Star Wars Galaxies Dev Team / Stratics HoC
March 16, 2005
Brannoc: Welcome to another great Stratics House of Commons chat with the developers of Starwars Galaxies! Today we'll focus on the Galactic Civil War, new content, and missions. You may also be able to get a question or two in about Rage of the wookiee. Please try to focus on these topics when sending in questions.
Brannoc: Please send said questions to [QT]Elm or [QT]AyanaDrick - to do so type /msg [QT]NICK My Question Here. Questions sent to myself or the developers will NOT make it into the lineup, so don't bother. Full logs of the chat will be up on
http://swg.stratics.com shortly after the chat.
Brannoc: So without further ado we'll start with a brief introduction from the developers, now would be a good time to send those questions.
Ronda: Hi everyone!
Ronda: This is Ronda representing LucasArts
Swgdevrthornton: Howdy! I'm Reece Thornton, and I'm a senior designer, focusing on systems.
Tiggs: Heya Folks! I'm Tiggs - Director of Community
SraySOE: Hi! I'm Sheri Graner Ray a Sr. Designer and Content Lead
Lord_Pall: Hi, I'm Dan Rubenfield a senior designer.
TH: Hello! Thunderheart here. Community Relations Guy.
Tiggs: We are going to add some questions here from the forums while everyone else gets ready!
Tiggs: Player Name: Xenocidal Chat Topic: Content Dev Question: Since it seems that the Combat Upgrade is going to hit with RotW on May 5th, will we be seeing more work go into the Focus Threads that were posted awhile back such as "Making the NPC cities come alive" and "More "Star Wars-like" Quests and Points of Interest"?
Tiggs: That has been the focus of the new content team from the very beginning. They have been ramping up on the tools for the past four weeks, and have produced 12 or 15 new quests, each with several "tasks" and each more "story-like" than just the simple" go, fetch. And come back" quests. We haven't made a big deal out of them, but they are there. You can also look for bigger story arc quests with galaxy-wide ramifications as well. Our
Brannoc: *Gunman21* The new GCW changes were great! But, more is needed to keep the GCW from becoming stagnated. Looking into the future past the CU and profession upgrades, how do you plan to keep the GCW vibrant?
Tiggs: he is typing
Swgdevrthornton: Thanks for the compliment on the GCW changes! We're currently deciding where to put our main effort, but in the meantime we'll see some continuous polish going into the GCW content that's out there now.
Brannoc: *[WH]-Banana-SillyWalker* What is the opinion of the Development Team on reducing the Demand for Jedi Power Crystals and Pearls, by making them easy to collect this will therefore make the markets elasticity to change and therefore bring down prices for low level Jedi ?
Lord_Pall: I love price elasticity.
Lord_Pall: Prices dropping are the bane of a lot of merchants, but for average players it's a great thing.
Lord_Pall: Having items be more affordable across the board is not a negative in my view
Brannoc: *Kathaan* Question: As a player that has left the game and been away from some time, what can you say is the most appealing upcoming (or current) update to get your old veteran players back into the game.
TH: As a long time player, one of the things that have made me the most excited are the GCW changes.
TH: There are battles all over, beefed up base combat and a lot of action.
Tiggs: Vet - Rewards!! What better incentive then that! =)
TH: The veteran rewards are really nice too.
Ronda: Definitely the stepped up GCW and certainly the coming Combat Upgrade.
Ronda: And with the GCW... the feeling that your actions really matter.
TH: I'm also still having a blast in Jump to Lightspeed.
Brannoc: *Soal-Farous* Are there any plans to update all the quests by planet like what was done to Dantooine and Tatooine last year for the other planets?
SraySOE: We are actually taking a look at all the quests in the game with the goal of building more stories based questing through out.
Tiggs: From our forums: Player Name: Stakex Topic: GCW Question: Will we ever see AT-AT's as part of the GCW other then events? I would love to see AT-ATs patrolling Espa and such and would be a great addition... is it ever likely to happen?
Tiggs: Eventually you'll see AT-AT's =)
Tiggs: From our forums Player Name: Cohav Chat Topic: GCW
Tiggs: Dev Question: As a Guild Leader of a 300 member Guild, it would be ideal to tie the GCW better into Guilds. Are there any plans to integrate the two better, and could you share some thoughts as how a Guild could play a bigger part?
Tiggs: We've had a number of discussions about using guild structures as additional pieces for the galactic conflict. This is in our plan, but no ETA.
