Smuggler Archive

Yeah, It's being said again: UNIONIZE!

But think about it- It wouldn't BE that bad an idea. The first thing that people say is:

"I won't have someone telling me how much to charge for my slices dagblammit!"

But let's look at it another way shall we?

What if you had a joint that- Yeah, every now and again you had to donate a lil' cash or a lil' time- BUT all your metals, tools, etc. would be free. You would truly HAVE underworld connections for any shady business you needed to get done AND it could be a vehicle to a plethora of RP experiences.

Also when someone says "UNIONIZE". People think: "I don't want someone dippin' in my business and telling me what to do while the "freelance" smuggler is out there undercutting me!"

But think about it- SO WHAT? I saw a guy givin' out slices for 3k the other night, I STILL have NO PROBLEM getting 5k for my slices and another guy might be able to do it for 8k while he winces at my price. It's gonna happen.

If we had a union newbie's would say
"How much should I charge for a slice?" and one could reply, "I'm a union member and we charge 6k" or they MIGHT say:
"Well, the union charges 6k- but I don't belong to them so I tend to do it for 3k."

It doesn't really matter- because if the majority of us just set a STANDARD then ALL of us would be better off.

Now, this is just me thinkin'- which, yeah, can be pretty dangerous- But it could be done in chapters of 6-10 people (this way you cut down on those taking advantage of being in the union without doing their part). Umbrella-ed under a larger planetary or even server wide entity.

It doesn't HAVE to be the neck chokin' organization people believe unions to be- It's OUR union- WE decide what goes down using DEMOCRACY. It's a pretty popular way to get things done.

But here is the biggest and best reason to get together like this:

We would be involving people who do not frequent these boards. Therefore we would be a truer representation of the actual smugglers "In-Game" AND we would all have ONE COLLECTIVE VOICE that could be used to aid Caylin when it comes time to battle F*****D up lil' changes like pulling AUKs and WUKs from a crate while slicing and that solid nerf to Feign Death that we are all bracing ourselves for (vasoline thouroughly in place).


I'm not talking about something to tell you how to price yourselves. I'm talking about bringing the Brother/Sister Hood that is on these forums into the game.

The DE's have to some degree and so do the Wookies. We are one of the best forums on this site- comprised of top notch players.

Why are we not working together on every level to make sure we are not taken advantage of?

Message Edited by Nicolas_Frost on 08-19-2004 04:20 PM

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Nicolas_Frost wrote:

I'll charge what I want to charge, its my time and myexpertisethey're paying for, you cancharge whatever the hell you want to charge. People like you telling me what I should or shouldn't charge make me wanna go out into the middle of Coronet and slice for FREE!!

My rates are five grand per item sliced, three point seven grand for a crate of high end spice, and one-fifty for a single dose of the good stuff. I will not let anyone tell me to do otherwise.

Create your union if you wish, I'll not be a part of it.

Message Edited by Nicolas_Frost on 08-19-2004 04:20 PM

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My Hutt can beat up your Hutt!

Na-Na-Na-Boo-Boo stick your blaster in poodoo!

Get a grip on yer blaster handle there Frosty -- it's just an idea (one I like at that!).

He even says you don't have to be involved if you don't want to.

I'd be up for it.

Juzza - Flurry

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Nicolas_Frost wrote:

I'll charge what I want to charge, its my time and my expertise they're paying for, you can charge whatever the hell you want to charge. People like you telling me what I should or shouldn't charge make me wanna go out into the middle of Coronet and slice for FREE!!

My rates are five grand per item sliced, three point seven grand for a crate of high end spice, and one-fifty for a single dose of the good stuff. I will not let anyone tell me to do otherwise.

Create your union if you wish, I'll not be a part of it.

Message Edited by Nicolas_Frost on 08-19-2004 04:20 PM

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No one is telling ANYONE what to charge for ANYTHING. I'm saying we get together! I'm saying we UNITE.

Then, sure, that Union will come to agree that slicing is worth (X) amount. That will be the Union decided STANDARD- you charge whatever you want to charge- whether your in the union or not.

With a majority united behind the idea that a slice is worth (x) amount that IS what it will be worth.

You may have reasons for charging less- friends, guildies, trying to get someone to let you earn some AP for a slice- FINE. I'm not trying to take away your freedom or to harsh your buisness by forcing you to charge more- I'm saying: If we had an agreement on what the standard charge for a slice would be it would be easier for ALL of us.

BUT THAT IS NOT ALL I AM SAYING! THIS IS NOT ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU CHARGE TO ADD 30% DAMAGE TO SOMEONE'S DX2. THIS IS ABOUT REPRESENTING SMUGGLERS ON/OFF THESE BOARDS SO THAT WE HAVE A STRONGER VOICE IN WHAT GOES ON TO OUR PROFESSION.

