Droid Engineer Archive
Thread: Data modules: New life (and content) through.....Email Storage!!
In an attempt to be uncharacteristically upbeat and constructive, I offer the following olive branch of hope:
Droid Data Storage module: Revised implementation of features.
Currently, the Data module stores....manufacturing schematics. Is this useful? Yea...I guess, to some. However, it's relative value to 99% of players is, well, lackluster (to be kind).
I'd suggest that instead of focusing on totally new utility modules/droids (which DOES need to, and will, happen) that we focus to revise some of the current modules to allow for more/better functionality.
Along those lines, I think that using Droid Data modules as a way to backup/save/re-open and reuse emails.
Here's the way I see this going down:
- DE installs Droid Data module into droid
- Player open his/her Email window (after first calling/taming the droid and feeding it a battery).
- In the Email window, there is a new "Forward to Droid Storage" selection (in the area of controls).
- If (and ONLY if) there is a player-owned/controlled droid with an Droid Data module available, any selected emails can be saved to the Droid's Data module. This allows us to have something of a "Sent items" folder for emails and also makes the Data module much more useful and desired.
The sticking point:
What to do about waypoints.
I believe that non-mission waypoints DO need to be allowed for inclusion in this setup. Since it's entirely possible to save waypoint info numerically, I do not see how this could possibly be an inbalancing situation. If we could only save emails that had no waypoints (or the waypoints were removed for some reason),I think this idea still holds water and could be quite a useful and desired function.
The bonus:
Since this involves modification of an existing module, it will very likely take a LOT less time and work to bring this feature to bear. It's easier to alter existing code to add more/better/cool features than to try and rebuilda new one from scratch.
Thoughts? Comments? Interpretive poison application?
/bow
Respectfully,
Basically, it might well be tied into player-driven content and events.
Scenario: "Capture the droid" event - A specific player droid with a very specific piece of intelligence (email) is to be found and 'captured'.
/bow
Respectfully,
Jenden wrote:
I like it, and assuming it saves attachments with the emails that would allow you to save you're waypoints again.
Well...I'm thinking dual-use here (or multi-use).
Saving waypoints is always nice...we all know that EVERYONE wants to back (albeit without mission waypoints being in play).
It's my guess that by upping the ante and allowing actual email messages/content to be saved as well that Data modules could become FAR more used and popular.
In addition, as stated above, there are obvious player content/event options that could be spun from such a feature.
/bow
Respectfully,
Thanks....hopefully this idea (or any of the 100 other great ideas we DEs have had) will get some direct and information-filled feedback.
Kilarny wrote:
O SnideMaster! Truly a clever idea!
Need to add code for capture of droids - restraining bolts and Jawa "Electric Gun" things (lets SOE use that despairing whine R2D2 sound....*wail* *thunk*).
I'm thinking that's one that should be user-settable, don't want droid theft to be possible for just any droid. Capturable field already exists in code...
/applaud
Yesterday would be good. JustG, can you get that cookin' please? Thanks.
/bow
Respectfully rolling out funky droid goodness,
Nice idea, but I don't think I'd want my R2 unit reading my e-mails...
"What? You've been selling my brothers and sisters into slavery?"
Maybe he already has... would explain why he stands on my foot now when I call him (post patch).
Anyone else wanna add to this or shoot holes in it?
/bow
Respectfully,
The thing about WP's is that the devs just took a ham fisted method to stopping peeps from taking 10 missions via their droid.
A better fix would hav been to just descimate between mission and non-mission wp's, and let the non-mission wp's stay in the data mod.
Email storage would be cool in droids if they let us have different save folders.
Since Email can be saved clientside now with /mailsave, I really don't see how it could be very useful.
However, if they'd allow WAYPOINTS to be stored in them (not missions, but waypoints) a lot of people would be very happy. Many people are "waypoint junkies" and would really appriciate it.
I think that data storage gets a bad rap as it is - data schematics don't just take up one datapad slot anymore, they take up 2,4,I've seen up to 6 slots in your datapad. Next time you put one in, check it out - this is something I just noticed recently.
Data storage in droids allows you to archive schematics as well, or store schematics in data and the resources in droid storage for hard-to-get, rare items. Example, 1000COND copper came to my server, meaning we can make 99.99999 repair tools. Now, I could either run off a thousand of them at a time, or I could store the copper in one side of my droid, the schematic permanently in the other, and be able to make perfect repair tools whenever I please with very little inventory space taken up.
Ever since I started seriously using multiple factories (I use up to 5 at a time) I have found data storage invaluable, and others who are playing the advanced game do. It may not do much for Joe-Blow noobie, but if you are serious about crafting and factory work they make life so much easier.
Audio