Originally posted by WuduLarch I DO play the game. I have two active accounts. My main is a BE. For me, the game is dying and the economy is failing.
Wudu .. what server are you playing on ? Do you have ever considered a character server migration ?
Have fun
Erillion
I have thought about it but I have to build up my motivation just to log in. I am not having fun playing anymore. I am not having any luck dealing with the level system and am rapidly losing the desire to try anymore. I am a CL17 with NO combat skills. I get killed by individual CL5's unless I spend several hundred credits and a half an hour cruising the universe looking for a group with an extra slot that doesn't mind carrying a non-contributing off-planet member.
I am having trouble going around shouting CL17 LFG!!!! (Brings back to many bad EQ nightmares LOL!)
Are there any MMORPG's that anyone knows of that aren't level based? Maybe one that is more exploration based? Maybe one that is more skill based with a strong community, like SWG was? I would think that one like that would be less profitable so there proabaly isn't one, but what can I say, I am an optomist! ROFLMAO!!!!! If anyone does know one, I could switch to it and y'all wouldn't have to hear me complain anymore! ROFLMAO again!!!!!
Thank you for wanting to help Erillion, but I am afraid I am probably a lost cause. Seriously though, I have noticed how much you try to help many people. You really are an asset to these boards and the game.
Well I like the lvl system overall. I've been back to SWG for about a month now and it's really not much different than before.
I can solo 2 mobs my own lvl easy. I just turned CL 56 last night and only need the MBH itself to be a MBH. I'm on Ahazi and I run missions with my 2 brothers who are CL 30 and 18 and if anybody else wants to come you're more than welcome. We're on Ahazi, my in game name is Neafello Athenius.
Upon first loggin back in for the first time it felt a little overwhelming trying to figure everything out for the first time again.
One of my brothers started all the way from scratch again and he's the CL 18, rifleman/master marksman. He can solo his same lvl missions easy also so we have been only going solo or with each other when we're all on.
Overall its a nice break from WOW for us and I'm back to stay for a while.
Originally posted by Ch3cksix I've been watching this thread grow and grow and still no one is talking about the Level system. I once read a supurb post, theorizing that the lvl systme was put in place because the devs ran out of time. So my question is, is the level system here to stay or will they ditch it when they get more time to work on the game? Personally, I think they couldn't get rid of that farce fast enough but that's my opnion. Checksix
Then you haven't watched closely enough. I explained why the level multiplyer was added.
Class (level) discrimination is rampant. If you're not high level, many people in the game won't even talk to you (unless they are newbies as well).
This never hapened before. People couldn't see your skills, and grouped with everyone.
You can stand there LFG all day long, and nothing. It's worse that getting picked last for the softball team, hell, you don't get picked at all.
Super-friendly playerbase (lol, once people get into the "grinding for Jedi" mindset, they could care less about the community, and are only concerned with "finishing" thier Jedi).
Sidenote: Jedi seem to be the slow poison in the game overall.
The other thing is, it was nice to be able to walk around in a game with a little anonymity. NOW you have a BIG NUMBER next to your name, and there's no denying, you are judged by that number.
The old combat/mob system was SO much better (becuase there was nothing else like it any any game). Also, the combat was much faster, and twitch oriented.
THe CU is almost turned based, because it's so slow, (wondupes, cooldowns, etc.) and now SWG, with it's level system, is just another clone of practically every other MMORPG on the market.
That has to be the saddest aspect of all of it. At one time, this game was truly distinct from other games, now it's just WoW/EQ with a Star Wars skin.
Thank you for wanting to help Erillion, but I am afraid I am probably a lost cause. Seriously though, I have noticed how much you try to help many people. You really are an asset to these boards and the game.
Repectfully,
Hi Wudu,
you bring a smile to my face because you sound so much like Azhrarn here on the list, who also declared herself and SWG a lost cause. Well, now, a few months later, after she created a new toon named Noobia on Naritus and had brought some of her AO friends over to SWG she is having fun (when not throwing up in RL after catching the flu.... get well soon, lady !!! :-) on a new server with a new guild.
There ARE no lost causes, but if you feel the burnout it IS a good idea to take a break for a while. Put your account into hibernation after putting some cash into your structures. I had many friends coming back to SWG after months (especially after they left angry because of the stupid Jedi grind) ... and the second time around they enjoyed the game MUCH more than before.
As a more immediate proposed solution .. get a CL 30 combat droid as bodyguard (buy it directly from a DE, not from a vendor). Dont group with it, but let it protect you. Keep it healthy with droid stims D. Will keep you safe on the easy planets and die for you while you escape on adventure planets. Get a camo kit !
