March 25th, 2008

Smuggling in Earthrise

Earthrise Concept Art

The latest Question of the Week has been posted over at the Earthrise forums.

Will there be Smuggling; free trading between people of different factions (and criminals)?

“Every economy that strives to survive for long has it’s restrictions and limitations set on it’s participating parties, and there always are those who break the rules and become rich. Each of the two main factions in the game - Continoma and Noir - have different views on technology and try to monopolize, restrict or even outlaw certain technologies that they cannot completely control. For example, Continoma hypocrite officials will prosecute the use of technologies retrieved from the mutated fauna, while Noir will see weaponry based on the unfathomed possibilities of the human mind as a dangerous direction to thread in (and one Continoma could use to manipulate them).

The players will not be able to craft, store and trade forbidden items within controlled environment such as electronic warehouses and shops. More than that, items based on technologies that could be possibly seized by any side of the conflict cannot be insured, which makes these items very difficult to keep for yourself in the wild - but don’t worry, there’s always a way, although pricier. Items based on such technologies will be restricted in secure areas and will trigger aggressive actions from the guards. Some guards will only be looking for whatever weapon or armor the player is carrying and will be easy to fool. The player needs just to put it back in his inventory and walk by, whistling innocently. But most often you won’t be that lucky - some guards, and you’ll know when you see them, will be actively scanning your inventory with special equipment. This means that you will be attacked for carrying restricted or illegal items, and this is where Smuggling comes in.

Smuggling basically resolves in carrying sensitive items out of territory where it is allowed to territory where it is made illegal or where there are no laws (and the risk of losing these items is high). When players walk in a territory where such items are illegal, they will have to hide their inventory from the scanners and the watchful eyes of the guards. In territories where no laws abide, certain players will use technology and skill to probe other player’s inventory and discover whether they have items made of certain material that could possibly wield a high profit if attacked. Apart from these law restrictions, there will be places where willing parties might be involved in free trade.

There’s nothing to say that Continoma or Noir can’t get hold on items or technologies that the other side possesses and manufactures; all this is up to the players and how they want to become rich in Earthrise - either by free trade and fair rivalry or through monopoly, racketeering and good ol’ brute force. It’s up to you; if you had this choice, what would you do?”

- Source