Smuggler Archive

As an up-and-coming smuggler, I find this topic very interesting.

I used to think that 100cr/% was resonable, and I don't think I've ever paid much more---maybe 3k flat rate for a single item.

But--there's some very good points made, and some thought-provoking analogies.

eg "How much did you pay for that buff that lasted 2 hrs? This slice will last the life of the item"---I like that one.

I'm not sure what I'll charge once I hit master, but I can tell you it ain't gonna be 100cr/%

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RylanStorm wrote:

Some random guy : Hi there. Can you slice some gear for me?

Rylan : Sure. 5,000 credits per item.

Some random guy : Ok. nm.

Rylan : Ok. Have a good day.

/pause 300

Same random guy : Ok. Where are you?

It never ever fails. Thing is, that no matter how much you other smugglers value your time, your customers, tend to value their time as much as I do mine. That means that the 2 or 3k they might have saved by looking out for you, isn't worth waiting for you to log on whilst they do nothing.

After 5 minutes they'll happily pay my 5k.

After 10 minutes they'll agree to 7k.

After 20 minutes of looking for a smuggler, how much do you think they'll pay me?

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Too bad for them, I'm usually waiting for a ship when they ask (which is the only time I'm sitting still long enough for someone to notice me) and I'm gone before they discover I was their quickest opportunity for a slice. That's all part of "Good Luck!"

Intelerebel:

"The only reason Han had a partner was because he saved Chewie from slavery. In fact, during their first adventures together, Han wanted nothing to do with Chewie. It wasn't until after Chewie saved his life more than once that Han decided to keep him along.

When Han Solo got involved with Luke and Ben, he didn't want to do the job, but took it anyway because he knew Jabba would kill him if he didnt get the money. The whole time he was involved he kept saying that he wanted nothing to do with the rebellion. That he just wanted his money so he could leave. sounds like a lone gun to me.

Regarding the infamous battle at Nal Shaddaa, the smugglers ONLY united after Han (and some of the was able to sell to them the fact that their individual operations would be in jeopardy if they did not try to defend themselves. There are other examples of smugglers uniting in the Star Wars universe, but it always comes down to a self-serving purpose. The only time you actually see smugglers willfully working together is when they're working FOR someone. Something which can be difficult to roleplay in SWG as it is now.

Now, getting back to the original subject.....I'm telling you from personal experience that there's no way we can organize an EFFECTIVE server-wide price hike on our servers. Simply put, although I agree that we should charge more, many more people don't, won't or don't care.

I know I'm coming off as cynical here, but I spent quite a bit of time from November to February preaching the same message "We should all raise our prices". I got all the same kind of responses that we see today. Nothing has changed."
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All very good points. I think roleplay would be more immersive if the prices for such illegal actions cost as much as...well...illegal actions should cost. And of course we aren't going to get a server-wide price hike. Only a very small % of the playerbase reads the boards anyway. The point of my original post was mainly to TRY to put to rest the arguements against "high" slicing prices. The arguements against it, as we have seen time and again, all seem good and well at first. But then they are proven wrong. Because they are wrong.

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RylanStorm wrote:

Where on earth do you get the idea that smugglers can't work together for a common goal?

There is nothing whatsoever in the definition of the word "smuggler" or the way the word is used in the books and films to suggest that they don't have morals, don't have friends and care only about themselves.

In fact the idea that you use Han Solo as a basis for this idea is completely rediculous because in the end he served the rebellion for no profit at all. All that being a smuggler entails is bending and breaking some of the laws in an attempt to make a lot of money.

On my server we're in the process of fixing at 5k per slice price. There are a few people in that partnership that I neither like, nor would I choose to spend a great deal of time with them. I don't actively dislike them but it's in both of our interests to come to an agreement.

And there are others who have decided not to fall into our pricing scheme and we don't begrudge them that because it's a free galaxy. We haven't decided to work together but we have decided not to work against each other. None of this stops me from having a very select group of friends, and some good business partners.

I might be looking out for my partners and I but that doesn't mean I can't work with those that float outside my circle.

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/agree. Han Solo is also not a good example because he has always wanted out of the smuggling business. He was just looking for a quick profit.

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RoninGaijin wrote:

Real smugglers dont have 'friends' they just have people who think they are 'friends' with them.

Message Edited by RoninGaijin on 05-25-2004 06:07 PM

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Han Solo is THE Smuggler. He may have only been in it for a quick buck, but he was THE BEST. Period. Now answer me this: Chewbacca was not Solo's friend? Jarik was not his friend? Lando was not his friend? Muurrgh was not his friend? Shug Nix was not his friend? Mako was not his friend? Luke was not his friend? Bradure was not his friend? That's just a start for ya. You should read some Star Wars books, knowledge will come in handy where blasters don't even exist...

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RylanStorm wrote:

All that being a smuggler entails is bending and breaking some of the laws in an attempt to make a lot of money.

There's more to being a smuggler than that. Smugglers live in a world of illicits and crime. So much so, that a true smuggler trusts noone. Though I agree that it is possible for smugglers to work together, their individualistic nature prevents a mass-agreement to work together.

On my server we're in the process of fixing at 5k per slice price. There are a few people in that partnership that I neither like, nor would I choose to spend a great deal of time with them. I don't actively dislike them but it's in both of our interests to come to an agreement.

Following up to my point about not being able to perform a server-wide price cartel....How many people are in your "group"? 5.....10....a dozen? Compare your cartel size to the estimated number of smugglers on your server.

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I was charging 200 per % but switched to 5k flat (on average that's less!) Anyway people are now complaining all the time ("What!? 5kOMGUSUCK)

Anyway, I tried the "Good luck" thingy a couple of times, everytime they sent me a tell 30 seconds later, "I have found someone who charges less " Yeah, I am so happy for you. I hope those are all Holosmugglers who will drop it once we have pub10, otherwise this last way of making money is gone too for my smuggler. Faction point sales? Your kidding, price here is at 80 creds/fp. Muon is sold for 3k in coronet bazaar.

If I wouldn't like to slice my own stuff so much, I'd drop it the next second. Perhaps I should start charging people in my guild, so far I offered it for free (although it's only fair considering I get most stuff for free or low prices from them anyway, so that's not an option.)

To make it short, Gorath's economy sucks. :/

5k? 15k? Get what you can. You're a smuggler and after the money so go for as much as possible! Outside the Coronet starport you aren't likely to get 15k but at the smuggler outpost on Endor? Probably!

$300/% ... negotiation is fine, complaining is not.

My time is valuable. I do not shout, I do not advertise. If people ask me, it is $300.

If I ask you if you want a slice, odds are it is free and odds are I did it because you were a noob.