If its hard for you to find a group, you are in the wrong guild and/or the wrong server. Its as simple as that. Time to get moving ! :-)
Originally posted by scaramoosh The whole game just seems a mess! Feels like they had too many ideas and put them all in to make a broken game, then tried to fix it over the years by adding more and more and then getting lost in their own work! I say they ditch everything and start again from fresh and actually make sense! Cause atm the Jedi system is whats causing all this unbalancing issues in the game
Before Publish 9 came out all Jedi had exactly the same skills once you reached Guardian 4-4-4-4. What caused the unbalancing to become even greater then it was is due to the trees being split up so you had x combinations of a Jedi template. This meant person with skill A might easily kill a person with out skill A etc. They should have left the trees intact so when they wanted to balance skills it could be done a whole lot easier as all jedi would be the same so if they nerfed the saber block all jedi would be affected which meant all would be the same. As it currently stands it will be impossible to balance jedi unless they either simplify the skill trees so there are only 1 or 2 combinations of possible templates or combine everything in to one skill set again.
Water cooled Intel Corei7 920 D0 Stepping OC'd 4.3GHz - 6GB Corsair Dominator GT RAM 2000Mhz - ASUS RAGE II EXTREME X58 Mobo - 2x HD 5870 in Crossfire X, OC'd 0.9Ghz core 1.3Ghz RAM - Dell 2407WFP Flat Panel LCD 24" 1920x1200
Originally posted by Jodokai Right Wepps Rancors weren't really CL 50 that was all just a mass hullicination right? CH's didn't really base what kind of creatres they could tame based on a Creature LEVEL, they just decided to play fair and only tame what they thought they should right? Master Bounty Hunters didn't really get less XP for killing Durni's right?Wow no wonder you're not a corospondant anymore (if you ever were and aren't just an imposter), you're clueless.The reason the Devs decided to do the damage multiplier based on level, because people complained that the only way SOE knew how to make an encounter more challenging was to thorw more HAM at it. With the damage multiplyer the Dev's are able to have more control over content, and how challenging it should be.
Well i suspect that most of the original developers of the pre-CU SWG system either left or moved to other deparments. So the newer devs were left with a tight deadline which they had to meet or they would be shafted. So they opted for a method which they new worked in other games and basically ported it over to SWG. They could have easily made the game more challanging by reducing the buff pack effectiveness by lower the resource stats that were required for them so they could never reach anything beyond 900 to 1k effectivness on HAM values, alllow stims and woundpacks to heal mind, lower the stats values on resources required for armor so the max protection armor could ever offer would be 50%. They could have re-worked the creature damage tables to fit in accordance to this. However they just didn't have the time and resources to do all of it and instead created a Poo CU, which drove away a lot of people not only because of the quality of the CU but how they treated the veteran community, they did lie to the alpha testers about what the CU would be as the product released was a hell of a lot different to that which was discussed with them.
Water cooled Intel Corei7 920 D0 Stepping OC'd 4.3GHz - 6GB Corsair Dominator GT RAM 2000Mhz - ASUS RAGE II EXTREME X58 Mobo - 2x HD 5870 in Crossfire X, OC'd 0.9Ghz core 1.3Ghz RAM - Dell 2407WFP Flat Panel LCD 24" 1920x1200
Originally posted by Jodokai Right Wepps Rancors weren't really CL 50 that was all just a mass hullicination right? CH's didn't really base what kind of creatres they could tame based on a Creature LEVEL, they just decided to play fair and only tame what they thought they should right? Master Bounty Hunters didn't really get less XP for killing Durni's right?Wow no wonder you're not a corospondant anymore (if you ever were and aren't just an imposter), you're clueless.
The reason the Devs decided to do the damage multiplier based on level, because people complained that the only way SOE knew how to make an encounter more challenging was to thorw more HAM at it. With the damage multiplyer the Dev's are able to have more control over content, and how challenging it should be.
Well i suspect that most of the original developers of the pre-CU SWG system either left or moved to other deparments. So the newer devs were left with a tight deadline which they had to meet or they would be shafted. So they opted for a method which they new worked in other games and basically ported it over to SWG. They could have easily made the game more challanging by reducing the buff pack effectiveness by lower the resource stats that were required for them so they could never reach anything beyond 900 to 1k effectivness on HAM values, alllow stims and woundpacks to heal mind, lower the stats values on resources required for armor so the max protection armor could ever offer would be 50%. They could have re-worked the creature damage tables to fit in accordance to this. However they just didn't have the time and resources to do all of it and instead created a Poo CU, which drove away a lot of people not only because of the quality of the CU but how they treated the veteran community, they did lie to the alpha testers about what the CU would be as the product released was a hell of a lot different to that which was discussed with them.
Wow, this has absolutely nothing to do with the post you quoted, but to answer you:
Yes the devs could have done this or could have done that, but they didn't. It is the way it is. And I'm sure you were in the alpha and beta tests of the CU just like everyone else that has a point to make on these boards has been in every beta test ever.
