Luxury passenger missions between permit-locked systems

[Nadreck]

At present, most permit-locked systems don't contain much of interest, and the mission board never generates missions to a permit-locked system anyhow (even if you have the permit). And Luxury passenger missions to anywhere are notoriously rare.

But it wouldn't be unreasonamble to suppose that there could be high-level diplomatic ties between (for instance) the Peregrina Aristocrats and the equally aristocratic Dukes of Jotun (and perhaps with the Empire at Achenar). Likewise with the Brotherhood of Terra Mater and the Pi Mensae Brotherhood.

So if you have both permits for such a pair of similar permit-issuing factions, why not have the mission board regularly generate one special Luxury passenger mission between the two permit-locked systems? It could pay well and also carry a high Inf payout to help keep that faction in power (I've noticed that some permit-issuing factions no longer control their home system).

This would provide a reason to get permits, and a reliable source of Luxury passenger missions.

 

[CMDR Yates]

Seems eminently sensible.

 

[Factabulous]

I think we can do better than that - why would there only be luxury missions in permit locked systems - other than "I want something special about permit locked systems, so why not add this random thing"?

You could say that some permit locked systems are like gated communities - refuges for the super rich and hence a source of Luxury Pax missions. Not sure they need to go to other permit locked systems - that makes things complicated for the mission generator and doesn't really add much IMHO. Even that doesn't make a lot of sense as many of the permit locked systems are refineries etc, so hardly look like they would have much call for luxury transport.

From a RP POV it would also sense to have high value Source & Return missions in permit locked systems - as the number of pilots who can supply those systems is limited it makes sense that goods should cost more and hence be more lucrative behind permit locks. But then again the demand for goods in these systems is not very high, so I don't know they could sustain lots of source & return missions.

 

[Nadreck]

Not sure they need to go to other permit locked systems - that makes things complicated for the mission generator and doesn't really add much IMHO. Even that doesn't make a lot of sense as many of the permit locked systems are refineries etc, so hardly look like they would have much call for luxury transport.

Well, I don't envisage such missions being generated randomly by the existing mission generator. They'd be special missions generated separately, like Naval rank-up missions are (they'd probably be presented as follow-on missions). So if you're at Jotun, the Dukes of Jotun will only give you a Luxury passenger mission to Peregrina Aristocrats in Peregrina, and nowhere else (and vice versa at Peregrina), so you won't get sent somewhere else that doesn't make sense. Make them a few times more lucrative than a regular passenger mission, but you can't stack them, as they are only issued one at a time. If they require a size 5 Luxury cabin, you could either run just that mission in a Dolphin, or take an Orca or Beluga and haul commodities in cargo racks as a sideline.

Another variation: "Covert diplomatic mission". Take a high-ranking politician/diplomat from Sol to Achenar or vice versa, in an off-the-record misson that would require the use of an independent pilot rather than a regular diplomatic transport. To qualify, you need high security clearances for both superpowers (max ranks in both navies) and a current status of at least Friendly with both. Such passengers always have the "Secretive" trait, so don't get scanned. Size 6 Luxury cabin required. Similar missions to/from Alioth don't require Alliance naval rank (as there isn't any), but require you to have a current status of Allied.