All right there has been many talks on bodyguards but I have an idea which I think personally is very good,

So heres the deal, I think actual players should be able to be bodyguards, say a person hires them giving them a monthly payment (which is more realistic than simply buying one) and that person will take the bullet for someone if they are shot at,

The player who is a bodyguard has pros and cons, pro is he can a steady amount of money each month, cons he is at risk of being shot,

I would also like to say that the monthly payment would overall improve gamplay, its not like bodyguards are slaves to be bought, they are hired people

Anyone agree that this is a good idea, any ideas on how to make it better?

I like the general idea. The problem is that, if this were the case, surely you can only be an effective bodyguard if you're online and in the same city?

I don't want to agree or disagree with this right away so let me ask some questions for clarifications.

Are you suggesting that this do away with NPC bodyguards? That you have to have a physical player be your bodyguard? Would the players list themselves for hire then? What would be the requirements for someone to be able to be a bodyguard? IE, would you have it so that only players with a certain amount of defense or wack stats be able to even promote themselves? Or anyone be able to do it, and buyer beware?

Would you make them a bodyguard until the character dies or institute a hire/fire option as has been suggested for NPC bodyguards? Would the prices be set by the game, per rank, or would it be driven by the users and what they feel their services are worth?

How would this be regulated by the game? I mean, technically Awesome could come to me and say GingerAle, I want you to be a bodyguard for me. I'll pay you 100k a week. This is my flight schedule. I need you to be in these cities at these times in order to get full payment. If so, and that's the extent of what I do, follow him around and look for 'threats', then there's really no need for a server-type maintenance.

However, if what you're suggesting is a bit more interactive... I.E. someone shoots at Awesome, and instead of a SUCCESS or FALURE screen, if I'm in the same city as Awesome and I'm his official game-purchased bodyguard, would I get some sort of message like "You see a shady looking individual fast approaching. He pulls a gun."

and then it gives me the option to dive in front of Awesome with a countdown (so if I'm away taking a tinkle, Awesome takes the bullet because I'm not being a good bodyguard) or do nothing. Diving in front of him COULD kill me, or just damage me (as BG Wacks do not always kill and sometimes take multiple shots).

I don't think your idea is bad per se, I just think its incomplete, and may be a real stellar implementation if you can hash out some more details about how this would work. I'm interested to hear (even if it may not be feasible) how you envision this going down.

Also, another thing, I would assume that your bodyguards would have to be in your family, and you could only be a bodyguard to one person, thus limiting the amount of bodyguards a Crewleader would have (as restricted by their HQ size). Might also lead to friction if some lower levels in the family got other family members to be bodyguards for them, thinking that their lives are more valuable than the boss'.

A lot of really interesting ideas could come from this.

I'm with GingerAle on this one, think this through, read her suggestions and questions, and come up with a more detailed idea. It's peaked my interest.

As with many ideas, it has the potential to be brilliant but could be a horrid disaster if done wrong. I'm also keen to see how this one might look if done right... some of the dynamics it could bring to the game would be extremely interesting.

How about this: For the CLs there is this option to temporarily 'add' or commission human BGs. Of course this is limited to say 3 in home city and 1 or 2 in the other cities. Sort of like a Home City Defence Bonus thing for extra slots. The CL can only add available crew members; i.e. online and in the same city. Once added said members get a personal stating that they are now part of the personal BGs of their CL. Then for the rest of the time that the CL and the human BGs remain in the city the arrangement will last.

However should the said member gets thrown in jail this arrangement is off. The CL will have to re-commision his human BG after he's out. After all you can't really bodyguard someone when you're in jail. And if your CL goes into the slammer, well he's safe there.

Now there should be some form of payback of sorts. Giving cash would not be cost-effective for the CL if he has to pay for a human BG everytime he flys to another city. I was thinking more of a temporary tax reduction for the period of time when the member is a human BG.

