Droid Engineer Archive
Thread: Level 6 Armor Module
Jjiaah wrote:
I hand-make armor as needed instead of factory-running them.
Then you're going about it the really slow way. Use factories. Really, really.
I also charge a significant difference between Level 6 armor and Level 4 armor.
You probably shouldn't. It's actually less expensive for most DEs to make Level6 armor in quantity (if you end up charging for the 'top' droid armor at all). I just make this a standard on all droids that might see combat and roll it into the price. That way, if anyone has any questions on armor I can just say, "Yea...I put the 'best' armor in all my droids all the time. So, no worries."
(2) Level 4 armor mods actually saves the customer 1k over (1) Level 6 mod.
But that need not be the case. The practical benefit to the user is the same and it actually means more work for you (in most cases).
You'll really REALLY want to use L6 armor, if for no other reason than to save yourself inventory/storage space.
To stock/use L4 armor (and give the 'best' armor stats), you have to end up having twice the amount of factory crates on hand, for example.
I always go that route if they want armor, unless they specifically ask for the maxed armor (two Level 6's... and I do give them a choice and explain the differences).
1 Level6 armor model does max out the armor. If you want to use Level 6 armor, you only need one....ever.
Being offered the choice makes them happy, and tends to encourage repeat business to my shop (even if it's not for droids).
I find it easier on both me and the client to just use a single L6 armor mod. all the time and be done with it.
/bow
Respectfully,
TheRealTK421 wrote:
Jjiaah wrote:
I hand-make armor as needed instead of factory-running them.
Then you're going about it the really slow way. Use factories. Really, really.
I prefer to hand-make them actually. It's a matter of personal preference. It takes me 2 extra minutes if I'm making two armor mods, and one minute if I'm making one mod. I enjoy hand-crafting a droid from scratch. I typically only make the components that require factory crates in the factories. I can throw together a top-notch R3 in about 10 minutes with no interruptions, and that is usually plenty fast to make the customer happy. It also helps give them a feeling of importance by hand-crafting. To me, they ARE important. If taking 2 extra minutes to craft makes them feel that way, it's 2 minutes well spent IMO.
Again, just a matter of personal preference.
I also charge a significant difference between Level 6 armor and Level 4 armor.
You probably shouldn't. It's actually less expensive for most DEs to make Level6 armor in quantity (if you end up charging for the 'top' droid armor at all). I just make this a standard on all droids that might see combat and roll it into the price. That way, if anyone has any questions on armor I can just say, "Yea...I put the 'best' armor in all my droids all the time. So, no worries."
I do because of the composite segment. I'm not the only DE out there that does that either. Aside from BH droids (seeker probe), accessories, and survey droids, I do all of my droid sales special order. The droid is always custom tailored to what the customer needs and can afford. When the droid is built, there is no question as to if it's exactly what the customer wanted as far as mods and quality.
(2) Level 4 armor mods actually saves the customer 1k over (1) Level 6 mod.
But that need not be the case. The practical benefit to the user is the same and it actually means more work for you (in most cases).
It may not need be the case, but it is as a matter of personal preference. I don't mind the little extra work. As far as charging the customer more/less, I only make Level 4 and Level 6 armor mods, period. Level 4 doesn't use the composite segement, and thus saves the customer money when buying a droid. The fewer sub-componentsI need to factory craft, and the fewer specialized resources used, the cheaper the droid will be for the customer.
You'll really REALLY want to use L6 armor, if for no other reason than to save yourself inventory/storage space.
No extra inventory space used. One set of crates for the composite segments. The rest in resources that are taking space anyways and being used for other things. I hand-craft as needed. Not to mention that combat droids are not my biggest seller, so having alot of armor mods on hand isn't really necessary.
To stock/use L4 armor (and give the 'best' armor stats), you have to end up having twice the amount of factory crates on hand, for example.
Moot point for the most part due to hand-crafting.
I always go that route if they want armor, unless they specifically ask for the maxed armor (two Level 6's... and I do give them a choice and explain the differences).
1 Level6 armor model does max out the armor. If you want to use Level 6 armor, you only need one....ever.
This seems to be a point of contention here, as several people have responded to it. Let me try to make myself more clear.
