Information as Currency; the Rise of the InfoAgent
By Rachel Combs
Staff Writer
As the influence of the UEE expanded throughout the universe, humanity saw the rise of a new specialist, the InfoAgent. These professionals spend their lives positioning themselves as the nexus of information in their system, always alert for the latest job opportunities, local system info, even gossip. A good InfoAgent will foster relationships with locals and travellers alike to keep current on events, often before the NewsOrgs hear about them. To facilitate this, a growing percentage of InfoAgents own or are purchasing bars and hotels in the landing parks.
In an age of interstellar travel and supercomputers, many have wondered why people would be so reliant on such a non-technological system. Simply put, communication takes time. Even the best digital collations of news and media are reliant on a relay-based system, constantly feeding and updating threads of data back and forth into the Central Archive. Since it’s a constant stream of all data from all corners of UEE territory, it takes time to analyze and disseminate. For that reason, people have always seemed to rely most on word of mouth, especially words out of a trusted mouth. In a curious twist considering the subjective nature of memory, the InfoAgent is trusted to remember what’s worth remembering. He or she is the filter and keeper of relevant data. To illustrate, consider this scenario. Citizen Wilkes puts out a job offer for mercenaries to defend his property from imminent danger. A datastream reports the offer, compensation, and maybe a link to the public file for Citizen Wilkes. The offer is then relayed through the public DataServers and becomes viewable throughout the UEE. However, a good InfoAgent knows that the job is not legitimate. He or she knows Citizen Wilkes suffers from dementia and has made the same claim no fewer than sixteen times over the past decade.
Generally, InfoAgents don’t claim affiliation to guilds, syndicates or organizations. They are everybody’s best friend and their independence is a virtue that symbolizes impartiality. Consequently, the jobs they offer tend to come from private Citizens, smaller Corps, and Non-Citizens who can’t afford or don’t want to pay Guild minimums. Jobs through an InfoAgent won’t make the average pilot rich, but can help build the foundation of a reputation and a career.
Aside from commissioning jobs, InfoAgents can also be contracted to broker sales deals. Explorers who have found a mineral deposit or NavDrive data of a new jump-point have been known to contract an InfoAgent to act as intermediary for a private sale of this information, rather than registering it with the UEE. The one who buys this data will do so at a premium price over the standard UEE pay-out, but will have private access to an untapped lode or even an entire system … that is, until another pilot discovers it.
The question of legality is a divisive issue for the general public, the governing authorities and even the InfoAgents themselves. Some agents believe that their position is an essential pillar of the community, viewing themselves as public servants form whom integrity is demanded, and therefore refusing to traffic criminal jobs or information. Others are ambivalent about where their information comes from and to what end it is used. “Info is info,” says Trevor Elias in Killian. “I’m not hurting nobody, I’m just passing it along to those that want to hear.”
Whether there are InfoAgents who deal exclusively in underground and criminal data is not in question. This reporter was unable to bypass their unorthodox security protocols to actually speak with one, but they are certainly out there. These shadowy brokers present their own danger as they almost certainly act as local representatives for criminal syndicates. Therefore they can wield the ugly power of those organizations, should a pilot cross them.
Perhaps what’s most fascinating about this profession is its ineffable and fluid concept. Being a miner is simple; you dig, extract ore, then sell it or process it yourself. Mercenaries provide their life, ship and expertise to defend or attack. An InfoAgent’s value is much less tangible — it is determined by the information he or she possesses. So while there are ‘established’ InfoAgents in virtually every corner of the universe, there is always room for a competent newcomer. The InfoAgent is both friend and fixer. If people begin to trust you with information and you learn how to orchestrate the connections, then you too can become an InfoAgent.
I might know a quiet bar someplace
Wonder how far that will be playable!
InfoAgent or a scammer, Or how to tell them out… almost impossible without some kind of a ‘third source’ of information that can prove that infoagent is a reliable one or just a passer-by-scammer.
An InfoAgent who can rate other InfoAgents!
I’m more than a little intrigued. This sounds great.
Setting the scene for NPCs I think. Good idea, it will make players have to travel to a particular system, dock & find the infoagent to get he required info before moving on.
A good read. One of the more interesting things I took away from it is that someone who sells NavDrive data of a new jump-point to/through an InfoAgent may get more money than they would from the UEE, but then presumably couldn’t officially claim the system for naming rights.
