|
|
Post by drdave on Oct 28, 2013 10:22:32 GMT -5
I've just been jumped by a KH team en-route to delivering a package. When I regained conciousness the mission had timed out and I'm left with a package, but nowhere to deliver it to.
Does anyone else like the idea of being able to pop the seal on the package to see what's inside? The chances are it would be something of little or no value, but there's just a slight chance of it being a shiny new kraken suit or something equally useful.
The odds of something valuable would have to be fairly low (but then if it's not valuable, why pay a cyber-knight to deliver it) and perhaps it should only be allowed if the contract has expired.
It might also be worth increasing the reputation loss for failing to deliver a package, to discourage people from just opening all the packages, this would be less relevant if only expired packages could be opened, or perhaps have a much larger penalty for opening a package with an active contract.
"Unfortunately the package you though might contain a Kraken Suit, actually contains the Doc Liz's laundry. Your reputation with Mars has fallen by 100"
|
|
|
|
Post by beuns on Oct 28, 2013 10:39:58 GMT -5
I don't know if it's a good idea to be able to open packages but it's a interesting question. Just to say, if someone hire a CK to deliver a package, the reason is more related to discretion on who send what to who than to "escort" the package. Just my opinion of course.
Anyway, the matter of being allowed to open package could worth it only if the odd are fair on both side, I mean : you have an equal chance to have something of value than to have nothing you could want but whatever the case, your rep AND heat should dramatically change in the worst way possible (i.e : everyone should know that you're a knight that can't be trusted and even, some would like to kill you) but if you're willing to take the risk, it should be rewarded fairly (let say 65% chances you have worthless thing) just my 2 cents of course.
|
|
|
|
Post by fallen on Oct 28, 2013 11:45:48 GMT -5
It's definitely a balancing challenge to enable something like this.
1) Low change of success. Wide variety of results.
2) Big penalty for doing it, otherwise you'd be off taking package jobs as fast as you can, and then stepping out of the shop and popping them like its Christmas.
We have talked about this one, but I have had a hard time getting excited about that kind of balancing in the game. You're encouraged to be a bad Cyber Knight basically. If you can pop packages, then factions where you have low Reputation should stop giving you jobs and then you're never going to be able to undo Rep damage ... its a nasty cycle.
Perhaps an Encounter that was package-job specific could help with this. That takes it out of your hands as a player so its not an active action, but someone could approach you with info on what's in the package and give you the choice. Thoughts?
|
|
|
|
Post by beuns on Oct 28, 2013 16:23:43 GMT -5
I don't feel comfortable too with this idea fallen I know, in a way, that a lot of NPCs are seeing CK as nothing much than dogs doing dirty work for money and in a sense that's true but being allowed to really go into being a bad CK is not appealing to me. Maybe I have played Shadowrun and Cyberpunk RPGs for too long but to me it's a matter of keeping to ones word, some sort of "honor among thieves" : you may be a criminal in front of the law but you still got an honor to stick to and part of it is to never betray your employer. |
|
|
|
Post by fallen on Oct 28, 2013 17:28:11 GMT -5
I don't feel comfortable too with this idea fallen I know, in a way, that a lot of NPCs are seeing CK as nothing much than dogs doing dirty work for money and in a sense that's true but being allowed to really go into being a bad CK is not appealing to me. Maybe I have played Shadowrun and Cyberpunk RPGs for too long but to me it's a matter of keeping to ones word, some sort of "honor among thieves" : you may be a criminal in front of the law but you still got an honor to stick to and part of it is to never betray your employer. That's generally my take as well, and the game is built around some of those ideals. Some Cyber Knights do betray, but it should be over big things (see MnB) and never over small things ("ooh, I wonder what's in this package?") |
|
|
|
Post by beuns on Oct 28, 2013 23:19:13 GMT -5
We are on the same train of thought here. If I may, I would suggest to include an NPC that has gone all the way through the downward spiral in the next story (I remember you telling that there will be another in the future, am I wrong ?)
|
|
|
|
Post by drdave on Oct 29, 2013 13:36:46 GMT -5
My thoughts were more:
"Thanks to that drone attack I've missed the delivery deadline. Now Mars are really p****d with me and I'm stuck with this package that nobody wants, I wonder what's in it that's so important."
