Ranger Archive

Thread: Revised harvesting changes..

Obata
Sat Feb 19, 2005 6:40 pm
#235






Dariane_Kamutsovy wrote:





Obata wrote:





Dariane_Kamutsovy wrote:


You are wrong there.... Use mathematics for the calculations done as it is programmed as well... Easy as that. All proof can be done mathematically/logically, wether to proof it's faulty or correct.


Simple example:


MRanger CHB=100


Ranger0040 CHB=90


MRanger Grouped with Ranger0040 gets 20%= 100 *1.2 = 120


Ranger0040 Groupted with MRanger gets 40% = 100*1.4 = 136


Ergo Ranger0040 gets MORE harvest then MRanger in group.


Final.



Can be done for the rest as well. Leave it as a school example to the rest of you.






You made a few mistakes here. The master ranger grouped with a 0040 range get's a 30% bonus, not a 20, making the mod with bonus +140. Also your Ranger 0040 calculation should read 40% = 0.9*1.4=1.26. If we just used theoretical calculations, instead of testing (and did the math right ), we'd assume that a master ranger still harvests more, even with the group bonus.





Give me a break... it's 2am here

Even tough i made a mistake in writing down you made one too:


The master ranger grouped with a 0040 gets a 30 bonus instead of a 20% (agreed) but then it is a mod bonus of 130 (not 140). Still proofing that a Ranger0040 grouped is better ofthen a MRanger

Point stays


But i'm glad someone else is taking it up on mathematics (referring to your other post I just saw


As for the hard data part: no.. I don't need to see the numbers as I already expected the formula to be found to be in effect to determine how much anyone gets. You only derived it from the hard data, that's fine.


If that formula was NOT in any way related to the CHB factor from the skills, then something BASIC would have been terribley wrong in either application design or in implementations (sorry, but as a bachelor in cs i cannot let this one pass)...


Ergo, CHB factor can be used in combination with the given bonus numbers (20, 30 and 40%) to determine what the impacts would be.


Point stays.







The point you missed is that, until the true formula was derived, we would have all assumed that the harvesting mod is used as a simple multiplier. We would have all been wrong, and would have done a bunch of beautiful math that would have had no root in reality. Deriving the formula by using the hard data is the only way it could be done, barring one of SOEs programmers looking it up in the code for us.


Yes, I did make a typo on the master rangers bonus, it should have been 130, but that's still higher than the 126 for the 0040. That means, had we just acted on those thoertical numbers, we would NOT have expected to see the 0040 ranger harvest more. It's only after doing some testing that we not only know that the 0040 ranger does harvest more and why that happens. With the formula in hand, less actual testing is now needed. But, my formula is really just a new model that happens to explain everything we've observed so far. It could still be completely wrong.


Edit: I forgot to reiterate that you miscalculated the 0040 mod when grouped with a MR, it would be 126, not 136. That makes it less than the aforementioned 130 that the master ranger would get. Therefore, your point was wrong. You see it now?

Message Edited by Obata on 02-20-2005 01:34 AM



Obata Lightingflier (Deceased): Master Doctor, Master Combat Medic - Wanderhome
Opos Odet (Deceased): Master Artisan, Master Merchant, Master Musician - Wanderhome
Almagill
Sat Feb 19, 2005 8:11 pm
#236



Dariane_Kamutsovy wrote:


Almagill wrote:


DaveG wrote:
I'm not sure 'we' (as a community) should be testing this at all, by doing so we're validating an unfair system.






If we don't test it, who will?
It doesn't get tested it doesn't get fixed.
We can test and NOT validate, by showing what IS wrong.
We can't show whats wrong by not testing.
We don't test, it goes in like this.
It goes in like this, well...

You are wrong there.... Use mathematics for the calculations done as it is programmed as well... Easy as that. All proof can be done mathematically/logically, wether to proof it's faulty or correct.

Simple example:

MRanger CHB=100

Ranger0040 CHB=90

MRanger Grouped with Ranger0040 gets 20%= 100 *1.2 = 120

Ranger0040 Groupted with MRanger gets 40% = 100*1.4 = 136

Ergo Ranger0040 gets MORE harvest then MRanger in group.

Final.

Can be done for the rest as well. Leave it as a school example to the rest of you.







Yup, I can do the math too, even put it in a nice little spreadsheet that lets me tinker with variables and all.

BUT it's figures 'from the field' that Tigg's is looking for, so she can then go back to whoever and go "Look, this is what they've gone and checked and found out..."

Any other way of doing it we need to use assumptions, assume that theres a creature density, that this or that affects the harvest, we build up a complex formula and it gives us a set of results, but at best it's an informed guess and, what's worse, it leaves an opening for the Dev side to say "Ah, but when they go out and actually harvest they'll not find that things are that bad"

The danger here is that we end up arguing with each other as to how to collect the data or do the sums and NOT arguing with the Dev's that they've managed to come up with something thats unbalanced.

They'll see sense eventually. Even if we've got to take them out to hunt with us and show them how the darned game works.



