Smuggling and the death of RP

[Orv]

So the last few times I've tried to smuggle something, whether it be the last time I was on Disco, or this time, the 'RP' seems to boil down to "You have illegal goods. Hand them over or die." I don't find that very much in the spirit of RP, even if it is what the rules state.

So here's my thought. Certain cargo elements could mask the elements of other cargo, if A was right with B, and your scanner isn't strong enough. Now, I just tried this in Liberty, and the players response was "You're still smuggling in Liberty and that's against the law." I respect that, but that pretty much circumvents any kind of RP I would try to do. Almost blatantly circumvents RP, I'd say. Law is no excuse for lack of RP.

So here are some examples I'd say might work, based on product description.

Boron- (not a direct quote, but close) one of the isotopes of boron is used to create nuclear control rods in reactors. So, radioactivity has always (and I say always will) mess with scanners. So (and this is the setup I just tried to use) let's say I take 2000 of Counterfit Software and 199 of Boron. Perhaps with say, a Deep Scanner, you'd miss the Software, because A. It's very small, B. Has a low frequency signature, and C. the boron isotopes are messing with your scanner. The Liberty bloke I tried to pull this on had a Disco scanner (and a very big ship) so I didn't bother trying to talk him out of it. But let's try another example.

Say I get, oh, 2000 passengers. And then I take 500 slaves. Scanners in Disco are sort of like airport X-ray machines, I'd say, so all your scanner really sees is; 2500 people on my ship.

I realize how easily this could be abused, and if this is accepted as a viable RP, it would have to be monitored carefully, in case of abuse, but I still think it's valid.

Opinions? And if you're for it, let me know, so I can know who I can actually bother to try the RP with.

/wallo'text

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[Reverend Del]

I like the idea, like hauling mostly Pharmaceuticals but mixing in a small amount of cardamine, things like that shouldn't be jumped on as the cardi could be hidden in actual pharmaceutical capsules and the like. I was thinking about this myself, but then realised that it wouldn't fly. I just wish it would though, it would make smuggling so much more interesting.

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[ScornStar]

I can understand what your saying. I like it really but with everyones RP and newbs comeing all the time perhaps it would be hard. I'd try it if others would.

My smuggler type currntly only uses JHs. Yes its lonelier but its more RP and the RP you have away from the lanes is ussually interesting and spontanious.

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[Unseelie]

I've had quite a bit of experience with A: a character who had no idea he had 107 cardamine and 107 corsairs, and B: a guy who outright and constantly denys he has any synth.
Both are the same guy, and both are my character. I've discovered a few things: BPA are willing to give a character the benifit of the doubt, while the RM are willing to RP that their scanners cannot be flawed...even if they might be...and they pull it off pretty well. I avoid liberty all I can, because I consider it a cesspit, and Kusari cause I've a bowex trader...but everywhere else, people tend to play along...and if they dont, you can always run away screaming that they're an insane triggerhappy madman just trying to kill you...and then hire mercs for defense.

If people dont RP with me, I'm always tempted to bounty them.

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[worldstrider]

Yes--but you're a faerie and use faerie magic--that's hardly fair.

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[Orv]

...and if they dont, you can always run away screaming that they're an insane triggerhappy madman just trying to kill you...and then hire mercs for defense.

If people dont RP with me, I'm always tempted to bounty them.

Both interesting and tempting.

And to be completely honest, I'd expect more from the older players (RP wise) than I would from the newer players.


I'll keep trying it until I get it to work I suppose.

Here's hoping for intelligent people.

Ed: Just had a thought.

If you like the idea, and would like to be part of the people/factions trying it, PM me and let me know, I'll put a list up later if we get enough so smugglers can know when to even bother trying it.

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[Robert.Fitzgerald]

Personally, it should be up to the lawful whether to allow the smuggling (bribery, corruption) or fine/destroy the offending vessel and cargo. Simple things like this would be too hard to enforce; metagaming things like the chat log and scanners will always be used, so people just have to roleplay around them. One day, you'll find a lawful who -conveniently- forgets to scan your cargo. Until then, go to Junker bases and complain about the ease of your job - in character of course.

I also think lawfuls are too scared to explore the aspects of bribery, corruption and so forth. If a factionised member was found doing this, he'd be booted from the faction (a tedious name change or new character). That's reasonable, yes... But it seems nobody wants to take the risk (if I was in a faction, I wouldn't either).
Newbies might consider bribery and corruption as against the rules, or the RP of <Lawful ID>. I guess it's up to us to tell them otherwise, and expand this area of "Law".

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[Tenacity]

the problem with using this kind of 'logic' to cover up smuggling is that -nobody- plays along with it.

I've tried hauling a mix of synthetic marijuana, cardamine, and a large amount of pharmaceuticals to try and 'mix it all together' so the coppers cant find my smuggled goods, and they still go "HALT! YOU HAF TEH CONTERBANDZ!"

Hell, you could be carrying ONE unit of cardamine and they'd still try to shoot you for it.

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[RonG777]

the problem with using this kind of 'logic' to cover up smuggling is that -nobody- plays along with it.

I've tried hauling a mix of synthetic marijuana, cardamine, and a large amount of pharmaceuticals to try and 'mix it all together' so the coppers cant find my smuggled goods, and they still go "HALT! YOU HAF TEH CONTERBANDZ!"

Hell, you could be carrying ONE unit of cardamine and they'd still try to shoot you for it.

Sad, but true. Just got to try to find a way to work around it somehow.. It takes alot longer to smuggle than it used to..

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[Orv]

Personally, it should be up to the lawful whether to allow the smuggling (bribery, corruption) or fine/destroy the offending vessel and cargo. Simple things like this would be too hard to enforce; metagaming things like the chat log and scanners will always be used, so people just have to roleplay around them. One day, you'll find a lawful who -conveniently- forgets to scan your cargo. Until then, go to Junker bases and complain about the ease of your job - in character of course.

I also think lawfuls are too scared to explore the aspects of bribery, corruption and so forth. If a factionised member was found doing this, he'd be booted from the faction (a tedious name change or new character). That's reasonable, yes... But it seems nobody wants to take the risk (if I was in a faction, I wouldn't either).
Newbies might consider bribery and corruption as against the rules, or the RP of <Lawful ID>. I guess it's up to us to tell them otherwise, and expand this area of "Law".

I am sadly forced to agree. We need to find a way to change this mindset. I mean, it's 'role-play', the 'emmulation' of 'real-life', so why isn't there corruption and bribery by now?

It's too bloody strict.

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