KStarfire wrote: I think droids should always be repairable, but not completely killable.
Droids to me are the sidekick of the game (at least i wish they were). They should be out running behind me and following me around. I should be able to have my little friend follow me around without worrying he will get gunned down by some trigger happy PC or even NPC.
Thats just my view on droids, sadly, SWG does not come close to what i feel droids should be in the Star Wars universe.
KStarfire
With all due respect, KStarfire (and I sincerely mean that, as I've been a fan since you helped me find Han in beta, LOL), is that worth our profession staying stagnant, hoping for development to throw us a bone in the form of a new one-hit wonder module that we sell for a few weeks and then drops off?
As you have stated, droids in SWG are not what you wish - to change that is a long term design goal, one that as the "Star-warsy" correspondent is actually right up your alley. But since you are also "in the know" when it comes to design schedules, can you not agree that making them what you wish them to be would be almost a whole game expansion on it's own (something we aren't likely to get?).
Since we know how unlikely this is to happen, should we punish the DE profession further and keep us an exclusive club of old-timers where a small handful of us can pretty much single-handely fill all the droid needs on a server?
The romantic role-play argument of droids being a "sidekick" needs to be balanced with the cold, hard facts : this is a game, and droid engineering is a crafting profession. People may project attachements onto droids, and asking them to suspend disbelief (if they truly feel as strongly about it as a pocket of people seem to think) for sixty-seconds to rename and recolor a droid and somehow roleplay it isn't too much to ask. No matter what emotions we want to project upon them, they are just datapad objects. The same graphic is used for every R2 droid - visually and functionally (if the same modules are installed) they are identical.
Please think about these things before you decide that droids shouldn't die - is it really worth it to keep DE in the dark ages as it is now when it comes to being a self-renewing profession?
KStarfire wrote: I think droids should always be repairable, but not completely killable.
Droids to me are the sidekick of the game (at least i wish they were). They should be out running behind me and following me around. I should be able to have my little friend follow me around without worrying he will get gunned down by some trigger happy PC or even NPC.
Thats just my view on droids, sadly, SWG does not come close to what i feel droids should be in the Star Wars universe.
KStarfire
With all due respect, KStarfire (and I sincerely mean that, as I've been a fan since you helped me find Han in beta, LOL), is that worth our profession staying stagnant, hoping for development to throw us a bone in the form of a new one-hit wonder module that we sell for a few weeks and then drops off?
As you have stated, droids in SWG are not what you wish - to change that is a long term design goal, one that as the "Star-warsy" correspondent is actually right up your alley. But since you are also "in the know" when it comes to design schedules, can you not agree that making them what you wish them to be would be almost a whole game expansion on it's own (something we aren't likely to get?).
Since we know how unlikely this is to happen, should we punish the DE profession further and keep us an exclusive club of old-timers where a small handful of us can pretty much single-handely fill all the droid needs on a server?
The romantic role-play argument of droids being a "sidekick" needs to be balanced with the cold, hard facts : this is a game, and droid engineering is a crafting profession. People may project attachements onto droids, and asking them to suspend disbelief (if they truly feel as strongly about it as a pocket of people seem to think) for sixty-seconds to rename and recolor a droid and somehow roleplay it isn't too much to ask. No matter what emotions we want to project upon them, they are just datapad objects. The same graphic is used for every R2 droid - visually and functionally (if the same modules are installed) they are identical.
Please think about these things before you decide that droids shouldn't die - is it really worth it to keep DE in the dark ages as it is now when it comes to being a self-renewing profession?
AO
KStar agrees with you AO, he just doesn't want to admit it The problem is that I spoil him when it comes to droids
I think one of the best solutions presented was to reduce a "destroyed" droid back into a chassis that could maintains its name, which could be given to a DE to rebuild. To the eyes of the system, it's basically a new droid, but to the player it's an opportunity to repair their "sidekick." And now i'm going to shutup and stay out of this thread since it's for Non-DEs
Rodo Doneeta (jefmes) TCO - Smuggler - Chilastra Owner of: Rodo's Automatons, Tsarin, Talus Saving a respec to go home to Droid Engineering...
I'm an ex-DE, so I'll go ahead and make my post here.
My gut instinct is that there needs to be two kinds of droid decay: Permanent decay for droids that see combat (whether deliberate or not ), and fully fixable decay for all non-combat scenarios.
