Smuggler Archive

Okay, imagine we have a tough contraband system implemented. Certain resources which provide a small bonus to crafted items and are used to make spices are available only on offworld adventure planets (i.e. planets where houses cannot be built). Imperial and local trade laws have made them unshipable from these planets, and the only ones to slip past them are smugglers. (This goes with the assumption that there are no allowed factories on these worlds either)

A crafter/smuggling client will approach an NPC criminal on the outskirts of the outposts on these planets to make a request. Of course, our client is looking for a smuggler. The NPC places a mission for an anonymous client in the NPC smuggler network (NPC's are more criminal than a terminal). These NPC's collect all the names of player smugglers across the galaxy willing to do the job, and conveys them to our crafter client along with the reputation of each smuggler vying for the job. Once the client selects a smuggler, the NPC's then discretely disclose the name of the client to the smuggler so that negotiations between the two parties may begin.

So the hired smuggler lands on the adventure planet and groups with the client. The smuggler is given a tool called a Smuggler's Datapad at novice smuggler, which works nearly identically to the Image Designer's window. These Datapads have two windows: one for the cargo, and one for the fee due the smuggler at completion of the mission. A countdown timer of 15 minutes is started to keep the job prompt. In this window, the client enters a destination starport for the goods!

Due to law enforcement patrols, it is necessary to seek an alternate route to the destination starport. The smuggler must travel to another starport, travel on land to another nearby starport, then finally shuttle/fly to the destination starport. On the way, and of course, he/she will run into... problems...

Once the smuggler lands at the destination starport, the clients cargo is instantly placed into his/her inventory. Once past the tough contraband blockades and into the core worlds, the client finds that they can move it at will, provided they don't get caught and fined (a small amount) by crackdown teams. (Or perhaps, the smuggler slices the cargo to appear as legal when it is delivered safetly).

Should the smuggler fail the mission, the cargo will automatically placed in the crafters inventory and marked as legal. The smuggler would not get his/her tip, unless the client feels some compassion. If no smuggler chooses to pick up the client's mission within 15 minutes, the criminal NPC on the adventure planet gets annoyed and slices the cargo to appear legal, for a fee of 10k. Either way, the crafter/client wins.

Plan one entails a smuggler stealing a "representation" of the cargo and selling it on the black market. If the smuggler choses to remove the cargo from the Smuggler's Datapad, the mission will go into failure, the crafter will instantly recieve their cargo and tip back in a legal, transportable form. In other words, there will be no penalty for the client taking the risk of hiring a player.

The smuggler will recieve an increase in visibility as well as a decrease in their reputation rating (you could use the previous idea of notoriety rating). Once they have "stolen" the goods they will find a buyer in 3 Earth days. A smuggler can only be in the process of stealing one item at a time, preventing exploitation of the system. The player will face the consequences of their gained visibility and possibly NPC threats. If they are killed, the potential 75k they would receive from selling the item would be forfeited.

In this design, the smuggler can actually steal the cargo!!!(This is how the system is currently with slicing) This system is designed as an in-game punishment system for SOE to deter players from theft. It is brutal. Please read on!

Once a smuggler removes the cargo from the Smuggler's Datapad and places it into his/her inventory, they take an instant andDRAMATIC increase in visibility. Brutal NPC teams, as well as money-hungryplayer BH's,will assault the player for a certain period of in-game hours/days. The stolen item is rendered untradeable for this time period. If a player is killed by these NPC strike teams or by a BH during this time, the item is automatically returned to the original owner. If the smuggler survives this trial, they keep the item, yet still suffer a reduction in reputation.

When a smuggler choses to steal from another player, they will take a huge hit in their reputation rating also. This reputation rating will be visible in the Smuggler's Datapad interface to all of his/her clients, and will decay back to normal after time. If a player steals too many items in a certain period of time, they are marked as permanently untrustworthy.

Message Edited by Ternque01 on 02-06-2005 06:02 PM

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Ternque01 wrote:

Player Smuggling Never Had It So Good!

I'll try to keep this short and sweet.

How this system works!

Okay, imagine we have a tough contraband system implemented. Certain resources which provide a small bonus to crafted items and are used to make spices are available only on offworld adventure planets (i.e. planets where houses cannot be built). Imperial and local trade laws have made them unshipable from these planets, and the only ones to slip past them are smugglers. (This goes with the assumption that there are no allowed factories on these worlds either) - may get an out cry from other players but a sold idea for sure. I would say add loot items as welllike karyt pearls, crystals, krayt tissue, akalite (spell check, lol) bone...etc, since this stuff makes illegal weapons.

A crafter/smuggling client will approach an NPC criminal on the outskirts of the outposts on these planets to make a request. Of course, our client is looking for a smuggler. The NPC places a mission for an anonymous client in the NPC smuggler network (NPC's are more criminal than a terminal). These NPC's collect all the names of player smugglers across the galaxy willing to do the job, and conveys them to our crafter client along with the reputation of each smuggler vying for the job.- we should then be able to "register" with other NPC's when we log on, letting people know we are avalibe to smuggle.Once the client selects a smuggler, the NPC's then discretely disclose the name of the client to the smuggler so that negotiations between the two parties may begin. - nice

So the hired smuggler lands on the adventure planet and groups with the client. The smuggler is given a tool called a Smuggler's Datapad at novice smuggler, which works nearly identically to the Image Designer's window. These Datapads have two windows: one for the cargo, and one for the fee due the smuggler at completion of the mission. A countdown timer of 15 minutes is started to keep the job prompt. In this window, the client enters a destination starport for the goods!

