Game Guides Archive
Thread: An open letter regarding the state of exploration in the SWG universe
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Bardi_Nefartari
Thu Sep 16, 2004 11:06 am
#27
Suggestions:
1) Once in combat, you cannot store vehicle.
2) Mobs, animal or npc attack vehicle ALL THE TIME
3) More lairs more lairs more lairs. If we got off a bike, and walked 500m you should be able to hit all the lairs you can. Why right now you hop on/off your bike- seaching for something to kill
4) BRING BACK THE MOUNTS!!! Mounts came out- it was FUN it was GREAT- seems like a few weeks later, all mounts were replaced by speeders. That sucked!!
5) Make riding a skill requirement- but not a heavy one- just enough to mess with people.
ie: Speeder= 10 skill points or less, but 10 gives you the best ride
AV-21= 15 Skill points. less points makes vehicles not efficient.
6) Expand the planets for sure- by 20k-50k at a min.
7) More instances- less camping.
Derlok
Thu Sep 16, 2004 1:21 pm
#28
And make it worthwhile for me to go to te edge or close to a map... seriously, on Dath, whats the point of going alll the way south? or naboo? i went and saw NOTHING for 15 minnutes... while walking
sandheaver
Thu Sep 16, 2004 1:59 pm
#29
there is nothing to explore because:
1) -its all the same thing across the whole entire planet
2) -the games been out for over a year and we've seen it all
3) -every static/'interesting' place is conveniently located in your datapad
4) -there are only a handful of dungeons and 1000's of players (this is even more absurd with the once a day spawn rates)
1) for the most part yes. but the reason for this is because the planets are so small. I want a planet to be hundreds of km's across. probably not feasible technically speaking (that's a lot of server hardware, and a lot of hard drive space for all of us clients - the game is already 2GB with less than a dozen tiny planets!) maybe in SWG2 if that ever happens?
2) yep, its too small, but as i said above this isn't easily correctable.
3) yeah i wasn't happy with this. i know there are plenty of POIs that aren't on the datapad, but having the majority of them there removes my interest in seeing the others. get rid of these and/or add more POIs.
4) HUGE PROBLEM. 1 DAY RESPAWN TIMER? HOLY COW WHAT ARE YOU DEVS THINKING!? Unless this is a ploy to get people on TC2 (they're 1-day respawns there too!) then FIX IT FIX IT FIX IT! You're actually REMOVING CONTENT! WHY?? We complain about lack of content EVERY DAY and you do something silly and remove content. This is probably the number one reason i'm going to switch to a well known but as yet unreleased MMORPG with a fantastic quest system. you know the one. the one that makes you go WoW!
Release more content when you introduce patches. I'll pay if it requires a CD or DVD, WHATEVER JUST GIVE ME MORE CONTENT!! more planets. more cities. larger planets. why don't you make the shuttles crash now and again? "oh darn i have to ride to another starport now, this shuttle just crashed and obliterated the ticket droid - fun to watch though! now i have to do something irregular and interesting to get where i want to be." (the green part is good)
My plan right now is to get my content from other games, where content is actually considered important. Yes, yes I know you're spending lots of effort on creating missions and immersive storylines but run/kill/return; run/kill/return; run/kill/return; run/deliver/return; run/escort/return; run/kill/return; run/kill/return; run/kill/return; run/deliver/return; run/escort/return; run/kill/return; run/kill/return; run/kill/return; run/deliver/return; run/escort/return; run/kill/return; run/kill/return; run/kill/return; run/deliver/return; run/escort/return; run/kill/return; run/kill/return; run/kill/return; run/deliver/return; run/escort/return; run/kill/return; run/kill/return; run/kill/return; run/deliver/return; run/escort/return; run/kill/return; run/kill/return; run/kill/return; run/deliver/return; run/escort/return; is VERY boring, and the rewards really aren't worth it. After mission groups like this I just think to myself: "pointless." credits are not good rewards. faction points are good and getting good loot from the rewards (but unknown loot - so you don't know what's coming) are good also.
