Droid Engineer Archive
Thread: All droid schematics need to be redesigned from the ground up. EVERYONE READ AND COMMENT PLEASE.
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EpiFett
Fri Apr 09, 2004 5:27 am
#1
I spent the better part of the past 3 weeks trying to come up with how
I might have been content with the Droid-Engineer design, instead of what
I am faced with today.
Droids now only differ in the number of modules they can carry, and thats it.
Other than that, there is no reason to choose one chassis over another, and
they even cost about the same to build, so all you ever SEE on vendors, are the
generic R2-series or Med-Droids.
My ideas were built around working with what droid chassis we have now,
and how they should have been used from the beginning.
Please read to the end, and offer what your thought are, as i am interested
in who agrees and disagrees, and why.
Thank you
This might mess up formatting a bit, but its needed so that the tables will display correctly.
Droids Sorted by General Usefulness and Effectiveness.
This was figured out using the formula: (((DR/60)+(CQ/600)+(TM/11)+(HM/3500))/4)
DR = Defensive Resists
CQ = Combat Quality
TM = Total Modules
HM = HAM
Each category is a desired trait for all droids, and each category has a maximum value of 100%.
Each category was compared to the maximum value for that category.
Example:
The maximum Combat Quality for a Droid is 600. a Droid with a Combat Quality of 200 would have a CQ of 33%.
This provides an accurate gauge of overall usefullness for each droid.
But wait!
You accidently listed the R4 as better than the R3!
This is correct, because the R4 is a significantly better R-Series Droid than the R3 and R2.
The only shorcoming of the droid listed in the technical manuals, is that it stores Common-Vehicle Schematics instead of Space Vehicle Schematics,
and, it has an extremely limited Hyperspace Coordinate storage capacity. In either situation, those flaws do not matter, and the R4-Series
droid in all other facets is a much more durable, and advanced droid over the R3 and R2-Series droids.
In light of this, the R4 and R3 schematics should actually be exchanged in the Skill-Trees, requiring a Master to build an Advanced R4 Droid.
Droids Sorted by Combat Effectiveness:
Now, you will notice one thing right off the bat.
The ADV R4 is listed as a better Combat Bot than the ADV Probot.
This is because of the additional module capacity of the droid, as it has only 30% armor, compared to the 45% armor of the ADV Probot.
The ADV Probot will still be the combat droid of choice due to its better armor.
Secondly, you will probably notice that there isnt really one "Second-Best" Droid for combat.
This is intentional, to get rid of the ENOURMOUS influx of "blasto-mechs" running rampant.
I am sure that some people actually did convert thier droids with a weapon or two in the StarWars univers, after all they are not dumb.
However, this placed the primary role of combat droid, back with the Probot as it is better suited.
Third, you might see that both the BLL and Protocol droids are listed as combat capable.
This is because of several reasons.
Primarily because the BLL is an enormous hulk of a droid, and should have SOME limited reason to have all that armor,
and Second, because the Protocol Droid is the most "Human" of the droids, and does not perform a "Medical" function...
However... i was considering giving the LE Repair, and Surgical Droids, at least 1 combat module (no armor) just so you can attack them in
a PvP setting (due to recent combat changes making droids unattackable unless it has combat modules).
Cant have all that free-healing going on the battlefields without any repercussions, plus if they are shooting at your droid,
they are not shooting at YOU... might give you a split-second more time needed to run away
I might have been content with the Droid-Engineer design, instead of what
I am faced with today.
Droids now only differ in the number of modules they can carry, and thats it.
Other than that, there is no reason to choose one chassis over another, and
they even cost about the same to build, so all you ever SEE on vendors, are the
generic R2-series or Med-Droids.
My ideas were built around working with what droid chassis we have now,
and how they should have been used from the beginning.
Please read to the end, and offer what your thought are, as i am interested
in who agrees and disagrees, and why.
Thank you
This might mess up formatting a bit, but its needed so that the tables will display correctly.
TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL
Special General TOTAL Combat & TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL
Specialty TOTAL Socket Socket Socket Defensive Combat Armor Combat Defensive Util
Skill Tech Droid Module HAM Modules Modules Modules Modules Modules Modules Modules Quality Resists Avg
MDE Adv BLL Cargo 3500 11 6 6 5 1 4 200 60% 83%
DB 4 BLL Cargo 2500 10 3 3 6 4 1 3 200 45% 68%
MDE Adv Protocol Administrative 1300 9 6 6 3 2 1 400 15% 53%
DB 4 Protocol Administrative 1100 7 3 3 6 1 1 200 32%
MDE Adv R3 Muti-Purpose 1700 9 5 5 4 2 2 400 30% 62%
DB 4 R3 Muti-Purpose 1500 6 4 4 2 1 1 200 15% 39%
DB 4 Adv LE Repair Droid Repair 1500 6 6 6 24%
DB 3 LE Repair Droid Repair 1200 6 3 3 6 22%
DB 4 Adv Probot 1800 7 1 1 6 3 3 600 45% 73%
DB 3 Probot 1600 5 5 2 3 400 45% 58%
DB 4 Adv R2 Muti-Purpose 1400 6 4 4 2 1 1 200 15% 38%
DB 3 R2 Muti-Purpose 1200 3 3 3 15%
DB 4 Adv Surgical Surgery 1500 6 6 6 24%
DB 3 Surgical Surgery 1200 6 3 3 6 22%
DB 3 Adv Power Battery 1500 6 6 6 24%
DB 2 Power Battery 1200 6 3 3 6 22%
DB 3 Adv R4 Muti-Purpose 1700 11 6 6 5 3 2 600 30% 75%
DB 2 R4 Muti-Purpose 1500 8 5 5 3 2 1 400 15% 52%
DB 2 Adv DZ70 600 5 1 1 4 3 1 600 15% 47%
DB 1 DZ70 400 2 2 2 400 24%
DB 2 Adv R5 Muti-Purpose 1000 9 5 5 4 2 2 400 30% 57%
DB 1 R5 Muti-Purpose 800 6 4 4 2 1 1 200 15% 34%
DB 2 Adv Treadwell Item Repair 1500 8 6 6 2 2 400 46%
DB 1 Treadwell Item Repair 1200 7 3 3 6 1 1 200 33%
DB 1 Adv MSE 300 3 2 2 1 1 200 17%
Novice MSE 100 1 1 1 3%
Description of Specialties
Cargo Each "Cargo Module" can store 1 to 5 items pending experimentation. Item Storage Only (Max 30, No Pets, No Schematics)
Administrative Each "Administrative Module" can store 1 to 5 schematics pending experimentation. Schematic Storage Only (Max 30, No Items, No Pets)
Droid Repair Each "Droid Repair Module" can increase the effectiveness of Droid Repair Kit usage 1% to 25% pending experimentation. (Max 150%)
Surgery Each "Surgery Module" can increase the effectiveness of HAM or Wound Kit usage 1% to 25% pending experimentation. (Max 150%)
Item Repair Each "Item Repair Module" can increase the effectiveness of Weapon, Armor, or Clothing Repair Kit usage 1% to 25% pending experimentation. (Max 150%)
Multi-Purpose "Multi-Purpose" droids have a larger capacity to use generic modules than specialized droids, but cannot use Specialized modules.
Battery Each "Battery Module" can increase the potential energy of stored radioactives 1% to 25%, and power storage 1 to 25,000 pending experimentation. (Max 150%)
This needs more explanation:
You can enter radioactive power into a power droid.
The power droid can store up to 75,000 or 150,000 units of power depending on droid. (150,000 Adv, 75,000 Basic)
Power can never be removed from the droid. It must be used in the presence of a factory or harvester.
The Battery modules determine how the power is stored at the time of action.
A 75% effective droid would convert 100 power into 175 power at the time of storage.
A 100% effective droid would convert 100 power into 200 power at the time of storage.
A 150% effective droid would convert 100 power into 250 power at the time of storage.
The Potential Energy of the radioactive being used is factored into the conversion, so the better the radioactive, the better the conversion.
Droids Sorted by General Usefulness and Effectiveness.
This was figured out using the formula: (((DR/60)+(CQ/600)+(TM/11)+(HM/3500))/4)
DR = Defensive Resists
CQ = Combat Quality
TM = Total Modules
HM = HAM
Each category is a desired trait for all droids, and each category has a maximum value of 100%.
Each category was compared to the maximum value for that category.
Example:
The maximum Combat Quality for a Droid is 600. a Droid with a Combat Quality of 200 would have a CQ of 33%.
This provides an accurate gauge of overall usefullness for each droid.
TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL
Special General TOTAL Combat & TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL
Specialty TOTAL Socket Socket Socket Defensive Combat Armor Combat Defensive Util
Skill Tech Droid Module HAM Modules Modules Modules Modules Modules Modules Modules Quality Resists Avg
MDE Adv BLL Cargo 3500 11 6 6 5 1 4 200 60% 83%
DB 3 Adv R4 Muti-Purpose 1700 11 6 6 5 3 2 600 30% 75%
DB 4 Adv Probot 1800 7 1 1 6 3 3 600 45% 73%
DB 4 BLL Cargo 2500 10 3 3 6 4 1 3 200 45% 68%
MDE Adv R3 Muti-Purpose 1700 9 5 5 4 2 2 400 30% 62%
DB 3 Probot 1600 5 5 2 3 400 45% 58%
DB 2 Adv R5 Muti-Purpose 1000 9 5 5 4 2 2 400 30% 57%
MDE Adv Protocol Administrative 1300 9 6 6 3 2 1 400 15% 53%
DB 2 R4 Muti-Purpose 1500 8 5 5 3 2 1 400 15% 52%
DB 2 Adv DZ70 600 5 1 1 4 3 1 600 15% 47%
DB 2 Adv Treadwell Item Repair 1500 8 6 6 2 2 400 46%
DB 4 R3 Muti-Purpose 1500 6 4 4 2 1 1 200 15% 39%
DB 4 Adv R2 Muti-Purpose 1400 6 4 4 2 1 1 200 15% 38%
DB 1 R5 Muti-Purpose 800 6 4 4 2 1 1 200 15% 34%
DB 1 Treadwell Item Repair 1200 7 3 3 6 1 1 200 33%
DB 4 Protocol Administrative 1100 7 3 3 6 1 1 200 32%
DB 4 Adv LE Repair Droid Repair 1500 6 6 6 24%
DB 4 Adv Surgical Surgery 1500 6 6 6 24%
DB 3 Adv Power Battery 1500 6 6 6 24%
DB 1 DZ70 400 2 2 2 400 24%
DB 3 LE Repair Droid Repair 1200 6 3 3 6 22%
DB 3 Surgical Surgery 1200 6 3 3 6 22%
DB 2 Power Battery 1200 6 3 3 6 22%
DB 1 Adv MSE 300 3 2 2 1 1 200 17%
DB 3 R2 Muti-Purpose 1200 3 3 3 15%
Novice MSE 100 1 1 1 3%
But wait!
You accidently listed the R4 as better than the R3!
This is correct, because the R4 is a significantly better R-Series Droid than the R3 and R2.
The only shorcoming of the droid listed in the technical manuals, is that it stores Common-Vehicle Schematics instead of Space Vehicle Schematics,
and, it has an extremely limited Hyperspace Coordinate storage capacity. In either situation, those flaws do not matter, and the R4-Series
droid in all other facets is a much more durable, and advanced droid over the R3 and R2-Series droids.
In light of this, the R4 and R3 schematics should actually be exchanged in the Skill-Trees, requiring a Master to build an Advanced R4 Droid.
Droids Sorted by Combat Effectiveness:
TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL
Special General TOTAL Combat & TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL
Specialty TOTAL Socket Socket Socket Defensive Combat Armor Combat Defensive Util
Skill Tech Droid Module HAM Modules Modules Modules Modules Modules Modules Modules Quality Resists Avg
DB 3 Adv R4 Muti-Purpose 1700 11 6 6 5 3 2 600 30% 75%
DB 4 Adv Probot 1800 7 1 1 6 3 3 600 45% 73%
DB 2 Adv DZ70 600 5 1 1 4 3 1 600 15% 47%
MDE Adv R3 Muti-Purpose 1700 9 5 5 4 2 2 400 30% 62%
DB 3 Probot 1600 5 5 2 3 400 45% 58%
DB 2 Adv R5 Muti-Purpose 1000 9 5 5 4 2 2 400 30% 57%
MDE Adv Protocol Administrative 1300 9 6 6 3 2 1 400 15% 53%
DB 2 R4 Muti-Purpose 1500 8 5 5 3 2 1 400 15% 52%
DB 2 Adv Treadwell Item Repair 1500 8 6 6 2 2 400 46%
DB 1 DZ70 400 2 2 2 400 24%
MDE Adv BLL Cargo 3500 11 6 6 5 1 4 200 60% 83%
DB 4 BLL Cargo 2500 10 3 3 6 4 1 3 200 45% 68%
DB 4 R3 Muti-Purpose 1500 6 4 4 2 1 1 200 15% 39%
DB 4 Adv R2 Muti-Purpose 1400 6 4 4 2 1 1 200 15% 38%
DB 1 R5 Muti-Purpose 800 6 4 4 2 1 1 200 15% 34%
DB 1 Treadwell Item Repair 1200 7 3 3 6 1 1 200 33%
DB 4 Protocol Administrative 1100 7 3 3 6 1 1 200 32%
DB 4 Adv LE Repair Droid Repair 1500 6 6 6 24%
DB 4 Adv Surgical Surgery 1500 6 6 6 24%
DB 3 Adv Power Battery 1500 6 6 6 24%
DB 3 LE Repair Droid Repair 1200 6 3 3 6 22%
DB 3 Surgical Surgery 1200 6 3 3 6 22%
DB 2 Power Battery 1200 6 3 3 6 22%
DB 1 Adv MSE 300 3 2 2 1 1 200 17%
DB 3 R2 Muti-Purpose 1200 3 3 3 15%
Novice MSE 100 1 1 1 3%
Now, you will notice one thing right off the bat.
