Star Wars Galaxies: TC Focused Feedback: Jedi Expertise

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GizmoThis is a list of bugs and issues with the Jedi profession in Chapter 2 on Test Center. I will update the list as new bugs and issues are found or fixed in upcoming Test Center builds.

Bugs:
Force Choke does not snare the target at all, even with the Force Choke Expertise line fully maxed out.

HanseSOE We've got a fix for this in the works.

Gizmo When you activate Force Cloak while standing and then start to move, you will be revealed (You get the message "Moving around too much has revealed you!") even though the description and the patch notes state that you should be able to move while cloaked.

If you cloak while already moving, cloak works properly without breaking, even when you stop and start moving again.

HanseSOE This is an existing bug from prior to expertise. I don't currently have this assigned to me, but I'll note it down to look at. I'm not sure if it'll make this publish, though.

Gizmo Force Maelstrom is on the same cooldown timer as Force lightning. It should be on separate cooldown timers, like strikes and sweeps are.

HanseSOE Force Maelstrom is a lightning area attack. It is an alternative choice to using a single target attack of Force Lightning. It is meant to be on the same cooldown timer.

Gizmo The Skill description of Cautious Nature says only skl_d:[experise_fs_path_cautious_nature_1] instead of the proper description.

HanseSOE This is fixed and ready for test.

Gizmo When mousing over the Stance icon, there is ui_effect:[stance_expertise_stance] in the popup instead of providing the proper verbose description of what the added bonus from expertise is.

HanseSOE Yeah, I have been busy working on functionality over strings/particles/animations. I'll do a sweep and fix these bugs. You'll see improvement on TC next week, I believe.

Gizmo When mousing over the buff icon of a Focus, there is ui_effect:[stance_expertise_focus] in the popup instead of providing the proper verbose description of what the added bonus from expertise is.

When mousing over the DOT immunity buff icon of heals, there is ui_effect:[expertiseimmunity_dot_immunity] in the popup instead of providing the proper verbose description of what the added bonus from expertise is.

HanseSOE I actually fixed this one an hour ago because of a separate issue with DOT immunities.

Gizmo Some of the skill descriptions in the Expertise window are cut off prematurely and can't be read completely (Example: Stance Saber Block).

HanseSOE Yeah, I'll get to it... Functionality first.

Gizmo The Saber Block (active skill) description still says it deflects all incoming damage instead of the accurate percentage.

HanseSOE I did not know that. I'll look into it. Thanks.

Gizmo Issues:
Jedi get one expertise respec less than Bounty Hunters, as the latter can allot allot all 45 expertise points freely upon the first login while Jedi have a preset skillset and only 9 expertise points left to spend. This ultimately causes Jedi to have one full free expertise respec less than Bounty Hunter, which isn't fair.

HanseSOE I believe the person who wrote the respec stuff is aware of this, but I'll re-iterate.

Gizmo Contrary to the description, Force Maelstrom is not an area attack, it is a cone attack. It uses the regular Force Lightning animation (people have been expecting a true area attack with an animation similar to Lightning Storm in KOTOR).

HanseSOE I'll look into making the description note it is a cone attack. It should be a cone attack. Animations/particles are still on the list to be added.

Gizmo Contary to the description, Force Shockwave is not an area attack, it is a cone attack. Also there is no Character animation for Force Shockwave whasoever.

HanseSOE Ditto.

Gizmo The active Saber Block "buff" icon does not indicate how big a chance a Jedi has to block a ranged shot percentage-wise.

HanseSOE It won't, either. The buff descriptions are not linked to expertise. You'll get a generic description.

Gizmo The active Saber Block skill still has a rather long activation animation, when there is none needed (in contrast, other skills like force choke, mind trick, force cloak, strikes, sweeps, shockwave, forsake fear (meditate animation!) would need animations badly).

HanseSOE I haven't done a pass on animations/particles, yet.

Gizmo Jedi do not have a chance to reflect Blaster Bolts back at their attacker. Bounty Hunters get a skill to reflect damage back to their attacker, yet Jedi can't even though reflecting blaster bolts back to the attacker with a lightsaber which is one of the most recognizable "skills" of Jedi Star Wars canon.

