Smuggler Archive
Thread: What does a smuggler do ?
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TabethaMoore
Thu Mar 17, 2005 10:40 am
#1
I'm new here, in SWG and the forums. I've just made Master Smuggler and thought I'd check out the forums. Admittedly I've only read 4 threads but 3 outta 4 are negative, only onethread gave help. I know this may not be a very good sample of what is on here, however, I have read many ppl saying "lets stick to smuggling, get rid of crafting, get rid of slicing". Fair enough we all have our opinions, but I am confused.
What is the definition of smuggling? what is the job description?
I'm very discouraged by what I have read so far and wondering if I have choosen the right profession.
I dont want any D'uhs here or if you dont know the asnwers to these questions why the hell are you master smuggler? I am after positive feedbacks and I ask these questions to find out plls views so that I can come to a conclusion instead of assuming and jumping down ppls throats. Everyone of us has a right to our opinion.
I may have just read the wrong threads here but it doesn't seem to encourage other ppl to take up the profession, nor encourage us newbies to the profession.
BelarrnSorak
Thu Mar 17, 2005 10:43 am
#2
a smuggler makes gametables, slices stuff, makes spice and gets nurfed from time to time. thats what a smuggler dose.
Ternque01
Thu Mar 17, 2005 10:44 am
#3
I think the root of your quandry is that smugglers do not smuggle at the moment, and that a good number of us are kinda bothered by that.
Most of the people here are waiting for changes to the profession, and have been for nearly two years in some cases.
You are a master smuggler, no? You should already know what we do and what we cannot.
SpinningCloud
Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:02 am
#4
Well, let's see...
The definition of "smuggle" you can look up for yourself in any dictionary. Now that may be the root of your confusion though. It seems that "smuggle" in SWG means ANYTHING but what the common usage of the word would imply.
To SOE, and I might add to many palyers, smuggle means;
1. Crafting useless knick-knacks like non-functional gaming tables and frogless frog bowls,
2. Slicing, slicing as a mini-profession and not as it pertains to actually smuggling. And doing it randomly as well.
3. Drug manufacturing. Not drug smuggling but the actual crafting of drugs which are suppose to be contraband but aren't really as there are no repercusioins from either making, carrying or using them.
4. Selling faction points, which is only really applicable to those that are factioned and like to stand around clicking buy and sell menu selections.
5. Understanding that incredibly sexy lekku language twi'leks use...not that there is any use for it other than flirting with cute twi'leks.
6. A few mostly broken pistol specials,
7. Avoiding getting caught in scans...not that it seems to be any great advantage what with how 'serious' it is to get caught.
8. Opening locked containers...not that opening them is very often worth the trouble,
9. Slicing mission terminals. Does anyone actually bother doing that?
Am I missing anything? *rolls eyes*
Notice the distinct lack of anything actually related to the commonly agreed upon definition of the word 'smuggle'.
It looks as though that may change 'soon' (TM) as evidenced by the two In Concept threads which I would urge you to read from front to back.
So mostly we fall into two camps; those that really don't mind at all doing what we do and calling ourselves something we're not, and those that are pretty fed up with doing what we aren't really interested in doing and are looking forward to ditching drug manufacturing and such for actual smuggling. Of course there are an equal number of us hovering somewhere in the middle.
Jandel-Har
Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:21 am
#5
Well everyone knows we dont smuggle, probably never really will . Maybe they should just change our title to pirate of something 
SpinningCloud
Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:25 am
#6
You'd think they would have by now, by far the simplest solution. Afterall they did give us a little pirate for a forum icon. *rolls eyes*
Sephia
Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:25 am
#7
Slicing smuggler terminals are a great way to get faction. As you increase the payout for missions the more faction is awarded. Slicing Faction terminals i can get about 15% more faction per mission which adds up fast.
TabethaMoore
Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:29 am
#8
Yes of course I know what a master smuggler can do in SWG .... i was not asking the question for that answer.
I will re-phrase the question.
What [in your personal opinion] is the defintion of a smuggler?
What [in your personal opinion] is the job description of a smuggler?
I will repeat, I know what a master smuggler can do in SWG, I wanted to know how ppl think of a smuggler. What is their impression of a smuggler? Is it flying in space and dodging all the imps so you dont get searched? Is it running through blockades with 1000 crates of stuff you shouldn't really have? Is it screwing someone over and not delivering a package, then being chased by bhs? Does anyone look to see what smuggling was in the past as in bootlegging? Making ya own "moonshine" and then running it across a border? Does any of the ole time "smuggling" have anything to do with "smuggling" in SWG, the films or the books? ... i could go on for a while but wont bore you all.
....... I just wanted to get the imagination going and away from all the bitching that i have read in some threads. I wanted to feel inspired .. ya know.
EnderUK
Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:38 am
#9
I like to think I smuggler items out of the imperial armoury and on to my vendor
Yes I know it's a long shot.
I've just spent like 2 hours on a template builder, (trying to rearrange skills in my two toons) and not once did I even think about dropping smuggler on kenney. In fact I was thinking of taking it up on Tig 
She might just become a fiegn death master 
She might just become a fiegn death master I'm having fun atm with my toons dispite the lack of smuggling involed in smuggler. I'm on both of them pretty much equaly and I'll probably start playing Kenney more now that I dropped shipwright and grinding pistols back up. Another broken proffession I seem to have mastered multiple times.