Brannoc: *Caylin* (Content) What type of dungeon content are we looking at in the future of Star Wars Galaxies? For example, in the new expansion will the developers focus on delivering more static content or will players get to look forward to more instanced locations and missions that we experienced with the Corvette?
SraySOE: Look for more handcrafted story oriented quests. Look for quests in which you have to make choices‑2026 choices that will have real effects on your character and on the galaxy over all.
Brannoc: *Owen-Lars* In past you have stated that all profession in swg will have a place in the GCW, is this still the case and will we see professions like Ranger get their place?
Lord_Pall: I'd like to see everyone involved in the gcw, but I understand that some game-play types don't apply particularly well
Lord_Pall: So eventually we'd love to have activities for everyone, but at it's core the GCW is a WAR and will be treated as such.
Brannoc: *Balzan* One of the major problems with JtL is a lack of variety in ship designs, What type of ship can we look forward to seeing and when? Also are there any plans to add the YT-2400 (Dash rendar's Outrider) anytime soon?
Ronda: With over 20 ships to pilot (and customize)... there's a pretty good number of ships to choose from
Ronda: We definitely planning to add new ships in the near future, including new ships with the Rage of the Wookiee expansion
Ronda: like the Jedi Starfighter II and the ARC 170
Ronda: and another POB as well smiles
Ronda: no plans specifically for the YT-2400 yet though...
Tiggs: From our forums: Player Name: Ritter Adelskap Chat Topic: Content
Tiggs: Dev Question: Will we see new "useful" loot that does not require millions of credits to obtain?
Tiggs: Yes. Loot is a major part of the content team and we are working on some very interesting new systems as well as new items. Look for new loot items from story arcs as well as player crafted items taking a bigger role!
Brannoc: *Soal-Farous* The current faction missions of destroying a banner are very dry. Are there any plans to make it so that you are destroying actual small faction outposts (every time, not just on high-end missions) and not just a banner? How about re-enforcement's when you start to attack the base/outpost?
Lord_Pall: What, no more leaf piles full of explosives? No more setting banners on fire?
Lord_Pall: We've been examining the actual gameflow of mission completion and the things you have to do on a day to day basis
Lord_Pall: all of these are things we'd like to address.. Fighting your way into the bottom of an imperial base, setting explosives and running out as the base explodes around you is more appealing than burning down someone's banner
Lord_Pall: So yes. We'd love to improve this. No eta just yet, but it's a huge goal for me.
Brannoc: *BadMisterFrosty* Do you have plans to revamp emperors retreat?
SraySOE: Everything is on the table right now. We are looking at ALL the quests that are in place right now with an eye to how we can make them more immerse
Tiggs: Player Name: Owen-Lars Chat Topic: GCW Dev Question: Hey guys. A great feature in wow is players are notified when certain zones or areas are being attacked or invaded, any plans for a similar system?
Tiggs: Definitely. We were having discussions yesterday about how we could integrate base control into content systems. We'd love to have orders come down about high concentrations of rebel bases in an area based on how they're placed.
Brannoc: *BadMisterFrosty* As an example, much content is missing on Corellia, Centerpoint station, selonian underground and large bustling cities; any plans to add some of these down the road? (or adding stuff in this manner on other planets)
SraySOE: You bet! We are looking at building content into existing locations, providing more "wrapper" content for existing content that's out there and new content in areas that need it.
Brannoc: Please remember to send questions ONLY to [QT]AyanaDrick or [QT]Elm by using /msg Nick My Question Here - questions send to myself or the developers will not be answered.
Brannoc: *Xess* Hello, A long while ago the devs said something about adding an instanced Star Destroyer dungeon like the corvette, and that art was being done on it, can we expect to see this content any time soon?
Ronda: It's definitely something we'd all LOVE to see in the game. Not something that we have a firm date for though.
Ronda: But we have seen some initial concepts for a dungeon like this one. smiles
Brannoc: *Stevian-Starsider* So, will civilians always be able to avoid involvement in the CGW? Or will there ever be situations where civilians could be attacked/affected?
Lord_Pall: So during a time of war civilians are ALWAYS affected. Sure you won't be attacked, but you will be effected.
Lord_Pall: You might get hit up by the rebellion for a donation. You might get hassled by Stormtrooper's in a cantina
Lord_Pall: You won't be attacked, but if we do our jobs right the gcw will alter the world around you, and change how you interact with it
Lord_Pall: And even better, you'd feel strongly enough about the changes that you'd get that involved with the fight
Lord_Pall: smiles
Brannoc: *Zasm* quick question, what types of new high level mobs will be introduced along with the new expansion coming out for SWG?
