Ishtori wrote:I belive slaves still aren't considered "equipment" and while a slave it's an RP investment I belive equiment slots are saved for things that confer beneficts to combat (short of one or two exceptions which for the same reasons I don't see fitting there).
I'm not really sure with what you mean by upkeep SB. I don't see how a slave would require maintnance since they are player characters and like all other are assumed to gain their own money (even if just those 20 mhl) to be able to survive on their own if needed. The upkeep is no more than a tax paid monthly for the slave and thus you are paying for something that's yours.
Also no you can't treat a slave how you want since you can't mistreat a slave for the sake of doing it since they have rights and the ISA will see to it. Is there a lot of room to play? Yes, but you are not free to treat a slave to your liking.
Again this is not an attack on how the things work, it's my personal view of things. And yes, there might be others who think the same but I'm speaking for myself alone.
Slaves do not get a stipend per month. They only gain money from a worked job, and that is at the discretion and permission of the Owner. They cannot gain a position above that of an Assistant Manager, in some cases I think not at all.
In addition, slaves 'are' equipment. They are furniture. They are pets. If you go to the SPCA, even they require proof that you can handle the addition of that animal. For us, I simply seek if its not the ISA clerk asking point blank and doing a back ground check, its checking equipment slots.
The slots and 'upkeep' is a system in my own opinion derived to make sure a slave owner is not taking on a responsibility that they cannot handle. It is, to me, a built in throttle. Not only does the master need room to house the slave, but he needs the ability to pay for their upkeep, because he will be having that upkeep pulled from his account for the ISA records -- so if you only get a stipend of 20, but you have 4 slaves. that means you OWE.. the Empire -20.. so, all of it combined, is to make sure the Master is taking on what he can handle.
The same with the IRS -- if your networth goes up (IE the amount of goodies your getting), but your not paying in your taxes, there's a problem there. consider slaves as part of the character's net worth.
Equipment slots do not carry for just items that effect combat. Familiars, Potions, some IoP's and SI's that may not effect combat, all of those may and do require an equipment slot.