Droid Engineer Archive

Some thoughts I had on AT-STs from another thread:

As a Rebel I think the power of the AT-ST is quite appropriate. Some things I would like to see in the future with regard to AT-STs, however:

• AT-STs should be vehicles NOT pets. This has the added effect of limiting use to 1 per Imperial (as opposed to 2 or 3 simultaneously).
  
• AT-STs should require upkeep and maintenance like all other technological marvels in the game. Specifically, weeklyfees, energy and lubricating oil!
  
• AT-STs should be player made!

Naturally I would tap Imperial Droid Engineers for making the AT-STs. Instead of turning in faction points for the actual AT-ST pet, the Empire would issue a "writ of Authorization" in lieu of the pet which would be one of the required components in the Imperial AT-ST schematic!

The only Droid Engineers capable of crafting the AT-STs would be those that bought the schematic from an Imperial recruiter with faction points.

I think these ideas are very much in line with the current SWG framework and would somewhat reduce the overwhelming numbers of AT-STs while also stimulating the SWG economy.

They claim that this is a player run ecomnomy yet they sell armour, weapons, pets, droids, and houshold items from recruiters. This is BS!!! the storm tropper armour is better and lighter than the best player made armour!! this is BS!!!

Faction players should have to buy these things from faction player crafters!!! And one more thing Chewi stole a AT-ST why can't other rebles steal the AT-STs in game?

Metal is stronger than Meat, Meat Dies, Metal gets recycled.

Igiveu Elko
Master Artisan, Master Droid Engineer, Novice Pistoleer, Novice Medic, and Novice Creature Handler
Rori, Radiant, /wapoint 3665 3496 inside Sioux's shop
Another Good Friend Cancled his account today as a result of the recent nerfs and lack of respons to our request for explanations

DE's shouldn't make AT-ST's for the simple fact that it's not a droid.

The AT-ST's need to be fixed, and I don't think that's the option.

like you said, AT-STs are vehicles, not pets... it isn't a droid either.

but it's not AT-STs that are pets, it's the 2 imp soldier that are inside and operating the AT-ST are your pets, so basically with the 9000 faction points (or more) what you get is 2 imp soldiers (that own and operate an AT-ST).

and... if a R5 schematics costs thousands of faction point, how much do you think they are gonna make AT-ST schematics cost? (IF they think DE can make vehicles) I bet you have to be a rear admiral to have enough FP to buy one.

I whole-heartedly agree that AT-STs should be played as vehicles, not pets... I'm kind of assuming (perhaps wishfully) that the devs intend to make that so somewhere down the line, and are only presenting them as "pets" now so the Imps have some appropriately heavy fire-power to play with while we're waiting for the vehicle system to be fully implemented (and I don't just mean the single-seaters they're talking about starting us out with).

However, as has been pointed out already, they are certainlynot droids... so it makes no sense for droid engineers to be making them. Droids occupy a unique and special class of engineering... there is already too much bleed over from creature handling, so trying to throw vehicles into the droid arena is only going to throw another wrench into the works. And man, we already got plenty o' wrenches in here!

If AT-STs become available as player-driven vehicles (and if that ever happens my guessis it won't be for quite awhile) then they should be crafted by a whole new profession class: Vehicle Engineer. Probably an elite branch, actually... Advanced Combat Vehicle Engineer or something like that.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: AT-STs are VEHICLES. NOT PETS. Someday someone with power over things like this will wake up to that FACT.

I like the idea of faction schematics though..... DE would be the best choice to build it since there aren't any "mechanics" or "vehicle engineers"

Totally agree, have sent emails to the recommendation recycle bin about this as well...

My thoughts...feel free to flame, hate, like, dislike, kick me in the shins...whatever you want but here is my idea...

The chars in my story are "ImpNoobFighter" and "NeutralMasterDE"

Epilogue;
ImpNoobFighter racks up enough points for an AT-ST, he goes to his trusty recruiter and buys an AT-ST schematic..."What's this? I have to have this built? Better go find a Droid Engineer...off I go!"

The Story;
ImpNoobFighter: "Hello my fellow Master DE! I have a schematic for an AT-ST that I would like to employ you to build for me..."
NeutralMasterDE: "Why hello there my Imperial friend, let's see what that AT-ST will require."
ImpNoobFighter trades his schematic to the NeutralMasterDe while retaining a special "key" that corresponds to the schematic.
NeutralMasterDE: "Ok, I'll get started on this right away!"
NeutralMasterDE gets the schematic and a short "mission" where once the AT-ST is created and tamed by the ImpNoobFighter, the NeutralMasterDE returns to the Imperial Recruiter for payment. NeutralMasterDE uses his own resources and parts to craft the AT-ST.
NeutralMasterDE: "Yo! ImpNoobFighter! I have completed your AT-ST at last. Payment is not necessary since your recruiter is footing the bill but you can tip me whatever we agreed upon for my prompt service."
ImpNoobFighter tips the NeutralMasterDe and gets the deed for the AT-ST in trade. The ImpNoobFighter then tames the deed (requires matching key which he got when he 'bought' the 1-use schematic). The NeutralMasterDE then receives notification that he can collect payment for his services to the Empire. The DE then goes to the faction recruiter and gets paid for his services.

To prevent exploits and griefing, the deed can not be tamed by anyone without the matching key. If the DE takes the schem and refuses to craft the item, the key can be returned to the recruiter and the schem poofed from the DE's datapad. The crafted deed would be untradable to anyone except the one with the 'key', and the 'key' would be completely untradeable. The moral of the story is...the one who holds the 'key' has the AT-ST!

Crap...or an even easier way...(sorry had too much coffee today)

When the Imperialbuys the AT-ST, he needs to give the mission of building it to a DE of his choice. The recruiter asks him who he wants to build the AT-ST, he gives the name of the DE to the recruiter, and the DE is notified to pick up his mission.

The DE picks up his crafting mission and schematic (all parts are crafted by the DE), then returns the finished deed (untradeable) to the recuiter for his payment (good cred/resource rate). The Imperial then goes to the recruiter to pick up his AT-ST.

Whew...much cleaner and still gets the job done =)

While AT-STs may not be droids there is very little that separates them from droids. The only difference being lack of autonomy. Mechanically they are virtually identical to some droids (i.e. Binary Load Lifter). If AT-STs were to be player made, and I believe they should be, then the Droid Engineer profession is currently the only logical choice for being able to craft such a vehicle.

I think the system I proposed fits quite well within the current SWG framework. AT-STs as "pets" that require no upkeep of any kind doesn't mesh with the fact that we are required to payoutrageous amounts for other lesser mechanical items- harvesters, vendors, factories; houses...

The faction point cost is somewhat lower than what it should be for such an incredibly powerful vehicle anyway.