Ronda: Glad you asked...
Ronda: we're adding about 10 new creatures, including some killer high level bada$$ creatures
Ronda: We'll be revealing the new creatures very shortly
Ronda: but one I can reveal right now is the Kashyyyk Bantha
Ronda: while it surprised many to learn, a subspecies of bantha actually does exist on the planet Kashyyyk.
Ronda: Among the most obvious differences of the Kashyyyk bantha were lack of a shaggy coat, and the lack of the huge horns that were often associated with the species.
Ronda: In place of horns, the Kashyyyk bantha had evolved a pair of massive, bony plates that were used as battering rams. Another difference was the feet of the Kashyyyk banthas, which were tipped with longer, more articulated toes that allowed the creature to climb along the wroshyr tree branches.
Ronda: you heard it here first!
Tiggs:cheers
Lord_Pall: Watch the trees!
Brannoc: *Todeco* What are the plans to enhance the mission system? The standard missions "go there and kill A" or "go to A and deliver B" etc. are not really interesting after a while.
SraySOE: The mission system has it‑2019s place in the world, and that is to provide something quick to do when you only have a short time to log in.
SraySOE: However, what we are moving toward is the development of enough deep and interesting content that players will not have to rely on the mission terminals for leveling.
Tiggs: From the Forums: Player Name: Misfit Chat
Topic: GCW Dev Question: Right now on Corbantis on Naboo the Rebels control the planet. I like running around all over Theed killing the Rebel NPC's...even in just some padded armor for looks, no buffs, PSG, and using mind food when I do get in trouble I can run around non stop killing off the Rebel NPC's without any danger. Is it in the works/possible to put in a system so that if you kill too many Rebel NPC's that tougher Rebel NPC's are called out to hunt
Tiggs: Greenmarine designed and proposed a system for this during first pass gcw implementation, but it was dropped due to time constraints. It's definitely high on our priority list for post cu changes.
Brannoc: Haetron* Are there any plans on allowing PvP in Space to affect the GCW more? --- and also *Ledaio|valcyn* CGW) What plans are being made to bring the GCW into space?
Ronda: PVP and PVE in space affecting the GCW overall is something we're definitely interested in pursuing
Ronda: and seems a natural progression to the GCW.
Ronda: Right now we're focusing on stepping up the groupd GCW and the space battles will be considered and planned in the future.
Brannoc: *Alec-Bloodfin* Will the AT-AT ever make an appearance in game besides on static player events aor advertisements for game?
Tiggs: Yes!!! =)
Brannoc: *Rypht* The issue with Imperial Non-Human perk penalties is incredibly unbalancing, with the recent drastic increases in penalties most non-humans will never be able to purchase the full range of faction perks, even at the rank of Colonel. What will be done to fix this? Have you considered moving the penalty to the cost of attaining rank and leaving perk purchases uniform for all players?
Tiggs: he is typing:)
Lord_Pall: slowly
Lord_Pall: smiles
* Tiggs nudges Thornton to type faster
TH: Heh...
Swgdevrthornton: That's a neat idea Rypht I don't see us leaving the cost as is, but I don't expect to ever see non-human species achieve equality with human members of the Empire. They're evil that way.
Lord_Pall: The empire isn't evil. They're just efficient.
Brannoc: *Jackrabbit* My questions are about the upcoming Smuggler Revamp. With the new Spice system, most Smugglers assume you're doing away with the Spice tree. Can you tell us what you think will go in its place? Also, any plans to put in PC bounties on PC Smugglers?
Tiggs: Currently we have the smuggler changes listed on our forums under in concept!
http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/boar ... in_conceptTiggs: There are two docs listed that we would love your feedback on
Brannoc: *Kampher* Right now the System of the galacic cival war is a bit flawed. I feel like I can't defend my own city should rebels come in to attack a faction base. Will there be a return of a TEF system?
Lord_Pall: Nope.
Swgdevrthornton: The spice stuff is being effected primarily by the combat upgrade. There might not be a bunch of more skill boxes in their place, but we'll probably see additional content for the existing boxes, and lots of work being done on the content for the overall system.
Lord_Pall: PVP represents a very large barrier to entry for most players.
Lord_Pall: okay we interleaved some answers.
Lord_Pall: so pvp represents a big barrier to entry
Lord_Pall: having a barrier to entry on the gcw is/was one of the largest problems in SWG. Players want to shoot Stormtrooper's. They don't want to get ganked when they do so.
