Squad Leader Archive
Thread: Commando Correspondent Resignation An Informative Read
This is the resigning statement of an incredible correspondent, MasterSynn. I am extremely disappointed that he is leaving as he is one of the best they had. His feelings, as you will see, are what the correspondents are feeling right now and will help many of you to better understand what is actually going on behind-the-scenes. I think all of you have a right to see this, and that's why I am posting it. There have been over a dozen correspondents to leave now, all with justifiable reasons, mostly involving the exact reasons stated below. I invite everyone to read this.
Thanks,
Vemnox
"As of today, I am resigning my position as Commando Correspondent. I would like to recommend that the post be given to Ivoni as he has proven to be a dedicated, informed proponent of the profession and is well liked by his fellow commandos. Given the opportunity, he will carry out his duties as Correspondent with professionalism.
I wish I could say that I’m resigning due to lack of time or because of real life commitments but I can’t. I am resigning because I have come to believe that my efforts as Correspondent have been useless due to the way the Correspondent program is run.
Star Wars Galaxies is my first foray into massive multiplayer online games. Other MMORPGs held no appeal for me but as a die-hard Star Wars fan, I looked forward to SWG with great enthusiasm. After watching the films, reading over 30 SW novels, playing all of the computer games and reading many of the comic books, I couldn’t wait to step into a living, breathing Star Wars universe.
When the opportunity arose, I volunteered to serve as Commando Correspondent. I’d wanted to play a commando from day one and serving as correspondent would give me the opportunity to improve my profession and to help a game I had such high hopes for.
Since being appointed Commando Correspondent, I have donated over $3,000 worth of my time to SOE and SWG. This is based on the amount of time I have spent performing my duties as correspondent multiplied by my average hourly wage at work. All of the time correspondents give freely is valuable; I am just assigning a dollar figure to it. Again, I was happy to give of my time. Happy, that is, until I began to realize that my fellow commandos and I were getting nothing in return for all my hard work.
The Correspondent system is simply not working. Correspondents have been reliably performing their duties. We communicate with the members of our profession and pass on their concerns, requests, and questions in the Correspondent Discussion forum. Communication is a two-way street, however and the DEVs have been doing a very poor job in that regard. No matter what we submit or how often it’s submitted, we rarely get more than the standard answers a) we’re working on it, b) it’s a known issue, or c) no response at all.
In part, this is due to the way the Correspondent system is set up. You have DEV’s, like Lord_Pall, who are responsible for ELEVEN professions. Eleven! He simply can’t communicate in an effective way with any one of the Correspondents he’s responsible for or handle their individual issues. So, how did you fix this? You hired Thunderheart. He seems to be a good guy and I’m sure he’s doing his best but that doesn’t get results. To help DEVs who are responsible for too many professions, you hire someone who now oversees over 30 correspondents!
Aside from the system being set up so poorly, I feel like there is often an adversarial relationship between the DEVs and correspondents that shouldn’t be there. We, as Correspondents, are the experts when it comes to knowing what the members of our professions want. We spend hundreds of hours reading messages and communicating with others in our profession in order to give you a reliable report of what your customers want. When Correspondents pass on this information, though, we often get arguments or the information is simply dismissed. Instead of “thank you for the info, this is how we’ll fix it”, we get “I’m not going to change that”, “that’s a low priority”, or “I disagree with that”. Remember that when a DEV disagrees with what a correspondent has brought to the, they’re also disagreeing with hundreds or even thousands of others in their profession.
I don’t expect everyone to agree with my viewpoint. In the end, what matters are results. After over two months and hundreds of hours spent on correspondent duties, nothing has changed. I have done everything that was asked of me. I e-mailed DEVs, posted issues in the Correspondent Discussion forum, showed up to the meet-and-greet on TC and I repeatedly asked for direct, one-on-one communication with the DEVs, yet Commandos still have the same problems they had two months ago. Master Commando still isn’t worthwhile, the HAR is still useless, etc. Hell, we haven’t even been able to get something as simple as our skill tree titles changed.
I’m simply not willing to give another $3,000 worth of my time to accomplish nothing. The DEVs simply don’t treat Correspondents with the professionalism and respect I feel we deserve. They have not consistently respond in a timely, informative manner to my communications. The DEVs do not keep us informed and I certainly don’t feel like part of the team.
