Edit: Jeebus Cripes this got WAY too long.. Sorry, I'm super passionate about this.
(05-21-2025, 10:05 PM)EisenSeele Wrote: A 3.6k transport that's ferrying cargo is no longer balanced in the same view as a 5k transport - but it still makes no sense for a pirate to just kill it without any motive for profit or some other externality that would compel them to exercise violence. If we find someone is needlessly murderhoboting with poor quality roleplay, despite the fact that we have publically made it known that such things are unacceptable, they will be punished.
My thought is this:
Yes, you're absolutely right - It doesn't make sense for any sensible pirate to want to just open fire on a transport hauling goodies. But, what about the "some other externality" part? What if a pirate, such as a lunatic like in Eternal.Journey's example, wants your cargo, AND wants you to suffer?
Yes, this pirate would likely get more cargo if he does not blow the transport up, and instead forced it at gunpoint to drop most of its load. But, if this lunatic-pirate prefers the sounds of pleading voices, followed by an explosion, followed again by fragments of ship showering against his hull.. Your only option at that point, is to fight.
And fighting is all well-and-easy when you have PvP experience, and know how to turret-steer.
But what is a new player even supposed to DO in that sort of situation except pull a "guess I'll die?"
Yes, OK - This sort of situation could in theory be interpreted as a violation of 1.0 "don't be a dick." The counter-argument here from the lunatic-pirate player's POV is "It's what my character would do."
But why would we want to even ALLOW this situation to happen in the FIRST place?
Under the new proposed 2.1 rule, if someone were to shoot a transport (now a combat ship), they could try and hide "being a dick" behind a thinly veiled, possibly flimsy (or maybe even fully-justified) RP excuse to shoot the transport in 10 seconds.
Then the victim has to go through the pain-staking process of:
Collecting the evidence in a panic situation.
Uploading said evidence to image/video sharing sites.
Type up the report on the forum.
Double-check everything, then submit the violation report.
Play the waiting game while someone from the staff looks at the report, and finds the time to get back with the reporter as to "hey, it's being investigated/handled/we will speak with them."
Or, we could just.. Go with the current system, that already sides with the RP'er, that avoids creating a situation where a low-PvP-skill/newer player has zero-choice in getting shot at. A system which, not only avoids creating extra workload for a volunteer staff team, but also still allows the transport to be shot, IF:
The transport either refused a demand,
Or they were blown up by an ID that can already treat trade ships as combat ships.
Like okay, I get it - The Grouse is definitely an egregious example of a transport moonlighting as mini gunboat. So then just.. Make the Grouse be treated as a combat ship by the rules. Ez.
If a transport is used as a combat ship by a PvP ace/vet/competent player, under the current rules, it already gets treated as a combat ship since it's being used offensively.
Also, quick aside about the length of time required before shooting:
10 seconds is nothing, duuude.
Like, we have people all over Europe and Asia playing this game, many being non-native English speakers, and some being slow at reading and typing it. How are we supposed to encourage a healthy Role Playing environment, when those who can't even finish reading ONE of the preset messages, starts taking fire?
IMO, it shouldn't be 10 seconds, it should be 2 minutes, unless a defender starts trying to flee within the first 2 minutes. Even as a guy who ONLY speaks English, trying to read 2 long, preset messages in 10 seconds is strenuous.
Hot take: /1 /2 isn't RP, it's being a dick.
Don't be a dick! If you wanna shoot me, pour your heart and soul out with in-RP insults for 2 minutes before you do it - I wanna FEEL like I've had a fun read before I get blue'd!
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