New HOWTO: Gather Milk, Fish, Mollusk, etc.
Remember Rangers. Broke camp and took the Long Walk 15/11/05
Keeping it Real, Ranger Style
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\\\\\\MY OTHER SIG IS A BUMPER STICKER\\\\\\
Almagill
Sat Feb 19, 2005 8:12 pm
#237



Owen-Lars wrote:
Some great discussions
Cheers for doing some great testing guys ive used alot of it in my report on the corr forums. JB has got on board in the thread and i expect the others to soon enough.
DaveG Wrote:
"To Owen: If all else fails, remind them of the old saying, "The customer is always right", and we're the customers!"

lol yeah im thinkin of tatooing "The Ranger customers are always right" on Tigg's arm when she is sleeping
/runasfastaslegswillcarryme





You can run as fast as you want mate, Tigg's can warp! (Where d'you want the flowers sent?)




New HOWTO: Gather Milk, Fish, Mollusk, etc.
Remember Rangers. Broke camp and took the Long Walk 15/11/05
Keeping it Real, Ranger Style
Yivvits and MrBubble - THE podcast


\\\\\\MY OTHER SIG IS A BUMPER STICKER\\\\\\
Almagill
Sat Feb 19, 2005 8:31 pm
#238

Final word for the night. Has this imbalance actually been 'bugged' in the In Testing forum, because if you read there the only problems anyone is having is that the jukebox stops playing when you leave the room and the TEF flag is still waving.

I know it has been thoroughly thrashed out here, and I know that Owen et al have been lobbying like stink behind the scenes but it should be bug repped to make sure it doesn't slide into "nobody reported it inthe thread, so we didn't think it needed fixed" territory.



New HOWTO: Gather Milk, Fish, Mollusk, etc.
Remember Rangers. Broke camp and took the Long Walk 15/11/05
Keeping it Real, Ranger Style
Yivvits and MrBubble - THE podcast


\\\\\\MY OTHER SIG IS A BUMPER STICKER\\\\\\
Phenix1050
Sat Feb 19, 2005 10:59 pm
#239

Dave, I think more people want a system where a Master Ranger is viable in both solo and group harvesting. That doesn't imply a no-bonus, no-penalty system. Because of the testing we did, we know scout stackers can kill quicker than a MR. I'm more concerened about that problem. Giving a Master Ranger a group bonus is a good thing, since it encourages group play. That has been a goal of the devs for a long time. The solo group change, the looting rights change and this one are all aimed at encouraging group play. You don't have to do things that way, but that's your CHOICE. You don't have to group up to do missions, but there is an advantage to it.


Role playing is good, but sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the greater good. I don't see many people agreeing with you Dave. They see the concern, but I think in general, people understand that there needs to be an incentive to group as a MR. This provides that. The numbers aren't perfect. BUt the concept is good. You don't like it because it affects you. I hunt solo too, most of the time. But I like it because it's good for THE GAME. A small gripe like saying "I won't be as good as another Master Ranger in a group" is small potatoes compared to the overall state of the game.


A 0040 Ranger shouldn't be as good as a Master Ranger, even in a group, that's for sure. But grouping with a Ranger SHOULD get you a bonus.But the Ranger should get a bonus too. I'm sorry if thatdoesn'tfit with what you want, but that's what I think is best for the game.



PHE'NIX ANTARUS
BOTHAN ELDER RANGER
BEST LOOKINGSPY EVER--FOUNDER OF SATGWNIWNU
BURNING H*TPANTS SINCE 2003


This is horrible! I return to find my new title on the forum is "Jedi". What's up with that? If they wanted to confer that I'm rare and learned, they'd make my title RANGER. and then make it camo colored.
Calculus_Entropy
Sat Feb 19, 2005 11:00 pm
#240

I am completely 100% for a bonus to harvesting while in a group. My only probem is that a Master Ranger does not benefit from his own skills.


Dave, you will still be able to harvest as much while solo as you always could. If you choose not to group, your harvesting rates will not change. The choice is yours whether or not you want to harvest more.



Calculus Entropy
Ranger Blue Glowie Emeritus
Garindan used /areatrack to find Han.
Phenix1050
Sat Feb 19, 2005 11:10 pm
#241

Dave a couple of more things:


- when grouped you kill stuff faster

-when grouped you can get higher missions

-when grouped you can have someone heal you


There will ALWAYS be an incentive to group. This is an Multiplayer game. Yes, it's a roleplaying game too. But nobody should be as effective by themselves as a group is. I'm sorry, but even solo hunters like you and me need to look at this from a bigger picture. In terms of the game, if we can ensure that a grouped Master Ranger is much better than a grouped 0040 Ranger, then we have done something good for the game. If it hurts our gameplay a little bit, but makes the game much better, then we have to suck it up. I'm willing to do this. And I'm going to tell you know, I'm 95% sure that there will be a bonus going in, so making suggestions to help make a system that contains a bonus but also keeps us powerful is better than arguing blindly against a system that promotes what the devs want (group interaction).