My predecessor, Garibaldi, quit in frustration. He said “I am disheartened and severely agitated at the lack of commitment on the part of the SOE developers to fix the commando profession”. Three months later and nothing has changed. How many correspondents will you go through before you realize that you’re doing something wrong?"
I joke tongue in cheek about this quite a bit, but I did communicate with the pistoleer correspondent (I'm also pistoleer) somewhat on AIM. He was a good guy too and he hit his wall a month ago and finally resigned recently. He ran into this same sort of garbage. I still can't believe they don't give you guys anything. I mean, give you a free account while you are a corr for pete's sake! It wouldn't even be making you an employee in any way shape or form. Giving out a "prize" for being corr on a month to month basis is not actual monetary compensation for your time. But they are too cheap for that even. Yet they expect you to put together elaborate reports (Philosopher1976 did one today for pistoleer that was spot-on) monthly...for free! Hahaha. Well, I agree with the reason why he quit and I'm glad you're staying. But he's right, the correspondant forum has serious problems.
For my two cents about another issue brought up. I don't see how much TH communicates on the corr forums, but he sure does a lot of garbage on the discussion forum. When will he finally straighten up and haunt the forums where actual discussions about the meat of this game (the professions and players that drive them) take place? He was put in place to be the liason between the Devs and the Players but he has turned into their mouthpiece. I suppose if you are employed by SOE you have to toe the company line to a certain degree, I work for a corporation too so I know how that goes. But he needs to be OUR representative. Maybe we don't get to see that part of it...but I sure don't feel any more represented now than I did two months ago.
Squad Leader is pretty much completely broken and has been since day 1. How many reports can you write and suggestions can you come up with and be told, that's nice.
Commando HAR tree has been broken from day 1 and we can't even get a that's nice.
The broken armor piercing bonus we can't even get an answer on which ruins the value of the heavy weapons and grenades power.
There are at least 25 quest givers that flat out break or are broken, not counting the ones with massive typos.
Symbol of Heroism has yet to work due to broken badge of heroism and courage.
Just how many /bug reports does it take before they fix BASIC problems.
I'm not even going to touch the wretched system that is becoming a jedi.
Oh well.
I can only half understand you posting this captain. Ok you want to express the feelings of correspondants but by posting this it just questions your dedication to the long term cause and puts doubts in peoples mind if you "really" do want this position. Being a leader of a community driven project is never easy and you often do go a long time feeling like you are banging your head against a brick wall. Either accept that and continue on the fine job you are doingof "banging" with hope the wall will soften and crumble or let someone whose head is a little less battered continue on the job.
A clarification on the issue would be appreciated.
Aside from the system being set up so poorly, I feel like there is often an adversarial relationship between the DEVs and correspondents that shouldn’t be there. We, as Correspondents, are the experts when it comes to knowing what the members of our professions want. We spend hundreds of hours reading messages and communicating with others in our profession in order to give you a reliable report of what your customers want. When Correspondents pass on this information, though, we often get arguments or the information is simply dismissed. Instead of “thank you for the info, this is how we’ll fix it”, we get “I’m not going to change that”, “that’s a low priority”, or “I disagree with that”. Remember that when a DEV disagrees with what a correspondent has brought to the, they’re also disagreeing with hundreds or even thousands of others in their profession.
I
This was a very well written letter. I am sad to see such a good, hardworking individual leave as correspondent (im a commando as well) but I support him in his effort to shine the light on a problem to SOE.
However, what I believe is part of the problem the systemlies in the quote above. Essentially you have on one hand the DEV's who are making what we play, its thier baby, thier work of art. Then on the other hand you have a system thats really nothing more than a system designed to tell these artists (DEV's) that there is all kinds of things wrong with thier "baby" that needs to be fixed. The DEV's probably take it a little personally even though they may not mean to. It is this that creates the 'adversarial relationship' which I agree, should not be there.
The truly unfortunate thing about all of this is that nothing will change. Even though this letter articulated a problem very well, it will be shrugged off. The only thing I can say is never quit, as one post said, rally the other correspondents and fight! Nag the snot out of the DEV's till SOMEONE gets it through thier thick skull.
Of course this is my humble opinion and I have no clue as to whats going on over there on the SOE end of things. All I know is my profession seems to be broken (both of em) and nothing SEEMS to be getting done about it.
