Droid Engineer Archive

Thread: Concept Series: Built-in Functionality

Kollos
Fri Feb 20, 2004 11:57 am
#1

In the interest of moving forward positively, here is the sixth in a series of slightly more fleshed-out ideas. All of these ideas have been presented here on the forums in the past, in most cases many times. Note that whether these ideas are implemented as new droids or as new modules for existing Droids is largely irrelevant. New droids would be cooler but would also require more time and effort.


Built-in Functionality


It makes sense, doesn't it? Some Droids should have built-in functionality. The Surgical Droid should come with some sort of healing capability built in, even if it is only some equivalent of a Medical module. The LE Repair Droid should come with the ability to repair (wounds) and heal (damage) other Droids. The Power Droid already does have built-in functionality - it can recharge other droids (but sadly not itself).


Note that adding built-in functionality to these Droids does not mean that the equivalent modules should be removed. All it means is that these Droids get a "free" module of the appropriate type, even if that free module isn't exactly the same as the one that can be installed in other Droids.


The LE Repair Droid is the easiest to do. There's only one Repair module, and it's the same in every Droid. So just include the functionality of one automatically in every LE Repair Droid created. Simple, eh?


The Surgical Droid offers the chance for some variation, and that's a good thing. There are currently 6 different levels of Medical modules, so which one should the Surgical Droid receive by default? Base it on the Droids experimentation, obviously. 1-15% gives you nothing. (Hey, it was a failure.) 16-30% gives you Level 1. 31-45% gives you level 2. Etc, etc. 91% and above gives you Level 6. Easy enough.


While we're at it, fix the Power Droid so that it doesn't need batteries. Power Droids are used to jump-start starships, it makes no sense at all that they need batteries to recharge themselves.


There are other possibilities out there too, though. Why not do something similar for the oft maligned Binary Load Lifter? Give it a built-in Item Storage module using the same percentages as I listed for the Surgical Droid. To be really cool, don't make the built-in Item Storage ability count against the Droid's cap, thus giving the Advanced Binary Load Lifter the ability to store 20 items instead of 10.


Not that it matters since every one already understands every language, but let the Protocol Droid provide that ability to its owner. If you have a Protocol Droid out, you automatically understand every language. It's not a huge thing, but it would certainly add to the immersive value of the Star Wars environment.


If we want to stretch things a bit, allow the DZ70 Fugitive Tracker Droid to provide some kind of limited and basic tracking ability. Nothing that would really step on a Ranger's toes, but maybe allow it to expand the range of /who and other similar commands.


Thoughts? Improvements? Additions? Should I keep doing these?



Kollos Orcslayer : Master Droid Engineer : Master Artisan

Droids by Kollos -840, 3980 Seacht, Naboo (NW of Keren)
Bounty Hunter Droids by Kollos 4924, 6107 550m SW of Kaadara
Vehicles and Master Artisan Components also available
paying 250k/point for Droid Assembly Skill Tapes, minimum of +4

Alacrity
Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:02 pm
#2

It might be easier to implement a "functionality bonus" instead of built-in functionality. For example, you can put Medical modules in any droid, but they get a bonus (say 10%) if you put one in a Surgical Droid. Same thing for Repair Modules in LE Repair Droids, Combat Modules in Probots (or some other combat-specific chassis), Item Storage Modules inBLL droids, Data Modules in MSE droids, etc..


Additinally, certiain droid types could have a "functionality penalty" (-10%, say) for certain modules (e.g. Medical Modules in a MSEor BLL droid, Item Storage in a MSE, etc.)





Amoon Darkflier, Elder Artisan, Elder Droid Engineer, Elder Merchant

"I find your lack of pants disturbing."
Sodan-droiddreamer
Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:09 pm
#3

I would like the following:


Surgical droids function as a med center for wound healing purposes. Must be grouped and in close proximity to the droid. There are zero balance issues because players can goto any med center in any city (player or otherwise) and recieve this very slow wound healing. I believe med center healing is limited to secondary stats.


