Droid Engineer Archive
Thread: Opening the Combat Droid Poll to general discussion
I voted in Soidan's poll, and I don't have any problem with the way it was written. We all know it ain't scientific or representative, but it's interesting and gives people something to do while we wait. Polls are supposed to be fun!Y'all remember fun! The first time you colored an R3 successfully! The first time you sat on a dune sipping a mai tai watching a probotmanaging to stay alive while fighting two dewbacks simultaneously!(I watched it happen yesterday, it was awesome. And a total fluke, I'm sure:smileyvery-happy
I'm not saying that you shouldn't take the game seriously. I love droids, man. I've never met anyone in the game who didn't think droids rocked,nerfed or otherwise. So let's ask 'em!
Here's a summary version of a combat droid poll,in question format. I've cut out the lengthy explanations, especially because of the many believe this, few believe that stuff, which is cool, it's good background, but you tell the poll-ee the distribution of their peers' answers after s/he answers, not before.
POLL
(1) Do you want to see new combat droids in the game?
(2) Do you want to see existing combat droids (i.e. 3PO) made combat-capable?
(3) Do you think that there should be a game-balancing system in place to prevent combat droids from being everywhere?
(4) Do you think all players should be able to use all new droids?
(5) Do you think all DEs should be able to use all new droids?
(6) Do you want to see a DE-only combat droid (analogous to CH-only creatures, but not implying powerful)?
(7) Droideka: yes or no?
(8) Which ofyour "yes" answersis your number one priority for droids?
Y'all think this is a good format for a poll? Too lengthy? Too short? Too loaded? Suggestions?
Sounds great! Will have my feedback on additional questions later. I typed them up and hit submit, but forums hiccupped and I lost it all -- ugh!
Thanks for your constructive and playful approach, Neshura.
Unfortunately, these aren't all yes or no answers, at least not for me. (I'm sure they probably will be for some people.) And yeah, polls are fun... but please don't try to presentthe results as useful or important data. As you said - they're interesting and give us something to think about and do while we wait. But that's about it.
1) That depends. I wouldn't mind seeing new combat droids as long as they're usable by everyone, or at the very least usable by a large majority of the player base. I do not want to see new combat droids that are only useable by a minority of players.
2) Um... typo in the question, but I'm pretty sure I know what you mean. I wouldn't mind seeing mild combat capability added to existing droids, but I don't want to see R2-D2 and C-3PO out there fighting Rancors. Some minor self defense capability so that they don't get instantly whacked by a Chuba, sure, but no "real" combat ability. Leave "real" combat to the combat droids.
3) It's kinda hard to answer "no" to this question, don't you think? The way it is phrased I'll be shocked if you don't get at least 75% yes answers. Of course there needs to be a game balancing system in place for combat droids... otherwise the game wouldn't be balanced, people would scream and holler, and droids would get nerfed. Note that capping combat droids at CL 10 (like pets) is one possible "balancing system" even though I doubt most Droid Engineers would like it.
4) This is hard to answer simply. What if one of the new droids is an Advanced Arakyd Probe Droid that Bounty Hunters are supposed to use to track the newly arrived Jedi? Or a special resource locating droid that anyone with the Surveyskillis supposed to be able to use to find newly spawned resources? To me, the answer depends on the purpose of the droid. If they're specifically designed to be used by a specific skill, then no I don't think everyone should be able to use them. But I do think that everyone with a given skill should be able to use a droid designed to be used by that skill regardless of their profession.
5) See answer to #4. I do think that Droid Engineers should be able to use most droids, but I don't have a problem with Droid Engineers not being able to use the Bounty Hunter droids. If similar droids (to the Bounty Hunter droids) are added in the patch, it would make sense for Droid Engineers to not be allowed to use them.
6) Again, there's not a simple answer. I draw the line based on the new droid's combat effectiveness - if it is the "best" combat droid that we can make, then no I do not want to see it created. If, however, it is not the "best" combat droid we can make and is instead more of a "badge of honor" that performs like another droid but looks cool to signify that its owner is a Droid Engineer, then I don't have a problem with it. Even in that case, though, my answer is not "yes" butmore of a neutral "sure, that'd be fine."
7) No. I don't believe that it could be added as a player-controllable pet without either ruining the profession (by turning us into Droid Handlers) or ruining the Droideka itself (by neutering it to make it an acceptable combat level). Droidekas are simply too powerful to be player pets, and I'd rather see them remain the kick-ass battle droids that they are instead of altered in some way so that a bunch of k00l d3wds can run around with one in tow.
8) Heh. I don't really have any clear "yes" answers, do I? I would say that #4 is the most important issue to me, though.
Here are some suggestions for additional questions that people need to think about:
a) Would you be happy if the only thing accomplished in the "big" Droid Engineer patch was resolving all of the issues on Gorantoth's consolidated list?
b) If Probots were boosted so that they would be clearly better pets than non-CH pets, would you be happy if the only new droids added were new and actually useful utility droids? (e.g. harvester tenders, delivery droids, etc.)
neshura wrote:
Y'all think this is a good format for a poll? Too lengthy? Too short? Too loaded? Suggestions?
Just to be clear: this is the poll before the poll right? We're gathering questions and feedback before we launch a revised poll.
