Smuggler Archive

---

RhettSarlin wrote:

"Smuggling mission cargo often contains items that are components for smuggler crafting. Narcostims, for example, might be a component used in the creation of the spice, Glitterstim. Thus, a smuggler will need to occasionally withhold some of the cargo from a mission if they wish to enter the spice business."

WHOA! BZZT BZZT BZZT! HOLD THE PHONE! DANGER WILL ROBINSON, DANGER!

dont have time to read all posts in this thread, so i hope i'm not just repeating what someone else said, but....

glitterstim is found ONE place in the galaxy, on kessel. you want to potentially make it CRAFTABLE? i know it might be good for the player economy, but it SUCKS for continuity! websilk

better solution - if you're going to include glitterstim at all, have only master smugglers get those missions, and only occasionally....have them be able to "skim some off the top" once in a while, but if they do it too often or take too much then their visibility increases BIGtime. also a good idea would be to have a "trust" system implemented, where the highest level missions like glitterstim smuggling you only get if you've earned the trust of a crimelord by successfully fulfilling missions for them for quite some time....and if you suddenly just skip out on a whole high level mission like glitterstim smuggling and dont even return the glitterstim to the mission giver, then their trust in you plummets and you cant get good missions from them because they dont like you....and i dont like you either...you better just watch yourself...i've got the death sentence in twelve systems!!!!

anyway....

*disappears

---

---

Geevo wrote:

The idea of 'all old sliced items becoming contraband' ...

If it is possible, I think that a player that logs in after revamp (first log) should get the opportunity to 'revert' their weapon (or armor)back to pre-slice conditions ... with the condition that those items are not able to be sliced again.

If they choose to revert (one chance only) ... then it is not contraband, and no longer has the increased stats from the slice.

BUT NOT ABLE TO BE SLICED AGAIN ... EVER!!

---

The perfect example of abuse to our skills....."What..no chance in punishment!!! Sweet slice everything i got" "What..i could loose everything now if I get caught....get fined..!!!Quick make em all normal again"

Consequences are great aren't they!! It would be rediculous to do this. if you dont wanna get caught...get rid of the evidence...

---

GreenMarine wrote:

Scan Frequency

Contraband scan frequency will be somewhat increased. Scan bottlenecks will be introduced at various locations in major cities, such as starport entries and medical centers.

---

I pretty much love everything that you wrote Green, except what I have quoted which I am a little bit concerned. Let me explain.

There are many cities on planets that are currently empty and deserted. I know that may have to do with the current population but here is my concern: Right now in Mos Espa we have a very high concentration of Imperial Troopers who scan you on a frequent rate, while at other cities the scans are either very low or no troopers at all. What this does it make people just avoid going to cities like Mos Espa. It makes for an unbalanced concentration of population across cities.

The scans need to be either equal in all the cities or have the scan frequency rate change over time (possibly with GCW ravamp?). This will encourage people to not settle into a big pile like they currently do in Bestine, Theed and Coronet.

Also, medical centers are already unused and it is a shame. I would much rather you nurf medical droids to be lower than the bonus of a medical center. This will encourage people to visit medical centers and player hospitals to get "better treatment"... this is both logical and a way to make people congregate. If I am wounded, I know there will be a medic or doctor in the medical center... not in front of a starport! Medical centers should be more like safe zones for someone to get medical treatment, not be harassed for contraband. Would much rather see contraband scanning in cantinas and starports.

I would love for the scanning frequency to increase. Anything that will put me in a situation where I have to be careful where I walk through is good.. just as long as we cant simply walk around the scanning bottle necks. This game needs more challenge.

                          .=+.             ------------------
                  \`--._,'.::.`._.--'/   _/ May the CU       \
Acktu - Sunrunner   .  ` __::__ '  .   _/ \ be with you      /
Beta 3, JTL,          -:.`'..`'.:-         ------------------
ROTW & TOW Beta tester  \ `--' /
                          `--'

---

DRWolfe wrote:

I think one of the "components" would be the raw spice (of whatever type) and other components and the "crafting" would represent the refining of the raw spice and packaging it for use. That would fit just fine.

---

yes, that i'd be just fine with though even there, refined spice should be whats already being smuggled, the finished product ready for use....

but raw spice would work too, especially if with your underworld knowledge you were able to make the glitterstim more potent through "experimentation"...

i just felt the need to make sure we didnt go down the wroooooong track here

---

RhettSarlin wrote:

---

DRWolfe wrote:

I think one of the "components" would be the raw spice (of whatever type) and other components and the "crafting" would represent the refining of the raw spice and packaging it for use. That would fit just fine.

