Smuggler Revamp

1) Delete the Spice line. Make it a harvestable/lootable resource.

2) Add the Smuggle line. Similiar to Investigation.

1. Novice Smuggler - Smuggle Skill
2. Smuggle I - Small Personal Smuggling Pouch, Ship Smuggling Compartment Mk I
3. Smuggle II - Medium Smuggling Pouch and Ship Smuggling Compartment Mk. II
4. Smuggle III - Fast Talk Skill, Large Personal Smuggling Pouch, Ship Smuggling Compartment Mk. III
5. Smuggle IV - Very Large Personal Smuggling Puch, Ship Smuggling Compartment Mk. IV 

Smuggle Skill - A rating used to counter search results when a player is scanned. A random number is generated and modified by the rank of the scanner NPC and the visibility of the smuggler. This score is further modified by the smuggler's skill. The result will tell if the scanning NPC finds any contraband.

Fast Talk Skill - Group Smuggle Skill. Anyone grouped with the smuggler shares the smuggler's skill rating.

Smuggling Pouch - Crafted by smugglers. It is hidden somewhere on the person and is usually lined with a material to deter electronic scanning. Needs a standard pouch as the core. This item is given a rating based on the materials used. This rating is further used to modify the scanning NPC's number. Each size denotes how many contraband items can be hidden in the pouches, from 1 to 10 items. These items take up no inventory slots. These items are saleable and useable by Non-Smugglers however they do take up inventory slots and the Non-Smuggler doesnt get the smuggler's skill rating, only the pouch rating.

Ship Smuggling Compartment - This item is used in ships to help a smuggler get past blockades or avoid searches. The main component is a droid stroage compartment. Each Compartment is given a rating, based on materials used, to further modify the results of a scanning NPC search score. The compartments can hold between 10 and 200 items, depending on the level and quality of crafting. They do not take up mass on a ship owned by a smuggler. They can be used by non-smugglers as well however, the non-smuggler has to deal with mass and they do not recieve the smugglers skill rating, only the rating of the compartment. Ship Smuggling Compartments can be put into any type of ship from fighter to MP ship.

Smuggle XP - Gained by successfully avoiding detection in random scans and by completing smuggling missions.

Smuggling Missions - Given by going to smuggling terminals. These terminals are hidden in the backs of Cantinas and Starports. Only a smuggler can see these terminals as what they are. They appear as decoration to everyone else. The smuggler ges the mission from the terminal and then meets the contact who gives him the "package". All "packages" are considered contraband and take up space inside the pouch or compartment. The mission is to deliver the "package" to another NPC or location (drop box, safe house, etc) without getting caught. Successful completion gives smuggle xp. If the player is caught the mission is a failure.

1. Ground Missions - for Smugglers without JTL. The mission does not require a ship. Novice missions are single planet. Smuggle I - II  destinations are Novice Planets. Smuggle III-IV destinations are Advanced Planets. Mission packages here are 1 to 10 inventory slots.
2. Space Missions - for Smugglers with JTL. A ship is required. Smuggle I destinations are in system to ships. Smuggler II destinations are in other novice systems, sometimes in space or on planet. Smuggle III - IV are advanced systems, sometimes in space or on planet. Mission packages here are 15 to 200 inventory slots to require a compartment and not a pouch.

Players can be caught through random scanning or through possible stings and blockades. In a ground mission, as the player gets close to the destination, a spawn might appear of Imperial or Rebel to try to scan and take what the smuggler is taking. In a space mission the players might be pulled out of hyperspace by an Interdictor cruiser (Imperial) or other gravity well generator ship (Rebel) to be scanned. If scanned and caught, the player's loses the mission. Pirates such as Nym or Jabba can also be spawned in place of Imperials or Rebels.

There are alternatives. If the player can run away (before the "package" is taken) or kills all witnesses he/she might still be able to succeed even after being caught. However he will still gain visability.

Visability - Players who get caught with contraband get visability. When the score reaches a certain point they are put on the BH terminals as missions. Any player wanting to avoid this may talk to Spynet Operatives and "Buyout" or bribe to get the mission removed. A buyout cost is 10k X their CL level. Anyone with the mission can still take it and get rewarded. Once a person is killed from a mission their visability drops to zero.

Smuggler visability - The smuggler must also contend with the long term ramifications of his/her actions. If the smuggler is caught too much in a short period of time they will get a permanent rating adjustment that will follow them to the end of their days. Or until they pay 100K times their highest CL as a smuggler.

More Smuggler Revamp Discussion here :

http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board?board.id=smuggler

Check especially sticky posts. I think there is also a ton of links to various generations of detailed design documents.

Have fun

Erillion

this would have been amazing.... but no, they ruined it... now smugglers are useless, just like every other class... since when are bounty hunters supposed to have an easy time killing jedi?