That's why I suggested it might only be possible to open a package if the contract had expired. If there are players out there happy to sit twiddling their thumbs waiting for delivery contracts to expire rather than actually play the game, well who are we to criticise, they probably also like reality tv and watching paint dry.
|
|
|
|
Post by beuns on Oct 29, 2013 20:22:33 GMT -5
My thoughts were more: "Thanks to that drone attack I've missed the delivery deadline. Now Mars are really p****d with me and I'm stuck with this package that nobody wants, I wonder what's in it that's so important." That's why I suggested it might only be possible to open a package if the contract had expired. If there are players out there happy to sit twiddling their thumbs waiting for delivery contracts to expire rather than actually play the game, well who are we to criticise, they probably also like reality tv and watching paint dry. LOL !  |
|
|
|
Post by beuns on Oct 29, 2013 20:25:28 GMT -5
drdave : I understand your point here but IMO if you allow players (the one watching paint drying on tv  ) to open packages after jobs ended you encourage being a bad CK (but maybe I'm wrong...)
|
|
|
|
Post by Jacob on Oct 29, 2013 21:28:41 GMT -5
From my point, I totally support the ability to open the packages if the contract expired... I Maybe add something of a penalty arms something to keep the penalty at bay? So... I If package has been opened, add 50 heat, remove 30 rep -unless stealth is at Max, then do nothing-... agreed?
Sent from my HTC Desire C using proboards
|
|
|
|
Post by beuns on Oct 29, 2013 23:45:34 GMT -5
From my point, I totally support the ability to open the packages if the contract expired... I Maybe add something of a penalty arms something to keep the penalty at bay? So... I If package has been opened, add 50 heat, remove 30 rep -unless stealth is at Max, then do nothing-... agreed? Sent from my HTC Desire C using proboards And only if the job has expired ? IMO it could be possible only if it becomes a real moral issue let say that if you could hand it back to its owner (i.e the connector) or open it that would be different, it get you to the level of making hard choices where the good one is only yours. Maybe with a -100 rep (30 is not enough) and + 50 heat it would be resolved (no matter how much stealth you put in it, your employer know that the package hasn't been delivered and you can imagine any electronic mean to know it has been open). As always, it's just my opinion and I may be wrong from the start. Feel free to disagree |
|
|
|
Post by Lt. Hathaway on Oct 30, 2013 3:03:19 GMT -5
A nice thematic balance for this would be the occasional package that explodes on expiration |
|
|
|
Post by drdave on Oct 30, 2013 13:36:12 GMT -5
A nice thematic balance for this would be the occasional package that explodes on expiration Or possibly some (all?) of the packages are booby-trapped and you have to defuse them. Could the game monitor if a knight is in the habit of opening packages and have connectors testing them with more complicated and deadly traps? |
|
|
|
Post by Jacob on Oct 30, 2013 14:07:04 GMT -5
A nice thematic balance for this would be the occasional package that explodes on expiration Hmmm... Connector: ''Deliver this Package to PLACE, and be fast... It's a trap for a Mole, it'll explode at TIME! Or deliver it to PLACE and give him a call, here is his V-Chip, and when you see him, kill him.. I'll pay a bit more if you do the latter, as he'll have Bodyguards with him... '' Good? Sent from my HTC Desire C using proboards |
|
|
|
Post by Lt. Hathaway on Oct 30, 2013 14:48:07 GMT -5
Or simply, "You know how that CK stole the armor last time? Well, we can track the next thief by the boom!"
|
|
) to open packages after jobs ended you encourage being a bad CK (but maybe I'm wrong...)
