Oolite Bulletins

I'm not sure if this is a bug or a feature...

If you already have a big bank balance it is VERY easy to boost it ridiculously fast by taking on multiple cargoes of gems and precious metals and lots of postal contracts - if you're on a long route (say diagonally across the whole galaxy) there are likely to be several such high-value cargoes heading in the right general direction, and close enough to the initial route that you can fulfill all contracts without running out of time. The deposits are high, of course, but so is the payoff, I've made about 2 megacredits in about twenty hours of play that way, which seems just a tad on the high side.

My feeling is that there ought to be something to restrict the total value of this stuff a bit; if you want a rationale, maybe the insurers say "no, that's already too much valuable cargo in one ship, we'll go broke if the ship is lost" and block it completely, or maybe they impose a higher scale of deposits for ships that are already carrying a lot of valuables. That still won't stop the filthy rich getting richer, but it ensures that a missed deadline will be a real problem, which isn't always the case with the current system.

Any thoughts?

I think that any incentive to get you out of the Poor Agricultural - Rich Industrial milk run routine between two systems is welcome. Doing what you described implies a substantial amount of travel (and maybe even danger), so I think I'd still be OK if rewards happen to be on the high side. If we do impose restrictions, there is a chance that players who would otherwise take the challenge and do the multi-contract runs might just say "Nah - not worth it, I'll stick to my dual system milk run". Best if there is something to get them moving instead.

With high risk comes a high reward. You just never know when your going to get blind sided by a pack of ass hats.

May your space remain unpressed commander.

And that also fits in with RLtm with the more cash you have the more you can make and the richer you get quicker.

Fatleaf wrote:

And that also fits in with RLtm with the more cash you have the more you can make and the richer you get quicker.

Yeah, but Real Life™ is a lousy game - wildly unbalanced, massively random and totally unfair. Sure, the graphics are good (if you've got the specs), but sheesh! the grinding ... and all those long, long waits between exciting bits? Nah. Not for me.

<chortles> Ain't that the truth!

Cody wrote:

<chortles> Ain't that the truth!

<chuckles next to Cody>

This is verging comfortably on the side of feature.
That said I'm sure if you enjoy pain in your game a few subtle adjustments could turn up the "Spartan" setting?

Fatleaf wrote:

Cody wrote:

<chortles> Ain't that the truth!

<chuckles next to Cody>

<Grins a bit>

Well, I know that the Oolite universe is all about rampant capitalism, so I really shouldn't complain, and by the time you can afford to take on the really lucrative contracts you've already got enough money to buy almost anything you want.

Which makes me think that the Ooniverse needs some expensive but almost useless bling; ridiculously over-priced "must have" gizmos and trinkets for the discerning millionaire, e.g. gold plated laser barrels and missiles, escape capsules with go-faster stripes and in-flight stereo, etc.

ffutures wrote:

... escape capsules with go-faster stripes...

We have  them - they don't cost anymore than the core escape pods, but some of them do go faster!

Disembodied wrote:

Fatleaf wrote:

And that also fits in with RLtm with the more cash you have the more you can make and the richer you get quicker.

Yeah, but Real Life™ is a lousy game - wildly unbalanced, massively random and totally unfair. Sure, the graphics are good (if you've got the specs), but sheesh! the grinding ... and all those long, long waits between exciting bits? Nah. Not for me.

lmao.... only problem is the re-playability factor just isnt there. I'd like to play a different game now please??

Cody wrote:

but some of them do go faster!

Yeah, the red ones!

Fatleaf wrote:

Cody wrote:

but some of them do go faster!

Yeah, the red ones!

<grins> If I recall correctly, the custom-built variant used by the Green Knights of Lago is muy rápido!

ffutures wrote:

Well, I know that the Oolite universe is all about rampant capitalism, so I really shouldn't complain, and by the time you can afford to take on the really lucrative contracts you've already got enough money to buy almost anything you want.

Which makes me think that the Ooniverse needs some expensive but almost useless bling; ridiculously over-priced "must have" gizmos and trinkets for the discerning millionaire, e.g. gold plated laser barrels and missiles, escape capsules with go-faster stripes and in-flight stereo, etc.

Well that or your talking buying systems and stuff, maybe running your own fleet, maybe your own station. But that kind of takes the game into 'monopoly' territory. It would be a horrible bolt on too.