In addition to all the great questions and points made in this thread, here is another worth asking... Why were all of the original sound effects removed and replace with dull replicas? This may not be as important as some of the other questions we have, but when added on top of everything they messed with in the CU it becomes very important.
Sound is so much of the Star Wars experience. In fact, sound is in fact a HUGE part of any experience. I find it hard to believe that some designer at SOE feels they can make better sound effect than Mr. Ben Burtt has. In fact, if I was Mr. Burtt I would be offended by the sound effects in the game now.
Blasters sound nothing like they do in the movies. Melee weapons have 1 or 2 effects now mainly consisting of "boof" and "poof". They no longer have that metal-on-metal "ching" which adds so much to the experience.
During testing, the devs stated that sound effects were not finished yet. Before the CU went into beta (aka live) they said that the real effects were added. I fail to hear any difference.
This is yet ANOTHER question "why change something that is just fine?" I would like the developers to give us 3 VALID reasons for this change. This just blows my mind... not that the entire situation hasn't already done that.
Have the developers even seen, err... heard these movies? Have they?
My forum account was locked out for "trolling" - my posts were far from trolling, I can tell you that much.
But what is interesting is that I can't login to the forums using my other 2 accounts. I can view the forums, but when I login as my alt I just get brought back to the forums main page. I have tried logging in from 3 different locations so I have ruled out a block on my IP. Also, I tried creating a new station and had the same problem - so I know it isn't tied to my real e-mail address.
So the question is - Why is this happening? It seems awefully convenient for the forums login to break while all this stuff about the CU is going on. It is certainly making it appear as if there are less people complaining about the CU in their forums.
There are many posts I would like to give feedback on, but of course, I'm such a troll! LOL
The only trolls in the forums are those who administer them.
First off - I must make it clear that I am NOT flaming you "anonymous coward" or anyone else that is enjoying the changes. I can respect the fact that you like the changes.
That said...
The notion that those who dislike the CU are only Jedi and "uber" players is unfair, untrue, and may have fueled the changes we have now seen. I like some of the things they were trying to do in the CU - and combat NEEDS to be balanced. But they changed the core of the game.
I am not a Jedi, nor do I ever aspire to be one. I have never looted or owned an "uber" weapon in-game on any of my accounts. I am primarily a crafter. I have never strived to be "uber" in PvP or PvE. I actually chose a combat profession that is generally regarded as "nerfed". I am not at all into PvP. I am not rich. I have about 1mil credits in-game between my 3 toons, and paying for resources / harvestors for my crafting eats up about 95% of my income. I have no problem with it taking me more time to kill mobs (creatures and such).
I believe one mistake SOE has made is agreeing with people who think like you, "anonymous coward" (again, this is NOT a flame). I played SWG to enjoy the professions available, do a little bit of PvE combat for creature resources, make items I could be proud of selling, have a feeling of being "in" the SW universe, and to be part of a community that played the same way.
So, is it fair to players like me? Sure, life isn't fair, but know this - I believe many of the folks leaving are the same type of player that I am. Only time will tell. The damage is done, and I know they won't roll back the servers. I only hope they can bring life back into the game before it flatlines.
I'm not sure what else can be said. We tried being constructive and giving feedback about what we liked/disliked during beta. (actually, I'd call that phase alpha... beta is in live now). They just ignored it all or gave replies like "only a small number of folks dislike the changes" and "that is not in the scope of the CU".
Anyway, here's a short list of what kills me: Dumbed down, slow, poorly animated combat. Sound effects replaced with terrible alternatives (if Ben Burtt were to hear what they put in for effects they would probably be reverted ASAP). Removal of interesting and diverse combat moves. Removal of a one-of-a-kind skills based system. Combat is essentially down to ranged and melee. No care at all in regards to items people have been using and enjoying for 2 years which they can no longer even equip. Devastation of crafting, entertainer and doctor professions (probably the best crafting system of any mmorpg) Dismal customer relations. Complete lack of concern for their player base. Removing constructive criticism from the forums and banning those who posted it. And the list goes on and on and on.
The following post from the forums is probably the best summary of what has happened. It is not rude, doesn't really flame anyone, and is dead on. I'm posting it since it may be deleted soon.
