Droid Engineer Archive
Thread: 10ish DE questions: Since we have all the Dev focus now, what's the ETA on the answers?
AudioOrgana wrote:
Just keep us informed (even if it's, "Sorry guys, no new info this week") and let us know that you acknowledge the important discussions that are going on (and are forwarding the appropriate info to the Devs)and you will have my support. Asking for confirmation that this is going on may seem petty, but it's vitally important for morale and our personal decision making of staying with DE (and even SWG) or not.
Under 'normal' circumstances, I would be doing my best to do this, but the last two weeks have really been....ummm....interesting.Between the issues that popped towards the end of last month, what has been going on in my life in the last weeks two weeks and starting a new job this week, I have been on the edge of my ability to muliti-task functionally.Tomorrow will be my 7th day in a row of working a 10 hour shift at my new job, so that I cantakecare of something that suddenly reared up its ugly little head.
I am not the first Correspondent to disappear from time to time without a peep, but since I am such a prominentCommunity Member when I don't post for a day or two people seem to become concerned.I have been doing my best to keep on top ofcurrent issues, but the one thing that hasreally been put a rock in my shoe is the major vibes of negativity emanating from the DE forum. A number of the front page threads have turned into something other than they were originally intended for, this thread included.Someone will more than likely quote this one - There are a ton of complaints that there is 0 communitcation on the DE forum, from the DEVs, but this is actually furtherest for the truth. Droid Engineers actually have the most responded to forum in all of the Professions. Do a search on each Profession with each of the more active posting DEVs and you will find that out of all of the Profession fourms, DEs have the most posts. I'm not trying to say that the communitcation has addressed certain issues correctly, since many of our more important issues still are with out solid information - or any information for that matter. I'm just trying to get across to people that the DEVs are trying to communicate; however with all of the negativity and white noise that has been streaming from this forum, its not exactly a place that anyone in the position to be 'attacked' would want to visit.
I'm the type of person that tries to take any situation and find a bit of the positive in it. It takes a considerable amount of negativity to drop me down a notch. Oddly enough, right before the end of last month I was about 2 inches for throwing my hands up in the air and saying F-it to the Correspondents position. I've taken some flak from both ends of the Correspondents loop and starting to give into the negative attitude for the Community that the DEVs don't listen. The change in focus from the DC/combat droid push to the combat/utility push has renewed by faith in being the Correspondent. It is proof that the DEVs can take the time to stop and listen to the community, when the community takes to time to stop and speak up loudly in a semi-unified voice.
When I took up the pro-DC stance it wasn't because I was convinced that it was a perfect idea. I chose my stance based upon what I saw the alternatives leading to. It was never my intent to talk anyone intoanything. I was trying to point out a few key elements to the general community. I am very happy that the Droid Commander is being dropped, at least for now, in leiu of a focus on Utility.I became a Droid Engineer because I wanted to build all types of Droids and be a viable part of the server that I was on. TwiceI have become recognized as prominent part of the community becasue of the Droids that I offer. The Droids may not be the end all to be all, but they have their purpose in this game and, more often then not, function more than adaqutately.
Something that I have notice about many memebers in the DE community is the insane amount of dedication that many have for our profession. Unfortunately, this dedication might have also lead to the angst that many have about anything that they DEVs say. Instead of trying out new professions, or exploring different parts of the game, some people may be locked so intently on the DE profession that they have forgotten about the rest of the game. TheWoody and Ackis are two prominent Community memebers that have decided to explore other aspects of the game and from the sounds of it, they have a renewed interest in SWG. I hate to suggest it, since it could ultimately lead to some of the more prominent memebers leaving the profession, but maybe a few more people should drop DE for a while so that you can really experience the game for a different perspective. Once you have made it to Master DE the first time around, it is a lot easier to do it again. I did and I have found playing another profession besides DE to be rather refreshing, but DE will always be my first love.
Sorry for the ramble. 10 hours of work, 5 hours of sleep, and 4 Jolt cola's do odd things to the mind. 
I've gota fewmore post to make and then I'm off to get some sleep before I have to get up for work dark and earily tomorrowing morning.
