I have 2 ideas. All of the items are designed to help give new users a way to take advantage of IBStore items. One is designed to help fight abuse of these items.
IBCharity
People can donate to a growing pool of ore. Anyone except those who statistically have the most ore can take from the pool for free up to a limit (like 100 per week or something). The amount of ore in the pool is reliant upon how many people donate (most likely a small group of the wealthy which can be contacted easily), how much they donate and those who would need the ore most (new users). Since having a free source of ore would give rise to abuse, a running history of those who have taken from the pool is displayed in a way similar to IBShout History and (perhaps) the last 3 to 10 users to take from the pool is displayed so those who take too much or too often will be known. If abuse is too rampant, the small group of the highest donating can be informed (and respond by ceasing to donate) and the pool will shrink. When the pool is low or empty use and therefore abuse will drop. In this system, abuse is possible but controllable.
IBMug
Users with the most on-hand ore can be mugged only by those with the statistically least amount of ore. Low-ore users can only mug those who have above a certain amount of ore on their person (not in the bank). Only the users who are statistically the poorest, meaning the least total amount of ore on hand or in the bank, can mug. Mugging is free. A mugged user will know who mugged them. The system would be similar to Rob The Bank but directed toward only the richest users. This system would encourage the rich to keep their ore tucked away at the bank. Just as in real life, you shouldnt keep $1700 in your pocket while in public.
This system gives us the negative aspect of crime but the positive aspect of control. Crime is bad, except when we can control it. If the rich do not want to get mugged by the poor, they should donate to the poor. If the poor abuse the system, their benefits will disappear. This gives way to an off-shoot idea:
IBSeize
People who have been IBMugging or abusing IBCharity can be known to those they take from. People who repeatedly abuse the system will by that time be known to the community. When IBSieze is used, the target will have any on-hand ore taken and donated to the Bank or the IBCharity pool. The user is also unable to collect ore or withdraw from the Bank for one month. Those who are the target of IBSieze cannot use any IBStore item for the 1 month duration. This essentially simulates "putting the user in jail" as if they had charges pressed against them for theft which is analagous to IBCharity abuse or IBMug. Only the statistically most wealthy can IBSieze as they are most likely the targets of abuse and commmunity leaders who essentially act as police anyway in their modorator duties. IBSieze would be a continuation of this. IBSieze should not be free and cost a moderate fee as to deter abuse by the wealthy.
Of course all this would be an experiment. If the community grows to such a level that 100+ new users are mugging on a daily basis, all 3 IBStore items would have to be thrown out due to sheer maintainence.
These ideas also bring more of a community aspect to the relatively indifferent IBStore. Dontating to, taking from and abusing the system will reflect community attitudes as well as to population statistics. Demand for IBCharity will increase, IBMug will become more rampant as the number of poor increase. As the number of IBSiezes increases to counter the rampant crime, the rich lose money and the economy gap shrinks. The difference between the rich and poor becomes smaller to a point that the poor will have no reason to abuse the system, crime will shrink and the amount of community ore will return to regular levels. Supply and demand. Crime and punishment. Just as in real life.
These also open the door for related IBStore items:
IBGoon
The wealthy can hire a goon as their bodyguard. The IBGoon will prevent anyone from using IBMug against them. While the users' IBMug will fail, the target of the IBMug will know who tried to mug them. They then will have the opportunity to IBSieze that user. When a user is caught trying to IBMug a user with IBGoon, all on hand ore is given directly to the user upon which the IGMug was attempted. IBGoon should cost a moderate fee to reflect their blunt nature. IBGoon should only be available to those who are statistically the most wealthy. IBGoon should not last more than 1 week, perhaps less. This will prevent abuse by the wealthy, making them "untouchable" by potential IBMugging. Those who have IBGoon enabled will have no outward sign that they have a bodyguard. Anyone seeking to score easy money via IBMug will be taking the risk that they are caught.
Of course, if IBGoon were enabled, it would be wise to change the rules for IBMug. For IBGoon to be an effective deterrent, you would have to make it more tempting for the poor to IBMug by making it so that the target of an IBMug will not know how mugged them. Only through the use of IBGoon will the rich know who IBMugged them and be able to use IBSieze. Having IBGoon available and changing IBMug rules would actually reduce crime. As the number of IBMugs increases and the rich respond with more IBGoons, more IBMugs will be caught and the offenders be IBSiezed. More of the offenders ore will be put into the Bank or the IBCharity pool and free ore will increase, reducing crime as the poor will no longer have to resort to IBMug to get free ore. Increases in crime will also serve to reinforce that the rich keep their ore in the bank. Doing so will reduce the amount of ore collected through IBMug and will force the poor to take advantage of the "legal" IBCharity free ore pool.
Of course you could call these things anything you want. They are also only suggestions. I think theyre pretty interesting.
