Smuggler Archive

What is a Smuggler?

By Ryutek





I've seen a lot of pepople lately who have different ideas of what a smuggler is, or should be, and wanted to take the time to define Smugglers from a few perspectives.







Section 1: Definition(s)

Section 2: Smugglers in the Real World

Section 3: Smugglers in the Movies

Section 4: Smugglers in Star Wars

Section 5: How Smugglers Should be Viewed, My Analysis







Section 1: Definition(s)

Merriam-Webster

Main Entry: smuggle

Function: verb

transitive senses

• 1 : to import or export secretly contrary to the law and especially without paying duties imposed by law
  
• 2 : to convey or introduce surreptitiously
  

intransitive senses

• 1 : to import or export something in violation of the customs laws
  

Dictionary.com

smuggle

• 1 : To import or export without paying lawful customs charges or duties.
  
• 2 : To bring in or take out illicitly or by stealth.
  

Section 2: Smugglers In The Real World



Throughout history there have been many good examples of Smugglers, and instead of trying to name the vast majority of them I am going to instead give just a few examples of different groups. Let's get started:

• "Legit" people smugglers, including the Underground Railroad in the USA as well as Oskar Schindler
  
• The West African diamond trade
  
• Air America in the 1970s
  
• Prohibition and the US in the 1930s
  
• The Eastern European sex slavery industry
  
• The French Resistance and the Spanish Civil War and their underground pipelines of weapons and information
  

These are just a few examples, for more look at electricnomad's response in this thread.





Section 3: Smugglers in the Movies

• The Transporter
  

Statham's character would move anything for anyone, as long as it was in package form and the rules of the deal were not broken. I know there are many examples in television and film (such as Schindler in Schindler's List, Crapgame from Kelly's Heroes,Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, and the list can continue), but in all honesty I think this is the perfect example, and so I'll leave it at this one, unless someone feels I need to elaborate more.





Section 4: Smugglers in Star Wars

Han Solo (Link to Databank)

• A Capable Pilot.
  
• A Ship "Mechanic." (Was at least able to keep the Falcon flying, Chewie was more of a mechanic IMO)
  
• Handy with a Weapon. (Basically Some Pistoleer)
  
• Arguably some Squad Leader Ability.
  
• Definitely NOT a Businessman. Solo was basically just a hired hand as a Smuggler.
  

Lando Calrissian (Link to Databank)

• An "OK" Pilot. (Started out as a terrible Pilot)
  
• Handy with a Weapon. (Again, basically some Pistoleer)
  
• More of a Businessman than most, but as a Smuggler he was still not as big a businessman as some would believe (see the SW Databank for a brief description). He became more of a Businessman when he turned "respectable."
  
• A Gambler
  

Talon Karrde (Link to Databank)

• A Decent Pilot, relies on his crew to do the actual piloting and instead Captains the ship.
  
• Handy with a Weapon when necessary.
  
• Definitely a Businessman.
  
• A Leader of an Organization that deals in Smuggling AND Information Gathering, not just a Smuggler. (NOTE: He would "smuggle" the information to the appropriate person, so in a way these go hand in hand)
  
• Some Creature Handler.
  

NOTE: These are very basic rundowns of some of the more notable Smugglers. You will notice, however, that if you go back and read the descriptions for each there is very little written about them BEFORE they went "respectable." The same basic thing is stated about each one (with the exception of Karrde). Solo and Calrissian both were "scoundrels" who operated in the fringe and "rubbed elbows" with the likes of Mercenaries, Bounty Hunters, Thieves, etc. They were not great leaders or businessmen as Smugglers. They were merely hired help whose sole purpose was to move cargo that was considered illegal.



NOTE: Smugglers in the Star Wars Universe did not make spices, they transported them, and slicing was something they utilized for their own gain, not for the benefit of others.



Section 5: How Smugglers Should be Viewed, My Analysis



What does all of this mean? Well (and this is really the main part of my post, the rest just helps to show the diversity and give some credence and support to my views), I'm glad you asked.



First and foremost, the Smuggler moves goods from Point A to Point B for another entity or entities. Technically these goods are considered illegal, although depending on the laws of the governing bodies of each point, these items may not be illegal at both ends. An example would be Smuggler A moving crates of Rice for the Government of Country A into Country B. The intent of Country A is to supply Humanitarian Aid, and the only reason they need a Smuggler to transport the Rice is to get it past the warring factions in Country B and actually to the "People."



Now, we can all agree that tangible items can be smuggled, and should be smuggled, from person to person (given they are illegal or that, such is the case above, there is just some type of obstruction between the two parties). This is the view that most people have, but there is a failure to incorporate one more piece to this puzzle.



An intangible item can also be smuggled. This item is information (stored on a tangible item such as a datapad, a droid, or even in the mind of a person). The perfect example, from Star Wars no less, would be the Bothan Spies who managed to obtain the plans of the Original Death Star. Do not get me wrong, spies are not the same as smugglers. Smugglers would be used to get the spies, or the information, back to the interested party. Granted, this would not be every case, but it would happen at times.



So what is my point? Let's keep in mind that Smugglers are not thieves, although some may decide to pursue the life of a thief (such as "shipjacking" and smuggling the ships). Smugglers are not, technically, businessmen, although some may pursue that lifestyle. Smugglers are not true fighters, although many will learn to fight to ensure their survival. Smugglers are the people you rely on to move cargo, be it weapons, drugs, people, information, etc., from one point to another effectively, and who are able to complete that assignment even if "problems" arise (problems being law enforcement, competition, engine failure, etc.)



Smugglers are only the people that move the goods. End of story. How they achieve this is up to each individual Smuggler.



A Smuggler can choose to pursue business, or piloting, or fighting, or creature handling, or anything else to help them do their job. They are not required to do so.





So What is a Smuggler?

A Smuggler is a person who moves items from one point to another, regardless of odds, for a profit or ideal. Amazing how that one sentence sums everything up isn't it? This entire thread can be summed up that way, so I'll repeat it:





A Smuggler is a person who moves items from one point to another, regardless of odds, for a profit or ideal.















This sort of applies for the moment, so I wanted to add this link in:



A Letter To Those Who Do Not Understand The Smugglers' Position

Message Edited by Ryutek on 03-24-2004 12:09 PM

Ryutek

Former Teräs Käsi Correspondent, Circa 08/2004 to 02/2005

No longer holding out hope, SWG will never be the game we fought so hard for, that we believed so much in. Farewell friends.

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[email protected]

Nice post. Hopefully with the space expansion smuglers might actualy get to smuggle stuff.

Decided to add the link to the thread "A Letter To Those Who Do Not Understand The Smugglers' Position"

Message Edited by Ryutek on 03-24-2004 12:36 PM

Extremly good read, and I do like the one sentence summary.

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Ryutek wrote:

I just realized I did not thank electricnomad for the help in finding that link. Thanks!

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Yes, the old EM strikes again!!!

/emote gives EM the secret smuggler handshake

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PhoenixOrion wrote:

Man I read this thread and then I got down to the bottom and was like...dang. Necro post of an old thread. Darn necro posters!

The sig was confusing me too, b/c I was like...Ryutek isn't a smuggler via his sig...

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He used to be a smuggler

awesome. Its nice to see someone address intelligence gathering/information brokering. I have really wanted that as part of this game as a smuggler and a bothan. It is one of the main reasons I chose to be a bothan. Granted, because of the type of work we do, we make all sorts of contacts and can role-play the informant pretty well, but something in game to add substance and content to it would be phenomenal.

Message Edited by Ipseck on 09-13-2004 12:27 PM

Message Edited by yimaz on 09-13-2004 04:02 PM