Droid Engineer Archive
Thread: DE's I need two things from you please
1. I need to know if you agree or disagree with Sintrosi's Plan
I disagree....
DE's are NOT designed to combat.. why give exclusively the use of combat modules to us ? As Artisan, we work to create and make BUSINESS. So we are looking to sell products USEFULL for the community. I still don't understand why you keep nerfing CH, and at the same time you don't rebalance Droids. When first i saw this CH nerf proposed for the next big patch (yes the CH changes proposed ARE a nerf even to Masters) i thought to myself this was to introduce Combat Droids... which would have been very logical, to push people to use more droids than pets, then finally tune properly the game in a real StarWars ambiance. But ok, it was not the case.. this is disapointing.
2. I need to know if you agree or disagree with the rough DE plan in general
I disagree also, despite i'm happy there's a clear intention to improve DE situation and go ahead. But ok, let's face the music... :
1. the actual droids have TONS of bugs, that would be a nice start to fix them
2. Every droids can use every module... that's wierd, you should restructure each models capabilities
3. Increase the power / resistance of the Probot to be at least able to compete with a non-CH pet.
I think so far, these 3 points are REALLY not a big deal. THIS is the start of a correct plan...
In addition...
4. Give us new schematics with relevant functions. There is nice ideas in the plan, but it's still too vague. These droids exists already, at least for the combat category (droideka, assassin..) so no extra design to do for you.
5. DONT RESTRICT the use of ANY droid to our profession. I really don't see the point. Are you affraid people to be too powerful ?? Just a matter of common sense. We craft, THEY BUY AND USE.
Last and not least :
6. A PLAN SHOULD CONTAIN A CLEAR DEADLINE !!
We're still in the gathering information phase?
I realize we have lot's of posts here in the board TH, but....how about looking just at the Sticky ones. For Pete's sake, there's enough pre-release bugs in the profession for you to take back to the devs to fix already.
If your refuring to sintrosi's state of the profession,,i aggree with her almost 100%
As to theroughplan,,i dont like it,,there are only 2 things that this profession really needs 1 or 2 more combat droid models that anybody can buy and use(not another weak combat droid watered down like the probots,just close range this time )and the ability for anybody to have2droids out at once reguardless of type,,everything else was fluff inthe rough plan.Expoding MSE's was a joke.
Ifit took 4 months to implement these changes i would want those items first before i wanted repair mods to work on repair droids and power droids to become a part of harvester or med droids to come up and heal me when i was incapacitaed(just a few example of things I'd rather wait for verses getting somthing that in my opinion would vastly improve the proffesion imediatly.
Thanks for your time,,,,MDE Sunrunner
2) The Official "Plan": It is a bit difficult to say whether or not I agreed with this, since in many cases I wasn't entirely sure what it meant. It was vague, and didn't address our MAIN concerns.
3) Changes to the DE Plan:
Item 1: Combat modules that can only be inserted into combat droids. In addition to new chassis types, the following modules will be added for custom combat droids.
*Multiple combat modes for droids (Not sure what this means, but I assume it is good)
*Melee droids (is this what was meant by "short range blaster"?)
*Long range blaster droids (Only obvious bullet)
*Self-Defense/preservation modules for non-combat droids (non-damaging electric shock to cause an aggro to flee or to change aggro) [This wasn't in the original plan. I like this idea, though, and at least it makes more sense than what was there.]
Item 2: Droid Engineers should be able to call multiple droids. I agree with this. I also think that certifications for high-level or masters of elite professions should also be able to call multiple droids.
Item 3: Increase repair droid functionality. It all gets vague from here. But I agree something must be done to make droid healing more effective. Nothing but time right now heals the white HAM bars, and since we can only call one droid at a time, it is extremely difficult for players to get thier droids healed effectively. Creature handlers, who require scout, simply have to dig food out of the ground and feed it to creatures. Then they tell the creature to play, and its mind is instantly healed. Thier expendable product, produced by Bio-Engineers, are pet stimpacks and vitality packs. For you to bring droids up to current pet healing standards, droid wound healing would have to be free and extremely accessible. Repair droids aren't free, and aren't extremely accessible right now. In addition, some emergency repair kit should be a DE sales item for either vitality, damage, or both. I would really just like this explained better.
