Droid Engineer Archive

1. I need to know if you agree or disagree with Sintrosi's Plan

Sintrosi's "state of the profession" post is expressing my thoughts precisely. I want our bugs fixed so that what we can do actually does something! And it would be nice if the droids actually did something rather than their being only a handfull of what we can build that there is any point to other than for aesthetic purposes. To be honest thats all i sell at the moment droids for people who want something to show off. And yes the fact customization now works (i use that term VERY loosely) it does help us to do more for the small customer base we do have. Ive lost count of the times ive had to say to people "sorry i cantbuild that or do that because its bugged". It doesnt make our profession look good and fuels the migration of players from wanting droids to creatures. I have to keep reasuring myself that eventually we will be looked at and something will be done to actually make our job worth doing.

One thing that is gleamingly obvious to anyone who views this forum is that there is alot of people who partake in this profession and we are all trying to get answers to our concerns and questions and yes it does seem that we are getting ignored most of the time. I mean look at the last few updates several lines of updates for every other profession but our profession has 1 or 2 lines! Wow that really helps us. Yes it keeps us happy for a few days but then we realise that even that new thing is bugged and we cant use it, or can use it but only with a fraction of the things it is meant for. Since i first heard about the game i wanted to be a DE and when i see all my mates saying how great their profession is or that how all their bugs are getting fixed i just sit here quietly trying to think happy thoughts and think of what the game will be like when the bugs get fixed.

One thing i must ask for if only to keep us all sane is a basic idea of how the DE profession will be important or used in any future expansions or updates. I dont want any specifics, just an idea. For instance if we could just be given an idea of how much we are going to be needed. Will we just be needed to make 1 component for something in the future or will we be an integral part of a new feature. It doesnt matter if any plans have been made just so that we know roughly what is in store far down the line cos we have nothing to look forward to in the near future really.

Theres always questions which need to be answered and most of them have probably already been answered but i believe i speak for alot of players, we dont all have time to read every post in this forum its impossible. Therefore i dont tend to know about quite alot which is discussed in these forums i have lots of other things ihave to do. And guess what they are all gonna be asked again a few thousand more times over the next few weeks when the game gets its european release. At the very least some form of guide should be put together for DEs so that new players can get an overview of the current status of our profession. This will probably put people off being DEs but we all know its not like we are able to do much yet and will stop people complaining that they wasted their time getting to DE only to give it up cos its so badly nerfed.

2. I need to know if you agree or disagree with the rough DE plan in general

I think the announced DE plan is a good idea for several reasons. However rather than modules that can be put into existing droid types more combat shells should be made. For instance a probot without modules should be harmless and then you have to add a number of weapon modules which can be customized. dont think you should be able to equip a R2 unit with a blaster or the such like. Maybe you can split the droid tabs in the tool to Combat Droids and Service Droids. This would stop people from being what looks like a simple R4 unit but is in fact armed to the teeth. This would give us more variety in what we build rather then building probots all the time which are all the same. With a service droid they can all do the same thing but you get a choice as to different looks and styles, so it would be nice if the combat droids could have a similar variety in looks.

Also i dont know what anyone else thinks but i find it annoying that the Droid crafting tool is general and contains everything else on it where as the other professions have a tool with only their items on it. This isnt really fair and obviously the same is for weaponsmiths.

Also it would be great if there was some more droid orientated furniture like a workbench with droid parts on it or like in some npc rooms droid parts piled up in the corner. This would allow more character to be put in our houses and shops.

MSE remote bombs - nah dont like that one would be funny but is it really practical? Grenades with wheels arent they? Theres somthing not quite right with that.

Power Droids on facilities - What a long awaited and cracking idea! But are you gonna have to power the power droids like you need to at the moment? Cos that would kind of defeat the object.

Ok well its 2:30AM and thats all i can think of in my very tired state. Ive probably got more ideas and i belive i submitted a few of them via the feedback form to the devs.

