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[Proposal] Revamp Contraband/Customs Scans!

Author
Nomistrav
Center for Advanced Studies
Gallente Federation
#1 - 2012-10-11 04:41:15 UTC  |  Edited by: Nomistrav
This is a thread on making Smuggling a viable profession (who doesn't want to be Han Solo?)

To begin - we first need to understand what smuggling is and why it's simply impossible to accomplish in Eve Online.

Smuggling is the art of moving contraband or conveying person(s) illegally into or out of an area secretly and illicitly. Why does it not work in Eve Online?

NPC Customs Officials are faction NPCs who sit at gates who scan a random (player) passerby. This is completely unavoidable and while there is no guarantee that you will be scanned, there's also no way to prevent it or lessen the chances. Further more, there is no way to actively avoid it either.

When you are scanned by a customs official and found to have contraband you will be targeted, scrambled and webbed. At which point you be given a choice to either release the contraband in their custody, be fined and take a standings hit (which can be pretty hefty depending on the item). If you refuse to give up the item, or jettison it from your cargo, you are attacked and will almost inevitably lose your ship.

In more extreme cases they may just attack you outright if the contraband is deemed severe enough.

So, what needs to be fixed? How can we fix it?

1.) We need the ability to be able to do one or more of three options:

a.) Avoid the customs scans entirely. This could be done by revamping the customs system to apply to the same system we operate on with ECM/Sensor Strength.

b.) Reduce the likeliness of customs scans. This could be done by operating on a Standing's system, with higher standings in that particular faction reducing the chances of being scanned. Think of it as being part of the neighborhood watch and actively taking part in your community, you couldn't -possibly- be doing some illegal, right?

c.) Reduce the chances of success from customs scans. This could be done with the same system we operate on with ECM/Sensor strength - using it in a manner to trick the customs official's sensors into a false scan.

2.) Revamp the consequences for smuggling. A few things can make this more appealing:

a.) Reduce the capabilities of the NPC customs officials to a more forgiving manner for not making it past the (revamped) scan system. Remove scrambling/webbing but keep the option to be fired upon if confiscation is refused.

b.) Security standings hits should operate not just on the contraband itself but on a 'x' strikes basis. If it's your first time getting caught, the standings hit shouldn't be so severe. If it's your tenth - the nation's probably not going to be happy seeing your face over and over again.

c.) Operate on the new Crimewatch system. With the revamped customs scanning system players should have a chance of being issued as a "suspect" in smuggling and if caught should escalate to being a criminal. This will give incentive to bounty hunters operating as more than just bounty hunters, but as public defenders and private investigators.

On another note, please see my thread on Revamping Boosters: [Proposal] Revamping Boosters and their Production!

"As long as space endures,

as long as sentient beings exist,

until then, may I too remain

and dispel the miseries of the world."

~ Vremaja Idama

Gizznitt Malikite
Agony Unleashed
Agony Empire
#2 - 2012-10-12 18:09:43 UTC

I think the best option is to put Custom's Officer Scanning in the hands of players...

If a player scans your ship, and the scanner reveals contraband... have that ship automatically be flagged a suspect! Then everyone can gank it for the next 15 minutes...

This gives another purpose to "cargo scanners" beyond finding targets for highsec gankers!
Che Biko
Alexylva Paradox
#3 - 2012-10-13 14:55:14 UTC
Gizznitt Malikite wrote:
I think the best option is to put Custom's Officer Scanning in the hands of players...

If a player scans your ship, and the scanner reveals contraband... have that ship automatically be flagged a suspect! Then everyone can gank it for the next 15 minutes...

This gives another purpose to "cargo scanners" beyond finding targets for highsec gankers!
I agree with this for the most part.
In fact, the OP's point 2c inspired me to formulate a system that comes close to this. It's open for feedback on the F&I forum: Link