Droid Engineer Archive

Hello all, this is from a post I made earlier from a outsider & what I would like to purchase in respect to droids. Sorry if some or all of these have been already suggested:

Ok for the record I am not a DE and really... I'm sorry...

My main thing is factions and for you that are in that can see I can relate to your problems. Ok anyways, I am not sure what's being suggested but would like to see:

- Power recharge at least 24 hours (I don't recall C-3PO needing power every 15 min. and R2 only once on Dagobah)

- Protocol Droid actually translate for you (Should be able to learn a maximum of say 3 languages!)

- Repair droids! (Not only for AT ST's but for all future vehicles & ships - Like the one we saw on Han's Falcon on Hoth)

- Offer items such as override/hacking, yes I know smugglers can do it but well... look at R2 that hacker!

- Medical droids that can actually heal wounds? (Yes we have medics & doctors but you don't see them much after they mastered do you? Can make them very expensive and slower? I want my robotic arm!)

- Probot droids (Turn them into actual Imperial Probe droids, able to be sent out on planets for factions seeking HQ's & such, how fun would that be???)

- Even make available cargo lifter droids, where you can assign routes such as resource gathering from harvesters (Cannot give cash or power but can collect/haul anything!)

Again I'm sure some of these ideas if not all have already been suggested but I think these changes alone would actually be a good start... in any which case I hope you guys get some real "fixes" and not some over night quick fix that ends up doing more harm then good.

Oh sorry second point to clarify, players should only be able to learn about 3 languages and would require a protocol droid for the rest. Make is easy even, if the protocol droid is called then you would understand the foreign language as if you had it learned. This can be an easy thing to do for the droid.. as for the languages players already learned...

Ok, sorry, I started a new thread on these ideas originally posted on the Discussion Forum before I realized this thread was here. Since these are repost ideas, I did not read thru all the previous posts here.

OK, I have an idea how to make DE's more useful and how to help turn this into less Pet wars and more droid wars without going overboard.

This info is reposted from Discussion Forum Boards here:

http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=Development&message.id=709413

I left out the Pet ideas, since this isn't the place for them. You can read the original thread if you want to see those, but that is what started the thoughts on the Droids.

From Rosslek:

If the DEVs want to implement more or better combat droids they need a new chassis. A probot is not a combat droid, it is reconaissance. And the nerf to 800HAM and reduced attack brings it more in line with a recon droid. 3100HAM was to high for it.

I for one think the DE profession need a lot of love, but Combat Droids?No way! What's the difference between this and everyonehaving attack Creature Pets? The same argument applies in this case, did you see everyone in the movies running around with a combat droid? No... In fact Eps IV-VI showcased more mounts then combat droids.

The best way to help DE profession IMHO, is to implement more modules. Surveying or harvester gathering (Hell that's what the purpose of a BLL is supposed to be) for example.And to merge the four skill trees into three inserting vehicles as 4th tree. Since their are only two vehicles going to be available, it doesn't make much sense to have a new mechanic profession.Do the above andrename DE, electronics engineer or something.

From me:

I agree with Rosslek. I don't want everyone running around with monster droids. There does need to be a cert system, but in what Prof? Essentially you end up with the same problem that we are facing now with CH dabblers. Watch Ep4-6 again...not many combat droids... why? Because they are outlawed by the Empire, that's why! There are special permits for security droids and the like, but that's a whole different story. I think his ideas about making over the DE prof into a basic engineer/mechanic are good too.

I like the Survey Droid idea. It could find X WP's of a certain resource (based on module level) and then return with them. You could also have separate modules for the different resource types (mineral, Chem, gas, etc). This could even use the Seeker droid Chasis, with a Survey Droid chip and modules.

Also the Harvester Droid idea. This droid you could 'program' with WP's for your harvesters (datapad module)and it would have to have a storage module, and a 'Bank' Module. You could drop power into the Droid, then tell it to "Run Harvesters." It would then proceed to all WP's in it's datapad, and provide the Harvester with a specific number of creds and power (likely the amount of creds/pwr divided by the number of WP's), and unload the resources, and return to you. That would be cool. Should be a BIG droid though.

The other Droids ideas can be made into chips or modules for droids I think though. I would like to see Ents/Musicians get a schematic for HoloRecording Chip to be able to record them playing or something, for DE's to install in droids in a Sound System Module or something. Ent's could get UXP for Ent Healing I think for it too. Would also give Ent's a way to make money.