I have an assortment of storage MSEs, crafting droids, and med droids. Other than stimulating the droid market, there's little reason for them to suffer any kind of permanent decay, simply because they're not in situations where they (normally) take that kind of damage. If they suffered from usage wear (like vehicles) that was completely fixable unless allowed to reach 0, I could live with it. Have the DEs be the ones selling the repair kits, and you have another repeat business item. Please note: Selling kits, not performing repairs. Forcing users to track you down to perform repairs would be a point against using droids. The catch, of course, would be that the repair kits would need to be cheap enough to produce to keep the price on them reasonable enough to make using them worth considering (though not necessarily a foregone conclusion). (Unlike vehicles, where a large repair bill almost always exceeds the value of the vehicle, and two or three big repairs always does. With the exception of AV-21s, of course.)
Droids that see combat, in addition to fixable wear and tear, should all suffer from something comparable to vitality loss on pets. If they get hacked, slashed, burnt, blown up, and blasted, then they're going to break down over time, no matter how much effort you put into repairing them. Period.
I couldn't endorse a system that had the passive droids breaking down permanently from anything other than neglect. I can't endorse a combat system where droids don't suffer any kind of permanent damage on an ongoing basis.
MC
-- Four accounts cancelled effective December 8, 2005. So long, and thanks for all the fish!
Permanently stimulating the droid market is what this is all about, mcorey.
The droid engineer profession is stagnant because the only way we get repeat sales is when someone changes professions and needs a different type of droid. This has led to a few active DE's per server being able to fill the need of all the players.
There are people who bought a medical droid in Summer 2003 that are still using it. That is not healthy for a profession.
We really need to look past the role-playing arguments (which every anti-decay sentiment is based on - no one can give a valid gameplay mechanic reason droids should last FOREVER as they do now) and to the health of the profession. Many DE's come into this and leave because they complain there are no sales and therefore people don't need droids. That's only half-right. People need/want droids all the time, it's just that once someone buys one they never have to replace it and it's like the use never existed.
We are now at the mercy of the Devs inventing new tricks for our pony to do - but it's always going to be the same old pony. And, eventually, they will run out of balanced tricks. Decay is needed to bridge the gap between "boon" and "flatline" we experience every time something is added. It is the only thing keeping us from being a full, viable crafting profession.
So yeah, it's all about stimulating the market, and therefore revitalizing the profession - making room for more than the conglomerates (the small handful of DE's like me that run a server when it comes to droids) and the hobbyists (who are only concerned with crafting droids and don't care about the droid market and could care less if they make any profit) we have now.
AudioOrgana wrote: We really need to look past the role-playing arguments (which every anti-decay sentiment is based on - no one can give a valid gameplay mechanic reason droids should last FOREVER as they do now) and to the health of the profession.
I've read the proposal, thank you. I stayed extremely close to the proposal. Decay over time. Repair being inexpensive enough to make it viable, yet expensive enough to make it worth considering buying a new droid anyway. Did you read past my comment about stimulating the market being the only reason for permanent, unfixable decay on non-combat droids, or did you just leap in because you thought I was saying there should be no decay at all?
What I added in my previous post was the concept that combat droids should wear out harder, faster, and in more permanent ways than non-combat. That someone with a combat droid (and I'm including flight computers/astromechs in that category) should understand that the droid will die a permanent, unfixable death eventually and that a replacement will be needed.
Where I differ with the proposal is on the subject of permanent decay of non-combat droids. I feel that there's a valid enough counterargument in the form of vehicles (fully fixable until reaching 0). Or to continue the much abused pet analogy, pets that don't see combat don't suffer vitality loss. Oh, and for reference? That's a game mechanic, not an RP excuse.
So what if someone has the option of paying a droid engineer repeatedly to continue using the same droid since launch? One of my toons has been driving the same vehicle since the vehicle launch - do artisans everywhere begrudge me paying a repair bill instead of buying/making a replacement? (Maybe, but they begrudge the use of flash speeders and X-31s more.)
I've been a droid engineer, an architect, a shipwright, a doctor, a combat medic, and a bio engineer - and not in the "I ground this out to add to my badge collection" sense. I've been a master artisan consistantly on at *least* one of my toons since I started. Believe me, I understand the value of consumables and item decay for repeat business - I was an architect when we thought that decaying candles/lights were going to be a viable business and I was a droid engineer until the so-called "Droid Invasion" made me give up all hope.
