Smuggler Archive
Thread: What's the Smuggler thing to do?
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KaernLegorah
Thu Oct 21, 2004 4:01 am
#1
I've been trying to play a Smuggler as much like an actual Smuggler as the game allows, but the other day I was left wondering if I did the right thing...
I was sitting in the Mos Eisley Cantina, enjoying a drink and the "view," when somebody sent me a message asking if I could slice for them or how much or some other question that was worded in that way that makes you think, "I'm not here to be your monkey, show a little tact and try being polite buddy." Of course, I didn't say that to the guy, I just answered his question and opened the trade window with him. He sent me nine (9) items in total.
Now I really should learn my lesson (or just wait for the damn auto-pull bug to get fixed) and not pull out all my tools without checking the items sent to me first. Nothing annoys me more than having stray clamps or kits floating in my inventory because somebody sent me an already sliced item and I pulled the tools before checking it. Suffice to say, one of the nine items had already been sliced. He obviously either had no clue it had been sliced (amazing how people manage to not see the that part of the description) or didn't mean to send that item to me. Regardless, I was left with both a moral and role-playing question.... do I charge him for it anyway?
Morally, it's no contest. The nice guy in me (he's there somewhere, in the corner, behind that trash barrel) would just tell him one was already sliced and give it back. The Smuggler in me though, the part that wants to play a scoundrel, thinks that I should smile to myself and think, "well, if he doesn't notice, that's just more money in my bank account." He didn't ask me to tell him the slice percents on the items either, so I easily could have just claimed that I sliced it and charged him for it.
Did I charge him for it? No. Not because of my nice guy side (he was getting a drink), but because I just didn't know which carried more weight: roleplaying a Smuggler or being honest. I know that I wouldn't have ruined his play experience or put him through any grief if I had charged him, in fact he didn't even care that I didn't charge him. Hell he didn't even thank me when I was done slicing for him.
I dunno, I guess I just hate how we're the most honest players in this game. I mean, I like having a good reputation as an honest player, but I guess I'd rather have a reputation as a Smuggler with a sense of fair play (fair play not being entirely the same as honesty mind you). I remember when I first did Smuggler: I was halfway through Pistoleer, and I was milling around Mos Eisley when somebody asked me to an unarmed duel with no db. I'm not big on PvP, but I said sure and we began to go at it. Halfway through the fight things were pretty even, and I decided I had had about enough. So I whipped out my blaster and beat the snot out of him. When he got up (apparently he didn't want to send me a /tell I dunno) he said "that's not fair, this was an unarmed duel, you took out your pistol." A passerby noted my Slicer tag and commented "he's a Smuggler, and you really expected him to fight fair?" The guy I had dueled laughed and conceded to that point.
Now, that's not being an honest player. I agreed to one thing, and then changed the rules to favor me. But yet, that's how I felt a Smuggler would act, and even the person I dueled (and the random passerby) ultimately agreed that it's how a Smuggler would act. So, is it different when it's somebody's credits that I'm taking due to a little fib? It certaily doesn't fall under the "perfectly OK thing to do" category, but it does, in my opinion, seem like the Smuggler thing to do. Does that make it better? Is it still just as wrong? I don't know; I really don't, that's why I posted this ramble
So what do people think? Should I have taken his money? Is it a Smuggler-like thing to do? Does roleplaying a Smuggler lessen the dishonesty factor involved here?
I was sitting in the Mos Eisley Cantina, enjoying a drink and the "view," when somebody sent me a message asking if I could slice for them or how much or some other question that was worded in that way that makes you think, "I'm not here to be your monkey, show a little tact and try being polite buddy." Of course, I didn't say that to the guy, I just answered his question and opened the trade window with him. He sent me nine (9) items in total.
Now I really should learn my lesson (or just wait for the damn auto-pull bug to get fixed) and not pull out all my tools without checking the items sent to me first. Nothing annoys me more than having stray clamps or kits floating in my inventory because somebody sent me an already sliced item and I pulled the tools before checking it. Suffice to say, one of the nine items had already been sliced. He obviously either had no clue it had been sliced (amazing how people manage to not see the that part of the description) or didn't mean to send that item to me. Regardless, I was left with both a moral and role-playing question.... do I charge him for it anyway?