LE Repair droid functions as a garage for vehicle repair purposes (same cost involved).


Power droid never needs recharging. Repairs AT-ST mind wounds again as it once did.


R2 droid. Required for slicing GWC bases.


Protocol droid. Used to open up new quests thanks to translation ability -- Jawa quests, etc.





Sodan Droiddreamer (GEGN)
Sodan's Exotic Droidgarten - In Bohemian Grove (Geigen Shuttle), Tatooine (6156 7275)
Kollos
Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:13 pm
#4






Sodan-droiddreamer wrote:

I would like the following:


Surgical droids function as a med center for wound healing purposes. Must be grouped and in close proximity to the droid. There are zero balance issues because players can goto any med center in any city (player or otherwise) and recieve this very slow wound healing. I believe med center healing is limited to secondary stats.


LE Repair droid functions as a garage for vehicle repair purposes (same cost involved).


Power droid never needs recharging. Repairs AT-ST mind wounds again as it once did.


R2 droid. Required for slicing GWC bases.


Protocol droid. Used to open up new quests thanks to translation ability -- Jawa quests, etc.





Ooh... I like. Nice ones, Sodan!



Kollos Orcslayer : Master Droid Engineer : Master Artisan

Droids by Kollos -840, 3980 Seacht, Naboo (NW of Keren)
Bounty Hunter Droids by Kollos 4924, 6107 550m SW of Kaadara
Vehicles and Master Artisan Components also available
paying 250k/point for Droid Assembly Skill Tapes, minimum of +4

Sodan-droiddreamer
Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:31 pm
#5






Kollos wrote:





Sodan-droiddreamer wrote:

I would like the following:


Surgical droids function as a med center for wound healing purposes. Must be grouped and in close proximity to the droid. There are zero balance issues because players can goto any med center in any city (player or otherwise) and recieve this very slow wound healing. I believe med center healing is limited to secondary stats.


LE Repair droid functions as a garage for vehicle repair purposes (same cost involved).


Power droid never needs recharging. Repairs AT-ST mind wounds again as it once did.


R2 droid. Required for slicing GWC bases.


Protocol droid. Used to open up new quests thanks to translation ability -- Jawa quests, etc.






Ooh... I like. Nice ones, Sodan!




I've recently gotten into the GWC with my alt. Taken down three bases with my guildies! Its a challenge if you're opposed. It would be great if you had to drag a little droid in there to slice the terminals. Wasn't that what they did when they had to shut down the shields on Endor? I recall R2 slicing a Imp base.




Sodan Droiddreamer (GEGN)
Sodan's Exotic Droidgarten - In Bohemian Grove (Geigen Shuttle), Tatooine (6156 7275)
Sodan-droiddreamer
Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:32 pm
#6

Plus it was awesome to watch the surgical droid SLOWLY tending to Luke's wounds. Lets implement that in SWG!



Sodan Droiddreamer (GEGN)
Sodan's Exotic Droidgarten - In Bohemian Grove (Geigen Shuttle), Tatooine (6156 7275)
TheRealTK421
Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:36 pm
#7






Alacrity wrote:

It might be easier to implement a "functionality bonus" instead of built-in functionality. For example, you can put Medical modules in any droid, but they get a bonus (say 10%) if you put one in a Surgical Droid. Same thing for Repair Modules in LE Repair Droids, Combat Modules in Probots (or some other combat-specific chassis), Item Storage Modules inBLL droids, Data Modules in MSE droids, etc..


Additinally, certiain droid types could have a "functionality penalty" (-10%, say) for certain modules (e.g. Medical Modules in a MSEor BLL droid, Item Storage in a MSE, etc.)





Actually...I think I like this better.



/bow

Respectfully,






TheRealTK421 a.k.a. "Doughbacca"
SWG DE Correspondent
Co-Founding member of Ahazi DENet & SWG DEA (Droid Engineer Association)
"I think all right-thinking people in this country are sick and tired of being told that ordinary, decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. ...I'm certainly not. And I'm sick and tired of being told that I am."


