User:Tentaka/SWG - The Non Combat Side Forward

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SWG - The Non Combat Side

Forward

As it stands, I play 12 different characters in Star Wars Galaxies. The six accounts I maintain have given me the opportunity to play each of the professions in the game since the NGE. This gives me the experience of being able to directly compare the professions personally. I suspect that this, coupled with the fact that I am a published author and have operated a software development company for nearly a decade may make my perspective unique when compared with that of the average player.

When I noticed the request for suggestions comments and ideas for the Trader profession from the developers in the Star Wars Galaxies forums, I decided to take their request one step further and try my hand at addressing the NC professions as a whole. It is my general belief that all the NC professions share a variety of similar concerns and that consequently might share similar solutions.

In approaching the issues facing the development team and players alike I have set for myself certain parameters that I hope will make my suggestions useful and my articles informative or at very least suggestive. I have defined these parameters as "Ideals" and "Assumptions."

Ideals

1) Fidelity: Each idea should be based upon the overall concept presented in the Star Wars films. The Mythic Structure and the Heroes Journey are substantial and indispensable aspects of the Star Wars films and further, the implementation of the mythic in a virtual format enables the player to interact and personally experience the mythic through the existing lens of the Star Wars universe.

2) Brevity: Each idea should be presented in a manner that is detailed enough to present a whole concept but not be so detailed as to restrict or inhibit the reader from imagining the fullness of the concept as it may be realized. More in-depth or detailed specifics can always be addressed personally or in writing at a later date should this model prove interesting to the players or Developers.

3) Integrity: Each concept presented must be integral to the other concepts and provide a fabric that both addresses existing problems and advances the concepts of each individual profession itself as well as the game as a whole. Further, that the suggestions should remain true to a manner of play consistent with the profession concept.

4) Practicality: The concepts themselves should be of a nature that implementation at a basic level is practical for the development team but retain a level of openness allowing for enhancements and improvements in future chapters and expansion packages.

5) Timeliness: The concepts should be fully implementable within the estimated one year period prior to the premier of the Star Wars television series as I anticipate that a large push and renewed interest in SWG is likely to occur with the premier. I imagine that the developers and producers of SWG are interested in capturing and capitalizing on that wave of interest.

Assumptions (I assume that):

1) Due to the popularity of the Player Cities on all of the servers, the Developers would like to include and integrate player city development and purpose into the overall game. I further assume this includes the encouragement of a role in some manner in the Galactic Civil War through a points system and/or through a more engaging PvP systemology. Further, that the players themselves should be able to elect to participate (or not participate) in such a PvP or City vs. City experience.

2) Due to the sizeable difference in game play between the Combat and Non-combat professions, that the developers would like to explore a more appropriate system for the non-combat professions by breaking from the traditional leveling system in favor of a more individuated expertise system.

Additional Concepts

1) Fighters fight, but crafters and entertainers create. Its my general belief that creative professions should be encouraged to do just that. I am overwhelmingly in favor of player originated content and extraordinary individuation. I believe that SWG and for that matter any game and game development company would benefit from employing the enormous creative talent of their customer base.

2) One of the intrinsic elements of Star Wars and any mythic story for that matter, requires that the protagonist join a story that is bigger than themselves. For example, when Luke Skywalker joins the rebels he is not leading or originating the rebellion but rather is participating in the larger story. This story was originated by others - people like Padmae, Lando, Jabba and so on. In the virtual world, these would be considered Non-Combat characters and yet are critical components of the mythic experience.

Again I hope you will enjoy this journey of speculation and theory. If you have questions or comments, In-game contact information is available in Part 6.

Navigation

SWG - The Non Combat Side Forward

SWG - The Non Combat Side Part 1: The Mythic Environment and Non-Combat Essentials

SWG - The Non Combat Side Part 2: The New Player City As The Foundation For The Mythic

SWG - The Non Combat Side Part 3: The Trader Profession's Basic Concepts

SWG - The Non Combat Side Part 4: The Trader Profession's Advanced Concepts

SWG - The Non Combat Side Part 5: The Entertainer And The Politician

SWG - The Non Combat Side Part 6: Summary And About The Author