From me, again:

Otherwise I think a cert sys for specific use droids is also a good idea. After some thought about it, I think this could be a balanced way to do it:

• Tank droids cert (high HAM, armour, low accuracy, dmg) for Master Marksmen (or give the Riflemen some love here). (Droiddeka with shield module {allowed only on this chassy}, bad weapons on chassy)
  
• Ranged attack droids that fire a lot of suppression fire for Brawler Masters (and subsequent specialty/eliteprofessions). (Better Probe Droids and/or Suppression Fire Module?)
  
• Multi-droid Cert(2-3?) for SL (with CL limits for total droid levels, but the actual droid certs would have to come from other professions that they are in).
  
• We've already discussed Harvester and Survey Droids for Artisans and subsequent profesions... (Binary Load Lifter Chassy, and Seeker Chassy, respectively)
  
• AndHawker Droids (up to vendor amount limit, called at once)for Merchants (place in city limits, will shout out info at set intervals) 3PO unit w/ Hawker module?.
  
• Obviously Seeker and Arakyd droids for Novice BH
  
• Cant think of anything for Rangers and Scouts since I think of them being more Creature based anyways.
  
• Sampler Droid Certs for Bio Engineers (so the Droid can take the Aggro first, and not the player - Current Probe Droids with Sample Module?)
  
• Duh- Med and Surgical Droids for Docs and Medics (med droid cert for N.Medic, surg. droid cert for Doc- is there any real difference here? There should be!)
  
• Entertainment Droids (see previous post about Ent recording chip & Sound System Module[Sound System Modulecan be put in any droid though], include modules for light shows and pyrotechnics), obviously for Ent's (muscial accompanyment for Dancers, light shows for Musicians) (Also 3PO's?).
  
• Bartender/Server Droids for Chefs (uses storage unit Realistically Vendors can more easily fulfill this role.

Did I forget anyone? THoughts?

I separated by colour for the different posts. I'd like to hear consensus thoughts fom the DE community. Additionally whioch of these things would require new Chassies, and which would just need new modules? Some seem obvious, but others?

Im sure this has been said in previous posts, but I really dont care to read through 6 pages worth of posts and try to decifer what some of them mean.

I'd like to see profession specific droids. Of course the DE could use any droid because thats their specialty, but they wouldnt have the skills to make certain components or have the ability to perform other profs special skills. And since most droids already have two varients, the same could be done here. The standard can be used by anyone of the chosen profession line, while the advanced is only useable by the Elite Professions associated with it.

Some examples:

• Medical droid -They imput their med packs and the droid uses them either automatically or on a programable command. Either way would be good.


• Slicer Droid - Add slicing tool and it just makes the job easier for the qualified slicer to do his work. Again, wheather its automatic or the slicer has to call him in and useit like a terminal, its all good.


• Combat Enhancment Droid - Some type of droid useable by the basic combat classes. It wouldnt be a huge issue to make its weapon certs match that of the user. That way a Novice Marksmen couldnt load it up with a rocket launcher reguardless of how good the crafter was. The crafting put into it would just effect its skills with the weapons. The same could apply to Brawler skills as well. Unarmed and the droid uses a basic physical attack equal to the users unarmed combat. As far as blunt and bladed go, the same applies as the weapon certs for marksmen.


• Scouting Droid - A little more widely useable as a whole. It could be used to collect and store samples. They could be used to set-up camp sites. They could potentially be used for alot of things. Advanced versions could be used for bio engi's or CH's to gather and store genetic samples or help tame pets. There could even be a varient that helps train or grow the pet.

These are just ideas that would make more economic impact and usefullness out of DE's. Right now you rarely see a droid on the market or even in vendors anywhere Ive gone on Tarquinas. But, if you had class specific, DE's would be of more use. Plus, being a DE cant make med packs, if e wanted a med droid we'd need to buy the packs. If we wanted to slice, we'd need to get the slicer tools. DE's wanting to have something for camps would need to get the good camps from scouts. The lists go on and on.

I can honestly think of a varient for every profession, but listing them would take forever and just add to the clutter in this thread. But, you get the idea and thats what matters.

Not much time. Its comin in bullet format

Animal tracking droid

Corpse carryer, or recoverer

Survey droid like seeker droid, limited use per

Combat Class-Mimicking droids, Rifleman droid, Commando droid, Melee weapon droid, brawler droid

Specialized Combat droids, = droids that stun, or knock down, or dizzy, or slow opponents while you fight

Personal shield droid, projects shield around target to protect them

Modules,

Be able to drop weapons into droids to change their damage stats and type

shield module

Graushwein

WOOHOO! My two credits now =)

We've hit on almost every type of droid I can think of so far in all the posts..biggies being:

1) Module to allow Entertainers to heal BF outside the cantina's/hotel's.

