Aziran Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 So, companions are an integral part of the game. They're what brought me to the game, and partially, I enjoy the depth they provide to the playerbase as they quest and do the side missions. So, I see a market oppurtunity. They way I see it, there is a practical -Catalogue- of droid models already available in game, complete with talking and attack animations, death animations, idle animations. Practically ready to be reused as a companion for the more techy of us. Each one should be a one time purchase either for character/ account with the cost upscaled accordingly for each option. Around about the 1500CC mark per character, 3000 for account wide. Upon purchase, you get a consumeable which can be used or sold on the GTN, and, on use, adds a new Companion to your Crew window which can be summoned. One gripe I had with using HK-51 at low levels was the gear he came with was scaled to 50. Not complaining too heavily, but that sort of destroyed the point of him at lower levels where droid armor is like Hens teeth. Instead, as a little bonus, you can purchase, or include with the purchase of the droid, a sort of Upscaling, 1-55 set of sort of "Heirloom" gear, I believe the term in this game is Legacy. Since droid parts can't be equipped to other characters, this stops them being removed and placed on alts, thus bypassing the legacy armor system ingame for the impatient. Of course their weapons and armor should probably say "Requires -Insert droid name here-." and are "Bound." Each droid should fulfill a particular role once aqquired, using move-sets/ ability frames from companions that perform particular roles wonderfully. For example. -Rewired Tythonian Seeker droid/ Custom Imperial Security droid - Melee tank/ dps. Think Khem'Val or Scourge. -Mobile Imperial/ Republic Medical droid. Healer/ Ranged dps. - Malavai quinn/ Mako. And so on and so forth. So, in effect they become companions that people can pick and choose. For example, if someone wishes to use a healer companion on a Jedi Knight, but don't want to wait for Doc? No problem. Just a one time purchase from the market and you're set with a companion who gears themselves practically, allowing you to pick those lovely Planetary commendations for upgrading their or your weaponry! Is this P2W? Of course not. Companions were never integral to PvP or PvE on the scale of Ops and Warzones, so how does this make it any different to having a companion already? No bonus to damage, or xp, or health, or anything like that. Of course these are purely "static" for questing and comfort purposes anyway, and the resources required to voice entire cutscenes and code side quests is an unnecesary leisure. If people want that, I'm sure they'd be happy to stick with the basic companion quests as they are. Of course, they should have sayings when killing an enemy, attacking, low on health and stuff, to keep that level of atmosphere. This will probably get overlooked, but I see a good oppurtunity to not only make you money but also give people access to the companions they'd like at a level they'd like with awesome skins which are wasted in just being killed. Thanks for reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwena Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 (edited) Hmm, I do like the idea of having a small selection of generic droid companions available in the Cartel Market, very nice for those that hate their starter companion or want a certain type earlier. I do have some reservations about this suggestion, though: 1. IMHO, scaling armor is a bit too much, especially because it is something that is not available by any means for normal companions (including the droids like T7). Also, if someone really wants a droid Companion -- they can always level Cybertech and make their own parts. It is a really useful crew skill to have, anyway. So I think it would work fine if they came in blues that were anywhere from level 1-50 according to the level you were when you bought the droid. 2. I am leery of them adding more droid companions because they are so generic. As useful as they might be, I guess I would rather not encourage Bioware to go this route of easy, but probably bland, companions. I didn't play any KOTOR games so HK is about as interesting to me as one of these generic droid companions that you suggest, which is to say, not at all. I would prefer that the next companion(s) they add are something that is not another droid. I realize a lot of people like HK-type companions, but now how about something for those that don't, y'know? Just my 2 credits. In a perfect world, Bioware could deliver generic droid companions AND some more interesting human-like ones, but my optimism does not extend quite that far. Though I admit, it would be very tempting sometimes to ditch Kaliyo for a Custom Imperial Security Droid . . . Edited May 23, 2013 by Gwena Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aziran Posted May 23, 2013 Author Share Posted May 23, 2013 Hmm, I do like the idea of having a small selection of generic droid companions available in the Cartel Market, very nice for those that hate their starter companion or want a certain type earlier. I do have some reservations about this suggestion, though: 1. IMHO, scaling armor is a bit too much, especially because it is something that is not available by any means for normal companions (including the droids like T7). Also, if someone really wants a droid Companion -- they can always level Cybertech and make their own parts. It is a really useful crew skill to have, anyway. So I think it would work fine if they came in blues that were anywhere from level 1-50 according to the level you were when you bought the droid. 