Droid Engineer Archive
Thread: Cybernetic Implants
Bassnet13
Fri Jan 28, 2005 4:11 am
#14
There are so many ways this could be expanded upon:
Skill Bonuses - These implants could provide a myriad of bonuses to a characters skills (ie cyb. legs give terrain negotiation/dodge/dance bonuses, hands improve crafting/musicianship, arms for melee damage, eyes could add accuracy/unlock special new color palettes for crafters/IDs, head systems ala Lobot could improve Squad Leaders/Creature handlers)
Continuing business models - I didn't really know how to phrase that, but basically, as it was used you might need batteries(Artisan), medical treatments(have it start applying wounds if it is overused)(Medic/Doc), replacement cosmetic coverings(ID), or even full replacements if you aren't careful with it(DE/Doc/ID).
Negative effect for not covering - Higher prices from NPC vendors, skill trainers (ie a Dancer trainer might not appreciate the fact that you are artificially enhancing your performance), inability to enter certain buildings due to prejudices(*cough*Cantina*cough*). The covering (purchased from and applied by an ID) would not be required for equiping one of these prosthetics, but it would be HIGHLY recommended.
It is currently late for me, and I have some other ideas swirling around my wee lil' brain, but they aren't coming out. So I guess that's it for now.
(P.S. For those that may have noticed me mysteriously pop out of nowhere and start posting on your board, I'm Ki. I'm not an ID, but it's one of my most often utilized professions {third only to Armorsmiths and Chefs} and y'all have a great community here. Just thought I'd introduce myself.)
Skill Bonuses - These implants could provide a myriad of bonuses to a characters skills (ie cyb. legs give terrain negotiation/dodge/dance bonuses, hands improve crafting/musicianship, arms for melee damage, eyes could add accuracy/unlock special new color palettes for crafters/IDs, head systems ala Lobot could improve Squad Leaders/Creature handlers)
Continuing business models - I didn't really know how to phrase that, but basically, as it was used you might need batteries(Artisan), medical treatments(have it start applying wounds if it is overused)(Medic/Doc), replacement cosmetic coverings(ID), or even full replacements if you aren't careful with it(DE/Doc/ID).
Negative effect for not covering - Higher prices from NPC vendors, skill trainers (ie a Dancer trainer might not appreciate the fact that you are artificially enhancing your performance), inability to enter certain buildings due to prejudices(*cough*Cantina*cough*). The covering (purchased from and applied by an ID) would not be required for equiping one of these prosthetics, but it would be HIGHLY recommended.
It is currently late for me, and I have some other ideas swirling around my wee lil' brain, but they aren't coming out. So I guess that's it for now.
(P.S. For those that may have noticed me mysteriously pop out of nowhere and start posting on your board, I'm Ki. I'm not an ID, but it's one of my most often utilized professions {third only to Armorsmiths and Chefs} and y'all have a great community here. Just thought I'd introduce myself.)
majorslappy
Fri Jan 28, 2005 5:45 am
#15
Good points NJ. I didn't envision this to be terminator, but rather the same way it's been portrayed in the SW films and games like KOTOR.
NJ62 wrote:
The key to cybernetics (as it would be to piercings, etc) is that we want to avoid overkill. If you could separately customize each limb... well that would result in some weird looking humans (and this is Star Wars, not Terminator). I think it would be best to have a slider with about 6 or 7 cybernetic options, which consisted of a reasonable amount of cybernetic enhancement, perhaps one arm, or one leg, or a hand and a leg, but not all 4 appendages! This might cut down on our custimization options, but would prevent someone from looking ridiculous. By the same token, facial piercings should be done that way - there should be various options such as "eyebrow", "eyebrow and lip," "nose and eyebrow," etc - but not let someone pierce each facial feature separately or we'll end up with a freakshow.
TechnoCan
Fri Jan 28, 2005 6:26 am
#16
I agree here, too... I'm sure a lot of players would like to look like a terminator, but that's indeed far from been 'starwarsy'. The easiest way for implementing this would be a slider similer to facial hair as NJ described. It would allow for one kind of cybernetic to wear and that's it.I think if we ever get something like this throught this is the most likely form of implementation, too.
SakeO
Fri Jan 28, 2005 7:36 am
#17
Apparently, the Japanese SE version of the game comes with some cool monacle/mic/earpieces in stead of the goggles. The pictures I have seen are pretty cool. Perhaps, they could become available one day.