i'm done now.
tim1756
Thu Sep 16, 2004 2:33 pm
#30
Something that I always expected to happen but never did was the addition of npcs that rode speeders. Not Tuskens or Jawas but what if you flew past a bunch of swoopers on your landspeeder and they hopped on their swoop bikes(they are swoopers after all), caught up to you, and attacked you. There are many little things in this game that I expected to be added later. NPCs attacking from bikes is just one. You know all those cracks in the walls of the cities on Tattoine? I always figured that those would be where Smugglers did their business. You can't walk through the cracks but you can slice a weapon or buy spice through them. Little things like this would make this game so much better.
Tobar
Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:51 am
#31
The belief that there is nothing out there is false. The POI's listed in the datapad are seriously weak compared to the POI's that are out there and not listed. Believe me I know, there is some seriously cool stuff out there for people to discover if they would just go out there and look.
Toguro
Sat Sep 18, 2004 3:02 pm
#32
cool, i like these ideas. i especially agree there needs to be a vehicle piloting skill tree. you should even be able to control your speed and upgrade your speeder for handling and such. maybe impliment the JTL ship custimization thing for vehicle.
Herbsman
Sat Sep 18, 2004 3:28 pm
#33
Allthough I like some of these ideas, some of them are totally outragous.
I for one would like to see npc's using speeders. Implement vehicle combat, like giving the turret on the speederbike a function and allow players to use single hand weapons whilst using a vehicle.
This would not only make it dangerous to use a vehicle but also fun.
I would like to see the maps enlarged to a much greater extent. Even if they are just voids filled with a few random mobs.
I would like to see new planets but not planets where speeders can't be used at all. Unless they find a good roleplaying reason for it. Perhaps a volcanic world where most speeders simply can't operate because of the atmosphere and you would even have to wear an enviro suit to survive. That would be pretty cool.
I would however also like to see new vehicles which are enclosed and hover very high above the earth. That way you totally miss out on what's underneath. You aren not capable of noticing whats going on on the ground. This idea sort of goes against what's going on here but it's still starwarsy.
I would like to see some creatures being just as fast as a swoop, like one of them cat mobs ingame. Leopards are extremely fast creatures, why not have a creature that can run extremely fast.
I wouldn't mind it at all if they added fuel but then you would have to be allowed to buy a bunch of fuel and fuel it anywhere. I dislike the fact that you'd have to go to a parking garage just to fuel your bike. If I could have a bunch of fuel drums in my house and maybe a spare can of fuel on me then I would love the idea. I find it very immersive.
I for one would like to see npc's using speeders. Implement vehicle combat, like giving the turret on the speederbike a function and allow players to use single hand weapons whilst using a vehicle.
This would not only make it dangerous to use a vehicle but also fun.
I would like to see the maps enlarged to a much greater extent. Even if they are just voids filled with a few random mobs.
I would like to see new planets but not planets where speeders can't be used at all. Unless they find a good roleplaying reason for it. Perhaps a volcanic world where most speeders simply can't operate because of the atmosphere and you would even have to wear an enviro suit to survive. That would be pretty cool.
I would however also like to see new vehicles which are enclosed and hover very high above the earth. That way you totally miss out on what's underneath. You aren not capable of noticing whats going on on the ground. This idea sort of goes against what's going on here but it's still starwarsy.
I would like to see some creatures being just as fast as a swoop, like one of them cat mobs ingame. Leopards are extremely fast creatures, why not have a creature that can run extremely fast.
I wouldn't mind it at all if they added fuel but then you would have to be allowed to buy a bunch of fuel and fuel it anywhere. I dislike the fact that you'd have to go to a parking garage just to fuel your bike. If I could have a bunch of fuel drums in my house and maybe a spare can of fuel on me then I would love the idea. I find it very immersive.