Due to law enforcement patrols, it is necessary to seek an alternate route to the destination starport. The smuggler must travel to another starport, travel on land to another nearby starport, then finally shuttle/fly to the destination starport. On the way, and of course, he/she will run into... problems...

Once the smuggler lands at the destination starport, the clients cargo is instantly placed into his/her inventory. Once past the tough contraband blockades and into the core worlds, the client finds that they can move it at will, provided they don't get caught and fined (a small amount) by crackdown teams. (Or perhaps, the smuggler slices the cargo to appear as legal when it is delivered safetly). - another thing to slice?? Genius!

Should the smuggler fail the mission, the cargo will automatically placed in the crafters inventory and marked as legal. The smuggler would not get his/her tip, unless the client feels some compassion. If no smuggler chooses to pick up the client's mission within 15 minutes, the criminal NPC on the adventure planet gets annoyed and slices the cargo to appear legal, for a fee of 15k. 10k - fixed Either way, the crafter/client wins. - oustanding resolution to no smugglers being on line or un willing to help.

Some smugglers might not be the nicest people around: some might try to steal the cargo. What should befall these scoundrels??? I have one of two plans.

Plan numero uno!

Plan one entails a smuggler stealing a "representation" of the cargo and selling it on the black market. If the smuggler choses to remove the cargo from the Smuggler's Datapad, the mission will go into failure, the crafter will instantly recieve their cargo and tip back in a legal, transportable form. In other words, there will be no penalty for the client taking the risk of hiring a player.

The smuggler will recieve an increase in visibility as well as a decrease in their reputation rating (you could use the previous idea of notoriety rating). Once they have "stolen" the goods they will find a buyer in 3 Earth days. A smuggler can only be in the process of stealing one item at a time, preventing exploitation of the system. The player will face the consequences of their gained visibility and possibly NPC threats. If they are killed, the potential 75k they would receive from selling the item would be forfeited. - see below

Plan numero dos!

In this design, the smuggler can actually steal the cargo!!!(This is how the system is currently with slicing) This system is designed as an in-game punishment system for SOE to deter players from theft. It is brutal. Please read on!

Once a smuggler removes the cargo from the Smuggler's Datapad and places it into his/her inventory, they take an instant andDRAMATIC increase in visibility. Brutal NPC teams, as well as money-hungryplayer BH's,will assault the player for a certain period of in-game hours/days. The stolen item is rendered untradeable for this time period. If a player is killed by these NPC strike teams or by a BH during this time, the item is automatically returned to the original owner. If the smuggler survives this trial, they keep the item, yet still suffer a reduction in reputation.

When a smuggler choses to steal from another player, they will take a huge hit in their reputation rating also. This reputation rating will be visible in the Smuggler's Datapad interface to all of his/her clients, and will decay back to normal after time. If a player steals too many items in a certain period of time, they are marked as permanently untrustworthy. - I would say in all fairness that for player to player smugglingwe should not be allowed to steal the cargo period. If we fail the mission the item goes back to the original player and our visibillty goes up.

I propose that this Smuggler's Datapad be used during the actual slicing process for weapons/armor also. The item will remain in the trade window, but still be capable of being stolen. This will provide more overall protection for the client than currently, yet still retain the atmosphere of expecting the unexpected during the players' interaction with one another!!! - very few smugglers steal peoples weapons/armor when slicing now and it is something that should be removed from the game (i.e. your great data pad idea but used to keep smugglers from stealing)

Hopefully, by placing a limit on one stolen item per time period, this will prevent the system from being exploited for credits. It will also curb client abuse, yet still remain an atmosphere of risk and danger. - risk and danger comes to the client when the item is sliced and now illegal, risk comes to the smuggler when moving cargo and failing the mission, either player or NPC, i feel very strongly that if we open the door to smugglers stealing from players it will be a point of contention to the player base and we will lose clients not gain new ones.

This system also eliminates the use of extensive NPC's/terminals handling setting up a mission, allowingthe players themselvesto haggle, smooth talk, and set their own conditions and payments with one another in order to set up the mission.

Above all, this system is workable using existing mechanics (Image Designer window) which retains the feeling of unexpectedness of current slicing business, yet protects the client, and allows the actual players to talk, set up, and institute their own deals.

Please, if you don't mind, offer support and criticism!!!

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Great idea's very sold. Remove the option for us to steal from players and over all its a prefect plan.

Message Edited by yimaz on 02-06-2005 02:06 PM

Message Edited by yimaz on 02-06-2005 04:14 PM

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JTGAlpha wrote:

In that case do not allow the smuggler to even steal a "representation." They can't touch it. They only things smugglers can steal is items from NPC missions, where you then run into the "repercussions" and "reputation."

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