Smuggler Archive
Thread: Thoughts on a paramutual Smuggler Player Bounty System (Smuggler)
Here are some ofmy thoughts on a VOLUNTARY Smuggler Player Bounty system ; and please, any constructive thoughts are greatly appreciated. These thoughts are based on the current posting in the "In concept" forum on the Smuggler revamp ( http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=in_concept&message.id=22234&page=1). From what I read in those documents, a Smuggler goes to certain NPCs to get a Contract in order to get their new content, and while involved in said Contract they face NPC combat challenges. To echo what Hasun has said, that NPC-based system needs to be up and running, first and foremost. Then what can transpire is that some additional NPCs can be placed that give a more Player-based approach.
To start, the Player-based contracts should be the Realm of a Master Smuggler, and a Master Bounty Hunter, as I see this as High Level content. The NPC the Smuggler goes to see (a smugglershould always be the start of this process) should be the Top Dawg of a Themepark, so Jabba, Darth Vader, Nym, and whoever is the cenral character in the other TPs. Since everyone would KNOW up front that these NPCs dole out the Player-based contracts, no-one could claim suprise. Additionally, these Contracts would work in a similar manner to the NPC-based Contracts, so no content is being taken away - simply offering a PvP alernative.
I see the process like this: (Bases on Arsani's suggestion, this is open to all Smugglers and Bounty Hunters that have completed a Themepark)
1. Smuggler1 goes to Jabba, and receives a Highly Lucrative Contract (part of the incentive to enter the process). He does this at 12:00 PM (noon).
2. At a point in time after 12:00 PM (noon) - lets say 12:10 PM, Smuggler2 talks to Nym, and receives a Contract to discover who Jabba has hired, and intercept the shipment (which may mean killing Smuggler1, but not necessarily). For the sake of simplicity, lets only use 4 Themeparks; at approximately the same time Smuggler3 gets a similar Interception Contract from the Imperial TP and Smuggler4 gets one from the Rebel. At this point, Smuggler1 has 3 Smugglers hunting him.
3. Enter the Bounty Hunters -
3a. After 12:10 (when the first Interception contract is taken), Jabba will give a MBH a mission to discover who a particular opponent (Nym, Darth Vader, whoever), and eliminate the competition. Jaabba does notgive the MBH the name of Smuggler1 as a means of protection, he is telling MBH1 to discover who might be tryingto thwart Jabba's bussiness activities.
3b. Nym does not want anyone but HIS guy (Smuggler2) to end up with the stuff Smuggler1 is transporting. After Smuggler3 and Smuggler4 take their Interception Contracts, Nym hires 1 MBH to discover and eliminate one of the 2 competing Interceptors
3c. At this point: Smuggler1 has 3 other Smugglers hunting him, Smugler2, Smugler4, and Smugler4have up to 3 MBH hunting each of them.
4a. Smugglers will need to use their skillset to discover who it is they are trying to find - I envision Terminal Slicing playing a part in this. I also see Smugglers seeking out Rangers to aid in tracking. I see the Interception Smuglers having a bit of an advantage in finding out who they are intercepting,but at a slight disadvantage in finding out what planet they are on and tracking their Prey.
4b. Bounty Hunters should be able to question the various Master Level Informants to find leads on the identity of their Quarry.One of thenon-Player-city MLI will point the BH to a Planet. The MBH will then need to speak with a Player-city MLI... one of the Player-city MLI will provide the Bio-Signiture for the Mark. This means that the BH will actually HAVE TO INVESTIGATE. I see MBH having a significant disadvantage of easily discovering who their Mark is, but having a distinct advantage of locating the Mark once the name is known.
4c. Smugglers would always have a head start, since they 1) havesome lead-time before someone is presented the opportunity to Hunt themand 2)the BH have to put in significant extra work to acquire their target's Bio-sig
5a. I think it might be appropriate to give both Bounty Hunters and Smugglers special items or something that can help them, or hinder their opponent. An example might be a Bio-Masking kit for a Smuggler (a schematic from loot that can be created by a Bio-Engineer and used by a Smuggler) that provides temporary protection from the BH droids. Bounty Hunters might be able to get some kind of "Favor" for completing so many successful Bounties that might be used more quickly discover who thier Mark is. There could be several differnt items usable by each profesion that are hard to get, but very useful for differnt aspects of the Hunt for each profession. These should not be Combat related as much as they are meant to give an advantage in time - delaying or speeding up the process of finding their target.