Aside from the system being set up so poorly, I feel like there is often an adversarial relationship between the DEVs and correspondents that shouldn’t be there. We, as Correspondents, are the experts when it comes to knowing what the members of our professions want. We spend hundreds of hours reading messages and communicating with others in our profession in order to give you a reliable report of what your customers want. When Correspondents pass on this information, though, we often get arguments or the information is simply dismissed. Instead of “thank you for the info, this is how we’ll fix it”, we get “I’m not going to change that”, “that’s a low priority”, or “I disagree with that”. Remember that when a DEV disagrees with what a correspondent has brought to the, they’re also disagreeing with hundreds or even thousands of others in their profession.
**edit**. That developer sounds familar, as I have had that same response where I work when they are working on Legacy software that they were thrown into and don't completely understand. Not a good attitude to have.
Side note: I have had a feeling that SOE is going to be going through some tough changes and I just can't keep giving them my money. I may return at a later time, as SWG has a lot of promise, but I am too troubled by what I have seen from SOE and the state of many professions.
To the person asking why I posted this:
To prove a point, not to show my potential reasons for leaving. That point, if you missed it, is that this is the feeling we correspondents are having right now and how strapped we are for information. The Commando Correspondent spoke for all of us here with this post which, coincidentally, was replied to with en masse support by the correspondents and some "na uh! daz not troo!" from your chiefs. Too many Indians, not enough chiefs in this case.
CaptainVemnox,
Don't ever resign. And don't start getting ideas from it. As a squad leader you know better then the other professions what its like to get the worst end of a stick. Its your destiney to rally those other proffession reps no matter how bad it gets. Don't let despair drop em. Preach on that we will be ok.
I don't care if a dev curses you out and threatens your life your not gonna resign your a squadleader damnit!
You knowI thinkthere are only one realfaith-based profession in starwars. AND ITS NOT JEDI. Its Squadleaders. There aint no everquest priest that goes thru what we do lol. You know the power that binds the entire universe is notTHE FORCE you know the power that sorounds usits notTHE FORCEitsTHE RALLY COMMAND. You know your leader has faith if he screws up rally 3 times in a row but hopes the 4th timewould be worth it to get it. All our moves depend on hope, faith, luck. You know I always have a little nuna grouped with me at all times. I know he can't fight or anything but im convinced my squad leader skills work better or have better chance of workingif he's around.
When ever a dev says he's on it or he's fixing it just think of the good ol' rally command.
Its like two people in my group were talking and someone asked what the little flag does and a commando answered thats rally! i would never go into a FS cave without rally. I didn't think rally would mean that much lol.
We need a change of percpective. Instead of saying "may the force be with you",
"may the rally be with you".
You know, I really hate to say it, but I think the correspondents are being entirely too impatient.
I know that many of them have never played MMOGs before and I think that in large part that is the problem. It takes a LONG TIME to plan out changes to the game. If you change something in one profession, the Devs have to figure out how that is going to effect PvE, PvP, crafters, and everything else.
I want to see changes as much as anyone, and I know I get impatient alot of times. But COME ON! Getting impatient and quitting after two months is a little rediculous. I think some correspondents expected to have the Devs personal ear on their every word. That simply is not realistic. Change is always slow in MMOGs, and especially now, so soon after launch when they are still working on things thatshould have beenincluded in the game at launch.
I know alot of people will flame me for saying this, but the Commando correspondent quitting because he isnt getting the feedback he wants about changing skill tree titles or other things that are wrong with the profession (when there are lots of other professions much more broken) shows a lack of understanding of what is a priority at this critical time in the games progress.
I'm sure he was just doing his job, but again, I think he unrealistically expected to have daily conversations with the Devs to shape the profession. Simply not the case. Especially so soon after the game is released.
Im sure being a correspondent is frustrating when youre not getting any feedback. But the sad truth is they arent getting any feedback because they arent working on the problems. Theyre working on mounts and cities and vehicles and other eye candy that dont matter because the core of the game is broken.
Sad but true.
Sounds to me like he could care less if they communicate on a daily basis so long as some results came of it within the course of several months.
Lots of effort+No results=pissed off corresponents
Yes, they're working on new buggycontent. Go check out the test center board for a good hearty laugh.
all that coming form a Correspondent of a 'working' profession.... **edit**.
thanks for sticking with us ven