Scout Archive
Thread: Apprentice XP for Master Scout nice theory, but seems like a pyramid scheme
I have to say that pushing for my AXP drove me into areas of the game that I probably wouldn't have tried otherwise, and find myself pleasantly suprised. 
Just an update... I have been spending much more time in cantinas, med center, and starport since my last post on this thread. Still zero AXP was earned from that time until now...
A few people shouted for training, most wanted something I couldn't offer and others were "snatched" up by other players. One other problem that comes into play is lag in these populated areas.... sometimes takes me forever to move towards players requesting training.
Chekula
Chekula wrote:Just an update... I have been spending much more time in cantinas, med center, and starport since my last post on this thread. Still zero AXP was earned from that time until now...
A few people shouted for training, most wanted something I couldn't offer and others were "snatched" up by other players. One other problem that comes into play is lag in these populated areas.... sometimes takes me forever to move towards players requesting training.
Chekula
You could always get some training in these 'other skills' that everyone wants... I know this stuff seems REALLY annoying for some of you hardcore folks, but taking a little bit of extra time and viewing this as an opportunity instead of a roadblock can really make a difference. With just the tiniest smidgeon of socialization, the AXP will come along just fine. Don't sit in the cantina fuming about how you're 'wasting' time - sit there and actually interact with people. Forget about your 'problem' and try and help somebody else solve theirs. Corny as hell, but it'll work - trust me.
Watchingone, I agree and have tried everything anyone has mentioned... I am simply having a difficult time. I don't think it is a bug or a problem, but if it is this difficult for me... it could really be difficult for new players.
I am a casual gamer and socializing at cantinas and such has been one of my favorite parts of the game. Since I am casual, this has driven me crazy (yet).
Delta, thanks for the offer. I am on Sunrunner, so if you ever are there and need training look me up!
Chekula
Chekula,
I agree totally with you. I am having a very hard time also; it's been so bad that i have been thinking of getting a new account to power level a bot. That would suck, but I am in the habit of paying money to fix problems.
Anyways I just wanted to say I am also frustrated. Iam not a solitary player but I feel I am forced to dealwith a system that awardsthe players who have been in the game early (early enough to get the apprenticeship points they need because there was not that many people at master and elitelevels) andpunishes those who do not have the time to spend 3 to 5 hours a day fighting for 20 apprenticeship points.
Okay, I maxed out my AXP in the first week of the game. I finally took Master Scout after being qualified for it, for over 2 weeks. I then remaxed my AXP in less thana week, that being about 15 hours total. All my training opportunities came from the med center, cantina, or while in groups. The med center and cantina got me close to Mastering both of those in short time. For anyone starting out grab all skills you can and only sell them off when you are qualified for your next wanted skill. This gives people opportunity to train you while you move up these less attractive to you professions and allows you more various skills to train.
To those in need of the quick AXP, due to you being close to Mastering. Try grouping and checking everyone in the group. While you are grouped let the others know that you are in need of the XP and that way if anyone yells for training they might give you first dibs. I am asked for training all the time, yet I allow anyone else in my group the opportunity to train first. My friend was close to mastering a profession but needed a lot of AXP, he sat in very popular med centers and answered any and all training requests. We took more shuttles than normal just to catch people while they are waiting for their next shuttle. We set up camps in high traveled areas and usually had people stop for a few seconds and he would offer.
Just be aware of the spatial chatbar and when in social areas mention but don't spam that you are needing to gain AXP and that you are available.
Good luck out there,
Actually I wonder if a good way to solve or at least help with this problem wouldnt be to remove training options from trainers for every basic classes, they would only be there to train you in novice but for any other skill we'd need to find someone with that skill to train us. How hard can it be to find someone to train us in any skill from Artisan, Marksman, Medic,...just easy I'd say
Of course those trainers were required at beginning and still will be for elite professions but finding someone to train us in any basic prof just cant be hard but, and it prolly hurt scouts more than other prof as they love running naked in wilderness (j/k) cause they'd prefer going quickly to a NPC trainer and pay 1 to 5k for a skill than goingto some crowded placeto find a scout that would train him/her
Personally when I could learn a new scout skill I just ran in town, usually Kaadara, shouted a few times but as nobody was there I prefered just paying NPC trainer and go back to the wild rather than waiting on shuttle and going to Theed or Corellia to find someone, now if there wasnt those basic trainers to get those skills anymore I'd have gone to another town and given APX to some other scout in need of it 
Elite trainers are required cause some elite prof have few ppl that chose this path but basic prof trainers only teaching novice would be perfectly fine imo, although I know there would be times when it sucks finding a trainer I think it would help situation more than hurt and require more interaction between ppl also
I have two macros on my main toolbar /trainMe and /trainYou. One of them I use to spam my latest needs for training, the other says "I am currently training all I, II, III and some IV levels of Scout free of charge. Send /tell."
