✔ Interview with SWTOR Senior Community Manager Stephen Reid @ NY Comic Con 2011

Our discussion covered a range of topics including:
1. race / class combinations
2. the number of classes that can main-tank / off-tank
3. concerns re: small PVE group size (4) for DPS players
4. viability of hybrids in PVE groups / raids
5. given that there is no "dungeon finder", how players find each other for instancing (flashpoints)
6. surnames (and microtransactions LOL)
7. chat bubbles
8. managing burnout for BioWare team members

Thanks Annabelle and ManuDragonne for submitting questions for #3, 4, 6, and 7.

For more discussion about this video, please check out the SWTOR forum thread:
http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=555462

EDIT 1: Stephen Reid posted on the SWTOR forum thread for this video a clarification about the tanking classes - they are intended to be on-par with one another.

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Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• Interview
• SWTOR
• Senior Community Manager
• Stephen Reid
• NY Comic Con
• NYCC
• New York Comic Con
• October
• 2011
• BioWare
• MMO
• MMORPG
• launch
• PVE
• PVP
• tank
• DPS
• hybrid
• instancing
• flashpoint
• operation
• Taugrim

[KithkinWillowblades]

I liked your guides in rift and am looking forwards to see what you can bring to swtor Taugrim :) Keep up the fantastic work just don't turn the game into a job or it'll get boring :p

[taugrimtaugrim]

@KithkinWillowblades oh, I love writing guides and making videos about games. This is the most fun "work" I've ever done

[sifal22]

He said they are trying to avoid min maxing, but I actually enjoy min maxing my own character. Hope I can in the end...

[taugrimtaugrim]

@sifal22 I'm sure for any spec there will be formulas for maximizing the efficiency of that spec.

My impression from talking to the SWTOR Dev folks and listening to the panels is their intention is for various specs to be viable and competitive.

I hope that pans out, what I don't like seeing in games are FOTM specs based on OP mechanics. Usually FOTM specs are simply the result of poor balance design.

[sifal22]

@taugrimtaugrim That is very true and I agree with you. One thing I've always hated is how, as a tank, I am usually envious of another class/race which has something or can do something 'easier'. Maybe a case of grass is greener but still can only wait to see the classes before judging. Let's hope they can pull it off! ^^

[taugrimtaugrim]

@sifal22 balancing tanking classes can be tough, esp if some are more mitigation-oriented (i.e. predictable to heal) vs others that are more avoidance-oriented.

Will be interesting to see how BioWare goes about it!

I'm planning on rolling a Jedi Knight Guardian as one of my mains, I love beefy tanks.

[CIKShock]

@PAZelos49 He has since posted on the main forums that his experience was essientally limited to the EV operation and the character he was playing was built as an off-tank, not that they will always be off tanks. (TL:DR; They can main tank)

[taugrimtaugrim]

Hi folks,

Stephen Reid posted a clarification re: the 6 tanking classes on the SWTOR forum thread for this video. The 6 tanking classes are intended to be on-par.

See the link to the forum thread in the video Description.

Cheers,

Taugrim

[Blazer637]

Huh. I'm not big into MMORPGs - Jedi Sith will be my first.

You did a great job with this interview. I'll check into some more of your videos.

Thank you.

[Sicom6]

I'm done with this game. Too many group requirements, and very little support within the game for actually forming groups.

[TheStevenWhiting]

@taugrimtaugrim Keep it up as what makes you videos good and different from the rest is we know you're an every day joe and a proper fan, but with the confidence to speak clearly and do really good professional interviews. Was good.

[Raptor8762]

I can't recall which character exactly, but you look exactly like one of the people from the Star Trek television show.

[Dius3Megistos]

IMO , if they want to be competitive , they  should drop the holy trinity model .

[icecoldsdc]

I saw your cleric once. My warrior was Sdc and we were doing a pvp rift :)