Image Designer Archive
Thread: Stat Migration Analysis ID (only) input requested :)
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Kwee
Fri Jun 11, 2004 7:14 am
#1
We've had some weeks to settle into our new stat migration ability.
For those of you who have been doing stat migrations I would really appreciate hearing feedback on how it's going, if anything has changed since the onset (minipub 8.1), and whether at this point you would like to see a slower stat migration (either like the old system or slower) introduced for players to be able to do without having to see an ID.
Thank you very much in advance 
S_Thark
Fri Jun 11, 2004 8:21 am
#2
Hmm... a short version of my last post, maybe:
Positive things to say about the stat-migrations:
- It provides a steady source of income to image designers, especially novice ones
- A lot more people notice that there is a profession like the image designer and by this actually visit one for the first time. As a result you get some new clients for actual design work.
- The stats are changed a whole lot faster for a player, which is very handy if s/he switches professions
- Due to higher business and the tents, the chances for a player to actually find an image designer have been increased
Negative things to say about the stat-migraton:
- Quite regularly players can be hard pressed to find an image designer at all
- Some clients prefer to bug out on the image designer on a stat migration, doing something else entirely in RL, leaving the image designer in boredom for the 10 minutes
- As a result of the above an image designer who cares for the community can become confined to the tent for over an hour easily, only migrating stats and not able to do anything else
- If socializing with the title active, an image designer willing to assist some player may have to abandon his current activity and move to the tent, in order to be able to perform the migration as opposed to regular image designing, which can be done virtually anywhere
Conclusion about the stat migration in my opinion:
- As a whole the new way has benefits as well as drawbacks to both, players and image designers.
- The reintroduction of the old system might well bereft image designers of this newly established business on a rather large scale, as for convenience and comfort, quite a lot players will be likely to migrate their stats the old way. So if it were to be reintroduced the pace would have to be quite a bit slower then it has been so far or a lot of business would be lost. But this would allow players to get their migration started and check if they got lucky and found an image designer in time, to make it happen a whole lot faster.
- The option to make the migration faster (for less XP) would in my point of view the improve the inclination of several image designers to actually perform stat migration. It would also lower the waiting time for the clients, making a stat-migration-only session less boring.
- The option to add a droid which could assist in a stat-migration at any location (possibly at half the speed as the terminals usually do) would allow the image designer to perform her/his business anywhere, making a stat migration a less tedious affair in regards of abandoning current activities. (I.e. the image designer could continue to chat in a cantina (my special hobby) or simply migrate somebody on a hunting planet, while just taking a break at a city.)
So as compressed statement: The stat-migration was a nice idea, but not thought through as a whole and leaves quite a bit to be desired.
Reachwind
Fri Jun 11, 2004 8:25 am
#3
I love it. Seriously.. The only thing that would make it better is for the ability to self stat migrate. After putting the skill points and time into getting the skill I deserve the ability to change my own stats.
Luti0n
Fri Jun 11, 2004 8:27 am
#4
Hopefully this thread will stay on-target...
Background - My rate for stat migrations starts at 30k. If I get any harassment from the client the price goes up and it doesn't take much to get on my ignore list (fortunately it's only gotten that far for 2 people). Yes I discount for newbs, entertainers but I base the discount on what I see when I examine the person looking at what's in their pack and their bio.
I've noticed that over the last few weeks that ID's are becoming harder and harder to find. When 8.1 came out it seemed like there was always at least 1 ID in the Theed tent. Now I go by it during evening US hours and don't see anyone in there. ID titles are also dissapearing from the landscape even though the characters are still there. With all the flack many have taken, its easier to just migrate for friends. If I have Master ID title on and happen to be passing through a town with a tent, I get a lot of tells requesting a migration and I'd say about 1/2 say no thanks after hearing my rate. Personally, I won't do it for any less, especially if the character uses d00dz speak, is wearing full composite or is in general rude. Most people are polite about it if I tell them I'm busy or when its getting to the end of the night and I have to log.
If the timer wasn't so long I'd be willing to drop my pricesor spend more time doing them but after grinding out dancer & musician I have no patience for doing the migrations for free. I'd rather be hunting. If Sony puts the old way back, I think it should take 2 - 3 times as long as it did before.
