So, I will submit my application publicly, and would love a discussion about the qualifications I do or do not posses. This is for the committee and the public. As a player, would you want someone like me to design anything? As a current designer, are you open to a completely different view and opinion other than you and the powers that be have? Please, input is appreciated, just getting an idea of what answers are good, and which ones are bad. Especially at the bottom, where you rate the design of certain characters... Because I'm curious how those are judged. SO PLEASE!!! OPENLY JUDGE THIS APPLICATION. GIVE US INSIGHT INTO WHAT QUALITIES YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR.
And please... No arguing. Lets keep this civil and formal, and use it as a way to show the community what you guys are looking for
Name ----- Richard M. Laws
SWMGamers/Bloomilk Username ----- Shmi15
Email address - ------
rmlaws15@gmail.com1. If you could change one piece right now, which piece would it be and what would you change about it?
--- I wouldn't change the piece immediately, but I would change the ability "A Family in Balance" on the Father, to only allow him in squads with characters named Daughter and Son, and I would design those pieces accordingly to make it a semi gimmick squad with semi reasonable chances in tournaments.
2.What are the most important things to remember when designing a new piece?
----- Well, The Father is a prime example of what happens when future design is not considered. He influences any and all designs currently of Force users in all factions. So I guess I would take into consideration the effect of the piece that I am actually designing, and the influence it would have on any other design.
3.How do you think the concept of teamwork applies to V-set design?
------ Teamwork is paramount in the design process. Finding the goal of the set, and what we want it to accomplish in the current game at this current time is above all personal goals of any character design.
4.Give an example of a time you were involved in a personal conflict with one or more other people. How did you resolve this conflict?
--- Well, every conflict I have been in has involved heavy debate. Whether it be sports, politics, gaming, or anything else you can think of. And like most debates, they resolve themselves. Conflicts come and go as often as people do. The difference really is how you let one conflict sit with you, and how long you hold a grudge with it.
5.Explain in your own words how you believe the design process progresses from start to finish.
------ Well, you start off with a concept. Design everything you want it to be. Then you present it to the rest of the designers. Those guys should critic the piece themselves, giving any and all criticism that they see. Then You should take their criticism, and redesign. Its the classic saying * Rome wasn't built in a day* So neither is a great Mini's character designed with the first draft. Play testing should only follow after logical discussion has been brought up, and with that, not all playtesting is equal. Each piece should be tested against ONLY top tier squads, that way noting slips through the cracks. ( designing a Tier 1.5/2 piece and not testing it against top meta squads is how Admiral Daala gets created.
6.Should pieces be designed to shift the meta game and if so how? Give an example.
----- I feel like this is a trap question. SHOULD they? Yes. Should it be a landslide? No... Should it be noticeable? Yes. The problem is there is no real "Meta Game" With so few people, and even less events, people are now more focused on one of two things. Having fun, or just picking the most insane NPE's out there and going for it. The first one is the idea I want to gear towards, which I would consider a non meta shift. The second group of people will find loop holes and what not in everything.
7.How much time per week would you be able to dedicate to this project?
---- I would dedicate as much time as needed. Obviously not knowing the hours or minutes put in by others every week, I can't give a good enough, or informed enough answer.
8.Are there any foreseeable changes to your schedule? (busy season at work, summers off, involvement in a seasonal sport, etc.)
---- Foreseeable? No, but then again, I'm not a Jedi, so I guess this question is irrelevant since anyone could have anything happen at any time?
9.What is your favorite WotC piece and why?
---- Darth Krayt. Why, because he was my first EU character I ever learned about, and I remember buying booster after booster trying to get his mini... Which I actually never... Ever... acquired :( Game play wise? Probably the R7 or Uggie, 2 pieces that can never be replaced, and literally changed the way I played minis once I found out how important door control was
10.What is your least favorite WotC piece and why?
--- Hmmm.... I would say Admiral Ozzel, Genral Dodonna, and San Hill. All 3 activation control, which I think encouraged the whole out act and smash idea, which in my mind is the worst thing to happen to minis.
11.What is your favorite V-set piece and why?
----- I would say the first V-sets Darth Revan. I still remember looking at this piece, and being so excited at what the V-sets could do. To this day V-set 1 is my favorite thing this community has EVER done.
12.What is your least favorite V-set piece and why?
---- Oh man.... Least favorite. Darth Zannah. Soresu Mastery, with the ability to throw the damage back at someone is crazy powerful, and at the time of her release, I was still active. I could be wrong, but I think she came out right after Critdu? I assume to counter his potential endless damage?
13.What is your favorite game mechanic and why?
----- This is an interesting question. If I can't choose attack as a mechanic to be my favorite, then I guess what draws me to this game is the squad building, and then the actual carrying out of orders on a battlefield. I think strategic placing, and actual game managing would be my second favorite if Attacking doesn't count.
14.What is your least favorite game mechanic and why?
----- I don't know if you want to call this a mechanic. But I think Activation control. activation control is the root of all evil in SWM. It slows games down, and takes skill away, especially when you can just look at your opponent flip over a mouse droid and say, "YT"
15.For each faction, what would be a good addition to that faction? Is there an element for that faction that they should not get and why?
Wow.... This is a fully loaded question with no good answer...
Sith - In need of a competitive squad type.
O.R.- probably doesn't need much, they still have Bastilla right?
N.R. - Again, another faction that I don't think is missing much, but, based on all this new material, I assume it will be one of the top factions soon enough.
Imperial - will always be an an out act and smash squad type, so unless your going away from that with the First Order Arch-types, then we will never beat Cad Bane, VoL, or BFAFH, so everything they get is more thematic and meant for flavor
Fringe- Won when it first came out, and now their best Fringe only pieces are outdated, but its hard to outclass what they actually do CE/SA wise, that its going to be hard to give this faction a boost without throwing someone else off tilt.