I would also like to mention the fact that Jedi have been asking for this ever since the first Jedi system back in 2003 and never got it and now Bounty Hunters get what Jedi always wanted is regarded as a huge cheapshot in the Jedi community.

HanseSOE Yes, true... You do get a passive saber block chance in stances, though. I know it's not the full implementation people want, but I mentioned before that this might not happen.

Gizmo Jedi, as the only true melee class, do not have a way to increase hate from an NPC/MOB. An innate taunt ability that every Jedi has would be appropriate so they can keep the mobs away from their groupmates and focused on them (again, Bounty Hunters as a ranged profession get it for some reason).

Jedi have asked for a taunt ability to pull aggro to themselves ever since it was taken away from them when the NGE went live (again, Bounty Hunters got it and Jedi feel screwed).

Increased amount of range attacks might not be adequate for this, but it's an increase in hate through attacks.
Jedi only have a maximum 10% chance to root their opponent with the highest Force Choke Expertise Enhancement (Strangulation). As a melee class, one would think this should be 100%, especially since Bounty Hunters get an ability that roots 100% as a ranged class.

HanseSOE Maybe... We'll need to test more.

Gizmo Jedi have no armor bonus in the expertise tree, even though their armor is inferior to that of other professions. Jedi have been asking for a sort of innate armor since they lost it with the NGE, yet once again, Bounty Hunters got the nod. Perhaps Jedi could receive innate armor while wearing only regular clothing?

HanseSOE Yes, but you have an insane amount of health. I've heard of folks with elder gear having insane health. It's not happening with the expertise system, due to the compounding with the massive amount of health high level Jedi can have.

Gizmo There are no animations tied to the Jedi abilities and lightsaber attacks. A list of existing, iconic but currently unused Star Warsy animations and suggestions to which skills they could be bound can be found by clicking here.

Proper character animations have been promised to Jedi again and again, yet instead of adding them, some were taken away. Also, the slow down in (lightsaber) attack speed was said to have been done so better animation could be introduced, yet we are still waiting for it, even though there are loads of nice and proper lightsaber and force power animations taking up space on players' hard drives and waiting to be used once again in the client files.

HanseSOE I haven't done a pass on them yet.

ArkonPhoenix Fidelity - Did not see an increase in damage at all. For a skill that you have to dump 16 points into, just to get to the skill, does not make it worth it. Also with it being a teir 5 skill, it should be way more powerful.

HanseSOE Fidelity is very powerful. It adds bonus damage to ANY damage a Jedi does. You may not notice the slight increase, but it adds up quickly.

ArkonPhoenix Strangulation - Just like above, not enough damage and no root, seems broken if you ask me. Again, being a teir 5 skill, its very weak.

HanseSOE A fix is coming down the line for the root. The damage is significant.

ArkonPhoenix Stances - Only get a +65 con or stam bonus now. Great more nerfs.

HanseSOE The percentage was too large of a bonus. We had to back it off in favor of +40 Constitution for stances and +40 Stamina for focus.

Src2169 Thanks for the info. I have a quick question about saber block though. Through the expertise system is the passive saber block being improved or is the buff we get at level 26 being improved?

HanseSOE Passive is 10% in a stance and does not increase with Improved Saber Block. Although, with both of those two expertise slots filled, you get a total of 84% saber block while using a stance and the Saber Block buff.

Apiar Hanse....please take a look at the dark side tree damage. As it stands right now, a light side jedi can easily defeat a dark side jedi. This will not encourage diversity (other then the role players). Please take a look at adjusting the damage the dark side attacks do so in a duel it will be a nailbiter between the two different styles.

HanseSOE Increasing the damage would unbalance DPS with regards to Bounty Hunters. If anything, the heal might be too much and would need to be reduced (or point spending increased). We're still testing, so those numbers can change, but I doubt we'll be seeing an increase in the damage for the abilities. Remember, we have to keep track of all the DPS across the board for future expertise classes, too.

telexx PLEASE tell me that you are not using Elder Jedi as a base in testing. It just doesn't make sense unless you are trying to "stealth" nerf us. Why reward someone for playing this game for over three years just to take it away? Make sense to you?

HanseSOE No, we just had an issue with Jedi getting over 20000 health, in our testing. The robes were a part of that problem. My DPS and HPS charts did not take into account Elder robes for this design, though. I used only the abilities and opposing class DPS information.