Smuggler Archive
Thread: smuggler: scoundral or goody-goody?
Page 1 of 1
GoldMemberBria
Thu Sep 09, 2004 11:41 am
#1
Forgive me as I've relatively new (a couple months into, and currently stuck at 0-1-3-4) to the smuggler profession and haven't been following this forum all that much up until now. But one thing strikes me about what I read on the forum. I hear an awful lot of people talk about "smugglers ethics", "roleplaying", and "sterling business reputation" all in the same sentence, and it kinda strikes me as odd. There is even an "ethics" document in your FAQ which strikes me as really odd. Is that really what people are roll playing, the "goody goody" smugglers? Is there anyone not doing that? That actually has some success being infamous rather than simply popular?
Smuggler_Caylin
Thu Sep 09, 2004 11:54 am
#2
Look at it this way, a smuggler who keeps dropping his cargo, stealing from his employer or basically screwing him over in the shipment is not going to get jobs. So a form of personal honor and ethics is required if you want to be competitive in the business.
You have heard of the saying 'Honor among thieves'? Well, that applies here.
Smuggling is a business. Like any business, you have to be trustworthy enough to come through with the goods. Do it right, do it proper and get your credits. Do it wrong and you willfind yourself saying 'I'm a smuggler' to the masses and no one will care enough to even spit on your feet.
I'll kill you soon as look at you, cheat you out of your credits in sabbacc and generally screw up your business if I can. Yet when I'm working for someone, it's all about the business ethics and coming through with the goods.
One of the Four Horsemen of the Smuggler Apocalypse! 
Rogue135
Thu Sep 09, 2004 1:32 pm
#3
Any Smuggler stupid enough to jetison their cargo time and time again is either going to get blasted by a Bounty Hunter, or they're simply going to have such a terrible reputation that nobody would hire them to take a dog for a walk.
I roleplay a Slicer for now (As wrong as the games interpretation of it may be, I try to roleplay it the way it's written in the books), but as soon as we can actually smuggle, I plan to be as trustworthy with my cargo as I can be... won't stop me from taking a peekin the crate from time to time though, Human curiousity 
I'm not the type of smuggler that would shoot someone for looking atme the wrong way, but if they lay a hand on me, well... they would lose that hand. I do act pretty goody-goody with my customers, only because I don't want to come off as an ***, when they don't realise I'm roleplaying. I also spend quite a bit of time at the Jubilee Wheels across the galaxy, even won a 10000 credit bet on Green 00 once.
Plain and simple, I'm a good person as long as you stay on my good side, the second that line is crossed, people get hurt... and those people aren't me.
Message Edited by Rogue135 on 09-09-2004 03:40 PM
GoldMemberBria
Thu Sep 09, 2004 2:28 pm
#4
I think the actual saying Caylin is "there is no honor among thieves"
Smuggler_Caylin
Thu Sep 09, 2004 2:44 pm
#5
I've heard both versions. Though honestly I've heard mine more often heh.
GoldMemberBria wrote:
I think the actual saying Caylin is "there is no honor among thieves"
Zandergeef
Thu Sep 09, 2004 2:50 pm
#6
GoldMemberBria wrote:
I think the actual saying Caylin is "there is no honor among thieves"
Regardless, the point is that a smuggler who has a reputation ofrunning(and dropping the cargo) at the first sight of imperailsis not going to get the good jobs. Doesnt mean you cant dump your cargo when things look grim.. its just that if you get the bad rep of shotty service then nobody will want to do bussiness with you.
SlickDevlin
Fri Sep 10, 2004 12:52 am
#7
I've brought this up before and found out that the majority of people playing Smugglers in this game are complete boy scouts for the most part. It's rather odd, but I think often we gravitate towards exploring personas in fantasy that we are unaccustomed to in real life (otherwise it isn't a fantasy, is it?)
The funniest things I've heard written in here are "I'm a Smuggler not a thief!" and "I don't want to be a drug-dealer/crafter, I just want to smuggle those type of items!" It's an interesting form of hypocrisy/denial where one form of illicit behavior is more honorable than another and I can see some aspects of their argument.
I for one have been involved in various "shady" things in my RL youth so I am familiar with the mean streats. One thing that I was never involved in was RL smuggling, but from what I've seen of Drug Smuggling (carrying materials in certain cavities...) and People Smuggling (such as the "Coyotes" who bring people into the US from Mexico, or the Sea Captains who hide numerous people in their cargo holds, IT DOESN'T SEEM GLAMOROUS or RIGHTEOUS (Certainly no better than drug dealing or stealing).
So for all you boy scouts out there I would evaluate your concept of the "Smuggler" (remember: Han shot Greedo first!) and try to be more tolerant of those with a more wayward "Scoundrel" approach.
BUT...to further accentuate Caylin's point. We need to keep up good reputations to stay in business. If you double-deal everyone, then you successfully cut yourself out of the picture because word will get around.
As a general guideline, everyone who is courteous and cool gets a good business deal. If I have someone agree to a deal and then refuse payment or go out of their way to grief me, that's when I'll rip them off -- and I'll make sure it's documented.