5b. The "items" each profesion gets should NEVER give an overwhelming advantage. Any advantage (or disadvantage to an opponent) should be temporary in nature, and/or there should be effective "counter-items". Imagine some of those movis or cartoonsof a huge race between several folks, where one participant spills oil on the road, casuing one opponent to spin-out while another had an ability to resist the oil. Here the BH might use an item that give "short-cut" to findinghis Mark, but the Smuggler uses an item that cancels out the effect the BH just got. This would then become a Race of dirty tricks and constant guessing on how far ahead you are from your hunter, and what could possibly happen next.
6..The process described above is ongoing. This means that after Smuggler2 gets his Interception contract at 12:10 PM, Smuggler5 can get an Originating Contract at 12:11 PM, involving 3 more Master Smugglers and 9 Master Bounty Hunters. Becasue it is ongoing, it would be a lot more difficult to "cheat the system" since no-one knows up front who they are trying to find.
Some additional thoughts:
There is meant to be a gap of a few minutes between Smuggler1 starting the process and The other Smugglers picking up their contracts. This is partly to allow the Server to do whatever has to happen to ensure proper synchronization of events, and also to give Smuggler1 a head start. There is also a time gap meant to exist between when the Interception Contracts are made and the first Bounty Hunter gets hired. I see part of the excitement to this being the knowledge that you are racing against time knowing the one you are hunting has a significant head start.
I also wanted to comunicate that I do not think there should be a significant penalty for failure on this system, other than maybe not being able to participate in the system for so many days when you fail. Each participant should stand to gain an obscene amount of money and/or some awesome item(s) for success, but if a participant gets DBd or the Originator Contract completes successfully, ora participant simply decides to quit - no one gets any painful penalty. I think being prohibited from taking another system-related Contract/Bounty for 7 days might be suitable. Unlike the NPC Smuggler system, a BH is not sent after someone for failing.
Bottom Line here is that the purpose here is to develop a system that is FUN for all participants, bringing in the elements of competition, reward, and risk. It should always be voluntary, and it should have enough similarities to the NPC system that no-one would feel they are "missing out" if they do not choose to participate.
Message Edited by Darth_Spike on 05-04-2005 03:16 PM
Message Edited by Darth_Spike on 05-05-2005 09:46 AM
Bullhype wrote:
I don't like the idea of non-consensual smuggler hunting by BH's. If they put it in like it is with Jedi I will most likely drop it.
the leading sentance:
Here are some ofmy thoughts on a VOLUNTARY Smuggler Player Bounty system
the second paragraph:
Since everyone would KNOW up front that these NPCs dole out the Player-based contracts, no-one could claim suprise
The rest of the post seemed to clearly lay out a methodology where a Smuggler initiates the process, and can only do so by talking to the Boss NPC of a Themepark, which would indicate to me the need to complete that themepark in order to have access to the content - one does not simply walk up and begin the process, they have to put in some effort to get the chance offered.
This is not a proposal to replace what the Devs are cooking up, simply a PvP twist to it that can be added after the NPC version is running smoothly.
Therefore, I believe your concern is abated, since this system I have posted is VERY CONSENTUAL.
Nicolas_Frost wrote:
This system he just proposed is consentual. You make the choice to take NPC or PC Smuggling missions. Its that simple.
AH, okay. Kinda like the Combatant/Special Forces system. Seems fair to me. I also take it rewards and losses will be greater in PC.
Ternque01 wrote:
I strongly support ANY voluntary BH/smuggler system.
It is completely batnutty that we don't already have such a system.
Star Wars without BH's hunting smuggler is F'ING stupid.
Somebody put someone in charge that makes these kinds of decisions, because this REALLY bothers me.
QFE.
/Insert 5*
A Well thought out concept
Okax Bilce , Master Smuggler
A volintary system that works on the type of missions you take sounds good, I wouldn't do them but a nice option for those that would like to be hunted if they mess up.
Message Edited by Allia_Rain on 05-05-2005 01:20 PM