SWTOR

[Lantyssa]

I have great difficulty making out voice if there are any other sounds happening.  So if combat happens, or music, or voice chat (unlikely for me), I'll miss everything an en-route quest giver would say.  As a way to add urgency to a mission it can make for a nice bit of drama, but I wouldn't want it for every mission, personally.

[Rendakor]

Just make it an option, and have subtitles. You can stand still if you wanna just listen, while others who are busy poopsocking can run off toward the next rat.

[Sheepherder]

Or just drop everything not quest text in pitch when the quest text is playing.  HDR sound, if you will.

[Oban]

An SMS option would be highly appreciated.  


Stopped dey must b; on DIS aL depends. onlE a fully trained Jedi Knight, w d Force az Hs ally, wiL conquer Vader & Hs Emperor. f U nd yor training nw - f U chuse d qix & EZ path az Vader did - U wiL bcum an agent of  }-)

[rk47]

Nah, all quest text must have a galaxy full of stars as a backdrop and scrolling yellow text with John Williams music cutscene.

[UnSub]

Nah, all quest text must have a galaxy full of stars as a backdrop and scrolling yellow text with John Williams music cutscene.

Alec Guiness voice: "Use the force, Darth Awezum, to kill ten womp rats..."

*da na na na, na na na NA NA, da na na NA NA, duna duNAAAA*

[Riggswolfe]

I'm trashing it because it looks BAD.

That's your opinion. Truthfully, I've yet to fully form one. Some parts of the game look good (I dig the voice acting/rpg elements and every player having a ship that is part transport, part housing), some parts could be cool depending on how they're implemented (the crew members, the crew as crafting bots especially) and some parts I'm iffy on.

Still, I have high hopes for the game but it's based on little besides wishful thinking at this point and a few things that look good.

[Lucas]

Time for a music interlude.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwQOFamx5oE (throne room + end credits, Episode IV)

[Samprimary]

Still, I have high hopes for the game but it's based on little besides wishful thinking at this point and a few things that look good.

They make it look wicked fun, in concept, to be an imperial agent. You're the spectres, but this time unambiguously for the evil empire.

[Lucas]

Still, I have high hopes for the game but it's based on little besides wishful thinking at this point and a few things that look good.

They make it look wicked fun, in concept, to be an imperial agent. You're the spectres, but this time unambiguously for the evil empire.

Yep, infact the Imperial Agent is the class I'll try out first. Can't really understand why it seems to be the less popular, at least in the official forums class polls. I guess the majority of SW fans are more attracted by the traditional archetypes portrayed in the movies.

[Samprimary]

That's the one thing I want to give them credit for, since this is the first non force user idea I'm compelled by.

[Fordel]

Yep, infact the Imperial Agent is the class I'll try out first. Can't really understand why it seems to be the less popular, at least in the official forums class polls. I guess the majority of SW fans are more attracted by the traditional archetypes portrayed in the movies.

That's pretty much it. All the other classes, you can go "This is the Han Solo class, That is the Boba Fett class." Even the Troopers have their own representation.




The IA, that's pretty much 'new' to Star Wars. Though I'm sure someone could reference a EU novel where they exist or whatever.

[Samprimary]

Hey, if it doesn't exist and lucas isn't making it, great. It's not even a direct mass effect plagiarism since the appeal is that you're the knuckle-cracking shadow man for well-funded, libertine powers bent on world domination. And here's your ship, it's the coolest. win world pl0x.

[Fordel]

That's the story in ME2 though! Or it can be. 

[Merusk]

I think once it's released and more people realize the subspec is "Sniper" it'll explode in popularity.  Remember the folks following it and answering polls, etc. at this point are the rabid fans and hardcore MMO players.  A class based on subtlety with the FPS cheese class name isn't going to attract the early numbers.

[tmp]

I think once it's released and more people realize the subspec is "Sniper" it'll explode in popularity.  Remember the folks following it and answering polls, etc. at this point are the rabid fans and hardcore MMO players.