-Lution
Syzygy-Gorath
Fri Jun 11, 2004 8:31 am
#5
I won't get too deep into this since I haven't done many stat migrations—only for a handful of very close friends—but I will say this. The thing that irks me most about stat migrations in specific is the lack of choice. Almost every other function in-game has an automated equivalent, be it sitting in a med center rather than seeking out a medic, or in a cantina rather than finding an entertainer. What if the eld system were reimplemented, but migration would only take place when inside a tent? I believe that allowing for a choice, even if it's a less than ideal one, would go a long way towards lessening resentment of IDs. (I still have issues with timers and the way they were implemented, but that's a systemic problem, not one unique to stat migrations)
Sir_Voor
Fri Jun 11, 2004 8:54 am
#6
Syzygy-Gorath wrote:
I won't get too deep into this since I haven't done many stat migrations—only for a handful of very close friends—but I will say this. The thing that irks me most about stat migrations in specific is the lack of choice. Almost every other function in-game has an automated equivalent, be it sitting in a med center rather than seeking out a medic, or in a cantina rather than finding an entertainer. What if the eld system were reimplemented, but migration would only take place when inside a tent? I believe that allowing for a choice, even if it's a less than ideal one, would go a long way towards lessening resentment of IDs. (I still have issues with timers and the way they were implemented, but that's a systemic problem, not one unique to stat migrations)
Ditto
Plus like Syzygy I have not been doing a lot, but have notice a trend, when we first got Stats most customer where social and want to see what real-IDing I could do for them and very few just wanted stats. but as weeks passed by less customers wanted to socialize and they would Noteven want to talk about real-IDing and even started going /afk on me. At first stat was about 20% or less of my customers now it's about 80 - 90%.Message Edited by Sir_Voor on 06-11-2004 10:55 AM
Metis_Onea
Fri Jun 11, 2004 9:15 am
#7
I've been doing quite a few stat migrations--mainly when there isn't a Novice to hand the players over to.
I have noticed a lot of people are very confused about the stat migrations. New players aren't aware they cannot migrate their own stats in-game because the tutorial when you first create your character (on the ship)and are given the option to migrate your stats, it tells you that it takes much longer to do so once you are in the game. I had several new players complain to me that they did not know they needed someone else to do it. And, boy .. did they complain.
Also, I've had players who have been around for a while come up to me and say "I would like to stats to be this ..." and list off what they want. It usually takes a couple minutes of explaining before they understand I don't actually see and change their stats; I only activate the changes. I even had one person who had left-over stat migrations from when 8.1 was published who came to me for a stat migration. I did it and he accepted and then says "So.. I can migrate my stats now?" Oi.
What the Devs needs to understand, I think, is that a very small per cent of the player base reads the forums. Updates and all its information need to be placed in the game. I'm not sure if the changes to stat migrations have been put in the in-game holocron, but that is something to check out.
I would like to see the timer be player-side, not for the Image Designer. They come to us, we activate their stats that takes one minute, accept and then ten minutes later their stats are set. Because of the sheer number of people prefering only stat migrations as to those who want other Image Design work, the ten minutes is far too long for us. People argue that we're a social profession so it allows us to be social ... but that is very difficult when 80% of the stats-only customers go AFK.
Also, since we are stuck "Image Designing" for ten minutes, people who are waiting for ID start to get impatient. I've had it where people didn't speak up about what they wanted so itended up being athirty minute wait for someone who just wanted a hair colour change. And .. if you take the person who wants a fast and easy change before the stat-only people ... the stat-ers have a fit.
However ...
Stat migrations arepretty goodif I'm not wanting to do something else and don'tfeel like being stuck in the Salon for a while. They are a good source of income and does bring with it new clients for more enjoyable ID work. I just wish they weren't such a grueling task.
I just wish they weren't such a grueling task.Message Edited by Metis_Onea on 06-11-2004 12:20 PM
Mystyrys
Fri Jun 11, 2004 9:44 am
#8
(A wild idea that popped into my head just now, so forgive me if it's not well thought out.)
I think Stat Migration should be allowed as a skill at Novice Entertainer with ID 2. Limited Stat Migration, say Novice Entertainer has the ability to migrate only Primaries: ID 2 = Health, ID 3 = Action, ID 4 = Mind. At Novice ID, allow Primaries and Secondaries to be migrated. That would give anyone the option to pick up ID on the side, level it up a little bit, and use it for minimal adjustments (similar to taking medic to stim yourself during combat) and it would give Novice Entertainers working on mastering ID, a usable and desirable set of service skills so more customers will seek them out instead of using only masters and it would significantly increase the chances of being able to find an ID that can migrate some or all of your stats.
