Define: Power Trader

[Baltar]

A Power Trading with no role play will ...

... dock anywhere regardless of whether they are "supposed" to be hostile or not
... take the shortest route from point A to point B (which normally brings them through hostile territory)
... become neutral or friendly to all factions on their route (both lawful and unlawful)
... typically have a Civilian or Trader ID -- most times they never bother to get the Trader ID because they're too cheap
... fly a transport with the largest cargo hold (like the Tanker)
... not make any effort to speak to or otherwise interact with anyone they encounter
... when confronted by a pirate, dock at the closest station -- swap to another power trading vessel -- continue trading till the pirate gives up -- swap back and continue as if nothing happened
... typically has a capship somewhere very close to the roughest part of their route (Bounty Hunter BC setup) -- when pirates come close they swap to their BH BC and "hang out" near where the pirates are patrolling till the pirate leaves -- then carry on with their trading
... have friends who should be pirating traders (like GC or BD) but instead aide their buddy by claiming they are contracted to support the GC or BD -- thus making the pirate scratch his head
... "rather die than pay"
... place 50 mil bounties on a pirate who only asked for 500k -- knowing that no bounty hunter will ever catch the pirate and thus they'd never pay a single credit -- but you get lost of hunters scaring the pirates off
... the list goes on


A Power Trader with good role play will ...

... use the same trade run but with a slightly different route -- like avoiding the pirates by using trade lanes
... when confronted by a pirate, usually attempts to haggle the pirate down in price or pay him to carry on
... if traveling through what should be hostile territory, maintains the appropriate reputation -- if he's a Trader ID'd character, he will be red with BD and GC
... actually interacts with others on his route -- may even taunt the pirates
... hires escorts to support him on his route -- too many mercs out there go unemployed because of the negative, non-role playing power traders
... this list can go on as well


I think if you consider the actions of the trader as I've listed above you can determine whether the power trader is role playing or not. You CAN be a power trader with role play ... BUT ... there are more non-role playing power traders than role players.

Hope this helps