So please, don't try to put words in my mouth or lecture me on points that we agree on. I'm in favor of decay. I just happen to feel that there's as much valid, mechanic based counterargument for permanent decay on non-combat droids as there is in favor of it, and that consumables would be a better solution there than permanent decay.
Sheesh. If this is how you lot treat people who support you, I'd hate to have said something against decay.
MC
-- Four accounts cancelled effective December 8, 2005. So long, and thanks for all the fish!
a droid is a lot more complex internally than a tandy. your car is a lot more complex than your tandy. things break after use, weither that it gets replaced/upgraded before it breaks is a different matter. as matters currently stand, there is no reason (unless you want the badge or doing hologrind) for new DE's to start. i mean, why bother starting it, if the people from launch already have the market?
AudioOrgana wrote: We really need to look past the role-playing arguments (which every anti-decay sentiment is based on - no one can give a valid gameplay mechanic reason droids should last FOREVER as they do now) and to the health of the profession.
I've read the proposal, thank you. I stayed extremely close to the proposal. Decay over time. Repair being inexpensive enough to make it viable, yet expensive enough to make it worth considering buying a new droid anyway. Did you read past my comment about stimulating the market being the only reason for permanent, unfixable decay on non-combat droids, or did you just leap in because you thought I was saying there should be no decay at all?
What I added in my previous post was the concept that combat droids should wear out harder, faster, and in more permanent ways than non-combat. That someone with a combat droid (and I'm including flight computers/astromechs in that category) should understand that the droid will die a permanent, unfixable death eventually and that a replacement will be needed.
Where I differ with the proposal is on the subject of permanent decay of non-combat droids. I feel that there's a valid enough counterargument in the form of vehicles (fully fixable until reaching 0). Or to continue the much abused pet analogy, pets that don't see combat don't suffer vitality loss. Oh, and for reference? That's a game mechanic, not an RP excuse.
So what if someone has the option of paying a droid engineer repeatedly to continue using the same droid since launch? One of my toons has been driving the same vehicle since the vehicle launch - do artisans everywhere begrudge me paying a repair bill instead of buying/making a replacement? (Maybe, but they begrudge the use of flash speeders and X-31s more.)
I've been a droid engineer, an architect, a shipwright, a doctor, a combat medic, and a bio engineer - and not in the "I ground this out to add to my badge collection" sense. I've been a master artisan consistantly on at *least* one of my toons since I started. Believe me, I understand the value of consumables and item decay for repeat business - I was an architect when we thought that decaying candles/lights were going to be a viable business and I was a droid engineer until the so-called "Droid Invasion" made me give up all hope.
So please, don't try to put words in my mouth or lecture me on points that we agree on. I'm in favor of decay. I just happen to feel that there's as much valid, mechanic based counterargument for permanent decay on non-combat droids as there is in favor of it, and that consumables would be a better solution there than permanent decay.
Sheesh. If this is how you lot treat people who support you, I'd hate to have said something against decay.
MC
Not sure which post you were reading MC, but I've seen AO's argumentative posts, and that wasn't one of them
I think the biggest disconect here is that many of us feel that a crafting droid should wear down (slowly though) from use, just as I also believe a crafted private crafting station should slowly wear down through use. Combat droids should of course take permanent damage at a quicker pace, but then the burden of supporting our crafting profession is put solely on combatants. In many cases, non-combatants (and I'm going to have to start remembering that "combatants" has a different meaning now than it once did!) benefit more from our droids than anyone else!
The main point is simple really...we all want the opportunity to make new droids of all kinds for people, on occasion, and that simply isn't happening. Some kind of turnover is what many of us desire, not simply an expansion of the already existing Droid Reconstruction Kits.
Rodo Doneeta (jefmes) TCO - Smuggler - Chilastra Owner of: Rodo's Automatons, Tsarin, Talus Saving a respec to go home to Droid Engineering...
AudioOrgana wrote: We really need to look past the role-playing arguments (which every anti-decay sentiment is based on - no one can give a valid gameplay mechanic reason droids should last FOREVER as they do now) and to the health of the profession.
