Squad Leader Archive

There was a detailed post below this full of metrics and such to make the SL EXP system better and not focused on Combat EXP. That post was very well thought out, but unfortunately, I don't really have the wherewithal to sort through it all and fully understand the results, and I think that's the problem with it. SWG needs to move towards being more intuitive, not less so. I mean, I've been playing games for well over a decade now, including tons of RPGs and MMORPGs (after they were released, since beta EQ) and I'm having trouble understanding the covert/overt system, among many other things (which are probably bugs ;-P). So here's my proposal for fixing SL EXP.

1. Using SL abilities and having them actually affect someonewhile you're the leader of the group= SL EXP up. Always. Whether in combat or not. Yes, you can macro this, but no, it doesn't really make a large impact. Most other classes have an ability they can macro, why not SL?More on why this isn't a problem later.

2. When a creature is killed by a group member within 64m of you, use some formula like this, where x is a random multiplier determined by people that know much more than me: x*(additive combat EXP)*(# of group members that damaged the MOB). Additive combat EXP is the sum of all the combat EXP recieved by your group members. If calculating how many of your group members damaged the MOB is a problem, it can probably be removed with some tweaking and based entirely on the additive combat EXP, because that factors in how much damage was done by your group total while it was under your command.

4. To fix AFK: No SL EXP while AFK. Period. If you're not at the keyboard, you're obviously not leading. You may be providing passive benefits, but not in a leadership capacity.

5. Why exploiting to gain SL EXP isn't a big problem: To begin with, SL EXP is fairly easy to get if you're playing the game normally anyway. People will probably always rather have an SL in charge than not (even if you're not that big of a boon to the group, the passive bonuses and just the name make it seem like you are). Furthermore, the type of player that is going to macro to the top of SL or exploit EXP gains probably will be a horrible Master SL and someone who doesn't want to waste the skill points in SL to begin with (it's a big commitment). I find it hard to believe that they'd beable to find a full group to waste their time PLing a person who's not even willing to be at the computer while they're working for him. And if an SL does find such a group, well, that person is probably charismatic enough to deserve Master SL anyway. The way I see it, Master SL is more than just a normal skills/stats elite profession, the title means that a large group of people were willing to spend their time under your leadership, meaning that you're a qualified leader. So people will trust your leadership skills.