*I* am aware that (2) Level 4 = (1) Level 6. I know very well that(2) Level 6 mods = (1) Level 6 mod when it comes to protection. I know quite well that nothing can ever exceed the protection of (1) Level 6 armor mod. However, many of my customersdo not. When asked to have the "best" installed, I explain to them the differences, and that (2) Level 4 = (1) Level 6... (2)Level 6 = (1) Level 6.BUT with frightening regularity I run into people who WANT the (2) Level 6 armor mods for reasons ranging from everything from "If/when they ever fix it, I want my droid to already be at max." to "I just want my droid to have the best of everything, even if it has no effect. I just think it's cool." They want (2) Level 6 armor mods despite information to the contrary, and advice against it. I do my best to make the customer happy, and if they insist, I install it with no further fuss. I even go as far as to offer armor on droids that will never see combat, and in the same breath advise against it.It makes thecustomers happybeing giventhe choice, and some even ask to have armor installed anyways despite the lack of combat.
Being offered the choice makes them happy, and tends to encourage repeat business to my shop (even if it's not for droids).
I find it easier on both me and the client to just use a single L6 armor mod. all the time and be done with it.
Perhaps, for you it is easier. It's your style and the way you play. Nothing wrong with that. However I don't find it any easier on myself via your method. Not to say I haven't tried it. I have. I just prefer now to do it my way. Complete personal preference, and again nothing wrong with that. Perhaps it's because I don't yet have mass quantities of droids to make every time I log on. I have the luxury of time to craft what I need. It's usually 2-4 droids a day, which isn't bad concidering I've only been in business a little over a month. Most of my customers are word-of-mouth referrals, which I am very happy to have. Shows previous customers are happy. Happy enough to refer their friends to me. I welcome the business and work just as hard to make them happy as I did their friend that refered them.
Nothing is wrong with either method (or any other for that matter), it just boils down to what's right for everyone respective playstyle. If everyone played the same, and DE's were all carbon copies of each other, there would be no reason for a customer to shop around and choose a DE they prefer to do business with.
/bow
Respectfully,
Jjiaah wrote:
I.BUT with frightening regularity I run into people who WANT the (2) Level 6 armor mods for reasons ranging from everything from "If/when they ever fix it, I want my droid to already be at max."
Even if a fix or change were put in for armor, this would never occur. When a droid is assembled, all modules "disappear" into the final droid. The only value still stored in the data table that "is" the droid is a flag that says something like "armor= 20%" Case in point are all the droids made with structure maintence modules during the time when they were disabled due to bugs. Once the fix went in, these droids did not magically regain Structure Maintenance, the droid is not a collection of everyhting used to make it, there is no "memory"
Now, aside from that, I find it distressing that this is the case, especially considering some of the things we have heard about ships and Shipwright in JTL. If a day ever comes when a qualified DE can swap in and out modules, I will be ecstatic.
Now if I could just get those customers to understand that. I don't enjoy selling something to a customer under false pretenses, even if they're not my doing.
psikobunny wrote:
Jjiaah wrote:
I.BUT with frightening regularity I run into people who WANT the (2) Level 6 armor mods for reasons ranging from everything from "If/when they ever fix it, I want my droid to already be at max."
Even if a fix or change were put in for armor, this would never occur. When a droid is assembled, all modules "disappear" into the final droid. The only value still stored in the data table that "is" the droid is a flag that says something like "armor= 20%" Case in point are all the droids made with structure maintence modules during the time when they were disabled due to bugs. Once the fix went in, these droids did not magically regain Structure Maintenance, the droid is not a collection of everyhting used to make it, there is no "memory"
Now, aside from that, I find it distressing that this is the case, especially considering some of the things we have heard about ships and Shipwright in JTL. If a day ever comes when a qualified DE can swap in and out modules, I will be ecstatic.
Jjiaah wrote:
Now if I could just get those customers to understand that. I don't enjoy selling something to a customer under false pretenses, even if they're not my doing.
/props
Not that I didn't have respect for you before, but that statement kicked it up several notches. It's nice to know it rubs someone else the wrong way too. I couldn't tell from your previous posts whether you enjoyed "overselling" the droid or not, and its great clarification on your position. 5 stars