I've read the proposal, thank you. I stayed extremely close to the proposal. Decay over time. Repair being inexpensive enough to make it viable, yet expensive enough to make it worth considering buying a new droid anyway. Did you read past my comment about stimulating the market being the only reason for permanent, unfixable decay on non-combat droids, or did you just leap in because you thought I was saying there should be no decay at all?
Oh, I read it quite clearly, thank you. I simply was trying to explain to you that we don't want decay just for the heck of it - it's percisely because our market needs a permanent stimulation. You made it sound like stimulating the market was a minor concern - I'm trying to express that this is THE concern, because it affects the entire paradigm the profession works on. It gates new DE's and keeps the numbers in the profession low. I read you quite clearly - you don't believe utility droids should decay permanently. That defeats most of the purpose of this exercise. Combat droids are strong sellers, but it's those medics and crafters that have had the same droid for almost two years that are the problem.
What I added in my previous post was the concept that combat droids should wear out harder, faster, and in more permanent ways than non-combat. That someone with a combat droid (and I'm including flight computers/astromechs in that category) should understand that the droid will die a permanent, unfixable death eventually and that a replacement will be needed.
Totally agree. Combat should increase the speed of degredation.
Where I differ with the proposal is on the subject of permanent decay of non-combat droids. I feel that there's a valid enough counterargument in the form of vehicles (fully fixable until reaching 0). Or to continue the much abused pet analogy, pets that don't see combat don't suffer vitality loss. Oh, and for reference? That's a game mechanic, not an RP excuse.
LOL, was I this snippy with him, or am I imagining things? Regardless, it still is not a "counterargument", it is a simple comparison, one which I do not feel is valid. You are using it to support whatever reason you have for not wanting utility droids to decay, not as the reason itself. Vehicles are nothing like droids.
Vehicles are a single (er, three) product of novice profession. Droids are the main product for our ENTIRE profession, an elite one at that. They require two types of metal to construct with no sub-components, unlike droids which can run upwards of 30+ parts. There is a huge difference between an elite and a novice profession - and a huge difference in usage of droids and vehicles. They both live in your datapad, that's about the only simmilarity.
Pets are not utility droids. A pets only intent is combat (or asthetics). If someone just wants a droid graphic running around behind them with zero function, then I'll concede go ahead and let them have it without decay. But once that droid starts doing something, it should decay.
When was the last time a vehicle freed a doctor from having to be in a medical center to perform the functions of their profession?
How often do you see a weaponsmith crafting anywhere in the Galaxy with the crafting station installed in their Bantha?
Do vehicles increase your harvest yield, giving you 15-20% more of the meat you are selling for 150cpu?
Can a Cu Pa hold ten items for you, decay/insurance free?
The only comparison between vehicles and droids is role-playing/real-world projections; they both are (supposedly) electronic devices. Their use and construction, IN TERMS OF GAME MECHANICS, are totally seperate. Pets serve a single function (combat), they do not do nearly anything as dynamic or give the benefits to the player that droids do. Nice try, though.
So what if someone has the option of paying a droid engineer repeatedly to continue using the same droid since launch? One of my toons has been driving the same vehicle since the vehicle launch - do artisans everywhere begrudge me paying a repair bill instead of buying/making a replacement? (Maybe, but they begrudge the use of flash speeders and X-31s more.)
It's simply not healthy for the profession because it takes the "droid" out of engineering. Again, vehicles are not a valid comparison in terms of construction, use, mechanics, or even the fact that it's a novice product as opposed to the main reason for an elite profession existing. This isn't just about credits, it's about increasing the amount of droids that need producing to open up the market. If it's just a repair kit, or bill, or whatever - nothing will change. Us fat-cat DE's (there are a small handful of us per server) will just throw some kits into a factory and put 1K of them up on a vendor and be done with it. The market remains closed. Making droids decay would give a chance for more people to take part in our profession - market just doesn't mean more credits.
I've been a droid engineer, an architect, a shipwright, a doctor, a combat medic, and a bio engineer - and not in the "I ground this out to add to my badge collection" sense. I've been a master artisan consistantly on at *least* one of my toons since I started. Believe me, I understand the value of consumables and item decay for repeat business - I was an architect when we thought that decaying candles/lights were going to be a viable business and I was a droid engineer until the so-called "Droid Invasion" made me give up all hope.