---

yes, that i'd be just fine with though even there, refined spice should be whats already being smuggled, the finished product ready for use....

but raw spice would work too, especially if with your underworld knowledge you were able to make the glitterstim more potent through "experimentation"...

i just felt the need to make sure we didnt go down the wroooooong track here

---

---

RaithStarwind wrote:

People may argue that this forces neutral players to become involved in PVP but that is not true. If they do not want to get involved they simply shouldnt use contraband items. This is the same choice people make by staying neutral, covert, or overt. Faction players take the risk of being detected and forced into a PVP situation, but they understand this up front. You get better combat missions by being covert over neutral and you get better(sortof) perks by being overt over covert. Illegal items could be the same way. If you want the nice stuff you have to be willing to take that risk. How cananyone justify stealing and using illegal itemswithout the risk of being caught. ^_^

---

I think that those that are arguing this sort of thing are SERIOUSLY underestimating the number of players who have no desire to PvP. Look at the server numbers posted by the devs a month or so ago...only 5% orless of all players are running around overt, meaning that only 5% of the player population on any given night is probably pvping. Additionally from what I remember (someone can correct me on this if I am wrong) only around 50% of the server populations have declared a side.

Two of my friends are in a Rebel PA that does nothing but PvP. Do you know what the PA members do every night? They shuttle port hop all night long looking for overt people to spar with. Out of the thousands of people on each server every night, people have to search out other declared factional players to fight.

The simple fact is that a BUNCH of people, an overwhelming majority, choose not to regularally engage in PvP. If all of these people who do not wish to PvP "simply don't use contraband items" what exactly are smugglers going to be smuggling for them? There won't be anyone left using contraband items, and smugglers will both (1) be ruining the slicing/spice market and (2) not creating a PC smuggling market. There will be nothing left.

Also, your argument that people consent to PvP by simplyaligning witha side is silly. This is Star Wars, and is all about Rebels v. Imperials.You can't have star wars ifthe only option for aligning with a side isPvP...no one would do it. Just because I like beating on Stormtroopers and role playing a rebel DOES NOT mean I want to be forced to PvP. That is EXACTLY why the devs put in covert status...factionally aligned players that cannot be attacked until they actually consent to PvP by engaging in it and gaining a TEF. If the devs intended people to be forced to PvP by declaring a side, there would be no covert status.

There needs to be a new, creative class of PC items for smugglers to move for people that doesn't include weapons and armor.

My comments in green:

---

GreenMarine wrote:

This is the second in a series of posts on a smuggler revamp. The goal of these posts is to discuss ideas that can be integrated into a final profession revamp proposal.

In this thread we're going to talk about the contraband system and the idea of smuggling missions. These two issues will be discussed together, because they affect each other.

I've thought about and written down my own conception of how a contraband system update and a new type of smuggling mission would work. These ideas aren't necessarily refined or complete. I want to create a debate through which we can work out a reasonable approach to improving the smuggler profession.

Everything here is debatable, so feel free to question, discuss, or add any ideas you have.

Contraband

Concept

The game’s contraband system will be changed to include a greater number of illegal items, a range of legality levels, and increased penalties for being found with illegal items.

Legal Ranges & Punishment

Items will now have a range of legality. The following legal ranges will be implemented.

• (This new system will be discussed later.)

I think that being attacked outright for "Quasi-legal" goods may be a bit harsh. Perhaps a player caught with these types of items should be given the option of paying a tax (fine). The player can always refuse, in which case, they will be attacked. There is no visibility impact.

Players caught with "banned" items should also be given the option of paying a fine (higher than that for quasi-legal items). Again, the player can refuse and take their chances by fighting. There would be a slight visibility increase in either case.

Players caught with "highly illegal" items would be attacked outright, and their visibility would increase whether or not they are able to get out alive. (The transport restriction would still apply.)

Illegal objects will display their legality in the examine properties list.

A faction aligned player who is caught with contraband will lose a percentage of faction appropriate to the degree of the crime.

Not sure I like this idea. On some level it would make sense for both Rebels and Imperials caught with highly illegal items to lose faction (maybe even rank in VERY severe cases). In any case, the punishment must be the same across both factions.

Imperial aligned players will now only be immune to scans regarding quasi-legal goods if they have the rank of corporal or better.

This, I think, is fine as long as it only applies to quasi-legal items. After all, this stuff isn't exactly illegal to posess... Just frowned upon. Be aware, though... There's going to be a lot of public outcry when you start takingabilities away from players and making them the sole domain of a single profession. Are you sure you are ready to make these kinds of unpopular decisions for the benefit of the game?

Old sliced weapons and armor will be converted to have the legality level of “banned.”

I agree with this.Just (as stated otherwhere in this thread) make sure the combat balance does not assume that all players will be carrying sliced gear.

Scan Frequency

Contraband scan frequency will be somewhat increased. Scan bottlenecks will be introduced at various locations in major cities, such as starport entries and medical centers.

