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Draft: Border Patrol and Contraband

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Jun 03, 2010 Alloh link
BORDER PATROL AND CONTRABAND:

First draft, please contribute! It is far from perfect, but it's a start.

* Why?
-Every nation must have some control over its frontiers
-Its funny, increases immersion, adds another layer to universe, non-disruptive addition.
-Allows contraband.

* Basic concepts.
-Nation borders will have restrictions on what items are allowed or not to cross borders. Each nation has its own list.
--Hail a border turret or guard to learn forbidden items
-Each nation's border wormhole will have its Border Patrol, except Deneb, where BP guards neighbouring systems. (GR/Eo)
-Border Guards can be defeated, evaded or fooled using cargo blocker/scanner or even bribed
-There is demand for those items, that can be sold with good profit on specific stations, like miners requires porn, soldiers buy stimulants, capitol citizens like exotic spices.
-Contraband missions should be offered in gray space, asking delivery at some nation's station or NPC.

* Border Patrol
-Every nation's border WH will permanently have a few Border Guards(BG), at least 2, more as traffic or attacks increase. WH without a nearby station will have a capship permanently parked there.
--The number of border guards increase proportionally to number of ships crossing border and frequency of attacks.
-Military (barracks) and those stations whose guards have been recently attacked may also have a border patrol within its NFZ border.

-They operate in 2 modes: (Plz someone give better names)
--Green Level: they hail, close in and scan ships, but do not order ships to stop. Default mode, engaged 15min after last attack or interception
--Red Level: They hail ordering a full stop. If pilot does not stop within Xsec is hostile. Who stops is scanned and granted passage. This mode is engaged when border patrol is attacked or a pilot evades with banned cargo, lasting 15min.
-Exception: NPC-only convoys are allways scanned in Green mode

>Communication with BG (replies) should not be required.
>OR create some basic communications with numbered replies, preferably later. RP-wise, same reason why GTS - Galactic Trade Standard - exists, to make communication possible and simple despite language variations.

* Cargo Scanner/Spoofer/Blocker
-Hive have nothing to do with Cargo Sc/Sp/Bl, so replace hive drops with manufacturing missions from gray stations. They can also be sold, but, very expensive and demanding on standing.
-Cargo scanner must be produced and sold by all nations, and auto-equip all BG.
-Spoofers: Each gray faction makes its own, that reports its makers's product or ore.
-Blocker Small: conceals up to 20cu of cargo. Corvus only.
-Blocker Large: hides up to 80cu of cargo, XangXi exclusive.
-Cargo Blocker also conceals itself from Addon Scanners, reporting itself as Mining Beam or Repair Gun.

* BASIC AI FOR Border Guards
-For each new ship that enters border sector, one or more guards are dispatched to intercept and check. (Exception: only 2 guards are sent for mission convoys).
1) When reach 4km of player, NPC BG sends a PM similar to:
--Hail, [pilot] (Reduce your speed|Stop engines) while we scan your ship. One for each nation/border

2) BG closes in withing 500m of incoming ship and scan it. Possible outcomes:
2.a) Pilot does not reduce/stop or shoot back guards. Immediate temp KoS is declared, until pilot leaves nation space
2.b) Pilot stops/reduces, banned cargo IS found. BG engages contraband found routine.
2.c) Pilot stops/reduces, no banned cargo found, BG sends a PM with: -Ok, you're cleared, proceed your way.

3) Contraband found. Reaction depends on pilot's local standing:
3.a) Dislike or below: temp KoS, standing -10, immediate engaged and destroyed
3.b) Neutral or Respect: BG order immediate drop of all cargo, timer 20sec. If ejected, pilot is then temp banned = have 1min to leave nation space before being declared temp KoS, and escorted until leave or killed after 1min. <new feature!<
3.c) Admire of better: BG order immediate drop of all cargo, timer 20sec. No consequenses if cargo dropped.
-Dropped banned cargo is immediatly destroyed by BG <new feature!<
3.d) If pilot does not drop cargo, or tries to evade, or attack guards, is declared temp KoS, and a system-wide message is sent by BG declaring [pilot] as "temp bounty" free for all.

* BRIBE (later implementation, requires lots of polish)

+Simple: some BGs does request credits (10% cargo value) when find contraband, and give 1min to receive payment.
Formula: ([NI]*[Standing]/10)% ; where [NI] is Nation Index (0.8 for UIT, 0,4 for itani/serco).

Stdng | UIT | Serco or Itani
+POS: | 80% | 40% - - - Sample Table
+500: | 40% | 20% - - - Chance of bribe
+000: | 00% | 00% - - - success vs Standing

So a disliked or worse pilot can never sucessfully bribe.

*Comments:
-consider "nations" the UIT, Serco and Itani

-Relating to:
--War Convoy/Blockade: None, they remain outside, BG remain inside border.
--CtC: CtC cargo is contraband in UIT (no bribe acc.)
--normal convoys: NPC-only convoys gets a "far" check, while real players are scanned from close range. No change required in convoy logic, since NPCs will never carry contraband.

--All interaction is BG--pilot, private messaging only.

--HIDE IN CONVOY CAPSHIP BUG MUST BE FIXED BEFORE THIS IS IMPLEMENTED.

{ Edit 1.1 }
Jun 03, 2010 pirren link
-Every nation must have some control over its frontiers
-Its funny, increases immersion, adds another layer to universe, non-disruptive addition.
-Allows contraband.