2) Module to allow "slicing" of terminals..not weaps or armor as that would take away from smugglers prof.

3) Make certain droids have reqs on modules like the Surgical droid the only one that can use Lvl 5 and 6 med modules in them, R series the only ones that can use crafting stations, Repair Droids the only ones that can use repair modules..oh and treadwell droids in that repair category as well =) Or give them the slice module .

4) Yes yes yes! More types of combat droids with a weapon module requiring a weapon upgrade kit obatined in crates from WS, while the Armor modules should require a armor upgrade kit obtained in crates from AS for module lvls 3+. Sorry only seems fair.

We have all sorts of droids that have no real usage: Treadwells, Repair droids, Binary, Protocoland DZ droids. Sure we can drop things into them but their only real use is Roleplaying or a status symbol really.
Give them a purpose.

Now some other ideas:

1) Make Lvl 5 and 6 Droid Armor really have a purpose! Right now lvl 4 is just as good and requires no Composite Armor segment so is cheaper and easier to make.

2) Since Batteries now are like candy to droid so they always need them...give us the ability to experiment with them and give the schematic the ability to take a power type into it as a resource. Like Radioactive or Solar or Wind or something. Then use that to add to a base Potential Energy of the battery. Allow us to experiment with that PE to get better, longer lasting batteries.

3) The ability to make a "charing station" for droids to repower them if stored for over a period of time like say, 4 hours of true game play...not time offline.

The scout idea is a good one for droids. Let us make something every class could use. Tailors make clothing everyone likes to wear or backpacks...armor smiths have armor any class can wear for protection, weaponsmiths..self explanatory...chefs make stat enhancing food anyone can use...so why should we be the only real crafting class with droids not everyone can use? =) Combat droids are a good example of something we had and *cough* lost...6k+ HAMs to 810 HAMS *sigh* Having a droid to pick up harvested samples is a good idea or better yet....

Have the Devs fix Storage modules so that the size of the droid will effect how much it can hold. I'm sorry but a MSE holding 7 large items doesn't seem to fit well in my head =). An R series should be able to hold a decent amount I would think and of course here is the best use for Binary Lift Loaders Storage! But that is just an idea and should be given some thought =)

Treeto
Master DE/Master Artisan/Baby WS/Baby Tailor/Grownup Arch/Merchant
Wanderhome, Home of Fish Inc!

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Sintrosi wrote:

I know there have been countless posts on ideas for new modules, droids, etc. I would like to use this thread to compile them into one place. Once that is done I will mirror the link on the correspondent board so I am sure the Droid DEV will see it. This will be an addendum to my top issue about Market feasibility.

NOTE: I understand we have other issues, etc. This is only for this particular one.

Thanks guys. No rush on this. Will compile a report a week from today.

---

Well,

I would like to see fix of all droids we can make now.

Lifter is useless, so what is function of that droid (except fast leveling to MDE) ?
Repair droid doesnot have repair modules preinstalled.
Same - surgical droid.
etc etc.

And add new droids schematics - Destroyers, droid tanks etc like in movies.

Most wierd is data module which cannot store wpts and is virtually useless, because who keep schematics when resources are changing all the time.

Keretheh
Master Droid Engineer
Master Artisan
Installations Designer

Simply put I think people want to see Droids used for the purposes we make robots in Real Life..

To make our lives easier.

Make modules that will allow EVERY profession able to use a droid.. I dont know about yall, but crafting station droids, med bots and seekers are about all I see anyone wanting..

Make modules to allowa bot to used as an instrument/weapon/harvester etc etc..

Its all been said here allread.. just say, "HEY! If I were dancing for a living what could I use a robot for?" If I were mining all day long how could a robot make my life easier."

Its not unknown that we need a serious fix.. Help us make something useful to EVERYONE.

I look at robots in SWG as an equal to the desktop computer in Real Life, as its function. To make life easier..

Then why doesnt the per capita bot owners match or surpass the PC owners in real life?

Because bots are not as useful as they should be.. There should be a time where everyone WANTS a bot.. Look int he movies.. they had a bot for EVERY occasion.. Is suprising people just didnt lay around all day getting fat on droid made bon bons and watching the bot-a-vision...

Make bots and mods that not only help all other professions, but make us also need to work with other professions to make them even better. That way the game is still peer reliant.

My 2 cents hear it, or jeer it.. To me I just want to do something cool. instead of grinding out pudgy useless hunks of metal..

