CUEmu - Thread Posts

Smuggler_Caylin

Sun Jun 20, 2004 4:51 pm

Ternque01 wrote:

Okay, so it looks like we can successfully implement GM's idea. Make smuggler missions so that the only way to gain visibility is to skim your delivery. Failed/caught missions result in no increased visbility.

For those PvE'ers that would like to claim that they are lacking content with a system like this, please note that you will only have to participate in 100% PvE content. Choosing not to PvP should come with lesser rewards, and I feel the system that I described above is absolutely perfect mirroring that.

You can still goof up 100% of the time and never even have to worry about ending up in a comprimising PvP situation. For the more greedy smuggler, they can skim off the top and pay the consequences.

Either way, those who want a rich PvE system already have it. You can run missions and avoid being intercepted or caught with said contraband.

What about illegal cargo flags on missions, above Quasi-Legal has a visibility increase. All cargo in these missions is supposedly 'Highly Illegal.'

Even banned has a visibility increase and that is where they are putting sliced items so players who are not smugglers will also get on terminals.

The only option from there is to place all smuggler items on Quasi-legal status for the most part, but then we have the problem of the imperial immunity still in existence with this plan.

The Infamous Caylin Borealis - First Master Smuggler on Bria

One of the Four Horsemen of the Smuggler Apocalypse!

:The Ghost with the Most:

Ternque01

Sun Jun 20, 2004 4:56 pm

#990

Caylin, I suggest we move away from "forced" PvP discussions and move toward a topic that actually goes somewhere.

What we need to do is contact GM and tell him we need a way for smugglers to progress without the danger of PvP. It's that simple. I'll PM him now.

A great idea is this: failure/capture scenarios for our missions need to result in no visibility at all, "skimming off the top" results in risk of visibility.

It's that simple, for smugglers that desire PvE, they can have all the PvE they need/want/desire. For those that want greater rewards, they risk the barrel of a bounty hunter.

Simple as that. That way those who are willing to risk PvP reap bigger rewards, and those who want PvE have a smuggler missions where they can bump into just about every kind of authority there is.

No NPC faction mishmash, no dual BH systems. Simple to code, easy to code (well maybe not easy, lol), beautiful

Axob Freelight
The non-Jedi are extinct. Their fire has gone out of the universe.

Smuggler_Caylin

Sun Jun 20, 2004 4:57 pm

#991

**points up a post**

The Infamous Caylin Borealis - First Master Smuggler on Bria

One of the Four Horsemen of the Smuggler Apocalypse!

:The Ghost with the Most:

Ternque01

Sun Jun 20, 2004 5:07 pm

#992

Smuggler_Caylin wrote:

Ternque01 wrote:

Okay, so it looks like we can successfully implement GM's idea. Make smuggler missions so that the only way to gain visibility is to skim your delivery. Failed/caught missions result in no increased visbility.

For those PvE'ers that would like to claim that they are lacking content with a system like this, please note that you will only have to participate in 100% PvE content. Choosing not to PvP should come with lesser rewards, and I feel the system that I described above is absolutely perfect mirroring that.

You can still goof up 100% of the time and never even have to worry about ending up in a comprimising PvP situation. For the more greedy smuggler, they can skim off the top and pay the consequences.

Either way, those who want a rich PvE system already have it. You can run missions and avoid being intercepted or caught with said contraband.

What about illegal cargo flags on missions, above Quasi-Legal has a visibility increase. All cargo in these missions is supposedly 'Highly Illegal.'

Even banned has a visibility increase and that is where they are putting sliced items so players who are not smugglers will also get on terminals.

The only option from there is to place all smuggler items on Quasi-legal status for the most part, but then we have the problem of the imperial immunity still in existence with this plan.

How do I say this exactly? This world (and the SWG one) thrive on making deals. We just tell GM that there needs to be a way for smugglers to progress without involving moving a meter that gets you on the terms. I suggest that we tell him to do two things.

1. Make use of contraband by the general populace, have visibility raise in the event of discovery. This is a great idea.