I'm part of the "Veteran Community" I've been with SWG since release, and I don't feel lied to at all. I'm happy with the CU. I like what it's done (a little miffed at the crafting getting the shaft but that's another story).
There is one thing that I'd like to point out that seems to have gotten lost while the vets here have debated whether the game is broken or not, and whether soloing is still viable. All of the real newbies that I have seen posting here have agreed on two things:
1. The community is good.
2. The game is confusing as hell for a beginner.
If SOE really wants this game to grow they have got to work on 2.
Personally my account is running out in a couple of weeks. I did meet great peaple, but a good community is simply not enough to get me to keep playing a game that isn't any fun for me. Even in EQ 1 I was having more fun after my first few hours than I did after a week of playing this (and when I started playing EQ it was a brutal experience to be a new player . . .no maps, no compass, XP loss and corpse runs from level 5 on). AO was also pretty confusing at first, but nothing like this. And those are the only games i can think to compare SWG to. Everything else I've tried had a newbie experience light years better than SWG. DAoC, WoW, EQOA, EQ II, CoH. Every single one of those teaches you most of whet you need to know in the first hour.
Admitedly, every time I got stuck on in SWG there was a simple way around it once I asked someone in game what was going on. But to be perfectly honest, when I find myself completely stumped by a simple thing (like how to click on things with your mouse in space or where to go to get wounds healed) for the 10th or 20th time, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth and I tend to uninstall.
To all you guys that enjoy this, I bid you well!
I don't want to write this, and you don't want to read it. But now it's too late for both of us.
Originally posted by Yeebo There is one thing that I'd like to point out that seems to have gotten lost while the vets here have debated whether the game is broken or not, and whether soloing is still viable. All of the real newbies that I have seen posting here have agreed on two things: 1. The community is good. 2. The game is confusing as hell for a beginner. If SOE really wants this game to grow they have got to work on 2. Personally my account is running out in a couple of weeks. I did meet great peaple, but a good community is simply not enough to get me to keep playing a game that isn't any fun for me. Even in EQ 1 I was having more fun after my first few hours than I did after a week of playing this (and when I started playing EQ it was a brutal experience to be a new player . . .no maps, no compass, XP loss and corpse runs from level 5 on). AO was also pretty confusing at first, but nothing like this. And those are the only games i can think to compare SWG to. Everything else I've tried had a newbie experience light years better than SWG. DAoC, WoW, EQOA, EQ II, CoH. Every single one of those teaches you most of whet you need to know in the first hour. Admitedly, every time I got stuck on in SWG there was a simple way around it once I asked someone in game what was going on. But to be perfectly honest, when I find myself completely stumped by a simple thing (like how to click on things with your mouse in space or where to go to get wounds healed) for the 10th or 20th time, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth and I tend to uninstall. To all you guys that enjoy this, I bid you well!
Did you do the tutorial at all? Everything (except the space part) was explained. Wounds and damage was explained, BF (which is gone now) was explained. Every time you opened a new window there was help there explaining what to do.
I started playing EQ1 before any tutorials. It took me 3 DAYS of playing to find my way out of the Dark Elven city. THEN I realized I needed to find the trainer guy. A week later I fought my first monster and died on the spot and said screw this.
SWG I was up in running the first day I started playing and I didn't have the the tutorial or the helper droid and helper jedi that is there now, and the only other mmo I had ever played was that week of EQ1. I had no one to ask, as everyone was as clueless as me, and the forums where bare and I still figured it all out by reading the help. Not only that but I started on Talus, which was the most difficult starter planet (back then you could choose your planet).
Sure you're not going to be a master weaponsmith/Bounty Hunter extrodinare the first day you play, but come on, it's no more difficult than any other mmo.
You are correct, wounds are explained in the tutorial. In fact you are told to go to an empty medical center to talk the the PC medics that don't hang out there anymore to get your wounds healed. If you look around you can find them, but they no longer hang out in the medical centers because they have to heal in combat to get XP for certain skills now. The best way to find one is to shout for one (annoying as heck) or head to where the groups are (I would know that how as a new player?). The tutorial is not up to date or lacks detail in a lot of "funny" little ways like that. If you could empty your head of all knowledge of the game and start over you'd see what I mean.
I know you're trying to be helpful, but really I've given it as much of a chance as I will for now. Maybe I'll try it in another month or two.
As for your experience in Neriak, man can I relate. I started there too. It took me forever to find my way outside. I think I fell in a lake and drowned at least once during the process {If I remember right I was like "Woah is that a window?. . .Hey, there's somone in there . .how do i wave? . .Oooh, my health is going down fast . . . Gaaa!} When I finally did make it outside I didn't go back in for at least two or three nights because I was afraid I'd never find my way out again
I don't want to write this, and you don't want to read it. But now it's too late for both of us.
doc's are a little hard to find my main is mtk/mpike/doc4000.
nothing like finding a new guy outside town fighting an droping infuse on him make him think he went into god mode lol.
the lvl system has a rough start but it evens out after a bit.
hell as of now i can solo 4 mobs of my level at once in my shorts without to much problems i looove area attacks an anything 3 below you is gravy deep down its a good system jus needs some tweaks.