Things Going Forward: I think I like everything about the proposed Medical Droids. I would like to see them useful to everyone. If a surgical droid was as effective as a good camp, and they STILL required expendable medic products, I would be happier than I am now about them.
Droids should take power and wound damage when used? What does this mean? And what is the reasoning behind it? We want to make droids ATTRACTIVE to people without them.
The "perception" that power droids don't work comes from 1) Huge, abulatory batteres require tiny, palm-sized batteries to operate every five commands. 2) You can't call them anywhere, and you can only have one at a time - when do you use these? 3) They are huge, ambulatory batteries that require the LARGEST Power Core that an architect makes, and they only take the place of the palm-sized batteries that other droids require. 4) As far as I know, the same power core powers my house without any degradation at all. I see the reasoning behind making them expendable, but the bang for the buck just isn't there yet.
Remote Bomb Mouse Droids: I don't know what to say. Mail bombs? I guess so. I don't see how this is in the "vein of good combat droids". If this is what we are looking at for "good combat" droids, then I think I am worried. If it was a heck of an explosion, maybe. I just don't know. No.
Animations? Protocol droids should have a STRONGER role? Yes! Protocol droids should have A ROLE OF SOME KIND. And we all would love more animations. I hate to ask this much, but I have heard stormtroopers say things randomly like, "move along" that was recorded dialog. I want Protocol droids to say things like "Oh My" for prissy personalities, and even react to R-Series droids. Lots and LOTS of this sort of thing. But only after they have some REAL, TANGIBLE, USEFUL function.
And MOST OF ALL: The plan can't be a vague, bulleted list, or it isn't a plan.
Sorry about the long post. I could go on for days, so I am going to just stop here. I say this in the most gentle, spite-lacking way: Read up on our responses and posts in the DE forum. There is gold in those hills.
To be clear...
1- Yes (the state of the profession).
1- For the most part, Yes. (the plan for future of the profession).
On the subject of combat droids... I would rather have more combat droidchasis than combat droid modules. That would be my personal choice though, is asked.
safe travels....
Grr... I messed up the numbers. Ok this is my last spam, I promise 
To be clear...
1- Yes (the state of the profession).
2- For the most part, Yes. (the plan for future of the profession).
On the subject of combat droids... I would rather have more combat droidchasis than combat droid modules. That would be my personal choice though, is asked.
safe travels....
1) Do I agree with the stated "State of the Profession"?
I am not sure my feelings could have been summed up any better... (That is a 100% agree)
2) Do I agree with "The Plan"?
That is a tough question, because I do not have enough facts on which to base a decision. Do we need better combat droids? Yes. Do I want to see MSEs running around with blasters? No. Do I want DE only combat droids? I'd have to say I am in the "we are a crafting not a combat class" camp. Do I want exploding MSEs? No, not really. Do I think we should be able to take out more than one droid at a time? I please, yes! I all honesty, I was pretty disappointed that fixing the many silly, annoying bugs was not in "The Plan". (I really dislike explaining to customers why they cannot name their "talkie" droids... why storage modules don't work in XXX droid... why the repair droid cannot repair... etc.)
Rhose (Master DE on Starsider)
I agree with our correspondents state of the de post.
2 Some parts of the de plan were good some very bad.
bad
exploding moues droids, sticking combat mods onto non combat droid chasis, making expensive to create power droids into a decaying disposable droid.
Good
combat droids in general, more than one droid, medic droid changes, repair changes.
