Alternative to Currency (Discussion)

[vilhjalmrf]

I encourage you all to stay on topic and not to derail or shitpost. Note that this is not a suggestion, just merely want thoughts from the community and CMs and see if maybe this is something we can switch over to.

Currency
The current currency is digital. Every transaction you made, bribe you ever taken (ballsy), donation, etc. is logged and done over via terminal, POS device, or a PDA. Currency at this point is literally impossible to get away with in terms of corruption due to transactions being logged. Added on with robbery being impossible as it is also logged and can be traced. Both leading to anyone who attempts this to getting caught as there really is no way to get away with it. Making the credits useless.

I believe that if we go through the old traditional items of currency (say like a coin, working similar to how chips do in your inventory), it may promote a bit of crime and encourage people (no matter the faction) to take part of some bribery. The only downside I see to this is the switch itself as the developers will have to go through making the changes and that may not seem worth while to them or just a hassle.

 

[ConcernedCitizen]

The union produces untraceable credits in the form of credit coupons, no one really touches them though as CWU rogue rules are terrible and extend IC situations onto the OOC level

 

[Blitz]

I don't think the legal currency should be changed, for almost all of the reasons stated. It doesn't make much sense either narratively, but of course that can be ignored for the sake of the gameplay etc. but I personally do not wish to see it changing. Corruption and other forms of illegal actions can be done both with and without the digital currency - you just have to either be smart or be creative.

 

[vilhjalmrf]

I don't think the legal currency should be changed, for almost all of the reasons stated. It doesn't make much sense either narratively, but of course that can be ignored for the sake of the gameplay etc. but I personally do not wish to see it changing. Corruption and other forms of illegal actions can be done both with and without the digital currency - you just have to either be smart or be creative.

I do see your point regarding narrtive. As for the means of getting away with such an illegal crime is a bit more difficult. For bribery, that's easy to avoid. But to actively rob a person, it's impossible to get away with as you'll have to worry about the person reporting the crime and the Combine can just trace back where the credits went. You could argue that you can threaten the person to keep their mouth shut but that's easier said than done.

 

[Blitz]

I do see your point regarding narrtive. As for the means of getting away with such an illegal crime is a bit more difficult. For bribery, that's easy to avoid. But to actively rob a person, it's impossible to get away with as you'll have to worry about the person reporting the crime and the Combine can just trace back where the credits went. You could argue that you can threaten the person to keep their mouth shut but that's easier said than done.

The currency being digital or not doesn't change that problem a whole lot. It's just a matter of whether or not the victim will report the crime and how smart/dumb the perpetrator is.

The digital currency makes it easier to trace, sure. But - depending on the legwork the perpetrator has done beforehand (digital currency or not) it'll mostly end up in the same manner.

I'm being quite vague and beating around the bush on purpose. I don't want to give examples that may be used lol.

But, robbing someone is a high risk and presumeably, not very high reward game.

 

[vilhjalmrf]

The currency being digital or not doesn't change that problem a whole lot. It's just a matter of whether or not the victim will report the crime and how smart/dumb the perpetrator is.

The digital currency makes it easier to trace, sure. But - depending on the legwork the perpetrator has done beforehand (digital currency or not) it'll mostly end up in the same manner.

I'm being quite vague and beating around the bush on purpose. I don't want to give examples that may be used lol.

But, robbing someone is a high risk and presumeably, not very high reward game.

I can agree to that. My suggestion is just a simple "here's an easier solution" for the playerbase as a whole as not everyone is gonna put all the legwork to do it or is just too scared to. Call it a skill issue or an IC issue. It's whatever to me as I don't see any downsides to actually switching besides the fact that IC it'll be random, I just like to gather thoughts first.

 

[TheDeNuke]

The union produces untraceable credits in the form of credit coupons, no one really touches them though as CWU rogue rules are terrible and extend IC situations onto the OOC level

@vilhjalmrf

As it says here.

We do not need a transition away from digital currency, we just need less arbitrary IC and OOC rules that effectively block corruption from the Combine Factions. Since if corruption was possible then with these credit coupons then there would be corruption left and right.

We also need a rework to various combine-related systems such as the various loyalist systems that actively promote corruption rather preventing it.

 

[RedHotGinger]

You can do illegal shit with currency, you just have to be at least a little smart about it. Nobody is literally checking all transactions so you are not getting scanned unless you messed up and ended up on a radar somehow. Besides, even shady ones can be bluffed. Combine need proof you did something wrong to kill you. They can't PK you or do anything too serious without having some serious grounds for it. Digital currency is fine, nothing wrong with it and it makes loads of thematic sense and is very cool in concept.

The only thing that one could argue is that chips are a bit too illegal. You get caught with them, and you are fucked. There could perhaps be some efforts to making chips a more universal exchange amidst citizens, one the Combine tolerates simply because its not important enough, nor practical, to stamp out. Make chips something that is used to buy things other than hardcore illegal bullshit like guns. Easier said then done though.

Plus, the rebels have flooded the eco with so many chips I don't think you could make any legal exchange out of them without a total collapse in the eco.

 

[Blitz]

There's actually a legal amount of chips that you can carry that most cps seem to ignore, intentionally or not (mostly unintentionally). Though, it takes a brave soul, more likely a stupid one, to go karen on them.

But it's mostly a mindset issue, IC as well as OOC.
Anything that's remotely connected to something illegal/rebel will stick out like a sore thumb and be heavily scrutinised, regardless of whether or not it has a legal function as well. See vinegar and flour as an example - one that's not actively being pursued by CPs even, just every wannabe loyalist or world burning enjoyer