CUEmu - Thread Posts

Daisame

Sun Apr 11, 2004 2:42 am

Something you could really sell and that would be your own.

A sort of icon or object or scripting language to program some logic into various droid types would be very cool. You could sell these programs to people who would then load them into their droids (like the data storage area) and would allow them to do sepcialized tasks depending on the program. They could find people, hold moc convorsations, respond to people based on keywords or phrases, go certain places and do certain tasks... like deliveries etc.

These programs would be craftable by droid engineers but could not be reverse engineered. This would give you a great item to sell and you could sell various types of programs and updates for recurring income. Not only would it provide a great reason to own droids, and add to star wars feeling, but it would add a re-newable income.

Thoughts or other ideas? Comments?

Maako,Master Bounty Hunter/Rifleman Intrepid
Luke: "Is the dark side more powerful?"
Yoda: "No, It is quicker, easier, more seductive."

(gnn[[[[[[[[[[~~]nnn~~WX9ggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg)

Arcid

Sun Apr 11, 2004 3:17 am

#2

This idea is a nice system, however there are two things that I could see as a problem with it.

1: Complexity. Although most of this could be done from the command line, there would still be some fairly programming required, espescally for responding to keywords within sentences, conditionals, item usage(I'm thinking of a droid with a weapon / clothing / armour repair kit here), what sort of variables the programming could use, loopingand actual movement of the droid.

2: Skill Balance. Esentally what could you allow a droid to do, and how much would you have to leech off the owner in terms of droid skills

I like the idea, but it does sound like something that would be stopped as too hard to do by the communications people like Thunderheart rather than going to the programmers to see if they could do it.

That being said, I think this may be worth a more detailed look

Glantor

Sun Apr 11, 2004 4:01 am

#3

I see this as a possible implementation in the form of "Droid Holodiscs", where droid engineers can write their programs into a disc, which is insertable into any droid. Kinda like "Insert manufacturing schematic" into a factory, but instead is implemented as "Insert droid upgrade program".

What this disc does is enhance a droid's current abilities, for example writing a more efficient and optimised algorithm which allows the droid to shoot 10% faster, or 10% more accurately, or do 10% more damage. Sorta like the proposed droid power ups in another thread. But the difference between this and droid power ups would be this programming is permanent, as long as it is installed into the droid.

Alternatively, we only allows Droid engineers to utilise this program disc while building droids. Sorta like weaponsmith looted components. Instead of krayt tissues, we get "Galactic Civil War Lost Battle DroidPrograms". Perhaps droidekas or corvette droids can drop these babies, and current combat droids will get an additional slot to add them in. The programs have varying efficiencies, so no two droids will be exactly the same anymore in terms of capabilities.

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Arcid

Sun Apr 11, 2004 4:34 am

#4

Actually that idea about having looted holodisks for droid programs is a good one, it would also mean that they could extend the abilities to other areas if the Devs wanted to give droids more loot based function.

Daisame

Mon Apr 12, 2004 5:14 am

#5

I expected some complication from the idea. Not everyone would have great scripts, but some would. It would really allow for some value added marketable services in the game. I am also not suggesting that the "scripting" would be like C++ or Java. More like a macro language or as easy as standard HTML. Nothing heavy just enough for people to use some creativity.

Maako,Master Bounty Hunter/Rifleman Intrepid
Luke: "Is the dark side more powerful?"
Yoda: "No, It is quicker, easier, more seductive."

(gnn[[[[[[[[[[~~]nnn~~WX9ggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg)

Jenden

Mon Apr 12, 2004 6:04 am

#6

I really do love the idea of some kind of programming language for droids. Even if its just a simple walk here, walk there, target xxxx, say xxxx, etcthat would add so many more possible uses for droids, as well as make them unique and entertaining. The downsides to it I can see are complexity and the possibility for exploits (any time your putting in a macro/scripting language you get a lot of exploits that pop up).

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Owner, Operator, and Founder of DarkStar Inc.
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babyblue_d

Thu Apr 15, 2004 5:02 am

#7

This idea has been brought up many times and is a good idea ...

heres alinkto a nice way to do it but could be hard for non progamers to understand.

http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=droid_engineer&message.id=23077

Message Edited by babyblue_d on 04-15-2004 05:03 AM

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Daisame

Thu Apr 15, 2004 12:08 pm

#8

Yeah I don't have all the answers on how it would work. I sort of meant it in the vein of "walk here", "say: blah blah", "deliver goods" etc. Nothing overly complicated but with enough flexibility for creative droid engineers and folks with some macro wrting skills to do something fun and add value to droids. It might also prompt those who would normally not spend time on such a project to take a look at the possibilities and expirament and maybe try something new.

