Weekly Dev Q&A for Fridays

[Paelos]

I didn't want a combat log. I still don't. But the proliferation of enrage timers do make it a necessity. Bear in mind I HAAAAAAAAATE enrage timers. It's a lazy bandaid on the fact that you gave people infinite healing and you have no fucking clue how to balance it. Otherwise, your "timers" would be when your healers are tapped and out of tricks.

[Sjofn]

As a healer, being the raid's enrage timer kinda sucks. Because it's always painted as THE HEALERS FAILED US. With enrage timers, THE DPS FAILED US but there are more people to blame. And there are a lot more DPSers kicking around, always and forever. They can take a little blame. Healers are rarer and the job can already be pretty thankless without giving people an extra reason to whine about the healers being assy (because naturally, whenever someone dies, it's the healer's fault).

Not saying enrage timers are great or anything, but I don't have a problem with them being used for some bosses.

[FieryBalrog]

Generally I prefer soft enrages to hard enrages though.

I don't see why hard enrages need to exist at all unless there's a sensible RP reason for it.

[Sjofn]

Yeah, I generally prefer the "eventually you'll just fail because you are failures," but I wouldn't want EVERY fight to be that way, especially if you could string out an attempt to be like 20 minutes before finally running out of gas. I'd rather the guy just enrage at 10 minutes and make it clear we suck.

[01101010]

Yeah, I generally prefer the "eventually you'll just fail because you are failures," but I wouldn't want EVERY fight to be that way, especially if you could string out an attempt to be like 20 minutes before finally running out of gas. I'd rather the guy just enrage at 10 minutes and make it clear we suck.

It's old.. but  http://www.nerfbat.com/2008/08/13/absolute-virtue-is-absolutely-unscrupulous/

[Lakov_Sanite]

To play devil's advocate there is

"Oh, his dps is kinda low but we're doing ok"

and

"Holy FUCK is he punching with his bare hands and wearing teri-cloth platemail?! jesus fuck no wonder we wiped 10 times in a row"

[Ingmar]

Yeah, I generally prefer the "eventually you'll just fail because you are failures," but I wouldn't want EVERY fight to be that way, especially if you could string out an attempt to be like 20 minutes before finally running out of gas. I'd rather the guy just enrage at 10 minutes and make it clear we suck.

It's old.. but  http://www.nerfbat.com/2008/08/13/absolute-virtue-is-absolutely-unscrupulous/

OpenDNS blocked that site due to malware for me, just as an FYI for people pondering clicking it.

[01101010]

Yeah, I generally prefer the "eventually you'll just fail because you are failures," but I wouldn't want EVERY fight to be that way, especially if you could string out an attempt to be like 20 minutes before finally running out of gas. I'd rather the guy just enrage at 10 minutes and make it clear we suck.

It's old.. but  http://www.nerfbat.com/2008/08/13/absolute-virtue-is-absolutely-unscrupulous/

OpenDNS blocked that site due to malware for me, just as an FYI for people pondering clicking it.

Odd... I got nothing on Firefox with adblock and noscript. Apologies - was just making a point that FFXI had that whole black eye thing with Absolute Virtue first attempts taking +18 hours.

Maybe this one is cleaner...  http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Pandemonium_Warden

[Ingmar]

It probably just means that at some point in the past it was infected or had bad ads.

[Sky]

It shouldn't have any impact on you at all

Fair enough. It's not like I'm all passionate about my dislike of it or anything.

it's certainly not going to make Slap warp into some log parsing hellhole where we make you guys all respec or reroll or FACE TEH CONSEQUENCES.

I'm not worried because I'm filled with awesome.  

I should get a republitard to 50, though, since the chances of BC raiding or even doing HMFP is about nil. The fact that I don't take part in the endgame isn't written in stone. It certainly not my favorite part of the game, but I've raided in EQ2 and Rift a bit. It's that I've had to PUG it, mostly.

[Paelos]

Here's the thread for March 2nd Q&A, summary below:

1 - Will you put trading hubs and mailboxes on our ships?