Lord_Pall: I know this is a change from the older playstyles but i think it's necessary to push swg to the next level.
Brannoc: *Groove* Any sign of modifications to the way guild management works? Chat / Inviting etc.
Tiggs: Currently on Test Center we have introduced our PA Leadership succession changes. We highly encourage you to read the document posted at
http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/boar ... e.id=44058 and provide your feedback!
Ronda: Quick plug here if you don't mind...
Ronda: I just wanted to make sure everyone knows that the info site for this year's Fan Events has gone live!
Ronda:
http://www.lucasarts.com/products/galax ... index.htmlRonda: Tickets for the Player Breakfast in Indianapolis in April go on sale this week!
Ronda: And we hope to meet you there!
Ronda: ok... advert is over
Ronda: smiles
Ronda: back to your regularly scheduled Q&A
* Tiggs promises not to pounce!! *crosses fingers behind her back*
Brannoc: *BadMisterFrosty* The base-HQs and outposts seem pretty small, do you want to add large factional strongholds?
Swgdevrthornton: Well, the base-HQ's (detachment HQ's) are actually pretty darn huge, compared to our other structures in the game when consider total square footage. The main way I see us coming up with larger faction facilities leads me to Kampher's question...
Brannoc: *Kampher* Will there be a way I can make my city truly feel imperial? I feel like my city is the same as any rebel city. Will we get content to decorate our city with?
Swgdevrthornton: We *have* been talking about ways to allow a player city to purchase factional components that are military in nature and would allow people to include conflict-based distortable components in their towns, without allowing players to also blow up the local cantina, trash player housing, etc. So, we're talking about it and figuring out what's involved.
Tiggs: From the forums Player Name: Geral Corasjo Chat Topic: Content
Tiggs: Dev Question: Are there plans for the (near) future to create more immerse quests? (i.e. Less "Kill 3 guys and his flag for a reward, or "Deliver a message to a NPC for a reward..")
Tiggs: Yes! Story arcs are going to play a major role in the future of this game. The players will have a hand in deciding their outcome and what effect they have on the world. Look for interesting opportunities to work together as well as chances to bring exciting new loot into the game!
Brannoc: *Groove* Will wookies have any special abilities on the new planet?
Ronda: Wookiees will not have special abilities on Kashyyyk... the content is for all species to explore
Ronda: There will be a difference in dialog with many NPCs however
Ronda: Wookiees will hear things that not everyone else will
Brannoc: *BadMisterFrosty* they have courage: how do you plan to balance empire and rebellion; either equal or somehow asymmetrical? Are we going to see the rebel tank as a counterpart of imperial walkers?
Lord_Pall: The empire is extremely powerful, but the rebellion is wiley.
Lord_Pall: So it's asymmetrical.
Lord_Pall: I'd love to give the rebellion some tanks though.
Brannoc: *Speedfire[kauri]* I Worry about the future of Artists. Mission terminals and only one quest aren't enough. Will other contents be added in the game for these players? Thank you
SraySOE: One of the things we are wanting to do with questing is to provide different roles for different professions within the quest itself.
SraySOE: So, the mix of professions you have in your group provide different solutions for what is going on
SraySOE: For instance, you are faced with a locked door, if you have a Smuggler, might be able to slice it, if you have a commando, she might be able to blast it down and if you have an entertainer, she might be able to charm the key from a guard!
Tiggs: From our forums Player Name: Aphrodite Content Any chance missions will get a revamp or scratched all together. Currently drive 1200m kill a liar drive back is anything but "content".
Tiggs: Mission terminals have their role in the world and we don't see that changing much. They are a quick way to do something if you only have a short time to be in game. However, what we do see happening is their importance diminishing and the importance of the handcrafted, story oriented quests growing, as they become more available. We see THOSE becoming the major activity for the adventuring characters.
Brannoc: That's it for this one folks, thanks for coming and be sure to join us right here next time! The logs will be up shortly on swg.stratics.com. And speaking of swg.stratics.com we are in fact hiring staff for it! Just visit
http://swg.stratics.com/content/site/positions.php for details.
Ronda: Thanks SO much for coming!
Ronda: Good night!
Swgdevrthornton: Thanks to everyone, and have a great night!
TH: G'night folks!
Tiggs: Bye everyone, thank you!!!!
Lord_Pall: Goodbye everyone!
SraySOE: Good night!
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