Ablon
Fri Feb 20, 2004 12:44 pm
#8

How will graphic immersion play into this?



~~~Bring forth the capital ships!~~~
- SWG - Capitol Ships!
Sodan-droiddreamer
Fri Feb 20, 2004 2:18 pm
#9






Ashlish wrote:




Sodan-droiddreamer wrote:

>Protocol droid. Used to open up new quests thanks to translation ability -- Jawa quests, etc.








DING DING DING DING DING !!

Now, there's a great idea! People would go bonkers if the devs took away the easy-to-learn PC languages, but they could easily make it so you couldn't accept or even communicate with non-PC typed quest givers unless you had a Protocol droid with either a translation module or inherent translation skills. Depending on the module rating or droid effectiveness rating, the conversations would become clearer or more dialouge options would result.

Excellent idea.



Droids too. The protocol could open up quests for the different "wild" droids in the game.




Sodan Droiddreamer (GEGN)
Sodan's Exotic Droidgarten - In Bohemian Grove (Geigen Shuttle), Tatooine (6156 7275)
ideas
Fri Feb 20, 2004 4:09 pm
#10






Alacrity wrote:

It might be easier to implement a "functionality bonus" instead of built-in functionality. For example, you can put Medical modules in any droid, but they get a bonus (say 10%) if you put one in a Surgical Droid. Same thing for Repair Modules in LE Repair Droids, Combat Modules in Probots (or some other combat-specific chassis), Item Storage Modules inBLL droids, Data Modules in MSE droids, etc..


Additinally, certiain droid types could have a "functionality penalty" (-10%, say) for certain modules (e.g. Medical Modules in a MSEor BLL droid, Item Storage in a MSE, etc.)









I think I prefer Alacrity's suggestion.... I'd rather get a bonus for putting a good module in the right kind of droid, than get a penalty for making the same droid without perfect experimentation. Here are some other possible specialties I haven't yet seen mentioned here:


* DZ70 - Highest speed (they are "trackers", right? They should be able to keep up with a vehicle, perhaps, or nearly so.)


* Treadwell - Bonus to crafting stations???


* R-Series - Versatility (since htey have the most modules for their price range, they probably don't need a specialty.)


* Protocol - Advantage with the upcoming "Ad Barking"module -- though I also like the idea that it opens up quests with the Jawas and other non-Basic speakers.







So, let me get this straight: To advance my character, I have to give up my current abilities?

Flurry: Ikeya Ibye (Master Droid Engineer, Master Artisan, Master Merchant)

IKEYA Grand Mall - Naboo, Moenia - Waypoint 5000 -4000



Ashlish
Sat Feb 21, 2004 1:19 am
#11


Sodan-droiddreamer wrote:

>Protocol droid. Used to open up new quests thanks to translation ability -- Jawa quests, etc.





DING DING DING DING DING !!

Now, there's a great idea! People would go bonkers if the devs took away the easy-to-learn PC languages, but they could easily make it so you couldn't accept or even communicate with non-PC typed quest givers unless you had a Protocol droid with either a translation module or inherent translation skills. Depending on the module rating or droid effectiveness rating, the conversations would become clearer or more dialouge options would result.

Excellent idea.



---------------------------------
Communication Breakdown,
It's always the same
Daker-Naritus
Mon Feb 23, 2004 10:42 pm
#12

I think these special functions should not be inherent functions necessarily, but bonuses to existing functions...


Using your example, all droids can take medical modules 1-6, but a medical module placed in a surgical droid gets an extra 5% effectiveness to any medical modules placed in it.


Alternatively, you could make it so that all droids could take medical modules 1-5, but only the surgical droid can take the level 6 module.



My point is that I like that all droids can dabble in everything to a point, but the current system encourages one-droid-does-it-all droids. Certain droids, NEED to be specialized for, and better at,certain functions to preserve a market for all droids. Otherwise we get exactly what we have...everyone with a probot that does everything.


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