2. Make smuggler mission items immune to the player visibility meter, but detectable by NPC's and punishable only by the NPC's by PvE, and not by a visibility gain.

Smugglers who don't wish to gain visibility should run their missions without sliced gear/weaponry. In the event that a smuggler wishes to "skim" the mission delivery, it would then be flagged as highly illegal. Keep in mind that if a smuggler chooses to simply deliver the standard item thenfailure, success, capture, or mission time out will never result in visibility gain.

This way a smuggler never even has to deal with any worry of PvP. Said smugglers would still need to not use contraband, as the entire populace cannot use these items. This plan is simple, and downright very close to GM's idea, just slightly slightly tweaked

Axob Freelight
The non-Jedi are extinct. Their fire has gone out of the universe.

Ternque01

Sun Jun 20, 2004 5:08 pm

#993

*points up a post*

Axob Freelight
The non-Jedi are extinct. Their fire has gone out of the universe.

Smuggler_Caylin

Sun Jun 20, 2004 5:19 pm

#994

So, in short, all pvp consequences are removed from themissions.

Carrying shipments of illegal weapons will not result in visiblity increase nor truckloads of spice. Yet the cops try to 'bust' us.

Yet being caught carrying your personal sliced weapons/armor or taking part of the shipmentresults in you getting on a terminal.

For a system you were arguing for so vehemently, you just stripped out just about everything that I thought you were arguing for...

/emote starts chuckling then just collapses into hopeless fits of laughter.

It works easily but I personally feel it's a great deal of change, not a small change, from what GM has outlined. Not saying thats a bad thing. Like I said, it seems you just tossed aside everything you were previously so supportive of. I find it pretty funny.

The Infamous Caylin Borealis - First Master Smuggler on Bria

One of the Four Horsemen of the Smuggler Apocalypse!

:The Ghost with the Most:

Smug-Druggler

Sun Jun 20, 2004 5:24 pm

#995

Ternque01 wrote:

What we need to do is contact GM and tell him we need a way for smugglers to progress without the danger of PvP. It's that simple. I'll PM him now.

Just FYI, he hasn't returned my PM from 2 days ago when it first looked like a few things put us in a quagmire. Basically, I just asked him to come in and speak on a the "possibility/probability" of a few of our proposals. No word yet.

Posted that concern (GreenMarine's input)in an appeal to you also Caylin without a reply in return.

Just for the record, I'm comfortable with letting you do the sole PM's regarding GreenMarine, in this instance. I trust you enough as far as that goes. Is that how you want it?

Respect

Keer Tregga the "Smug Druggler" -- Corrupting the Galaxy One Spice Run at a Time....

Smuggler_Caylin

Sun Jun 20, 2004 5:30 pm

#996

Smug-Druggler wrote:

Ternque01 wrote:

What we need to do is contact GM and tell him we need a way for smugglers to progress without the danger of PvP. It's that simple. I'll PM him now.

Just FYI, he hasn't returned my PM from 2 days ago when it first looked like a few things put us in a quagmire. Basically, I just asked him to come in and speak on a the "possibility/probability" of a few of our proposals. No word yet.

Posted that concern (GreenMarine's input)in an appeal to you also Caylin without a reply in return.

Just for the record, I'm comfortable with letting you do the sole PM's regarding GreenMarine, in this instance. I trust you enough as far as that goes. Is that how you want it?

Respect

Well I know I have no clout with GM that I know of, so he (ternque)can knock himself out.GM probably has thousands of PM's and unless he knows who to look for specifically, it will be a while before he ever gets to it. I don't know if it will do much good, but it never hurts I guess. I prefer to bribe and seduce their email addresses from them. Tends to get more results... I've yet to get GM's though

He said he was going to go through all of this and get back to us, I trust him on that.

I have all my PM's, I haven't been following them too closely though lately as I still consider myself on 'break'. I'm having fun for now.

Message Edited by Smuggler_Caylin on 06-20-2004 05:31 PM

The Infamous Caylin Borealis - First Master Smuggler on Bria

One of the Four Horsemen of the Smuggler Apocalypse!

