Droid Engineer Archive
Thread: thought from shug's post on space stuff today...
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Jenden
Tue May 18, 2004 8:17 pm
#1
One thing stood out in particular to me...
"We also talked a great deal about droids and their usefulness in space. Basically, you'll be taking your current astromech and slapping him into your starfighter. As you advance in your chosen piloting profession, you'll gain the ability to program the droid with different functions - he might be able to increase your max engine power, shield strength, etc."
Now, what this sounds like to me is that stats on the astromech will have no affect on its performance in space. Now, I know its still early and lots of stuff can/will change, but I think this is definately something we need to keep an eye on and push for.
"We also talked a great deal about droids and their usefulness in space. Basically, you'll be taking your current astromech and slapping him into your starfighter. As you advance in your chosen piloting profession, you'll gain the ability to program the droid with different functions - he might be able to increase your max engine power, shield strength, etc."
Now, what this sounds like to me is that stats on the astromech will have no affect on its performance in space. Now, I know its still early and lots of stuff can/will change, but I think this is definately something we need to keep an eye on and push for.
Malitevv
Tue May 18, 2004 9:03 pm
#2
yes. i noticed that too. that doesn't sound like a description of droids being a big part of the space expansion to me. it sounds like a very minor and unimportant roll. if droid stats are irrelevant and DE's have nothing to offer to boost that and droids continue to not decay then I'd say the droid's roll in the set up is pretty well irrelevant. having to own one is one thing, but if for two pilots of the same skill their droids are effectively identical then that's not much of a roll really.
_KernMist
Wed May 19, 2004 1:14 am
#3
Maybe the Space Expansion could be a good way to get a turnover-able droid market. Droids don't decay normally (you have to assume the owner takes care and maintains their droid) but if you stick good old R2 in a starfighter and go hunting he stands more chance of having his head blown off. If your droid is considered a 'part' in a starship maybe they will design it so that a new R2 can be put in place. It already looks like they have an 'upgrade/add parts' system for the starships. Maybe droid deaths can come from this?
AudioOrgana
Wed May 19, 2004 2:32 am
#4
I agree.
From the posting, it seems as if the players skill bonus in the droid branch of the pilot trees ("programming skill") is what determines the function, not anything that is done on the DE end.
If nothing else, a droid should at least need a "starship repair/astrogation/performance enhancment" module installed to fufill the space functions (even if it's only one new module).
But then, I read in some interview last week about datadiscs containing these programs, so I'm not sure what to think - perhaps it's a combination of the two.
Regardless, people should need some sort of new module for space, at least for advanced functions. Perhaps a regular astromech (with no new module) can perform a few functions on the "newbie" ship, but for the full effect you need to buy a properly modded droid.
The Development team in the past has made it clear they don't want droids to be "required", but in this case - why not? This is an entirely new system - we wouldn't be taking away from anyone.
Glad to see we are of simmilar mind on the subject, Jenden. 
AO
Javac
Wed May 19, 2004 7:06 am
#5
I was afraid it would be just dropping any old Droid in your ship, hopefully we get some more details on exactly what they'll be used for. Would be nice if Shipwrights needed a BLL to do construction eh?
DocSavag
Wed May 19, 2004 7:32 am
#6
I think you are missing an important aspect to this. Even if the Astromech Droid doesn't have to have any special modules or other changes to be effective the space expansion will open up an entirely new market for DE's. People who have no use for a droid will get one to help with their ships. The number of droids in usewill go up rather dramatically.
I agree that there should be advantages to having specifically created astromech droids, but even if you don't get it there is opportunity in JTL for DE's to make sales.
Javac
Wed May 19, 2004 7:35 am
#7
Yup, more one-time sales, which really isn't helpful in the long run.
Jenden
Wed May 19, 2004 7:49 am
#8
DocSavag wrote:
I think you are missing an important aspect to this. Even if the Astromech Droid doesn't have to have any special modules or other changes to be effective the space expansion will open up an entirely new market for DE's. People who have no use for a droid will get one to help with their ships. The number of droids in usewill go up rather dramatically.
I agree that there should be advantages to having specifically created astromech droids, but even if you don't get it there is opportunity in JTL for DE's to make sales.
for me I could care less about sales... there are already plenty of those out there. I like seeing unique and useful droids, and from the sound of it you don't need any unique droid and the droid itself isn't very useful (its your skill that gives you all the use out of it). I run a custom order business, and I'd much rather be able to make person A a droid that was great at getting the top speeds out of a craft or could repair it in a snap but may not be able to do the other as well...
DocSavag
Wed May 19, 2004 8:01 am
#9
Javac wrote:
Yup, more one-time sales, which really isn't helpful in the long run.
Ok..I'll buy that but the only thing that will increase the number of sales per person is decay that forces them to buy new droids. Every sale is a one time sale for that feature until they change that.
OckVofad
Wed May 19, 2004 8:06 am
#10
Well guys im trying to keep a positive attitude about this. I definately agree that it will open up more sales for us. On the other hand, the issue of no droid decay comes into play. If you read the top 20 issues thead this issue is on there and the devs know our concerns. The only thing that we can do is be vocal and make sure you post in the theads that ask for our input (like the droid GCW thread).
Love it or Hate it; The squeaky wheel gets the grease!
Javac
Wed May 19, 2004 8:08 am
#11
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that they ARE involved and it wasn't overlooked!
TheRealTK421
Wed May 19, 2004 8:49 am
#12
I'm not really sure what my take on this yet...still much remains to be seen about JTL.
My initial feeling:
Droids should likely have a 'basic' ship functionality. This means that an Astromech with no special SE modules would give you the benefits currently planned (for changing how your ship behaves, etc.).
Perhaps we should consider this to be like getting a CDEF Pistol. Technically, you DO get the 'free' functionality that the droid can provide for ship controls.
However, if one were to have an R2 built with "Ship Engine Modification Module" (or whatever), it would do a better job that that function than a base model.
Result?
A working scalable droid market for 'space-specific' Astromechs.
So, if you used a non-Space droid, you'd get only basic (default) benefits and features...as allowed by one's skill tree mods.
If you had a special 'Spacey' droid made (with ship-related modules), you'd see better performance from the droid on feature X or Y.
That makes the most sense to me and really puts the choice in the pilot / shipowner's hands.
Thoughts?
/bow
Respectfully,
My initial feeling:
Droids should likely have a 'basic' ship functionality. This means that an Astromech with no special SE modules would give you the benefits currently planned (for changing how your ship behaves, etc.).
Perhaps we should consider this to be like getting a CDEF Pistol. Technically, you DO get the 'free' functionality that the droid can provide for ship controls.
However, if one were to have an R2 built with "Ship Engine Modification Module" (or whatever), it would do a better job that that function than a base model.
Result?
A working scalable droid market for 'space-specific' Astromechs.
So, if you used a non-Space droid, you'd get only basic (default) benefits and features...as allowed by one's skill tree mods.
If you had a special 'Spacey' droid made (with ship-related modules), you'd see better performance from the droid on feature X or Y.
That makes the most sense to me and really puts the choice in the pilot / shipowner's hands.
Thoughts?
/bow
Respectfully,
Reaperss
Wed May 19, 2004 8:52 am
#13
at the very least R3's should do better then R2's which should do better then R4's......
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