SakeO
Warryyr
Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:16 am
#18
I think cybernetic prosthetics would be so sweet.
My thought was, with all the new Jedi coming around, that eventually they could put in the ability to slice off another Jedi's hand, forcing them to go from double bladed or 2-handed saber to a 1-handed saber (1-handed having not as good stats).
The lost limb/hand would then need to get replaced with a cybernetic part, which can look completely mechanical or it can look just like nothing happened (and yeah, damage would expose the cybernetic part).
There'd have to be some very specific conditions for allowing someone todo such a blow to someone, which I haven't figured out at all. It just shouldn't be an option to run right into battle and chop off someone's hand, haha. That'd suck. Losing limbs all the time - ack.
majorslappy
Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:43 am
#19
The initial implementation of this would be for looks not as a follow up to light saber combat.
By the way, losing a limb in the films was almost always the realm of dark jedi. Their exceptionally aggressive tactics left them open to severe damage and they usually ended up losing a body part (Anakin lost his forearm first, Luke lost his hand, Maul got cut in half, in KOTOR one of the dark jedi lost the lower half of his jaw at some point and had an artificial jaw).
Typically, light jedi were portrayed as not having suffered such injuries.
Talmor1
Fri Jan 28, 2005 11:18 am
#20
Instead of a doctor installing it, why not a Bio-Engineer? Droid Engineers would make the components. Then Bio-Engineers would make the finished product. Then finally, Doctors would install it.
That is pretty much how the real world works.
But I like the idea. It sounds fun. I would agree, though, that it should not be that it should be cosmetic only.
However, those that accept them would begin on the path of the dark-side. (Basically, Dark Jedi’s could accept it, but not Light Jedi’s).
Perhaps it would result in negative percentages to gain Rebel Faction Points. I think this would increase the Imperial Population a lot more. (Was just thinking of some way to provide more incentive to be an Imperial.)
However, the idea of mechanical devices being exposed as you take damage is probably not a good idea. As you take damage, the skin on your avatar would change. This would probably drastically increase lag cuz player characters clothing/look would be constantly changing.
Maybe, why don’t you say that the PC’s Skin decays over time. (kind of like how a droid’s paint job decays or your land-speeder decays and eventually you see sparks coming off of it). This would mean they would need to get their body repaired (again a Bio-Engineer would apply a new fresh coat of skin to a player) That way you don’t have a constant shift back and forth of a players external appearance.
However, it seems like a pretty good idea in concept, a bit of refinement, and the Devs could have a field day with this!
1StarNinja
Fri Jan 28, 2005 11:51 am
#21
The Graphics for Cybernetic limbs and other such items were put into the game a few patches ago actually. It just never took hold, I'll see if I can find a link to what was created.
1StarNinja
Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:22 pm
#22
psikobunny
Fri Jan 28, 2005 2:42 pm
#23
Think of BEs as Lab scientists, not surgeons. Doctors are still a better option, when I cut things with my BE/Swords alt the subject doesnt usually live through the procedure 
majorslappy
Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:48 pm
#24
How about the doctor prepares the toon's organic body, the DE designs the schem/builds the implant, the BE builds the wetware interface, and the ID offers the choice of style of implant if applicable?
Message Edited by majorslappy on 01-29-2005 06:42 AM
Jonthalas
Sat Jan 29, 2005 8:14 am
#25
Implants could always be a type of clothing-like item made by DEs which then could, programatically, use the same rules as tailor clothing.
-or-
New tailor clothing requiring DE components installed by a BE, Doc, etc....
Nice concepts.
Almightyrastus
Sat Jan 29, 2005 5:40 pm
#26
This is a topic I have been thinking about for a long time as well. The parts would have to be either:
1. A non removable implant that may improve something about a character a small amount
Or
2. A removeable implant that is for pure looks only and does nothing to help anyone in any way.
I would much prefer the second option to be the chosen one as there are way too many power gamers on the server I play on and would hate to see every other ROFLPWNSJOO type of person with a cybered arm or whatever. If there was no benifit to be gained from having such an addition then great. Sure there would be a mad explosion of them to start off with as happens with all new stuff but after a while the 'oooh shiney' factor would die off and only a few people would have them.