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Thread: Suggestion: Add (Shuttle/Freighter) Merchant pilot tree (none combat)
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Tumbler2002
Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:30 am
#1
I like the idea but what would the missions entale without fighting?
I'm not sure I see a purpose for someone doing this if there is nothing to do with it?
I'm not sure I see a purpose for someone doing this if there is nothing to do with it?
Treena_Daal
Sun Apr 10, 2005 9:16 am
#2
Many Imperial pilots (and I would be one of them) would be extremely unhappy if Lambda shuttles were given to another piloting profession. Also, I am pretty certain that the T-16 Skyhopper is not suitable for space travel.
Finally, what would this profession do? It would be almost impossible to lose your missions, since you just have to avoid getting blown up. Once you made Master, then what? Space would be even more useless to you than it is for normal pilots. I'm not sure how this would really do anything positive.
Finally, what would this profession do? It would be almost impossible to lose your missions, since you just have to avoid getting blown up. Once you made Master, then what? Space would be even more useless to you than it is for normal pilots. I'm not sure how this would really do anything positive.
Litushot
Sun Apr 10, 2005 9:36 am
#3
Some good ideas, minus the fact that the Lambda wouldn't be going to IMP players (and I'm rebel, lol). Tho in order for this to work the economic system would have to be reworked to provide a real need for shipping, rather than just giving RPers something else to do 
Sin-Vraal
Sun Apr 10, 2005 9:58 am
#4
Why even bother with making a skill tree dedicated to merchant professions?
Not to denigrate those in the mercantile businesses, but I don't think the idea--as floated--would work too well.
Rather, it seems that it would make more sense to just add freighters (and other transport ships) to the game and to make them accessible to any pilots. Perhaps limit them to X levels of pilot skill progression if it turns out that having them available to all novice pilots breaks some sort of balance.
The best part, as I see it, of adding freighters/transports is that--with any luck--it'll create a market for combat pilots to fly escort missions that don't (necessarily) involve inept NPC charges. And for those players who don't trust other players, it's a good excuse to add NPC wingmen (much like in Privateer 2), which I'd like to see anyway.
A secondary benefit (and possibly the best reason to link "better" freighters to higher levels of pilot skill) would give us a nice slate for chassis modification. Think Millenium Falcon, Hound's Tooth, or Wild Kaarde. Shipwrights/starship engineers (probably the latter) get the ability to take chassis blueprints (or better yet, deeds for existing vessels) for freighters and other civilian vessels and change them: add hardpoints for weaponry, better shields/armour, better equipment. I'd expect a system like this work work somewhat like experimentation, with the risk that the finished 'print might "fail" when you go to buy/redeed the chassis, and there should definitely be a limit to just how much modification a vessel can take before things start failing for no good reason (again, I've got the Falcon in mind here), to help keep things balanced. I'd also advocate moving the YT-1300 out of the Privateer tree and giving us a more generic (yes, that's right) MP ship.
Don't get me wrong, I like the OP's idea, but I think it'd work better being taken a step further, rather than just imitating the existing pilot trees.
Not to denigrate those in the mercantile businesses, but I don't think the idea--as floated--would work too well.
Rather, it seems that it would make more sense to just add freighters (and other transport ships) to the game and to make them accessible to any pilots. Perhaps limit them to X levels of pilot skill progression if it turns out that having them available to all novice pilots breaks some sort of balance.
The best part, as I see it, of adding freighters/transports is that--with any luck--it'll create a market for combat pilots to fly escort missions that don't (necessarily) involve inept NPC charges. And for those players who don't trust other players, it's a good excuse to add NPC wingmen (much like in Privateer 2), which I'd like to see anyway.
A secondary benefit (and possibly the best reason to link "better" freighters to higher levels of pilot skill) would give us a nice slate for chassis modification. Think Millenium Falcon, Hound's Tooth, or Wild Kaarde. Shipwrights/starship engineers (probably the latter) get the ability to take chassis blueprints (or better yet, deeds for existing vessels) for freighters and other civilian vessels and change them: add hardpoints for weaponry, better shields/armour, better equipment. I'd expect a system like this work work somewhat like experimentation, with the risk that the finished 'print might "fail" when you go to buy/redeed the chassis, and there should definitely be a limit to just how much modification a vessel can take before things start failing for no good reason (again, I've got the Falcon in mind here), to help keep things balanced. I'd also advocate moving the YT-1300 out of the Privateer tree and giving us a more generic (yes, that's right) MP ship.
Don't get me wrong, I like the OP's idea, but I think it'd work better being taken a step further, rather than just imitating the existing pilot trees.
