Droid Engineer Archive

We have a problem.

I remember being one of the first DEs to speak out for a system of decay to elastisize our product base to make our lives easier and more profitable. Easier said than done. There have been afew feasible options so far, including the modular upgrade proposal A la shipwright, but this is rich with problems, and i am firmly convinced that to support it is a covertkick in the testicles.

Decay is code word for increased elasticity. A truely elastic product is a cheap, absolutly neccicary, consumable product. There are variable degrees of elasticity depending on thier expense and thier expendability. We as DEs have a distinct lack of such products as compared to other crafting professions, coupled with other inherent problems leads us into a more precarious possition. The object of this development is to devise a method to increase elasticity in our market while sustaining real value (consumer satisfaction), and relative value (monitary price). The modular upgrade system is flawed because, althoughgranting increased elasticity, gravely threatens thelater two values.We dont stand toprofietsubstantialy from this system, because the items we sellare of lesser manufacturedsignifigance and thusmandate lower prices, although the quantity of our sales will increase there is nogaruntee that the profit made from thosesales will match thepresent rate. We also must take intoaccount the potential of real value to decrease further depricatingour droids.

Hidden work: while not mentionedthis design requires a massive overhaul of module, subcomponent, and chassis design. This is alot of work, essentialy a complete redesign of theprofession.All for an insecure ends.

I do agree if we intend to effectivly address the systemof droid decay, it would certainly requre a massive massive scale redesign of not only our profession butthe greater game mechanic itself. And this isjust to much to ask for.

The best we can hope for, and the greatest thing we can ask for is asimpler solution. We have limited attention capitol, and we should exaust that wisely, leaving roomfor more content to be devised.

I've been thinking about an alternate system. One thats relativly simple, plays into existing systems, and is compatible with other issues being addressed.I mentioned a rough draft of this on another post, i just want to formaly propose this hear.

Droids are essentialy computers, ibelive droids should behave and function more like computers than elaborate pets. We should give them more of a computerlike feel much like astromechs, than as a glorified container likestarships.Iwant to keep ahold of the basic ideabehind the modularupgrade proposal,theres some merit in there.

What i suggest is a method of programing, in which we have the ability to construct program algorithim chips which augment the droids inherent function, or provide additonal temporary functions to a droid. That is for example we can constuct a program chip which will boost say, creature harvest rating in an R3 to the degree of it having a 7th socket for an hour or so depending on quality, or allow this creature harvest R3 to perfrom as a medical center for the time being. This isnt a system of decay in the droid itself, rather an additional system of decay on top of the droid. This wouldnt work for all modules IE storage & mantenance. This would grant us a renewable market involving droids. These chips might even be sliceable to make them even better and boom smugglers get better.

We would get 1 craftable item, an empty programing chip, we would then manualy load a program algorythem (from a list of available ones aquired concurently with the respective item schematic in a skill box)onto that chip then sell it to customers. These chips could play into the loot system, where as new and exciting function bearing chips might be able to drop, and then work after being actualized by a droid engineer.

This would put little strain on the droid system as is, but would give us an expendable product that is complementary to what we already have.

I belive in lots of different forms of programing and expendable items rather than an unpopular overhaul rendering droids a weaker product. There are simpler anwsers out there, that can benifit us all.

Also, ive said it before and i must keep stressing this. Our products need to be more than supplemental. We cannot survive transition if our products bear only marginal utlitiy value. Droids should be able to perform some function instrumental in the activities of all classes in one form or another. Droids must cease to be toys, and become somthing more than an expensive curiosity. Tell them Devs to get off thier butts and stop playing with thier AIBO, its giving them bad ideas.

very strong, easy idea.... but it still doesn't point out any customer value...

*PSSST* mind if i press my idea for customer value unto the end of your post?

http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=droid_engineer&message.id=97798#M97798-

if that could be tagged unto your idea somehow, then i think.. the DE proffesion WILL be set

http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message
board.id=droid_engineer&message.id=97798#M97798 -

http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=droid_engineer&message.id=101477

http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=droid_engineer&message.id=102104

Hey Rush. Took a look at that thread. Its a pretty cool idea. Simply making droids feel "Droidish" can cure alot more ills than we think. The probelm with macros though is that very few people understand how to write them. But its still a worthy to have implemented, droids are comoputers after all to physicaly program them would be quite cool, and fits very well into into what they do. Maybe if there were a simpler way to macro them somthing any less computer adept person could work with. Your ideas are solid, might want to a summery here as an adendum.