Republic - Lots, and lots and lots of sub arch types here. This faction needs the least focal point, and more just "pieces to help other squads that exist"
Vong- Needs to be abolished. The species no longer exists in Star Wars, and there is 0 new material to use anything from to go forward. This faction will be in a loop of creating and recreating pieces over and over and over.
Mandalorian - I think the Mandos should focus on Madalorian only pieces squad types. It fits their style to and their Bravada to not use any outside help in wars.
Rebel - I think we have all seen enough game changing Rebel pieces. (Gen Dodonna, Luke RC, Reiken, Luke and Leia Speeder, The Versatility squads, The Hans and Chewies, and endless supply of reviosioning Luke Skywalker)
Seps - A weak point! I have no input on this faction, as when I was playing it was one of the biggest NPE's to play against with the Lancers, Poggle Bombs, and the IG's. I know Poggle finally got nerfed ( another blunder) but I couldn't even say what a competitive Seps squad would look like right now.
16.How have you contributed to the SWM community? Give any specific examples you have.
---- Well, This is a debate in itself! You could say I am the reason this application came in to existence! I use to play test all the time, but at that time our opinions weren't as valued as they are now by designers, and many pieces I voiced concerns over were met with, " it will never be T.1". But anyways, My contribution has been bringing to reality the concerns of the community to the minority in charge of creating pieces for everyone. For bringing up issues that lead to the creation of a balance committee, that helped nerf pieces designers let pass through
17.How often do you play SWM?
--- Now a days? 0. Haven't played in over 2 years, but wouldn't that make me a better designer? Not having any bias for anyone or anything? Not to say that I wouldn't start again if I needed to ;)
18.How much have you played SWM competitively, and how have you fared?
--- Well, I think I have went to 3 tournaments? maybe 4? My first one I took Whiphid Trackers, and Kel Dor Bounty Hunters to a Virginia regional back in like.... 2008? 2009? I beat a Revan Cad Bane swap squad, a GMLS squad, and GOWK and Senate Commandos squad. Lost to a KyBuck squad. I took Master Thon and HK to a regional that lead to the Thon Song creation ( Me and Trevor Cook created that squad type) I took Critdu to Minis Mania. Don't remember how that went except I met Timmer B and he won my heart, and Mace went on to win Gencon. I also created the Caeuds/Malgus/Vergere combo that I think went into the top 4 of Gencon?
19.What other competitive games other than SWM do you play, and how much have you played them?
I play Madden ranked nationally if anyone wants to get stomped. I play NBA 2k, and will own you. I play COD, BATTLEFIELD, SW Battlefront. I play Magic The Gathering, but usually only the FNM games. I play Dice masters, and if you want to consider Texas Hold Em a Sport, I also compete in it ;) I'm a 4 time All-Upper Cumberland basketball player,3 time Region Scoring leader, First team All Defense 2 years, and set multiple Records for scoring, assists, and rebounds at my High School, College basketball scholarship Athlete, and to top it off, my flag football team is almost unbeatable :)
20.What is your favorite game other than SWM?
-- Magic The Gathering. If we could rotate pieces out like in Magic, this game would be 1,000 times better.
21.For each of the following figures, give them a rating from 1-10 of the quality of their design and explain the rating. What “quality of design” means is up to you, but explain your reasoning.
---- Quality of design is how this piece functions, and how it effects the game either positively or negatively
-Gha Nachkt 1. Why a 1? because with him we got 10 mice dumps for many years, and he became the poster boy of out act and smash ( well Lobot also... so Poster Couple)
-C-3P0, Ewok Diety - ..... a 0. Because he is a worthless piece that not only will never see game time play, but no scenario play either.
-Klatooinian Enforcer ---- A good design. maybe a 5/6. Not much to say about it really. Does my evaluation of a Klat Enforcer really have anything to do with being a designer?
-Jarael - 10. She is one of my favorite pieces. Cheap, effective, and fills a certain role in a lot of squad types. Great visual for what a role player piece should do
-Luke Skywalker, Rebel Commando - This one is tricky. I'd give him a 7. Mainly because he is Luke, and there really shouldn't be a "bad" Luke. He helps a certain Rebel build, and is a movement breaker that kept Rebels on top for a while.
-Human Bodyguard - 10. Why 10? Cheap BG are a cool idea in this game to help some other weaker characters. With the damage output being so crazy right now, you need all the help you can get to stay alive.
-Jedi Battlemaster (Old Republic) 6- why a 6? Have they been in a squad since Bastilla's release? They are cheap, effective tanks, but no real damage, and not enough defense to stick around in most matches.
-Bastila Shan, Jedi Master - 5 Hmm.... Testing us here aye? Bastilla was a bad design from start to finish. They tried TO HARD to make the O.R. instantly competitive when she came out, and it turned the game on its face. It was a hard to find a way to counter her that wouldn't counter Multiple other squads.
-Yaddle, Jedi Master - 10. This is what the V-sets were suppose to be about. Creating pieces that helped WOTC pieces. We have strayed way to far away from that. This is a fantastic piece, and more should be made with this mindset.
-Covenant Defender - 10. Why a 10 you say? I love Sub groups. They are so much easier to control. You can just pull up the other defenders and see how he interacts with them... What I don't like, is that he can be in anytype of squad outside of Defenders.
-Golden One 7. Why? He is not competitive, he gives a fun themed squad, and he doesn't hurt any top squads.
-Satele Shan - 7. She has her uses, but at 37 points, her survivability and damage output is almost useless... The 7 is only cause when she came out she was a strong piece, and she does give the O.R. some option of something.
Critique, and evaluate for me and the public. OPEN LETTER APPLICATION