2. I liked some of what I saw in the "Plan", but it was far too vague to get too excited about.
The Top Ten Reasons DE-Only Combat Droids Don't Make Any Sense
(10) Droids are smart and have AI...it doesn't take a rocket scientist to say "attack."
(9) We can't make money selling to ourselves.
(8) Chefs can't make food that only they can eat.
(7) Armorsmiths can't make armor that only they can wear.
(6) Weaponsmiths can't make weapons that only they can use.
(5) Architects can't make structures that only they can use.
(4) Tailors can't make clothing that only they can wear.
(3) Two words....Artisan Tree.
(2) Where in all of the Star Wars movies or universe is there EVER an instance of droids needing specialized handlers? R2 and C3P0 traveled from planet to planet without ever checking in with anyone. Episodes I and IIwere packed FULL with battle droids who fought on their own volition led by DROID commanders. Even the mighty Droidekas had no handlers.
And number one...
(1) We are ENGINEERS for heaven's sake!!! When was the last time you saw an engineer in a camo labcoat beating the hell out of someone?
Ok, I believe this is a much bigger issue then who's plan the DE's like better. This is something every SWG player should speak up about!
Star Wars needs more Droids!!!
Now as you can tell by my sig I am a Ranger/Pistoleer. I also have CH skills because I think it works well with the Ranger profession and will allow me to sell mounts to the masses. Funny thing is when I first started learning about this game, guess what I wanted to be? A Droid Engineer. I dreamed about building the best R2 in the galaxy, and running factories, blah, blah, blah. Once I was in beta, I realised it was nothing like I imagined. So I went the way of the scout and the rest is history.
Now to the important part of my post. Droids should be everywhere! Watch the movies, please. Limiting droid use is silly. Every profession in this game should have a use for a droid. I have seen many great ideas right in this thread. Some might say "you're a ranger, what could you use a droid for?" Well lets just see:
- R2 units have Holo projectors right? Of course they do, we alreadyknow that. Well how about a ranger pulling out his handy R2 to increase his camoflauge ability. The R2 unit projects a hologram to help disguise the ranger even better then a camo kit alone.
- R2 units have sensors right? Of course they do, we already know that. Well how about a module that helps the ranger track a little better. I am under the assumption that the /track command is still being developed? A module that allows me to increase my range during an /areatrack and increases my likelyhood of finding the creature I want when usng /track would be very handy.
There are two great ideas for my profession alone, one is my own and the other was found in an earlier post. My point is, thatin the Star Wars universe, even a Ranger, a master of nature, should have a droid. I would like to quote from a postearlier in the thread:
Provide modules to make droids more useful to other professions. Bio-sensors to aide Rangers in tracking, geo-scanners to aide Surveyors, sufficient autonomy that artisans can send them to restock and retrieve items from harvesters and factories (If a carrion spat eats it on the way, that's the users problem), even a light-show/special effects package to let an entertainer have a high-quality stage show in the field.
This has really got me thinking, what else can we do for the professions of SWG? Medics are covered. Lets see we covered rangers, surveyors, entertainers, but wait there's more. Smugglers need droids to help in slicing, one again good old R2 has demonstrated that for us. Bio-engineers could use DNA sampling modules to let the little droid roll up to the big monster and stick it with a needle 
. Scouts could use them to increase their maskscent effectivenes or determine the stats on a organic resource without killing the animal. So now I get to the combat classes. Hmmmm, what could they use to help them? Maybe.....Combat Droids
A certification system should be built in to the combat professions. Well, how do we do this? Easy. Give everyone a cert for a Basic Probot, make him a little tougher, like a CL 10-12 creature. Next, put an Advanced Probot cert in all of the elite combat profession novice skill box. Then give the Droidekas to the Masters! How hard would that be? Wait I'm forgetting about something, the crafters, what are they to do? "They already have crafting stations, what else do they want?" How about modules that give them 10% bonus to experiments, or a module that decreases the time it takes to create a prototype. Of course we want to make sure these don't let newbies grind uptoo fast, well cerifications should handle that, only a novice in an elite crafting profession is advanced enough to operate such advanced technology. Sounds good to me 
But wait there's more, n Elite Master Artisan knows how to use droids very well, so how about a little bonus to help them on their way to a harvester in the middle of dantooine, give em an Advanced Probot cert. Last but not least is the poor Droid Engineer. First, if they can build it, they can use it! Second,fix the current bugs, introduce modules that help everyone, and makeMedical Droids, Utility Droids, and Combat Droidsas important tothis game as Creatures!!!