I'd think if there's anyone who's going to make the instant mental "agent = sniper rifle" connection, it's these hardcore MMO players

[Koyasha]

Sniper rifle means jack and shit in MMO combat, though, and I don't expect SWTOR to have that be any different.  They're not going to let you snipe anybody from way outside the range of any other weapon type.  Not that I'd want them to, at least not in pvp, but just saying...if you can't snipe with a sniper rifle, it's silly to include it, call it that, whatever.

[eldaec]

Snipers worked well in PS, work in EVE, worked in AC, they were perfectly functional in CoX (though only PvE), they remained workable even after balancing in DAoC. They even worked fine in SWG (except for not stacking with pistol damage).

I don't see them working here, but that's not because snipers are inherently unworkable, its because of the lack of focus on (or existence of?) open large world pvp, and the devs choosing to work within the EQ/WoW combat template.

Edit: oh, shadowbane too.

[Merusk]

I think once it's released and more people realize the subspec is "Sniper" it'll explode in popularity.  Remember the folks following it and answering polls, etc. at this point are the rabid fans and hardcore MMO players.

I'd think if there's anyone who's going to make the instant mental "agent = sniper rifle" connection, it's these hardcore MMO players

No, I expect Hardcore MMO players realize exactly what Koyasha points out and ignore the class because it doesn't do what you'd expect it to. It'll still be "you headshot for 300/11000 damage!"  The masses, however, I have my doubts about.

[Paelos]

It will probably operate exactly like hunters do in WoW without the pets. Which won't be a draw, I think.

[tmp]

No, I expect Hardcore MMO players realize exactly what Koyasha points out and ignore the class because it doesn't do what you'd expect it to. It'll still be "you headshot for 300/11000 damage!"

More like Aimed Shot for 13k, capped...

meh, now i feel decrepit. Guess the hardcore MMOs don't include Anarchy Online anymore.

[LK]

I'm kinda tired of the "Snipers are best at headshots and should always go for them with their l33t aiming skills" trope.

[Lucas]

New blog update, "Cinematic Design" by Lead Cinematic Designer Paul Marino:

http://www.swtor.com/news/blog/20101231

[Koyasha]

Your Sith Inquisitor grows impatient with him and chooses to detonate some nearby explosives – but will it be overruled by another who votes to fight him?

This is the main thing that concerns me about their dialogue system.  I'll have to see how it plays out in practice, but this sort of vote thing seems odd to me.  In the above example from that blog, I'm curious as to what actually happens if someone else overrules my character?  If their character prevents mine from taking the action I was attempting, then I can buy that and it'll be pretty cool, but if their 'vote' mystically causes me not to do what I said to do, with no actual interaction between the characters, then I think the dialogue system will irritate me at best.

If the appearance is that my character was prevented from doing something, that's fine with me, but if it seems as though my character simply didn't do it for no reason at all, then that won't make me happy.

[SnakeCharmer]

I read somewhere that even if you're overruled, in this example, you made the choice to detonate the explosives.  It doesn't matter that they didn't go off (for whatever reason), the system notes your intent (blow the guy to bits) and rewards (or punishes you, I guess, depending on the story line or what the quest give wanted) accordingly.  It's all about your intent.  Likewise, if you choose NOT to blow the guy up, but are overruled by your party member to press the red button, the system recognizes the intent of NOT blowing him up and rewards you the same as if you didn't - because even though he DID get blown up, you voted NOT to blow him up.

[Ratman_tf]

I read somewhere that even if you're overruled, in this example, you made the choice to detonate the explosives.  It doesn't matter that they didn't go off (for whatever reason), the system notes your intent (blow the guy to bits) and rewards (or punishes you, I guess, depending on the story line or what the quest give wanted) accordingly.  It's all about your intent.  Likewise, if you choose NOT to blow the guy up, but are overruled by your party member to press the red button, the system recognizes the intent of NOT blowing him up and rewards you the same as if you didn't - because even though he DID get blown up, you voted NOT to blow him up.

Jesus christ. If true, the next class announced better be Galactic Attorney.

[Reg]

Galactic Attorney? Why? What is there to argue about when you're rewarded by your intent whether you win the vote or not?

