Smuggler Archive
Thread: Smuggling Missions
Now let's get ready for the smuggling missions. AKA smuggler revamp. Smugglers (capital S) let us wash our hands and get ready for the important stuff, slicing is not our profession, forget slicing. Now let's hope the devs get the missions right and don't end up resorting to plan B.
First, there needs to be a reason why a normal player would want to use a smuggler to transfer goods from one place to the other. I think that some items should be labled as highly illegal. These items should not be things that you carry around on your person at all times (ie weapons and armor.) These items should be things that you loot, or buy, that need to make it from one planet to another (maybe to a vendor or house). It's quite possible that certain creatures are illegal to skin on certain planets and are considered contraband, or even certain resources that may be considered hazardous to other planets. There are a few things that you would need to be smuggled without hindering your entire playing experience.
So why use a smuggler? I think that everyone should be scanned upon entering a starport. I don't think it should be by a NPC, but a device on the entrance to the starport. That way it won't stop gameplay for those that do not have contraband on them. Those that do have this illegal material on them will be ejected from the starport and attacked by local city personel. Whether or not you escape your demise from this attack, you will not be allowed to enter the starport until you "dispose" of the illegal goods. This is where a smuggler comes in.
At every major city there should be a smuggler terminal that works as a deposit box for the non-smuggler and a mission terminal for the smuggler. A player would place the goods in this deposit box and select the city and planet that they want the goods taken to and the price the smuggler would recieve upon completion. Then a smuggler would come along take a mission. Upon recieving the mission they will also obtain a "special package". For security sake, the actual goods would never "physically" move from the deposite box until the mission is completed. The package would be a representation of the actuall goods. (Of course, no one needs to know that because it would take away some of the realism)
The mission:
A smuggler recieves the package and heads to the starport. Like everyone else the smuggler is scanned, but has a higher chance of not getting caught. If caught, though, the smuggler is not banned from the starport, they just have to deal with security. If the smuggler is not caught, then they continue with caution. I know that not every smuggler has JTL, but I am going to continue as if they had. The travel button, when smugglers have a mission, will be unusable. Smugglers must launch into space and hyperspace to the designated sector. Upon approaching the space station, they will be scanned and deal with the results. They will be scanned again upon arrival on the planet. If all goes well, you deliver the package to the terminal, the client recieves an email, you recieve your money, and the mission is complete. Your mission will only fail upon your death. If you are caught at any time you will have a chance to run, or fight. If you die the mission is over and another smuggler has an opportunity to recieve the mission. During the course of the mission there will be 3 definite scans and a chance for random scans by patroling security officers.
I dont see why this couldn't work, but i would like to hear your ideas or concerns.
Of course, that wouldn't stop you from using outposts. I thought it was kind of fun when I hyperspaced to Endor last night, asked for permission to land and the controller didn't know about the smuggler outpost. THAT'S kind of cool stuff.
Of course... why player cities can't have landing pads for ships a-la Jabba's palace is... beyond me...
Smugglers are immune from these TEF's and we follow through with your idea.
There has to be a reason however to prevent basic players from picking up Novice Smuggler to avoid this whole problem.
What's REALLY amusing is that for FIVE months we discusses SOEs concept about smuggler missions on the In Concept thread. It magically vanished right before Publish 19 went to In Test and has never been mentioned again.
Since SOE doesn't feel the need to discuss SMUGGLING content or even reply to what THEY started, I fail to see any reason in discussing it again here after two years of doing so.