Borrowing, Loan Sharks and Debt collectors

[Dr. Nil]

Which shipyards do you plan on having it at?

Rock Hermits, Pirates Coves and Casinos?

I think that illegal equipment should only be offered to offenders and fugitives to reflect the risk shipyards take when inviting customers into the back room.

[DaddyHoggy]

@LB - Nice - sounds like you have it covered (again)

@Doc/LB -

have the oxp come up occasionally at non main stations* (like snoopes will) to stop it clashing with other mission screens - perhaps have it only occur at Pi-42s and Hoopy Casinos (and possibly pirate coves - if you survive to dock and they are all likely places for this kind of activity and encourages installation of some of these excellent oxps).

That's the sensible 3 I think and encourages installation of other OXPs

@LB - 1000K seems a little small an amount (unless you mean 1000x1000 i.e. 1M Cr?! ) - I think for the CMkIII pilot who thinks what do I need to get a large cargo bay, ecm, beam lasers and witchspace injectors and have enough left to buy a hold full of Furs/Computers - that's the kind of pilot/trader the Black Monks would want to snag - the impestuous/reckless (sp?) ones - c. 3K-5K - that way you'd have to do some steady trading and not cock up too often to pay it back in three months.

@Doc - interesting idea about being at least Offender - that means the young pilot would have to go do something stupid first just to "improve" his loan potential!

[Dr. Nil]

I really think that it should be more restricted than just not being at main stations, because there might be someone building a police station later or whatever new type of station unfit to offer such deals. I suggest that you go with a positive list, so you can update when stations that fit the profile appear in new OXPs.

And regarding legal status, if it's a black market loan, then it shouldn't be offered to someone who might go straight to (or actually himself be) a cop.

Finally. I want to voice my support for the equipment route again, since mission screens still conflict, and your OXP might clash with any future mission showing screens at non stations (I'm a bit concerned about you doing this in Snoopes already, but haven't got any suggestions on what to do about it in that OXP atm).

I agree that 1000Cr is too small an amount to tempt someone or to be very hard to pay back even for a new player. Perhaps 20k?

[DaddyHoggy]

Finally. I want to voice my support for the equipment route again, since mission screens still conflict, and your OXP might clash with any future mission showing screens at non stations (I'm a bit concerned about you doing this in Snoopes already, but haven't got any suggestions on what to do about it in that OXP atm).

Agreed, but people could always pull snoopes (should I ever finish it) if something better comes along and/or some clever coder type could work out why mission screens sometimes clash/overlap display/don't display - since the more people are encouraged to write oxps the more dispondent they will become when they find they can't write it the way they want for something as picky as the game decides (seemingly randomly) which mission screens it displays.

I think the code needs to be fixed rather than people trying to fathom how and/or where or in what combination their mission based oxps could/should be installed or run...

The Ooniverse should be flushed with infinite possibilities not contrained to - three missions here, one there, another one here but only if you've finished that one...

'Tis my only gripe about the game's functionality.

[Dr. Nil]

Agreed, but people could always pull snoopes (should I ever finish it) if something better comes along and/or some clever coder type could work out why mission screens sometimes clash/overlap display/don't display

It would be a shame if it had to go out when playing missions. For some OXPs there are workarounds to avoid having to shuffle the expansions. It's nicer with a flavor OXP like Snoopes to be able to keep it in there doing it's thing instead of having an Ooniverse where the stories stop when the Thargoids are on the loose and the Thargoids stop attacking when you're working for the Assassins.

I know it might be that it can only be solved if the code is fixed, but I still think trying to find creative workarounds to the limitations is a good exercise. And the ideas seem to be pouring in on this BB all the time. Almost every new OXP contain ideas that inspire others to work out even more stuff. This frontier(!) spirit of creative DIY combined with the freedom from the ball and chain of licensed ideas can really make development happen at a dizzying pace.

I do look forward to seeing both ideas implemented however it is done

[LittleBear]

20,000 C seems about right, but I'm gonna make the Black Monk Ships really nasty (multiple lasers and turrets), so the Young Jameson who chooses to borrow the money really better had be able to re-pay it!

I'd like to restrict it to Hermits and Pirate Coves, but I'm not sure how to do this with equipment plist. I know you can set the minium tech-level, but I don't know how you set equipment to only be offered at certain places (or even if you can).

[TGHC]

20,000 C seems about right, but I'm gonna make the Black Monk Ships really nasty (multiple lasers and turrets), so the Young Jameson who chooses to borrow the money really better had be able to re-pay it!

I'd like to restrict it to Hermits and Pirate Coves, but I'm not sure how to do this with equipment plist. I know you can set the minium tech-level, but I don't know how you set equipment to only be offered at certain places (or even if you can).

20k seems about right.

I would have thought that some of the casinos would have Mafioso elements preying on down on their luck, just one more roll, type gamblers, so perhaps a 10% chance at a Hoopys would work if it's possible to do that!

[Roberto]

20K does seem a good amount - however, am I right in thinking that the player has to pay back 80K (400%)? If so, I'm not sure why anyone would want to do it!

[LittleBear]

If I did it as a 400% APR then it would be 40,000 C to pay back. I'll play about with the numbers, to make it worth doing, but not so that it makes starting off too easy. The option not to repay and face the wrath of the Black Monks is still there!

I could add Black Monk Branches (clones of rock hermits) and the player could have to return there to pay the debt. A passing enforcer ship will hail the player when the debt is due, before jumping out. Should he not go directly to his local branch to pay up, then the next Enforcer he meets will attack.

[TGHC]

A passing enforcer ship will hail the player when the debt is due, before jumping out. Should he not go directly to his local branch to pay up, then the next Enforcer he meets will attack.

But not kill, just cause a lot of expensive damage.

[Roberto]

@LittleBear - ah, I misunderstood. That's a little higher than I'd have myself (maybe 30-35K payback), but much more sensible gameplay-wise

[LittleBear]

Prototype Black Monk Gunship!

The model is by Griff. He sent me a file of unrealeased ships a while back for use in missions and stuff and I think this one looks the part!

Currently it has duel front lasers (one on each wing) and a rear facing plasma turret. Gonna arm it up some more!

Thinking of having Black Monk Patrols appear from time to time in the spacelanes with an AI to shoot down debtors. So you'll see them shooting down the odd NPC ship from time to time. Of course if you are a debtor, then you'll be attacked!

The loan can be taken out at a Black Monk Branch and must be repayed at one. Branches only appear in Tech 10 or above systems near the Sun. Your mission description will count down the time your have to repay the loan - "You have 13 weeks left in which to settle your Account with the Bank of the Black Monks." and so on. If the debt is allowed to be come over due the description will change to "The Bank of the Black Monks regards you as a minor debtor" and so on. As the level overdue status increase the chance and number of gunships attacking you increases until if you completeley ignore the debt you cannot move for Black Monk Gunships after you!

The Gunships also guard the Branches so fireing at them is unwise!

[Captain Hesperus]

Holy Mother of He that Coded the Ooniverse! These guys get a full 10 for Raw Intimidation value!

Captain Hesperus
"That reminds me, Stepan, sell the navigation console so we can clear that debt. I know it'll make travelling hazardous, but not paying would make it fatal."

[LittleBear]

Oh and they carry Anti-MASK Cloak Jammers!

[LittleBear]

Armed!

Here's one taking out a Police Condor, foolish enough to come to a debtor's aid!