Written by "Handsnake" I think that this should be here, as it bears on the subject of this forum. Please take the time to read all of the points as well as the conclusions. Keep responses civil, please.
I have tested the CU since it hit Beta and have been following the CU since publish 7. There are a number of unexpected problems with the implementation of the CU as it stands in Live (and how it developed in beta) that do not track with the available information given over the year since it was announced.
The way the current implementation of the CU is made up has several glaring variances from the previously released info - in that there was one central item that I have identified has caused the majority of the imbalances and problems encountered with the CU.
Putting a 'level' system on top of a skill based system.
This was not in the original CU documentation released on 03/31/05, and data from public statements of sources inside the CU 'sandbox' scheme (without violating NDA) have confirmed that it was never discussed with them to the degree it was implemented.
Herein I will list the worst issues reported about the CU and show that they are all tied directly to the 'level system' implementation that was added to the functional design of the CU.
1. Crafter Death - Crafters are 1 shotted by every aggro mob on every starter planet. The fragility of crafter characters at 'combat level' 1 is extreme. Surveying alone is impossible since spawns will appear under vehicles in motion and mobs will kill crafters in less than 2 seconds.
The ability to at least run away has been removed - this makes crafters unable to function at a basic level.
The 'level' system has a damage multiplier. You will see this in further points. This damage multiplier makes anything higher level than you equivalent to instant death. Five levels above you will always kill you. Again, this point will be repeated. Since crafters will not have any combat rating unless they become a hybrid and drop pure crafting, they will always take max damage.
Furthermore, every animal will use the damage multiplier against a base value. There is no such thing, therefore, as a 'safe' enemy for crafters.
This is the result of the 'level' system.
Before, each mob had different resists and damage ranges. They had a "threat" level, which was based on how high their offensive and defensive values were. Under the old system, that was the basis of the/con result.
This threat level has NO relationship to the current 'combat level' system, no matter what the devs claim in the HOC chat. The threat level was an EVALUA
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In addition to all the great questions and points made in this thread, here is another worth asking... Why were all of the original sound effects removed and replace with dull replicas? This may not be as important as some of the other questions we have, but when added on top of everything they messed with in the CU it becomes very important.
Sound is so much of the Star Wars experience. In fact, sound is in fact a HUGE part of any experience. I find it hard to believe that some designer at SOE feels they can make better sound effect than Mr. Ben Burtt has. In fact, if I was Mr. Burtt I would be offended by the sound effects in the game now.
Blasters sound nothing like they do in the movies. Melee weapons have 1 or 2 effects now mainly consisting of "boof" and "poof". They no longer have that metal-on-metal "ching" which adds so much to the experience.
During testing, the devs stated that sound effects were not finished yet. Before the CU went into beta (aka live) they said that the real effects were added. I fail to hear any difference.
This is yet ANOTHER question "why change something that is just fine?" I would like the developers to give us 3 VALID reasons for this change. This just blows my mind... not that the entire situation hasn't already done that.
Have the developers even seen, err... heard these movies? Have they?
My forum account was locked out for "trolling" - my posts were far from trolling, I can tell you that much.
But what is interesting is that I can't login to the forums using my other 2 accounts. I can view the forums, but when I login as my alt I just get brought back to the forums main page. I have tried logging in from 3 different locations so I have ruled out a block on my IP. Also, I tried creating a new station and had the same problem - so I know it isn't tied to my real e-mail address.
So the question is - Why is this happening? It seems awefully convenient for the forums login to break while all this stuff about the CU is going on. It is certainly making it appear as if there are less people complaining about the CU in their forums.
There are many posts I would like to give feedback on, but of course, I'm such a troll! LOL
The only trolls in the forums are those who administer them.
My last reply to you on this...
The fact that I told you up front that I respect your opinion of the game and you reply with a flame speaks for it self.
I'm not 15, don't live it at home, etc... I work hard for my money and expect what I pay for.
First off - I must make it clear that I am NOT flaming you "anonymous coward" or anyone else that is enjoying the changes. I can respect the fact that you like the changes.
That said...
The notion that those who dislike the CU are only Jedi and "uber" players is unfair, untrue, and may have fueled the changes we have now seen. I like some of the things they were trying to do in the CU - and combat NEEDS to be balanced. But they changed the core of the game.