I havent read thru all this, but would like to suggest something. My apologies if it has already been said.

Modules:

Combat ability Modules
Weapon Enhancement Modules
Weapon Hardpoint Module

Combat ability Modules: I would like to see modules that mimic the abilities gained at various levels in professions. I mean things like Warning shot, threaten shot, suppression fire, startle shot, etc... not things that do multiplier dmg, but rather things that do various attack types... maybe decrease their ability to do dmg compared to the real thing (remove any dmg multipliers on all of these ability effects). These modules would allow (probots, or other cbt droids if there ends up being any) the option of making a target do what you wan them to do and relegate the droid to a support role instead of a tanking one.

Weapon Enhancement Modules: Things like increased spd (Rate of Fire), Dmg, or dmg type for the droid.

The Weapon Hardpoint Module would allow a player (who purchased it) to drag and drop a weapon of his choosing on the droid. The level of the module would determine the type of weapon allowed. The droid would almost always attempt to use this wpn at it's optimal range. The droid would use this as if uncertified, causing lower dmg and lower accuracy mods. Lv1 = melee wpns, lv2 = pistols, 3 = carbs, 4 = rifles, 5 = specialized weps (LP, scatter pistol, acid rifle, etc), 6= hvy weapons (beam weps, RL, HAR, LLC, etc).

Interaction of these modules: Only one Combat ability Module could be placed in a droid, and one Weapon Enhancement Module could be placed as well (regardless of the # of modules allowed on the droid). Only one Weapon Hardpoint Module could be placed on any droid, and this supercedes the regular integral weapon mount, thus the droid would not have a weapon until the player placed it. Weapon Enhancement Modules would not work on a droid without an integral weapon. Combat ability Modules would only work for the corresponding level of the Weapon Hardpoint Module for whichthat the ability is allowed (ie - 2,3,4,5 for suppression fire, or 4 for startleshot, etc).

These would allow greater variations on combat droids specifically.

Make Binary Load Lifters actually mean something. Like allowing for 100 item storage, and 125 storage for advanced. As much resources and components these take to build, they should serve a purpose.

Weapon Modules: Allowed only on combat type droids. Have weapon modules 1-6, like we currently have with other modules.

Combat Droids: These need to be added ASAP. Battle Droids, Droidekas, etc... Probots should not be our only combat droid type. The DZ70 does not count as one.

Vendor Droids: No not the ones we have ingame now that are statues. Ones that actually move around and converse with customers.

Harvestor Module: A droid equiped with this module allows you to check on your harvestors without having to run out to them.

I just thought of one more idea. A new use for ADV MSE droids. Delivery droids. Load a storage module into them and a homing module. Set permissions on the storage module and then set a waypoint for the MSE to go to. Load the module with a product for a customer, giving them 'hopper' permission or something like that and then send them to the waypoint that the customer gave you. You would only send the product after you had recieved the cash via a tip or something like that.

Any profession that had a sales base would profit from this.

Just an idea

IMHO there is no real combat droid (in fact only probot is a combat drioid) which can fight against medium creatures of CH.
Now droids are almost useless in combat!

I think we need something like DROIDEKA which will require:
1. Shield of armorsmith.
2. 2 carabines from weaponsmith (4 for ADV model if it will exist)
3. Armor lvl 6.
4. May be energy source made by architect (small fision generetor which consumes ore to provide energy for weapons and shields)
And even may be require Novice DE to operate as soon as it it so powerful.
It must not have any modules at all. All will be built-in in chasis. It is inneffective to create different modules when the droid can be made only by Master DE and can have only 1 purpose.

P.S.: does the differense between usual model and ADV model really required? It would be much easier to have 1 model for the same type of droid (ADV model, except for MSE)

Let the Power Droids be Power Droids. They can have specialized modules to harvesting power. They were designed in the first place to be fusion generators on legs, after all. Able to power a transport indefinitely, and a city for a few weeks at least.Wind and solar power harvester modules as well as the Ion-Fusion generator would allow lower level Droid Engineers to have energy harvesting when they are able to make Power Droids.

Dabbling in Weapons Engineer, I noticed one can 'customize' a gun's components, altering what they would look like. Unfortunately, from what limited chances I had in making a gun, the way they look when it was made was the generic version. I hope that Droid Engineers can do more than just customize the colours of the droids. I'd like to be able to make a LOM protocol droid, instead of a 3PO unit. All that really requires is swapping the head and altering the chest a bit. Same goes with most other non-3PO Droids. This extra customization would encourage people to come to Droid Engineers to come up with personalized Droids.