Droid Engineer Archive
Thread: So much for new utility droids
duncje wrote:
TH's logic is extremely flawed, and his argument does not hold water. By his argument, the game is already "broken".
By his logic the game is already broken? Wow, I never thought I'd agree with TH on something
-norax
Eutock wrote:
All I want is an astromech fire extinguisher module to put out those commando-made fires.
How Thunderfart would respond to this:
"We have spent a great deal of time ballancing the DoT attacks with the rest of the combat system. A fire extinguisher module would give the non-commando combatents too much of an advantage in a combat situation, and the fire extinguisher module could be stacked with the new BE skill tapes and exploited.
Now, what do you really want?"
duncje wrote:
Chef products already were ability enhancers, but by TH's definition, this "breaks" the game. Any buff or stat enhancer, or BE clothing, or anything else is considered "free checkers" by TH, because it increases the players ability without having to "pay" for it ("pay" not in terms of credits, but skill points and time invested).
TH's logic is extremely flawed, and his argument does not hold water. By his argument, the game is already "broken".....
progman63 wrote:
I just never saw how droids could really be ability enhancers except for technical abilities like crafting and experimentation.
- Slicing modules that add to a smugglers slice ability.
- A spray module that adds to mask scent.
- An entertainer module that allows entertainers to loose less stamina while entertaining.
- The GrillMaster 5000 module that lets chefs get better results.
- The metal detector module that increases survey range.
- The (existing) L6 med mod that gives +10% healing ability.
- The sub-sonic pasification module that lets BE's sneak up and get DNA better w/o having the mob agro on them.
Just to name a few that come to mind....
i hate the whole "extra checker" talking - it only means one thing:
if the droids can do something, we will be nerfed without droids 
the Devs did not say it, but it is a logical conclusion out of what they said.
Whay are the so concerned about all that balancing? why should we look forward to new things when the can not add any bonus to us? The devs should think that the make a game and everyone should have fun. And i think no one is realy hurt when ppl get stronger in pvp or when Artisans can make better equipment.
progman63 wrote:
Naw, there are certain professions that, from the beginning, and by design, do provide ability enhancers.
What is the design for our profession, by the way? From the beginning, do you honestly think they had a grand design or plan for us? I don't have any clue what it could have been, besides "craft droids". I am sorry, but every single crafting profession provides items that enhance abilities. Every single one. ForThunderheart to say that the DE shouldn't means that he said something he didn't mean.
And as long as any ability enhancements are balanced against their opposing forces (combat, etc) there's room for gameplay and player strategy.
To balance means exactly that: to oppose a force with an equal, opposite force. What "balances" players with opposing forces happens to be ability enhancers. I cannot really participate in sustained combat without doctor buffs, spice, sliced weapons, and weapon powerups. I cannot participate in crafting without some form of crafting station, harvesters, or crafting tools. To argue that these items are not ability enhancements is just an argument in semantics.
Currently they're going through the whole combat system and trying to rebalance it so it's more playable and existing support systems, like buffs and probably power ups and skill tapes, are in line with all the changes.
They just don't want to add new systems that could probably be stacked and throw everything out of line while they're in the middle of all that.
And therein lies the problem. If they don't start thinking of droids in terms of "basic platform", then we are forever doomed. They bring everything else "in line", so why are they treating DE like an afterthought? Utility droids - even in terms of combat - must be designed and thought out while they are implementing everything else. That way they don't end up having to re-balance later on. At some point they have to face our problems and challenges. I am sick of them sweeping us under the rug for later.
There's only so much they can do at one time.
Perhaps after they get a better handle on the new combat changes that will change.
No. That is my point. They have already said that "DE touches every other game system". That means while they are looking at all the game systems, it is the perfect time to look at DE and figure outhow our role, and the role of our droids, can be fulfilled.
I just never saw how droids could really be ability enhancers except for technical abilities like crafting and experimentation.
And medical modules providing extra healing. And... oh wait... what else candroids do?
I mean, power ups are items that enhance other items, like a better scope or muzzle for your weapon.
And skill taped could be consideredjust a generic form of enhancing player performance, such as a bracer or harness that archers use for steady aim and accuracy.
Even though both are considered ability enhancers because the end result is basically the same.
But droids? What's a combat droid ability enhancer doing? "Aim higher....a little to the left......OK, fire!"
There have been several suggestions on how a droid could enhance combat abilities. A Droid Assisted Targeting or Rangefinder module could help a player improve his aim, and therefore his DPS. And what a probot already does, if an enemy is firing at the probot instead of you, is better than Center of Being. So in effect, they are passively enhancing yourability to perform combat. In fact, I would classify anything that assists a player something that enhances abilities.
And yes, before anyone decides to bring up the point, there ARE ability enhancers besidescombat. That's just an example.
There are plenty of action enhancing droid modules to put forth if they don't want ability enhancers.
I don't know what you mean. I think you are arguing a technicality. If you are talking about Bounty Hunter Droids helping a Bounty Hunter find his mark, then they would also have to invent a new task for every [elite] profession so we would have a useful product for everyone.
I like all the suggestions that we all have come up with and hope to see some of them in the game.
Some of them sure would make MY life easier.
Definitely.
Well as long as theyre removing things that give players undue advantages, they should remove armor. I mean come on 80% kenetic resists for a few stat reductions. This is obvious unbalancing and gives players too much for too little.
They need to remove doctor buffs. I mean come on, increase all you physical stats by up to 3k? Whats the deal NPCs can get this kind of buff from their doctos. This should be removed too.
They need to remove slicing. I mean come on, up to a 35% increase in damage or speed? NPCs have no way to get this kind of improvement, This should definately be removed.
They need to remove med packs too. I mean come on, healing yourself for up to 300 points for a few mind points. This is obviously too much as NPCs cannont do this and should be removed.
This is just a breif list of what is unbalancing in the game. All players should be required to walk around in regular clothes (don't even get me started on the tailor improvements to ABILITIES) and use thier fists as weapons.
This is the only way the game can be balanced in Thunderhearts eyes and I whole heartedly support the bass ackwards vision of balance and fun!
If they are so worried about stacking of modules for rediculous bonuses then why not remove the stacking ability????
Inever understood why sticking in 2 level 3 modules should replace the need for a level 6 module. The more slots in the droid should give the droid more abilities. Remove stacking and make level 6 modules the power they should have.
As for medical modules as an example to usefulness over exploit. No one wants to use a droid with a medical rating below 100 because its effectively reducing their effectiveness. why pay 5k for a droid that penalises you???
Ihave yet to use a single level 5/6 module for anything.
SWhitestar wrote:
If they are so worried about stacking of modules for rediculous bonuses then why not remove the stacking ability????
Inever understood why sticking in 2 level 3 modules should replace the need for a level 6 module. The more slots in the droid should give the droid more abilities. Remove stacking and make level 6 modules the power they should have.
As for medical modules as an example to usefulness over exploit. No one wants to use a droid with a medical rating below 100 because its effectively reducing their effectiveness. why pay 5k for a droid that penalises you???
Ihave yet to use a single level 5/6 module for anything.
I do not beleive that the stacking of modules should be removed.
Why? Because the cluster stacking exploit has been removed.
This means that now, the most modules a droid can have is 6 (in an advanced R3 droid). Which means that masters can make droids with more abilities per chasis - but a non-master can still make sellable droids by stacking med mods, armor mods, etc. The masters droids will be better - but the novice's droids won't be completely worthless.
In a profession like WS, you MUST grind to master to have even a chance of making sales. With DE, it certainly helps to be a master, but it is not as necessary to make good droids.
So, beleive me, you may well be using L6 modules in the near future... 