Smuggler Archive
Thread: Constructive Criticism for GM, Tiggs, etc... on the new Slicing Changes.
Overall I agree and like the new slicing system. Even though it was "dumbed down".
Now if they fix it so pre Pub 19 sliced weapons show that they can't be sliced so we are not buying such items with the intention of slicing them only to find we can't. Also fix the AUK\WUK salvage issues.
Since everything I have is in crates waiting eternally for a hotfix on crated upgrade kits, the only feedback I can muster is based on my analysis of the slicing numbers presented on the boards:
Change crit slice customization %s from 20/40/40 to 20/35/45 to allow for more interesting mixes.
*shrug* thats all I got, aside from a serious increase in slice kit loot frequency
Oh yeah... fix crit while their at it. Useless slice atm, no extra dmg from a successful crit righ now.
The loot based system is bad, because it's another way of slowly killing off the non-combat professions from the game. The crafters and entertainers were what made SWG stand out about other MMORPGs, and were the reason that people like my wife, who doesn't enjoy combat, started playing the game. I realize that the game is not being marketed to find new woman players age 35-50; I understand that the bread-and-butter for SOE right now is kids that just went out and saw E3 and want to be uber jedi. Instead of addressing the issue of getting new players, some attention should be paid to keeping the existing ones. There have been at least two Smugglers since launch on my server that are cancelling their accounts because of the loot based system. I expect there to be more if the Smuggler content-based missions aren't up to expectations.
I was reading Heir to the Empire for the umpteenth time last night, and something that Dravis says really hit me. It's on page 26 of the paperback, 'Profits are what drives a smuggler, Solo. Profits and Excitement'. These changes to the slicing system are going to cut profits, so the content missions had better up our excitement. Combat is not excitement for everyone, for some it's becoming a necessary evil. Please keep that in mind.
My perspective. Not a bash or rant.
To do what we can to make some "Smuggler" Content, the crafted components for the slices can be made contraband that will be confiscated by crackdown NPCs 60% of the time for non - master smugglers and 40% for Master smugglers (or some other percentages based on your current smuggler skills - or lack there of for non smugglers).
Just a thought. But it would definately make a bunch of Stormies look pretty menacing.
QFE
And, how about making the freaking components STACKABLE?
Who do you think actually wants hundreds of these things littering our inventory, homes and ships?
I asked this before the changes and I'll ask afterwards, please make the basic tools into a Slicing Kit which is crafted and has charges. Even carrying crates of kits is better than what we have now. The drop rates for these components seems so low its not even reasonable to expect customers to bring these in. The rare components are more common than the basics!
My feedback so far is that the basic kits are too rare and take up too much pack space. This is a big problem for Master Smugglers trying to make a business out of slicing.
Giving T3 and T4 slicing materials to crafters only puts us back at square one, where slicing isn't a rarity. Having a T4 sliced gun should be difficult to have. AS and WS (like me and you) already pay for high end loots...why should Smugglers not do the same for improving their weapons? We've had it really, REALLY easy for a long time: spices, WUKs, clamps, knives and AUKs had no quality requirements.
I don't know, I just hated knowing that slicing was everywhere, and wasn't the rarity it should have been. Will I take a pay cut for that? You bet. Will Veela probably buy her components? Probably not, but I know for a fact I have quite a few friends that will gladly give me their loots for free, just because they want it out of their inventory. I had a friend hand me 6 Mando pieces, and 6 Delicate Triggers that he looted off Krayts he was hunting over the course of a day.
Now, after having said all that...note that I said T3 and T4 slices shouldn't be in crafters' hands.
I would very much like to see basic components (i.e., the Basic Toolkit) be craftable by either a WS, an AS, or a Master Smuggler.
Honestly though Saarek, I didn't save my clamps for that exact reason you're upset...I knew I was going to get crappy salvages and be mad that I made a whole bunch of space, so I just decided to delete them all and get out and loot stuff. I also set up a vendor and sent out an email that listed what I was looking for, and how much I was willing to pay (which was really low.)
Just my .02, for what it's worth.
P.S. - I DO agree with SpinningCloud though, they take up too much inventory space, and need to be stackable. Perhaps the T3/T4 stuff stack, and the finely crafted and basic toolkits have charges, as suggested above?
Message Edited by MISTagent01 on 06-30-2005 10:30 AM
I can kind of see what they're trying to accomplish by requiring looted components. Who do you know that doesn't ahve a sliced weapon? Sliced weapons are supposed to be illegal and therefore more rare than non-sliced, but quite the contrary is true ATM. By moving to a loot-based system, slicing costs should rise significantly (either in terms of credits or requring the customer to have the looted kits in-hand when they show up), thereby driving down the number of uber-sliced weapons.
I do, however, agree that the continual decline of profession interdependance and the acceleration away from a player-driven economy is bad for the game as a whole. IMO the new slicing system should have used a combination of crafted and looted parts...utilizing crafted parts for the various levels of slicing, and adding loot for the "uber" (level 4) slices. This would allow for decent slices all-around, and keep the high-end weapons and armor more rare/expensive.
current drop rates = bad
tiered system = good
I am so happy now ( at first I was angry ) but I am very happy with the changes because now you won't have merchants stocking vendors FULL of gear that is ILLEGAL. Now people will HAVE to come to get to get their gear sliced. And also... they will have to fork over some dough.
I'm undecided on the loot part. I'll wait till my guild goes up on the avatar and I can check out the drop rate. Right now it doesn't look good. After flying around a spawn point in endor space blasting tier 4 black sun I've yet to loot a single smuggler item. At this rate I'll get a Black Sun helmet before a tool piece.
I'm not too worried about it all though beacuse I'm the only smuggler in my guild and all the grinidng jedi in it are just going to funnel me everything they loot.
I do agree that the low level stuff ie Toolkits and Fine toolkits need to be made by someone or come in stacks of around 5 or more a drop.
2nd cr:
Not allowing Knives, Clamps and FANs to convert is a glaring oversight. I woul dlike to see these added as a conversion item in the next 48 hrs, before we delete them all. Seems silly to have the three things we smugglers actually made for slicing not convert...