A - Yes, part of 1.2 will unlock options via legacy system for your ship

2 - When can we add friends that are not online?

A - That's a bug. It will be fixed in 1.2

3 - Can we get achievement announcements in guild chat?

A - Good idea, we will add it to the guild love we are working on.

4 - Will Relics be added for neutral characters?

A - It's in the pipeline, we have no ETA.

5 - Can we lock our camera angle? I adjust this too much in pvp.

A - Ability to turn off smart camera is in 1.2

6 - Any plans to implement region by region maintenance?

A - No. Single service environments don't really allow this.

7 - Can you clarify the role of the accuracy stat?

A - Accuracy counters your target's ability to defend (dodge, deflect, etc) against your attacks.

8 - Is your intention to make crafted gear superior to gear obtained in other ways?

A - Yes, for 1.2 this is correct. Crit crafted items with item mods will require more effort, and that is why they will be better.

[Riggswolfe]

1.2 is really shaping up to be a very signficant and I suspect very important patch for them. We're getting ready to get 1.1.5 I hope that doesn't mean 1.2 is 5 weeks out.

[Paelos]

I dare say that 1.2 will probably make or break the game at this point.

[Nebu]

I dare say that 1.2 will probably make or break the game at this point.

Only if server mergers accompany it. 

[Sky]

I dare say that 1.2 will probably make or break the game at this point.

There is no way to sway the haters. None.

I'm looking forward to the release of GW2 so the gypsy train picks up and moves on down the road and we can just deal with people who actually like TOR and not just the fotm.

[Nebu]

There is no way to sway the haters. None.

Saying that a rose is red isn't 'hating' on roses.  SWTOR has its moments.  Is it a shining example of what an MMO should be?  No.  It is a step in the right direction for casuals and people that prefer solo.  I'm guessing that explains your love for the game.

I enjoyed leveling up several toons, but the game gets old pretty fast.  That's the point where you really need some 'sand-boxy' elements beyond dailies for players to generate their own fun.  SWTOR is still too new for that.  Hell, if they could address a few major bugs, I'd be a lot happier.  As it is now, my entire guild is playing Mass Effect 3 Demo instead of SWTOR.  As recent as SWTOR released, that tells me a good bit about the state of the game.  It's well worth the box cost, but barely deserving a sub fee, particularly after 3 months.  

[apocrypha]

I dare say that 1.2 will probably make or break the game at this point.

1.2 is looking like a decent patch with a lot of quality of life fixes, but still missing the (for me) two major things needed (as well as the other stuff ofc) - LFD and dual spec.

This game has been characterised by hyperbole from the start, from all sides, and it's continuing now. People posting criticisms feel browbeaten, people still liking it feel persecuted, it's retarded and it's taking over from genuine discussion.

Over the last couple of weeks I've logged on a few times and found I have no desire to do any of the things on offer to me. There's no bias or prejudice. I'm not a "naysayer", I just don't feel like playing any more. After leveling one to 50, one to 44 and having spent probably in excess of 100 hours on the game I think it's fair to say I've given it a damn good shot, but as it stands it needs something else to convince me to carry on spending a monthly sub on it.

[Riggswolfe]

I dare say that 1.2 will probably make or break the game at this point.

There is no way to sway the haters. None.

I'm looking forward to the release of GW2 so the gypsy train picks up and moves on down the road and we can just deal with people who actually like TOR and not just the fotm.

I give GW2  3 months at MOST before F13 collectively shrugs and moves on after its launch. Less if it is very much like GW1, IE, a boring game with a few interesting mechanics.

[Ingmar]

People posting criticisms feel browbeaten, people still liking it feel persecuted, it's retarded and it's taking over from genuine discussion.

Genuine discussion would be a lot easier if people who haven't actually played the game weren't weighing in with their opinions about how the game is terrible.

I don't think you'll find anyone to argue against your two big wants - dual spec and LFD. They're top of my list too.