Drashk wrote:
AudioOrgana wrote:
Just keep us informed (even if it's, "Sorry guys, no new info this week") and let us know that you acknowledge the important discussions that are going on (and are forwarding the appropriate info to the Devs)and you will have my support. Asking for confirmation that this is going on may seem petty, but it's vitally important for morale and our personal decision making of staying with DE (and even SWG) or not.
Something that I have notice about many memebers in the DE community is the insane amount of dedication that many have for our profession. Unfortunately, this dedication might have also lead to the angst that many have about anything that they DEVs say. Instead of trying out new professions, or exploring different parts of the game, some people may be locked so intently on the DE profession that they have forgotten about the rest of the game. TheWoody and Ackis are two prominent Community memebers that have decided to explore other aspects of the game and from the sounds of it, they have a renewed interest in SWG. I hate to suggest it, since it could ultimately lead to some of the more prominent memebers leaving the profession, but maybe a few more people should drop DE for a while so that you can really experience the game for a different perspective. Once you have made it to Master DE the first time around, it is a lot easier to do it again. I did and I have found playing another profession besides DE to be rather refreshing, but DE will always be my first love.
That is an accurate observation - and advice that I have followed. I managed to do the Holo-grind to my silent Holo without dropping DE, even though I stopped making droids for weeks at a time. I was an elite medical profession, several elite entertainer professions, and actually played them after the grind. I have enough combat skills to participate in most of the game content at this point (Master Brawler, my last Holo, which I have yet to drop, helps) - I've done every quest I could find, and right now I'm finishing up the themeparks for the second time. I've done Nym's and the Maruader Parks as well - I've built beautiful and intricately designed homes, taken them down, and started again. I have over 75 badges, I am very active in player city politics and even PvP when the mood strikes me.
But it always comes back to DE.
It's all been waiting for the mythical bug fixes and droids that are useful to other people besides crafters and medics, and we've been promised so many times that it's coming. It's all been filling time.
Each and every time we are told we are the priority, or that fixes are coming - the hope that maybe this time they will follow through - but each time it gets more disapointing.
Short of getting a Jedi slot, I've pretty much exhausted the rest of the game content.
I don't think I'm alone in feeling like this - and it's a combination of believing in Santa Clause and my stubborn nature in wanting promises made to be kept that keeps me playing SWG. I am just one player, and the loss of my account wouldn't effect SWG one bit - but the truth is I *WANT* SWG to be a better game, I want to keep loving it, and I want everyone to get their wish of DE being a fun, exciting, useful profession.
Like many, I'm here for Star Wars, not just an MMO. I usually don't go for personal information on these boards, but I feel like I should point out that my most prized worldly posession is copy of "Postcards" inscribed to me by Carrie Fisher. When you add the weight of the franchise to all of this (think of the critical responses to Episode I and II), the Devs effectively have the emotions of many people at their fingertips - andas a DE is future is looking rather bleak right now. It just at this point - at least for me - that dream is worth gettinga bit upset over, because I'm just not ready to totally flush it down the drain.
Audio
Got the questions - definately some great info in there. Give us a bit of time to get our ducks in a row and get some stuff up on the In Concept/ In Development boards for the next two publishes, and we will get the questions answered as well.
thx,
- g
I'm gonna go sing the DOOM song now!
doom doom doom doom doom DOOM doom doom doom doom doom doom.....doom doom doom DOOM doom doom doom doom Come on, you all know the words! doom doom doom doom doom doom doom doom doom DOOM doom doom doom........
Got the questions - definately some great info in there. Give us a bit of time to get our ducks in a row and get some stuff up on the In Concept/ In Development boards for the next two publishes, and we will get the questions answered as well.
thx,
- g
JustG wrote:
Got the questions - definately some great info in there. Give us a bit of time to get our ducks in a row and get some stuff up on the In Concept/ In Development boards for the next two publishes, and we will get the questions answered as well.
Thanks....
I'm glad that you're staying on top of this. Really.
Drashk really did do a very good job at rolling 10 major questions into the post you now have.
I'd like to point out that most of the other professions that submitted their 10 have had their answers (such as they were) for some time.
So....the DEs are getting understandably anxious.
/bow
Respectfully,
See? No worries. JustG has us on the schedule, everybody fasten your safety belts. Helmets andasbestos life-jackets on!Class 6 rapids ahead on the River of Flame!