2. I am leery of them adding more droid companions because they are so generic. As useful as they might be, I guess I would rather not encourage Bioware to go this route of easy, but probably bland, companions. I didn't play any KOTOR games so HK is about as interesting to me as one of these generic droid companions that you suggest, which is to say, not at all. I would prefer that the next companion(s) they add are something that is not another droid. I realize a lot of people like HK-type companions, but now how about something for those that don't, y'know? Just my 2 credits. In a perfect world, Bioware could deliver generic droid companions AND some more interesting human-like ones, but my optimism does not extend quite that far. Though I admit, it would be very tempting sometimes to ditch Kaliyo for a Custom Imperial Security Droid . . . I appreciate the points you've made and I can't really put any of them to fault. I'll try to justify my reasonings for you. 1) You're right, with Cybertech its very easy to gear a companion. I did consider that myself having experience with my T7. However the reasoning comes from the fact that, if you're paying real money for it, it should have a little bit of a bonus of sorts that isn't really gamebreaking, and again, more for convenience. Otherwise, I suppose they could just sell Droid reskins of existing companions. That might be an easier route, though it would be interesting...In a bad way, seeing someone do the Vette romance line with a Imperial Destroyer Droid. -Shudder-. 2) Thats a fair point. I suppose they wouldn't be added to the game, per say. Rather, more like Mods or a form of DLC which just let you add a little bit of flavour to your experience to your liking. By all means, if you dislike droids, just keep the companions that there are. Hope that explained my reasoning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrispenGray Posted May 24, 2013 Share Posted May 24, 2013 It's an interesting idea, certainly. Buying droid companions does have a certain appeal... but I imagine it'd be a lot of work for the developers, especially to make sure they were balanced with other companions. That said, if they did it, I'd definitely get them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aziran Posted May 24, 2013 Author Share Posted May 24, 2013 (edited) It's an interesting idea, certainly. Buying droid companions does have a certain appeal... but I imagine it'd be a lot of work for the developers, especially to make sure they were balanced with other companions. That said, if they did it, I'd definitely get them. Well the coding for most abilities is already in the game. It would essentially be copy-pasting, in essence. Say, for example the Healer Droids - Malavai or Docs abilities and placing them in a new shell. The animations, the abilities, the vocals, even down to the sound of footsteps, is already in game. So it comes down to giving it a companion AI which is already a formulated and tested code. Time consuming, yes. But a real moneymaker. Edited May 24, 2013 by Aziran Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aziran Posted May 25, 2013 Author Share Posted May 25, 2013 It should also be noted that if you wanted to add questlines, well, any voice actor with a robotic modulation or even the droid sound files already in game would suffice. Just if you wanted to go that extra mile for immersion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrispenGray Posted May 26, 2013 Share Posted May 26, 2013 If we're just talking skins of existing companions, then... yeah, I can see that. I rather like that. I'd totally buy new droids. Get astromechs (ranged tanks ala T7), medical droids (healers), perhaps war droids (for DPS or melee tanking)... I don't think they need extra plot, though. Make them like the ship droids. Sending them on crew skill missions wouldn't really affect much either -- it's not like you'd be able to send any additional crew out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aziran Posted May 26, 2013 Author Share Posted May 26, 2013 If we're just talking skins of existing companions, then... yeah, I can see that. I rather like that. I'd totally buy new droids. Get astromechs (ranged tanks ala T7), medical droids (healers), perhaps war droids (for DPS or melee tanking)... I don't think they need extra plot, though. Make them like the ship droids. Sending them on crew skill missions wouldn't really affect much either -- it's not like you'd be able to send any additional crew out. I like the idea of them being purchases for your ship more than actual storydriven "Companions.". Good thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanisher Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 Hey it would be nice to have multiple droids for different purposes it would be nice to have a droid that we can bring out that has storage capacity so we can stash items that we want in a hurry but don't have to go to our ship to get stuff. This way I can in clutter my inventory wod be great storage for resources as week so once I get new resources I can throw them in as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsbount Posted May 27, 2013 Share Posted May 27, 2013 It whould be awsome! I always wanted to have one of those imperial tripod droids) I wish i could buy them with CC... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aziran Posted May 27, 2013 Author Share Posted May 27, 2013 It whould be awsome! I always wanted to have one of those imperial tripod droids) I wish i could buy them with CC... These are words I hoped to hear. -Satisfied nod- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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