Droid Engineer Archive
Thread: About Game Balance, Game Design, and Droids...
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Droid_Engineer_Rho
Tue Jan 27, 2004 2:09 pm
#1
Yup, I agree completely.
If the intention is to keep folks from powerlevelling with high end droids, simply don't let 'em use them until mastery is achieved.
The only drawback is the possibility of using droid certification mastery from one field to assist in levelling a different field. I'm QUITE certain this could be addressed.
Unfortunately, sometimes what is presented as a 'possible course of action' is actually already set into motion, and is more a foregone conclusion than an idea. :-(
If the intention is to keep folks from powerlevelling with high end droids, simply don't let 'em use them until mastery is achieved.
The only drawback is the possibility of using droid certification mastery from one field to assist in levelling a different field. I'm QUITE certain this could be addressed.
Unfortunately, sometimes what is presented as a 'possible course of action' is actually already set into motion, and is more a foregone conclusion than an idea. :-(
ideas
Wed Jan 28, 2004 1:42 am
#2
So much Forum space has lately been about the issue of new droids, certs, and "handler" issues. Of course all of these revolve around the notion of game balance -- you can't add something to a PvP game that might give an unfair advantage to some people.
However, what I haven't yet seen mentioned is the following notion:
*There is NO issue of balance for a thing that anyone can have.*
That is, if EVERYONE can use a rancor, then rancors are not un-balanced, but they do become a necessary part of success. Rancors are only un-balanced if they are available to a limited set of people (Creature Handlers), and that the benefits they provide are clearly better than the benefits of some alternate use of limited resources (like Skill Points). Rancors of course are being balanced against the skills of elite combat professions which are the combat alternative to being a Creature Handler.
All the talk about combat droids being potentially unbalancing only matters if combat droids are restricted to some people and not others. If anyone can have and use one, then they become an important aspect of the game, but cannot possibly unbalance it. This would be the equivalent to restricting doctor buffs, food, spice, or armor to certain people. As long as these items are usable by everyone, there is little concern for balance. I can use them, and so can my enemy. All is equal, all is balanced.
The only other factor that comes into play is that of "starting character access" versus "experienced character access". That is, if a brand-new character can get some head-start advantage because of something handed to them from experienced allies, then it might affect the pacing of the game -- how long it takes to reach full capability.
Indeed, letting high-end combat droids be usable by starting characters might influence the game pacing. If a newbie can get a powerful ally (> CL 10), missions become easier, exploration becomes less threatening, and the newbie reaches the end game state faster than the developers like. Currently, a newbie can be handed powerful weapons (Republic Blaster) and armor, a crate of spices and food, a probot and/or CL 10 pet,and be given a Master Doctor buff before running some missions. These factors make an enormous difference in the pacing, and even allow a newbie to assist an experienced group fairly well.
So, is the "droid restriction" issue a matter of pacing? Surely. But there are many ways to restrict droids to high level characters only. (Certs in all Master Profession boxes being one easy way.)
Is it a matter of balance? Not necessarily, but it WILL BE if droids fall into a single profession. Balancing Droid Commander against Creature Handler will be a nearly impossible task unless SOE sets a clear standard that droids are good for X (dishing out damage) while creatures are good for Y (taking damage). The "bring pets to battle" crowd will be fighting over who is more L337 until they determine that one or the other clearly is, and then they will flock to the "better" profession leaving the other one for those who love it for its concept alone.
Iforeseedoom in the Droid Commander / Creature Handler dichotomy. Am I missing something?
P.S. I am a professional game developer. Not all of my talking comes from my posterior.
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