recall.
For some reason...I just don't see the similarities or equalities between these professions the way some of you do...

Ultimately I would like to see mission terminals which gave out missions based on a need at the given location, "15 patients are checked into the medical center at theed You will be awarded 300 credits after 10 check out."
The purpose is not to make money, its to get doctors where doctors are needed. A similar style mission would be greatly appreciated for musicians as well.
--
I realize how frustrating it can be, I never intended to own a harvester either, my desires have shifted from wanted to heal, to wanting to help other healers avoid resource harvesting. I currently captor to 10 doctors and medics needs, charging only a modest 3cu for most resources. Being a doctor myself I understand what’s needed and the quality desired. I always tip anyone who heals me, and encourage everyone to tip their healers, 500 credits is not so much to ask and creates a very good habit.
How many people have you converted to tippers? Maybe that should be a goal all doctors have.

If you don’t want payment encourage your patient to tip their next doctor your share, to find a novice and encourage them with a healthy tip don't let people believe healing is not worth paying for!

Finaly, you said old-school and mentioned EQ. I haven't played Everquest in over 2 years, but when I quit clerics everywhere demanded payment for peridots or you didnt get buffs, if those buffs were required to play in the area safely someone paid for your buffs or the cleric chose to do it anyway.

There was no ingame system for charging for these services, it was the responsibility of the cleric if they used the good spells or not, just like doctors!

I'm sorry if I help "destroy" the profession by not charging or demanding or even requesting a tip. Even the "I get Exp" argument doesn't fall on me -- I'm maxed on it in just about every medical category. I probably do play a very self-destructive style - what, with having a house & factory that I will have to keep up now (it took me over a month & a half to be able to afford those, I'm quite pleased) continuing will probably lead to financial problems - but only if I were to sit around and never do a mission or two. Too difficult? Buy a pet. I bought a spineflap for 8K and it has 2200HAM. I can buff it if I need to. It makes a good tank. Banthas are ugly, I don't want one.

I do attempt to help gain respect for the profession in my own ways, though. I do not heal someone who asks me for a heal with something lazy like "heal me plz" if when I ask them to correct themselves, they do not. I don't care how much money they may offer me. If someone tips me 1500 credits and asks, I will tip them the money straight back if I feel like I've been treated like an object.

Play how you choose. I don't "look down" on those who require payment for their work. We all do , I just try to place some trust in people, but I fully understand that not everyone can - or will - do that. I will try to help educate players and newbies as best I can, but when you have the title "Master Doctor", people assume you're rich. People have mentioned they've been called 'greedy' for demanding payment... I - in turn - have been assumed to be reach because of my title. I have been a Master doctor for quite a few weeks now... it's only been within the last week that I have bought a house, and miraculously there was a man who sold me a factory for 25K - well worth the 4 day wait. I most likely would have not been able to afford even that if I didn't receive a very generous gift from one of my friends. I still don't even have power for the factory, or enough resources to make a crate of anything. I'm not complaining... I'm just trying to cement my point.

I don't have much more to say... I read everything but I feel the issues extend more deeply than I wish to delve... uhh... stuff like medics healing for free... If I see a medic or novice doctor in the Hospital, I will often not heal the person unless they need to leave really quickly and the situation is urgent. I will often tell them that "so and so" will be with them shortly. Sure, I'm probably missing out on a tip. I sat in a med center for 3+ hours and healed maybe 1 out of the 100+ people that came in.

I don't see anything wrong with things being the way they are...

But again... it could just be me, and I say that in game. I'll try to emphasize the point more in game that even though I don't charge, they shouldn't assume everyone doesn't. That's about all I can offer.

___________________________________________________________________
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Doctor Tenshi Kyrie Moya
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Moya's Extended Biography (Synopsis)
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn (( RP )) Level 90 Medic
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn   Master Politician // 4444 Reb.Pilot
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Infamous Bria Celebrity! Sorry, no autographs.!
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Support Crew. July 2003 - Feb 2007.
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

---

TenshiHanaKinu wrote:

I'll try to emphasize the point more in game that even though I don't charge, they shouldn't assume everyone doesn't. That's about all I can offer.

---

One of the things that I do as well. If I have money in the bank, and I'm in a hospital and I get a /tip, I'll pass it off to one of the other healers in the medcenter.

Yes, I have tried to make things better for healers as a whole. I've helped new medics/doctors by giving away fully experimented B-Meds, giving away F&C Tools, even giving away some resources.When I'm in the medcenter(which is usually when healing myself, or healing a groupmate) I will always tell people to /tip their medics.

Which is all we CAN do.

There is no way to get any type of organized 'union' going within the medical community. It just won't work. We have people who will always, ALWAYS, heal for free. We have people who are backed by a PA or group and have no need for credits that see no reason to charge. We have to combat not only the attitudes of the patients who expect something for nothing, but the doctors/medics/cms that help propagate that very idea. It's a losing battle.

And for the record, De Mon, when I said 'We' I was speaking for those of us that HAVE tried charging patients, not the medical community as a whole.