Cartel Changes to Reduce NPCs

Daxu · June 23, 2025

I propose we work to remove the NPC "cartel" members and setup something like the following:

Expand Cartel Faction & Include Freelance Job Option

As it stands (to my understanding) there is an active cartel faction for the purpose of gang command RP (on-boarding, tier advancements, etc.). While a good start, it would make sense to open it up to some lower ranks as well. Notably, delivery/pickup individuals. These folks would function like the NPC systems that exist now, but done all in-character. They would be susceptible to all the benefits (more dynamic RP, better relation building, etc.) and downsides(making mistakes, rats, gang infiltration, etc.) that involved with human interaction. For activities that didn't need huge amounts of dedication, freelance options could be worked in to allow for even more player engagement.

Cartel Shipment Delivery Jobs

Instead of talking to some NPC and putting drug precursor/weapon orders in for some automated drop to come by, we should bring back the laptop's dark-web black market and have orders. First they would go to cartel faction members or freelance transporters (think trucking) to take deliveries. It could even utilize the same system for trucking (dinky cars, trucks, boats for the first few levels > speedboats/nice cars/helicopters/planes for the high levels). If the players get pulled over/deliveries comp'd, cartel insures it for the customer (subject to balancing).

If no one is online/on-duty, then it falls back to the automated system (taking longer than the players could do it, perhaps).

Drug Sales/Car Parts/Packed Cash/House Robberies

Whatever direction labs/drugs go, the sales of them and other nefarious goods should be relegated to the faction Cartel pickup crews. These members would be responsible for reporting the sales to their higher ups in order to maintain gang progression (and turfs). These players could have other duties as well, like selling the drugs back into the streets through folks who don't need it for upkeep (i.e. solo/small crews) for general player consumption (if we made the drug experiences more worth it for casual use).

If no one is online/on-duty, keep drop points (akin to the ones for mining, fish, oil, etc.) that function only when no one is around, maybe with some debuffs.

But daxu, what happens when cartel runners get arrested?

Not sure! Maybe prices could get worse for a couple of days if enough faction members get busted, certain weapons/drugs get blocked/quantities are lower for a day or two, who knows! Like law enforcement, the cartel will always exist in some healthy amount, so the negatives would have to be felt but not lethal to the group. Maybe if enough low-ranks get caught, they get killed off/assassinated by the higher ups to contain the problem. Gang members could give feedback to the cartel about their experiences with these members, etc.

While this would be a lot to implement, it feels like most of the script-related stuff could be recycled from other areas of the server. Please drops thoughts, criticisms, whatever, below