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Thread: How to implement Player Bounties on Smugglers. Its Risk/Reward. Discuss.
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Aanu
Fri Nov 04, 2005 7:28 pm
#1
Hi guys,
This was posted in the BH forums but its about smugglers just as much as BHs...
Well, with the removal of player bounties SOE has removed the core gameplay for many of us. With that said, let's try to get it back. First I set the ground rule for a viable Player Bounty system. Then I propose one.
A Player Bounty System will need two critical features to ever have a chance:
1) Opt-in only. SOE has made it clear that forced PVP is not going to be considered. Please resist the urge to complain about Jedis being forced to PVP. The old system was not forced because the actions of the Jedi put them on the terms.
2) Risk/Reward has to be balanced. Flashback to PreCU. Jedi were indeed uber, and that uberness was the reward. The risk of course is the possibility of being hunted by BHs, dieing, losing XP, etc. As Jedi got nerfed and nerfed the risk stayed the same but the reward kept diminishing. Finally in the CU2 the reward will be nothing because Jedi are no longer alpha. Thus, there is no justification for the risk and therefore player missions on Jedi have been (and rightfully so) been removed.
So what now? I think most will agree that our focus should be SMUGGLERS and not Jedi. In fact, the core ideas of this system was already pitched with the ideas for the smuggler revamp way back:
Smugger missions will be tiered by varying Risk/Reward:
Tier 1. At the lowest level there is little risk should the mission fail, but there is little pay (little reward).
Tier 2. At the medium level there is some risk in the form of potentially being jumped on the ground or in space by bandit NPCs or having contraband siezed by the Imperials (NPC), etc, during the mission AND/OR by having NPCs BHs coming after the smuggler should they fail by losing the contranabd to NPCs or stealing it for themselves. This increased risk would of course have an increased payout (reward).
Tier 3. Finally, at the highest level, is where we come in. Missions at this level are extremely risky. These missions having the smuggler moving very HOT! contraband. This is at the level where they will very likey be attacked by some force (NPC). Very tough bandits or very determined Imperial NPCs. Maybe these missions might require Smugglers to team up (read Han/Solo, Talon Karrde had a whole fleet). Successfully completing these missions would be very very profitable. However, failing these mission would place these Smugglers on the BH terms (Jabba -> Greedo -> Han). That is where we come in.
LET ME ADD! So we got to hunt Smugglers. But there is more! What about BH risk/reward? With this proposed system if the smuggler fails, then not only may he not be paid, but he also has a PC BH coming after him. But if a BH fails, he doesnt get paid but thats it. Thats a problem since this is not balanced with the risk the Smuggler is taking (not getting paid AND getting killed). Thus, I propose a system where a certain level of Prestige will be necessary to get Smuggler missions in the first place. Prestige is obtained by doing NPC missions. Once you reach a certain level of Prestige (by successfully doing NPC missions) you can then taken on Smugglers. The risk for BHs is loss of prestige. Failing a smuggler mission will require the BH to take on NPC missions again to rebuild his reputation.
(I can even see smugglers gaining presige which grows as they survive more and more BH encouters. BH Prestige and Smuggler Prestige can work similar to how PvP rank works. If a BH with high Prestige dies at the hands of a Smuggler with low Prestige, the BH losses ALOT of Prestige, likewise, a BH with low prestige already dieing at the hands of a Smuggler with high prestige results in a smaller loss for the BH. This would work vice versa for a BH killing a Smuggler. BUT leave this out of the core idea since its a nice feature but not necessary.)
To those who say this is not much of a risk for BHs, remember, for many of us, this is our CORE gameplay. Losing this the ability to take on player mission by dieing is a risk indeed.
To sum up:
I TRULY this this is the way to go. Because:
1) It is opt-in only. The smuggler chooses the mission difficulty.
2) The risk/reward ratio can be balanced.
Furthermore, this gives content to Smugglers who need it and it gives content to us. Plus, I think its damn cool. Smuggling inherently has danger in it, otherwise you are just a courrier. Importantly there are many smugglers who actually want this. Not like the tepid and often hostile reactions from Jedi to the old system.
So, what do you guys think?
This was posted in the BH forums but its about smugglers just as much as BHs...
Well, with the removal of player bounties SOE has removed the core gameplay for many of us. With that said, let's try to get it back. First I set the ground rule for a viable Player Bounty system. Then I propose one.
