[oddjob]

I am also glad this thread was semi-hijacked with ideas to constructively balance out the game.

I like all the ideas, and am not preferential; so long as an option to potentially beat higher levels is implemented, which it sounds like it will be, i am happy.

One point i would also like to raise is that the hiring of a NPC hitman, (or even the multi user gang-up option) would be more beneficial during a gang war, if the successful attack earns respect for your gang, just as a normal successful attack would.

In this case, these options are even better than hiring another player to take out another.

And thus it probably will help lower the price of hiring an actual human player to help settle ones grudges.