Smuggler Archive
Thread: YAY Another post about Slicing!
No point calling us "Pro-Breakage" or "Anti-Breakage" because the breakage issue itself is only a sympton of a larger debate.
SO, let's dive into this:
1) This slicing system is the first part of the fabled smuggler revamp. The process this slicing system took was from an inconcept document posted awhile back that described a rich mini-game with a pretty big risk factor involved. No revisions from the devs was made on this doc - and when the changes went to TC the doc disappeared. When Smugglers realized that the new system was not even close to the In Concept document - there was a feeling of a let down and betrayal - whether rightly or wrongly as the In Concept doc was subject to change.
2) Breakage. I wrote about this in an earlier thread that got deleted so if it sounds familiar - sorry! Smugglers who are upset that breakage was removed maybe upset not because they were worried about losing business (Slicing has never been a huge money maker pre CU anyway) but because SWG was losing an immersion factor which presented ethical choices to the Player. That is - does the player want to take responsibility for their actions, these actions being engaging in illegal activites to get a benefit. It would've allowed the PC to determine their risk level - meaning if they couldn't live with a chance of breakage ever few weeks at a 100% slice, then maybe they could live with the risk of a 50% slice that breaks every month.
2a) There are some thoughts that breakage will return to the game as what we have on TC is just a badly coded slice system and once those bugs are taken out then breakge will return. Considering that BF was removed I don't have hope it will return at all - I forget which dev wrote it but the justification for removing BF was that "a player should WANT to see an entertainer, not be FORCED to see one" and if that is the mindset then well, why force anyone to see a Smuggler?
2b) As it appears - Slicing doesn't seem to extent the increase in damage past the hard cap - if this is the case - then why would someone close to the cap even need a slice in the first place? and if they want to get that extra boost to cap out - then why should they get the risk? Well as I said, I'm not sure this is the case, but if it is - why would we want to slice it?
2c) The argument has been made that breakage will keep people from getting their weapons sliced. Well, we all choose whether we follow the law or not, if we want to engage in an illegal activity then there will be some risk. If you don't like the idea of your weapon breaking or of being caught by a crackdown squad then DON'T get your weapon sliced. NOBODY is forcing people to get a slice. If PVP'ers want a leg up and get an extra boost - then that's a gamble they'll take - but no one is telling them they have to do it. And considering the small percentage increases - some may not.
3) Bait and Switch? As the slicing system is so out of whack from the In Concept doc - there are a lot of Smuggler's who view this as a bad omen of things to come. Is there any information given that is accurate concerning upcoming changes? I think it was Wes's post earlier that captured this feeling best when he described how Smugglers have been going on a roller coaster ride for 2 years now, getting their hopes up to have them dashed - well. Yeah!
4) Where does this put the Smuggler now? This follows along the lines of item 2 - but how does this slicing change the lot of the Smuggler? Well, no longer do we need tools to make items, which means we no longer have to harvest materials or buy materials - we just wave our hands and presto! We were slice monkeys before the CU, and now after this update we'll become slice monkeys again. From the non-Smuggler PC's perspective, nothing has changed. Is this good or bad?
So, if you have any thoughts feel free to post them, if I missed anything dramatic, or have completely missed the boat let me know.
Keep the thread flame-free and let's hope someone will care. (Yeah, not getting my hopes up either).
Cheers
Dat
you basically touched on all the important points about this new slicing system.
I agree somewhat.
No point in explaining my point - too similar to yours.
GJ.
maxtheusher wrote:
I just hope with all these intelligent posts making note of our dissatisfaction, the Devs might listen. If not for slicing, then at least for our Smuggling. If we're still getting smuggling that is...
let's face it, we're not getting Smuggling. we may get smuggling, but never Smuggling.
AngusMacGregor wrote:
Actually, chances are that they'll screw it all up and we'll get Juggling.
I could at least make a buck entertaining people doing that.
Message Edited by Saarek on 06-23-2005 01:24 PM
/agree
I would also like to add a post I made elsewhere, hopefully to remain in this flame-free environment. If you have an opposing view, please post it in the Slicing 'sticky' thread where I originally posted this and I will update this post with the communative ideas on the issue, although I do believe the majority will agree with this.
I think there should still besome random factor to slicing if it is going to remain a static set of choices (not skill based like weapon/armor experimenting or the original slicing in-concept ideas)
AngusMacGregor wrote:
Actually, chances are that they'll screw it all up and we'll get Juggling.
Personally - I'm holding out for Snuggling myself. 
Anyway, my real fear is that now the Devs will simply say "You know what - the In Concept stuff is just to dangerous to put up - look how people are howling right now" and just sever that line of communication completely.
Ideally what I think would've blunted some of the critism would have been if we were getting updates along the way on this, or having the in concept doc changed as the realities of programming set in. There's no shame in saying "This is what we wanted, but we've realized that given slicing is borked right now we need to accelerate a fix and this is the best we can come up with" I mean, there still would've been critism, but at least it wouldn't be mixed with a profound sense of betrayal we're feeling now.
As always - just my 2 cents.
Cheers
Dat
AngusMacGregor wrote:
Actually, chances are that they'll screw it all up and we'll get Juggling.
or maybe the bottom line is after the revamp we will get it up the schmugglers.