Smuggler Archive

So I heard this rumor, that at one point it was planned that Smugglers would be able to slice ship components in JTL. Obviously, that has not come to pass, and with Reverse Engineering, slicing the equipment seems redundant. Or does it?

I've been tossing ideas around in my head about how Smugglers might be able to "slice" ship equipment, in a way that would be meaningful. If it were similar to Reverse Engineering, Shipwrights would feel cheated, Smugglers would feel cheated, and it probably wouldn't improve the game much. I'm starting this thread to see first off, what my fellow smugglers feel about slicing ship equipment, and secondly, to toss ideas back and forth about how it might work.

That being said, I'll get the ball rolling with my version of Smuggler Ship Slicing: "Special Modifications"

Special Modifications would be a method for Smugglers to perform the overall performance of the ship "on the fly". Utilizing a set of specialized tools (seperate from those used for ground slicing), Smugglers are able to enact these modifications either by working on the components in-inventory on the ground (for single-player ships and multi-player ships) or by accessing the proper Access Hatch (for multi-player ships).

Each modification made by a Smuggler lasts for a certain set time (which will increase with slicing skill) OR the component takes direct damage from enemy attacks. Additionally, every time the ship is hit there could be a small chance that the modification cuts out (these are messy, slipshod affairs after all). After the time elapses or a hit knocks the modification apart, the benefit ceases. A modification could be applied to the component again with no problems, though each modification ought to damage the component slightly.

Modifications would provide either a boost to performance, or some other effect (though I can't really think of any other effects that would really be interesting). Each modification could require a different set of components (such as a hydrospanner, duct-tape, metal tube, and extra coolant, or a whoosimajigit, a donglehickey, and a floozle), and would have a unique name (such as "Reactor Coolant Booster" or "Han Solo Special")

The primary focus of these modifications, in my opinion, should be engines, reactors, boosters, and shields. These are the components most useful to a Smuggler, who has to outrun more heavily-armed ships, and slip speedily through blockades.

To expand a little further on this idea, Master Smugglers could be able to collect schematics to components to create permanent modifications. These schematics could be very rare drops, requiring a large amount of resources, and maybe even the help of crafting professions, to keep permanent modifications rare and a real achievement to collect.

So there's my initial idea. I think it's sufficiently different enough from Reverse Engineering to set the two firmly apart. I think some system along these lines would go a long way towards increasing the "Star Warsiness" experience, especially in multi-person ships, where the Smuggler is always running to and fro, patching up his modifications as they break, while being chased by authorities. Additionally, this would make the Smuggler profession a "Must Have" for any multi-person ship crew about to attempt a dangerous mission (which, at this point as I understand it, is every mission a multi-person ship attempts).

Okay, so let's hear your thoughts on the subject. Like my idea? Don't like it? Want to modify it? Have one of your own?