Smuggler Archive

Ok folks - I've been looking at spices for a while and wondering what could be done to make the whole thing more interesting and more worthwhile.

This is the potentially insane solution I've come up with - tell me what you think (like you'd remain silent).

It definately needs work, but some of you might be able to iron out some of the kinks in it.

Spice shouldn't be something we craft - but it might be somethng we 'purify' or 'cut'.

Spice should be a resource which is harvestable in the same way as any other resource - the catch being that only smugglers should be able torefine it. A new harvester type - Spice Harvestor would be required - but since it would be disguised as a normal harvester no new graphics would be needed. What these would produce is 'Raw' spice. This would be the base from which actual spices are refined. The skill of the smuggler and the 'level' of the spice to be created would determine the amount of spice available and it's potency. Experimentation would cover three aspects of spice - Quanity (how much spice is produced from the raw base) Quality (power of the effect) Purity (The higher the purity the weaker the comedown)

eg.

I'm a Master Smuggler and I get 1000 units of raw spice - I decide to make Neutron Pixe (a level 4 spice) - Immediately that means my base Quantity is going to be 250 units of refined spice(before experimentation). Base Potency and Purity would be detrmined by thestats of the 'Raw' spice.

I experiment to make the Quality andPurity better leaving me with 250units of Neutron Pixie. I would then batch these into doses (say 10 untis to a dose at level 4 spice). I now have 25 units of Neutron Pixe with enchanced Quality and Purity.

This is where the other major change comes in. Spices are no longer Stat buffs.

Effectively we divide spices into three camps - Boosters, Sedatives and Expanders.

Boosters (Gabaki, Scramjet, Booster Blue,Phy etc)

Boosters are substances which have the effect of enhancing physical prowess.

Instead of making this a stat buff we make it have more logical real world effects.

Those Spices which currently increase strength give a 'melee damage boost'

Those Spices which currently increase constitution give a 'damage resist' effect (similar to synthisteak)

Those Spices which currently increasequickness give a 'haste' effect

Those Spices which currently increase stamina give a bonus to disease and posion resist

In addtion Strength and Con spices reduce the cost of health activities, while quickness and stamina spices reduce the cost for action based activities.

In our example of Pixie - it currentlyseveral so it would give a user increase melee damage, increased damage resistance and an increase in speed. I'm the first person to admit these numerical values would have to be carefully balanced - but done right spices would be a different sort fo buff to Docs and Chefs.

The downer is ther reverse of the effect you just had. Eg You'd have a negative to melee damage after using a damge booster.

Sedatives (Shadowpaw, Sweetbloosm, HB4 etc)

Sedatives actually put you pretty much to sleep - with the advantage that under sedation Mind Wounds slowly (Emphasis on slowly)!!!heal themselves.

While you're under the influence of it (and as part of your downer) your physical and mental stats are greatly reduced. (So don't all take it at the same time when you're camped in Krayt Canyon...)

This helps out those individuals out in the wilds with no entertainers, without stepping on entertainers toes too far.

Expanders (Muon, Crash and Burn etc)

Expanders effect your conciousness. They have a number of effects.

They make entertainers more effective in healing you (think LSD users watching the entertainers in the casino)

They act to slowly reduce BF even without an entertainer

They reduce the cost of Mind based activities

Spices are banned for a reason -

Mix two spices or spices and foods and the effects are randomly calculated sometimes you'll get the benefit of both, other times you'll get a penalty- penalties ranging from vomiting through incapto umm, DEATH.

A spice bar should also be introduced , similar to the food and drink bar - except if you fill this bar right up you can still take more - but you might suffer overdose (see above for effect)

So whatcha think? Have i finally lost it?

Shaw Lands
Formerly Pistoleer & Entirely Legitimate Businessman
One Time Avatar of the Old Republic
Cancelled after waiting for the Smuggler Revamp for a year and a half.