Smuggler Archive

Was this first part a quote of another post? If so, can you direct me to the original thread? I'm a Starsider and there's a number of things wrong with that I might want to look into.

As for smugglers and slicing, usually the new ones are gung-ho about it and the older ones are less interested. There's a lot of reasons for it: you can make more running Dantooine missions; you have to deal with people complaining about prices and trying to barter with you when you're dawdling around town already making less money than you'd make on an adventure planet; the random nature of slicing gets really depressing, especially when customers act like you've screwed up their weapon when you give them a speed slice (even when they're good-naturedly disappointed it's depressing, moreso really); and there's a number of mechanical issues with slicing that make it annoying. Oh yeah, not to mention the fact 80% of the profession is pretty worthless and adds a general layer of bitter resentment to our worldview.

I actually wish I could do more slicing, though. I remember back when I first mastered I had a line 3-8 deep whenever I set foot in Bestine. (Of course, any mention of a populated Bestine implies that was a while ago.) But when I'm the only master in Coronet and can go 10 minutes without getting a single slicing request, it seems like I might be better off using my time elsewhere.

Basically there's a lot of reasons a master smuggler might not be bursting with enthusiasm to slice for the madding crowd, but it all boils down to increased stress for reduced pay.

LOL! Kind of interesting that I post this, when this discussion is going on here.

Actually, that sounds like a fine way to ask a smuggler for a slice. In case we're coming across as a bunch of whiney creditmongers, I should make it clear that I actually like (or at least don't mind, heh) 85% of my customers. The majority of them are polite, if all business, and a lot of them are even friendly or a bit talky, which helps alleviate the feeling of being a slice monkey. And once I've sliced for a guy 3-5 times and he sends me a tell every time he's got some new equipment, I start to take a certain pride in my ability.

But the other 15% of my customers can get pretty annoying--trying to bargain with me, asking me to fly across the planet or galaxy for them (love it when I'm bored enough to do so and am presented with 2 weapons to slice), accusing me of skyway robbery, informing me I've ruined their weapons and wasted their credits when I don't get a high damage slice. Those guys are a pain. Considering we're paid all right but not in the same league as the crafting professions, it's all the more exasperating.

Part of the problem is there simply isn't enough business. My rate is 8K per slice--and compared to a 3-hour, 15K doctor buff, a 300K suit of composite, or a 10K-5M weapon, I think that's quite reasonable. You can run three Janta missions and have more than enough to cover a suit of armor. If I were slicing steadily, I'd pull in more than I'd make on Dantooine--which is roughly 300K an hour. But I'm not; there's minutes-wide gaps between the guy who wants his composite sliced and the woman handing me a couple T21s. I might make 200-250K an hour in Coronet. (Thinking about it, this seems low, just 25-30 items an hour, but that's how it's been adding up lately.) To equal my mission-making ability, I'd need to charge 12K per slice, which seems quite high next to the master across the courtyard charging 5K. To make what I'd consider a nice increase, I'd need to charge 15-20K, which is getting into the realm of the unreasonable. Even though every minute we're hanging around with our clamps and laser knives at the ready is another minute we can't spend doing something else--we can't just stick our slices on a vendor--I can't see our rates increasing that much unless something drastic happens.

It's a situation that doesn't seem to have an easy solution. I love being a smuggler and I enjoy slicing for everyone who doesn't take me for granted or resent me when I don't hit their perfect slice, but the tangible benefits don't compare to other things I could be doing. In fact, when I'm slicing I'm actually running against all my greedy motivations, which as a smuggler are pretty damn strong to start. Add in all the non-slicing nonsense a smuggler has to put up with--our poor combat ability, the uselessness of spice, people trying to get Feign Death nerfed, and oh yeah, the revamp that's been promised us since September '03--and the end result is I get tired fast. A lot of us settle into only slicing for our guilds or big weapon/armorsmith contracts. But public slicing? It's practically charity work. When it comes to an economy, charity isn't a very strong motivator.



If you've got any suggestions, I'd like to hear them. I've been doing this a long time and haven't come up with much.

Message Edited by TomoRainer on 10-25-2004 02:06 AM

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DarthMarksman wrote:

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Imperiai2 wrote: .....

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt, but I think it's a possibility you were asking the wrong way, and of course you aren't going to tell us that part if you were... though it's plentypossible you don't think you weren't asking correctly. Alot of smugglers do it this way. If the customer is cool, we are cool. If the customer is a blithering moron, we walk. It's NOT worth the aggrivation. Sure you got a speed slice, but we CAN'T slice it again so stop demanding we do so (not you, but whoever).

You may want to go back and get another identical weapon: If the guy lied to you and told you he gave you a 40% damage slice, you need to do some math. Honestly unless the guy is just an a-hole, he may have been turned off by the way you came at him. I must have sliced 30-40 weapons for some buddies lastnight, and I didn't hit one damage over 32%.

Besides I've always wondered: Is it even possible to succeed at being a dishonest smuggler? The first time you make off with someone's gear, can't they report you? End of story? I get peoplegoing 'hope I can trust you' and it's like, well, if Iblow, I get reported, so I'm giving you your stuff back...

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Well, I would like to think that "Could you slice a weapon for me?", which is how I asked would not come across as demanding, unlike ifI said, "I need you to slice a weapon for me.", more a presumptuous statement than a request. I never demand,I ask, becauseI realize that smugglers are not obligatedto slice a weapon just because it's a talent of their profession.I never take the attitude "Well, I'm going to pay you, so do it."

BTW, the slice was for 34% damage(I did the math). I still think 5k was reasonable. Like I stated previously, I've payed more for less, so I'm still satisfied. I'm going to assumethe smuggler's math was off and he honestly misquoted.

Let me ask you this, to any smuggers. Since thethematic seems to be a "not worth the aggravation"standpoint. What to you is fair for a slice to make it worth your time and effort?

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Fair enough... If you asked like that, than that's cool. I only thought since you had so much difficulty that it was possible you weren't of the good type of customer.

A 34% slice is very good, so 5k to him is a sheer bargain for you.

Honestly, the price almost totally depends on the customer. I get people who I'll slice for for free just because, and I'll get people who pay me 15k for two 25% damage slices. Those people are awesome =). But it's the guys who act like asses and then walk away without paying me at all are the ones I dislike. However I seem to be charging new customers 5k recently-- 3k if I've known them a long time, like back when 3k was the standard.

Sounds to me like you're a good customer - after all you came here to ask questions intelligently rather than just spouting off and flaming people.

For all the reasons mentioned above, I don't slice publically much any more, and have just raised my prices for those that I do.

I do however have many repeat customers who value me - one was even advertising my services as the best slicer on the server while I was slicing for him (thanks Na'Gem). I also have a fantastic understanding with a weaponsmith who actually gave me a geo pistol I'd just 35% damaged sliced for free - as well as slicing for my guild.

So, as you can see, a lot of Master Smugglers have better slicing deals going beyond slicing for the general populace. If only every player was as understanding and polite as you, then we might feel more valued and then more inclined to offer our services.