So please, don't try to put words in my mouth or lecture me on points that we agree on. I'm in favor of decay. I just happen to feel that there's as much valid, mechanic based counterargument for permanent decay on non-combat droids as there is in favor of it, and that consumables would be a better solution there than permanent decay.
Sheesh. If this is how you lot treat people who support you, I'd hate to have said something against decay.
Which totally defeats the purpose of decay. The only "counterargument" you can come up with is that vehicles decay a certain way. So what? That's not a convincing reason to eliminate repeat sales on the bulk of our droids. I'm a big fan of combat droids (and feel they are underrated) but the fact is they aren't in very wide use. The effect of decay on them alone would be minimal.
So please, explain WHY you feel utility droids should not decay permanently. "Vehicles don't" is a comparison, not an argument.
You clearly do not think permanent decay should happen to the bulk of the droids we sell, so no, you don't "support" the concept of decay; in spite of your listing of qualifications you just don't seem to get the reason to have decay in the first place : to increase the production and sale of our products, droids.
Now I don't propose that a droid goes *POOF*, but there should be a way that they need repaired over time. Maybe droids should have a new stat bar called "Wear" added to the HAM bars. The Wear Bar starts out maxed and decays over usage. Once this bar gets to a certain level, the droid won't obey commands and/or have deminished module functions.
Can't seem to spell today
Message Edited by ZallusNuranxis on 02-18-200512:34 PM
im sorry I have a POS tandy that requires a floppy with 32k of ram that STILL works after all these years. its doing nothing but sitting next to me looking like my medical droid for deco. i dont see its bar wearing out until I die quite hoenstly
How often do you use that Tandy? If you use it 24 hours a day for 6 months, it is much more likely to wear out, then if it isn't used at all. Plus you need to remember that Droid are Electro-Mechanical, meaning they are not just computers. They have moving parts and such. For example, your med droid that just sits there is REALLY not just sitting there giving some magical Med bonus. It's arms are giving shots, making incisions, wrapping bandages. It's more then just sitting there.
Your Tandy sits at home nice and safe as well. Bounce it around like it is walking, take it through a sandstorm or out in the rain, lets see how long it lasts.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Droid Vendor at Resurection near Theed on Naboo -5757 6222. Both carry a wide variety of maxed Droids, I also carry every type of Droid and Droid supply.
*Straker Atrella: Dark Jedi * Atrella's Wench: Master Droid Engineer / Artisan / Scout / Merchant * Dark Vortex: Ranger / Rifleman * Havana:Musician / Dancer / Image Design * Enigmatica : Doctor / Swordsman* CrazyEyes: Role playing BH.
Jenden wrote: Ok, I want to get some input from non DE's on droid decay. Just some background info for those that don't know, currently droids do not decay, wear out, or get old in any way. There are still perfectly good droids from launch floating around. This is causing some stagnation in the droid market, and is currently the number one issue to the DE community. Please post your feedback to droid decay in general and/or the specific droid decay proposal in this thread.
Here is my feedback:
I feel really really bad for DE's at the moment, there are too few of them, and they are not really integrated into the game enough. I certainly think droids should decay, and that sounds like a reasonable solution (I especially like the bit about smoke coming out and changes in its functionality). I think 1 month is too short however. That is shorter than most other things that I have last, but I'm sure a compromise can be reached there.
HOWEVER... from my perspective, I don't think this is a good time to make such a change, and here is why. I think too many of the droid offerings right now would be difficult to justify a purchase of, if they needed constant replacing/fixing/maintenence. Things like trapping droids, maintenence droids, entertainer droids, stimpack droids, combat droids, and so forth, while fun toys, would be all the more undesirable if they were made harder to own. Also something like a harvesting droid which costs a bunch of upfront money, and requires quite a bit of hunting before you break even on it, may no longer be a sound financial investment if it required a bunch of upkeep (aside from it's already insatiable appetite for batteries). Personally, I think you'd be better off getting a new droid or two, then worrying about some renewable sales later.
That's my $0.02, strictly from the standpoint as a customer.
Message Edited by ArthurDentOnBria on 02-18-200503:41 PM
Just want to point out a little money fact.