It has been stated that this isn't feasible due to server/lag cnsiderations. Has this changed?

Contraband Visibility

The game's "visibility" system will be expanded. Any player can now accumulate small amounts of visibility for a contraband infraction. The amount of visibility will be dependent on the severity of the infraction.

Smugglers may attempt to find out or reduce the visibility of any player by slicing a bounty hunter terminal. Failure to successfully slice the terminal will result in the smuggler being immediately added to the terminal. Clamps cannot be used in this form of slicing. (This will be a new type of slicing, not wire cutting.) More information on this is available in the slicing section.

I like this idea. Just make sure that there is a time delay between attempts or some other safeguard to prevent XP farming.

Smuggling Missions

Concept

Various criminal organizations throughout the galaxy have found financial success in moving illegal substances and goods from one place to another. The vehicles of these transfers are the smugglers, men and women who store their morality along side coffers full of questionable goods. The smugglers are brave and often brash individuals who risk their lives for monetary gain on a daily basis.

The smuggler revamp will introduce new missions to simulate the smuggling underworld.

Basic System

Smuggling Missions are received from various underworld bosses, called ‘suppliers’. Jabba, Lady Valarian, and other key criminal characters, as well as new characters, will offer smuggling missions. Smuggling missions are only offered to smuggler characters. The difficulty of the mission will scale to the average tier level of the smuggler’s skills.

At its core, a smuggling mission is similar to a delivery mission. The player is given a crate of illegal goods to move to another contact. The player must then return the payment for the goods to the source of the mission.

Ex: Jabba gives the player a crate of 50 to deliver to a cantina in Mos Eisley. After the player delivers the narcostims, she receives a payment of 12,000 credits. The player then returns to Jabba and delivers 8,000 credits, pocketing 4,000 as payment for the job.

There are no skill boxes specific to smuggling missions, but the smuggler’s skills in scan avoidance and slicing will come into play.

Cargo Legality

Smuggling mission cargo is highly illegal. Any non-smuggler caught carrying a crate of any item to be delivered from a smuggling mission will be attacked and have the cargo confiscated.

Due to the illegality of the cargo, the authorities may occasionally hear about a particular supplier’s intent to move goods. Smugglers on a smuggler mission may encounter attacks from planetary or Imperial authorities, depending on the difficulty of the mission. Killing these enemies is not necessary to complete the mission.

The target for a smuggling mission will only wait so long to receive the delivery. If the player does not deliver the goods within a reasonable amount of time (dependent on mission difficulty), the mission will be lost and the player will receive some visibility.

Withholding Cargo

The player may choose to withhold part of the delivery. In the above example, the player may choose to only deliver 30 of the narcostims to the contact in Mos Eisley. If the player chooses to withhold cargo, s/he will only be paid a portion of the actual delivery fee. The amount of the payment will be directly proportional to the amount delivered.

In order to split a container of mission supplies, the smuggler must successfully slice the container’s locking mechanism.

The player may also choose to withhold part of the money to be paid to the supplier. For example, the player might deliver all 50 narcostims, but only pay Jabba 6,000 credits.

Withholding cargo or pay will result in the smuggler earning a small bit of visibility. Thus, a smuggler who chooses to defy the crime lords who supply her with jobs faces the possibility of execution at the hands of a hired Bounty Hunter.

The more difficult the smuggling mission, the greater the visibility gained for cheating.

Cargo Contents

Smuggling mission cargo often contains items that are components for smuggler crafting. Narcostims, for example, might be a component used in the creation of the spice, Glitterstim. Thus, a smuggler will need to occasionally withhold some of the cargo from a mission if they wish to enter the spice business.

Don't limit the smuggled cargo to just components for smuggler crafted goods. They should include components that can be used by other crafters as well (weapon- and armorsmiths for example). Perhaps any item created using these components automatically gets flagged as highly illegal.

In the interests of the player economy and current game balance, spices will remain craftable. Now, however, smugglers will "assemble" various components into spice packages, instead of chemically brewing them. Experimentation will be added...more details later in the spices discussion.

Smuggling cargo may also include crates of low or mid level spices. The player may choose to withhold these spices and resell them to other players if they wish.

Space Integration

There will be elements of smuggler missions involving space zones & space gameplay, but I can't discuss many space details. The player may have to pick up or deliver goods in space. Players without JTL will not be required to go to space. This is an "after space ships" feature.

---

The best thing about this preliminary design document is that it shows that someone has at least been reading this forum.

---

---

GerrinBiH wrote:

This, I think, is fine as long as it only applies to quasi-legal items. After all, this stuff isn't exactly illegal to posess... Just frowned upon. Be aware, though... There's going to be a lot of public outcry when you start takingabilities away from players and making them the sole domain of a single profession. Are you sure you are ready to make these kinds of unpopular decisions for the benefit of the game?

---