Simple question: What would YOU, as a member of the Stormtrooper Corps, like to see happen with our specialty system? Post your thoughts here. No debating, please, just your ideas.

Isn't the limit two pages, not a word limit?

I like the specialties as they can be used during the stories. I agree that maybe more Spec's could be fun and from what I can tell we were already doing that at least with Medic there are different types of Medics now.

Shorter stories or less of them would be awesome, but it would also take away from how hard it actually is to finish a Spec. Which should be a major accomplishment.

Decembrist wrote:I for one would like to see a MUCH broader range of specialties.

Seconded.

a broader definition on what each level means as per the spec.


Yeah sure you're a level one medic but does that mean you are able to pull metal fragments out of a person's vital organ area without killing them?

And Jeg you know what my other suggestion is.

As bad as this might sound...
A small written test. Even if its multiple choice.

I've seen in stories, how squadleaders give Combat Engineers the job of doing something a Heavy Weapons Specialist is supposed to do because he doesn't know the difference between them. People don't know the difference and and definition of the spec stories despite writing it.

Well, pretty much what's been said above really.

More Specs I think would be nice, we only have a few that people can choose from.

If the Spec has more levels than most, maybe shorter stories or not as many stories per level.

If some feel that a certain specialty should have more levels or stories out of pure interest then why not?

Maybe some sort of manual or at least a page with a very good description of each and every Specialty, as Aeos said some squadleaders give Troopers tasks that doesn't pertain to their Spec due to the fact that tehy don't have a clear definition of what the certain Spec allows the Trooper to accomplish, etc.

Right now I'm remembering something Jeg said in the IH channel on IRC not long ago, people are forgetting all about the fun of writing and instead are stressing over quality as well as quantity. Here's why I think Specs are great and why I enjoy writing them.

Ys they can seem like a pain in the butt as well as useless stuff, but what does it allow a person to do?

Writing Specs allows a peson to do some creative writing, it gives them some enrichment in a way as well as some freedom i writing. They still have to respect some criteria but it could actually be fun for some, spur on their imagination while remaining realistic.

And the two-page minimum I think is fine, these stories don't have to be rushed and if the minimum was decreased, we'd probably lose some of the "fun" or "interesting" elements which can make these pretty interesting a read for graders and other members alike.

Just my 2 cents

The workload for one promotion is just too great for most people to be bothered with. People write the stories until they stop being fun, then they stop.

Maybe more rewards for completing each stagemini stage. Hell I'm not asking you to dish out five promotions per spec, maybe just an IC package or some stocks.

Just something so you feel you're actually getting somewhere.

"Whoopee, I am now trained to fire a rocket launcher, that most squads do without any training whatsoever anyway, but what the hell I'm trained"

"Now I know how to use a sniper rifle! Wait, haven't I already used a sniper rifle in another story pretty well?"

See where I'm going with this?

And you make completing a spec sound easy. They're supposed to be primarily development of your own writing ability, not a boost to your character. Why not reward someone if their writing is improving? By the same logic we should also stop promoting people like, ever. All we're doing is rewarding them for something they're supposed to be doing anyway, right?

Just to address what I feel is becoming a common suggestion...

Specs currently are designed to induce creativity. While they can be made more specific to guide you better, we want to see you demonstrate something.

In the future, I think it's pretty certain that Specs will become easier to write about (or at least easier to complete).

Wookiepdia always works.

I just want less classes.  Honestly I have no problem with the current spec system except for the fact that some specs have 20+ stories that have to be written.  I could see 10 stories and three exams, but not 20.  Any way we could condense these?

More specs would be nice, and I think it would be awesome if we could have weapons proficiency specs. I hate the fact that anyone in a story can use any kind of weapon and be GOD LIKE with it... Including myself. I've seen so many times where in stories troopers take out like seventeen enemies and a deathstar with knives. Its cool and all, but it gets old after a while.

And honestly - this goes for myself as well because I did the same exact thing, a PFC shouldn't be able to fight just as well as a Sergeant or Corporal. Its unrealistic. I think weapons proficiency specs would be GREAT and make people actually want to write them because of the greater outcome for their character.

I think it would help keep things more realistic, and could definitely make character development more interesting.

For example:

Close Quarters Combat -

(Then you would have a list of sub-categories that fall under it)

Hand to hand -

Knives -

Etc.

The hand to hand would break off into a bunch of different martial arts, and the knives would break off into their own list of 'things to be learned.'

Its very rough, I know, but it gives the general idea. If someone wanted to become a sniper (I think they already have that as a spec though) they could learn how to use a variety of different rifles and go through a certain training procedure that actually has something to do with sniping. For instance:

Marksmanship - (breaks off into sub-categories below)

Range finding -

Survival skills -

Etc

Once you master all those sub-categories you can finally say you completed your sniper training and have the right to be the squads designated sniper.

Hope this helps out somehow, thanks!

There's been a similar suggestion, Leon. It's under good consideration.

Jae, that too is being considered.

Being a Scout isn't just about shooting, there's a lot more to it. It's also the reason why it's not a basic Spec