I am assembling a quick post to go over the broad areas we're currently targeting for the Entertainer changes.

Entertainer Expertise

Artiste - This expertise tree will feature enhancements to the new "inspired performances" (the new inspiration buff mechanism), the ability to increase an entertainer's effectiveness when performing in camps (see below), and a few other goodies I am keeping quiet on for the time being.

Drama - This expertise tree will be the optional combat enhancements area. Choosing any expertise in this tree will negate your current non-aggro status in most areas of the world, and you'll be treated like any other profession; if you don't choose anything in this tree, things will remain as they are in this regard.

Camps

Camps are making their return to Star Wars Galaxies soon. One of the modules that can be constructed for camps will be an entertainer module, which allows an entertainer to perform in the camp instead of in the city. The effectiveness of this performance is determined by the effectiveness rating of the module (which can be increased through crafting experimentation) and via the Artiste expertise tree.

Inspired Performances, the new inspiration buffs

The existing Inspiration ability is being completely re-worked to allow entertainers to construct their own enhancements out of a pool of buff "packages". Entertainers get a starting point pool which they can purchase these packages with, and they can add negatives with the packages to gain more points. The Artiste expertise tree impacts the efficiency of these packages as well as offers more powerful packages as expertise.

The benefits of current inspiration buffs will be rolled into packages under this new system. This allows Entertainers to make even better ones for traders after the changes are live.

Also, this system will require that the Entertainer be present at the keyboard when creating and offering these enhancements to their fellow players.

Other goodies

We're not quite ready to discuss the other changes or additions for the Entertainer profession, but there are definitely some surprises in store past this.

I'll post more as I have more information.

EJDev
Senior Game Designer
Star Wars Galaxies

Entertainers who spec heavily into Drama will gain significant combat ability, but not at the level of the other post-expertise combat classes. What this means is that an Entertainer can become a respectable threat, but not an equal match on the battlefield. The idea behind offering combat options is to allow Entertainers the choice to participate in combat. It is not meant to bring them "in line" with the battle prowess of the combat professions.

I can't comment on any future "general" Expertise trees, but I can say that any nod to Teras Kasi will only be for flavor and character. I have no desire or intent to turn Drama Entertainers into full-fledged TK masters. That would be... not staying true to my original statement about Entertainers.

As for the concern over performances versus buffs, my goal with these changes is to offer Entertainers ways to impact the game play of the combat classes (via Inspiration buffs, camp performances, and Drama) that are interesting and fun.

Entertainers are absolutely first-and-foremost performers. However, my task is to bridge tangible gameplay to the existing social play that exists. Offering new dances, music, etc. is beyond the scope of what I have been tasked to do. Not saying it won't happen... I just don't have the answers to those questions.

EJDev
Senior Game Designer
Star Wars Galaxies
10-26-2006 03:14 PM
Wordt een intressante expertise.