Can we please free slaves?

[Chrystoph]

So, sample scenario:

Your child needs medical attention. It will cost far more than you can ever afford to pay. you log into the Imperial network on the "Slave" database, fill out the forms and are indentured for 10 years. Your family is taken care of, but you otherwise work without pay, but at the end of that 10 year period, you are completely debt free and the program reintegrates you to society.

Do you really think this person wants to be "freed" from their contract?

 

[Banana's_Are_Good_For_You]

What about Archon? You can give your free slaves to him.

Ah, you mean free slaves. Silly concept with so much tender meat.

Sssh you, you're gonna give the game away.

 

[rptb1]

I would love it if there could be a game mechanic where you can FREE slaves from cargo containers.

Dock at station. Jettison slaves. Slaves freed!

(That message about "destroyed" only applies to the container.)

 

[Banana's_Are_Good_For_You]

So, sample scenario:

Your child needs medical attention. It will cost far more than you can ever afford to pay. you log into the Imperial network on the "Slave" database, fill out the forms and are indentured for 10 years. Your family is taken care of, but you otherwise work without pay, but at the end of that 10 year period, you are completely debt free and the program reintegrates you to society.

Do you really think this person wants to be "freed" from their contract?

So, just because my child is sick I have to enslave myself. I'm a Space Banana, and I seem to care more for humanity than you humans do. I give good hugs.
Where did it all go wrong?
I know of Sparta, I have read stuffs.
You humans disgust me!
Mostly.

 

[Banana's_Are_Good_For_You]

On the other hand, rather than the Empire be flagged for crimes against humanity, regarding the sparta situation, I'm sure we can come to some kind of...arrangement?
Also available for those who cannot pay?

 

[Chrystoph]

So, just because my child is sick I have to enslave myself.

Have to, no, but it is an option. If you can find some other option, it is your choice as to what you employ.

 

[Ca$hback]

I used to sell imps from Ngalkin to a Federal research outpost with a black market in Yimanbin. Being as how slavery is illegal in the Federation I'm sure they've all been given the chains of liberty and they paid me handsomely for the opportunity.

 

[gorankar]

So, sample scenario:

Your child needs medical attention. It will cost far more than you can ever afford to pay. you log into the Imperial network on the "Slave" database, fill out the forms and are indentured for 10 years. Your family is taken care of, but you otherwise work without pay, but at the end of that 10 year period, you are completely debt free and the program reintegrates you to society.

Do you really think this person wants to be "freed" from their contract?

You are assigning real life, present day, mores to a game about a dystopian future, and asking us to theorize on the wants/needs/actions of make believe people.
No one is agreeing with this IRL. It's a game. I don't regularly do a lot of things IRL that I do in games, most don't. Or, at least, I hope most don't.

 

[rustyxnails]

FYI: You’re wrong. Many, many players have asked for a mechanic to free slaves over the years.

There have also been many suggestions on easy ways to implement it. The easiest I’ve seen is for slaves to simply be added to the Search and Rescue contact. You can already do this for hostages and political prisoners. There could be some limitations for Imperial versus “normal” slaves, for obvious lore reasons.

That said, your weird ranting suggests that you’re projecting some personal issues into this discussion. If that’s the case, then I feel sorry for you, man.

Thank you! I didn't think my initial post/suggestion was very provocative. Seems like a pretty easy change to make to satisfy different ways to interact with the world. I like the idea of having the option to turn in slave cargo to the search & rescue contacts.

 

[Chrystoph]

So, sample scenario:

Your child needs medical attention. It will cost far more than you can ever afford to pay. you log into the Imperial network on the "Slave" database, fill out the forms and are indentured for 10 years. Your family is taken care of, but you otherwise work without pay, but at the end of that 10 year period, you are completely debt free and the program reintegrates you to society.

Do you really think this person wants to be "freed" from their contract?

You are assigning real life, present day, mores to a game about a dystopian future, and asking us to theorize on the wants/needs/actions of make believe people.
No one is agreeing with this IRL. It's a game. I don't regularly do a lot of things IRL that I do in games, most don't. Or, at least, I hope most don't.

I note that all you did here is discard an argument without providing any counter argument. Since I enjoy this sort of thing, I'll run with it.

What part of the argument are you specifically looking to discredit? Is it the idea that parenting could still put the child ahead of the parent? Or the idea that medical care could have personal cost? You can't be implying that the concept of money doesn't exist, after all, we have empirical evidence in the game play that the economy still uses credits.

As to the, I only act this way because it is a game, argument, we are speaking of social contract behavior as opposed to the individual. The description of Imperial Slaves includes a basic description of indenture. The reasons for that indenture are, of course, unique per person, but the general concept has existed in numerous societies through human history.

 

[gorankar]

I note that all you did here is discard an argument without providing any counter argument. Since I enjoy this sort of thing, I'll run with it.

What part of the argument are you specifically looking to discredit? Is it the idea that parenting could still put the child ahead of the parent? Or the idea that medical care could have personal cost? You can't be implying that the concept of money doesn't exist, after all, we have empirical evidence in the game play that the economy still uses credits.

