A thought for smuggler crews...

Been thinking about this, too, actually. I was reading over some old saved stuff from the old JvS, and came across some actual jobs the Fel crew had done, and I was like, "...Oh, right, the smuggling part of being a smuggler. Where is that now?"

I think you're right. We need to make ourselves available for that. The biggest issue I see in the way is the activity levels of the crew. Honestly, when you have more than two writers in a group that live in different parts of the world and have vastly different schedules, it's hard enough trying to sync posts and keep things going on a personal story-arc level. But if we're gonna call ourselves smugglers, we better smuggle every once in a while, IC.

So.

Solutions. Feel free to shoot down.

--...was going to suggest something in JotW, but now I realize that doesn't make sense, so moving on.

--Easiest thing would probably be a split-timeline. But we could modify that. We could steal the SWTOR design. When someone needs a simple job done (because, let's face it, RPing your own NPC smuggler crew is just boring, and building actual IC relationships is important to stave off website-wide stagnation), instead of sending all seven crew members, we choose ONE or two crew members who are active and able to get it done in a short amount of time, and we send them on said mission. They get it done in a few good posts, and return easy-like. I think one of the biggest issues with doing legit smuggling jobs on the old website was that we all went as a team, and it fell apart because of the mass. While it's way more fun to do it as a team, it's not logical in OOC time.

--We COULD use NPCs. But I don't like this option. Unless it's a long-standing NPC with serious pull in the arcs of the PC crew, there are no connections formed, and the writer-in-need-of-smuggler might as well do it themselves. I think it's an option for the back burner, in case there really cannot be a split timeline.

--Oops, thought I had more ideas. Well is dry for now.

'Lora

This. This is brilliant.  

I agree. Most expedient, best use of resources, allows PCs to establish their own contacts, and likely allows for some interesting new sl's down the road.

I have a special gun for shooting slavers. Don't want to contaminate my equipment with that filth.

Alright so the idea is fairly simple, something akin to the bounty postings but more hands on. Now bear with me because I'm writing this on my phone.

Places like Nar Shaddaa and the Smugglers Run have gone largely unused since leaving the old site. With this idea I'd like to correct that problem. Smugglers typically get their jobs from crime bosses, which are sorely lacking on this site, another thing I would like to correct.

What I suggest is possibly setting up shop for a middle man. This person or group would do the leg work of finding the jobs and offering them to available crews or crews best suited for such a job. Whether the jobs are made up or provided by a PC would make no difference because there isn't a currency tracking system in place (which sounds like a power gaming move I know but just hear me out).

For example, our guy says there is a shipment of spice to pick up at location, let's say Kessel, and it needs moved to second location, let's say Corellia, for distribution. Weight of shipment, destination, and payout are said in all cases, maybe some other information we can go over later, what the cargo is would be optional info of course. We do the job, get paid if we make it there, and the wheels keep turning in the world of JvS.

The big difference between this and the bounties is that this would all be done IC through personal channels. The clients remain anonymous unless they would otherwise want to be named and we still get the jobs we want.

If you like the idea or at least like where it's going I'll work it out with you guys once I get some time, probably tomorrow.

This sounds like fun! Miriam would like to sign up for it

If you require someone to play the middleman IC, Xinzon and associates would be more than willing. He already owns a galaxy-wide shipping business and has been expanding that to include contracts with the less reputable captains (such as one Galdaart Fel). I'd be happy to include both Draykon and Hammand in my enterprise, as well as be the contact point for those in possession of goods that need shipping.

Now I wouldn't be going out and looking for these jobs myself, as I'm a full-time college student with a part time job (and as such lack the time), but we could easily set up a thread where shippers can convey their needs. From there we can set up a couple IC posts of their representative speaking to my representative, then my representative handing off the job to a PC crew. Short and sweet, and it ties things together in a way that simply using generic NPC middlemen would be unable to do. Plus I get to build contacts and make money.