Seriously, though, you are NOT with the right people if you can't find a group most of the time. Perhaps a little test run on Naritus is called for, in a little town named Lok n Load on Nym's irradiated dirtball (affectionately known as Lok)....
I garauntee the near-daily appearance of a master doctor there. Considering I'm the Master Doctor and I spend a LOT of time in the city moving furnature and wierd bits of stuff around in the Hotel California while trying not to make everyone in earshot sick with the marital bliss-caused sweetness.
If you can spend a couple of weeks THERE and still say you're a lost cause, then maybe you are. But I doubt it. Because if Erillion and his folks can change MY mind after the serious burn and pain I took as a crafter on Bloodfin as the CU wiped out every reason I had to play... then I figure he might just change yours too. And I'm about as stubborn and pigheaded as they come.
Originally posted by azhrarn and wierd bits of stuff around in the Hotel California while trying not to make everyone in earshot sick with the marital bliss-caused sweetness.
/choke
/cough
/puke
/pukesomemore
*** sounds of people being violenty sick disturb the mating call of the male Kimogila in the desert **
Originally posted by azhrarn Preach on, Darth Hampster. LOL!Seriously, though, you are NOT with the right people if you can't find a group most of the time. Perhaps a little test run on Naritus is called for, in a little town named Lok n Load on Nym's irradiated dirtball (affectionately known as Lok)....I garauntee the near-daily appearance of a master doctor there. Considering I'm the Master Doctor and I spend a LOT of time in the city moving furnature and wierd bits of stuff around in the Hotel California while trying not to make everyone in earshot sick with the marital bliss-caused sweetness.If you can spend a couple of weeks THERE and still say you're a lost cause, then maybe you are. But I doubt it. Because if Erillion and his folks can change MY mind after the serious burn and pain I took as a crafter on Bloodfin as the CU wiped out every reason I had to play... then I figure he might just change yours too. And I'm about as stubborn and pigheaded as they come./grin
Bah Lowca is better
MUAHAHAHA Then again we're a buncha damn rebels in FPA Except Shin... for some reason he's an IMP... we still haven't figured out what's wrong with him
But Noobia's points are valid. Grouping isn't hard at all and finding a Doc is as simple as finding a place where groups typically form. On Lowca momst groups start on Dantooine if you aren't in a PA. Some form in Mos Eisley now and a few form on Lok. But not that many. DMO is still the place to go to find a group fast. I have to beat groups off with a stick when I go there and I'm wearing a Carbineer tag... lol.
Heck, lately I can't land in a starport without getting healed by one of the friendly doc players on Lowca. I rarely have a problem getting wounds healed... yesterday my wounds were so low I hadn't even noticed I had em and when I landed at Kadaara (muahahaha damn jedi) a doc there healed me and I was like "Oh! Thanks, didn't know I had wounds!".... and promptly tipped him my standard 5k for healing wounds.
Anyhow, getting healed isn't hard, and finding groups is even less hard. Like I said, if you go anywhere near a major grouping location you will be beating group invites off with a stick. I know I am on Lowca and it's only a "medium" server (though I noticed it was heavy last night... scary).
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online. Sig image Pending Still in: A couple Betas
Originally posted by Ch3cksix I've been watching this thread grow and grow and still no one is talking about the Level system. I once read a supurb post, theorizing that the lvl systme was put in place because the devs ran out of time. So my question is, is the level system here to stay or will they ditch it when they get more time to work on the game? Personally, I think they couldn't get rid of that farce fast enough but that's my opnion. Checksix
They are in a round about way discussing the implimentation of the level system as it relates to all things. My theory is at some point in time someone at SOE will start making promises to professions they cannot keep. Say carbineers and swordsman. They aren't really balanced and they intend to fix this or that soon. A bunch of people will keep asking for those fixes and it snow balls. Suddenly it will be we will have a huge patch called the Combat Balance. Then they might revamp the entire system again.
The level system is not the problem with this game at all. Level systems are inherent in any game where you are brought along. Rarely do you start out all powerful and equal and play a game. They tend to hold a players interest especially for a game your suppose to play "forever" as it never ends. SOE's level system is dramatically overbearing to the point "I" found (MY OPINION) that it does not matter at all what PVE profession, specials, equipment, skills as a gamer, intelligence or anything that makes an MMO playing all that matters is group size, and level. Sure aggroing everything is a negative and that is all that really matters. For me this was the cricual flaw of the level system. Everything became so generic that you dont even think prior to combat. Combat now settles in on watching your action bar. Now as many will tell you experience is easily gained. Not to be a party pooper but if you are suppose to play a game "forever" why are you wanting to rush through experience? The answer is simple. Balance (or jedi). No balance exists and everything is weighed to the top escalon of the game player base.
