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Post by slayernz on May 21, 2011 18:45:58 GMT -5
Yeah - we've had a chat about increasing contract types and stuff. Poor Cory's got enough feature candidates to keep him busy for the next decade  |
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Post by Cory Trese on May 22, 2011 11:16:21 GMT -5
My advice:
Early game Smuggler should not fear surrender. You're going for positive or slightly negative reputations. Surrendering with Contracts is OK (remember even Han Solo jettison's cargo and gets arrested sometimes) because a Smuggler is not loyal to anyone but the Credits.
Key to my Smuggler's success is using the special ability of the class -- Trade Records on Restricted Goods. Buying restricted goods at a Faction exchange and re-selling at an Independent World can be profitable. Further, if that world is under some types of rumors you can get 300% more Records.
Smuggler is a class that definitely starts in a tough spot. Early game for other characters is often defined by a captured ship or a lucky break in combat. The Smuggler does not fight to win battles so he won't get very many captures.
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sebastian
Exemplar
la la la la la la la la la
Posts: 255
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Post by sebastian on May 23, 2011 3:41:16 GMT -5
how exactly do you get records for making a sale of those items? It has not occurred for me yet...
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Post by oldalchemist on May 23, 2011 10:34:51 GMT -5
Putting some points in Negotiate and Tactics may help with Record production, too.
The rumors thing is a big deal for Smugglers. You've got to bide your time until your first big shortage and then milk the hell out of it. Spice is often one of the best early money-makers. Until you can make that first big score, you need to jack up your pilot and intimidate to keep your gas prices down. Pilot doesn't hurt early flight from combat or the off chance you've got a reasonable chance to capture a sweet ship. I wouldn't bother upgrading that early ship as a keeper, but you might want to roll the dice and enlarge the hold.
Once you've got the early bankroll rolling, buy a fast rank ship unless you've caught something sweeter.
Spending early cash on record purchase and immediate sale just to jack up rep to permit levels is a must. Get 6 permits. Then buy/sell illegal goods right there to get to rank levels. Now you won't get searched.
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Post by slayernz on May 23, 2011 18:04:36 GMT -5
Oh good point - I forgot that records actually boost reputation! ... I've been doing things the hard way all the time!
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sebastian
Exemplar
la la la la la la la la la
Posts: 255
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Post by sebastian on May 24, 2011 2:54:08 GMT -5
thats got to be a devious flaw in the game, but utterly brilliant.
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Post by oldalchemist on May 24, 2011 10:35:41 GMT -5
I don't think it's a flaw. It's the only thing that makes smugglers playable. Merchants trade on margins. They want to make money off of their deals to keep making money off of their deals.
A smuggler wants to make rep so he can get permits and rank and be able to move dangerous cargo safely. His trade in illegal goods is all about currying favor so that when a shortage shows up, legal or illegal, he can capitalize on it immediately. High rep with a faction lets him have a buffer against embargoes. "Look, I know you guys were fighting, but the Cadar had such a good price on torpedo beanies last week. Now that things are patched up, here are the blueprints for those hats. Oh, I know it's going to chap the Songers, because of your little spy war, but I'm on my way to sell the hats from Cadar to them and everything will be right as rain. They win, you win, but most importantly, I won twice...wait, make that three times."
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sebastian
Exemplar
la la la la la la la la la
Posts: 255
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Post by sebastian on May 25, 2011 6:14:43 GMT -5
yeah but to buy records from someone and sell the same ones back, even for a loss of $$, but a gain in rep?
rep as being a shlump?
everything else makes sense but that.
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Post by oldalchemist on May 25, 2011 9:03:27 GMT -5
You're buying up Records that are being sold on the open market and selling them back to the faction.
"Hey Prince, I found these photos of your Chief of Security wandering around Baza Prime without a hat on. Yeah, sunburn and dandruff. I thought they'd be safer in your hands. You know how those DeValtos papers have a field day with this stuff. There's also some receipts for a big purchase of Cadarian torpedo paint in there that you might find useful, considering the embargo they're having with the Javat right now."
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