It is just an idea after all. Designed to spawn discussion and see how feasible it would actually be. I am not sure how many exploits would be possible with such a system. I don't often think to much on how such a system could be exploited. Based on my "vision" of what things would be possible, I don't see a lot of potential for exploitation however I am sure there would be some areas. That is where an experienced development team would take the idea and run with it while keeping in mind the player bases's propensity for finding holes in whatever they come up with. =)

I think it would be cool. =)

Maako,Master Bounty Hunter/Rifleman Intrepid
Luke: "Is the dark side more powerful?"
Yoda: "No, It is quicker, easier, more seductive."

(gnn[[[[[[[[[[~~]nnn~~WX9ggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg)

CapnSteve

Thu Apr 15, 2004 1:22 pm

#9

I was actually working on another version of that proposal, but I'll have to rethink it now. Publish 8 will add modules that already do most of the cool things that were thought of in relation to programming.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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IntoTheGarbage

Thu Apr 15, 2004 1:39 pm

#10

Wow, I gotta say I think this is one of the best ideas for Droids that I have ever seen.

I can see that it would be very difficult to impliment, but the creative licence it would give players is almost endless. Even if it were limited to simple movement, comunications and emotes (As well as blurts and bleeps) players would be able to do a LOT with them.

It is also a very droid-like function and would give DE's there own unique mini-game.

TH, please, please raise this idea with the Dev's. Even if it has to be shelved for awhile this is a really good idea that should be given serious consideration.

___________________________________

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Thank you for your patience.

Teodore

Thu Apr 15, 2004 3:17 pm

#11

Why not a set of If/Then flowchart conversation instructions for a droid you have, like the way NPC conversations are done now?

If you get to a certain point in the If/Then flowchart, you get a WP for someones shop, WP for resource locations for a credit transfer, and such.

The ideas go on from that point, but an interactive and programable If/Then flowchart would be, I think, one of the better ways to do it as the NPCs already run on, what seems to be, the same system.

Just an idea I had been thinking about today.

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neinnunb

Thu Apr 15, 2004 9:35 pm

#12

If my memory serves me right.. the devs talked about something like this (about scripting droids) way back when swg was first announced. But I guess they either didnt have time to do it or didnt see any benefit or were worried about the added complexities of scripting and having people go beyond what is intended a droid can do. If a scripting language was done, maybe it would have been a powerful tool to create exploits of some kind. With scripting (at least a powerful one), your basically putting the ability to write code into the hands of the user and away from devs control.

However, scripting can still be implemented if itsput in a way that it doesnt let anyone exceed the boundrys of the game mechanics.

Scripting conversations can be allot of fun doing string manipulations with conversations the droid listens. There are many programs out there that interact with people depending on what they say. It can be very funny sometimes as they are not as good as a real person thinking of responces.

A perfect example (albeit very simple one) is the Trivia Droid in the launcher chat.

I am very much into modding (Ive done allot of work specifically for Age of Kings, UT, Flight Simulator among other games) and I personally would love to be able to put my personal touch into my droids!

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Naufragus

Thu Apr 15, 2004 9:57 pm

#13

you guys are touching on something taht i really believe about this game -- and the current cropof gams in general ---

the devs need to give the players the tools to create the content then get the hell out of the way...

they do so much harm to the economy and the GCW.....i mean we could get a good war going if it were not for the roadblocks and bad decisions of the "team"...

i also think the and we need to let go of this skill worship and checker fears....

most of the tasks we would give droids are core profession skills ---- surveying, harvesting hides, light combat etc ---- these are things at NOVICE levels...droids dont have to have advanced skills

as an artisan i could care less if everyone in the game had survey 4....i dont think combat people would b put off balance by slightly better combat modules....

the only people who's toes get stepped on are the scouts....but they are 1 trick ponies and harvetsing is the only thing they do....but then again do we even need scouts in the game?

Droid Engineer Archive

Thread: Idea for DEs: Logic Programming for Droids