A Player Bounty System will need two critical features to ever have a chance:
1) Opt-in only. SOE has made it clear that forced PVP is not going to be considered. Please resist the urge to complain about Jedis being forced to PVP. The old system was not forced because the actions of the Jedi put them on the terms.
2) Risk/Reward has to be balanced. Flashback to PreCU. Jedi were indeed uber, and that uberness was the reward. The risk of course is the possibility of being hunted by BHs, dieing, losing XP, etc. As Jedi got nerfed and nerfed the risk stayed the same but the reward kept diminishing. Finally in the CU2 the reward will be nothing because Jedi are no longer alpha. Thus, there is no justification for the risk and therefore player missions on Jedi have been (and rightfully so) been removed.
So what now? I think most will agree that our focus should be SMUGGLERS and not Jedi. In fact, the core ideas of this system was already pitched with the ideas for the smuggler revamp way back:
Smugger missions will be tiered by varying Risk/Reward:
Tier 1. At the lowest level there is little risk should the mission fail, but there is little pay (little reward).
Tier 2. At the medium level there is some risk in the form of potentially being jumped on the ground or in space by bandit NPCs or having contraband siezed by the Imperials (NPC), etc, during the mission AND/OR by having NPCs BHs coming after the smuggler should they fail by losing the contranabd to NPCs or stealing it for themselves. This increased risk would of course have an increased payout (reward).
Tier 3. Finally, at the highest level, is where we come in. Missions at this level are extremely risky. These missions having the smuggler moving very HOT! contraband. This is at the level where they will very likey be attacked by some force (NPC). Very tough bandits or very determined Imperial NPCs. Maybe these missions might require Smugglers to team up (read Han/Solo, Talon Karrde had a whole fleet). Successfully completing these missions would be very very profitable. However, failing these mission would place these Smugglers on the BH terms (Jabba -> Greedo -> Han). That is where we come in.
LET ME ADD! So we got to hunt Smugglers. But there is more! What about BH risk/reward? With this proposed system if the smuggler fails, then not only may he not be paid, but he also has a PC BH coming after him. But if a BH fails, he doesnt get paid but thats it. Thats a problem since this is not balanced with the risk the Smuggler is taking (not getting paid AND getting killed). Thus, I propose a system where a certain level of Prestige will be necessary to get Smuggler missions in the first place. Prestige is obtained by doing NPC missions. Once you reach a certain level of Prestige (by successfully doing NPC missions) you can then taken on Smugglers. The risk for BHs is loss of prestige. Failing a smuggler mission will require the BH to take on NPC missions again to rebuild his reputation.
(I can even see smugglers gaining presige which grows as they survive more and more BH encouters. BH Prestige and Smuggler Prestige can work similar to how PvP rank works. If a BH with high Prestige dies at the hands of a Smuggler with low Prestige, the BH losses ALOT of Prestige, likewise, a BH with low prestige already dieing at the hands of a Smuggler with high prestige results in a smaller loss for the BH. This would work vice versa for a BH killing a Smuggler. BUT leave this out of the core idea since its a nice feature but not necessary.)
To those who say this is not much of a risk for BHs, remember, for many of us, this is our CORE gameplay. Losing this the ability to take on player mission by dieing is a risk indeed.
To sum up:
I TRULY this this is the way to go. Because:
1) It is opt-in only. The smuggler chooses the mission difficulty.
2) The risk/reward ratio can be balanced.
Furthermore, this gives content to Smugglers who need it and it gives content to us. Plus, I think its damn cool. Smuggling inherently has danger in it, otherwise you are just a courrier. Importantly there are many smugglers who actually want this. Not like the tepid and often hostile reactions from Jedi to the old system.
So, what do you guys think?
Neutral Imperial Agent
Hetnikik
Mon Nov 07, 2005 8:10 am
#2
Good idea i would just like to add that it would be nice to have away to pay off the person who put a bounty on our head...and not just somthing like 1000 credits but like 100,000 credits or more. just my thoughts
daywynd
Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:43 am
#3
I like it. Even the pay off the guy who put the bounty on my head... though it may just be cheaper to die. Even though I don't want to say it, would the risk be enough to prevent smugglers and BH from just sharing the loot?
Hetnikik
Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:12 am
#4
well if you just share the loot with the bounty hunter. the bounty hunter will still have your name to kill so then he'll kill you when your back is turned. but if he is a nice bounty hunter you'd still be on the terminals so another one would come for you sooner or later.
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