My statement

[Archelon]

aaah happened to me once...

but he got attacked by npc's and got killed, I just flew in circles around him, it was fun. But I agree, pirates should come out of nowere in the middle of space.
Maybe a rule like no pirating were npc's can shoot you. Meaning a rogue can't pirate a freighter right next to a police station if the station is shooting the guy.
I don't know, just thought I'd throw that out.

Why don't we go a step farther and delete all pirate faction ID's. Lets just make it illegal for anyone to pirate on this server. I mean really ... traders don't want to be pirated anywhere. I got jacked in California by 4 military/police types because a trader chose to use the cover of New York (non-RP zone) until his support was in place. How RP is that? If New York were an RP zone, I would have taxed the trader there instead of sitting next to him and watching all the pieces fall into place. I'd like to see some RP from traders for a change. Instead all I hear is moaning from traders that they can't make it along their trade route un-impeded. You complain that there are too many NPCs dropping the trade lanes (delaying you on your routes). You complain about the pirates that demand a small portion of your cash. Come on ... rules are already so restrictive on pirates its unreal. There's already rules about dock-killing. There's rules that state a pirate has to scan you and demand something before they can kill you. And the admins are on the prowl for pirates that act like terrorists.

A rule such as what you propose is akin to a rule requiring traders to pay on demand. Why don't we have a rule like this. If a pirate demands 2 mil, you are required to pay 50% of the demand or be sanctioned. Its absurd. We are about to legislate piracy out of business on this server. Then we can all be happy, hold hands and sing Kumbiya while we have our tea and crumpets.

I agree with the OP, pirating should be done in open space. If you are camping a house planet trying to tax and the local authorities are not shooting you, then I am afraid that is pretty pathetic.

If you are being shot at at least you are in RP but really you should be avoiding pirating close to a house planet like the plague.

As my Unioner I sometimes hit a trader in Bering outside Freeport 2. I don't really like doing it simply because it is simple for a trader to speed dock and really we should be lane hacking. Sometimes opportunity knocks though and I have taxed there.

Pirates pirate where they can. Yes, the NPCs normally enemies of pirates should be shooting at them. But the same goes for traders. How many times have you seen a trader fly through the Omegas and never get shot at by Corsairs or Red Hessians? How many traders fly around Liberty where the Rogue NPCs leave them alone? What's good for the goose people ...

If I'm hanging around Los Angeles, it doesn't take long for 3 battleship groups show up and tear my shields down to zero and my hull to 75%. Trust me, the NPCs are doing their job. If I choose to pirate while being shot at, that's within RP. I've pirated with human players shooting at me before. I was able to destroy the trade vessel, beam up the loot and jump to cruise while getting hammered. That "is" RP. Now if the NPCs are not shooting ... I can see your argument. But the unlawful NPCs better be shooting at the lawful players while they're waiting for me to exit one of my Rogue bases. And I'd better not be seeing human Bounty Hunters hanging around unlawful guard systems trying to hunt down pirates while not being shot at.

Trader ID docking on unlawful bases? Lets talk about this for a moment.