Well, Orvidos, I've had players role playing smugglers contacting me beforehand that they were entering my character's zone of interest with smuggled goods, because they wanted to role play the encounter. It may sound silly, but fun things may come out of it.
I understand where you're coming from, but even though you're making an effort carrying different goods to hide the contraband, you're pushing it a bit when you interpret beforehand what the other character is supposed to "see" there. For what it's worth, you can always pretend you're carrying Engine Components filled with Cardamine while, as far as the game mechanics go, you're actually only carrying Engine Components.
You could say that it wouldn't be fun that way, but then you do want players to notice you doing it, while they play their characters dumb not noticing it. You're proposing or are willing that whoever does it, plays it according to a preconception some share of what the outcome of that encounter should be. Even though its inventive and original, it's still a form of powergaming. If you want a partner to play out this kind of scenario, then perhaps you should try inviting/informing someone to play that out with you. Like in an impromptu play.
All in all, you're proposing exactly the same here. The only thing is that it looks like you hope you won't have to actually do it in game provided it may become some sort of silent pact between players. Maybe some will play like that, maybe some won't even know about it.
I'd say try and let the other party be inventive about it as well. Perhaps they won't let you off the hook with it, but perhaps they'll make up something completely original as well.
' Wrote:Well, Orvidos, I've had players role playing smugglers contacting me beforehand that they were entering my character's zone of interest with smuggled goods, because they wanted to role play the encounter. It may sound silly, but fun things may come out of it.
I understand where you're coming from, but even though you're making an effort carrying different goods to hide the contraband, you're pushing it a bit when you interpret beforehand what the other character is supposed to "see" there. For what it's worth, you can always pretend you're carrying Engine Components filled with Cardamine while, as far as the game mechanics go, you're actually only carrying Engine Components.
You could say that it wouldn't be fun that way, but then you do want players to notice you doing it, while they play their characters dumb not noticing it. You're proposing or are willing that whoever does it, plays it according to a preconception some share of what the outcome of that encounter should be. Even though its inventive and original, it's still a form of powergaming. If you want a partner to play out this kind of scenario, then perhaps you should try inviting/informing someone to play that out with you. Like in an impromptu play.
All in all, you're proposing exactly the same here. The only thing is that it looks like you hope you won't have to actually do it in game provided it may become some sort of silent pact between players. Maybe some will play like that, maybe some won't even know about it.
I'd say try and let the other party be inventive about it as well. Perhaps they won't let you off the hook with it, but perhaps they'll make up something completely original as well.
Mmm, good point. Well, I'll see what I can do about that line of it. I also get what you're saying about them having to supposedly 'see' what I have there, when they may not look at it that way.
Looks like I get to crawl through the faction ZoI list. Woo!
one thing i've taken to doing occasionally when i want to smuggle items in the latter part of the alphabet (like synthetic marijuana, even though it's not that profitable) is piling up 1 unit each of a bunch of 'crap' to fill up my hold.
I.e. taking 1 unit each of basic alloy, beryllium, boron, cobalt, construction machinery, consumer goods, copper, diamonds, engine comps, fertilizer, food rations, gate/lane parts, gold, h-fuel, high-temp alloy, hydrocarbons, light arms, luxury consumer goods, mining machinery, mox, niobium, optical chips, optronics, oxygen, pharmaceuticals, polymers, scrap metal, ship hull panels, silver, super alloy, and superconductors.
Probably missed a few, but if you have a bunch of that crap in your cargo bay, since 'cargo scanning' works on an alphabetical sorting method... they have to scroll down through all of that junk just to see the synthMJ you're carrying.
I simply avoid the police forces.. Even when they tell me to stop. I just say, usually, annoying things to him as I run my ass off. Being under the suspicion of smuggling is better than being known to be smuggling..
Before we go nuts with blaming lawfuls, keep in mind most smugglers simply speed dock, and give us no time to react, besides the usual halt!
My suggestion, is to call ahead, and let them know what to expect. (Or if you want to really RP it, make another character, and send an "anonymous tip" to the lawfuls, then switch to your smuggler)
Iâll carry this flag
To the grave if I must
Because itâs flag that I love
And a flag that I trust
y'know, there wouldnt be problems with people 'speed docking' if the liberty lawfuls would get away from manhattan.
They sit 2k from the planet all day long and expect to be able to catch a smuggler before he docks... not gonna happen. The only way you're going to stop a smuggler is by getting him BEFORE he has a chance to get to his destination - that means standing guard at the jump gates and stations around new york and other systems scanning anyone that comes by. The second you see someone smuggling, you can go after him with cruise disruptors / trade lane disruptions to slow him down, and tell other lawfuls the ship's name, cargo, and where he's at / where he's headed.