*Fourhand* Posted Mar 2, 2009, 5:55 pm	Just a quick idea. How about the ability of "renting" characters just as you rent cars. You pay a one time fee and an insurance deposit and for one event scouting or in-town events you get a character of your choosing. The higher the character's skill the higher they demand and the higher insurance deposit the freelancer agency demands. A limit of having 3 characters at a time would keep the exploitation by veterans low but yet might encourage some PVP action by letting players reluctant to risk their high skill characters in combat. Freelancers would also allow new players a chance to use a character that can actually hit the broad side of a barn. Thoughts?
*Grograt* gary.r.horder@gmail.com Posted Mar 2, 2009, 5:59 pm	Hmmmm .... contemplating
Kime Dennory Posted Mar 2, 2009, 9:06 pm	This has popped up a lot of times, in similar incarnations, but I think this one is very reasonable. (Not like, say, the whole 'slaves' thing.) -KD
*jimmylogan* Posted Mar 2, 2009, 11:02 pm	I don't care for it myself. I've heard lots of people say "some might try PvP if..." but I think some are just not "into" PvP regardless, so that shouldn't be a motivating factor. This sounds to me like a way to use expendable char's, thus making your permanent char's "safe," like using a stock car in a DR or Combat so your vehicle is safe. Those are "track owned." I think DW: Tactical will allow as much "out of body" play that anyone would want without resorting to artificially increase the gang's size. JL
darthspanky Posted Mar 2, 2009, 11:23 pm	just become a marshall youll get yer extra guys. which is very unfair imo.
Fealty Lost Posted Mar 3, 2009, 3:25 pm	Ooooooooooooo....!
Marrkos Posted Mar 3, 2009, 4:02 pm	It's not nearly as cool as Bitter McBitters up there makes it sound. I believe it is 5 extra people who are tied to Somerset so the Marshals can play the game as they want to*, using their 'real' gang members, and still have people in SS available to help new players in events (both in-town, and wilderness). * - many, if not most, Marshals have their gangs spread out in the harder towns, i.e. BL, GW, FL, and weren't able to help out new players without restricting their playing style/time even more than the asterisks already do.
*Grograt* gary.r.horder@gmail.com Posted Mar 3, 2009, 4:38 pm	what he said ^^^^^
PieMonster Posted Mar 3, 2009, 5:54 pm	I like the idea... mercenaries would feature in post - apoc society no doubt. a) It doesnt guarantee a win anyway b) the insurance deposit you pay can be steeply graded so a highly capable char costs a fortune if hes injured or killed (cash sink... needed!!!). c) can be limited on availability so controlled if abused d) would give the game extra flavour, esp if mercs gain skill just like everyone else (maybe even faster) and develop over time.. My ten penneth anyway. Pie
Valiance Posted Mar 4, 2009, 11:31 pm	I'm not sure. The one resource that matters in DW (arguably the only one) is gangers. Anything that cheapens that value seems a retrograde step to me.
4saken Posted Mar 5, 2009, 12:21 am	everything that pie said. "d" is especially intriguing. i don't think this "cheapens" the game. 3 characters? and probably newbs, to boot? really. would also help for pick-up games in towns you have few guy in.
*Grograt* gary.r.horder@gmail.com Posted Mar 5, 2009, 7:45 am	I like the idea...but agree with Val .... this would make the rich player / poor player imbalance widen, we all know a lot of vets have money to burn ( even im at a level comfortable now in this short time ) i think when the sandbox / open road fare or whatever sam decides to call it goes live, the thirst for PVP will be quenched for a while, and the need for disposable hero's will be negated. Gangers are the only resource in evan that are not expendable, i think for game balance and style thats how it should remain All opinions are the property of the poster
Groove Champion Posted Mar 5, 2009, 5:13 pm	I don't particularly like the idea... Having characters for rent -with high skills- that can be wasted without thinking twice? There is definitely potential for abuse. I can imagine how I would feel if I was going into a PvP with a character I've been working on for 6 months, knowing that my opponent could be using a character that cost him a fraction of his weekly profits. Arguably there would be mercenaries in the world of Dark Wind, but last time I ran out of money and didn't pay my characters they left my gang. I'd say we already have our mercenaries...
Kime Dennory Posted Mar 5, 2009, 5:35 pm	Quote: Arguably there would be mercenaries in the world of Dark Wind, but last time I ran out of money and didn't pay my characters they left my gang. I'd say we already have our mercenaries... My friend, I don't consider myself a mercenary, I consider myself an employee.  But if my boss ran out of money and stopped paying me, I'd leave too. And, honestly, if the US (British/Whoever) Army were to run out of money and stop paying their troops, I think they'd start having a bit of a retention problem as well, even if deserters were shot on sight. -KD
Valiance Posted Mar 5, 2009, 5:44 pm	Actually, for most of the Royal Navy's history, the reverse was true. Put money in the pocket of a jolly Jack Tar and he had the motive and the means to desert. Leave him with back pay owing (2 years or more was not uncommon) and he had an incentive to stick around until he got paid (and no way of financing his desertion if he fled) Of course, the fact that captured deserters were hanged possibly also helped.