Droid Engineer Archive

1. Increase selling/marketing issues: make droids USEFUL (latest maintenance change causes no need for maintenanced droids anymore, ty!): see binding droids to homes/structures/ships, changing functionality le repair/bll/surgical/power.


2. Fix the damn bugs: battery power sticks at 75%, droids with personality chips cannot be named, combining item and data storage


3. Improve/rethink modules: readable stats (for us mere humans), usefull modules, programmable personality chips (with macros), add replacable modules


4. Allow a DE to have more droids in datapad as well under control (like CH): after all, the DE's need to show their stuff and help others with droid stuff


5. Make droids vulnerable: decay, destructable, recycable, repairable... all done by a DE.

My wish list in order of priority too, if 1-3 are done, i'd be a happy camper

---

Qlint wrote:

better details in the droid deed (why can't I use the creature harvest module? Avian Effects? Medical Module? etc. and of course, what does combat rating of 489 mean?)

YES! ManI get loads of those mails... 'How do I use x Droid', 'Is Combat Rating 540 good?' ARGGGGGHH

---

1. Increase Droid Demand - Decay, better modules, a module swapping system, anything!
2. Simplify the crafting process -
3. Greater difference in the chassis - Give each type of droid a reason to be made
4. Better Droid interaction - Naming; Personalities; Talking
5. Better descriptions - Meaningful data on examines that lets non-DEs understand.

1. Change the way droids are called.




• Explanation - Remove the 15 second timer that is currently active, when trying to call a droid in the wild. Allow a PC the ability to call a droid while in combat, but put a 15 second call timer in place. Keep the way that droids are stored as it is currently, so that a PC does not have the ability to store a droid while in combat.


• Result -By allowing a PC the ability to instantly call a droid while in the wild, and allowing them to call a droid while in combat, droids will see more use. This would really benefit non-combat professions and combat professions alike.


2. Change the Datapad Command radial.




• Explanation - Change the Datapad Command radial so that Call is listed as the first option.


• Result -This would givea PC the ability to call a droid from the toolbar. This would allow for greater droid use.


3. Change the way that droids are named.




• Explanation - Add a radial option in the datapad, so that a droid can be named much like ships are named.


• Result -By allowing a PC the ability to name a droid from the datapad radial, droids would become more attractive to many users. Such a change may also bypass the issue with not being able to name Converse style droids.


4. Increase the storage capacity on Level 1 - 6 Item Storage Modules.




• Explanation - Increase the maximum storage capacity of a Level 6 Item Storage module to 15 or 20. Also increase the storage capacity or Level 1 - 5 as well.


• Result -With the increase in Item Storage in houses and Inventory, Item Storage module capacity should be increased as well. Since the storage capacity is tied to the module rating, it would appear that this change would be retro-active.


5. Upgrade the Interplanetary Survey Droid.




• Explanation - Remove the Survey tool requirement on ISDs. Change the ISDs so that they report all Inorgainic Resources, when used. Add the ability for a Novice Scout to scan for all Organic Resources on a planet. At xxx4 Novice Artisan and xx4x Novice Scout, the ISD not only reports the resources, but it also reports the stats for either the Organic or Inorganic resources.


• Result -This change would heavily effect the use of ISDs and would create a re-occuring market that is needed for DEs.

1. Droid Decay - Enough said.


2. Restructure how droids are built. - See this thread


3. Add Inherent Functionality to all droids. - Either through Module/Chassis interaction or Chassis specific function.


4. Redesign Droid Information - Change all of the information that is listed for a completed droid, so that it is easier for a non-DE to understand.


5. Add more Droid Chassis. - Add additional Droid Chassis. The additional Chassis could have the same power as our current droids, until the ability to use higher end droids was introduced.

I guess I'll chime in with my 2cr:

• Significant renewable income source - Droid Decay is the best thought out suggestion I've seen to accomplish this. However this is achieved building droids should be a significant part of being a droid engineer.


• Greater droid personalities - in the movies R2-D2 and C-3PO were stars because they had personality. The current personality chips do not live up to this standard.


• Bug fixes - droid naming for bipedal droids, maintenance modules, whatever else I've forgotten.


• More descriptive labelling - what exactly does a storage rating of 12 mean? (rhetorical question - please don't answer). Put the actual applicable values on the deed, i.e. "Storage Capacity: 10 items", "Damage: 100-105" etc.


• Reconsider merchant barker modules - currently these are a risk to merchants because many people have an irrational hate of them. Consider alternatives such as barkers which have a permanent speech-bubble on screen but don't talk in spatial, or project a hologram of a product, etc.

EnigmaBSc

*Sigh*

Drashk thats no fair. How can anyone argue with a list like that. (5 stars)

Whoops got one. At a general level there is nothing I can argue with. In specific I can suggest one change to your long term goals list.

1. Promote improved DE Market - Favored Solution: Droid Decay

I think the reason we want Droid decay is more important than Decay itself. Who knows, the Devs might have a different answer for that problem.

Message Edited by Rihtan on 02-01-2005 07:14 AM

---

Jenden wrote:
Ok, given that the last time we took any kind of general issues poll was back in october, I'd like to get a feel for where people's priorities are. I know, not all that much has changed, but some old timers have left, some new people have joined, and some people's views have changed, so its a worthwhile activity. So please, give me your top 5 issues (no big long essays, just a simple, easy to read/categorize statement). And before anyone asks, this is on my own initiative, there is no hidden message that devs are about to do a big revamp or anything, I just want to get an idea of where everyone stands now.

---

Jenden,

Sorry for the late reply. Been out of town and just got back. Anway, on to the subject at hand, my top 5 are:

1.) Decay. Because without decay I get very few repeat customers unless they change professions.

2.) Droid naming. Because it is just plain sad to see a droid named "aretoo deetoo"

3.) Functionality. More needed/ wanted modules. Slicing droids are something that should be considered.

4.) Revamp of maintenance modules. I sell so few, most people dont even know what they are and very few use them

5.) Combat droids. they must be included in the game by means of the cert system or the DH/DC profession. Combined with combat decay, this could be a very lucrative business line.

Well, thats pretty much all for me. Good luck, but I know you'll do a great job representing us

Message Edited by Micco30 on 02-01-2005 09:57 PM