There are already groups/squads out there who are looking to traffic information. Many fleets are already conducting espionage on other fleets as well.
espionage started when the first two fleets formed…
Think of it as part of the meta-game. Outside of piloting, there may still be things people want to do in-game. Buying, selling, trading, outfitting and restocking for your ship, for example. But there’s also the possibility for social exchange and interchange. Players may want to set up a deal, or look for someone with special expertise and/or knowledge, without broadcasting their interest on a publicly viewable datastream. Or perhaps, someone wants information on the flying habits of a particular pilot who ambushed a cargo a while back…where do they fly from, with what other pilots, what affiliations does that pilot own/belong? All these questions might be asked discretely without tipping the hand or warning someone that there’s interest coming from an unexpected quarter…
Of course, there’s a fine line between being reputable, reliable and timely and being burned as a snitch, grass or dead-man-walking…
Could this possibly mean something like chat channels being limited to a particular planet or system, rather than a global chat(yes, I’m aware that Eve has something like this already)? The idea that a local planet develops it’s own comm system, away from the more central systems is interesting. I mean, of course you would still have /whisper or squadron chat, but maybe a smaller trade or pirate chat within a specific area sounds interesting.
This is a very interesting question! Why should communication rays travel faster than light without jumpdrive? In my preferred Sci-Fi-Novel the only way to get data to another system is to pack it ONTO a jumpship, do the jump and then broadcast it. (encrypted where applicable) And the next jumpship then picks up the broadcast to the next system. Depending on the distance between the jumpholes in one system and the frequency of ships jumping, a message can take minutes or for long distances days to reach its destination. A galaxy-wide instant communication system seems illogical from the technology and physics point of view. I wonder what CIGs ideas related to that matter are so far? (I’m still not able to post in the forums due to account issues)
Interstellar underground railroad – looking to pass through a pirate-heavy system without conflict? Talk to “Joe” at outpost zeta prime, he’ll hook you up
Intriguing concept if a player can become an InfoAgent… *thumbsup*
Sounds totally cool – when I’m done having my @$$ handed to me in PvP I’d like to be able to retire to my own little bar and broker tips and leads for people. Maybe that can be one of the kinds of real estate we can buy and maintain
Even something like Quarks from DS9 might be fun…set up in a more protected area, but serving a seedy clientele looking for opportunities.
If players can become InfoAgents, then I’m really excited about the possibilities! I can definitely see each system having it’s own player run news network!
I smell fixers… Gooood!
Maybe a device app(like phone or tablet) so your always plugged in and being InfoAgenty :p .
^ This!
I like the idea of infoagent and word of mouth because it harkens back to Star Wars! If you want information about the next mission or get intell about someone or something; where do you go, Nar Shaddaa.
It would really be cool if players can become infoagents! I don’t see that profession going too far because most squadrons will have some type of info sharing network setup
But the best InfoAgents (ala Talon Karrde) are going to have the best secrets and only give those out to those willing to fork over the credits for it. Dunno if I will be able to get into that type of roll, but will definitely work for such an organization if the opportunity presents itself
Lady and Gentlemans
The Basic Mission Agents!
Think the last part of becoming Information Agent is Meta Gaming and not regulated by the Game (think EVE)
Awesome, when I retire I will become the InfoAgent:D
This appeals to me a lot!
Hmm, imagine setting up a corp only for information. Something like a private investigation corp. a bunch of people that know people and can find useful bits of information.
I can see NPC InfoAgents as info brokers and fixers for jobs that are more “juicy” (in terms of plot/experience rather than necessarily pay) than what you get from public sources. The pay may not be the same as Guild jobs, but consider the jobs themselves to be more A-Team like.
Creds are creds, but hopefully these can give some unique “feel good” jobs or down-right hairy “this one Johnson screwed me so hard I’m surprised I’m still alive” experiences that make for good/memorable stories.
I approve…
Hell, just the chance to own a bar might be interesting and provide a chance for someone who isn’t good at piloting to still be involved in the greater world.
This is exactly the type of occupational path that I’ve been positioning the Free Trade League for. We don’t need to know the information, just where to get it. You need a certain cargo? We know who sells it, and we can get it for you. Need to know the best route to avoid someone, or some group? We can cut a deal for protection or safe routes. Got some find, and want top dollar for it? We know who’s buying and what they might pay. Need to cut deal without exposing yourself? We can broker that.
the Free Trade League: all the information you can buy, and all the free beer you can drink!
I think that this could really work well with the whole owning business mechanic that CR talked about on the past Wingman’s Hangar. Owning Bars and restuarants give you some kind of intel advantage while owning manufacturing or retail businesses may give you other advantages.
Think I might be starting a chain of bars soon…
Gossip girl?!?
The Shadow broker never upsets the status quo of the universe. Always selling and trading information in such a way no party will ever gain the upper hand.
I like the idea of being an information Agent or shadow broker if you will. You can have lot’s of fund with this. I’d like to see how they will expand on this in game. I’m loving the sound of it.
I got really inspired by this idea and created a would-be news show! It’s aimed at residents and visitors in the Croshaw system. I’m sure that when the system is really fleshed out by CIG, all my locations will probably be kaput, but still… the concept is one I think a player could run with and do on their own.
https://soundcloud.com/mufossa75/threshold1
Thought i killed the Shadowbroker on his ship over Hagalaz.
We know of an unsalvaged derelict Alliance transport, carrying highly condensed complete nutrient supplement bars…