Droid Engineer Archive
Thread: Silence Unbroken
ArdenStarmariner
Thu Feb 26, 2004 6:54 am
#27
I'm another old timer. Made master artisan exactly one week after the launch. Got pestered like you wouldn't believe to train people for about 3 weeks after that. Made MDE some time after that. So been a DE just about from the beginning.
Read and posted ideas, I got excited about all the possibilities, nothing came of it. New people show up, repost the essentially the same ideas again, still interesting at that point, again nothing came of it. Now after about 4 or 5 iterations, I've gotten sick and disgusted with it. New people showing up again and rehashing things like they discovered how to make fire and its never been discovered before. The whole process has gotten old. Instead of the excitement I use to feel, I've gotten cranky, ill tempered, and ready to bite people's heads off.
The same problems with the profession still exist. Sales is directly tied to the player attrition and new player rates on the server. When new features roll out, they saturate the market in two weeks then everyone is bored with the new toys as soon as their novelity features get old. Sales then fall back to the player attrition rate. I'm tired of features that follow this pattern. I want something that actually has customers returning more than just once in their game lifetime. Utility droids dont do that, they last forever. And people expect them too. After all C3-PO and R2D2 are around through all of the movies actually outliving the main human characters in the story. BH droids barely have any turnover above the player attrition level either. People got tired of having to have their droids repainted and just don't bother anymore.
I find it hard to get excited about the new CL10 droids. If I was new, I would be excited but I'm old and jaded. I know from experience, that the Master Commandos, Master TKA's, Master Doctors, and Master etc. on Eclipse has no use for them. When I watch commandos and TKA's blow the new mega HAM Genosians flat in about 5 seconds in the new dungeon on Yalvin 4, I'm convinced that's there's no point in crafting a CL10 combat droid must less trying to use one. I go to the cantinas and listen to the dancers and musicians complain how nobody tips them more than about 100 credits and most often, not at all. I wonder how they will be able to afford the new utility droids. They can barely afford their clothes. Tailors are in just about the same condition. Never see Bio-Engineers anymore. I travel through the newbie hunting grounds on Eclipse, and there's two or three new players in the area. Not much market for CL10 droids there either. I just don't see anything that give me any hope there will be any demand for the existing or new CL10 combat droids.
I use to be part of droid engineer union on Eclipse. Seems I'm the only one that still logs on anymore. I use to know and was friends with some of the big names in Droid Engineering on Eclipse. They don't log on anymore either. It's gotten were I find it annoying traveling through a starport and have some player see my title and tell me "Wow, there actually are Master Droid Engineers!"
I want more entertainment value out of being a Droid Engineer than what I've found at the crafting station which has become old and lifeless. Something to keep things fresh and alive. But you guys have completely destroyed all hope of that. I'm not one to give up and quit. But I'll certainly get my 2nd account going and build a Master Commando and run around blowing everything flat in seconds. And you guys are so fanatical about preserving balance and shutting out any other possible use of Droid Engineering skils except the crafting station. Sorry, but I find that a sick joke given what I see going on in the game every day. Its like people crying about the possibility of being hit by a moped when right behind them there's big Mac trucks mowing everything down and crushing them flat. I just can't bring myself to take such arguments seriously. Everytime I log on, I see stuff going on that convinces me otherwise.
Attrition of the old timers and people just going silent is not at all surprising.
Read and posted ideas, I got excited about all the possibilities, nothing came of it. New people show up, repost the essentially the same ideas again, still interesting at that point, again nothing came of it. Now after about 4 or 5 iterations, I've gotten sick and disgusted with it. New people showing up again and rehashing things like they discovered how to make fire and its never been discovered before. The whole process has gotten old. Instead of the excitement I use to feel, I've gotten cranky, ill tempered, and ready to bite people's heads off.
The same problems with the profession still exist. Sales is directly tied to the player attrition and new player rates on the server. When new features roll out, they saturate the market in two weeks then everyone is bored with the new toys as soon as their novelity features get old. Sales then fall back to the player attrition rate. I'm tired of features that follow this pattern. I want something that actually has customers returning more than just once in their game lifetime. Utility droids dont do that, they last forever. And people expect them too. After all C3-PO and R2D2 are around through all of the movies actually outliving the main human characters in the story. BH droids barely have any turnover above the player attrition level either. People got tired of having to have their droids repainted and just don't bother anymore.