Since 8.1, I have had far, far more people stop me on the street, or even out in the wilderness while I am poking sharp objects into critters, and ask me to migrate their stats. I guess that's not really a change from before, because I still rarely have someone stop and ask me to ID their appearance. I do more makeovers now, but it's mostly a side effect of killing time while waiting for the 10 minutes to pass.
However, on my Tailor char, whose main income is not from ID and I never wear my ID title on that char - I was standing outside the Bestine ID tent one night after doing my in game husbands stats. We were watching a major PvP battle taking place by the cloning center over the bridge. A poor soul was wandering around the tent, running in and out, and all around, shouting, begging, pleading for an ID. Averse to interrupting my evening of quality time with my "spouse" I asked him if he minded grouping that poor man so I could put him out of his misery. Pure graciously agreed to do this. (Well, actually, he offered to kill him, but I told him maybe later, let me adjust his stats first) After joining the group, the poor man knelt at my feet and professed his love for me. Thanked me profusely and said he'd been looking for an ID for three days! Pure told him, "Stop telling her you love her or I'll have to kill you!" (He's very jealous, lol)
So we get into the ID session, the three of us in group, and it comes to pass this poor man is a newbie and really isn't sure what he needs to adjust nor how it is done. What luck! Pure is pure PvP. Down to the bone. He talked the poor man through it. What prof, what do you want to do with it, what armor, weapons do you have now, what skill levels...? etc. Essentially told the guy exactly where to move his stats to suit his needs. Really, all I had left to do was click the button to activate.
But by then the poor man was having a good time and decided he wanted a new, wild and crazy look too. By the time Pure and I were done with him, hehad bright green hair in a new exotic style and eyes to match. (Qitu has only 4/4/0/0) As the poor man ran off wildly happy now, I turned to Pure, stunned and a bit disappointed in myself. I'm a master tailor and didn't even THINK to offer the man any clothes. Ha ha!
Anyway, I find ID a lot more fun and rewarding now. That is what has changed since 8.1. Now people look for an ID that never would have before.
Syzygy-Gorath
Fri Jun 11, 2004 9:52 am
#9
Mystyrys wrote:
(A wild idea that popped into my head just now, so forgive me if it's not well thought out.)
I think Stat Migration should be allowed as a skill at Novice Entertainer with ID 2. Limited Stat Migration, say Novice Entertainer has the ability to migrate only Primaries: ID 2 = Health, ID 3 = Action, ID 4 = Mind. At Novice ID, allow Primaries and Secondaries to be migrated. That would give anyone the option to pick up ID on the side, level it up a little bit, and use it for minimal adjustments (similar to taking medic to stim yourself during combat) and it would give Novice Entertainers working on mastering ID, a usable and desirable set of service skills so more customers will seek them out instead of using only masters and it would significantly increase the chances of being able to find an ID that can migrate some or all of your stats.
The problem with limited-stat migration is that often you're taking points from primaries to put into secondaries, or vice versa. It's nearly impossible to realign your stats without altering both, unless you're only doing a very, very minor change.
That's actually part of my point about allowing for choice. See, what I'd like to see is a choice equivalent to "Here little boy, would you like this rotten tomato or this yummy lolipop?" We all know which one they're going to choose, but because they've been given the option there won't be resentment about not having taken the other alternative. In this way people will actively seek us out of their own free will, and will—I believe—be more receptive to availing themselves of our other services, rather than spending the time railing against us for being forced into seeing us.
Mystyrys wrote:
[snip]
Anyway, I find ID a lot more fun and rewarding now. That is what has changed since 8.1. Now people look for an ID that never would have before.
Shadow73
Fri Jun 11, 2004 9:57 am
#10
Ive been doing statmigrations every day since the minipublish.About 3-4 migrations each day.. and really like that feature.
I hope statmigration will continue to be a feature for the Imagedesigner. Those of you in here that hopes for new hairstyles etc. Well that wont happen for a long time... So let us keep what we have, with pride!
The problems people mentions in here mostly are:
- takes to long
- people complains about the price.
- few ids to do the change (guess what a changes to XP for imagedesigners would have done about this)
Those twothings can easily be solved:
Why just dont cut the timer in half and let it be 5 mins instead of 10??, I dont see any reasons for it to be 10 mins, 5 mins are still a long time. Reducing timers will also reduce costs and then the complaints about price will fade away. But Im not lying about this. So far Ive only had 2 complaints about price and I have been charging 15k for the migration.
I hope the developers do not remove this great feature, but rather cut the timer. Then IDs will still play a role and pricec will reduce. The reason about having 10 mins.. was to help IDs get more things to do. 5 min timer would fulfill the original ideas with the timer (at least the ideas Ive read posted in here).