2) The rough outline provided by SOE is terrible, inconsistent with the game mechanics for other professions, attempts to eleminiate the DE as a crafting/sales profession and make it a pathetic version of CH, and would only serve to grind what is left of DE into the dust to the detriment of the game as a whole.
My suggestion foremost is to add combat droids, lots of them and more importantly combat droids that can be used by anyone who has achieved a certain level in their elite profession.
The higher you are in an elite profession the better/or more numerous the droids you can use. This avoids the twinking problem since you have to accomplish something to get a combat droid and also allows some fine tuning where you can make specific droids for each professions needs. Expand on the BH use of droids. Each class or group of classes should have droids that will assist them in their niche.
Combat droids should definitely not be limited to combat people. Right out of the movies, the Trade Federation were most definitely not combat oriented, yet they were the ones with the biggest droid army. Granted when they went up against well trained combat organics they got owned, but at least they had some protection. This is what artisans in SWG should have access to so that they can deal with a single lair or mob camping their harvesters on Naboo or tatooine for example. Within reason of course.
Further in this vein combat personel who have mastered or become accomplished in their profession should have access to an increasing number of increasingly powerful battle droids. Tying droid power to combat boxes again avoids the twinking issue and provide additional incentive to master professions rather than dabbling.
Combat droids are weapons. This is important because they should be consumed like weapons creating continual demand. Repair sure, but repair like weapons with risk of destruction.
Components from droids should come from a variety of sources like weaponsmiths, armorsmiths, architects, artisans, doctors, BE's and even tailors. You should have to give your droid stimpacks to use for example. The better the droid the better the stim to heal you from incap it can use. You can deal with a lot of decay desires in profession by using subcomponents from other professions, that while they may not go into decaying products in their source profession they do go into decaying (or consumed) products in other professions.
Make experimentation matter.
thats about it for now...
Ok, first I would like to say to DE's that I am elated that you are "FINALLY" getting some attention. I am not a DE nor am I planning on dabbling in it. I am a Master Commando/nove CH/Novice Artisan. I will soon be giving up CH when the new CH plan goes live or notification it is going live.
First, those of you that are supporting the combat classes I would personally say "Thank You".
Now, a point of view from a combat character. I will not attempt to expound on any DE problems or bugs because I lack any and all knowledge of your respected profession. Those recommending Certs for elite Master professions is excellent. It would serve as a GREAT incentive to MASTER a profession vs dabbling in several. Second, I don't believe, IMHO, that Masters really need to have the ability to call more than one unless they are going to be made to die every thirty min. I would make this recommendation. Droids should decay over time but not quickly, as has been recommended. You want these to sell, as has been stated, but if they die quickly then that nullifies your market. I wouldn't buy a Droid or pet that is will be gone like the PSG which I refuse to buy because of that very fact, they don't last at all. The decay should be slow enough to not be a negative against sales. Remember, they are going to suffer additional decay with the new decay system currently on TC and that is obviously going to go live.
One other suggestion I would make is multiple certs could be implemented with each profession in order to accomodate the completion of certain levels while mastering similar to the new CH plan that would end with very nice powerful, balanced droids for the Master level.
That is my opinion, take it for what it's worth. Again, nice to see you are finally gettingsome love. Honestly, I have been waiting for this. I would very very very much prefer to buy a Droid than tame a creature because that is MY Star Wars Fantasy.