Friday Update: Crew Skills Dev Blog



Systems Designer Patrick Malott spends time sharing details about Crew Skills with the community in this week's Friday update. Patrick Malott's Developer Blog touches on the design, companions involvement in crafting, and the newly revealed Armstech Crew Skill. Along with the major points covered in the Developer Blog are subtle details like blaster rarities that should leave players with a better understanding of how Crew Skills work in general. Also included in the Friday Update this week is the new official Jedi Wizard title, Jedi Sage, which was selected after a long community polling process. Congratulations to those who voted Jedi Sage in the poll. Catch the Official Forum posts on the Crew Skills Developer Blog and Jedi Sage after the jump.
Alyson Bridge

Systems Designer Patrick Malott examines the Crew Skills system, and shares details about Armstech.

I'm Patrick Malott. I've worked as a Game Systems Designer on various titles over the years, but what we're working on here at BioWare Austin is my dream project: Star Wars: The Old Republic. In my current role, designing and building out the Crew Skills system is one of the biggest projects I'm involved in. As a passionate multiplayer online gamer myself, I know that crafting is a critical part of the experience for many of you, and I'm dedicated to making sure you enjoy the way it works in The Old Republic. In this blog, I want to shed some light on the design decisions we're making with Crew Skills and I might just drop a few new specifics on the Armstech crafting skill.


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Alyson Bridge

A few weeks ago, we asked the community to help us rename the Jedi Wizard advanced class. Thousands of votes and many posts full of lively debate later, the polls have closed, and we have a clear winner! Without further ado:

The new name for the Jedi Wizard is Jedi Sage!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the voting process. Your feedback is always important to us, so please join us on the forums and let us know what you think about the game.

Comments

  • GMan3's avatar
    Nerf Herder
    • Posts: 17
    #39 GMan3 Posted 12/4/2010 5:44:21 AM
    Do what I do and report them. Gets them banned and they have to figure out another way to do it. It normally takes several bannings before they get annoyed and move on to another game, but it's worth the little bit of effort I have to put into it. As for feeling bad for them, why would you feel bad about someone who is trying to take advantage of people instead of getting a real job and actually WORKING for a living?
  • abner_ford's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 662
    #52 abner_ford Posted 12/4/2010 5:02:01 PM
    Well in certain countries, getting a "real job" isn't that easy, and the gold-farmers are hardly living the good life. But that's a conversation for another time. On the subject, yes, it would likely be easier to report the farmer, although not as immediately gratifying.
  • Peterisjustok's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 247
    #5 Peterisjustok Posted 12/3/2010 3:50:20 PM
    It's funny you say that, because I had a similar thought while reading it. Then here's something I thought about:

    I've never been a crafting guy (I'll try the actual crafting part while leveling just to test the new system), but I've always thought it was easier to gather. Sooo.... I'm kind of hoping that the rare materials I gather will be a much stronger bartering tool than gold.

    Example: "Here are the mats for the blaster I want. Also, Is it cool if I throw some extra mats your way as payment?"
    Hopeful Response: "Why sure, that'd be wonderful! Let's keep this working relationship going...etc. etc. etc."

    Once again, maybe the scale of this game would stop that kind of relationship from growing, but a man can dream can't he?

    Either way, I hope they do keep a close eye on monetary inflation/manipulation in this game.
  • Neko399's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 705
    #7 Neko399 Posted 12/3/2010 3:55:30 PM
    I do enjoy the barter system, as well as the 'named crafter' system.

    However, because it is a game, it can get easily manipulated, and thus just becomes skewed to be about 'buying gold'.

    For example, the general Bartering system works well, in the early stages - before farmers set up shop. Then it becomes soiled and tainted, as goldsellers flood the game.
  • Peterisjustok's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 247
    #12 Peterisjustok Posted 12/3/2010 4:30:39 PM
    Agreed. Totally. It'll be a race to the top, first to farm situation unless they come down hard on these guys. Hopefully they pull out the iron fist on this one.

    On a side note: How great would it be to have a "BUY MY GOLD!" tell/whisper free world?
  • ArcherAvatar's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 554
    #25 ArcherAvatar Posted 12/3/2010 9:00:40 PM
    I gauge the likeliness of this to be extremely high... The comments Daniel Erickson made regarding "rare" materials only being accessible via gathering in person strongly support this... Sounded to me like the gathering missions (offline / que-able variety) would only be able to acquire the "base" or "common" forms of materials...

    This latest update certainly suggests that those who get involved personally in gathering while they are out adventuring in the galaxy will be the ones getting ahold of the most desirable commodities... as it should be imo.
  • valorumguygee's avatar
    Nerf Herder
    • Posts: 10
    #14 valorumguygee Posted 12/3/2010 4:36:21 PM
    If everyone can "botfarm" like this, the goldfarmers don't have an advantage.
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