This game suffers from fotm templates on a bases I have never seen in a game. Since inception everyone (combat players) flocks to a certain template that is the strongest. This is NOT the players faults who constantly and continuly get nerfed. The fix for this game is and always has been achiving a balance between all professions and if that cannot be achived they should get rid of the profession. I have always maintained that these devs aren't being told to code the right way and are pushed on artificial deadlines with no meaning to anyone but junior executives who don't understand the right way is far more important in the long run then a deadline on a crappy expansion.
My solution do with it what you will.
Skill Points are broken into two catergories. Combat and Non-Combat
Crafters, Merchants and Entertainers
1. You can level these with a zero skill combat point cost, but you can only master 2. 2. Entertainers provide combat bonuses. Playing the Imperial March before a battle rallies the troops and gives added action. The alliance battle hym might give a 250 health point bonus to all fighing troops while fighting. A dance must do a distracting and cause a drop of action of 10 points to all opponents. Throughout war music and dance have been motivating on the field of battle. Make the war drums beat again.
Only 1 toon per server. You should be able to be both a crafter and a fighter and not be punished.
Fighters
1. the damage modifier is removed. I hate that. You do damage souly based on your crafted weapon and your skill.
Professional development.
1. Skills are gated into your profession of choice. We ditch the skill ladder entirely going to a real full level based system. You aquire skills through quests. You aquire skill points and level points that are applied to your profession(s) of choice. Want to be faster with a carbine spend points on speed. Want to dodge you need pistoleer and dodge. Want to use a certain weapon (t-21) you have to spend points on rifles to get to that weapons required lvl for usage. SMugglers can slice for lvl.
2. Smugglers smuggle spice, guns, armor, equipment. Everyone cons red of the opposing faction. Get goods to the waypoint (NO SHUTTLING Transporting. You must fly and hyperspace and land) and you get a big payday. Smuggling spice everyone in the galaxy cons red. lawbreaker.
OR
Go back to a skill based game and ditch the level based system you are employing.
More development can easily take place from these basic premises.
Comments
Wudu .. what server are you playing on ? Do you have ever considered a character server migration ?
Have fun
Erillion
I have thought about it but I have to build up my motivation just to log in. I am not having fun playing anymore. I am not having any luck dealing with the level system and am rapidly losing the desire to try anymore. I am a CL17 with NO combat skills. I get killed by individual CL5's unless I spend several hundred credits and a half an hour cruising the universe looking for a group with an extra slot that doesn't mind carrying a non-contributing off-planet member.
I am having trouble going around shouting CL17 LFG!!!! (Brings back to many bad EQ nightmares LOL!)
Are there any MMORPG's that anyone knows of that aren't level based? Maybe one that is more exploration based? Maybe one that is more skill based with a strong community, like SWG was? I would think that one like that would be less profitable so there proabaly isn't one, but what can I say, I am an optomist! ROFLMAO!!!!! If anyone does know one, I could switch to it and y'all wouldn't have to hear me complain anymore! ROFLMAO again!!!!!
Thank you for wanting to help Erillion, but I am afraid I am probably a lost cause. Seriously though, I have noticed how much you try to help many people. You really are an asset to these boards and the game.
Repectfully,
Well I like the lvl system overall. I've been back to SWG for about a month now and it's really not much different than before.
I can solo 2 mobs my own lvl easy. I just turned CL 56 last night and only need the MBH itself to be a MBH. I'm on Ahazi and I run missions with my 2 brothers who are CL 30 and 18 and if anybody else wants to come you're more than welcome. We're on Ahazi, my in game name is Neafello Athenius.
Upon first loggin back in for the first time it felt a little overwhelming trying to figure everything out for the first time again.
One of my brothers started all the way from scratch again and he's the CL 18, rifleman/master marksman. He can solo his same lvl missions easy also so we have been only going solo or with each other when we're all on.
Overall its a nice break from WOW for us and I'm back to stay for a while.
This what I was reffering to in my post as well.
Class (level) discrimination is rampant. If you're not high level, many people in the game won't even talk to you (unless they are newbies as well).
This never hapened before. People couldn't see your skills, and grouped with everyone.
You can stand there LFG all day long, and nothing. It's worse that getting picked last for the softball team, hell, you don't get picked at all.
Super-friendly playerbase (lol, once people get into the "grinding for Jedi" mindset, they could care less about the community, and are only concerned with "finishing" thier Jedi).
Sidenote: Jedi seem to be the slow poison in the game overall.