Message Edited by Sin-Vraal on 04-10-2005 10:01 AM
Wulfman_GA
Sun Apr 10, 2005 10:15 am
#5
Well, I admit .. if I get the Lamda Shuttle as an Imperial pilot I (personally) would be happy with that as well.
Anyway, regarding the concerns of the "what would this profession be good for if you can't blow things up?"
Personally I think there are some players out there that want more non combat related content. On the ground you have Entertainers (not talking about buff bots now) and several crafting professions. Have you ever done Artisan missions? There is not much risk of failing as well. Additionally I would think that the more advanced the missions get the higher the risk of pirate raiders along the way (or the more risky the areas of space are that you have to fly through). Still the option is there to outrun the attackers.
Obviously, on all Spaceship hangars there should be Delivery Mission Terminals (difficulty / risk level can be adjusted by the Merchant pilot rating).
Regarding the ships:
As I said, this was just a list of ideas. A novice Merchant pilot would have to start with something (like the starter ship without any thrills and hyper drive) and from there on it continues. As JTL is not new anymore I am also sure it would be possible to base a new profession only on Shipwright crafted ships (without a starter ship). Though, that would mean it would make the pilot professions uneven.
Anyway, regarding the concerns of the "what would this profession be good for if you can't blow things up?"
Personally I think there are some players out there that want more non combat related content. On the ground you have Entertainers (not talking about buff bots now) and several crafting professions. Have you ever done Artisan missions? There is not much risk of failing as well. Additionally I would think that the more advanced the missions get the higher the risk of pirate raiders along the way (or the more risky the areas of space are that you have to fly through). Still the option is there to outrun the attackers.
Obviously, on all Spaceship hangars there should be Delivery Mission Terminals (difficulty / risk level can be adjusted by the Merchant pilot rating).
Regarding the ships:
As I said, this was just a list of ideas. A novice Merchant pilot would have to start with something (like the starter ship without any thrills and hyper drive) and from there on it continues. As JTL is not new anymore I am also sure it would be possible to base a new profession only on Shipwright crafted ships (without a starter ship). Though, that would mean it would make the pilot professions uneven.
Wulfman_GA
Sun Apr 10, 2005 12:23 pm
#6
So far all of JTl is about Fighter ships and combat while the ground game also has some none combat related content. Why don't we have this in space?
Don't get me wrong, I personally like the Fighter flying and I would hope for more content in that as well, but I have a few friends who never bought JTL because it is only based on Space fighters and nothing else.
Here my suggestion:
Add a Shuttle / Freighter pilot tree (0 skill points, just like the other pilot trees).
Give a Incom T16 as the starter ship.
While advancing through the pilot levels add ships like:
Heavy Lifter , Transport (small Transport ship used in Tie Fighter, XvT, XWA etc), Lambda Shuttle, YT-2000, Muurian Transport, Mobquet Transport , YT-2400
(Note: This list is a suggestion I do not expect all of them to be added).
Build a story line with cargo missions, dock with containers, transport people (NPC) from one planet to another etc.
In the later Tiers it would be good to add some attacks (where the merchant pilot can either get a gunner for the ship or try to outrun them). After all it is a Multiplayer game, maybe even allow for real player fighter support.
In difference to the Lady Lucky the Merchant pilot ships are attackable, but the mission itself would not require space fighting.
The more advanced Shuttles / Transports should support gun turrets for a second pilot (gunner) who can be of any pilot tree as he does not pilot the ship.
I think this would make space more Star Wars like ....
Don't get me wrong, I personally like the Fighter flying and I would hope for more content in that as well, but I have a few friends who never bought JTL because it is only based on Space fighters and nothing else.
Here my suggestion:
Add a Shuttle / Freighter pilot tree (0 skill points, just like the other pilot trees).
Give a Incom T16 as the starter ship.
While advancing through the pilot levels add ships like:
Heavy Lifter , Transport (small Transport ship used in Tie Fighter, XvT, XWA etc), Lambda Shuttle, YT-2000, Muurian Transport, Mobquet Transport , YT-2400
(Note: This list is a suggestion I do not expect all of them to be added).
Build a story line with cargo missions, dock with containers, transport people (NPC) from one planet to another etc.
In the later Tiers it would be good to add some attacks (where the merchant pilot can either get a gunner for the ship or try to outrun them). After all it is a Multiplayer game, maybe even allow for real player fighter support.
In difference to the Lady Lucky the Merchant pilot ships are attackable, but the mission itself would not require space fighting.
The more advanced Shuttles / Transports should support gun turrets for a second pilot (gunner) who can be of any pilot tree as he does not pilot the ship.
I think this would make space more Star Wars like ....
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