Morally, it's no contest. The nice guy in me (he's there somewhere, in the corner, behind that trash barrel) would just tell him one was already sliced and give it back. The Smuggler in me though, the part that wants to play a scoundrel, thinks that I should smile to myself and think, "well, if he doesn't notice, that's just more money in my bank account." He didn't ask me to tell him the slice percents on the items either, so I easily could have just claimed that I sliced it and charged him for it.
Did I charge him for it? No. Not because of my nice guy side (he was getting a drink), but because I just didn't know which carried more weight: roleplaying a Smuggler or being honest. I know that I wouldn't have ruined his play experience or put him through any grief if I had charged him, in fact he didn't even care that I didn't charge him. Hell he didn't even thank me when I was done slicing for him.
I dunno, I guess I just hate how we're the most honest players in this game. I mean, I like having a good reputation as an honest player, but I guess I'd rather have a reputation as a Smuggler with a sense of fair play (fair play not being entirely the same as honesty mind you). I remember when I first did Smuggler: I was halfway through Pistoleer, and I was milling around Mos Eisley when somebody asked me to an unarmed duel with no db. I'm not big on PvP, but I said sure and we began to go at it. Halfway through the fight things were pretty even, and I decided I had had about enough. So I whipped out my blaster and beat the snot out of him. When he got up (apparently he didn't want to send me a /tell I dunno) he said "that's not fair, this was an unarmed duel, you took out your pistol." A passerby noted my Slicer tag and commented "he's a Smuggler, and you really expected him to fight fair?" The guy I had dueled laughed and conceded to that point.
Now, that's not being an honest player. I agreed to one thing, and then changed the rules to favor me. But yet, that's how I felt a Smuggler would act, and even the person I dueled (and the random passerby) ultimately agreed that it's how a Smuggler would act. So, is it different when it's somebody's credits that I'm taking due to a little fib? It certaily doesn't fall under the "perfectly OK thing to do" category, but it does, in my opinion, seem like the Smuggler thing to do. Does that make it better? Is it still just as wrong? I don't know; I really don't, that's why I posted this ramble
So what do people think? Should I have taken his money? Is it a Smuggler-like thing to do? Does roleplaying a Smuggler lessen the dishonesty factor involved here?
Jaguarrr
Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:28 am
#2
5 Scoundrel-Stars 
As Smuggleror Bounty Hunter you have to wander on a (how do you say in english, argh) tight? grey? Path.
How to be the cold blooded bounty hunter or the charismatic scoundrel without falling into the pit of griefing and dishonesty?
And there we have it again... light side, dark side...
Jalgraxa
Thu Oct 21, 2004 6:39 am
#3
nice....i too grow tired of the already sliced items. you will like this story:
I am sitting in Cnet on my way to Dath. As I am boarding the shuttle I get a tell. I land in Dath and I have a client begging me to slice his armor and a few weapons. I explain to him the situation. He replies with I will pay you 50k to fly back and 20k for each slice. I then question him why he would pay so much. His response was "I am in a buff line and there are no other Docs around". GET THIS.....I ask him if his items are already sliced and I tell him that for the 11 items and trip it will be 270,000 credits!! He says he knows "just hurry it up will you, for ******* sake just get here man!" No big deal, I understand he is desperate and for 270k I am there before he finds another smuggler. I get there, have to wait for his buff (about 5 minutes) then follow him to his house on Dant! No I am getting a little pissed but keep thinking 270k.
When we finally arrive we stop at his city bank. He pays me (I am happy now) we go to his house and he give me the items............now, this is the problem I run into. ALL THE ITEMS ARE SLICED !!!!!!
As pissed off as I am I tell him that a deal was a deal but all his items are sliced! His only response was "Dam dude I am sorry". I am filled with guilt and tip him his money back. He in turn tips me back 300k! Says a deal is a deal and I still owe him 11 items to be sliced.