The other thing is, it was nice to be able to walk around in a game with a little anonymity. NOW you have a BIG NUMBER next to your name, and there's no denying, you are judged by that number.
The old combat/mob system was SO much better (becuase there was nothing else like it any any game). Also, the combat was much faster, and twitch oriented.
THe CU is almost turned based, because it's so slow, (wondupes, cooldowns, etc.) and now SWG, with it's level system, is just another clone of practically every other MMORPG on the market.
That has to be the saddest aspect of all of it. At one time, this game was truly distinct from other games, now it's just WoW/EQ with a Star Wars skin.
Nothing orginel left.
Oh yeah, the CU blows.
Repectfully,
Hi Wudu,
you bring a smile to my face because you sound so much like Azhrarn here on the list, who also declared herself and SWG a lost cause. Well, now, a few months later, after she created a new toon named Noobia on Naritus and had brought some of her AO friends over to SWG she is having fun (when not throwing up in RL after catching the flu.... get well soon, lady !!! :-) on a new server with a new guild.
There ARE no lost causes, but if you feel the burnout it IS a good idea to take a break for a while. Put your account into hibernation after putting some cash into your structures. I had many friends coming back to SWG after months (especially after they left angry because of the stupid Jedi grind) ... and the second time around they enjoyed the game MUCH more than before.
As a more immediate proposed solution .. get a CL 30 combat droid as bodyguard (buy it directly from a DE, not from a vendor). Dont group with it, but let it protect you. Keep it healthy with droid stims D. Will keep you safe on the easy planets and die for you while you escape on adventure planets. Get a camo kit !
If its hard for you to find a group, you are in the wrong guild and/or the wrong server. Its as simple as that. Time to get moving ! :-)
have fun
Erillion
Before Publish 9 came out all Jedi had exactly the same skills once you reached Guardian 4-4-4-4. What caused the unbalancing to become even greater then it was is due to the trees being split up so you had x combinations of a Jedi template. This meant person with skill A might easily kill a person with out skill A etc. They should have left the trees intact so when they wanted to balance skills it could be done a whole lot easier as all jedi would be the same so if they nerfed the saber block all jedi would be affected which meant all would be the same. As it currently stands it will be impossible to balance jedi unless they either simplify the skill trees so there are only 1 or 2 combinations of possible templates or combine everything in to one skill set again.
Water cooled Intel Corei7 920 D0 Stepping OC'd 4.3GHz - 6GB Corsair Dominator GT RAM 2000Mhz - ASUS RAGE II EXTREME X58 Mobo - 2x HD 5870 in Crossfire X, OC'd 0.9Ghz core 1.3Ghz RAM - Dell 2407WFP Flat Panel LCD 24" 1920x1200
Well i suspect that most of the original developers of the pre-CU SWG system either left or moved to other deparments. So the newer devs were left with a tight deadline which they had to meet or they would be shafted. So they opted for a method which they new worked in other games and basically ported it over to SWG. They could have easily made the game more challanging by reducing the buff pack effectiveness by lower the resource stats that were required for them so they could never reach anything beyond 900 to 1k effectivness on HAM values, alllow stims and woundpacks to heal mind, lower the stats values on resources required for armor so the max protection armor could ever offer would be 50%. They could have re-worked the creature damage tables to fit in accordance to this. However they just didn't have the time and resources to do all of it and instead created a Poo CU, which drove away a lot of people not only because of the quality of the CU but how they treated the veteran community, they did lie to the alpha testers about what the CU would be as the product released was a hell of a lot different to that which was discussed with them.
Water cooled Intel Corei7 920 D0 Stepping OC'd 4.3GHz - 6GB Corsair Dominator GT RAM 2000Mhz - ASUS RAGE II EXTREME X58 Mobo - 2x HD 5870 in Crossfire X, OC'd 0.9Ghz core 1.3Ghz RAM - Dell 2407WFP Flat Panel LCD 24" 1920x1200
Well i suspect that most of the original developers of the pre-CU SWG system either left or moved to other deparments. So the newer devs were left with a tight deadline which they had to meet or they would be shafted. So they opted for a method which they new worked in other games and basically ported it over to SWG. They could have easily made the game more challanging by reducing the buff pack effectiveness by lower the resource stats that were required for them so they could never reach anything beyond 900 to 1k effectivness on HAM values, alllow stims and woundpacks to heal mind, lower the stats values on resources required for armor so the max protection armor could ever offer would be 50%. They could have re-worked the creature damage tables to fit in accordance to this. However they just didn't have the time and resources to do all of it and instead created a Poo CU, which drove away a lot of people not only because of the quality of the CU but how they treated the veteran community, they did lie to the alpha testers about what the CU would be as the product released was a hell of a lot different to that which was discussed with them.