Imagine if Caylin could say "The Smuggler's Union- which is comprised of more than 60% of the players who PLAY a smuggler- are outraged by the crate nerf and demand an answer as to why it has to be that way and what can be done about it."

Also, "In-Game" could be a hell of a lot more fun for RP'ers-

The way I see it is this:

5-7 Smuggler's get together. Set up a house/cantina/PA- whatever.

Throw 2 heavies and a deep crust to pull up whatever they can-

Throw two Equip factories and a Food Factory down and have them all churning at all times.

Work out a deal with a WS and an AS (and a Shipwright in the future) to supply them with schems and equipment in trade for a deal on slicing (see- charge what you want :smileywink.

And BOOM they are Chapter 001.

They can trade e-mail addresses, or join a yahoo group- whatever- so's they can be in touch outside of the game.

And when something messed up comes down- Caylin asks what we think about it (yes or no) . Chapter 001 votes amongst themselves (3 yes and 4 no). Then they come to the forums and say "The 001 says No." Then we see what all the other chaps. are saying and eventually we get ONE VOICE. The truest voice because it belongs to a majority that isn't reached on these forums.

That is what this is about. Making the game better- Protecting our profession.


*edited for spelling and easy reading.

Message Edited by HOTDOG on 08-19-2004 03:28 PM

In principle, I agree with the idea.

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Chavabegga wrote:

I like this idea. Its kind of like something the DE's do (the other **edit** stepchild of this game) The DE's have a thing called the Droid Engineer Association and each server has a DEnet. Basicly it is a collection of all DE's who want to join who share resource waypoints, discuss pricing(but set no prices), and other DE related activities.

A smuggler union could work kind of the same way. We could have a Smuggler Union centered here on the boards with the great and power Oz, err I mean Caylin, as the head. Then each server would have a Smuggler Network. Basicly a contact list to discuss prices, gather locked containters for new players, share smuggler shop locations, know who to send people to for faction pt sales, and talk about all quasi-legal activities.

Great RP experience if nothing else.

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You are dead on Chief! This is exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about- And making a chat channel for the profession is a great start too!

Here is an example of the kind of thing I'm talking about:

Back in the day- Master Artisans were excited about vehicles because the DEVs graced them with the glory of being the only ones who could make them. Instantly the price wars began- people fighting over how much to charge- Who was undercutting who- Who was trying the gouge the galaxy- etc. etc. etc. I remember it well. I was a MA at the time.

When vehicles did drop the first couple sold for OUTRAGEOUS prices (millions) and by nightfall there were people selling them for 5-6k.

If they had something like the S.U.N (Smuggler's Union Network) they could have decided that a fair price for a swoop was 20-25k. And you know what? The first few would have sold for millions and there would be some people who would sell for 18k but the MAJORITY of those in the Union would have sold them for 20-25k and that would have been the accepted price in the galaxy.

Customer: How much for a swoop?
MA: The union suggests we sell them for 20-25k. I sell mine for 24.
Customer: Cool! /tip 24000.

Now, you ask: "What about that guy that sells his swoop for 18k?"

A: LET HIM. We offer our members access to equipment- Free tools- Free resources- connections. We grow strong in numbers daily- and people who belong to us for the most part are not going to try to undercut us. Why would they bite the hand that feeds them (and feeds them WELL I might add).

That's what we will be about. The Smuggler's Union is needed and so is a Smuggler's Union Network.

As far as Imp/Reb relations go- That business is left at the door of your chapter house OR join a chapter that is all Reb or all Imp. It doesn't matter. What does matter is that we get what smuggler's deserve.

Ever since launch all we have gotten is THE SHAFT. Well, it's time to take matters into our own hands. The mechanics are there for us to do what we want- Charge decent prices for slicing- Faction Points- and Smuggling- that's right I said smuggling-
but instead of buzzing around aimlessly angry at what is going on around us- We need to SWARM before we can over come the obstacles that keep our profession down.

We have big things coming up that the Smuggler will have heavy hands in: JTL, Combat Balance, GCW- Not to mention there is a MOUNTING effort by two of the most listened to professions in the game to nerf one of the few abilities we have that is worth a damn.

We need a collective voice and we need it now.

As far as having Caylin lead it- I personally wouldn't heap this on his shoulders for two reasons:
1. He's got enough to contend with being our liason. He is our voice to the Devs.
2. Since he is our voice to the Devs it is better that he seems non-partisan. He's the good cop to our bad cop.

Personally- I would prefer someone like Geevo- Respected in the community. Close to Caylin and he has gotten to whisper in GMs ear more than once. Of course that would be something we would have to vote on isn't it?

Message Edited by HOTDOG on 08-19-2004 05:58 PM

Message Edited by dorsai78664 on 08-19-2004 08:11 PM