Also the ability to protect your CL as a human BG would be determined by say, one's gun. the better it is the better you can protect your CL. In times of war this makes a would force a decision on the CL. Should he send his best men to attack or to keep them by his side to guard him. I feel this would make the game more realistic if the CL is able to call on his own Family for protection.

What's your reasoning for making defensive effectiveness based on wack, an offensive skill? Wouldn't you agree that your ability to defend your crewleader be better served by your innate ability to defend yourself?

The reason I say this, and the reason why I'm interested in this idea is that this may evolve (should it ever get hashed out and implemented) into a series of 'career' options for the members here. You can be a hired gun (based on your wack ability and training regimen), or you can be a hired guard (for those who aren't great at hitting, but want to offer your services to your family). You can be a scout (for people who have great information skills and know who is in the home city), or you can be a cash cow (for people who don't hit, don't have the connections to see who is in the city when, but who are especially adept at bringing in the cash.)

Of course the above implementation is another suggestion entirely, but just an idea for future events.

I see what you've done with the suggestion, but I'd like to see hired human bodyguards with more permanence... not just a convenience thing. "Hey, CREWLEADER is in New York. You're protecting him for the next two hours or until you leave."

ON A DIFFERENT NOTE YOU SHOULDNT BE ABLE TO BUY BODYGUARD SO YOUNG IN THE GAME LIKE A CIVILIAN FOR 250000 ?!?! NO CIVILIAN HAS BODYGUARDS.

ON A DIFFERENT NOTE YOU SHOULDNT BE ABLE TO BUY BODYGUARD SO YOUNG IN THE GAME LIKE A CIVILIAN FOR 250000 ?!?! NO CIVILIAN HAS BODYGUARDS.

ON A DIFFERENT NOTE YOU SHOULDNT BE ABLE TO BUY BODYGUARD SO YOUNG IN THE GAME LIKE A CIVILIAN FOR 250000 ?!?! NO CIVILIAN HAS BODYGUARDS. AND

RETUNING PLAYERS SPEND ALL THEIR OLD MONEY ON THEM.. KINDA MESSED UP

All right GinerAle, I really like a lot of your ideas but right now I'm not exactly sure to all of them,

With this system, it would be hire and fire, not stay till death, that way it would make it more realistic. The whole idea is to make it more realistic.

Yes we would do away with NPC bodyguards actual players would fill in the role,

I agree with the idea that the bodyguards shouldn't be so temporary, Here's a couple ideas regarding that,

1.You must hire them for at least one paycheck   or...

2.You must hire them for a month

Second of all if this was to be implemented into the game I'm debating over two methods of payment, a monthly payment, or a weekly payment

"What's your reasoning for making defensive effectiveness based on wack, an offensive skill? Wouldn't you agree that your ability to defend your crewleader be better served by your innate ability to defend yourself?"

Although it is arguably nonsensical, it could still be RP-ed easily enough and I do prefer the idea. As mentioned, it brings in another dimension and element of strategy during war time. Do you sally forth and bring the hammer against the anvil; or rally the troops around you and set in for the siege?

The reasoning behind it is to simply add a better and more interesting game play, also it would be much more realistic

I don't think its non-sensible, I just see hitters as being the offensive wave, and those with high defense being in a better position to protect and defend. Of course we don't know our stats. Hitters know they are good with their guns, and thus have the training and kill reports to back it. Those with high defense don't know for sure (other than signing up with rumored 'D' answers) unless they're repeatedly used as bullet pincushions or attacked often.

So someone who isn't a trained hitter could lend their services as a bodyguard. Again, its just how I envision this working if implemented. JoeGunn would be bringing the hammer as part of the hitsquad, while VinnietheVest would be providing the defensive security detail for those in need. If an attacker shoots at the crewleader and VinnietheVest is involved as a witness or injured in the 'line of fire' as it were, it would then be the hitsquad's job to go kill the attacker.