The Statmigration have brough the pride back for many IDs and are a good source of income and work. Also players that have bough a armor payed 450k for it are very happy that they can use it 10 mins later and not 6 days.
When it comes to beginners I help them and do migrations much cheaper.. Also beginners are easy to talk with as they normally have many questions about the game.. so Statmigration for beginners are good in more than one way.
Shadow
RyadhiMakkar
Fri Jun 11, 2004 10:11 am
#11
Metis_Onea wrote:
I have noticed a lot of people are very confused about the stat migrations. New players aren't aware they cannot migrate their own stats in-game because the tutorial when you first create your character (on the ship)and are given the option to migrate your stats, it tells you that it takes much longer to do so once you are in the game. I had several new players complain to me that they did not know they needed someone else to do it. And, boy .. did they complain.
Also, I've had players who have been around for a while come up to me and say "I would like to stats to be this ..." and list off what they want. It usually takes a couple minutes of explaining before they understand I don't actually see and change their stats; I only activate the changes. I even had one person who had left-over stat migrations from when 8.1 was published who came to me for a stat migration. I did it and he accepted and then says "So.. I can migrate my stats now?" Oi.
What the Devs needs to understand, I think, is that a very small per cent of the player base reads the forums. Updates and all its information need to be placed in the game. I'm not sure if the changes to stat migrations have been put in the in-game holocron, but that is something to check out.
Having started this prof post-8.1 the bulk of my customer relations work has been strictly stat migrations.
Most people already have their stats set and since I'm coming from a combat profession they ask my recommendations on how the new settings will work. Most of the MIDs in the tent with me would conduct them when my line became too long, but many will not do them.Metis_Onea is dead on saying that the devs should have explained this better to the non-ID community to reduce the confusion.
Over my 3 week progression to MID I have had around 20 bugged incidents where either my customer or myselfwent LD.The previoustwo weekends I pretty much spent the whole days doing nothing but migrations, never gettingmuch of a chance to leave the tent.
The vast majority of players have been very amicalbe and appreciative that I was providing this service.
The very few thatwere upset initially that they were forced to go to an ID came around when I explained the difficulties for an ID just to get the ability to conduct migrations.
Lastly the 3 customers who were so blatantly rude were immediately /addignore and I closed down thewindow.
I love this game and have spent a considerable time playing it, but everything that is fun about this profession is overshadowed by the disproportionate amount of time involved to acquire the skills our customers desire.What I've found myself doing while conducting stat migrations when the customer doesn't want to keep a conversation going is popping in a movie and sending them a tell when they need to hit accept. Not a great way to keep casual gamers paying the monthly fee. The timer needs to go.
Reiella
Fri Jun 11, 2004 1:06 pm
#12
I've been bugged about as often for ID changes since 8.1 as before.
That said, I was a Master ID in a time when they were a bit less ... common/prevalent [before holocron madness].
I also run around with my title off most of the time now since I'm quite often 'busy' with Fencering and Dancering, so I think that comparison isn't too useful.
I understand why Stat Mig was moved to ID Only, and given some of the reaction/rants on the boards, I do agree that it was necessary to actually be something more than a 'fluff change'. So I guess I wouldn't like player-ability stat migration, perhaps attach a temporary period of Stat Migration tied to the newbie droids [well their 'fresh 14 hour period'], for free instant Stat Mig like you get in the newbie land.
The only thing I'd consider changing with Stat Mig is move it to a Client-based time [ie, the Enable Stat Migration ticks off 'Body Change' timer, and once it's been committed, the player starts a 10 minute stat-migration period].
I would not like to see the time for Stat Migration to actually decrease [for the stats to actually migrate that is], as that would introduce an ugly balance concern that would just need to be redressed with the GCW revamp.
I would like to see the Idle-disconnect timer lengthened to at least 15 minutes [if it is not already] to help accomodate the service in its current incarnation.
Just_Bri
Fri Jun 11, 2004 3:36 pm
#13
I don't have a problem with Image Designers having the ability to stat migrate. I do feel the implimentation of the timer needs to be altered to be less of a drain on myself while doing them and to be less of a hassle to my in-game customers who is having it done. I also would like it to be more of a hands-on procedure than simply checking a box. IF I had to change the numbers myself after being told by the customer what he wanted them as, I would be fine with that. It would give me something to do and also give the customer a reason to talk to me.
Waiting tem minutes for four mouse clicks is not only the bane of interactivity, but it also lacks... style.
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