We have recently seen (and continue to see) extremely large hits placed upon players, which despite the substantial rewards being offered, continue to go unclaimed.

Whilst I understand the reasons for this, I think that realistically the mob would find these sort of rewards hard to ignore. I therefore think we should look at modifying how hits work in order to increase the likelihood of a contract actually being taken up, because at the moment this is just a rather expensive bulletin board of anonymous opinion rather than the very useful and exciting tool it could be.

I personally feel the best way to achieve this would be to offer a healthy percentage chance that there will be no witnesses to the shooting. Perhaps this percentage could increase proportionately to the size of hit, up to a maximum level of say 50%, which should offer a juicy enough chance of not being caught for someone to risk their account over it.

I am aware that people will cite a couple of things in response to this and I would preemptively respond as follows:

• This has nothing to do with Tellurium or any other individual currently on the hitlist. Take up on these things is a longstanding problem and I think it would be more realistic, exciting and enjoyable if more big hits ended with people actually trying to claim the bounties. I would advocate this even if it was me on the list.
• Yes, this is going to favour those who have lots and lots of money. But, so does life and especially so does mob life. If you've earned the money to launch big hits, then you should have the power to do so.
• If we don't want people to actually carry out hits, why do we have a hitlist at all?

Look forward to hearing thoughts.

In real life, the one putting the hit on the list, will always be in danger as well.

Apparently sometimes people that can take the shot just don't want to take it. Won't be that they don't like the money, would it?

How would someone end up who tries to have influential people killed 5 times in a row? I would say: If you want to make it more exciting, make sure there also is a 25% of the anonymous poster losing their animosity.

Even with this change, I'm sure there would be plenty of times where people who could take a shot don't want to. That's how it should be; if you've curried enough favour and have sufficiently sound standing then you have nothing to worry about.

I think the suggestion of the anonymity breaking is a fair one. I also think it should probably be related to your rank as I have always thought the idea of a Thug putting up a $50,000,000 hit on a Don to be ridiculous.

I like the suggestions, just to add more of a real life feel to it.  Aureliano's suggestion is great.  In real life, people talk.  The information of who backed a hit can be leaked, because you actually have to talk to someone about the hit.  Here, there is no risk of finding out who put a hit out.  Maybe over time that percentage jumps up to find out who put the hit up, since the longer someone has a hit on their head, the more people talk about it.  

Great suggestions (in my opinion) Lucius and Aureliano. 

I love the idea. The hitlist is in serious need of a rethink.

I would suggest that the idea about the chance the hit poster's anonymity is blown would increase with each hit posted on the same target. So repeated ones, like the current situation we have would see each repetition a more risky one than before for the poster. This ties in with Johnny's point about people talking. A one-off hit could go under the radar but a sustained campaign on one person would surely get mob tongues wagging. 

The idea get's better and better. Unfortunately, not with my post. I'm simply posting to say I'm in support of and all for the original idea and also both Disorder's and Aureliano's extensions. Seems like good additions to make the hitlist more 'workable'.

What about erasing anonymous hit lists with posters of them at the same time?

I get what you're saying.. but I really don't see a reason to change the hit list. These hits are being bought off by other mobsters - which isn't that fictional I would think.. You say these hits are large, which they are.. But obviously not large enough, because the player mentioned is still alive and the hit has been paid. There is a lot of money out there - seems like if you want a kill - you need to pay a higher bill..

Squishy, I think that's a great idea.

For the most part I like the ideas presented. I am not sure I can agree with making things based on rank though. There is so much that already favours high ranks over low ranks that I would hate to add another thing to the already tipping scale where ranks are concerned.

I don't really have a problem with that change, but I also don't think that solves anything. Hit take up is virtually non-existant, and surely the idea behind a hit is that it becomes a contract for a user to try and collect, rather than just an NPC having at it.

Lucious, what about a 1/4 chance - 25% of the shooter gaining total stealth from the WS? 25% flat out, regardless of hit size $..

Something along those lines would be excellent. I guess it depends on what ends up being the most workable thing to code/implement. 

Or even, under 72 hours on the list = 25% chance of total stealth from WS - over 72 hours = 50% total stealth from WS.

How about adding in that the HIT can not be bought off for a period of time ? 

maybe depending on the Rank or the amount which has been put up, 

High Profile Hits need to be active for a while to entice those wanting to take a shot.

I love the idea of increase chance of stealth if you do wack someone on the hit list

What about every time he actually takes a shot at someone up on the hitlist, there is an equal 1% that the miss message broadcasted on IRC contains the name of the poster?

Gold.

Or even this - You do a hit for any $ amount, a random number is generated 1-5

- 1= 10% stealth 

-2= 25 stealth

-3= 45 stealth

-4 50% stealth

-5 90% stealth

When you do the hit it doesn't notify you what % you got - so it's a risk  vs reward thing, you may get away without a scratch, or somebody might have gotten the WS and you're a dead man.

Let's keep brain storming people, let me hear some ideas in this thread, tweak them or try to create some more!