Droid Engineer Archive
Thread: Droid Gameplan Draft (Mine, NOT offical): A proposed DE roadmap...
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TheRealTK421
Tue Apr 06, 2004 8:23 am
#1
Fellow DEs,
It was suggested that we get together a DE 'gameplan' for what happens after Publish 8. I decided to takea stab at this, so that we can all consider how to best make proposals at good times (and that make sense).
Be aware, this is my gameplan proposal. It's not been seen or approved by the Devs at all (though I will check on this for an official answer, if you all like this proposal).
Post-Publish 8 Droid Engineer gameplan - larger issues:
It was suggested that we get together a DE 'gameplan' for what happens after Publish 8. I decided to takea stab at this, so that we can all consider how to best make proposals at good times (and that make sense).
Be aware, this is my gameplan proposal. It's not been seen or approved by the Devs at all (though I will check on this for an official answer, if you all like this proposal).
Post-Publish 8 Droid Engineer gameplan - larger issues:
- Armor / combat balance changes (to heighten/broaden combat market - in process via TH's statement).
- Modules for professions / more utility (based on publishes that are coming).
- Bug fixes, feature change requests.
- CL10+ proposal (DC / faction).
Major problems with current DE profession:
- Very little combat market.
- Utility is only 'icing'....we need a 'cake'.
- Quality of resources and experimentation choices do not affect a droid enough for people to need to shop around (This is 'tied' to crafting/experimentation change they pulled out after one day).
- Guidance/input communication via the Devs (to help build better proposals, etc.).
Publish 9: Smuggler revamp
- Smuggler droid modules: Thjs is a perfect time to focus on a Smuggler-specific profession module.
- PvE content for smugglers that integrates / requires droid use of some kind
Mini Publish (Correspondent issues/ new content TBD)
- Work on DE Top 5 / top 20
"Social Adventure" Opens: This will mostly be a non-combat adventure, targeting Entertainers, Dancers, Musicians, Image Designers and fast-talking Smugglers... perhaps set in the Hutt Casino. Loot will be new songs, dances, etc.
- Musician / ID droid modules: Again, a great time to have modules specific to the affected professions in this publish.
- Gambling module (fits with setting of "Hutt Casino")?
- PvE content for these professions that integrates / requires droid use of some kind
Publish 10: Squad Leader Revamp
- Squad Leader droid modules: Thjs is a perfect time to focus on a SL-specific profession module.
- PvE content for smugglers that integrates / requires droid use of some kind
Mini Publish (Correspondent issues/ new content TBD)
- Work on DE Top 5 / top 20
Star Destroyer Opens: The second of our "space-based" adventures. This time, players will be able to explore the interior of a Star Destroyer! Details are still being worked out, but the interior is already pretty far along and looks great.
- "Slicer" / Hacking droid modules: Thjs is a perfect time to focus on a module that could be utilized on the SD. It makes the most sense (to me) that this be a hacking-type droid module. We can think of ideas of modules or droids that would make sense given the likely content in this publish.
- Work on DE Top 5 / top 20
Publish 11: GCW Revamp
As mentioned above, this revamp is going to transform the GCW into the "elder game" for high-end players. Runesabre is working very hard to ensure that everyone - regardless of profession - has a role they can play in the GCW. Again, more details to come as the design takes shape.
- Faction combat droids: Yup...this is the perfect time to add one or more faction combat droid pets or other similar DE-related features.
Merchant Vendors Revamp
- More/better Merchant profession droids/modules
- Work on DE Top 5 / top 20
Pre-Space:
We need whatever advanced info, etc. on the DE changes for Space. This will ensure that we can get concerns and issues put up front, in case tweaks are needed.
/bow
Respectfully,
ARC_Casper
Tue Apr 06, 2004 8:33 am
#2
Very very nice layout with the state of the game along with it so everyone can see the rough time line.
Jnath
Tue Apr 06, 2004 8:33 am
#3
Good plan, i like the publish based focus on adding new modules. As each profession gets their improvements (or nerfs as the case may be) they get a new droid module too. For now tho, getting droids to a proper yet balanced combat level in order to compete with pets is imho a priority. If this includes an armor change then so be it. But focusing on this issue can cover a lot of ground including getting our "cake" thus opening the droid market a bit.
Kilarny
Tue Apr 06, 2004 8:40 am
#4
Yeah, that's a decent outline. I think you got all the major problems.
You forgot vehicle repair droids! There's something every player needs.
Jenden
Tue Apr 06, 2004 8:50 am
#5
I think something like this is the best way to go. Just get a trickle in of new stuff similar to what they're doing with the new weapon schematics with the recent mini-publishes (though we don't need all loot drop stuff). If we can get just 1 or 2 new modules a publish/mini publish we'll be in good shape before long.
Redondo
Tue Apr 06, 2004 9:26 am
#6
looks good. I especially like the idea of introducing modules/droids that are specific to each publish. This might be the best way to implement a slow revamp of the profession by adding support functions of droids to the publish. Albeit it wont be an overnight fix, but it will keep DEs busy and interested, and yes salable,
while other additions get worked out. To this end it would be nice if the Devs that are working on all upcoming publishes and additions think about how a droid might fit into those scenarios. Maybe the reason we are not getting changes right now is because things are going to change pretty drastically in the game over the next few months that droids will have to assume a new role altogether, hopefully a more Star Wars like role than now. That may just be wishful thinking though.
Prin
Tarne_Monter
Tue Apr 06, 2004 9:35 am
#7
Good job TK, I especially like the whole profession revamps get new droid modules for those professions.
slaier0702
Tue Apr 06, 2004 10:06 am
#8
Nice Outline.
Should we get together with the Correspondants for:
Smugglers, Squad Leaders, etc.to find out what feature sets we can support for them. Maybe we can use them as a foil for our professional development.
Gyros
Tue Apr 06, 2004 3:47 pm
#9
/Agree
Cheer!!!
I am perfectly content with this outline! Once again TK421... Great Work!!!
/Salute
jefmes
Tue Apr 06, 2004 7:41 pm
#10
TK, you're making me smile about Droid Engineering like I haven't in a while, thank you 
I think this is a great start.
I think this is a great start.
TheRealTK421
Tue Apr 06, 2004 9:19 pm
#11
Thanks...I do what I can.
jefmes wrote:
TK, you're making me smile about Droid Engineering like I haven't in a while, thank you
Anyway, I've heard back a bit on this. TH tells me that the numero uno item is the Top issues list. From there, he brought up possibly a request list for the publishes(albeit likely shorter than the one I gave above). We might get 1 item of work on there, we might get 4, we might get none.
This is, again everyone, my proposal. They might well turn down every bit of it. Just keepin' it real.
We'll see.
/bow
Respectfully,
Shian_Tavkin
Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:56 am
#13
The outline is good - given we have to accept that P7/P8 is over and a done deal..so well done TK
Though it might not be popular, I'd still like a definitive statement from a Red Developer on what 'balance' really means in droid terms. I'm still not happy that Sodans proposal was claimed to be imbalanced, but we were never told in detail why not. We also need clarification on TH statment on 'augmentation of player skills'.
Seems to me that us knowing what balance means to the devs would help productive idea generation no end.
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