:The Ghost with the Most:

Ternque01

Sun Jun 20, 2004 5:38 pm

#997

We need to take some action here instead of pointlessly arguing here. Taking action is what needs to be done. I'm the only one I can take action for Smug-Druggler.

Caylin,coding such a solution is leaps and bounds easier than coding your NPC faction system or your factional smuggler idea. While it's great to plug your ideas in this thread, we need to find some that actually will work.

As to that issue that you address for my solution. Well that's simple. Put all smuggling mission cargo in a briefcase, yep, a locked briefcase.

If it is a locked briefcase it cannot be scanned by local law enforcement or the imperial stormtrooper. Furthermore, the only ones who will know what you're carrying are the NPC's that spawn to get you on your mission. Let's just pretend that they were somehow "tipped" to the contents and want to arrest you to find out. Maybe they are thugs who "heard" of the transport of your highly valuable cargo. That sums up your question pretty solidly.

Now the only way that your cargo will be detectable is if you choose to slice the lock so you can "skim" some off the top, thereby opening the briefcase for all to see. Now the authorities can without a doubt determine it's illegality because they can simply open it. After a briefcase has been opened it is then labeled highly illegal. Being caught with this opened case will result in gain in visibility.

Okay, so I've covered the basics. This will be easy to code because all it adds is a world item that changes contraband status after it is sliced (and we already have these kinds of objects.. i.e. guns/armor). Please point to where this will be hard to code, because i'm missing your point Caylin.

This protects the PvE smuggler, gives content to the PvP smuggler, and is extremely easy to code.

Message Edited by Ternque01 on 06-20-2004 07:42 PM

Axob Freelight
The non-Jedi are extinct. Their fire has gone out of the universe.

Smuggler_Caylin

Sun Jun 20, 2004 5:44 pm

#998

Lol I didn't say that it would be hard to code.

I've in fact proposed that to the developers months ago as an option.

Yours strips out most of the stuff GM had for us with concerns to visibilty, mine keeps most of it intact, but he has to have copied the missions three times and switch around the words 'Rebel' and 'Imperial' to some other third party.

Neither are terribly complex.

The Infamous Caylin Borealis - First Master Smuggler on Bria

One of the Four Horsemen of the Smuggler Apocalypse!

:The Ghost with the Most:

Ternque01

Sun Jun 20, 2004 5:49 pm

#999

Smuggler_Caylin wrote:

Lol I didn't say that it would be hard to code.

I've in fact proposed that to the developers months ago as an option.

Yours strips out most of the stuff GM had for us with concerns to visibilty, mine keeps most of it intact, but he has to have copied the missions three times and switch around the words 'Rebel' and 'Imperial' to some other third party.

Neither are terribly complex.

My idea doesn't strip the visibity meter out of anything. For those smuggler not wishing to tamper with their shipment, they can gain no visibility. For those smugglers who do with to tamper with it to get that little bit of extra reward, they will have risk of gaining visibility. The visibility structure remains intact and ungutted. For the smugglers who choose to play their cards straight, no risk of visibility is to be accepted, but the rewards are less.

I didn't really mention stripping anything out of GM's ideas.

Axob Freelight
The non-Jedi are extinct. Their fire has gone out of the universe.

Smuggler_Caylin

Sun Jun 20, 2004 5:58 pm

#1000

Here is part of an email I wrote back in april...

"The 'ethical dilemma' certainly sounds interesting. However to make it a dilemma there should be consequences if you did not follow through with the delivery. Smugglers were only hired if they could be trusted, breaking that trust should be inviting serious consequences. Going out on a limb by saying perhaps the bonus item we have the 'dilemma' over is a special locked container. Slicing it open would incur the wrath "

Maybe you can see why I'm amused.

Yes it does strip the visibility out of mission failure andwhen caught with your cargo.

I have no issue with that, I'm just pointing it out.

