I tried to log into the TCG last week, and I recieved:

So I, like a lot of folks, couldn’t attend Fan Faire but spent a decent amount of last Friday waiting anxiously for the announcement of what the new system was going to be.  From the prior SWGBlog post you know about the Chronicles system that allows user generated content.  I’m both hopeful and realistic about how this will play out.  Earlier this year City of Heroes/Villains implemented a similar system.  There was initial praise for the system and then once it started getting used, and abused, it started getting critic’s attention.

What seemed like a great idea turned into people making quests that were ‘all too easy’ and gave nice rewards in items or experience.  You had some good ones but too many were little more than exploits.  Eric over at Elder Game had a really great post on it back in May that I dug up that goes into the challenges surrounding user generated content, and I won’t try and rehash his points here.

Instead, looking forward to how SOE will put this kind of system into SWG there are a couple of things worth contemplating:

• SWG is generally trailing features implemented in other games, which can be a good thing if the dev team benefits from the wisdom gained through the trial and error of other games.
• Systems (Sandbox) vs. Theme park – SWG is at best a hybrid of the original sandbox with a lot of bolted on features to try and keep it modern and competitive.  A quest-building system is at least a system instead of quests. Build me a system over some quests any day.
• Emergent features are always satisfying to see come to light.  This system can emerge only because of the existence of: 1. the crafting system, 2. the collection system, 3. the merchant/vendor/bazaar system, and to a lesser extent 4. the storyteller system.
• Like storyteller it seems to be something everyone can do so it doesn’t require creating a whole new character and leveling it just to do this.

When I pasted in some of the details in GuildChat the reaction was nearly predictable.  People calling it the sign of the apocalypse, and trashing it every which way.  I get that sentiment, the pessimism, but I my personal reaction when I read the details was ‘cool!’, however I had the same sentiment when I read the article months ago about CoX’s system.  Maybe I’m just being optimistic but when I see some of the amazing storyteller, decoration, client-side game modifications, and countless other creative works done in SWG I can’t help but think if those people are allowed to put that kind of creative expression into quest building then we could have some really great content coming our way. I mean this is Star Wars for heaven’s sake, few fans are as passionate as Star Wars fans….. so I remain hopeful.

-Vez

I really like the Camo pack you can get from the Imperial Day Vendor

So I decided to recolor my armor to match it. This toon wears the Elder Ranger tag, so it makes perfect sense to go with this color scheme.

It is SOOOOOOO nice to be able to recolor Armor anytime with a kit.

There is probably a simple explanation for this, so I’ll take the n00b hit in the comments.  I was finishing up Storm Squadron and on my way to the see the Admiral in the Theed palace I ran into a level 86 silver elite Super Battle Droid wandering about.  Actually wandering is a bit harsh, he definitely seemed to be marching somewhere with a purpose, maybe even patrolling.  On the way there I ignored him but on the way back I drove past him then dismounted and waited for him to see if he would attack me, which he did.  A nearby Jedi at the bazaar terminals saw fit to come beat on him with me.  In short order we took him down, a bit anti-climactic.

I asked the Jedi if he had any idea why the SBD was in Theed and he didn’t seem to know either.  I can’t say I was disappointed since something unexpected is always a treat in SWG but it definitely left me scratching my head.  Any ideas?

-Vez

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Tomorrow begins my trip to SOE’s Fan Faire 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and this site’s landing page will be changed to reflect that. I will be “live blogging” the entire weekend, so the main site will have my Twitter updates about Fan Faire at the top of the entries and the latest updates will be at the bottom of the page.

See what is up so far here.

I will take many pictures and this year I will use a Flip Video camera to get some video footage of the fun. Like last year, I will be blogging all the announcements and upcoming things coming to SWG. I hope to have many updates daily, so stop by often.

I will be back to nornal SWG blogging on Monday the 29th with a new post from Vez!