Herbsman
Sat Sep 18, 2004 3:31 pm
#34
Oh and as far as people saying that there should be a disadvantage towards having a speeder, more than just the maintenance that is, I have but one thing to say. Why the hell would you buy a speeder in the first place? Not to gain a disadvantage, people buy them for the comfort of travelling. Maintenance is enough, I would even welcome fuel.
If the combat rewamp changes the way combat works in a way that 64m is no longer the maximum range for rifles then I would find that a fantastic change. It would make tusken snipers and such critters a very real threat to people travelling in the wastes on speeders. These are the things we need to do, not change the way how speeders work or ban them or some such. Simply increase the risk factor from mobs. Give npc's swoops. Give the scout troopers speederbikes. Add some new element of danger to the game.
If the combat rewamp changes the way combat works in a way that 64m is no longer the maximum range for rifles then I would find that a fantastic change. It would make tusken snipers and such critters a very real threat to people travelling in the wastes on speeders. These are the things we need to do, not change the way how speeders work or ban them or some such. Simply increase the risk factor from mobs. Give npc's swoops. Give the scout troopers speederbikes. Add some new element of danger to the game.
LucidRoid
Sun Sep 19, 2004 12:55 am
#35
The vehicle thing can rather easily be pointed at by widening the area of trees. Now you can run almost straight through them when attacked. AND at the same time reduce speed at certain areas, such as dense forest and alike. At the moment vehicles are not that naturally implemented, they are much to smooth to run as real life would be.
In cities, any city,vehicle speed limited to veeery slow. Running over PCs should reslut in seriuos penalty.
Running into stuff, any kind, should causewounds to the vehicle. The cost of repair could be random but never be cheap.
I support the idea of skills (10 xp) for basic vehicle license. But I am uncertain, is a speedier/vulnerable vehicle "better" than a slower/robust vehicle, and hence crave for more xp? Maybe its better to give advanced licenses when undamaged at vehicle-mount for a certain time. Withdraw that adv. lic. if in accident.
I also support the idea of more aggroed MOBs at vehicle, at least when close to them. Make us have to drive carefully, as we have to when running and we have to go in wide circles to avoid contact/fight.
The demand for wider planet areas, I really am uncertain. Some arguments are valid. Others are rant only. Why not a few new planets?:
- Some planets may have starships only a72 hours bi-weekly due to traffic routing. Stuck there you play there until next starship.
- Other planets may have a real high ticket price, I speak 100k or so. That will turn down players for a while, until more skilled. But make these planets real tough or interesting.
- Some planets may be travelled to by groups only. Invites to real RP. Its okay to solo group, but the trip must be bought and travelled by group.
Shot for more ideas. I dont think the developers read these forums regularly. But I do think some of the Concept staff do take a glance once in a while. At least I hope so.
Zimoon @ Gorath
SpottyGekko
Sun Sep 19, 2004 5:08 am
#36
LucidRoid wrote:
The vehicle thing can rather easily be pointed at by widening the area of trees. Now you can run almost straight through them when attacked. AND at the same time reduce speed at certain areas, such as dense forest and alike. At the moment vehicles are not that naturally implemented, they are much to smooth to run as real life would be.
Great idea.A speedpenalty in dense forests, etc.would be increase immersion.
In cities, any city,vehicle speed limited to veeery slow. Running over PCs should reslut in seriuos penalty.
Lol, great immersion, but what about griefing ? People stepping into your path on purpose ? This could be avoided by giving the victim serious wounds, but then people would run down pedestrians for fun... *sigh* ... so then u could perhaps revoke a driver's "licence" for a period, say 6hrs, where they cannot call a vehicle. Anyway, it gets complicated fast.
Running into stuff, any kind, should causewounds to the vehicle. The cost of repair could be random but never be cheap.
With lag as it is, this is sadly not going to be practical. Many a time I've ended up caught in a base that spawned around me as I drive my swoop at top speed...