SpinningCloud
Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:03 pm
#10
I hold to the standard dictionary definition of smuggling. Anything within that definition is fine and there have been MANY good ideas presented in this forum in the past 20+ months.
What they have In Concept is a good start.
I would add/change in the following way;
1. Player to player smuggling by adding to the list of contraband more items and resources and having SERIOUS consequences and scan points at important locations like starports. In-space scan stops should also be implimented.
2. Make slicing pertain more to smuggling and the necessary evasion skills. BH term slicing for determining your presense on the term and at Master level being able to remove your name from the terminal. (for example the more times you sliced into the terminal the greater chance of removing your name. BUT system messages are sent to BHs of Master level that an unknown Smuggler is slicing their terms and making you attackable by all Master BHs thereby making things a bit tense for you and not allowing you to keep slicing indefinitely. This could work for any NPC BHs sent after you as well.
3. Replace the Spice branch with an Evasion branch that let's you evade any BHs tracking you. Skills could include; BH droid decoys, BH radar jamming, temporary name changes, landing outside cities, etc.. Many of these could work for NPC BHs as well by delaying or lowering accuracy.
4. Revamp Underworld branch so that you actually get skills to deal with the UNDERWORLD. Skills could include; crime faction notification of location and name of BHs that have taken a contract on you, ability to call a group of NPC crminals much like the JTL skill that would immediately attack the BH with your contract. Higher level skill let's them track down the BH and not just appear locally.
5. Add pre-fight skills to the DF branch such as; flash grenades, smoke bombs, etc. for use at the beginning of a fight to delay the BH.
6. Player BH risk when you reach 'dead beat' level 5. Make it necessary to succesfully complete x number of contracts to lower your 'dead beat' level.
7. Criminal faction interaction. (though they have stated this will come with a future expansion)
Basically I want to smuggle and that means moving contraband in an illegal way; without paying duties or in violation of import/export restrictions. A big part of smuggling should be evading being caught, evading BHs that might come after you for failing or cheating, and LAST actually standing toe-to-toe with law enforcement and 'shooting it out'. I want the cunning and the intrigue of the chase NOT just a few seconds of trading shots with a BH.
Message Edited by SpinningCloud on 03-17-2005 11:04 AM
Khenn_Praxton
Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:05 pm
#11
TabethaMoore wrote:Yes of course I know what a master smuggler can do in SWG .... i was not asking the question for that answer.I will re-phrase the question.What [in your personal opinion] is the defintion of a smuggler?What [in your personal opinion] is the job description of a smuggler?I will repeat, I know what a master smuggler can do in SWG, I wanted to know how ppl think of a smuggler. What is their impression of a smuggler? Is it flying in space and dodging all the imps so you dont get searched? Is it running through blockades with 1000 crates of stuff you shouldn't really have? Is it screwing someone over and not delivering a package, then being chased by bhs? Does anyone look to see what smuggling was in the past as in bootlegging? Making ya own "moonshine" and then running it across a border? Does any of the ole time "smuggling" have anything to do with "smuggling" in SWG, the films or the books? ... i could go on for a while but wont bore you all........ I just wanted to get the imagination going and away from all the bitching that i have read in some threads. I wanted to feel inspired .. ya know.
Ok, in MY opinion:
A Smuggler is someone that traffics goods or people that the Empire looks at as "contraband". They are the "movers" in the Star Wars galaxy. Occassionally taking a legit job, but for the most part, they work to pay off their gambling debts and/or ship costs. Smugglers are always looking for the "big score". They are artists when under pressure. They know how much bribes will be depending on the sector. They have connections and are comfortable moving around the criminal underworld. They have fallback plans. They expect the double-cross. They avoid getting shot at if they can help it. They sneak, con, steal, etc... to finish their job because they know that the criminals that they work for are far deadlier than the government of whatever planet they may be on. Smugglers relish life in the space-lanes. They live on their ships. They drink, gamble and flirt on their time off. They hotwire things so that what you see isn't always what you get. They have a code of honor, defined by each smuggler individually. Smugglers aren't always the forgers, the slicers, the spice crafters... but they know where to find them. Smugglers can find whatever you want, for a price.
I would say that the old time smuggling shares many similarities with the SWG Smugglers, except they are more readily available in SWG. For example if Pa Kettle in Missouri wanted to move his moonshine, he would not have hired anyone. He would have sold the moonshine to someone that would have either consumed it, or sold it themselves. Smuggling in RL seems to be an instant payoff. In SWG it is playing the middleman, albeit the very talented middleman. It should be dangerous to move illegal goods in SWG so that being the mover of said goods actually means something. Also, you don't always have control over *what* you Smuggle.
Anyway, sorry to ramble but that is what a Smuggler is to me.
BelarrnSorak
Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:08 pm
#12
i guess you could say i'm more of a pirat then smuggler, i spend my days killings and collecting loot, stashing it all over the galaxie.
i do the odd slice, and i sometimes sell my spice to travlers.
i do the odd slice, and i sometimes sell my spice to travlers.
Vrond
Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:14 am
#13
I still slice mission terminals from time to time. I use my slicing skills in the Geo lab and on the vette to make the missions a bit easier. In PVP I and part of a base take down team but a novice can do that too.
We do have 2 pretty nice pistol specials If you can manage to get a Last Ditch to HIT a jedi you get a warm fuzzy feeling that is really hard to describe
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