Wow, this has absolutely nothing to do with the post you quoted, but to answer you:
Yes the devs could have done this or could have done that, but they didn't. It is the way it is. And I'm sure you were in the alpha and beta tests of the CU just like everyone else that has a point to make on these boards has been in every beta test ever.
I'm part of the "Veteran Community" I've been with SWG since release, and I don't feel lied to at all. I'm happy with the CU. I like what it's done (a little miffed at the crafting getting the shaft but that's another story).
There is one thing that I'd like to point out that seems to have gotten lost while the vets here have debated whether the game is broken or not, and whether soloing is still viable. All of the real newbies that I have seen posting here have agreed on two things:
1. The community is good.
2. The game is confusing as hell for a beginner.
If SOE really wants this game to grow they have got to work on 2.
Personally my account is running out in a couple of weeks. I did meet great peaple, but a good community is simply not enough to get me to keep playing a game that isn't any fun for me. Even in EQ 1 I was having more fun after my first few hours than I did after a week of playing this (and when I started playing EQ it was a brutal experience to be a new player . . .no maps, no compass, XP loss and corpse runs from level 5 on). AO was also pretty confusing at first, but nothing like this. And those are the only games i can think to compare SWG to. Everything else I've tried had a newbie experience light years better than SWG. DAoC, WoW, EQOA, EQ II, CoH. Every single one of those teaches you most of whet you need to know in the first hour.
Admitedly, every time I got stuck on in SWG there was a simple way around it once I asked someone in game what was going on. But to be perfectly honest, when I find myself completely stumped by a simple thing (like how to click on things with your mouse in space or where to go to get wounds healed) for the 10th or 20th time, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth and I tend to uninstall.
To all you guys that enjoy this, I bid you well!
I don't want to write this, and you don't want to read it. But now it's too late for both of us.
Did you do the tutorial at all? Everything (except the space part) was explained. Wounds and damage was explained, BF (which is gone now) was explained. Every time you opened a new window there was help there explaining what to do.
I started playing EQ1 before any tutorials. It took me 3 DAYS of playing to find my way out of the Dark Elven city. THEN I realized I needed to find the trainer guy. A week later I fought my first monster and died on the spot and said screw this.
SWG I was up in running the first day I started playing and I didn't have the the tutorial or the helper droid and helper jedi that is there now, and the only other mmo I had ever played was that week of EQ1. I had no one to ask, as everyone was as clueless as me, and the forums where bare and I still figured it all out by reading the help. Not only that but I started on Talus, which was the most difficult starter planet (back then you could choose your planet).
Sure you're not going to be a master weaponsmith/Bounty Hunter extrodinare the first day you play, but come on, it's no more difficult than any other mmo.
You are correct, wounds are explained in the tutorial. In fact you are told to go to an empty medical center to talk the the PC medics that don't hang out there anymore to get your wounds healed. If you look around you can find them, but they no longer hang out in the medical centers because they have to heal in combat to get XP for certain skills now. The best way to find one is to shout for one (annoying as heck) or head to where the groups are (I would know that how as a new player?). The tutorial is not up to date or lacks detail in a lot of "funny" little ways like that. If you could empty your head of all knowledge of the game and start over you'd see what I mean.
I know you're trying to be helpful, but really I've given it as much of a chance as I will for now. Maybe I'll try it in another month or two.
As for your experience in Neriak, man can I relate. I started there too. It took me forever to find my way outside. I think I fell in a lake and drowned at least once during the process {If I remember right I was like "Woah is that a window?. . .Hey, there's somone in there . .how do i wave? . .Oooh, my health is going down fast . . . Gaaa!} When I finally did make it outside I didn't go back in for at least two or three nights because I was afraid I'd never find my way out again
I don't want to write this, and you don't want to read it. But now it's too late for both of us.
doc's are a little hard to find my main is mtk/mpike/doc4000.
nothing like finding a new guy outside town fighting an droping infuse on him make him think he went into god mode lol.
the lvl system has a rough start but it evens out after a bit.
hell as of now i can solo 4 mobs of my level at once in my shorts without to much problems i looove area attacks
an anything 3 below you is gravy deep down its a good system jus needs some tweaks.
Preach on, Darth Hampster. LOL!
Seriously, though, you are NOT with the right people if you can't find a group most of the time. Perhaps a little test run on Naritus is called for, in a little town named Lok n Load on Nym's irradiated dirtball (affectionately known as Lok)....
I garauntee the near-daily appearance of a master doctor there. Considering I'm the Master Doctor and I spend a LOT of time in the city moving furnature and wierd bits of stuff around in the Hotel California while trying not to make everyone in earshot sick with the marital bliss-caused sweetness.
If you can spend a couple of weeks THERE and still say you're a lost cause, then maybe you are. But I doubt it. Because if Erillion and his folks can change MY mind after the serious burn and pain I took as a crafter on Bloodfin as the CU wiped out every reason I had to play... then I figure he might just change yours too. And I'm about as stubborn and pigheaded as they come.