I find it hard to get excited about the new CL10 droids. If I was new, I would be excited but I'm old and jaded. I know from experience, that the Master Commandos, Master TKA's, Master Doctors, and Master etc. on Eclipse has no use for them. When I watch commandos and TKA's blow the new mega HAM Genosians flat in about 5 seconds in the new dungeon on Yalvin 4, I'm convinced that's there's no point in crafting a CL10 combat droid must less trying to use one. I go to the cantinas and listen to the dancers and musicians complain how nobody tips them more than about 100 credits and most often, not at all. I wonder how they will be able to afford the new utility droids. They can barely afford their clothes. Tailors are in just about the same condition. Never see Bio-Engineers anymore. I travel through the newbie hunting grounds on Eclipse, and there's two or three new players in the area. Not much market for CL10 droids there either. I just don't see anything that give me any hope there will be any demand for the existing or new CL10 combat droids.
I use to be part of droid engineer union on Eclipse. Seems I'm the only one that still logs on anymore. I use to know and was friends with some of the big names in Droid Engineering on Eclipse. They don't log on anymore either. It's gotten were I find it annoying traveling through a starport and have some player see my title and tell me "Wow, there actually are Master Droid Engineers!"
I want more entertainment value out of being a Droid Engineer than what I've found at the crafting station which has become old and lifeless. Something to keep things fresh and alive. But you guys have completely destroyed all hope of that. I'm not one to give up and quit. But I'll certainly get my 2nd account going and build a Master Commando and run around blowing everything flat in seconds. And you guys are so fanatical about preserving balance and shutting out any other possible use of Droid Engineering skils except the crafting station. Sorry, but I find that a sick joke given what I see going on in the game every day. Its like people crying about the possibility of being hit by a moped when right behind them there's big Mac trucks mowing everything down and crushing them flat. I just can't bring myself to take such arguments seriously. Everytime I log on, I see stuff going on that convinces me otherwise.
Attrition of the old timers and people just going silent is not at all surprising.
OrionsByte
Thu Feb 26, 2004 9:52 am
#28
ArdenStarmariner wrote:
I'm another old timer. Made master artisan exactly one week after the launch. Got pestered like you wouldn't believe to train people for about 3 weeks after that. Made MDE some time after that. So been a DE just about from the beginning.
Read and posted ideas, I got excited about all the possibilities, nothing came of it. New people show up, repost the essentially the same ideas again, still interesting at that point, again nothing came of it. Now after about 4 or 5 iterations, I've gotten sick and disgusted with it. New people showing up again and rehashing things like they discovered how to make fire and its never been discovered before. The whole process has gotten old. Instead of the excitement I use to feel, I've gotten cranky, ill tempered, and ready to bite people's heads off.
The same problems with the profession still exist. Sales is directly tied to the player attrition and new player rates on the server. When new features roll out, they saturate the market in two weeks then everyone is bored with the new toys as soon as their novelity features get old. Sales then fall back to the player attrition rate. I'm tired of features that follow this pattern. I want something that actually has customers returning more than just once in their game lifetime. Utility droids dont do that, they last forever. And people expect them too. After all C3-PO and R2D2 are around through all of the movies actually outliving the main human characters in the story. BH droids barely have any turnover above the player attrition level either. People got tired of having to have their droids repainted and just don't bother anymore.
I find it hard to get excited about the new CL10 droids. If I was new, I would be excited but I'm old and jaded. I know from experience, that the Master Commandos, Master TKA's, Master Doctors, and Master etc. on Eclipse has no use for them. When I watch commandos and TKA's blow the new mega HAM Genosians flat in about 5 seconds in the new dungeon on Yalvin 4, I'm convinced that's there's no point in crafting a CL10 combat droid must less trying to use one. I go to the cantinas and listen to the dancers and musicians complain how nobody tips them more than about 100 credits and most often, not at all. I wonder how they will be able to afford the new utility droids. They can barely afford their clothes. Tailors are in just about the same condition. Never see Bio-Engineers anymore. I travel through the newbie hunting grounds on Eclipse, and there's two or three new players in the area. Not much market for CL10 droids there either. I just don't see anything that give me any hope there will be any demand for the existing or new CL10 combat droids.