The ADV R4 is listed as a better Combat Bot than the ADV Probot.
This is because of the additional module capacity of the droid, as it has only 30% armor, compared to the 45% armor of the ADV Probot.
The ADV Probot will still be the combat droid of choice due to its better armor.
Secondly, you will probably notice that there isnt really one "Second-Best" Droid for combat.
This is intentional, to get rid of the ENOURMOUS influx of "blasto-mechs" running rampant.
I am sure that some people actually did convert thier droids with a weapon or two in the StarWars univers, after all they are not dumb.
However, this placed the primary role of combat droid, back with the Probot as it is better suited.
Third, you might see that both the BLL and Protocol droids are listed as combat capable.
This is because of several reasons.
Primarily because the BLL is an enormous hulk of a droid, and should have SOME limited reason to have all that armor,
and Second, because the Protocol Droid is the most "Human" of the droids, and does not perform a "Medical" function...
However... i was considering giving the LE Repair, and Surgical Droids, at least 1 combat module (no armor) just so you can attack them in
a PvP setting (due to recent combat changes making droids unattackable unless it has combat modules).
Cant have all that free-healing going on the battlefields without any repercussions, plus if they are shooting at your droid,
they are not shooting at YOU... might give you a split-second more time needed to run away
Message Edited by EpiFett on 04-10-2004 11:03 PM
Deidre_DE
Fri Apr 09, 2004 11:52 am
#2
Wow, that's comprehensive!
It's almost too much info to absorb in a sitting, expecially with the extra wide format. However, I like what I see.
Deidre
Sumus
Fri Apr 09, 2004 10:43 pm
#4
Im impressed, The Devs should take a look at your list there and see if they can use it. I think it would give our profession a real uplift.
MustangGT
Fri Apr 09, 2004 10:48 pm
#5
I have to say this is an absolutely excellent analysis! Very well done and presented!
Adalis
Master DE Starsider
EpiFett
Sat Apr 10, 2004 1:08 am
#6
Thank you,
I appreciate the comments, and i would love to see more opinions both good and bad.
I appreciate the comments, and i would love to see more opinions both good and bad.
EpiFett
Sat Apr 10, 2004 1:54 pm
#7
I would have expected at least a slightly more interested response,
but then maybe people are too busy bitching about the class instead of
offering comments on hard statistical data to change it.
but then maybe people are too busy bitching about the class instead of
offering comments on hard statistical data to change it.
LonelyGhost
Sat Apr 10, 2004 4:29 pm
#8
I love the idea. Way back when most of the long-term DE still held hope, there were a thread or two that dealt with the Chassis issue. Basically, the Devs wont bother with taking the time. Look, we've tried for 9 months, to no avail.
But.... 
I love this idea, and suggest that every month you start a new thread with this exact information. It all fits, it makes sense, and it makes the profession much more interesting and gives the *customers* something new to look for. I think all great ideas like this should have a new thread started every month at least. Dont bunp this one....the Devs likely ignore anything over 2 weeks old anyway. Start a new thread. Maybe we'll get lucky and one day they will stumble over this "new" idea and like it so much it will be the catalyst for a *real* droid "invasion".
Man, I shoudl know better than to post when frustrated. Every time I see great ideas like this it reminds me how messed up we are. It has gotten real hard over the past 9 months to stay positive. I regularly dip into the "dark side" nowadays. heheheh
Ashaman
Sun Apr 11, 2004 2:12 am
#10
Free bump for you! This is great stuff and well thought out. I hope the Devs see this soon.
Aki Oka
Bria
RotorofCorRng
Sun Apr 11, 2004 4:38 am
#11
Bump for you. The Devs wont read it unless TK takes to them. They have their panties up in a bunch about coming to this forum.
TheRealTK421
Sun Apr 11, 2004 7:37 am
#12
On the idea...
RotorofCorRng wrote:
The Devs wont read it unless TK takes to them.
Actually, this isn't true. But I understand that people believe what they want to believe on this point.
They have their panties up in a bunch about coming to this forum.
No, they come here. They just don't generally post much.
This sort of thing is a great idea but I don't see it happening soon, if ever. I suspect the reason would be that this represents a Herculean and fundamental rewrite of the DE profession as a whole.
The ideas here are great. I just think they represent too much work for it to be considered worthwhile (in relation to all the other things in this game that really need work now).
I'm not shooting you down here...just playing a bit o' devil's advocate.
/bow
Respectfully,
Jnath
Sun Apr 11, 2004 10:58 am
#13
As right as TK may be its always good to have a plan. You never know there may be an opportunity to re-vamp the prof., and i like what you've come up with. Very well presented, almost too detailed..../shiftyeyes
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