I am not a Jedi, nor do I ever aspire to be one.
I have never looted or owned an "uber" weapon in-game on any of my accounts.
I am primarily a crafter.
I have never strived to be "uber" in PvP or PvE. I actually chose a combat profession that is generally regarded as "nerfed".
I am not at all into PvP.
I am not rich. I have about 1mil credits in-game between my 3 toons, and paying for resources / harvestors for my crafting eats up about 95% of my income.
I have no problem with it taking me more time to kill mobs (creatures and such).
I believe one mistake SOE has made is agreeing with people who think like you, "anonymous coward" (again, this is NOT a flame). I played SWG to enjoy the professions available, do a little bit of PvE combat for creature resources, make items I could be proud of selling, have a feeling of being "in" the SW universe, and to be part of a community that played the same way.
So, is it fair to players like me? Sure, life isn't fair, but know this - I believe many of the folks leaving are the same type of player that I am. Only time will tell. The damage is done, and I know they won't roll back the servers. I only hope they can bring life back into the game before it flatlines.
I'm not sure what else can be said. We tried being constructive and giving feedback about what we liked/disliked during beta. (actually, I'd call that phase alpha... beta is in live now). They just ignored it all or gave replies like "only a small number of folks dislike the changes" and "that is not in the scope of the CU".
/con result.
Anyway, here's a short list of what kills me:
Dumbed down, slow, poorly animated combat.
Sound effects replaced with terrible alternatives (if Ben Burtt were to hear what they put in for effects they would probably be reverted ASAP).
Removal of interesting and diverse combat moves.
Removal of a one-of-a-kind skills based system.
Combat is essentially down to ranged and melee.
No care at all in regards to items people have been using and enjoying for 2 years which they can no longer even equip.
Devastation of crafting, entertainer and doctor professions (probably the best crafting system of any mmorpg)
Dismal customer relations. Complete lack of concern for their player base.
Removing constructive criticism from the forums and banning those who posted it.
And the list goes on and on and on.
The following post from the forums is probably the best summary of what has happened. It is not rude, doesn't really flame anyone, and is dead on. I'm posting it since it may be deleted soon.
Written by "Handsnake"
I think that this should be here, as it bears on the subject of this forum. Please take the time to read all of the points as well as the conclusions. Keep responses civil, please.
I have tested the CU since it hit Beta and have been following the CU since publish 7. There are a number of unexpected problems with the implementation of the CU as it stands in Live (and how it developed in beta) that do not track with the available information given over the year since it was announced.
The way the current implementation of the CU is made up has several glaring variances from the previously released info - in that there was one central item that I have identified has caused the majority of the imbalances and problems encountered with the CU.
Putting a 'level' system on top of a skill based system.
This was not in the original CU documentation released on 03/31/05, and data from public statements of sources inside the CU 'sandbox' scheme (without violating NDA) have confirmed that it was never discussed with them to the degree it was implemented.
Herein I will list the worst issues reported about the CU and show that they are all tied directly to the 'level system' implementation that was added to the functional design of the CU.
1. Crafter Death - Crafters are 1 shotted by every aggro mob on every starter planet. The fragility of crafter characters at 'combat level' 1 is extreme. Surveying alone is impossible since spawns will appear under vehicles in motion and mobs will kill crafters in less than 2 seconds.
The ability to at least run away has been removed - this makes crafters unable to function at a basic level.
The 'level' system has a damage multiplier. You will see this in further points. This damage multiplier makes anything higher level than you equivalent to instant death. Five levels above you will always kill you. Again, this point will be repeated. Since crafters will not have any combat rating unless they become a hybrid and drop pure crafting, they will always take max damage.
Furthermore, every animal will use the damage multiplier against a base value. There is no such thing, therefore, as a 'safe' enemy for crafters.
This is the result of the 'level' system.
Before, each mob had different resists and damage ranges. They had a "threat" level, which was based on how high their offensive and defensive values were. Under the old system, that was the basis of the
This threat level has NO relationship to the current 'combat level' system, no matter what the devs claim in the HOC chat. The threat level was an EVALUA