I honored my part of the deal over the following week and have been slicing for him ever since.
VarianAcies
Thu Oct 21, 2004 6:40 am
#4
I would have examined him...
if he had the Imperial Badge of Honor, then I would have charged him anyway to make up for those damn fees the Stormtroopers keep charging me for having sliced goods on my person.
Seriously though, this same situation came up last night with me when a good chap had me slice 22 PH's, a full suit of wookie armor and a vibro lance. The bracers on the armor were already sliced, and I offered the money back, he wouldn't take it though. I think the players appreciate the honesty, but it could just be because it was a huge order, what was a few k in bracer slices?
Personally and rp-wise, I think you did the best thing. Smugglers who have a reputation of ripping off their employers usually end up minus a client base. At least, that is how it should work I think.
/shrug
Datink_Nieleft
Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:13 am
#5
I live by two rules:
1). Drink the wine, eat the dogs, and use the paper for musket wadding.
2). Honesty is the best policy.
What the heck does that mean? Always be up front with your customers, a little trust goes a long way and brings back repeat business.
The first rule is a complicated way of saying "(Forum Edit) it!"
SpinningCloud
Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:38 am
#6
I try to play it that I'm basically the scoundrel in the eyes of law enforcement but I'm doing the fair citizens a favor by providing services and product that their government has made illegal.
As such I want my customers happy and to return to me for future business. So I treat them fairly. Sometimes I'll notice a Corsec nearby while I'm slicingand blast him into a smouldering heap just in case he was thinking about messing with my customer.
I'm out to protect my customer, it's part of the service while I have thier weapon or armor.
Jalgraxa
Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:51 am
#7
You nailed it spin...we arent out to rip our customers off. we need to portect them and treat them fair, otherwise ya may end up a victem of a drive by...errr..sorry forget we cant shoot from our speeders 
. Its our k\job to disrupt the law no matter what faction we are
. Its our k\job to disrupt the law no matter what faction we are
WayneInAustin
Thu Oct 21, 2004 8:43 am
#8
The bottom line is that you have to live with yourself.
I am a nice, honest person (so why do I like Smuggler so much? Lets my bad side peek out?) and if I cheated a customerthe guilt I would feel isn't worth the extra cash.
Exception to the above: Treat me rude or be an azz and all bets are off... I'm taking your money any way I can.
DeIncRampage
Thu Oct 21, 2004 11:54 am
#9
Let us not forget the First Rule of Aquisition: "Once you have their money, you never give it back"
TimSpork
Thu Oct 21, 2004 11:57 am
#10
Being a War of 1812 Re-enactor I /salute you for that excellet analogy.
Datink_Nieleft wrote:
I live by two rules:
1). Drink the wine, eat the dogs, and use the paper for musket wadding.
KaernLegorah
Thu Oct 21, 2004 3:34 pm
#11
WayneInAustin wrote:The bottom line is that you have to live with yourself.I am a nice, honest person (so why do I like Smuggler so much? Lets my bad side peek out?) and if I cheated a customer the guilt I would feel isn't worth the extra cash.Exception to the above: Treat me rude or be an azz and all bets are off... I'm taking your money any way I can.
That sums up how I normally do all my business. I'm always upfront and honest with my customers, even when I feel that as a Smuggler I should be acting otherwise. If somebody is acting like a rude jerk-off then it's no holds barred.
Duckfat
Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:35 pm
#12
I personally feel that a smuggler is supposed to cheat, lie, steal, or do anything he can to get ahead. However when it comes down to roleplaying I think everything is fair game except for stealing. You can cheat in a duel or lie about something and justify it with roleplaying a smuggler since it really does no harm. But stealing from a player really hurts their game experience especially when there is no mechanic in the game for them to protect themselves and they are forced to trust smugglers if they want their gear sliced. I find it funny that there is a secure system implemented only for image designers and no one else (I guess they were getting ripped off the most).
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