Darth Hater

Actually, it does make me feel better so thank-you for that... but despite how reasonable and logical what you and HarryTruman are suggesting is - I still won't be completely relieved until that is spelled out on the official website, and I still don't understand why the DEVs felt it was "ok" to drop a potential bombshell like that (bringing it up themselves for a couple of Fridays now) and then not following up with any clarification whatsoever...

Hey man, it will be all good. Since they said they still need to clarify this at a later time, lets give them a shot to explain themselves before we jump to conclusions... and if the system does lack the imbedded balancing, fairness, and gameplay aspects, then we can all go on the forums, create a flame ball and ask for Bioware to make another poll for the community to decide what we really want =p (totally jk on that last part of the poll thing haha, that would be epic fail).

I know how you feel about having all the answers now, especially OFFICIAL ones, but as anyone who has been patiently waiting for the game the last 2+ years now, its best to just endure for the time being otherwise it will drive you insane (I know this part for sure lol)

Ya... it's not like I was exactly "stable" before this...

It would be much preferrable if they would stick with their stated policy and "not talk about things which are not confirmed yet."

One sentence - with no actual information - on a Friday afternoon - for a couple weeks in a row - = Epic Fail on that policy...

Of course you're right Sarge... it's not the first time I've had a bit of a freak out, and probably won't be the last before we see landfall and this insane voyage concludes with the game's release... just have to "white knuckle" it for another half a year or so...

Your post does make me wonder where in the spectrum the Jedi/Sith companions for non-Jedi/Sith classes fall. Would a Trooper be able to make a lightsaber for his Jedi companion? Doesn't quite make sense, but the companion has to make his sabers somehow, unless companions only use looted lightsabers, which would also be weird.

Not that I am dismissing your concerns (the dev blog does raise some valid ones), but I will say, this is all dependant upon whether or not the crafting of the actual lightsaber itself is a true crafting activity, or if---as was shown at the PAX presentation---lightsaber construction is more of a cinematic activity.

If the actual crafting of the lightsaber is meant to be more than just "click the button, wait for timer, done", then I imagine the ties to the crafting system will be made elsewhere---such as with components.

In the PAX video, the lightsaber didn't appear from thin air at the altar. The Jedi Knight actually went up to the altar and placed components down. This immediately made me think: "Where did the components come from?" Being a video of a JK that was shown questing, I'm guessing her first lightsaber was a result of a long class questline. In any case, seeing that video made me ponder awhile back about the likelihood that lightsaber crafting in SWTOR would be far more cinematic than simply waiting for your crew to forge 10 lightsabers that you can then chuck on the AH for some profit.

Even if lightsabers aren't crafted by player crews, there may be a number of different ways in which a player must rely on the crafting system. For instance, where are the crystals going to come from? What about the internal components of the hilt? It could be all these components can be created by crew skills---but compiling them into a functioning lightsaber can only be done when a Force user gathers these components and takes them to a "Force Altar", or similar appropriate setting for the Sith, assembling them with an epic cutscene.

This dev blog can be seen from a number of different perspectives. On one hand, I see what you are saying about there being an implication that Force users will have built-in weapons skills, and so, will not have to rely on crafting at all; on the other hand, you should consider the possibility that the actual "crafting" of the lightsaber can take place away from the crew skills system, but still have to rely on it for some things--crystals, couplings, handles, etc.

I am anxious to see exactly what that statement entails. But like I said, ever since watching that PAX video, I've wondered about the possibility that creating a lightsaber in SWTOR would be a much more cinematic experience than simply gather, press, collect. Having said that, the fact that she placed components onto the altar suggested to me that you would probably end up having to collect the components yourself along the way, or else buy them from the player who has the proper skill to make them.

Link to the video (for those who haven't had a chance to watch it yet): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gUZH1hkwdY&feature=fvw

Note: The actual lightsaber creation scene begins around the 2:50 mark.

The article made me consider how I will treat my future companions.

Intuition tells me that no matter what, we wont be able to make every one of our 10 or so companions ecstatic with our player character.

So in my mind, I'm gonna be treating my companions based upon their go-to skills...This will make certain moral decisions regarding companions much tougher in my opinion.

IE: If you are playing a SW and want Vette to grab you some seriously nice stuff with her treasure hunting, then you better not chain her up in your cargo hold for long....1 lash of the whip is enough. LOL

Hah Yeah, it'll be interesting. I think it's really cool, personally, because it again puts more weight into your choices. In real life, we have to treat certain people a little better than we might want if we need something from them (insert easy joke about one's wife here, although I was thinking co-workers!). It makes sense that if we really want something from Vette we would try to be cordial and helpful, even if she's annoying. Or, of course, you could always try to bend her to your will too, I suppose...

I'm so happy that Jedi Sage was pick'd!!!! I was the first one to say it after the AC's were announced thanks to DH and had the first poll suggesting it. Can you say +15 to ego.

Anyways so Friday Update not bad at first I was not digging the item quality ranking system but, it fits the SciFi setting. I love how the best quality is Artifact. So I think the number of IPs using ancient long lost technologies is now over 9000.

I can't wait till you find some super rare and ancient blueprint in some lost Rakata tomb. The blueprint reads solely "A time and information transfer device". After scouring the galaxy for rare parts for weeks on end and spending a small fortune in credits you can began to craft. After 3 weeks of waiting it's finally done and after all the time and resources spent you wonder what item of epic importance have you created. You look down and see that it turns you've made a digital alarm clock radio. . . . . with both AM and FM receivers.

I dont think ive ever been this excited to craft.

I know they said "No Lightsaber crafting", but I do wonder how Lightsaber customization and enhancement will work.

My two credits:

You can "craft" Jedi/Sith Artifacts than can enhance a lightsaber's power. Think the cell, lens, focus system used in KoTOR2 and then you have the actual lightsaber enhancement crystals in addition to the color crystal.

My question would be is the look of your lightsaber directly tied to the enhancements attached to it.

The other big question I have is are any of the companions for the various classes lightsaber users. Can you have essentially a Sith or Jedi companion or are all of the companions various kinds of Mercs, Droids, and non-force using support characters? If you can have a Sith/Jedi following you around, how is their Lightsaber handled.

They sort of demonstrated that after you have your first lightsaber you can pick up other lightsabers as loot, also no class starts out with a double-lightsaber, so I wonder if there's a process to get that type of lightsaber.

"Its worth noting that players will definitely need to be directly involved in the process when learning rare schematics, and that Lightsabers arent acquired or assembled via the Crew Skills system. Well have more details on this later."

Looks like my question about lightsaber crafting with the current crew skills system is answered. It appears that lightsaber crafting will be separate, which makes sense. I'm hoping it will be something reminiscent of KOTOR lightsaber crafting, but with some more complexity.

Just speculating but from what they are saying it appears that any tweaking or assembling to a Force Users lightsaber will have to be handled by the PC. So that's something "unique" for 4 of the 8 classes, so are we going to see a mirror for the non Force User PC's?

Well going out on a limb here but seeing as your force users be they Sith or Jedi won't be using Blasters or similar types of ranged weopons I'd say armstech was pretty unique for the non force using classes.

Agreed. As a non-Force-User, I'm fine with having the armstech skill being a unique thing for us while the Jedi and Sith play with their hokey religion.