Here's an idea: have Corvus and other grey-specific corporations sell some buffed up variants of weapons that people want. However, here's the catch: make them "illegal" in Nation Space and if you carry them through a border with turrets or within 1000m of a station guard or strike force (another reason for having the concept of dynamic strike force patrols) then you are notified that you are carrying equipment unauthorized by X government (there could be some equipment, for example, allowed in Itani space but not in Serco or UIT space and vise versa) and that you should turn back or be destroyed. Strike force and uber-turrets will continue to pester you from this point onward as if you were until you have either left that nation's space, be destroyed, or docked at a station without being caught.

This temporary KoS will be a lot like station temporary KoS except that it won't restrict docking and the strike force of individual stations won't attack you. Also, the monitored space SF won't follow you to stations. However, if you come within 1000m of one of the station guards in the process of docking with the illegal equipment then that station's strike force will treat that like violating the NFZ and you would have to re-enter the station and try again or go to a different station.

This would have a nice impact on the economy as this would be a difficult feat to accomplish while lugging a couple extra guns in your ship. The guns would be in high demand in nation space especially since they couldn't be imported in bulk such as XCs of Gauss3's and would probably sell for almost the same price as hive queen guns. For those who can't afford to pay skilled runners or accomplish the feat themselves, they will have to move their operations to Grey space to try these out (this equipment could include cargo extenders and beefy mineral scanners/mining beams as well as combat weapons).

This system could also be implemented for trade restrictions between Itani and Serco goods and a trading embargo from UIT space to Grey space and the like. Feedback?

Been asking for this in various forms for a long long time.

Aye, but now that we have uber-turrets it could be actually challenging.

How does anyone, including guards, knows my cargo content? Or notice that my neutron blaster is an illegal mk.3 and not an authorized mk.2?

That requires a "scan tool" and some sort of customs on space.

It seems easier AFTER docked. RP that every ship docked is inspected, so possibly finds it and it is confiscated.

But smuggling should be interesting... "spices" and forbidden goods that must be sold only on certain stations that required it... Like a bot on bar that asks: Bring here some 20cu of Divine Spice that I have arranged a dock clearance...

"How does anyone, including guards, knows my cargo content? Or notice that my neutron blaster is an illegal mk.3 and not an authorized mk.2?"

Because the station guards/strike force scan your ship, or these items give off a different radiation or magnetic field. Or, there is a disparity in the mass of your ship from similar ships... WHO CARES?! Its a great idea.

So is your idea about inspections on stations, you could give up the gear and pay a fine or pay double the fine as a bribe. Your other idea for smuggling is good too. Courvus holodisks, Pharmaceuticals, Meditation crystals... (Serco space only) and cybernetic implants...(Itani space only), should be contraband and have to be smuggled.

I care.

As most times I post here, this tries to evolve into a solution, just like next paragraph says, for that be possible would required that guards come close to incoming ship (as they do now) AND hail pilot stating of forced scan. And use a "modified ore scanner" on your ship...

That "scan" keeps universe consistent, therefore, immersive. It could even involve that, while some stations does no scanning, on some stations, 2 guards come and order pilot to STOP while they scan, and react accordingly, shoot who refuses! <that sounds better<

This could also be inforced on frontiers of Serco/Itani space, maybe with corrupt guards that accept money for ignoring scans... some sort of interaction, Whoever jumps in gets a scan, except if ....options....

Also consider pilot's standing, like, POS does not get scanned...

Indirectly, this would help pirates also, since newbies will be used to be intercepted, hailed and have to respond/interact!

I've been wanting to do something like this for a decade or more. We haven't had any mechanics for scanning, really, nor have we had more "patrol" oriented strike forces. Both of which are required to do this sort of thing. I wouldn't limit it to the usage or equipping of black-market weapons, but also to potential traders who are carrying such content in their cargo (routes for such things to "legal" nation space would probably be very lucrative).

Anyway, I dunno about all the temp KoS mechanics and things, we would certainly have to set up something, but the general concept is an old one and I agree.. would be very cool.

We are looking at implementing cargo scanning (as a player thing) in the not-too-distant future, so with some added Kourier mechanics for border defense convoys, this could be feasible sometime soon (and hopefully not Soon(tm)).

From the pirate perspective I'd love a cargo scanning addon. No more wasting time on voys hauling aquean ore.

No. POS should definitely get scanned, because there is serious exploit potential if they don't.
EX: TGFT All-POS guy goes from Itanispace with meditation crystals, though reasonably safe UITspace, makes it to Sercospace without much difficulty and/or pirates, and doesn't get scanned just because the Gov respects them? No, because in RL, people get citations for ignoring respected peeps, because you never know if they're lying, tratiorous bastids.

On the off side, POS should grant a singular boon: Bribes are cheaper, but only slightly. :)

-Mr. C

Evolving:

Stages implementation:
1) Scan when docked with station. Single rules poer faction.
2) Scan near station, intercept ship, order stop, guard use scanner on player ship. Station rules vary. Bribe possible...

There can be different rules per system, more strict on border systems and "relaxed" on interior systems.
[Corvus allows all pass, scans and ask few credits allways... :) ]

3 different classes of products - forbidden, allowed, special cases as weapons, mission requested itens or requires higher license.

A little out of initial subject, but related:

TRAFFIC CONTROL:
Very basic, you "aim/select" station and hail. Station responds either with:
-Docking refused (go away or I let the dogs out)
-Stop at NFZ and wait inspection (dogs on the way to "protect" you while another ship goes scan ship)
-Docking clearance granted (go to dock number X/blinking)

And make docking only possible after clearance.

Cool to start implementing on border sectors, on barracks stations. If it works in-game, propagate.

Dont like the idea that I ram at a dock only to find out I am not allowed to dock there. On a "real" perspective, what a security risk... Indeed, on border station, on a war situation as "now", any ship getting closer than 3KM from a station without hailing should be treated as potencial aggressor and intercepted weapons hot (not firing, since can be a friendly pilot on damaged ship).