Korhil SillyWallker

Wanderhome - Naboo - Theed

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Domacett wrote:

Alrighty...this is why I didn't bother to post a long reply to TH's questions...because I had faith that TheRealTK421 would do it eventually. All I had to do was wait for it andthen.....

/agree

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Hehehehee....thanks, I think.


This is the 2nd time I've heard something like that in the past few days.


I don't portend to speak for the community, TH. I hope you understand that. Those agree with me are just the other very insightful and well-educated lurkers. My opinions are my own.

If you want to gather information effectively, you need to categorize the discussions in a manner similar to the way that I laid it out. This will focus the information even better. From what I've seen, the DE community overall gives outstanding and detailed feedback on how systems should be designed and implemented.


I'm just one voice of many (but I appreciate and thank those that share my sentiments).


/bow

Respectfully,

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Thunderheart wrote:

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The first two replies got 'whacked' by the Lithium software.

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Actually, a lot of bulliten board programs eat "sends". A trick you can do is to throw your replies to the clipboard before you hit send. (select everything in the window and then press ctrl-c). Then if anything happens, just "paste" it.

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TH,

By the way...this is what I had to do (and I had an HTML font tag problem anyway. /sigh)

/bow

Respectfully,

Well when I read the first couple sentences of your response Thunder, I must admit I was a bit suprised. For you to voice concern abouta group ofdisperite people not adequately delivering a solidified and cohesive presentation of our needs, I could see that you were in reaction to what you've been reading.

Simple themes:

1. Bugs unaddressed for months

2. Nerfs are quick to hit production, while fixes are addressed with a forum message.

3. Make a damage/shield based droid thats comparable in function to a ch pet in combat.

Sony made Everquest. Everquest has a horrid horrid customer service reputation in the game and yet its number 1; and the game does rock. Through the beginning, I did notice when the programming team responded, they responded cohesively and with direct impact to the game.

You EASILY could carry this thread for the next 6 months and still get great new ideas to include in a plan. Simply, these conversations should of happened intensily enough before development to carry the profession through the first year of production release. And in fact, I think they have. The limiting factor right now is BUGS. If the profession worked a lot more would be happy.

My support is to fix the bugs and continue with your plans. Throw that "the plan" stuff out; its a lost leader. There were very few good ideas in that document in relation to the directionset forthwithhow the profession works now. It felt like you were triing to see how to "retro" fit some strong demands into a current architecture. IF ANY of the ideas are truely worth their implmentation, take the time to do them right. (And yes that means you should not be able to stick a combat module into a D270). Reset expectations. Let the community know that, regardless of the great ideas, that you do have your priorities straight. Fix the bugs and at least let us experience the profession BY DESIGN before you let some loud opinions start to change the direction.

That said, my personal list is short. There was a reason, for example, probots went to production with their strength. You did a quick fix by nerfing their strength, to resolve the issues that arose. But in doing so, you also nerfed a profession with no counter-balancing act. Maybe the act was too fast or to firm. Master Droid Engineers should be able to develop droids that help all professions, from combat classes to entertainers.

I appreciate your position TH. I hope this helps,

Centi

1. I need to know if you agree or disagree with Sintrosi's Plan

I agree with Sintrosi's State of the Profession post.

2. I need to know if you agree or disagree with the rough DE plan in general

I think it is a step in the right direction. So I hesitantly say "I agree." The one point I want to make in this section is I am STRONGLY in favor of certain high-end combat droidsbeing the province of DEs only. For those who do not wish to have access to these special droids, don't use them. As long as the droids aren't as powerful as the toughest creatures which CHs can use please include them as planned.

Also, please post the changes you would make to the DE plan.

One thing I want to see is limitations on what kind and level of module can go in different droid. Having MSEs with high-end modules is ridiculous. The highest level modules should only be placed in the high-end droids, period. This should also apply to the incoming combat modules as stated in the official plan.

