Droid Engineer Archive

Yes, it's been done to death, so feel free to ignore my statements if you so choose.

I've been reading through all of the posts on here regarding MDE only droids, special DE combat droids, et al. and have noticed a couple recurring themes:

• About 95% (from the ones posting) have stated that DE need something to improve the profession


• There is a 50/50 split among those who want a MDE only combat droid and those who don't


• Of the 50% who do want the MDE only droid it seems to break down to 2 reasons:


• We make the droids and should be able to use them better than anyone else


• We deserve some kind of perk once we reach the MDE level


• Of the 50% who do not want the MDE only droid it seems to focus mainly on 2 reasons:


• We do not want to become a CH clone


• We should be allowed to sell everything we make to anyone

In reading all the polite, well-thought, insightful posts as well as all of the rants and flames, I haven't seen a single valid justification given for reason #2 of the MDE only droid camp. Using the logic that we deserve some perk at the master level can be used by every single other profession in the game (and has been several times). The perks of being an MDE are the skill bonuses received, the top level module schematics gained and the new droid schematics gained. We already have perks that were initially installed for us...they just don't really do much right now.

As for the first reason in the MDE only droid camp...I can't really fault the logic on it. Yes, we create and would have to "program" all the droids we sell, thus we should be able to tweak the program to make them work more efficiently for ourselves if we so choose. However, with the streamlined system and the fact that the droids can be factory produced that reason falls apart as well. How can you say it's your skill that makes a great droid when you can mass produce them in a factory without any engineer intervention? Yes, you made the schematic for the factory, but all the programming and everything is generated by the factory and installed into the droid without you.

As for the other camp, reason 1 is rather silly...having 1 droid that is MDE only that can be used to protect you while on harvesters runs does not make you a CH clone. Yes, if allowed to progress to a point where a large grouping of droids became DE only then it would be a valid concern (and it can be said that things like this snowball, so this would simply be the start of the downward slide), but that's not the issue. That would be an argument to be used at a separate time (unless you are simply trying to "**edit** it in the bud").

The second reason holds a bit more water as having a droid that can't be used by the masses would mean that it's an item taking up a schematic slot (and therefore a slot that can't be used by another droid) that can't be sold to the public. You are working on the assumption that if we get a MDE only droid then we will not be receiving some other item that could have been sold for more profit...which, while probably valid, has never been stated as a fact, it is merely an assumption.

My point is that both sides have valid points and no matter who "wins" in the end, there will be a large group of unhappy DE. Of course, keep in mind that the forums make up a very minute sampling of the DE in the SWG game. There are a great deal more people who never bother posting here than those of us that do. If everyone would take the time to be civil and calm and discuss things rationally, it would do wonders towards reaching a mutually agreeable solution. I don't think things have to be completely black-and-white in this issue. There have been a few suggestions made (give DE extra commands or the ability to control extra droids) that work to appease both sides (get the increased combat ability without losing sales or our "uniqueness")...they just get lost in the shuffle as everyone scrambles to come out on top of the argument.

Please, just treat everyone like you would want to be treated and argue rationally and calmly. Argument is great, it's the only way to bring about some needed changes...but fighting is a completely different thing.