Loans from the Dutch

[wombatmasterson]

While I was re-watching the recent John Adams miniseries on HBO (which I recommend highly), it came to the scene where JA was attempting to get a loan from the Dutch towards the war effort. I think that high interest society-wide loans (of which all society members would be responsible for) from Orenjestad might bring an interesting element towards funding for an attack/defense.

This may come into play better with Society-run ports in the future. Maybe have extra Dutch warship npc's out there, green to all, but aggro to societies in default.

It needs alot more fleshing out, but its just an idea.

[Ravenau deLusan]

That's an interesting possibility, but how would you keep a group form forming a society with alts, taking a loan, passing the cash to the mains, disbanding the society, & deleting the alts? That's the problem with lending in an MMO.

The only way I can see securing the loan is to put up RL cash. Then you have the issue of players with money to burn just buying victory in the game.

OT:

Originally Posted by wombatmasterson While I was re-watching the recent John Adams miniseries on HBO (which I recommend highly), it came to the scene where JA was attempting to get a loan from the Dutch towards the war effort. ...

Yes, this is one of the better historical series. Parents should get their kids to watch these historical programs instead of crap like American Idol. The kids will learn history better and faster than they will in school.

[Fyonna]

it could be linked per account of those in the society (like the econ structures). In the economy tab, where you would have the warehouses and structures, have a spot for "banker's balance" with all members seeing what they are paying into, due, behind, etc.

Now granted, two things come to mind here. People can utilize buddy keys to make guilds to get loans to get free money, so a certain amount of built up credit (i.e., long standing societies with long standing paid accounts) would be required. Also, gold sellers could make something like this a monstrosity as well.

Interesting concept for sure though.

[thesimpsons007]

1) What about if they actually had to pay back the loans?
2) Maybe even a contract. So for example if ye take a loan for 100,000 Db, ye have to wait 10 days, AND the loan has to be payed back to re-take a loan.

[szolty1]

Interesting concept.

You could set a requirement that the loan-takers be at least a level 40. That way you would eliminate most (if not all) of the disappearing Alts. I doubt many people would spend the time leveling up to 40+ just to take a loan and then delete the character.

[thesimpsons007]

Originally Posted by szolty1 Interesting concept. You could set a requirement that the loan-takers be at least a level 40. That way you would eliminate most (if not all) of the disappearing Alts. I doubt many people would spend the time leveling up to 40+ just to take a loan and then delete the character.

I agree with ya!

[dogstar]

Loans are typically secured against items of value, property etc rather than being given out as cash to an individual on. So maybe you can obtain goods on loan from the Dutch, rather than money (ie ship deed, structure deeds, goods) but then that undermines the player market.

Difficult to make work, its a great idea, but potential for abuse is very high.

Eve-Online apparently had a player run Eve-Bank but that didn't turn out so well in the end apparently.

[Zlaz]

Why don't you just secure the loan against an expensive item. If your society has a very expensive ship or something, then they can loan against that. That is how loans work in real life and so if you don't pay it back that ship is lost, which would force you to pay it back.

[Phinius007]

I can't believe anyone would want virtual debt. You want the stress of a mortgage or a big loan and interest payments in a video game... Are you nuts? How's that fun? How are you going to feel when that First Rate you built sinks and you're paying for it for another month. Next you'll ask for boat insurance to cover your loan in case your ship sinks. Then you'll need a lawyer to sue the guy who sunk you... actually, your insurer will need the lawyer to sue someone on your behalf so they can try and recover their money.

Better yet, you don't make your loan payments, the bank takes back the First Rate and sells it at public auction at the docks of Port Royale. An advertisement gets broadcast across the server about your default and the upcoming sale... Then when the boat sells for half of what you borrowed, the bank sues you for the difference and garnishes you and takes 25% of every dabloon/item drop you get for the next five years.