As to the, I only act this way because it is a game, argument, we are speaking of social contract behavior as opposed to the individual. The description of Imperial Slaves includes a basic description of indenture. The reasons for that indenture are, of course, unique per person, but the general concept has existed in numerous societies through human history.

A hypothetical about the feelings of pixel people is an argument? WT?, well, OK, the counter argument is: that they are pixel people, NPC's, and this is art, not real life. It's like a book, a movie, or a play, it's not real, it's fantasy, it's a video game. It's an escape from reality. Conflating reality and fantasy is not an argument. At least not for getting rid of a piece of Elite lore going back decades.

If you really want this aspect removed from the game, by all means, let Fdev know about it, and book burn the novels while you are at it. If you want it gone, it is because that is what you and your feelings want. Don't pretend NPC's matter.

 

[Banana's_Are_Good_For_You]

Have to, no, but it is an option. If you can find some other option, it is your choice as to what you employ.

I'm pretty sure I can put an end to the suffering caused by the empire.

 

[Chrystoph]

If you really want this aspect removed from the game, by all means, let Fdev know about it, and book burn the novels while you are at it. If you want it gone, it is because that is what you and your feelings want. Don't pretend NPC's matter.

This tells me that you haven't actually read my posts.

I haven't, once, argued for removing this content from the game. All I have done is explain the difference between indenture and slavery.

Personally, all I would like is to have Imperial Slaves renamed to Indentures.

 

[sandkid]

It seems unusual that 'freeing slaves' isn't available at Search & Rescue.

Then again, Elite's version of slavery is...odd...mostly because there are Imperial Slaves (which are more indentured servants with rights) and then Actual slaves (as the OP is likely referring to). I personally support the notion of freeing slaves, raiding slave depots, convoys, and markets (both as missions and USSs) and then using Search & Rescue to gain additional credits for this act.

On the flip side, I could see Imperial Slaves being a 'bought influence / BGS impact' by essentially paying credits - again, they're indentured servants - in exchange for reputation or influence in that system. This could of course see many abuses of BGS, but hey, the game isn't balanced so who cares!?

Anyhow, my two credits - one for each slave.

 

[Chrystoph]

@sandkid - There is a commodity called (just) Slaves. The problem is that most people don't differentiate between the two.

 

[AdmiralXanos]

types of human cargo

1. slave
2. imp slave
3. political prisoner
4. occupied escape pod

only the escape pod can be turned into S/R but i think they should also handle slaves and political prisoners
Imp slave don't want to be "freed" as they are working off debt and no other government would take them as they don't want to get into that mess.
selling imp slaves in non-imp space should result in bounties by the imperial government.
you should also be able to turn passengers/imp slaves/prisoners/escape pods into slaves by bringing them to an anarchy system which has a slave trader as a special contact. doing that would instantly give you a high notoriety because no government stands for that kind of behavior.

 

[Captain Willard]

We can't free them. In the Empire there is cotton needs picking.

 

[sandkid]

@sandkid - There is a commodity called (just) Slaves. The problem is that most people don't differentiate between the two.

Allow me to twist your words, but in a friendly way...

The problem is that most people don't differentiate between the two because the game communicates the difference poorly.

My suggestion for Search & Rescue, and 'paying the debts' of Imperials, is but one solution to this. I'm sure others could easily be envisaged and incorporated into the existing feature framework. Not only would this create more ways to interact with the world of Elite, but also help with the problem you point out - a very real, and silly, problem. But a problem nonetheless.

It's a shame that some developer(s) and writers went to the trouble - likely to the tune of several hours and hundreds of dollars - to create two kinds of slaves, with the intent to deepen and diversify the world for the player, only for it to be reduced to something poorly understood and largely ignored except to make a quick credit.

 

[sandkid]

On a side note for the general flow of this thread...

Keep in mind that the 'lore' of the Empire is the usage of indentured servitude. Whether or not it makes sense, is ethical, or logical, isn't really up for debate - that's how the Empire of Elite works. It's crucial to remember that, in the real world, slavery still exists throughout the world. This is, of course, unfortunate - but also proof it is very real, very possible, and thus relatable and usable for creative projects...like books, videogames, and movies.

Similar to how the Alliance's loose federation of independent systems is based on real governing systems - warts and all - and its lack of an Empire ranking, or empire specific ships rank locked, is one way that system is carried out for the player. One of the reasons I like to RP as an Alliance supporter is because of its simplicity.

But I'm also envious of the 'uniformity and unity' of the other two major powers. Nothing quite hits patriotism like a Hudson Ad with him pointing his finger, or a Gutamaya meme featuring basking and the Emperor's smartly dressed attire. I think its why Mahon is such a well designed caricature - workman, simple, authentic. Anyhow, these are all reinforcers for an 'untold' story of the game. I always advocate for means and methods for players to directly influence or participate in these otherwise 'static' story elements.