[SnakeCharmer]

No doubt.  

Basically, it's the same as every other Bioware game out there.  You have a story, which is completely on rails, and it gives the impression there's all these different ways to complete it.  Whether or not you chose to kick the kittens is irrelevant.  The quest giver is just going to give a response:
"It's a shame those kittens had to be kicked.  You made the tough choice and I'm sure you had good reason to.  Whatever fallout happens, I'll manage from here.  Don't you worry about it.  As a reward, here's your Kitten Cannon and a nice achievement, along with some credits"  (ding Kitten Killer Achievement).
or
"Happy to hear you didn't have to kick those kittens.  You have no idea how much paperwork you just saved me.  As a reward, here's your Kitten Cannon and a nice achievement, along with some credits" (ding Kitten Savior Achievement)

[Paelos]

That's pretty apt, actually.

[rk47]

There's no need for a voice for quest logs. Just John Williams theme and....

A Long Long Long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...
The sand people of Tatooine plagued the moisture farmers repeatedly, leading to several thefts of moisture vaporators.

As a gesture of goodwill, the Jedi Council has sent Jedi Master (insert player name here) to investigate...

[Koyasha]

I read somewhere that even if you're overruled, in this example, you made the choice to detonate the explosives.  It doesn't matter that they didn't go off (for whatever reason), the system notes your intent (blow the guy to bits) and rewards (or punishes you, I guess, depending on the story line or what the quest give wanted) accordingly.  It's all about your intent.  Likewise, if you choose NOT to blow the guy up, but are overruled by your party member to press the red button, the system recognizes the intent of NOT blowing him up and rewards you the same as if you didn't - because even though he DID get blown up, you voted NOT to blow him up.

Well, I wasn't really referring to the rewards or long-term effects on the character, but what the characters actually do in the scene where they're overruled.  If they try to take the action and are prevented - like by the other guy grabbing the detonator out of your hand, or pushing you aside or whatever is appropriate - then that's great, but otherwise, well...if preserving the experience of the story and the character playing their part is what the game hinges on to be special, then having my character stand idly by instead of taking action and being prevented from doing so is going to be jarring.

[Rasix]

edit: *deleted*

Blah. Not a point worth making.  Continue grousing.

[UnSub]

I read somewhere that even if you're overruled, in this example, you made the choice to detonate the explosives.  It doesn't matter that they didn't go off (for whatever reason), the system notes your intent (blow the guy to bits) and rewards (or punishes you, I guess, depending on the story line or what the quest give wanted) accordingly.  It's all about your intent.  Likewise, if you choose NOT to blow the guy up, but are overruled by your party member to press the red button, the system recognizes the intent of NOT blowing him up and rewards you the same as if you didn't - because even though he DID get blown up, you voted NOT to blow him up.

Well, I wasn't really referring to the rewards or long-term effects on the character, but what the characters actually do in the scene where they're overruled.  If they try to take the action and are prevented - like by the other guy grabbing the detonator out of your hand, or pushing you aside or whatever is appropriate - then that's great, but otherwise, well...if preserving the experience of the story and the character playing their part is what the game hinges on to be special, then having my character stand idly by instead of taking action and being prevented from doing so is going to be jarring.

SWOR is using both karma and peer pressure in the same system. You do what your friends do, but because you totally thought good thoughts, it isn't your fault and karma doesn't ping you for it.

[Samprimary]

World Wars: the Old Reich

yeah, I'm not really into killing all these jews, but I got outvoted, so I guess I'll just participate in letting it happen

*good karma awarded!!!*

[Kageru]

A system which breaks down if a consequence of a decision is that the story thread veers into "dark" territory. So while you made the initial decision not to kill the base commander (even though you did) that means little if the rest of the story has decisions like "how would you like to slaughter his staff?". Which sort of means that even the most Sith or Jedi themed story must still have an option for the dissenter to pick, even if it is just endlessly picking "this wasn't my idea".

End result... reduced dialog options or inability to do strongly themed stories. But I guess they need to make sure that everyone gets a chance to sit through their expensive cut scenes.