Wether you like it or not newbs will get stuff. You cant stop it. I do agree noobs should have really weak droids, and as they get higher combat skills they can have better droids. friends often give free stuff to their RL friends that they get to join SWG. nothing wrong with a noob with a droid, as long as the droid is balanced per newbs skill level.I think there should be some lower cheaper droid certifications, maybe halfway up in each novice skill line ( pistol, rifle, carbine, unarmed, 1hand ECT). Then, for those who go above and beyond, into the advanced combat classes ( or elite ) there are better droids certs as you slowly climb that tree. DE shouldnt go around with a uber droid destroyer, it makes no sense. They are the builders not the users. Although the DE should atleast get a balanced droid used only for self defense. If all DE run around with aDroid Destroyer behind them then we just reinvented the CH profession. In my opinion, CH pets should be limited to JUST CH. NO more non ch pets. But, Droids go to combat classes. And, perhaps, there could be relativly inexpensive droids that go to crafters. Let me give you an example.

I will use some comparion. YOU are an Armorsmith ( in real life your ahiker in the forest ) YOU have a loyal but weaker Droid pet ( in real life you have abull mastiff ) When walking through the forest, a man comes out with a bat, and threatens you. The bull mastiff( droid )attacks the man. While the Bull mastiff ( droid) is attacking the man, you pull out yourhunting knife ( CDEF pistol ). Unfortently, the man smashes the Bull mastiff ( droid) head in. But, you get a chanch, and stab the man in gut. The man falls, you grab your Bull Mastiff ( droid) and rush it to the Vet Office ( Droid engineer shop ) for repair.

It should work something like that. Crafters get security pets, but not uber combat droids that huntfambaa for afternoon sport. Weird comparison i Know, but its what I thought of. Lol.

Don't forget...with the new mob AI improvements that are being made this month, all mobs will occassionally go after their pets masters...this fixes the noob with droid problem because noob will not get an immortal tanks.

Besides that, noobs can't afford high power combat droids...all droid are relatively expensive, and thinking that a noobie who starts with one melon will be able to afford a combat droid better and more expensive than even the current 25k probots is nonsensical.

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The first two replies got 'whacked' by the Lithium software.

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Actually, a lot of bulliten board programs eat "sends". A trick you can do is to throw your replies to the clipboard before you hit send. (select everything in the window and then press ctrl-c). Then if anything happens, just "paste" it.

Thunderheat! Please read Daker's post above yours, and here's mind from a different thread:

The improved mob AI would also help stop some of the lesser combat droids from never being used, my thought being that if the droids combat abilities is more in line with that of its owner, a mob wouldnt always go for the owner righ away since both pose about an equal threat. So the n00bies would buy the weaker combat droids, and as they get stronger upgrade, so more money for those of us who sell our droids.

There wouldnt be much points for a noobie to own the best combat droids, if with improved Mob AI the mob would always go after the one taht is much weaker.

Many DE's have forgotten about improved AI, this would eleminate the need for certs, let us sell more droids and have usefull combt droids, and then the devs would be happy because there wouldnt be another pre-nerf probot situation on their hands.

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Thunderheart wrote:

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The first two replies got 'whacked' by the Lithium software.

---

Actually, a lot of bulliten board programs eat "sends". A trick you can do is to throw your replies to the clipboard before you hit send. (select everything in the window and then press ctrl-c). Then if anything happens, just "paste" it.

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1. I need to know if you agree or disagree with Sintrosi's Plan

I agree with Sintrosi's Plan..

2. I need to know if you agree or disagree with the rough DE plan in general

Im half and half on this, I feel the plan is a good starting point but needs working on.

Mouse bombs,power droid, the medical and repair ideas are all good ideas..

The weapon modules I feel should only be put in the Combat Droid Frames. I also would like to see some new frame types ie Droideka,Trade Federation style battle droids and theres many more to choose from. At least some kind of comfermation on new droid frames would be nice .

I thought the power droid idea was good and some thing of that ilk should be done for BLL frame and perhaps the protocal droid frame.

It is a start, more needs to take place.

Moss / Nightvision

Master DE