/grin
_______________________
Kote lo'shebs'ul narit
/choke
/cough
/puke
/pukesomemore
*** sounds of people being violenty sick disturb the mating call of the male Kimogila in the desert **
Have fun
Erillion
Bah
Lowca is better 
MUAHAHAHA
Except Shin... for some reason he's an IMP... we still haven't figured out what's wrong with him 
Then again we're a buncha damn rebels in FPA
But Noobia's points are valid. Grouping isn't hard at all and finding a Doc is as simple as finding a place where groups typically form. On Lowca momst groups start on Dantooine if you aren't in a PA. Some form in Mos Eisley now and a few form on Lok. But not that many. DMO is still the place to go to find a group fast. I have to beat groups off with a stick when I go there and I'm wearing a Carbineer tag... lol.
Heck, lately I can't land in a starport without getting healed by one of the friendly doc players on Lowca. I rarely have a problem getting wounds healed... yesterday my wounds were so low I hadn't even noticed I had em and when I landed at Kadaara (muahahaha damn jedi) a doc there healed me and I was like "Oh! Thanks, didn't know I had wounds!".... and promptly tipped him my standard 5k for healing wounds.
Anyhow, getting healed isn't hard, and finding groups is even less hard. Like I said, if you go anywhere near a major grouping location you will be beating group invites off with a stick. I know I am on Lowca and it's only a "medium" server (though I noticed it was heavy last night... scary).
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online.
Sig image Pending
Still in: A couple Betas
They are in a round about way discussing the implimentation of the level system as it relates to all things. My theory is at some point in time someone at SOE will start making promises to professions they cannot keep. Say carbineers and swordsman. They aren't really balanced and they intend to fix this or that soon. A bunch of people will keep asking for those fixes and it snow balls. Suddenly it will be we will have a huge patch called the Combat Balance. Then they might revamp the entire system again.
The level system is not the problem with this game at all. Level systems are inherent in any game where you are brought along. Rarely do you start out all powerful and equal and play a game. They tend to hold a players interest especially for a game your suppose to play "forever" as it never ends. SOE's level system is dramatically overbearing to the point "I" found (MY OPINION) that it does not matter at all what PVE profession, specials, equipment, skills as a gamer, intelligence or anything that makes an MMO playing all that matters is group size, and level. Sure aggroing everything is a negative and that is all that really matters. For me this was the cricual flaw of the level system. Everything became so generic that you dont even think prior to combat. Combat now settles in on watching your action bar. Now as many will tell you experience is easily gained. Not to be a party pooper but if you are suppose to play a game "forever" why are you wanting to rush through experience? The answer is simple. Balance (or jedi). No balance exists and everything is weighed to the top escalon of the game player base.
This game suffers from fotm templates on a bases I have never seen in a game. Since inception everyone (combat players) flocks to a certain template that is the strongest. This is NOT the players faults who constantly and continuly get nerfed. The fix for this game is and always has been achiving a balance between all professions and if that cannot be achived they should get rid of the profession. I have always maintained that these devs aren't being told to code the right way and are pushed on artificial deadlines with no meaning to anyone but junior executives who don't understand the right way is far more important in the long run then a deadline on a crappy expansion.
My solution do with it what you will.
Skill Points are broken into two catergories. Combat and Non-Combat
Crafters, Merchants and Entertainers
1. You can level these with a zero skill combat point cost, but you can only master 2.
2. Entertainers provide combat bonuses. Playing the Imperial March before a battle rallies the troops and gives added action. The alliance battle hym might give a 250 health point bonus to all fighing troops while fighting. A dance must do a distracting and cause a drop of action of 10 points to all opponents. Throughout war music and dance have been motivating on the field of battle. Make the war drums beat again.
Only 1 toon per server. You should be able to be both a crafter and a fighter and not be punished.
Fighters
1. the damage modifier is removed. I hate that. You do damage souly based on your crafted weapon and your skill.
Professional development.
1. Skills are gated into your profession of choice. We ditch the skill ladder entirely going to a real full level based system. You aquire skills through quests. You aquire skill points and level points that are applied to your profession(s) of choice. Want to be faster with a carbine spend points on speed. Want to dodge you need pistoleer and dodge. Want to use a certain weapon (t-21) you have to spend points on rifles to get to that weapons required lvl for usage. SMugglers can slice for lvl.
2. Smugglers smuggle spice, guns, armor, equipment. Everyone cons red of the opposing faction. Get goods to the waypoint (NO SHUTTLING Transporting. You must fly and hyperspace and land) and you get a big payday. Smuggling spice everyone in the galaxy cons red. lawbreaker.
OR
Go back to a skill based game and ditch the level based system you are employing.
More development can easily take place from these basic premises.