Droid Engineer Archive

Bleeding really isn't a large issue. Since bleeds no longer stack, they account for only a small percentage of actual battle damage.

Malice,

Individual bleeds no longer stack, that is to say I cannot put multiple bleeds on the same HAM pool. But I and another person could. I know for a fact I can get hit in PvE by two different MOB. Jungle Voritors or Frenzied Graul would make for a nice test. I will do this soon and report back. But in playing Devil's Advocate, I am asking people to consider what they are really asking for in total equality. A bot could bleed out hydraulically. The Devs probably do not see that mechanical possibility. So if DE ask for Droid buffs, then in the same light will BE get non-bleeding pets. There must be trade offs. Or totally equality. The thing I have respected most about the DE profession is the desire to not be CH like. But the desire to BE like could spell out the lose of certain other benfits. I am trying my best to balance out all my concerns. Three accounts, all three toons interwoven. CH, BE, DE. It will in the long run make it esier for myself because all these issues are so interconnected. I feel I can represent all three effectively when I get to Master with DE and BE (I have been MCH since Oct).

I'd rather have higher HAM/armor than bleed resistance any day. First, if you're using an R3 against a jungle voritor, you have other problems to worry about than bleeding . The only combat droids I've sold have been to either 1) combat class individuals who wanted a novelty droid and 2) crafters who want droids to protect them when harvesting. In the second case, considering that the droids are used only for tanking, the battle doesn't last long enough for a bleed to have significant effect.

The simple fact of the matter is -- the new combat droids don't battle anything that has sufficient bleed attacks for the "bleed immunity" to have any major difference. Realistically, a well-made CH 10 creature is both cheaper *and* equally (if not more) powerful than a CH13 droid in PvE . Everything would be fine-and-dandy if we could have *both* out at the same time. However, that is not the case -- nor will be -- unless larger changes are made.

I'm not asking for total equality. Rather, I'm somewhat disillusioned by the fact that droids *have* become similar to BE pets -- just more expensive BE pets . Either lower the cost for CH13 droids in some way -- or make them more powerful (since the cost/benefit for a droid is much lower than a BH pet).

Hey Pluto

Two things I need to say to you, for your consideration.

First, only the terminally insane amongst us are actually asking for Droid buffs. Its a knee-jerk reaction to losing the armour - like 'help!!' any kind of help is being called for no matter the consequences. It's the road to folly.. The cost of ownership for a droid goes through the ceiling as soon as you have to start with this buffing nonsense. And it will be have to if this ever sees the light of day, there will be no real choice just as there is now no real choice about player buffing in PvP. Once the bar gets raised it will be too late to be sorry for what some are asking for.

Second, oh horned advocate, it is conceptually possible to think about hydraulic fluids bleeding but that is missing the point I think.I am not one who believes in total equality between droids and pets. I actually believe that there should be differences - bigger differences than there are now. I mean, who really wants to end up with a functionally identical pet and droid? It's boring, its unimaginative and its silly. The differences should exist and make each suitable for different situations. This is, of course, if one believes giant cats and monster turtles belong in SWG at all - no comment on that cos it wouldnt be helpful. So, as you say, tradeoffs not equality please.

So, in tradeoffs, lets forget combat just for a second and have the Devs explain how functionally useful (and more to the point desirable) utility droidscan be introduced - when TH has already said no droid can augment a player's ability. BEs seem to be able to augment player abilities just fine, so where is our side of that tradeoff?

Oh yeah, and a droid with composite armour should, under no circumstances, be AR0. It maketh no sense.I just thought I'd mention that gratuitously.

All I know for sure is it's getting mighty lonely round here, with all the DE's leaving thats been going on lately. Sometimes this balance thing just goes too far and kills what it's trying to nurture, especially if one's beloved developers drop a combat balance half way through.

*shakes head sadly in amazement at decisions recently made*

Message Edited by Shian_Tavkin on 03-29-2004 07:30 AM

LOL. Lonkley, that was in jest but you can believe someone will ask for it. Would be nice to see the three Correspondents do round tables to try to balance some things out for ourselves.