In the past week I've had to pay for scout training in Theed and Coronet after spending an hour in the cantina or med center spamming /trainMe. I waited 2 days for Exploration III, Hunting III, and Carbines IV because I couldn't find anyone to train me. I broke down and got training from an NPC Trainer in Keren because I got tired of hitting Shift-F11 all the time.
I have trained ONE person in the last week when spamming /trainYou and watching for scouts requesting training...that was for all the languages I know, not scout skills and was a completely off the cuff thing. A dancer couldn't understand a wookie talking to her so I offered to teach her all the languages in the game. I stopped using /trainYou after a week because it wasn't working to get me my AXP.
The problem is three-fold:
SWG is a game played mostly OUTSIDE the cities. The only reasons to come into a city is 1) The Bazaar, 2) Training, 3) Healing, 4) Getting another mission, 5) Safe place to AFK. Other than that you spend most of your time outside the cities; especially SCOUTS.
Lack of fresh newb characters. I just don't see many.
Player conentration in cities -- ever go to Lake Retreat on Naboo? Last night at 8:30PM EDT(US) which is prime time on BloodFin, there was no one in the Cantina and no one at the shuttle port. From what I've seen on Naboo you almost have to go to Theed to find anyone who can train you or give training, and on Corellia you have to be in Coronet or Tyrena.
Now that said, player-built cities SHOULD help this problem, but us scouts are still getting the short end of the stick since our profession consists of spending as much time as possible outside the cities. AXP is going to be hardest for us because, unlike Artisand who also spend time away from cities tending to vendors and harvesters, we don't have a waypoint on the world map to bring people to us.
As you can tell, I don't care for the AXP system. I think giving substantial amounts of general XP applicable to any skillset would make more of a difference in creating a cooperative atmosphere and giving players a reason to train each other. I will, however, live with the system. Its ok, its just not the best answer given the way the game works.
FUna,
Disagreements are okay.
Generally, I've found that the best locations for training are in the generally most traversed spot.
For instance, right now, Endor has some good paying missions - so it's back on the list of top spots to visit. You'll find lots of people to train.
And then again, sometimes people are looking for training and can't find it. I spent half an hour grinding DE stuff in the Theed cantina, beggingfor Business II or Domestic Arts I and couldn't find a soul willing to train me.
It can be hit or miss.
And I'm really going to feel it hard when Wilsc wants to become a Master Artisan. I guess I'll have to put my money where my mouth is then.
B
Hello,
I don't have anything new to add but felt one more voice...who knows. I guess I picked the wrong profession for a casual player. My main issue is the same as most casual scouts I really don't want to sit around for what could turn out to be my whole gameplaying time for the week hoping someone comes by and needs training. I hang out in Moenia Naboo which is fairly busy. For two nights I spent an hour shouting training with /invite in my chat bar and I got exactly 0 AXP. Also, strangely enough, if you try to start training at a lower level there just doesn't seem to be the demand for your limited skills. Almost all the the few trainings I have done have been for skills I have just finished. That's it for the whining
Possible fix - since we can exchange faction points for things why not AXP? Even at 10 to 1 exchange (heck make it even more) I would rather be running around playing than sitting on my behind listening to the same songs at the cantina. Don't get me wrong I like interacting but I also like to explore and view the cool environments.
Visa I'Nel
Delta,
Thanks for the response. I totally dig where you are coming from and the logic behind AXP. At first glance it seems like a great idea. In fact I thought it was a great idea.
But to totally beat this horse into the ground.
1) From the posts i've seen most (not all) of the people that have had little to no problem with AXP are either a) players that started close to release date so they have been around when everyone was low level or b) uber players that are on all the time.
2) How much interaction does training someone really promote? How many of the people you have trained are you still in contact with 1%? 10%? Also as an incentive to help new players, people will do that if they want to or not regardless of AXP. Personally I love helping newbies but if a person wants to be a maird a la tete (excuse my very poor French) they will be, AXP or no AXP
Anyway sorry to drag this out but it seems to be a problem based on the size of this thread, albeit probably a relativelysmall one. PersonallyI like Jai-Bri's project, get to meet new folks, help and hopefully put this problem to rest for us at least.
Thanks for all your help and for being the scout corespondent, so when is SOE going to double your pay ?
Visa I'Nel
Stjerne,
I don't want to put any words in the Devs mouths, but providing other ways for players to get the AXP that they need besides teaching someone really defeats the purpose. The point is to provide other players with an incentive to help the newer players. It also helps the newer players by saving them money.
One other thing that I just thought of - hang out near the Scout trainer in the most popular areas. When players come to the Scout trainer, offer to train them instead. This may work better for the higher level professions (where there are fewer trainers) but maybe this may make it easier for you.
B