Overview

This proposal presents a structured enhancement to the pilot system. It recommends the separation of the nine existing pilot professions into independent, individually masterable profession trees. However, to maintain thematic fidelity and game balance, players would only be able to actively progress in one pilot squadron at a time, and progression would remain locked to the player's active faction.

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Current System Challenges

Under the existing pilot progression system from the Jump to Lightspeed expansion:

• Progression beyond one pilot track currently requires players to completely abandon their existing pilot profession in order to begin a new squadron path—forcing them to give up previously earned skills, mastered abilities, and access to the ships and rewards tied to their original squadron.
• This linearity reduces long-term space game replayability, even as ground professions offer greater freedom and diversity.
• There’s a disconnect between faction identity and player expression, limiting a character’s ability to fully represent their chosen path in the Star Wars universe.

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**Proposed Changes

1. Independent Pilot Profession Trees**

Each of the nine pilot squadrons will be treated as a distinct profession tree:

• Imperial: Imperial Navy, Black Epsilon, Storm Squadron
• Rebel: Rebel Squadron, Rogue Squadron, Guardian Squadron
• Freelance: Corellian Engineering Corporation (CEC), Kessel Runner, Smuggler Alliance

2. One Squadron Active at a Time

Players may unlock access to multiple squadron trees throughout their career, but only one may be progressed at a time. Switching squadrons will require a resignation from the squadron resetting active XP gain and starting in the new selected tree.

3. Factional Restriction Enforced

Each squadron tree remains tied to its faction. Players must be a member of the appropriate faction to progress within that tree:

• Imperial squadrons require active Imperial faction status.
• Rebel squadrons require active Rebel faction status.
• Freelance squadrons are available to all players.

Switching factions will allow access to other squadron trees but will remove all progression unless the squadron was mastered in the currently active squadron.

4. Retain Squadron Identity and skills

• Each squadron retains its own mission arcs, questlines, ship rewards, and title tracks.
• Skills and abilities unlocked by previously mastered pilot squadrons would be retained.
• Unique pilot titles (e.g., “Imperial squadron Ace,Freelance squadron Ace, Rebel squadron Ace”).

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Benefits

• Thematic Consistency: Players stay loyal to their faction’s military or freelance organization, respecting Star Wars lore.
• Long-Term Replayability: Offers a slower, deeper path toward mastering all space content—one tree at a time.
• Player Investment: Encourages deliberate decision-making when choosing factions and squadrons.
• Retains Challenge and Progression Integrity: Limits power leveling or multi-squadron exploitation while still honoring player choice.

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Technical and Design Considerations

• XP and Progress State: XP progress in each squadron tree would be forfeited if not ace prior to resigning from a squadron.
• UI Adaptation: A dedicated “Pilot Profession” tab could allow players to view progress across all unlocked trees and select their active squadron.
• Progress guide: In the pilot profession window would be the name and location of your current squadron trainer allowing for quicker reacquisition of pilot missions.

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Conclusion

By separating pilot professions into unique trees—while limiting active progression to one tree at a time and enforcing faction restrictions, this proposal strikes a balance between player agency and structured gameplay. It deepens the role-playing experience, strengthens faction identity, and revitalizes the Jump to Lightspeed content for new and returning players alike. This path-forward respects both the legacy of Star Wars Galaxies and the strategic intent of its original space content.

Latermorph, post: 2745, member: 176 wrote:

Would leveling in space change so we wouldn't have to keep landing to "train "? where we can auto complete missions/quest in space via pop up Comm like the legacy quest .

leveling in space would be exactly the same. yes, I understand the landing and going back up into space is annoying and that may be able to be fixed by some sort of comm device to talk with your trainer, however that is not in this proposal yet.

Ralphicus, post: 2749, member: 2011 wrote:

I have yet to be convinced to advocate for this. But how will this effect current Ace of Aces? And Future Ace of Aces? As well as badge count?

It does not affect the current ace of aces, in summary all this really would change is a better visual representation of the pilot profession(s) in the profession window, allow for easy acquisition of where current pilot trainers are, and maintain skills that you have already earned.

For example, if you have a ship that required Freelance Ace pilot, As long as you have previously mastered Freelance Ace pilot you will be able to modify parts and fly that ship even if at that current moment you were working on Imperial/Rebel pilot and were halfway up that current pilot line.

Tdeadly, post: 2746, member: 364 wrote:

I think it the way it setup is good. since you have all that now you just drop the hole pilot and start over.

You want to change anything it’s quests, Line for you who want to pay for a deed of a certain mass when they get to a part they need to upgrade the ship.

Only quest you should get on your screen once you get the XP for is 30/30 and the corvette, So when you start off it can say kill 1000 ships or what are whatever amount you want. Can even set per planet per teir of ships.

So have the quests separate from do space until you cap the XP. But I would also triple the xp since you taking the quests out.

plus add a space collection reset. So you can start over or have the gunship repeatable. That will help the space people who want to live up in space ways to earn credits. Buy a large amount. Maybe add a few other new ships or deco.

You have 8 toons once you unlock Jedi here. So that 8 different pilots.

now you want to give players do ace of aces than you as you unlock each pilot if it not so now. You can program all your chip on one toon.

I say add more quest line you have talk to a npc on land. Maybe to have 100/100 daily missions for reward.

Not everyone likes or care to do storyline but this way both can be done. You can still have quests and get ace once.

PvP you lazy to improve your ship. Than I guess you going to learn how to a void damage.

Right now I see this a waste of time other. Than more quests repeatable collection. For all collections.

Plus why would I want to lose skill pool for space.

The changes that I am proposing here will not be changing anything with the quest line, missions, requirements etc. This is only focusing on providing a better UI for the pilot profession as well as maintaining skills that have been earned.

This is not to say that other enhancements can't be made at a later time, but I want to stay focused on one thing at a time. We will have a better chance of success if we stay focused on smaller changes.