your right, not many people DON'T know how to write them, but if we aim any higher then some of the most painless tasks, i'm afraid we won't get any attention from the devs, and your idea examplifies just that, simplicity. If we tried to make them any more needed or tried to implement some new complex system to make them needed in daily life, then i doubt it will be worked on or even looked at by the devs.

glad you agree with the ideas though,

again, if we could some how push these simplistic, painless ideas into the game, I feel it will make a world of difference to our community and the SWG community as a whole.

i keep hearing things about de-looping macros and such, this could be a solution to that as well our ideas answer so many questions.

it's like hitting a flock of birds with a pebble

http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message
board.id=droid_engineer&message.id=97798#M97798 -

http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=droid_engineer&message.id=101477

http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=droid_engineer&message.id=102104

Digital, so we would basically get another chip to sell like the Unprogrammed Droid Command chips? The idea is very cool, yet how would that fix droid sales? People would just sell those on the Bazaar for 250 cheap.

I do agree though, I don't think a total revamp of the profession is in order, yetI do think Decay needs to be adressed in some form.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Droid Vendor at Resurection near Theed on Naboo -5757 6222. Both carry a wide variety of maxed Droids, I also carry every type of Droid and Droid supply.

*Straker Atrella: Dark Jedi * Atrella's Wench: Master Droid Engineer / Artisan / Scout / Merchant * Dark Vortex: Ranger / Rifleman * Havana:Musician / Dancer / Image Design * Enigmatica : Doctor / Swordsman* CrazyEyes: Role playing BH.

Yea, its somewhat inspired from the unprogramedcommand chips. This would basicaly give us a renewable market, of which we have few. Each chip should require a signifigant number of diverse resources, 50 copper 50 steel 50 reactive gas for example. These can be factory made, however only maunaly programed. I think we can get away with selling these chips for 10k plus depending on your servers economy.The ability to program a chip comes with the ability to craftthe module of the same function, so for higher up modules you would have had more crafting experiance along with the aquired knowlegde that undercuting yourself is not good. These chips should last an hour or so depending on experementation. So you have quality, resource and experiance checks that would keep the price up. The price is the issue, im not sure how to work out the system here, but we need to build in a system of checks or complications to justifythe price tag. It should cost as much as you would sell thebare module for under the previous modular upgrade system.

For combat droids, you should be able to program "special moves" like overcharge shots, taunts and de-taunts, which would be perfromable by the droid via a verbal or macroable command during a timespan of 20 minutes or so before the chip expires.

These chipsmay be sliceable, to increase thier duration or effectiveness.

They can play into the loot revamp, having unique chips drop which requre DE administration to work.

Plus a myriad of other possibilities. This is a simple system with endless possibilities. Its like glorified powerups for droids. Not just like conventional power ups which are a dime a dozen, but somthing you get the feeling time, resources, and energy was spent to achive, but would not put you off buying or using.

The whole purpose of droid decay to achive a renewable market, here it is.

hehe so many neat decay ideas. i like this idea its kinda simular to SW and pilots use of chips but somewhat different as well....btw master artisan is closer to being a computer maker is some ways they are the ones that get the EMM/gp and micro sensor suits...just some food for thought.

Vilance -Retired from SWG
MDE for most of it, Guildleader as well
EGC Founding leader August 03
Corbantis
Founding Mayor Of Rhuidean, Tatooine
placed Nov 03.

Part of the system with using higher end combat droids that I am working on deals with something along the lines of Droid Program Chips. The basics of the system that I've been working on is for both consumable and non-consumable programs. The consumable programs would decay the droid and offer percentage based increases to different droid ratings (HAM, Combat Damage, and some droid functions), sort of how Weapon power ups function. Each of the consumable programs would decay the droid slightly and would last no more then 1 hour.

The non-Consumable programs would offer such functions as damage type switching, tactical movements, and a few other functions that I am still trying to flesh out. These would be tied to some sort of experimentable component on a droid.

Making SWG more Star Warsy. One droid at a time.

Yea, simplicity is really the key here. Even if this system seems somewhat insufficiant, its very flexible and has tons of room for improvement and expansion. I also wrote it within the boundaries of the Devs expectations. id like some more feedback on this.