Bottomline -- If you stay cool and treat everyone with a measure of respect, you'll be able to operate in the Black Market and stick to the End User License Agreement. It's Common Sense!
rogue_eight
Fri Sep 10, 2004 4:23 am
#8
I play a smuggler as a person who is out for themselves as much as possible.
If it's to my advantage to play nice and get a good 'public rep' then that's what I'll do. Doesn't make me any less of a guy out to make a quick pile of cash, or someone who plays by their own rules and does what they want when they want.
That's how I always saw the Smuggler in Star Wars...
Of course you might always see more people RPing more 'realistic' smugglers if there was actually much scope for smuggling content in the game.
Can open. Worms everywhere
If it's to my advantage to play nice and get a good 'public rep' then that's what I'll do. Doesn't make me any less of a guy out to make a quick pile of cash, or someone who plays by their own rules and does what they want when they want.
That's how I always saw the Smuggler in Star Wars...
Of course you might always see more people RPing more 'realistic' smugglers if there was actually much scope for smuggling content in the game.
Can open. Worms everywhere
korvass
Fri Sep 10, 2004 4:38 am
#9
Generally, a smuggler (or any similar kind of criminal) is a person with a mind set that involves taking risks in order to get rich quick. This involves being selfish, taking risks and cutting certain corners (and people). It also involves wanting or having to go along with certain things in order to reap the benefits. Being 'evil' is generally a choice of character. Being a criminal wanting to get rich quick usually involves having to maintain a certain strategy until the payoff is acheived. Whether this involves capping folks, 'borrowing' things, whatever.
I personally prefer the pirate-Robin Hood ethics and style. Perfectly willing to slap fat cats/authorities/evil do-ers in the face at every opportunity, and whilst pretending to dislike and not care about the down-trodden masses, usually ends up helping them out.
Jack Sparrow and Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly) are good examples of this kind of character, and that's usually how I play mine.
There are other alternate methods of playing style for smugglers. There exist in the world today many small-time smuggling operations, existing of perhaps just a few men and women, who don't necessarily always transport drugs and weapons. Though they never really get rich, they perhaps thought so in the beginning, but now have been doing it for so long that it is more of a general career, and they make an average living transporting items that might not be ultra-illegal (furniture, cheap antiques, etc).
ValiantHalibut
Fri Sep 10, 2004 5:59 am
#10
When you think about the whole "underground economy" thing, there must be a level of trust in it in order for it to function - no social grouping, legal or otherwise, could thrive if dishonesty was a prime ingrediant. As smuggler you are trying to make a living within this gray area and are, therefore, criminal - however you are not necessarily sociopathic or psychopathic. Dealings I have had in real life with less then legitimate people have always been cordial and trustworthy - if you make arrangements for something you will get it. However, unlike the legitimate world, if you don't come through the repercussions will be extremely unpleasant.
So, basically, that's how I look at my smuggler. In an RP sense, he's a character who doesn't know any other way to interact with the world and survive. He's not a bad guy, he's just surviving the way he knows how. As far as the more criminal and less trustworthy - I would say that in the context of the criminal world any scam would need to be long term because you're not going to want to have a certain group after you for a measly 10k. However, if it's 1 million, that's a different story.
At the end of the day, though, it's a game and the smuggler's activities are merely a part of the economy, so unless you RP then all you have to know is that you provide a service and, I would imagine, want repeat business. Therefore, uh, don't steal from your customers.
So, basically, that's how I look at my smuggler. In an RP sense, he's a character who doesn't know any other way to interact with the world and survive. He's not a bad guy, he's just surviving the way he knows how. As far as the more criminal and less trustworthy - I would say that in the context of the criminal world any scam would need to be long term because you're not going to want to have a certain group after you for a measly 10k. However, if it's 1 million, that's a different story.
At the end of the day, though, it's a game and the smuggler's activities are merely a part of the economy, so unless you RP then all you have to know is that you provide a service and, I would imagine, want repeat business. Therefore, uh, don't steal from your customers.
DRWolfe
Fri Sep 10, 2004 11:01 am
#11
I'm usually one to say "I'm not a thief or drug pusher" but it's not that Smuggling is more honorable or whatever, it's just not what I do as a Smuggler. If my profession was "Thief" or "Drug Pusher" then that's what I'd be, but it's Smuggler, so that's what I am.
Also, my idea of a Smuggler? Watch "The Transporter".
Also a very decent rendition of a Triple Master.
Also, my idea of a Smuggler? Watch "The Transporter".
Also a very decent rendition of a Triple Master.
GannGry
Fri Sep 10, 2004 11:40 am
#12
I'll kill you soon as look at you, cheat you out of your credits in sabbacc and generally screw up your business if I can. Yet when I'm working for someone, it's all about the business ethics and coming through with the goods.
I do belive that pretty much sums it up as far as how I roleplay/play my "buisnessman".
Spec-Ops
Sat Sep 11, 2004 12:15 am
#13
if jabba the hutt thinks your gonna screw him on every deal, he not only wont hire you, he will kill you
Page 1 of 1