Droid Engineer Archive

Yes, I guess we do see a lot of "DE vs CH" messages. But I think the true spirit behind the these messages is actually "Creature Pet vs Droid". I'm interested in seeing a couple nice combat droids but I don't want them to be DE-specific droids. There's been a few proposals made to certify combat droids among the various classes to make them more or less available to everyone. I really think that combat droids should be done like that. As far as this not being a time where combat droids are common I think a little "artistic license" should be taken for the sake of fun. I don't think I've heard one person say they don't want combat droids available and when confronted I hear a lot of "yeah, but..." lol!.

Besides a couple combat droids certed for all I think that droids should primarily be utility droids. And I think that's what I'm missing the most from the DE "plan". That seems to be completely missing. I want to be able to make droids for ALL classes. I want them to be helpful for the classes but not be essential(medical modules are done right). Where is the slicing module(isn't that what the random R-Unit is doing in the starport...the one shooting the blue beam at the console)? Where are all the modules that have layed out in several other posts? Though they're handy I'm tired of droids always being medical droids. I'd have to say that 70% of my sales are medical related, 25% is BH related and 5% is other. I'd like to be able to ask someone what professions they are and build a droid(or two) that's customized to make their gaming experience more efficient.

So primarily I'd like to see droids performing utility functions to make our in-game lives easier. Secondly I'd like to see a couple decent(not uber) combat droids.

Great thread!

You guys are hitting the nail on the head. We have 2 two different camps, those that want to see us as a combat class, and those that see us as a crafting class.

I gotta say, I much prefer us in the crafting section. We should build droids for others. Sure we can use a few ourselves, to enhance our chosen professions, but mainly we should sell droids to others. Utility and combat. Why shouldn't a smuggler have a slicing assistant/food-chem crafting/hidden compartment r4 unit? Makes perfect sense to me?

How about a droid that allows entertainers to heal outside a cantina?

Why can't a master BH get a IG type combat droid to assist him on his marks?

Why can't a Combat medic or a Doc get a droid to give exparimentation bonuses to meds, stims and poisons?

Whats wrong with a CL 10 bodyguard droid say.. in the DZ70 chassis?

Bah, we've stated this all before.

Here here, Xygnis.

I am an "engineer". I chose Droid Engineer to relate to this, and to "engineer droids". I didn't choose DE to be the only person to use some ubber droideka (which in my opinion actually sucked anyway).

I guess the biggest problem here is the difference between the two types of Star Wars fans;

New trilogy fans are droideka this, battle droid that. Super battle droid are king this, 8-legged thing that. Droids are the fighting force of the galaxy and own everyone and their mum.

Old trilogy fans only see droids as an R2-D2/C-3PO role ... support, assistance etc. Jobs that are either too dangerous or too difficult for normal folk. They help fly your ships, build your houses and tune your land speeder. The fighting force of the galaxy are soldiers. Stormtroopers, Rebel troopers, Hutt foot soldiers, Gamorean Guardsetc.

I have always envisioned the DE class as being a super-support class, far more than any other profession. Out droids *assist* others, they do not replace others. We help everyone from medics to weaponsmiths, to bounty hunters, but in no way ever replace the role of the other professions. I, for one, LIKE THAT. "To Assist"; it is a clear goal for our profession which, while broken in parts at times, has endured. This is why I never want a medical bot which will replace the skills of a medic. I don't want a droid which can hunt down bounties for me. I don't want a droid which can build houses for me. After looking at those areas, can I justify the deep desire to have one hunt for me? While it would be neat and fun, I really don't see how this fits in with what role I can see our profession having taken.
At best, maybe if I compared it with a weaponsmith who makes a weapon for others to use which can do damage. But, as we all know, weapons have (bad word coming)...certifications.
As also pointed out, in this timeframe, there are no freely available combat droids (I am not a SW book reader so I am unsure how this is justified other than Imperial decree). Heck, despite a fact that they probably just not have the tech for the movies, they never really had a combat droid presence. I am at kind of a loss justifying my 'need' for a combat droid when it goes against the goal of our profession *and* is not supported by the timeframe.
What I would rather see is a method of *supporting* combat classes (other than BH missions) in ways which do not directly replace a combative individual. Yeah, CH can do it, but for the generic-o person, a non-CH pet (as would be droids we can give out) is not all that great. There is a reason we are in the Artisian branch. Anything we can give to others should be equally as powerful as a non-CH pet. Equal? Yes. I would balance our non-combat skills with the CH's ability to use larger pets personally and draw what we can give to others as being equal items. 'Equal' does not neccessarily mean it tanks as well or has a dps as good as a creature, though. A few ideas:
1) Annoy bot: Maybe we can design a bot like the lil jedi bot which annoys the enemy, shooting at it drawing aggro (with a huge ability to avoid damage) so it keeps aggro off players. This would allow players to focus on the kill without directly supplementing a person.
2) Turret bot: Basically a mobile gun, it could do more damage at the risk of decreased movement when deployed. Maybe high armor but low HAM.
3) Bomb bot. Cmmon, novice DE's need something! I personally think this could be cool to implement.
4) Aim bot : maybe a bot which is like #1, but feeds combat info allowing you to hit better/do more damage.
5) Certifications : *gasp*!!!! *maybe* be allowed to build combat level bots for factioned individuals. I would first think Imperial since they make the laws, but this would be a long shot and start to derail the overall feeling I get for SWG....

The point is, that there are many, *many* ways that the DE could retain it's focus while providing valuable support for combat classes. We don't need to be weenies and make uber combat droids. We provide stuff to *enhance* you in your profession, not replace you.

Xygnis, you did more than take the words out of my mouth, I think you sliced them right out of my brain. There are definately two distinct trains of thought here, and neither side seems to see the other's perspective. Personally, I bought the game because I had read up on it and found out I could build droids. The combat didn't entice me as much as the thought of making a little metal companion to help me out with day-to-day tasks. When I started playing, I ended up taking on some combat roles in moderate amounts, so a combat droid would be nice, but I still see combat droids as a support droid for combat characters.

I also liked your comment about how the DEVs would have been flamed regardless of what was in the "plan." That's basic human nature. You can't please all the people all the time. By extension, however the DEVs change the game asa whole they will be met with both positive and negative feedback (the negative always being the loudest, of course).

Regarding"tanking droids," I posted a similiar comment in another thread a while back. Combat droids are always seen in groups - they were obviously meant to be built cheaply and quickly. I have also posted observations about the timeline that are right in line with yours. In short, you da man!

Vampiric_Hoshi, I also agree with your assessment of where the divide comes from. I was thinking to myself as I read through this thread that all the combat droids are from the "new" movies, and then *wham* here's your post saying the same thing. It would be interesting to take a poll to find out who wants combat droids and who doesn't, and whether they were fans or not before the prequels.

Great thread, guys!