Lets say you harvest 100 meat per kill, a Harvest Droid pulls in an extra 15%. So with it you get 115 meat. On Scylla, it is not uncommon to see meat or hide in the 200-300 cpu range. So let's say 250 cpu. 250 x 15 = 3750. Now most "good" Harv Droids sell for about 80 - 85k. Let's use 85k. 85,000 / 3750 = 22.6, so let's say 23 kills.
That means that a good Harv Droid will pay for itself in 23 kills, what is that an hour? Probably less. Even if you get 3/4 less for meat, that's 4 hours. So if the droid pays for itself in 4 hours, and we are talking replacing on a 1-3 month period (based on use,) how can you think that it wont be economically feasible?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Droid Vendor at Resurection near Theed on Naboo -5757 6222. Both carry a wide variety of maxed Droids, I also carry every type of Droid and Droid supply.
*Straker Atrella: Dark Jedi * Atrella's Wench: Master Droid Engineer / Artisan / Scout / Merchant * Dark Vortex: Ranger / Rifleman * Havana:Musician / Dancer / Image Design * Enigmatica : Doctor / Swordsman* CrazyEyes: Role playing BH.
yes, you've just pointed out the absolute "best case" scenario. 100+ meat drops of 200cpu meat, essentially a "jackpot" hunting spawn on an inflated server. Does that happen? Yea, but not bloodly often. Actually on the server where I play as a contract hunter, a really good avian meat spawn generally goes for closer to 100cpu and a really good wooly hide spawn, it's more like 50-80cpu. So even if I retricted myself to only hunting 100cpu avian, and 80cpu wooly (which I certainly don't), that pushes the break even point to well over 10 hours/month, and that's probably right about how much I spend contract hunting. Meaning for me, the buy/no-buy decision would be a difficult one.
Straker_Atrella wrote:
Just want to point out a little money fact.
Lets say you harvest 100 meat per kill, a Harvest Droid pulls in an extra 15%. So with it you get 115 meat. On Scylla, it is not uncommon to see meat or hide in the 200-300 cpu range. So let's say 250 cpu. 250 x 15 = 3750. Now most "good" Harv Droids sell for about 80 - 85k. Let's use 85k. 85,000 / 3750 = 22.6, so let's say 23 kills.
That means that a good Harv Droid will pay for itself in 23 kills, what is that an hour? Probably less. Even if you get 3/4 less for meat, that's 4 hours. So if the droid pays for itself in 4 hours, and we are talking replacing on a 1-3 month period (based on use,) how can you think that it wont be economically feasible?
Message Edited by ArthurDentOnBria on 02-21-200509:27 AM
ArthurDent - former Bio Engineer, Tailor, and Droid Engineer Account cancelled 7/8/05 due to game breaking bugs in these professions that have been neglected for FAR too long. Last day July 27 2005 custom tailoring and droid orders welcome. "making Evil products since July 2003" Achiever: 80%, Explorer: 60%, Socializer: 46%, Killa 13%
yes, you've just pointed out the absolute "best case" scenario. 100+ meat drops of 200cpu meat, essentially a "jackpot" hunting spawn on an inflated server. Does that happen? Yea, but not bloodly often. Actually on the server where I play as a contract hunter, a really good avian meat spawn generally goes for closer to 100cpu and a really good wooly hide spawn, it's more like 50-80cpu. So even if I retricted myself to only hunting 100cpu avian, and 80cpu wooly (which I certainly don't), that pushes the break even point to well over 10 hours/month, and that's probably right about how much I spend contract hunting. Meaning for me, the buy/no-buy decision would be a difficult one.
I guess that really depends on your server. But on ours at any given time, I can make 50-100 cpu, somebody will buy it. It's just a matter of finding something that is dropping something decent in large quantities.
I honestly think our meat market is fair, Docs, Armorsmiths, and Chefs can make a huge amount of money, there is nothing wrong with some of this profit being passed on to Scouts and Rangers.
Also, if you only use your droid 10 hours a month, then he would probably last 3 months or more.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Droid Vendor at Resurection near Theed on Naboo -5757 6222. Both carry a wide variety of maxed Droids, I also carry every type of Droid and Droid supply.
*Straker Atrella: Dark Jedi * Atrella's Wench: Master Droid Engineer / Artisan / Scout / Merchant * Dark Vortex: Ranger / Rifleman * Havana:Musician / Dancer / Image Design * Enigmatica : Doctor / Swordsman* CrazyEyes: Role playing BH.