The Infamous Caylin Borealis - First Master Smuggler on Bria

One of the Four Horsemen of the Smuggler Apocalypse!

:The Ghost with the Most:

HOTDOG

Sun Jun 20, 2004 6:03 pm

#1001

"Manyof the peoplehere, do not want to prevent players from being hunted from player bounty hunters. What they want to prevent is that they will have no option but to agree with that if they wish to ever do a smuggler mission. They are not asking you to sacrifice one freaking thing, yet all of you who are not seeing the problems here, are forcing those PVE players and making them sacrifice THEIR playstyle.

It is bad game design to have a player who has no interest in PvE, to actively check terminals to see and remove their names if possible. A player who wants to be hunted will never have to concern themselves with checking the terminal. That is VERY BAD and is not acceptable as you are FORCING on them, a new step to their day, when something they don't even care to participate in, is added."

I really DON'T see it.

There is a terminal with two types of missions (like destroy and deliver) except they are visibility and non-visibility.

One mission says:

Deliver Crate (25) ofGlitterstim for Jabba.

Smuggling XP earned 2000

Delivery Reward: 20k

Your cut: 7k

No visibility will be earned upon failure or non-completionof this mission.

The other mission says:

Deliver Crate ofGlitterstim for Jabba.

Smuggling XP earned 2000

Delivery Reward: 35k

Your cut: 12k

Failure or non completion of this mission will result in visibility and possibly a bounty on your person.

And you get to choose which one you want to take- You are NOT being forced to engage in PvP.

As far as slicing someone's name off of the terminals-

Worried Player:

Dude. You're a smuggler, right? I will pay you 10k to get my name off the terminals- I got this BH who is BAD NEWS after me and I gotta get him off my back.

PvE Smuggler:

Sorry pal, I do a lot of things but messing around with that BH terminal is NOT one of them. I slip up and the next thing you know that guy is after me.

Worried Player:

C'mon, man! PLEASE! Okay, I see how it is- 20k!

PvE Smuggler:

Sorry friend. I seriously find PvP distasteful and ugly and will have nothing to do with it. No matter what the price. You better off finding another smuggler.

It's not mandatory that you slice a name off the terminals. If you say "NO" you are actively protecting the type of gameplay you like to play. No coding- No barring of others who might SOMETIMES like to say "Yeah, I feel a lil' risky today- I'll give it a shot". This is what I'm talking about.

As far as carrying contrabrand-

You should have a window that tells you how much visibility an item will cost you if you get caught with it when you add it to your inventory.

You should have a window that tells you how "Hot" your inventory is at any given time.

You should have a window that tells you how much visibility you have at any given time.

*EDIT* EVERYONE WILL BE LOOKING AT THESE WINDOWS- Just like you look at your HAM bars and check your mail on a regular basis. They will always be with you- This is NOT too much to ask hardcore PvE'ers so that the the rest of us can partake in the new content smuggler bounties will offer on a DAILY basis.

As it stands, we now have to: Join a faction- Find a recruiter- Go Overt- and should we die- do it ALL OVER AGAIN andno one ever complained about that. Now it isthe PvE'ers turn to make a sacrifice andCHECK THEIR VISIBILITY METER BEFORE COMMITING A CRIME.

It is NOT asking you to go out of your way-

So when you go to take that Jabba mission you can look at your inventory and how much visibility you have and weigh the consequenses of running a mission now or waiting 30-60 minutes when your visibility is lower. Kinda like a REAL smuggler would have to weigh the consequences of their actions.

As far as leveling up your smuggler-

As long as you don't get CAUGHT with illegal items/doing illegal activities you should be A-OKAY. That means slicing bulk orders in your house away from private eyes. Selling spice in a Player Cantina where you know authorities are most likely NOT going to spawn. Doing your illegal activities in hidden areas like a smuggler SHOULD be doing them.

This is why I don't see that it is FORCED. You have options and I have only named a few that COULD happen.

Message Edited by HOTDOG on 06-20-2004 06:26 PM

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Thread: Revamp Discussion: Contraband & Smuggling Missions