Should independents have it harder?

[blubba]

I'm an independant Junker. I have been since I joined here. I get hunted by bucket loads of people because of my cargo, my location or because of my ID.
I'm not blowing my own trumpet here. I don't need to power trade but I do have a large cargo hold on my ship and I make good money. I trade to support my factions and all my ships involved in them. I like the independance that I have and would not change it for a few % of creds.
Thats enough about me.

Now, I don't always agree with Blodo here but I'm going to stand up and clap him.
*Stands up and claps*
A sort of mining bonus for traders. Now that I do agree with.

I appreciate Ivans argument regarding independants against factionalized ships but I honestly think if you reduced profits across the board (trade is quite hard now) and kept factionalized traders profits as is on faction related commodities, you WOULD push certain types of players into factionalized groups, but mainly the people not so interested in RP and more in cash. The indies would still be around but there'd be less of them. This would also create more opportunity for RP with the various pirate/police factions as well as others in their trade arm.
It won't spoil others game because nothing will be illegal, just less profitable. The product won't have the same garantees etc, lower quality, not installed by our engineers blah blah blah.

Frankly, i think this is a GOOD idea. So good for Ivan for saying it and good for Blodo for sayng how to do it.

How about 15% reduction on anything thats not your faction ID?
On a $20 million per hour trade run, thats a reduction to $17 million. Not a lot really, but enough.

PS Oh boy am I toast for suggesting a number....

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