Image Designer Archive

Somewhat curious now about folks opinions on this subject, and hoping that it may provide at least something of a useful idea/extrapolation for adjusting the metrics of xp.

How long of 'active' playtime [pure ID Work Hours] should Mastering Image Designer take, starting from Novice Entertainer?

Assume that the ID is working with "clients" [be they real clients or click-bots] and not self-practicing.

And, how long should ID take relative to other professions [BH, Ranger, Dancer, TKA, Riflemen, Bio-Engineer, Armorsmith, etc].

Right now, I'm unsure, because 60 hours "sounds" rights, but it probably is too long. For relative, I think it should sit about the same as the other 'simple' First-Tier Elite professions [Dancer, Riflemen, yada].

I can master commando in less than 48 hours from novice marksman (169 skill pts), master tailor in less than 15 hours from novice artisan (92 skill pts), and master doctor in less than 10 hours (140 skill pts). Thus I would say to master ID (92 skill pts), it should take no less than 10 hours, but no more than 24. Honestly it took me 4 weeks to master merchant (92 skill points), but then again, I spent probably only 1-2 hours of setting up vendors. The rest was passive. I honestly would have no problem with ID taking 4 weeks to master as long as I could do something else besides stare at a timer counting down. The difficulty of the profession as a result of the timer is not as much my complaint as is how BORING it is. If I want to be bored by watching a clock tick down, I'll got to work, because at least I get paid for that.

Just FYI, I started (from Novice Entertainer) on 05-18-2004 at 1am. Since, I have put in over 10 hours a day, and I'm currently 2-1-0-0 Image Designer.

It is the most tedious method of operating a computer I have ever encountered in my life. And I've been on computers since 1984. Programming 50,000+ lines of binary machine code on a faulty touch-sensitive ZX81 keyboard was more riveting than levelling in the ID profession on SWG. (At least I could be bored sh!tless at my own pace on the ZX81..)

Thank you, SOE - for capitalizing on the fact that I have loved Star Wars since I was a child, Thank you for printing "even play a Jedi.." on the box, and thank you for stating all those months ago that the Jedi FSCS system would not be based on luck.

/trolls away back to the grind..

..oops, forgot to add that I am emphasizing my last post on the term: tedious, not on the time taken to level up. Time isn't the problem here, what you do during the time, is.

Im with MutantSquirel Def round 10 hours max.

Did it in 2 while hologrinding

Buns

Hmm interesting point I saw someone else post, and curious to see it's effects/results.

When comparing against other crafting professions, should we assume that the resources are "purchased" or include a 'time to obtain' resources for the crafting experience?

Of course, given that any length of serious combat profession makes it extremely easy to just mass purchase the resources necessary for a grind-out, is it even worth considering?

---

RebelMasterArchitect wrote:

Im with MutantSquirel Def round 10 hours max.

Did it in 2 while hologrinding

Buns

---

ID was next on my list for a holo grind, and I just finished Rifleman... so this is a good example.

Granted, I'm a MCH as well, which did help me a lot as far as time for mastering rifleman, I also did use mind enhancers, which lowered my down time. Overall play time I have to estimate at no more than 30 hours of actual hunting to Master Rifleman, from Novice Marksman.

I started in on ID shortly after the 8.1 patch, and started doing some math. Sitting in the tent, working on another player who agreed to help me with ID, I spend 6 seconds typing out /image, and changing eye color. Then sit for 2m 47s of watching the timer so I can actually do something for 6 seconds again. Figuring 300 points of exp for every two and a half minutes, plus 10 seconds to account for server lag, not being right on the ball on clicking commit or accept per change, with a total needed exp of 441000 from novice entertainer to Master ID... that's 1470 ID's... granted there are more before you get ID III in entertainer... at 2.5 minutes each is 3675 minutes, which is 61 hours and 15 minutes. Adding in 10 seconds per change for the buffer time, another 4 hours. 65 hours and 15 minutes total time from novice ent to Master ID. Of which only 2.4 hours is spend DOING something. The extra 4 hours will be less for some, more for others, but using that as an average, only .035% of the time needed to get to Master ID is spend DOING something. This is the complaint against the timer.

Yes, I agree ID was too easy... no profession should take an hour or two to master, but the current system is just not enough to do something with. There is no way to lower this time, either through skill, buffs, droids, anything. It was an arbitrary timer chosen because they could. I do not know anyone whether they love a profession or not, who wants to spend 55+ hours of doing NOTHING BUT WATCHING A TIMER to master their profession. Droids could help, food could help, armor tapes to lower this time limit, but there is no way to lower this time, period. That is the argument against the timer.

What should be a reasonable time? I can't say. 60 hours might be right, as a base time, outside of a tent, working on yourself. 60 hours as the best that can be done, unacceptable in it's current form, as it's just too boring.

Take this with a grain of salt if you think of me only as a holo grinder, but I am also a player, and thinking of many others who do want to keep this profession. I thank you for your time, and thoughts.