PHE'NIX ANTARUS
BOTHAN ELDER RANGER
BEST LOOKINGSPY EVER--FOUNDER OF SATGWNIWNU
BURNING H*TPANTS SINCE 2003


This is horrible! I return to find my new title on the forum is "Jedi". What's up with that? If they wanted to confer that I'm rare and learned, they'd make my title RANGER. and then make it camo colored.
GrigsOnia
Sat Feb 19, 2005 11:48 pm
#242


I am all for the bonus while grouped, but I do see where DaveG is coming from. And giving out a bonus to one play-style is the exact same thing as giving a penalty to the other. If you hand one kida piece of candy andgive nothing to the other kid, you are inadvertantly penalizing the other kid. It may not look that way to you, but you are giving one person more then the other, which is the "nice" way of penalizing.


My solution would be to give a small bonus to grouping, to encourage it, but not a big enough bonus that solo harvesting takes a significant hit. Say 10% or so for being grouped with a Master Ranger, that way the people in groups get a bonus, but it is small enough that the solo players dont feel left in the dust.



Grigs Onia

Ranger is a lifestyle, long may it endure!
12/25/03-11/15/05
Vorpaks
Sun Feb 20, 2005 1:02 am
#243

Here are some numbers Dave, we did ungrouped too of course.



Paks
Master Ranger/Master Creature Handler
-I support ATK play

DaveG
Sun Feb 20, 2005 1:05 am
#244


Last thing I want is to fall out with 'my side', but I want you all to realise that testing and getting bogged down in various sets of data, is just the thin edge of the wedge.


What exactly do you hope to find in your results to convince the devs to throw the bonus system out, rather than just adjust it?


If they just adjust it, we're still stuck with a bonus system which only serves to tell us howwe should play the game.


If they remove it, we are free to play the game as we choose to play it.


Which way would you choose?


Edit: Paks post went up while I wrote this, I'm going to check her link now.

Message Edited by DaveG on 02-19-2005 08:06 PM



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I didn't use buffs or uber armour, so why did the combat revamp have to spoil my game?
John Smedley and SOE: Reap what you sow
DaveG
Sun Feb 20, 2005 1:12 am
#245






Vorpaks wrote:
Here are some numbers Dave, we did ungrouped too of course.






Yep, I read those, and just as I said a couple of posts up, it demonstrates the obvious result that an ungrouped hunter is out-harvesetd by a corresponding grouped hunter. I could have (and did) told you this would be the result, and is thus why I questioned the worth of testing.


Kudos on putting the work in to collecting the numbers none the less, not the most fun of exercises I imagine.




Freelance hunter and pilot - Available for hire.
Correcting the timeline, one Jedi at a time.

Sheriff of Mos Aga'me, 1KM West of Mos Eisely, Tatooine, Farstar. IGN: DaveG
I didn't use buffs or uber armour, so why did the combat revamp have to spoil my game?
John Smedley and SOE: Reap what you sow
Vorpaks
Sun Feb 20, 2005 1:24 am
#246



DaveG wrote:


Vorpaks wrote:
Here are some numbers Dave, we did ungrouped too of course.


Yep, I read those, and just as I said a couple of posts up, it demonstrates the obvious result that an ungrouped hunter is out-harvesetd by a corresponding grouped hunter. I could have (and did) told you this would be the result, and is thus why I questioned the worth of testing.

Kudos on putting the work in to collecting the numbers none the less, not the most fun of exercises I imagine.




I think it is safe to say there are also three discussions going on.

Discussion 1: You should never offer incentives for grouping because it, by default, penalizes the solo player.

Discussion 2: You should offer incentives for grouping, but the percentage amount harvested should remain the same. For example, if a Master Ranger has paid the skill points to harvest X% more than a Ranger 0040, they should always harvest at least that much more, no matter what the group dynamics.

Discussion 3: A Master Ranger should always harvest more than anyone, grouped or ungrouped. For example, An ungrouped Master Ranger should harvest more than a Ranger 0040 who is grouped with a Master Ranger.

There may be more discussions, but those are the main ones I've noticed kicking through the thread.



Paks
Master Ranger/Master Creature Handler
-I support ATK play

frightwig
Sun Feb 20, 2005 1:31 am
#247


DaveG wrote:
I'm not sure 'we' (as a community) should be testing this at all, by doing so we're validating an unfair system.





How do I put this...

GIVE IT A REST ALREADY! You're completely missing the point. it's a multiplayer game and the devs are going to encourage grouping. Even more so when CURB comes. They do plan to implement a bonus for grouping somehow.

Whether you want to solo or group hunt is up to you. We definitely DO need to test this and it's absurd to think by refusing to test we're "validating an unfair system".

Fair or not, our main concern right now is how the bonuses factor in and balance out. We need to make sure we understand these changes exactly, how it affects us, and present the facts to our correspondent so we can figure out how to get this changed for the best.

As this change stands right now, it's very unbalanced with the majority of the grouping benefit given to scouts and novice rangers, but not master rangers. Unfortunately, the devs seem set on giving a bonus, so the best we can hope for right now is to make sure our profession isn't hurt by this bonus.

Grouping or not, that's your choice.. but the days of the solo ranger are numbered, whether we like it or not.



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° [Imperial Pilot Ace] :: Storm Squadron
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