Scaling characters/stats according to lore - long read
I say all of this out of a love of Star Wars, this game, and a genuine desire to see this game improve.
Awesome characters are the whole point of this game, and the design of the most prominent characters in lore is severely lacking in a lot of cases, especially when compared to GS, FOTP, etc. This has been reiterated many times, but I believe I have a unique solution:
Characters should
- have abilities/attributes that fit with their race/affiliation/training in the movies (a few do already, but not most)
- be scaled in major stats like damage and speed according to their power level and prominence in lore
- characters on the lower end of this scale should be compensated with better unique abilities and buffs rather than speed and damage
EXAMPLES
1. The entire Jedi Order is predicated on the principles of peace, diplomacy and protection, and it's incredibly difficult to kill even partially trained Jedi. They are trained to carry and use lightsabers almost exclusively for defensive and protective purposes, therefore all Jedi should have the highest HP and defensive stats in the game, with Yoda and Obi-Wan at the top of that list, as they essentially last through the whole saga.
2. Sith are known best for their use of cunning, violent and sadistic methods in pursuit of ultimate power, and are seen in the films slaying dozens of enemies to this end (Jedi almost only kill as a last resort). In my mind this translates to all Sith having the highest damage potential in the game, with Sidious, Vader and Dooku leading the way.
3. Does this really need saying? The most powerful tier of characters in the movies/show should be the most powerful (let's say highest speed) tier of characters in the game. The tiers, according to lore/duel outcomes/training, should be:
Tier 1: Mace, Sidious, Yoda, Dooku, Obi-Wan, Vader, Anakin (in order)
Tier 2: Qui-Gon, Plo, Old Ben, Kit, Eeth, Ima, Aayla, Asajj, Maul, Savage (not in order)
Tier 3: Ahsoka, Barriss, Grievous, Cad Bane, Kylo, Rey, Boba (not in order)
Tier 4: Chewbacca, Han, Lando, Greedo, Poe, Finn, Officers, Nightsisters, Assassin Droids, Scoundrels (not in order)
Tier 5: Jawas, Ewoks, Geonosians, Tuskens, Infantry (not in order)
Yes, I am favouring Force-users over all other characters. It would mean a high degree of parity between the popular characters and the undesirable, barely-used generic characters. This already exists in the game anyway, because Jawas, Tuskens, etc are not heroes, as the game's title suggests.
4. Because they are unlikely to be removed, lower power generic characters according the above scale should be compensated with better unique skills, buffs and team bonuses. For example, a bounty hunter like Boba Fett could grant his allies 5% potency/critical chance every time he survives a critical hit. A scoundrel like Han could give a random ally +20% dodge chance for 1 turn at the end of his turns. An Ewok could have the unique (anti-Empire?) ability to redirect a 20% of an enemy's damage toward their teammate. Tusken Raiders could have abilities built in which would allow them to surprise attack (10% chance to gain 100% turn meter at the end of each character's turn). These are just examples, and they may be terrible, but it is possible to make low speed/damage/power characters both useful in battle and consistent with SW lore. It just requires balance within the game.
5. Lastly, can we talk about the most egregious mistakes in terms of character design? Qui-Gon Jinn was about the furthest thing from a high speed, offensive-minded attacker. And Mace Windu was one of the only known practitioners of his Vaapad fighting form - why would it be his leader ability and not his basic/special when it affects him and no one else? Why is Ahsoka one of the slowest characters in the game when she rarely had trouble keeping up with Anakin in terms of combat and dexterity? Why is Yoda so squishy? He lived longer than virtually every character in the saga and survived everything the Sith and Empire could throw at him.
Again, please understand my desire in posting this - I am not trying to shred CG/EA, I'm simply addressing some major issues which I'm sure are already on their radar and trying to contribute positive ideas/solutions in order to improve the game and Star Wars fan experience for us all.