I don't think any of these polls are going to solve anything.
What we need is for our correspondent to put something together and have us vote on it. Only she can make things happen.
Of course I'm not trying to present this as scientific. To quote myself in the first paragraph, 2nd sentence...We all know it ain't scientific or representative.
The DE forum isn't representative. The SWG forum isn't representative. I could go out and randomly sample the responses of nunas, but my shoot-first ask-poll-questions-later would skew the results.
And to answer soidan's question -- yes this is the poll before the poll! I don't want more DE answers to the questions. I'm just interested in seeing how you would change the questions to make them more poll-friendly, even-handed, etc.
Lot of bitterness around here. Feeling powerless does that. I'm not going to say "Let's all love one another", because I understand and empathize with feeling outnumbered or wounded or left behind.
I'm just looking to start a general-audience discussion, have a little fun, and most importantly give all those mostly-delighted non-DE droid owners a reason to focus on our profession in a positive manner.There is power innumbers, let's getmore supporters forDE. Second most importantly,I'd like specific feedback on how tophrase the DE-onlycombat droid question in a non-inflammatory way -- without having to write a paragraph of background justification. Therein lies the weakness of polls, of course. You don't get to tell each poll-ee the pro-position thesis and the anti-position thesis.
So just suggest a neutral phrasing.
EricTheGreat wrote:
I don't think any of these polls are going to solve anything.
Satan is putting on his snowshoes, because Eric and I just agreed on something. Again. 
In general, I think the discussion is healthy and good. Ideally, the Devs would read all of our discussions and draw their own conclusions.
Ooh, hey, there's a good question to put in the poll:
Should the Devs get their asses in here and read what we have to say?
I'll consider putting that question in. It's certainly succinct. Is "asses" really not a word that gets edited out? If so, perhaps it could be present in every poll question. Should there be more combat asses in star wars, should all players be able to use all asses.
Or we could fall back on the more reliable "pants" substitution. They are conceptually related, after all.
neshura wrote:
I'll consider putting that question in. It's certainly succinct. Is "asses" really not a word that gets edited out? If so, perhaps it could be present in every poll question. Should there be more combat asses in star wars, should all players be able to use all asses.
Or we could fall back on the more reliable "pants" substitution. They are conceptually related, after all.
lol!
Hey lay off the humor; we're all bitter and oppressed. Thanks.
neshura wrote:
POLL
(1) Do you want to see new combat droids in the game?
What part of Star Wars do they not get. YES!
Expanding, for EVERYONE! PLayer-based economy? Where is it? Give us something that A) PC's need/want B) can break (recurring purchases) and C) Gives us the ability to be distinguished. Shooting for the moon -- maybe even tagging the art with our DE monogram.
(2) Do you want to see existing combat droids (i.e. 3PO) made combat-capable?
No, new chassis, and lots of them. Come on! Uniqueness is what sells!
(3) Do you think that there should be a game-balancing system in place to prevent combat droids from being everywhere?
No. Simply put, game balance is a joke. The pet farms rule and anyone can be a commando and CH at the same time so don't talk to me about game balance. Kick butt combat droids would change the world for artisans that are dedicated to crafting. Desert demons wouldn't DB me all the time if I had a true buddy! Another thing, combat droids would bring back MORE game balance to this player-driven economy. Right now it's weapons and harvestors all the way.
(4) Do you think all players should be able to use all new droids?
Um, I would like DE only chassis that are exotic. Maybe Master DE gets to mold a chassis in the way new character creation is done. That wouldn't be that different from a programming point of view, but the art is another matter. I would like DE modules that allow droids to be used anywhere, no matter what.
(5) Do you think all DEs should be able to use all new droids?
Yes, including BH seekers AFAIC.
(6) Do you want to see a DE-only combat droid (analogous to CH-only creatures, but not implying powerful)?
Wouldn't kick it out of bed for eating crackers! That's a yes.
(7) Droideka: yes or no?
Can someone explain this more? What is droideka?
(8) Which ofyour "yes" answersis your number one priority for droids?
Number 1 - Combat droids in the game.
Ulsa Skylighter
Novice DE
Tatooine (ISB) Valcyn
neshura wrote:
Y'all think this is a good format for a poll? Too lengthy? Too short? Too loaded? Suggestions?
Let's add:
--Do you want to see a DE-only perk such as DE-only combat droids, DE-only droid modules or features (improved stats, etc), or extra combat droids for DEs only?
--Would you prefer extra combat droids for DEs instead of DE-only combat droids?
--What game balancing system (certifications, droid handler prof, etc) would you prefer for new and powerful combat droids
--If combat droids can use interchangeable weapons, should the weapons be limited by the certs of the owner?
--Rephrase number (5) to "With the exception of profession-specific droids such as BH droids, do you think all DEs should be able to use all new droids?" Many people were concerned about this. Make this change or the resutls will be skewed by those who are concerned about this. No one is realistically proposing that DEs get non-DE skills like BH skills just by building BH droids.
--Which new combat droids would you like to see: 1) Droideka, 2) IG88, 3) Battle Droids ("Roger, Roger"), or 4) all of the above.
Just some suggestions. Feel free to rephrase.