I personally follow the "romantic" line of things. I have no problem if i have to bring my droid for a complete overhaul every second month or so. I also have no problem if the DE then earns as much money for the overhaul as a new droid would cost.
Though, i would dislike to drop my droid and get a new one. As already mentioned, the droids in the movies lasted for ages, although they sure took lots of repairs in that time. It was even mentioned that R2 at some time was basically wrecked and it would've been more cost effective to get a new one. So what? Why don't i have the option to repair my droid to full shape, despite a new one would be cheaper? Or for the comparison with vehicles, i can drive my car for 10 years and then get me a new one as maintainance and rust will eat up the car. But i can also choose to spend that much money, do a big overhaul and patch up my very own special car so it can go again. This is definitely the more expencive option, still some people go for it... and in 50 years those cars are oddities and very valuable.
Due to the system of SWG i don't expect my old droids to get valuable to anybody but me, but if they are precious enough for me to pay the maintainance, then i would say, give me the option...
I know that my preference would make DEs much of a repairing profession. I also think that the repair kits should not simply be put on the vendor and be done for but require a DE to use them. If you don't feel attached to your droid, dump them and get a new one from the shelf/vendor. If you feel attached, you'll go the lengths to find a DE and have him repair your droid, despite that it costs the same as a new droid which you could buy at the vendor of the next DE at any time.
I think that this would both give DEs a new source of income and some nice interaction with the customers.
So, let my droids live forever, let me spend the money for it, force me to meet a DE to do that, that way everybody should be happy.
Sylow wrote: I personally follow the "romantic" line of things. I have no problem if i have to bring my droid for a complete overhaul every second month or so. I also have no problem if the DE then earns as much money for the overhaul as a new droid would cost.
I know that my preference would make DEs much of a repairing profession. I also think that the repair kits should not simply be put on the vendor and be done for but require a DE to use them. If you don't feel attached to your droid, dump them and get a new one from the shelf/vendor. If you feel attached, you'll go the lengths to find a DE and have him repair your droid, despite that it costs the same as a new droid which you could buy at the vendor of the next DE at any time.
I think that this would both give DEs a new source of income and some nice interaction with the customers.
So, let my droids live forever, let me spend the money for it, force me to meet a DE to do that, that way everybody should be happy.
A customer after my own heart. Would you also like the idea of a DE being able to customize your factory made droid the same way Mechanics can customize your car in real life?
Would you also like the idea of a DE being able to customize your factory made droid the same way Mechanics can customize your car in real life?
Basically that's what i already get. The problem is in the "basically". I can get a new paintjob, no big deal. I can change the name, though not on my tanker, as he got a personality module. (Which is why i learned to love that boltbag... "You are damaging my master's property", "I was looking forward for a long servitude to my master"... )
Unfortunately that's all of customisation i can get without loosing a lot on the functionality of the droid. For combat droids i have the genuine choice of three layouts:
- Probot, full with Auto-Repair modules
- Advanced R6 with one combat module and otherwhise full of auto repair modules
- Advanced LE with one combat module and otherwhise full of auto repair modules
Which to choose of those two is a matter of personal preference, unfortunately this "wide range" of three different designs outshines all other droids. There's little to customize on a harvester (which i also use) for example. Advanced R3, filled with harvesting modules. Any real customisation on that design cuts into efficiency and thus devalues the droid.
An easy fix could be, make a hard cap on the modules. E.g. 3 harvesting modules in the future could give the same bonus as currently 6 do, but more than 3 won't give any further bonus... then the harvesting droid of a dedicated trapper would be outfitted as a trap launcher, somebody else would put storage and a third person would fill up the space with a stimpack dispenser... and if somebody is not interested in either of them, he can choose something else than an Advanced R3 and still have a droid which does a perfect job.
That way the droids already in design would be much more individual. The mass-produced droids would more likely be R2s and advanced R4s, as they'd be fully sufficient for one job, if a customer wants more he has to order his special machine. [Heck, i am currently searching for a reason/excuse to get me a Treadwell... but i find nothing which would help me at the moment which doesn't require stacking of modules to work well...]
The problem is that I spoil him when it comes to droids 