What do you think? Are my evaluations correct/incorrect? Which characters do you think are most/least accurate in terms of Star Wars lore?
Awesome characters are the whole point of this game, and the design of the most prominent characters in lore is severely lacking in a lot of cases, especially when compared to GS, FOTP, etc. This has been reiterated many times, but I believe I have a unique solution:
Characters should
- have abilities/attributes that fit with their race/affiliation/training in the movies (a few do already, but not most)
- be scaled in major stats like damage and speed according to their power level and prominence in lore
- characters on the lower end of this scale should be compensated with better unique abilities and buffs rather than speed and damage
EXAMPLES
1. The entire Jedi Order is predicated on the principles of peace, diplomacy and protection, and it's incredibly difficult to kill even partially trained Jedi. They are trained to carry and use lightsabers almost exclusively for defensive and protective purposes, therefore all Jedi should have the highest HP and defensive stats in the game, with Yoda and Obi-Wan at the top of that list, as they essentially last through the whole saga.
2. Sith are known best for their use of cunning, violent and sadistic methods in pursuit of ultimate power, and are seen in the films slaying dozens of enemies to this end (Jedi almost only kill as a last resort). In my mind this translates to all Sith having the highest damage potential in the game, with Sidious, Vader and Dooku leading the way.
3. Does this really need saying? The most powerful tier of characters in the movies/show should be the most powerful (let's say highest speed) tier of characters in the game. The tiers, according to lore/duel outcomes/training, should be:
Tier 1: Mace, Sidious, Yoda, Dooku, Obi-Wan, Vader, Anakin (in order)
Tier 2: Qui-Gon, Plo, Old Ben, Kit, Eeth, Ima, Aayla, Asajj, Maul, Savage (not in order)
Tier 3: Ahsoka, Barriss, Grievous, Cad Bane, Kylo, Rey, Boba (not in order)
Tier 4: Chewbacca, Han, Lando, Greedo, Poe, Finn, Officers, Nightsisters, Assassin Droids, Scoundrels (not in order)
Tier 5: Jawas, Ewoks, Geonosians, Tuskens, Infantry (not in order)
Yes, I am favouring Force-users over all other characters. It would mean a high degree of parity between the popular characters and the undesirable, barely-used generic characters. This already exists in the game anyway, because Jawas, Tuskens, etc are not heroes, as the game's title suggests.
4. Because they are unlikely to be removed, lower power generic characters according the above scale should be compensated with better unique skills, buffs and team bonuses. For example, a bounty hunter like Boba Fett could grant his allies 5% potency/critical chance every time he survives a critical hit. A scoundrel like Han could give a random ally +20% dodge chance for 1 turn at the end of his turns. An Ewok could have the unique (anti-Empire?) ability to redirect a 20% of an enemy's damage toward their teammate. Tusken Raiders could have abilities built in which would allow them to surprise attack (10% chance to gain 100% turn meter at the end of each character's turn). These are just examples, and they may be terrible, but it is possible to make low speed/damage/power characters both useful in battle and consistent with SW lore. It just requires balance within the game.
5. Lastly, can we talk about the most egregious mistakes in terms of character design? Qui-Gon Jinn was about the furthest thing from a high speed, offensive-minded attacker. And Mace Windu was one of the only known practitioners of his Vaapad fighting form - why would it be his leader ability and not his basic/special when it affects him and no one else? Why is Ahsoka one of the slowest characters in the game when she rarely had trouble keeping up with Anakin in terms of combat and dexterity? Why is Yoda so squishy? He lived longer than virtually every character in the saga and survived everything the Sith and Empire could throw at him.
Again, please understand my desire in posting this - I am not trying to shred CG/EA, I'm simply addressing some major issues which I'm sure are already on their radar and trying to contribute positive ideas/solutions in order to improve the game and Star Wars fan experience for us all.
What do you think? Are my evaluations correct/incorrect? Which characters do you think are most/least accurate in terms of Star Wars lore?
