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Replying to Help Me, Obi-Wan Kenobi; You're My Only Hope


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Tropical Bob

Posted 01 September 2009 - 03:14 AM

Perhaps a way to adjust for differing levels of experience would be to add a modifier (Or extra points or whatever) based on the number of years per rank. Or if the exact time per rank isn't known, the approximate duration. (i.e. Between the last mention of Rank #1, and the first mention of Rank #2). Higher ranks would get a higher modifier/point addition, since it's probably harder to keep an Admiral rank than a Lieutenant rank.

Phoenix Rising

Posted 01 September 2009 - 02:47 AM

I'm just glad Karen Traviss isn't doing that guide anymore...not to mention how happy I am that she's not writing any more books.

I haven't read any of her books, but that's what I hear. How do you go from a college workshop to writing SW novels in four years? They normally won't even talk to you unless you're a veteran sci-fi author. Anyways, I hope they tap Saxton to do it in her place.

Is that correct?

Yes, although motivation and intel wouldn't be useful traits during the battle.

Posted 01 September 2009 - 02:17 AM

I'll probably change how that works in the future by trying to determine the average experience level at each rank and basing it on that, but it's probably better to wait until this comes out so I can do it with certainty, opposed to redoing it all again for this version.

I'm just glad Karen Traviss isn't doing that guide anymore...not to mention how happy I am that she's not writing any more books.

Also I want to make sure I understand this after rereading your original post....for instance if Thrawn with the Razors Kiss and Titus Klev were in a battle together...would the more experienced bonus apply or would you only get the Thrawn bonuses (or the Klev bonuses) This is assuming the units are navy type so that Klev's bonus works.

Would you have....
Thrawns 5 Star Tactics
Klev's 2.5 Star Offense (since it overrides Thrawn's 1.5)
Thrawn's 1.5 Morale
Klev's 2 Motivation
Kelv's 1 Intel

Is that correct?

Phoenix Rising

Posted 01 September 2009 - 01:57 AM

Would it be possible that when you upgrade a hero, their previous ship, if it is a frigate or above, will spawn as a normal vessel of its class, that would make more sense than a Star Destroyer just disappearing because of an upgrade

Yeah, I've been thinking of doing that. It would make upgrades cost more, but you wouldn't have all the wasted space queue time. If everyone likes it, I'll try to work it into this release.

By the way Phoenix, like the new heroes you just posted on the site, does this mean we will see all of the main captains in the Thrawn Campaign?

/Cough... need to write a post about that yet, just got sidetracked this weekend. Stay tuned.

I do have a question about the rank and, for want of a better term, bonus levels. Simply put, what are they?
In particular, it looks kind of odd to me that a Captain is just barely better than a Lieutenant. Especially as all the elite fighter pilots get small bonuses.
What about special cases such as Wedge refusing promotion?

The number of points you get is determined by how high you are in the hierarchy, as quantified by the numerical value of a given Imperial rank badge and code cylinders. I went with this because it made enough sense and was explicit, but I'm not sure that I'm 100% happy with it now that I can see it in practice.

For example, a pilot officer is typically a starfighter officer who hasn't graduated from an academy, like a Luke or a Wedge when they first started out. They hold a rank (and thus get a point) because they're commissioned, but really someone that green shouldn't get a leadership bonus. Flying officer and flight lieutenant are valued equally because their insignias differ only by a cylinder, but there's definitely an experience gap there (compare Wes or Tycho with anyone else in Rogue Squadron circa 4 ABY or so).

I'll probably change how that works in the future by trying to determine the average experience level at each rank and basing it on that, but it's probably better to wait until this comes out so I can do it with certainty, opposed to redoing it all again for this version. At any rate, the necessary changes shouldn't be too major, just time consuming.

As for special cases, I know I discussed a "competence modifier", so to speak, in the past for the point allotments, but did not use one for this iteration. Instead, good leaders tend to be specialists, while worse ones tend to be generalists. I'm not necessarily opposed to modifying points on a case-by-case basis in the future though, should the need arrise.