Highlights

• Empire Day: We’re bringing back the event from last year and have added many new features to ensure it is as exciting if not more so, than our past three events. Enhancements were made to the entire event from last year.

• Bounty Hunter: In this update we have changed Carbine expertise line to effect both carbines and pistols. You will find that deadly strikes now effect pistols as well. We have made changes to allow Relentless Onslaught to work with pistols.

• Community Requests: Introducing the ability to wear backpacks with all Jedi robes. In addition to this update head-wear can now be worn with elder Jedi robes.

Empire Day

• This year the tension heats up between the Alliance and the Empire. Both factions are recruiting members to help post propaganda and tear down whatever propaganda the other side managed to post. Entertainers are recruited to boost the troops’ morale, while Traders are hired to help keep supplies flowing to the front lines.
• Darth Vader will be making appearances in Theed every 15 minutes.
  • Darth Vader will be handing out badges to 3 to loyal Imperial players every time he arrives.
  • To attain the badge, select the Bow radial option on Darth Vader.
  • Imperials seeking Empire Day quests and events can go to Theed and seek out:
    • Major Brenn Tantor for Recruitment and Anti-Propaganda Events (Naboo -5395 4465)
    • Droid Kaythree for Trader and Entertainer Quests (Naboo -5536 4372)
    • Mara Jade for Combat Quests (Naboo -5534 4369)
• Princess Leia will be making appearances in Coronet every 15 minutes.
  • Princess Leia will be handing out badges to 3 to loyal Alliance players every time she arrives.
  • To attain the badge, select the Bow radial option on Princess Leia.
  • Rebels seeking Remembrance Day quests and events can go to Coronet and seek out:
    • Captain Derlin for Resistance and Vandalism Events (Corellia -187 -4112)
    • Major Carlist Rieekan for Trader and Entertainer Quests (Corellia -188 -4115)
    • Wedge Antillies for Combat Quests (Corellia -243 -4150)
• Both Ceremonies have been expanded upon and improved.
  • There are now Imperial and Rebel naval flybys at the end of the ceremonies.
  • There are new Imperial and Rebel fireworks at the end of the ceremonies.
  • Sentries have been placed to help keep order.
  • More troops are participating in the ceremonies.
• New rewards have been added to the Celebration Coordinators for purchase by players participating in the events.
• Both the Emperor’s Statue and Yoda’s Fountain display the player’s eligibility for a badge from Princess Leia and Darth Vader.
• Both the Emperor’s Statue and Yoda’s Fountain have new gifts for players.
• All 2008 issues with choosing of players for badges have been fixed.
• Neutral players can participate in Kiosk events for the faction of their choice.
• Neutral players can participate in Entertainer and Trader quests for the faction of their choice.
• A player may switch faction to complete the other factional content but can only receive one Champion badge from Princess Leia or Darth Vader.

Player City:

• Structures on a server boundary are no longer prevented from being packed up if they are flagged with ‘Zoning Violation’.
• Fixed an issue that caused City Elections to not show the New Mayor’s name.
• City MOTD: Visitor Message is now prefaced with “City(YourCityNameHere) Message: “.
• Fixed an issue that caused the Ousted Mayor’s noTrade Items to become unusable when transferring the City Hall/Cloning Centers.

PvP

• Entertainer buffs should now retain their full buff value when they decay due to PvP death.

Bounty Hunter

• Changed Carbine expertise line to effect both carbines and pistols.
  • Carbine Efficiency is now Small Arms Efficiency.
  • Carbine Accuracy is now Small Arms Accuracy.
  • Deadly strikes now effect pistols too.
    • Pistol critical chance is increased by 10.
    • Pistol Range is increased by 5.
  • Relentless Onslaught now works with pistols.

Jedi

• Backpacks can now be worn with all Jedi robes.
• Head-wear can now be worn with elder Jedi robes.

StoryTeller

• Added Costume for Royal Guard.
• Added Costume for Super Battle Droid.

