Smuggler Archive

This idea is really great. I just started playing, so I'm not a smuggler yet but it would be great knowing that something like this was waiting for me as an end game for smugglers. The only comment I have is really in response to the idea of not having any Imperial scans after finishing the run. I think that having Imperials on your tail is a large part of the Star Wars Universe. I suppose Imperial activity aimed at smugglers should be lessened some from what is described in books like the Han Solo trilogy since in the time frame for our game the Imperials should be mostly concerned with the Rebels. However, I still think Imps would bite at smugglers when given the chance. That said, I think how this should work is that Interdictor class ships should be added to the game. These ships could patrol the various hyperspace lanes using their gravity wells to pull ships out of hyperspace. After doing the Kessel run, if you are not very careful, you should have a chance of getting trapped by one of these ships. This would give a good opertunity to make a daring escape, possibly having to scuttle your cargo in order to make it. It would make sense for these ships to patrol the popular or direct routes between Kessel and some of the more popular planets for smugglers (Tatooine namely). A wise smuggler would probably have a take an awkward route to avoid them, involving several jumps. Now, every now and then an Interdictor should get wise and patrol some of these less direct routes. I know that if I was carrying a load of spice, it should be a very real fear of being stopped by Imperials. It should be possible to avoid them completely, but it should be somewhat difficult and involve some thought.

Anyway, I would be happy just to have the Kessel run. After some time, something like this could be added for more realism and more difficulty after players become accoustomed to the run.

I think having scan teams is a good idea. It is certainly something the Imperials would do. Still, I think it would be neat to see interdictors in the game...perhaps if things get developed a little further to the point where the Imperials would like to make certain strategic moves, the Interdictors would be something that could play into their hands very well.

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HKowalsky wrote:

how do you prevent a smuggler from skimming all the spice and then asking his BH friend to get his mission and part the credits?

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Take a look into the thread that focus on preventing exploits, my idea in a nutshell:

BH and Smuggler get Reputation (or Prestige, or Renown, or Infamy, whatever you want to call it) by SUCESSFULLY completing missions.

Failing a mission means loose of Reputation and therefore the right to take high level missions.

There more ideas of how Reputation affects you and the general behavior against you by NPCs.

The point is to make it as attractive as possible to have a high Reputation and a low Reputation not desirable. This could even prevent Fight Clubs if the gained FRS is tied to the Reputation of the BH. Crappy Reputation no FRS for the Jedi.

Wow, I walk away for like 30 mins, and look at the crazyness that unfolds.


This is an awesome idea, and I hope we get even 1/4 of this in game.


..on a side note.

If your a Smuggler in game or at heart, I HIGHLY suggest reading the Han Solo Trilogy. Beside's Zahn's origional trilogy, these 3 books are by far some of the best reading out there. The way they tie into the movies in so many different aspects, will send shivers down your spine!!!

5 Stars to NickHeel

5 stars to the Han Solo Trilogy



further info.... Han Solo Trilogy

Message Edited by JWing on 03-16-2005 09:05 AM

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JWing wrote:
Wow, I walk away for like 30 mins, and look at the crazyness that unfolds.

[snip]

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Aronn_Cornwell wrote:

Sounds great!

Just wanted to clarify two things I havent seen mentioned yet...

A: "Parsecs" is a measure of distance, not time. Just want to make sure I dont get my kessel run time measured in ParSeconds... (Han made his short run because he skimmed closer to the black holes than anyone else, therefore shortening the distance travelled between the planet of Kessel and the hyperspaceescape point.)

B: Why wouldnt there be Imperial Scans there??Come one, Kessel is an Imperially controlled spice mine... Even tho they are Imperials they are not so stupid that they wont know about, and try to stop, smuggling of this extremely high-potential spice. Natural places to have crews on standby is of course around the planet and the known hyperspace point.

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A. My proposal doesn't include the measurement of "parsecs" due to their extreme distance. Like I said, it takes roughly 10-12 hours to complete a good Kessel Run, and if the Millenium Falcon made its famed run in less than 12 parsecs, you can guestimate that an average Run is around 12-15 probably. So, 1 parsec per hour is a no go. Would simply be too big for any video game, let alone a single mission.

Runs were timed and bragged about by Smugglers in the Expanded Universe. But they were measured in time because everyone travelled the same distance. Which is what I'd like to use. The only reason Solo brags about his shorter "distance" was to either confuse the old man and the boy or to actually say "I went so fast, I actually shaved off part of the distance". Since the Falcon was the only ship to do that, we can assume that we haven't and won't do it...so we use time

B. I'm all for that. I'm just saying that you shouldn't have to dogfight Imperial scan teams inside the Maw or the Pit that are scanning for your stuff. Not only does that not make sense in a safety standpoint, it would take away from the quality of the the actual piloting experience of navigating obstacles.

I do agree though, stick Imperial and local scan teams throughout space and at hyperspace points. Just don't stick them into the actual "obstacle course" portion of the Run to degrade its quality. The Run is about piloting expertise and precision. Not dogfights. Stick the scans around and elsewhere to pick up contraband

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HKowalsky wrote:

how do you prevent a smuggler from skimming all the spice and then asking his BH friend to get his mission and part the credits?

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