I use to be part of droid engineer union on Eclipse. Seems I'm the only one that still logs on anymore. I use to know and was friends with some of the big names in Droid Engineering on Eclipse. They don't log on anymore either. It's gotten were I find it annoying traveling through a starport and have some player see my title and tell me "Wow, there actually are Master Droid Engineers!"
I want more entertainment value out of being a Droid Engineer than what I've found at the crafting station which has become old and lifeless. Something to keep things fresh and alive. But you guys have completely destroyed all hope of that. I'm not one to give up and quit. But I'll certainly get my 2nd account going and build a Master Commando and run around blowing everything flat in seconds. And you guys are so fanatical about preserving balance and shutting out any other possible use of Droid Engineering skils except the crafting station. Sorry, but I find that a sick joke given what I see going on in the game every day. Its like people crying about the possibility of being hit by a moped when right behind them there's big Mac trucks mowing everything down and crushing them flat. I just can't bring myself to take such arguments seriously. Everytime I log on, I see stuff going on that convinces me otherwise.
Attrition of the old timers and people just going silent is not at all surprising.
So the only way you're going to have fun with Droid Engineering is if you can market your droids to Bounty Hunters and Commandos?
FWIW I agree with you that adding more CL10 droids to the game isn't adding much content, but as a counterpoint to your argument, I'd like to just see them left out altogether, rather than just made stronger. I think if people want to take droids in to combat it should be for strategic reasons, not for additional firepower.
Message Edited by OrionsByte on 02-26-2004 08:53 AM
IntoTheGarbage
Thu Feb 26, 2004 5:19 pm
#29
I am a mid-timer myself, got the game in October. That gave me an advantage I think. I came into DE knowing it did not work yet, and wouldn’t work for awhile. That has made it a lot easier for me to be patient. Given how little droids to now, and how much we expect them to do, the changes we are waiting for are sweeping and will take time.
Also, though my heart is with DE, my money is with M. Architect. My character is a M. DE/Arch/Art. I get tons of Architect orders, but almost no droid orders. (No, make that absolutely no droid orders) But if droid sales become brisk enough to cover all my maintenance fees, I will switch in a second.
Shian_Tavkin
Thu Feb 26, 2004 8:37 pm
#30
Been around since launch, and the only time it has been fun lately was moving to a brand new server.
The lack of positive communication from the Devs is quite staggering, and I just know that the results of Pub7 will be ...umm.. unimpressive.
Pub8, no chance it will motivate the general public IMHO.
One of my MDE's has given up and gone elsewhere, the other sits in her workshop wondering why she does. I simply cannot understand the ongoing gameplay pleasure of making the same thing over and over and accumulating vast bank balances that 'do' nothing for you. Once you have a couple of million whats the point in making more?
The old ones lurk around here..but are doing other things. Jenden and Kollos are crowing in every thread, beating everyone down and satisfied that all is well in crafting land, meantime spouting that novice rifleman and a speeder is all you need to have 'fun'. Oh yes and the gem that pops up from time to time, if you want to enjoy the game's content either go pure combat or get another account. Not everyone can afford that. Nor should they have to.
I truely think the game is broken, and I also think it is a reflection on the Devs that we hear nothing about future plans except after they are in the development phase. In concept is a bit of a joke really, and I believe always will be. Secrecy, and the whole correspondant 'behind the scenes' thing is quite quite wrong.
I still harbour a slight hope that Runesabre will bring things together, but I'm already looking in the reviews of other games coming up. The hassle factor here is greater than any other I have ever experienced in a MMblah game. To the point where it isn't fun.
I think this is the only game where the spirit was beaten out of me by neglect from the Devs, and the pure frustration at the huge potential versus what is being delivered is finally getting to me. It really is no surprise that these boards are 'covert' from the gamebuying public.
I don't really know what else to say..I guess I only play because of the friends I have in game. But I can barely stand the pity anymore.
Closed minds will be the eventual ruin of this profession, and there are far too many leaving for things to be healthy. Nevermind eh? more business for the few, the crafting few, the elite.
It's really not worth trying to explain. Presumptions that are wrong will be made, and I just dont have the energy to play 'debating class' games anymore.
We shall see.
Kollos
Thu Feb 26, 2004 9:06 pm
#31
Shian_Tavkin wrote:
The old ones lurk around here..but are doing other things. Jenden and Kollos are crowing in every thread, beating everyone down and satisfied that all is well in crafting land, meantime spouting that novice rifleman and a speeder is all you need to have 'fun'.