I support the idea of skills (10 xp) for basic vehicle license. But I am uncertain, is a speedier/vulnerable vehicle "better" than a slower/robust vehicle, and hence crave for more xp? Maybe its better to give advanced licenses when undamaged at vehicle-mount for a certain time. Withdraw that adv. lic. if in accident.
Hmmm... Give every player a basic licence (X34 ?), but perhaps have some skillpoint requirements for the bikes and the AV-21.
I also support the idea of more aggroed MOBs at vehicle, at least when close to them. Make us have to drive carefully, as we have to when running and we have to go in wide circles to avoid contact/fight.
Again, this is fairly irrelevant due to lag. Most mobs spawn too late to be within strike range.
The demand for wider planet areas, I really am uncertain. Some arguments are valid. Others are rant only. Why not a few new planets?:
- Some planets may have starships only a72 hours bi-weekly due to traffic routing. Stuck there you play there until next starship.
- This idea is something I like a lot. Perhaps for a future expansion ? U would have to be able to place temporary structures (Ranger bases ?) that persist for the entire period. Could be great for extended hunting trips, etc. Have some unique creatures on these planets, and disable all vehicle transport, allowing only mounts. But make the creatures worth hunting...
- Other planets may have a real high ticket price, I speak 100k or so. That will turn down players for a while, until more skilled. But make these planets real tough or interesting.
- Some planets may be travelled to by groups only. Invites to real RP. Its okay to solo group, but the trip must be bought and travelled by group.
Shot for more ideas. I dont think the developers read these forums regularly. But I do think some of the Concept staff do take a glance once in a while. At least I hope so.
Zimoon @ Gorath
Thanks Zimoon, some good concepts here. There is so much more that can be done, it just takes time...
ComCypher
Sun Sep 19, 2004 6:34 am
#37
My sentiments exactly Chridder. I always found it disturbing how a player could travel between any two points in the Star Wars galaxy in about 10 minutes, especially after hearing tales of 20 minute boat rides in Everquest and so forth. However I believe reducing the shuttle wait simply compounded the problem. I actually proposed some ideasa while back that I thought would work well to balance out vehicles with other methods of travel, without making it require a new profession:
1.) Fuel for vehicles—Instead of having vehicles decay during use, a fuel system would take its place. A terminal could be added to garages which sell fuel canisters to use on vehicles. Some vehicles would be more fuel efficient than others. Fuel would be deducted mostly while the vehicle is moving, and would drain slowly while the vehicle is idle.
2.) Vehicles decay from crashing—In line with the previous idea, vehicles would now decay from reckless driving. If you crash into the wall of a building or ram into rocks or trees while driving, a small amount of damage would be incurred on the vehicle. I know some people will say this harms people who suffer from lag, but presumably the damage would be small enough that it wouldn’t destroy your vehicle while trying to drive through Coronet.
3.) Vehicle paint diminishes with vehicle decay—This means that as your vehicle incurs damage, the paint would slowly fade in brightness in cleanliness. To redo the paint job, simply buy a vehicle customization kit. This idea would do away with the current system that simply erases your paint after you take out your vehicle a few dozen times.
4.) Vehicles prohibited from Yavin and Dathomir—This will probably be one of my most controversial ideas, but I think it would go a long way in restoring the dangerous exploration aspect of these two planets. The terrain of these two planets also doesn’t lend well to vehicular travel. Mounts however would still be permitted, so it would help bring back some use and purpose to those.
5.) Cliff limitations—Currently it is possible for any person to walk up a 90 degree cliff with little difficulty. Needless to say this isn’t very realistic, so firstly I suggest that a wall scaling animation be added to characters whenever they are scaling a cliff steeper than 60 degrees. While wall scaling the player would move much slower and it would take a few minutes to reach the top. In addition to this vehicles and mounts would be completely prohibited from driving up a cliff steeper than 60 degrees (vehicles would still be able to fly back down however, whereas mounts would not). The whole point of this idea is that it would do away with the concept that "the fastest path between two points is a straight line"—people would now have to have a understanding of the layout of the land and maneuver around tall mountains.
Com Cypher
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