I've received some new-found inspiration to try out some pirating.
I want this pirate to be a generic pirate - someone not holding particular loyalties to anyone. Not smart enough to be a Hacker, not dumb enough to be Rogue, prefers Rotgut to Cardimine, nor does he possess any cannibalistic tendencies.
I got a Pirate Transport and now I need to slap some guns on that bad boy.
Since this pirate works for himself, what guns could he use? Besides the transport guns?
For the most part, transport level 4 turrets (class 7) are the best you'll be able to use. Most fighter turrets have less damage output, and all of them have shorter range and lower projectile speed. At most, i'd use maybe one debilitator turret, but for the rest of your hardpoints use standard transport turrets.
I ended up just using all lvl 4 transport turrets.
This system worked out for a while quite nicely.
I managed to pirate four traders, giving the option of "1 million credits, 3000 units of what you're carrying, or I begin testing your hull integrity." They all took the credit option, oddly enough.
But then it happened. On one stretch, 5 luxury liners passed by my rickety old pirate transport. Hauling alien organisms. Obviously they had to extensively remodel the interiors of the ships in order to start hauling that kind of cargo. Knock down a few walls, remove some stair cases and elevators, eject some beds, nightstands, chairs, vending machines, lamps, toilets, sinks, complimentary soap bars, jacuzzis, swimming pools, various and sundry kitchen appliances, slot machines, virtual reality gaming consoles, card tables, roulette wheels and whole lot of junk I'm not even going to bother to mention out the airlock and presto - instant miscellaneous freighter. Easy as proverbial pie.
Needless to say, I remained silent in the face of this procession of armor and firepower (at least one had universal armor VIII). Well, at least they didn't need escorts.
So I turned tail and charted a course for Newcastle, from where I purchased a Rogue gunboat. The end.
' Wrote:Amusing story, but a Rogue Gunboat will not enable you to contend with even two luxury liners, not to mention five.
Amusing? Ok, I can accept that. My use of the word of "procession" was a bit misleading. I should have said that they passed by in short intervals - not as a convoy.
Still, one luxury liner can give a gunboat a run for its money. While a pirate transport doesn't have a snowball's chance in Death Valley to successfully pirate a lux liner.
Too bad really. Now I can only demand 300 units of cargo instead 3000.
An idea: a pirate freighter with 2500 - 2000 units of cargo space and 8 - 10 turrets (omnidirectional).