Combat

• Critical Hit Fire Damage Over Time ticks should no longer only tick once.

Treasure Maps

• Players can now search for their treasure up to 15 meters away from the treasure waypoint.

Destroying Vendors

• Players must type in the 6-digit code in order to destroy a Player Vendor.

Text Chat

• If you are having guild text chat issue, you can now use the command. /guildTextChatRoomRejoin to leave and rejoin the guild text chat room to attempt to resolve the issue.
• If you are having group text chat issue, you can now use the command /groupTextChatRoomRejoin to leave and rejoin the group text chat room to attempt to resolve the issue.
• If you are having room text chat issue, you can now use the (now always enabled) Leave button on the text chat channel browser window to leave the room, and then use the Join button to rejoin the room to attempt to resolve the issue.

Voice Chat

• This is an updated version of the voice chat system from our partners at Vivox. As part of this update, you will see a new process running in the background. It’s called “SWGVoiceService.exe”.
• Depending on your firewall settings, you may need to allow this application to access the internet.

Vet Reward

• 72 Month Vet rewards have been added.

Misc

• Dueling: You may not start a duel if you are already in combat.
• The Hanging TCG House Sign will now be angled properly when attached to the Mustafar Bunker.

The number one Star Wars Galaxies video on YouTube is about the old Creature Handler Profession. Watching this video, the current Beast Master system has all the same stuff, except for final creature size and calling multiple pets.

Since level 90 is the max, the old system would let you pull any number of pets you wanted, as long as thier combined levels did not exceed 90. Perhaps we can re-add that to the current Beast Master system?

Last years Fan Faire was at the Hilton, and although a nice hotel, the block of rooms that they gave SOE had no view. So, I was pleased with the following email:

Oooooh, a room upgrade!

If you are going to FF, and did not recieve the email, upgrade with the code BEMAIL.

Example view from one side of the North Tower:

As alluded to in my previous post, the current SWG product management staff seems to have taken a shine to borrowing ideas and mechanics from other SOE titles like EverQuest II – which don’t get me wrong - I think is a great thing – so it makes me wonder what other things from the EverQuest series would be well suited to SWG and make it more fun?  I polled my friends who have played the EQ line for many years and asked about some of the games’ features.  One feature that seemed especially cool is mounted combat.  Mounts in SWG don’t have a whole lot of benefit other than to move you around in some of the Kashyyyk zones that don’t allow vehicles and for showing off.  The Tauntaun has a CL of 70 which makes it somewhat useful when running around in the PVP areas since it doesn’t die as fast and the Lava Flea mount can go on lava without getting hurt but you had to have ordered Trials of Obi-Wan to get that.

My trader sells a steady stream of mounts but for the life of me I really don’t have a clue what people are using them for besides what I mentioned above, maybe some RP?  So to take an existing system like beast master and add value to it by implementing the ability to engage in combat from your mount would be really great.  The beast are there, the character models in saddle-mounted positions are all there, all that is needed is to figure out how the combat system would need to adapt.

A simple approach could be similar to what is applied when you’re in a vehicle.  Different vehicles have different buffs while you ride in them to decrease your chance of being hit.  Some vehicle buffs are different that others.  Since the mount system basically gives you the equivalent of a vehicle – different species of mounts have different speeds, you could simply imbue them with different buffs, perhaps some give you a defensive buff and others give you an offensive buff, maybe others give the opponent a debuff.  All this would provide reasons to purchase different mounts, thus helping the beast master vendor, and with different benefits the beast owner would have different mounts for different occasions.  Keeping the buffs static in potency would keep the implementation of the game mechanic simple by not having to mess with the incubation process and would let you make the changes retroactive to existing mounts.  As long as I’m wishing, letting us un-mount and still have the mount out would be a nice aesthetic touch too.

Looking at Fan Fair’s schedule for Friday, and I see something odd.

New System?

I am sorry, but the way that is worded makes me VERY nervous.

See the full schedule here.