Also, some look as if they have unused points. Kenobi is listed as a Surface Marshal (7) but has just five points in Diplomacy.

It costs more to attain higher bonuses, so you actually have to spend seven points to become a five-star in anything. Kenobi was a council-seated Jedi General (surface marshal equivalent), but given his moniker as "The Negotiator", I pretty much had to make him a diplomacy leader.

I hope you find good models for missing things soon. Ackbar and Solo could really use those upgrades to help counteract the massive proliferation of Imperial Dreadnoughts.

Don't forget, you can always assassinate a hero - even one with a dreadnaught - although it may not always be the cost-effective option.

Kitkun

Posted 31 August 2009 - 07:57 PM

I do have a question about the rank and, for want of a better term, bonus levels. Simply put, what are they?
In particular, it looks kind of odd to me that a Captain is just barely better than a Lieutenant. Especially as all the elite fighter pilots get small bonuses.
What about special cases such as Wedge refusing promotion?

Also, some look as if they have unused points. Kenobi is listed as a Surface Marshal (7) but has just five points in Diplomacy.

I hope you find good models for missing things soon. Ackbar and Solo could really use those upgrades to help counteract the massive proliferation of Imperial Dreadnoughts.

Posted 31 August 2009 - 04:27 PM

It's certainly possible. And it's actually a pretty good idea...

I like that idea also.

By the way Phoenix, like the new heroes you just posted on the site, does this mean we will see all of the main captains in the Thrawn Campaign? Also as a side note, will some of the heroes in the later campaign start with their upgraded unit, for example Pellaeon would starts with the Chimaera in the Thrawn Campaign?

Tropical Bob

Posted 31 August 2009 - 04:05 AM

It's certainly possible. And it's actually a pretty good idea...

Posted 31 August 2009 - 02:36 AM

Would it be possible that when you upgrade a hero, their previous ship, if it is a frigate or above, will spawn as a normal vessel of its class, that would make more sense than a Star Destroyer just disappearing because of an upgrade

Phoenix Rising

Posted 27 August 2009 - 07:01 PM

If you need to know some of the main things that happen...I could write a summary of each chapter?

For...? Nah, don't bother, I don't want them spoiled. I don't think any of those books are terribly significant to the mod (at this point) and I've read just about everything else on the timeline.

By the way did you see the bug list I made when you were on vacation?

Yes - I'll get to it soon! I just have a lot to respond to. You also kind of have to have the mod open to work on bug reports, so responses there are usually slower.

P.S. Will the new release have the updated Galaxy?

As in, The Essential Atlas one? Not yet. Ghost will have to redo many of the chokepoints and such, so we're going to wait until v1.3 instead of making two iterations for v1.2.

Posted 27 August 2009 - 05:08 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions. All would make great names for a Lancer, but I feel something is still missing. I think there has to be a certain bit of irony or double entendre in the naming of a one-off ship. It also has to still make sense for an Imperial ship of the given class and, ideally, be a unique name. Therefore (now that I'm in the right mindset), I'm leaning towards the Hindrance, given that a Lancer is really no more than an hindrance on the battlefield and that C'baoth frequently hindered Thrawn's operations. How does that sound?

I 2nd it.

That's what I've gathered. I'm sure I could knock Dark Nest out quickly, but I'm trying to go back and focus on some of the one-shot novels that I missed within our timeline: Allegiance, Tatooine Ghost, Survivor's Quest, Shadows of Mindor (if I can stand waiting for the paperback). I'm also considering rereading the Thrawn Trilogy and I recently picked up the Dark Empire omnibuses to fill in my spotty DE comic collection that I've had since I was 10 or so (modding can get expensive, but I'm not complaining).

If you need to know some of the main things that happen...I could write a summary of each chapter?

By the way did you see the bug list I made when you were on vacation?

P.S. Will the new release have the updated Galaxy?

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