How about the creation of black-market versions of certain commodities with same name and only slightly different infocard indicating that it's not the legal version (actually this idea has popped up on the forums before), give them the same buy and sell points as the regular ones, only make them slightly more profitable, like +20% more profitable? People could use the lanes more safely as the contraband is way less obvious and police will have more to do when scanning.
How about the creation of black-market versions of certain commodities with same name and only slightly different infocard indicating that it's not the legal version (actually this idea has popped up on the forums before), give them the same buy and sell points as the regular ones, only make them slightly more profitable, like +20% more profitable? People could use the lanes more safely as the contraband is way less obvious and police will have more to do when scanning.
so what in the info card would indicate it?
like a line saying "This is not legal" ??
How about the creation of black-market versions of certain commodities with same name and only slightly different infocard indicating that it's not the legal version (actually this idea has popped up on the forums before), give them the same buy and sell points as the regular ones, only make them slightly more profitable, like +20% more profitable? People could use the lanes more safely as the contraband is way less obvious and police will have more to do when scanning.
I don´t think there will be much difference. If there will be cop, he will be after that ship anyway if he will know that there is example "ammunition" and "(black market) ammunition". He will also knew where exactly are differences between both infocards, so what he is looking for.
I´m not saying it´s bad idea but I see few problems. First are laws - how will they list contraband if legal and illegal cargo will be named same? Also, if the hint about illegality will be hidden somewhere in text, some traders won´t even recognize what is contraband and what not. We already have problems when contraband is sold on legal bases and some newbies then claim "how it can be illegal when it is sold on corporate base/police controlled planet?". We hear that even in the case of cargo quite clear labelled -black market- munitions.
The first message seem just like a request to buff smugling anyhow. Smuglers are freelancers, they should not have any FR5. Well, faction smuglers can, but who cares about pirate bases anyway? If it's the time that you afraid to waste, or not enough profit, then the only comment I have for this is that if developing will listen to this kind of situation, we will:
a) Face even more smuglers who will want to avoid lawful players
b) Get more b/s like scrap costing more then gold.
Now I don't really know the best way to solve problems about trading, but in my opinion giving commodities with very high benefit is the silliest decission there is. Yeah, you made factions happy, but... Players that consider RP while trading would just get a new commodity. Players that try RP/Trade ballance will reduce their activity because they can get money 2-3 times faster, so why stay online longer? So basically you enforce only powertraders who will want to avoid any single interaction at any cost, because their cargo is too valuable.
And to top it all, you give oportunities for bending yourself. And that was refering to admins. No offense, but your sanctions turn into some sort of "Oh look, a sanction". Let's think of it this way, when you sanction decent player, he will take it to consideration. When you sanction a retard... so what? I can get money for the ship I loose back in a day or two (just as I did when some admin, AKA Hawk, sanctioned me based on QQ of players who were unhappy that I crashed when they attacked me, but when I loged back and they attacked me again I killed them. I haven't got any sort of appology, nor got this sanction reversed).
So yeah, consider your choises from perspective who are you helping more with it.
How about the creation of black-market versions of certain commodities with same name and only slightly different infocard indicating that it's not the legal version (actually this idea has popped up on the forums before), give them the same buy and sell points as the regular ones, only make them slightly more profitable, like +20% more profitable? People could use the lanes more safely as the contraband is way less obvious and police will have more to do when scanning.
I don´t think there will be much difference. If there will be cop, he will be after that ship anyway if he will know that there is example "ammunition" and "(black market) ammunition". He will also knew where exactly are differences between both infocards, so what he is looking for.
I´m not saying it´s bad idea but I see few problems. First are laws - how will they list contraband if legal and illegal cargo will be named same? Also, if the hint about illegality will be hidden somewhere in text, some traders won´t even recognize what is contraband and what not. We already have problems when contraband is sold on legal bases and some newbies then claim "how it can be illegal when it is sold on corporate base/police controlled planet?". We hear that even in the case of cargo quite clear labelled -black market- munitions.
I don't think there's a difference between Ammunition and Black Market one after all (like in Kusari Law Codex), because most Houses do not allow freelance traders or foreign corporations to ship military equipment, light arms, etc. However, I remember how one IC guy managed to pass through 3 houses with so much contraband... and I wasn't even mad, that was amazing.
I agree on the other one, because I remember there was confusion regarding Mox and MOX. Oh well, it happens.
Also, if we were to ban all Black Market things, engines from Coronado should be also included? You know, those are BM stuff after all... Also, I don't believe NERF is needed anymore, because we have House Laws (there was no nerf back in 4.84 and in early 4.85). If you had Xeno weaponry, you'd simply be fined or went with that, because of your story. Simple as that. I don't believe, as well, that Freelancer with Kusari Gunboat would be... rather accepted in Kusari, isn't it? Or usage of house oriented equipment in certain house.
The problem with smuggling is that the aim is to avoid getting caught, which goes against whole multiplayer idea. Which questions the validity of such activity. While it is exciting, do we want to promote such ways of playing the game, where your sole aim is to avoid being seen, which can lead to AFK trading from one jumphole to another, without giving chances for regular players, who play on the lanes, to interact with such smuggler.
(11-26-2014, 10:47 AM)Snak3 Wrote: The problem with smuggling is that the aim is to avoid getting caught, which goes against whole multiplayer idea. Which questions the validity of such activity. While it is exciting, do we want to promote such ways of playing the game, where your sole aim is to avoid being seen, which can lead to AFK trading from one jumphole to another, without giving chances for regular players, who play on the lanes, to interact with such smuggler.
This is exactly my point.
Thank. You.
Im not saying all smugglers are to have a defense shield against FR5 but i am saying if was a different way to deal with non-retarded smugglers versus retarded smugglers then that help a lot in terms of the player knowing his ship, if played right, wont get a sanction by just RPing as a smuggler who doesn't wana get caught and earn his big money reward.
We would have less stupid smugglers, if contraband wouldn't be obtainable on lawfuls stations. It's just stupid when you see corporate ships transporting Slaves, which are at the end of Helium-3 run. Because it makes good buck. Then, they get to profit too fast and stop trading without obtaining proper experience. Thus, in the future, we have stupid players with huge ships that don't bother to adhere to rules because they haven't had enough time to bother with them.
(11-26-2014, 03:50 PM)Snak3 Wrote: We would have less stupid smugglers, if contraband wouldn't be obtainable on lawfuls stations.
This right here is one small step for a snake, one giant leap for snake-kind. It's an in-gamemechanic that responds to existing conditions in order to minimize abuse/ignorance of laws and roleplay. It is simple to execute and causes very few waves. Bravo.
It's certainly not everything, but it address indies/new players, so it's a start.