Freelance Bounty hunting

[sgtcookie]

"Captain, why do we have to wait for someone to hire us before we can bring criminals to justice?"

That is a question that must have passed through the minds of every bounty hunter player in one shape or form. Why do we have to wait for a contract to appear before we can do our jobs? Perhaps there could be a something like a bounty board, with the location of a criminal, destroy or capture and reward. I am not saying replace bounty hunter contracts, contracts given to the player would require a higher level of trust than is required for a trial jumper. A bounty hunter earns a living off hunting criminals, but when they are only given rarely as a contract, it makes it somewhat difficult.

What do you think?

[oldalchemist]

You could make wanted criminals show up in Rumors, perhaps with an officer noting that "There is a bounty on this ship" when you encounter random dudes in space.

It should certainly be information that you have to land and search the Palaces and Spice Halls for though.

[Cory Trese]

I see this general type of non-directed action as falling under one of two types of activities -- Rumors and Conflicts. Contracts are by nature directed and have a start and stop that is not defined directly by the player.

On the other hand, Conflicts and Rumors are indirect and the start and stop (of the Captain's involvement) is directed by the player.

For Example:

Capturing or destroying a criminal Bounty Hunters working for the opposing Faction [during a War of Assassins.]

Spying on Criminals to collect evidence so we can issue Contracts [during a Spy Battle.]

Capture, Looting or destroying Merchants to slow our enemy's trade [during a Trade War.]

Capture or Destroy criminal military, smuggler or BH during a solar war.

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I like the idea, so much I have a similar one in the works -- mine is maybe a little easier on the ST RPG development staff tho!

Here is what I'm working on along these lines:

1. Assuming all Captains are doing something, the NPC Captains should be up to stuff
2. Enemy Captains should have Contracts (Passengers, Packages)
3. Some Enemy Captains are Criminals
4. Some Enemy Captains are Wanted

I'm working on a way to make the Victory options (for the enemy and player) options richer.

One thing that the Captain will be able to do in this situation is "Search" the ship, which will be a more legal form of victory (especially if Captain has illegal contracts, ect.)

So, I am working on letting you collect random fugitives and smuggled packages (full of random goodies!) from boarded and search ships.

---

There will soon be shades between "Killed in Action" and "Prison" that allow the Captain to use Negotiation or Intimidation to escape some of the penalties.

[oldalchemist]

There ought to be a standing bounty on non-aligned pirates collectible when you dock at a Palace or Military Base. If I take out 10 Cadar pirates and 5 Javat pirates and 2 Indy pirates, I ought to get paid for 12 pirates at a Javat base, 7 at a Javat base, and 17 at a Thulun base (barring alliances). Independents probably won't pay.

Perhaps use some of the hold space for captured pirates and sell them at the exchange?

[diablodestroyer]

Perhaps use some of the hold space for captured pirates and sell them at the exchange?

Lol.. I like this statement... it seems evil and cruel but practical

[oldalchemist]

Hey, when you freeze a smuggler in carbonite, he takes up a bit of space in the cargo hold. It's just creepy to store a frozen bounty in the crew quarters or the galley. If you blow the contract, you've still got a slab in the hold and you might as well ransom it off.

[Cory Trese]

yah this will eventually be added to packages and passengers =)

[oldalchemist]

Speaking of passengers, the new message when you fail a 'honored guests' mission tells you that the passengers get killed.

"This is the captain speaking, we had a bit of a headwind and we're going to be late getting you folks to your connecting flights. The flight attendants will be coming around to euthanize the lot of you. Thank you for flying Steel Song Spacelines, we know you have a choice in carriers and we appreciate your choosing us."

[Cory Trese]

Oh dear, I thought it only said that when another Faction took them off of the Ship.

You're seeing it for all failures? =)

That would be excessive passenger death

[oldalchemist]

It was one time when I was late on a contract. I don't think I got searched. I'll let you know if it happens again, but I usually try to not fail my contracts!

[Cory Trese]

i'll check could be a crossed string

[oldalchemist]

I thought maybe my captain was just a total badass.