Real Smuggler Gameplay

[Zandraak]

Hello,

In my eyes, we have a real problem right now.
In Elite, players call "Smuggler" the action of stealing (Mission or Piracy).

But, in reality a Smuggler buy legally (alcohol in Canada) and sell in a place where it is illegal. (like prohibition USA.)

He takes a risk, often responds to a strong demand, I mean with good "prices".
In exchange, we do a hard ride, in smaller "stealth oriented" ships (engines etc)
Currently, the only system is "-25%" on the black market.

I come here to ask for a new system.

I can suggest, but I think the team will find much better:
Why not differentiate a stolen object (concealment) and smuggling?

• If you stole a Phone, you'll sold him at a lower price. It's legal here, but buying and using this item is dangerous for me. (And maybe i can buy it legaly)
• But if you bring with you drugs slaves (like the last slave trader in the USA which was illegal (Clotilda). So there is a high demand, I can't buy it legally on the market and the object is not "stolen".

This can create a real new gameplay, create a new "necessary" of ship and new type of fun.

 

[Felix DiCestria]

With regards smuggling it's best done for a specific client (mission board) rather than the black market approach as this gives both better and more diverse payouts (mats/rep/inf).
You don't have to stay small either, I have a cold running 'conda on my console account.

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

With regards smuggling it's best done for a specific client (mission board) rather than the black market approach as this gives both better and more diverse payouts (mats/rep/inf).
You don't have to stay small either, I have a cold running 'conda on my console account.

Is smuggling still a matter of boosting through the slot to avoid scans? It always offended me that the best way to be 'stealthy' in a ship was to be as fast and loud as possible.

 

[Zandraak]

I know how it works now. And that's what bothers me.

It's as if there were ONLY trade missions and it's impossible to trade yourself.
I want to be able to buy guns where it's legal and sell them where it's not.
The current system is... Bad?

 

[Felix DiCestria]

Is smuggling still a matter of boosting through the slot to avoid scans? It always offended me that the best way to be 'stealthy' in a ship was to be as fast and loud as possible.

Never done that, run cold ~15% and no-one scans you as long as you don't hit them or scan other ships.

Generally smuggling is done for a specific client. Bulk smuggling is more about BGS stuff, where you want to be trading at a loss.

 

[Zandraak]

Generally smuggling is done for a specific client. Bulk smuggling is more about BGS stuff, where you want to be trading at a loss.

I know. And that's what i add to "change". Difference between "black market" and "buy stolen Items that i can find on real market".
Sold drugs, weapons etc on a station should make money.

We can open a gameplay fun, with specific Ships simply.

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

Never done that, run cold ~15% and no-one scans you as long as you don't hit them or scan other ships.

Generally smuggling is done for a specific client. Bulk smuggling is more about BGS stuff, where you want to be trading at a loss.

Is better, but it's still a little odd that you can slide an Anaconda into a station without anyone noticing - especially given that you have to request docking permission.

I feel that a more 'fun' way would involve a level of stealth, together with requirements for custom cargo bays with reduced capacity due to hidden compartments. There'd also be a risk of inspection on docking, which you could mitigate with reputation-based bribery. Rewards for smuggling would be larger, but a greater risk of detection and punishment.

But this is FDev, so we have what we have.

 

[Zandraak]

Bump !

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

Bump !

Dude, 'Suggestions' is where good ideas go to die.
Gonna take more than a bump to get FDev to pay attention. Have you considered an open letter?

 

[Galactic Fork]

I think the mission format is a bit more realistic for smuggling as it's requested by a specific faction and they have the desire and infrastructure to distribute the goods after you sell them.

In this scenario, you know there's demand. Either you are just delivering, or sourcing. If sourcing, you know how much they require or are capable of storing/distributing over a period of time.

I'd think in real smuggling, you're going through existing contacts and contracts, and not just showing up with a bunch of illegal goods.

That all said, I'm not a fan of the current "black market" system for stolen or smuggled goods. It should be faction based. You become friendly with a criminal faction and you gain access to a fence for stolen goods, and better smuggling contracts for illegal goods.

This goes for odyssey as well. They shoud really ditch the stupid bartender system.