Personal Halfquake

Trap Engineer
By khimitsu, April 12th 2006, 00:24:48

This is an idea MS had, and we'd like to hear your opinion/suggestions about that.
The basic idea, is that there would be a NPC like the Resources Converter one, that could change traps' directions. This would be useful for CS, because it's very hard for them to maintain a good trap chain, and they usually have to buy loads of junk traps before they get a good one.

Basic characteristics :

- To change a trap you don't need to pay money.
- There is a chance of breaking the trap completely.
- It reduces the durability of the trap by an amount between 1-5.
- The entrance cannot be changed.
- The Exit can be chosen by the player.
- You can modify 3 traps a tick, at max.

Now, the main issue is that it would cut off a bit the communication between TCs and CS. Nothing prevents a CS to contact a TC to ask him/her to craft a certain trap, but with this NPC, this communication won't be required anymore, which is sort of bad.

Any thoughts about that could help a lot.

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kowi April 12th 2006, 00:32:58
yay! cool idea

flo April 12th 2006, 01:10:17
Generally this is a good idea. Regarding the communications: No one has ever dropped me a PM on what trap he needs. I just crafted one "randomly"* and someone bought them. So I am definitely not missing any communications.

Khimitsu April 12th 2006, 02:05:57
It is true that but a few CS deal directly with TCs to get their traps. However, it is their right to do so, and is an advantage they could take. But with the Engineer, this advantage would wear off, either they took it or not. Still, since the entrance cannot be changed, there could be some communication, but less than before. But it is true that seeing the current situation, but a few "communications" would be affected, and the ones who're already doing that won't stop, asking for specific entrances.

Decus April 12th 2006, 03:08:00
You basically hit both the cons and pros of that one quite well Khimitsu. As a CS myself, I would personally love that kind of update, seeing as I only contact TCs about traps very rarely (I have problems talking to people I don't know. >>; ) Not to mention that I do, on the average, disassemble 2 of the 3 traps I buy daily (I wish everyone would stop selling straight down traps. >>; ) so this would at least give us a slight advantage, for those like me whom prefer the informal approach to buying traps. As for those that do communicate with TCs regularly, they would still have the advantage of getting what they like, even if others that don't normally go out of their way are suddenly getting traps that work for their chains as well. Anyways, you won't need to use the engineer if you put forth the effort to contact TCs, but the engineer shouldn't be so strong as to alter -everything- someone could buy in one day. I would prefer it if the engineer only worked once or twice a day, so as to encourage communication. Hopefully, this won't tip the scales too much either in favor of the CS. I have more to say, and other things to throw into the balance, but I've already filled this comment up quite abit.

Strifer April 12th 2006, 17:03:00
Maybe there should be something in the vein of a request board? CS could request traps and then TC would be able to craft them.

Khimitsu April 12th 2006, 22:48:13
A board for specific directions would be chaotic, since lot of TCs could craft the same trap, not only one. There's already a "Demand System" that will be released, which will allow CS to ask for specific traps, though, but not for specific directions.

belgarath April 12th 2006, 22:48:33
Sounds like a good idea but how about say a specil order request that a CS can apply for to get a trap they need they pay more for the overall trap but they get them in the direction they need and the specal goes to random craters with the lvl to make those traps just a thought though same that the trap duarbillity suffers cos of the above we crafters have it all our own way with regards to chains

Khimitsu April 13th 2006, 00:41:15
Randomness outside system formulas will always be unfair, so I'll always be against the use ideas such as giving a bonus to a random person. Plus it'd be totally against the policy we follow to add something to actually avoid communication with eachother.

Spam April 13th 2006, 05:54:53
Wouldn't it be easier just to list the different directions available for each trap type? Like you'd click on the trap you want and it'll bring up a menu similar to the "+" options on the personal menu that shows individual traps of that type with their directions. Of course, it's less flexible this way...but it's just a thought.

TaskBeenden April 13th 2006, 11:50:06
...what about this... TC's have somekind of 'schedule' of crafting traps... on that schedule all entrances and exits of any traps are shown... ...if a TC craftes a trap e.g. left to right, the he/she cannot craft the same direction twice a day or in a variable 'period'... then the TC's would be kind of forced to craft diversified trap directions...

Khimitsu April 13th 2006, 12:03:32
@Spam : It would be much easier for CS that way, it's true, but again it's a way to avoid communication with TCs :s ... @CellarDoor : TCs are crafters, not CSs' slaves . They still have to craft traps for their own. If they can't craft the traps they want because of a schedule they have to follow for CSs ... Meh. Plus I'll always be against any form of "forcing" - You're free to craft certain traps and sell certain contracts, you're not forced to do so, and it should remain the same.

TaskBeenden April 13th 2006, 22:07:14
..however TC's have still the advantage to craft traps they need, and CS's have to buy the "wasted" ones... the schedule won't be set by the CS's if you thought so...

muddasheep April 13th 2006, 22:43:46
CS still have the following advantages that you shouldn't forget: - Getting more money for selling resources - Getting more XP for finished contracts, than what TC get for finished traps - Always having enough victims - The ability to sell a lot victims on the black market every day @belgarath: Always think of multiple account abuse.

Mistress_B April 14th 2006, 19:56:38
I think this is a really good Idea. as a TC it's hard to know what people want.