Why do you say this? Neither of us is crowing. Neither of us is satisfied. And the only beating going on is from the wacko hyper-hybrid camp.
What's with the radical mood swings? Yesterday seemed so hopeful, now today is all doom & gloom again.
DionDroids
Thu Feb 26, 2004 9:47 pm
#32
The problem is not that the DEV's arent listening. The problem is not that the DEV's dont care. The problem is not the DEV's ignorance.
The problem IS that when the DEV's producer's/bosses sat down and decided how many people they needed to be DEV's they failed to consider that for the first six months after launchall of the DEV's time would be commited to mounts, vehicles, player cities and game-breaking bugs, and having completed that they still have to split their time between live-game development and the Space Expansion. I dont think they should charge those of us who have been here since the beginning for the space expansion as Im sure my subscription fee is paying for that as well as the actual in-game development.
As for those who say, "Well if DE isnt treating you well go and do another profession until DE is made satisfactory" I did this three weeks after launch. Igot to DE 0-0-0-3 and realized the whole droid system was fouled from the get. I mastered pistoleer, scout, medic, and dabbled in many other professions (mind you all prior to the Holo-grind phenomenom). I did the broken and bugged themeparks. I even walked the deserts of Tattoine looking for a BH and his smuggler friends for two weeks straight. Ive tried all I care to try of everything that is out there to try. I want to do what I intended from the beginning, Be avaluable member of my community as a DE.
This post is cynical however I have to admit both sides of my story. With so many frustrated DE's leaving Ive moved in and setup a modestly profitable shop near Coronet as well as one near Theed. The price wars have left my competitors at wholesale prices but people still buy my more expensive Droids. After all Im still a master DE 'Helper' which is very rare on my server, understandably.
DionDroids
Thu Feb 26, 2004 10:18 pm
#33
Oh yeah, one more thing. As to why we hear so little from the DEV's is due to their learning a truth that all politicans learn very early in their career. If you say nothing, then later no one can call you a liar.
AudioOrgana
Fri Feb 27, 2004 12:55 am
#34
DarthDaver2 wrote:
TheRealTK421 wrote:
I'm sure that by the time the Droid Evasion actually starts to roll out, there will be VERY few veterans left.
For some reason this statement makes me chuckle. I think it's pretty much been underway since beta.
-DD
It makes me chuckle for another reason. 
Irony.
Audio
Shian_Tavkin
Fri Feb 27, 2004 2:59 am
#35
Kollos wrote:
Shian_Tavkin wrote:
The old ones lurk around here..but are doing other things. Jenden and Kollos are crowing in every thread, beating everyone down and satisfied that all is well in crafting land, meantime spouting that novice rifleman and a speeder is all you need to have 'fun'.
Why do you say this? Neither of us is crowing. Neither of us is satisfied. And the only beating going on is from the wacko hyper-hybrid camp.
What's with the radical mood swings? Yesterday seemed so hopeful, now today is all doom & gloom again.
Radical mood swings it isn't. Honesty it is. Trying to be upbeat didn't last for long I admit. I forced myself to try, but I know it took more effort than it's worth, and is self delusional. I know broke when I see it.
If you dont recognise crowing, thats your own affair. All I know is every time anyone comes up with anything that might give me hope, I sit there waiting for one or other of you, or a number of others who know who they are,to post, knowing full well you will come up with a myriad of reasons why 'idea A' cant be allowd to change anything for the better. As soon as a flickering flame of hope is born, the fire blanket comes out from you guys..and I'm just tired of it all.
There is the answer you requested. As I said before, I'm done with the high school debating class. I have said what I wanted to say, and I'm not really interested anymore what you or any other player thinks about it. Its more avain hope that someone who matters might read it, but thats a slim hope at best.
Dont bother picking this to pieces. I really have had enough.
strykler
Sun Feb 29, 2004 12:43 pm
#37
Last day of my subscription is today... I'm happy for a change.. go figure?
Ablon
Sun Feb 29, 2004 5:49 pm
#38
I have been able to get my point across so I just read as oppossed to posting. Most of us are just repeating the same ideas. Besides I usually get paid when I am expressing my input. I hate working for free............
HamsterPimp
Sun Feb 29, 2004 6:06 pm
#39
this is the slowest i have ever seen this board yet i can understand why the game is dying, players are leaving, and the devs are still lying about proposed fixes