Nice suggestion, Alloh. *thumbs up*

-They operate in 2 modes: (Plz someone give better names)
--Green Level: they hail, close in and scan ships, but do not order ships to stop. Default mode, engaged 15min after last attack or interception
--Red Level: They hail ordering a full stop. If pilot does not stop within Xsec is hostile. Who stops is scanned and granted passage. This mode is engaged when border patrol is attacked or a pilot evades with banned cargo, lasting 15min.
-Exception: NPC-only convoys are allways scanned in Green mode


This should be really fun, ++
Jun 03, 2010 ryan reign link
Wow... OK, I'm going to assume Alloh has been kidnapped and replaced, either that or his ideas are actually getting better... (and his English).

Change this...
"Hail, [pilot], This is border patrol inspection. (Reduce your speed|Stop engines) while we scan your ship. If you run you will be declared KoS."

to,

Attention [pilot], This is [name] of UIT border patrol. Reduce your speed|Stop engines for routine cargo inspection. Failure to comply will be met with force.

Attention [pilot], This is [name] of the Itani border patrol. Please reduce your speed|Stop engines for while we scan for cargo deemed hazardous to the Itani nation. Failure to comply may be interpreted as an admission of guilt.

Attention [pilot], This is [name] of the Serco border patrol. Stop engines immediately for routine contraband inspection. If you fail to comply you ill be killed.

This way each nation has its own unique hail/order, adding a sense of immersion and differentiating betwixt the nations and giving the NPCs a bit of personality.
Jun 03, 2010 UTM Command link
Excellent idea, Alloh. This would make for much more immersive gameplay overall.
Jun 03, 2010 CrazySpence link
heh this reminds me of WC privateer. They'd always get pissed at me for carrying captured ejected pilots or tobacco

Good idea
Jun 03, 2010 tarenty link
+1

Couldn't help but notice you said Neutral or Admire had consequences, and Respect had none. Admire is +600 to +999, Respect is +200 to +599. ; )
Jun 03, 2010 Chaosis link
Pretty cool idea. Just one problem.

"-Blocker Small: conceals up to 20cu of cargo. Corvus only.
-Blocker Large: hides up to 80cu of cargo, XangXi exclusive."

This is pretty silly. I remember you suggesting the same thing earlier and it was met with incredibly thick flak.
Jun 03, 2010 Alloh link
@Tarenty: fixed, thx.
@CS: Do you remember how to do? ;-)
@RR: Have been writing that for long. And good contribution! Maybe the hail also changes depending on 'visitor' origin, like serco BG say 'welcome' to serco, 'Wasup?' to uit and 'stop, smurf' for itanis....

@UTM Cmd: Thank you, Sir! ;-)

More comments?
Jun 03, 2010 peytros link
oh dammit that image doesn't fit i thought alloh was talking about having an actual draft
Jun 03, 2010 PaKettle link
Bribe success should be a combination of standing, amount and contraband...
Jun 03, 2010 ryan reign link
"Bribe success should be a combination of standing, amount and contraband"

I disagree.

Bribe success should be a combination of faction, value and contraband.
Jun 04, 2010 Swithun link
Excellent idea! This would improve realism and immersion, and would make cargo scanners and spoofers much more in demand.

I remember these sort of "border patrols" in other games I have played, like Sundog and Spacetrader. In those games the patrols were random, so you may get through with your load of narcotics without being noticed.

These patrols could also be at some stations (which might make sense for some of the factions).

As for the convoy capship issue, maybe the solution would be that the capship would comply with the scan, your contraband would be discovered (unless you have a spoofer) and the captain would forcibly eject you from the ship (and from the escort mission as well) and alert the border guard. I'm sure that is easier said than implemented, though :)
Jun 04, 2010 Chaosis link
"Pretty cool idea. Just one problem.

"-Blocker Small: conceals up to 20cu of cargo. Corvus only.
-Blocker Large: hides up to 80cu of cargo, XangXi exclusive."

This is pretty silly. I remember you suggesting the same thing earlier and it was met with incredibly thick flak."
Jun 06, 2010 Alloh link
Chaotic Echo?
Chaotic Echo?

All those ideas are to be discussed and changed, if for better.

But the idea is to require that you use both Lports of a moth to conceal all its cargo. So probably 30 and 60 would be better for S/L blockers.

@Swithun
That would work also for unwanted guests. BP approachs cappie, and if contraband of a hated person is found, (s)he gets immediatly ejected!
Jul 01, 2010 Alloh link
BUMP, since Inc is back... maybe some dev feedback?
Jul 01, 2010 ryan reign link
C'mon devs... put this in the next update, Alloh normally has such horrid ideas! He should be rewarded when he has a good one!
Jul 01, 2010 pirren link
I am waiting for this update too.
Jul 19, 2010 ErisGagarin link
Nation borders must have more than a few turrets guarding it, even more if that nation is engaged in war.

Plz implement the border patrol in Geira Rutilus and Eo wormholes!
Jul 22, 2010 Crusader8389 link
+1
Jul 22, 2010 Alloh link
Staged implementation proposal:

*Step 1:
-Border Patrol guards are deployed around nation borders
-They only close in and hail pilots (Msg relates to pilot standing and nation)
-Engage only KoS pilots
-No real cargo scan

*Step 2:
-All players' cargo is scanned
-forbidden items result in message from guard requesting to leave nation if standing>0, or temp KoS otherwise

*Step 3:
-Full implementation, including bribe and chance.

Devs, Inc, could it be?

I know you don't like stepped implementation, but since this requires lots of AI coding, this could make easier to implement, AND as bonus make players notice that border rules are changing in a dynamic universe in war time...