|
|
Post by MTKnife on Apr 1, 2011 0:22:26 GMT -5
So...there was a rumor of a trade ban on metals on Thulun Prime, and I headed on over there to use my Special Smuggler Skillz. I sold 52 units of metals at a huge loss, in returning getting...nothing. No trade records whatsoever.
Later, I happened to fly by Thulun Prime again, and landed to take on water-fuel--and trade records were created! According to the main Urban Zone screen, and the Exchange prices, the ban was still on metals.
|
|
|
|
Post by oldalchemist on Apr 1, 2011 9:31:35 GMT -5
I have a heck of a time getting trade records in a tax situation with smugglers. I wonder if it's worth it to unload in small quantities instead of dumping 30-50 tons at a time.
|
|
|
|
Post by absimiliard on Apr 1, 2011 9:41:02 GMT -5
The rarity of bans/taxes compared to shortages/surpluses combined with the uncertainty of producing records have mostly driven my smugglers back to legal trade again. (with the predictable result that Snuggles McSnugglypants has again retired to the Spice Bar on Cadar Prime, because the local princes can't keep him out and Cadar women are HOT, as in "smoking h/k-missile trails hot", which always helps his depression over acting in a legal fashion)
Recently I've mostly been playing a Cadar spy, and (admittedly) mostly dying a lot. (but I'm so good at dying, so I figure practice will keep my 'leet "dying skills" in place)
-abs
|
|
|
|
Post by oldalchemist on Apr 1, 2011 9:48:02 GMT -5
I'll tell you what, if you hear about a spice shortage, I don't care what kind of captain you are, you fill that hold and you burn steam.
Before shortages ended so quickly, I had a smuggler working a three-way trade where there was a spice shortage on Javat Prime, a water shortage on DeValtos and a plant shortage on an independent rock not far from the two.
|
|
|
|
Post by absimiliard on Apr 1, 2011 11:09:09 GMT -5
Oldalchemist, you should ignore Snuggles, I try my best to do so. He's a cynical, law-avoiding-by-nature, scruffy looking, nerf-herder of a smuggler. (I know he'll dispute the "scruffy-looking" part) As such he's less concerned with making huge profits than he is with avoiding "legal entanglements", as he puts it. (by which he means "doing anything in an up-front, above-the-board, or potentially legal manner")
I know the infamous Cadar spy "Scooter" recently sent in vids of this conversation in the spice bar on Cadar Prime.
Grainy video from a hidden camera shows Snuggles and his first mate conversing over a several pints of spice-beer, the handsome smuggler captain is speaking. "Ole my friend," (happens Turdlip is of Scandinavian descent and Ole is really his actual first name, who knew), "how many millions of credits do I have now? Right. I recently asked our Political Officer, and I know I hired her for the blonde hair and the backrubs but she DOES understand math pretty well and is a whizz at accounting, how long I could spend in the spice bars "entertaining" myself and the crew before I run out of credits? She told me that I couldn't spend all my credits before I died if I tried. So, frankly, I really can't psych myself up for another run to sell legal spice to the 'Big Hats', no matter how much they want to pay for it. Where's the thrill of being chased? Where's the excitement of knowing that taxes and trade-bans are stacked against you and then overcoming them? What Military Picket Is Going To Shoot Torpedoes At Me If I'm Running Legal Goods?" The video shows Snuggles pounding his fists on the table to emphasize his point, then throwing his hands up exasperatedly before sinking, exhausted, back into his chair. "Oh, I can't be bothered, it's all too unbearably boring for a man like me. Barkeep, bring me more hookers and Spice!"
Whether you believe Scooter's video is faked or not, everyone in Cadar Military Intel (and I mean 'Top Men') all agree that the scene is pretty typical for Snuggles. In fact they've seen it a few times over the years.
-abs
|
|
|
|
Post by Cory Trese on Apr 1, 2011 11:53:27 GMT -5
I got something for you ... how about a secret mission to the deepest darkest part of space to drop a load of illegal cargo on the surface of a hostile planet?
Trade Permit holding Captains ... NEED NOT APPLY.
* * *
"Our operatives on Javat Mining Camp are in dire need of a resupply action. We need a Smuggler who won't leave a paper trail to purchase and deliver 250 units of [Weapons] to the secret camp. We will pay you 500,000 credits to cover the cost of the Weapons and the delivery fee. Alternately we could put this ship in to dry dock on your behalf."
|
|
|
|
Post by MTKnife on Apr 1, 2011 14:16:34 GMT -5
Yes! That's smuggling!
It sounds very naughty.
|
|
|
|
Post by absimiliard on Apr 1, 2011 14:36:18 GMT -5
In the palace at Cadar UTF Drewicious the Wide was having dinner and insulting the waiter, because if you can do both at once . . .. why not? "I'll have the lot." A deferential comment from the waiter, and another sally by Drewicious, "Yeah,... with the eggs on top. . . . . and don't skimp on the pate ...and a double Jeroboam of champagne. No, wait a minute. I think I can only manage six crates today." As the waiter retreats, seeking a new bucket to fill with the vomitus of his patron's overindulgence a skeevy, ratty, slinky sort of non-descript scrum-of-the-earth sort approaches the Prince, "What?!"
'Scooter' interjects, "My lord, urgent news from Cadar Prime. Video surveillance of the smuggler McSnugglypants implies something is up. He's left the bar! He ordered his first mate to prep the ship's crew for launch, the engineer he had ensure the water-fuel tanks were full and the engines warm, and he sent his 'masseuse' to the exchange for rumors, I'm not really sure what qualifies a blonde bimbo to act as his officer but McSnugglypants NEVER does anything without a reason. I'm sure something is up, it feels like change is in the air!"
The, extremely obese, Cadar Prince bellows in response, "Frell off! And bring me another bucket waiter." Patrons begin leaving the restaurant. Drewicious again berates the waiter, "No, I don't want a wafer thin mint, bugger off." A moment later, "Look. I couldn't eat another thing. I'm absolutely stuffed." The waiter implores him to try 'just one', it's only wafer-thin he points out..... Drewicious the Wide groans, "All right. Just one."
Thankfully the scene ends here........
-abs
|
|
|
|
Post by oldalchemist on Apr 4, 2011 11:33:42 GMT -5
If a smuggler gets searched and his hold is full of hats and plants, he ought to lose reputation.
|
|