[Mosesandstick]

Is it a step in the right direction for casuals and people that prefer solo.  I'm guessing that explains your love for the game.

I partially disagree with this. Whilst the story mechanics are probably great for a lot of players, especially non-MMO rpg players, SWTOR's MMO mechanics are pretty damn unfriendly. Travel time being a good example. What casual game could swallow up half of your playing session with travelling and loading screens?

[Bunk]

I am assuming you never ran from one end of the Presidium to the other? Or took an elevator ride?

Every Bioware game ever made has had stretches of running from A to B that took inordinate amounts of time. Not saying its a good thing, but we've been conditioned to expect it.

[Mosesandstick]

Bioware RPGs haven't always been that casual friendly either.

[Nevermore]

Lost in the hubbub of the 1.2 patch notes was last week's Q&A.
03/16 Q&A


TLDR;

Can we haz moar character slots?
Maybe but not anytime soon.

Crew skills pop-up blocker?
Yes (sort of) in 1.2.

Can Mercs get an in-combat rez?
Maybe down the road but not in 1.2.

Can we trade up planetary commendations?
No, but someday we might change our minds.

Will the new crafting stuff in 1.2 need new materials to make?
No, except for augmentations which will need items you get from Slicing missions and PvP crystals which will need some pvp item you buy with pvp comms.

Can we haz moar quickbars?
Yes, but no ETA.  Not in 1.2.

If I unlock a race through Legacy then delete the level 50 character that unlocked it, what happens?
Once a race is unlocked, it stays unlocked.

Will there be an overhaul to the achievement system?
We are in the early planning stage on this.  We plan to add twists!

Can the 12 of us who bought that Razer mouse upgrade our crystals?
Yes.

Can we haz a barber?
Plans: Yes. Soon: No.  I will now indulge in a couple of paragraphs on how we prioritize.

[01101010]

Can we trade up planetary commendations?
No, but someday we might change our minds.

This is really aggravating from a certain aspect. However, I sorta see why not since you can farm the shit outta the 1st FlashPoint and stockpile a shit load of comms.

[Sky]

I imagine the lack of additional character slots is directly tied to the release date of the cash shop.

[Ingmar]

Can we trade up planetary commendations?
No, but someday we might change our minds.

This is really aggravating from a certain aspect. However, I sorta see why not since you can farm the shit outta the 1st FlashPoint and stockpile a shit load of comms.

Plus it would really kind of suck if the actual "right" thing to do with commendations as you level is just sit on them all until you hit 50. I like that you can't swap them, it means that buying stuff as you go isn't the wrong choice.

[Evildrider]

Before they changed it in beta, there was no reason to use them, just swap them  up.

[koro]

I really wish you could trade them again, though. It sucks having 4 useless Coruscant comms that you could otherwise toss to a friend or an alt.

[Ingmar]

Making them BOA would be pretty cool.

[Fordel]

They've actually talked about that, having some kind of Legacy Vault so you can trade comms across alts and junk.

[DraconianOne]

Can we trade up planetary commendations?
No, but someday we might change our minds.

One thing that probably everyone found out on day one but took me until recently to realise - commendation bought mods are BoE so you can buy them for alts. Useless if you don't alt, fantastic if you do and have loads of spare ones from a planet you outlevelled.

[Sky]

That isn't much help when you have comms scattered across 4 alts, only one of which can use them and the other 3 don't have enough to buy something themselves to send over to him. By the 4th alt, let me mail them over so he can buy a purple box or something.

[Sky]

For Sjofn:

Players creating characters with the new species/class combinations allowed by Legacy will get that species’ unique ability. So yes, your new Sith Pureblood Smuggler will have the Punish ability, and can use it on Corso Riggs as much as you like. Poor Corso....

[Sjofn]

Tempting, but I am personally opposed to having a sith pureblood on the Republic side. 

[Lantyssa]

Make her on a server with a stupid name and play just long enough to get Corso.  Then log in every now and then to punish him.