Extortion and Player Owned Shops in and out of Gang Controlled Territory

[berserker08 22]

Premise 1 - Allow players to own shops:

Allow players to purchase or lease commercial real estate. Players will control every aspect of their store front, but day to day sales will still be operated by NPC's:

1. What is sold and at what price, including maintaining inventory.
2. Store name and logo, and advertising campaigns (TV, billboards, benches, etc...)
3. Insurance options (assuming shops can be robbed and/or damaged) and security upgrade options (cameras, alarms, etc...).
4. Layout of merchandise displays and interior decorating.

 

Premise 2 - Shops are taxed or extorted depending on their location and status of gang controlled territory:

Allow players to setup their shops in peaceful areas or gang controlled areas. There exist pros/cons of location choice. 

 

If a player's shop resides within a gang controlled area, it will be automatically taxed through extortion, at rates selected by the controlling gang, with the controlling gang receiving a percentage of profits. Additionally, the government will receive no taxes; however, the shop will need no security upgrades as it cannot be robbed due to implied gang protection, though it is more likely to get damaged due to gang warfare. It will also be able to sell illegal items.

 

If a player's shop resides within a peaceful area, it will be automatically taxed through regular government taxation at rates selected by the controlling government, again, a percentage of profits. The shop can be robbed and cannot sell illegal items.

 

Main Takeaways

Owning a shop would be a major milestone for citizens to work towards and the ability to earn money while offline could be intriguing to players. Having to maintain an inventory would be a major hook to come back to the game on the regular. The potential to really customize one's business would be immense, including setting up distribution and supplier networks; warehouses and trucking for a purpose. Allowing players to choose to risk setting up their shops in gang controlled areas for the benefits could make game play richer and motivation of controlling gang territory more meaningful. Gangs would be motivated to control certain areas where potential income is higher, and develop their own networks with players of both legal and illegal merchandise distribution. The controlling government would be motivated to squash gang areas with more investment in police, due to lost tax income.

 

Sorry, this was kind of rushed, but I'd be glad to clarify on any of the aspects of the idea!

 

 

[Cstove 374]

It’s  already been confirmed for a while that players can own shops...

[berserker08 22]

That is great to hear! Sorry, I’m pretty new at researching all of the details, although I have been a backer since it was first announced!

Specific to taxation vs. extortion and the dynamics of everything I described above, what are your thoughts?

[Anonymous_Citizen 75]

7 hours ago, berserker08 said:

That is great to hear! Sorry, I’m pretty new at researching all of the details, although I have been a backer since it was first announced!

Specific to taxation vs. extortion and the dynamics of everything I described above, what are your thoughts?

 

I think a shop owner has the choice to avoid paying taxes or extorted money, but they may face the consequences. Secondly, even shops in the most gang-controlled zones still pay taxes to the government. Finally, even if one gang guarantees your protection from them, that doesn't prevent a rival gang from robbing you.

[Cstove 374]

6 hours ago, Anonymous_Citizen said:

I think a shop owner has the choice to avoid paying taxes or extorted money, but they may face the consequences. Secondly, even shops in the most gang-controlled zones still pay taxes to the government. Finally, even if one gang guarantees your protection from them, that doesn't prevent a rival gang from robbing you.

 

I’m pretty sure they can’t avoid taxes, it will be something that happens, not a choice.