I expect we should probably see information by middle of next week. This should be interesting, at least. w00t w00t!
Ackis wrote:
Thanks JustG... has anyone heard word from Drashk?
I'm kind of stickler for clarity...so I'd like to see if we can get some on this comment (so no confusion takes place).
/bow
JustG wrote:
Got the questions - definately some great info in there.
Well, I'm not sure that it all qualifies as "great", since it does include some items that are annoying, problematic or downright troublesome. If it helped to shed light on a lof of droid issues, then I guess that I would that it does contain good information (which we hope to see returned to us in kind).
Give us a bit of time to get our ducks in a row and get some stuff up on the In Concept/ In Development boards for the next two publishes, and we will get the questions answered as well.
Hmmm...okay. Are you saying here that we have to wait until after the IC and ID posts have been made?
If so, are you suggesting that we won't see the answers for several weeks (in keeping with the timetable for the next 2 publishes)?
This statement makes it sound as if we will be waiting quite a long time to get the answers to our questions.
I'd like to bring notice here to the fact that this didn't seem to be quite as time-intensive of a thing to accomplish (answering the 10 questions) for other professions.
What gives? Seriously (and respectfully)?!?
thx,
- g
Respectfully,
GnomeAd wrote:
Not to get back on topic or anything, but does anyone else find it funny that JustG tells us we have the devs full attention at the same time that TH is telling everyone that they're all working full time on the combat balances? Anyone wanna bet which one is more accurate?
JustG wrote:
Got the questions - definately some great info in there. Give us a bit of time to get our ducks in a row and get some stuff up on the In Concept/ In Development boards for the next two publishes, and we will get the questions answered as well.
thx,
- g
JustG -
This approach to Droid engineer is what caused the problems before - lack of substantial communication.
While I appreciate the fact that we do have dev attention, there should be a flow if ideas back and forth.
Thunderheart stated that utility modules would not enhance skills or player abilities - he said that would give an unfair advantage to droid owners. This did not make sense to a lot of people - owning a nice uber gun does the same thing.
Now, note that many of the modules that have been suggested are enhancement modules, and hence, have an implicit skill level certification in them. For example, slicing modules that enhance a smuggler's ability, just to name one. Or survey modules that do work for a surveyor. These modules are intended to make the classes more fun, and enhance their abilities a bit, in the manner of chef food, or skill tapes.
Yet, in the IC thread, Thunderheart dismissed these out of hand, without any reason.
We need to know what you will be doing for utility droids - and you really do need our feedback. There is a huge pool of constructive ideas just waiting for you to use here - take advantage of.
What I am afraid of is that the utility droids that you are looking at making are simply useless eye candy.
When I read the combat oriented dev posts, I see substantial two way communication - I see the devs listening to the players, and responding to their concerns and in game experience.
I do not see that happening here.
This is not a flame or a rant - it is a request that you open up the flow of information, as I don't think anyone wants the fiasco that the initial (very late) introduction of the combat droid ideas turned into.
OK, broke this out from the other post, as I didn't want to clout my response to JustG with my input on the corrorspondant issue.
First of all, Audio, I have to agree with TK - I liked the old Audio better, too 
. I see your posts all over the forums, and you are getting as angry, bitter and jaded as, well, TK.
Now, you have to realize, when we had Sintrosi, it was very easy for everyone to rally behind him. No slight to Sintrosi, but we could all agree on the fact that being completely ignored was our number one priority.
Now that we are getting attention, and there are different possibilities, we don't have that united front. We are no longer suffering under complete oppression - it is a lot easier for an ignored and oppressed group to rally behind a leader with a common cause of removing that oppression.
If you look back, Sintrosi did not post continuously. And since our requests were pretty straight forward then - add modules, fix bugs, de-nerf the probot, when Sintrosi did post, everyone could agree.
Lighten up a bit, Audio. It seems like you are lashing out out of frustration. I do the same thing - but I at least try to take aim at the people who really deserve it.
Oh, and I was one of those people who might have been seen to have changed my mind about what a good approach was. This is not percisely correct. I supported several different cert / mini-tree ideas, as I beleived that there were several viable options offered by the DE community. I felt that if the devs chose one of them, we could at least get something. I think that others did this also. There were some in the "all or nothing camp" - well, right now, we got nothing.