Generic IDs

[Antonio]

Freelancer ID is too generic and overused at the moment. Every unaffiliated ship uses it, and it covers anything from freelancing bounty hunting (lawful and unlawful), researching, smuggling, exploring, escorting or just being an independent pilot looking for RP. Considering that over 50% of all ships in the game use the Freelancer ID (including new players), which is a main representative of generic IDs, I was thinking it's time we bring back some of the generic IDs that were removed a long time ago. The difference now would be that those IDs would actually be different than the Freelancer one in the ID description as well (before they all had the same oorp lines and the only thing that was different was the name and interpretation of IDs, which was often misused). A few suggestion are:

1.) Mercenary ID - Specifically made for freelancing bounty hunters. In that case the line "Can engage any bounty contract" would get removed from the Freelancer ID, forcing those hunters to use this ID instead.

Mercenary ID

Pilot carrying this quasi-lawful ID is a Mercenary who:

Can attack any ship in self-defense or to protect an allied ship.
Can fulfill any bounty and escort contracts, and may treat transports as combat targets when executing a bounty or escort contract against them.
Cannot use any ships with more than 1,000 cargo space.
Cannot participate in unlawful actions except as described above.

Allowed ships: Fighters, Freighters, Transports, Gunboats

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2.) Independent Trader ID - A freelancing trader who can fly transports up to X amount of cargo (most probably 3600). That'd encourage people to use this ID instead for the purpose of trading with a generic ID. Freelancer ID would get a significantly lower allowed cargo limit.

Independent Trader ID

Pilot carrying this lawful ID is an Independent Trader, who:

Can attack any ship in self-defense or to protect an allied ship.
Cannot use any transports with more than 3,600 cargo space.
Cannot participate in unlawful actions except as described above.

Allowed ships: Fighters, Freighters, Transports

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3.) Smuggler ID - The shady version of an Independent Trader who would, as a reward, get a higher cargo limit but would be looked at as a quasi-lawful or even unlawful ID in certain areas. The cargo limit I'd suggest is 4300.

Smuggler ID

Pilot carrying this quasi-lawful ID is a Smuggler, who:

Can attack any ship in self-defense or to protect an allied ship.
Cannot use any transports with more than 4,300 cargo space.
Cannot participate in unlawful actions except as described above.

Allowed ships: Fighters, Freighters, Transports

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4.) Researcher/Scientist ID - nothing special here, but this one would be for the RP fans who would get the same copy of Freelancer ID except that they wouldn't have the line "Can protect any friendly or allied ship." which would mean they can engage only in self defence. It would also give other people notice you're here for the roleplay above all else, especially of a researching/scientific type.

Researcher ID

Pilot carrying this lawful ID is a Researcher, who:

Can only engage ships in self defence.
Cannot use any ships with more than 1,800 cargo space.

Allowed ships: Fighters, Freighters, Transports, Gunboats

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5.) Explorer ID - For those who want to use ships that have the exploring purpose such as the Bustard and Corvo. It would be a copy of the new Freelancer ID but with cargo limitation increased to 1800 units (Bustard's cargo size).

Explorer ID

Pilot carrying this lawful ID is an Explorer, who:

Can attack any ship in self-defense or to protect an allied ship.
Cannot use any ships with more than 1,800 cargo space.
Cannot participate in unlawful actions except as described above.

Allowed ships: Fighters, Freighters, Transports, Liners, Gunboats

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The new Freelancer ID would look like this:

Freelancer ID

Pilot carrying this quasi-lawful ID is a Freelancer, who:

Can attack any ship in self-defense or to protect a friendly or an allied ship.
Can trade and escort traders.
Cannot use any ships with more than 1,000 cargo space.
Cannot participate in unlawful actions except as described above.

Allowed ships: Fighters, Freighters, Transports, Gunboats

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I also think that the line "Can engage any ship in self defence or to protect a friendly or allied ship." from the current Freelancer ID should be reviewed. The "friendly" and "allied" terms are very tricky and situational, often causing confusion between people. My suggestion is to force those Freelancers who would assist their friends and allies to have the affiliation of those factions they're assisting, but keeping the Freelancer ID. For example, a Freelancer ID/Lane Hacker IFF ship would be allowed to assist a Rogue against the Navy through the use of that line.

Thoughts?

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