Gaians and Corsairs

[hribek]

Liberty Rogues - Outcast alliance: The Liberty Rogues have never been comfortable with the alliance, because it neutralizes any chances of profits smuggling artifacts and other goods from the Corsairs. To this end, they drop their alliance (which they never originally had anyway) and go back to being neutral with both the Corsairs and the Outcasts.

"because it neutralizes any chances of profits smuggling artifacts"
-uh, how? Artifacts are getting into Liberty very indirectly. From the Hogosha, Lane Hackers on Leiden and eventually Rogues who smuggle them across Colorado. There are no Outcasts in those systems, there are no Outcasts north from Badlands, actually. Even then, Artifacts are Alien Artifacts, not Corsair Artifacts. It's like saying that the borderworlds shipline is Outcast. Some Artifacts might originate from Pygar in Theta, or other excavation sites around Sirius. And you don't get addicted to Artifacts, unlike Cardamine. Reverting to vanilla relations where Rogues are neutral to Corsairs because they would never meet - well, I don't see how that matters. Rogues were allied to the Outcasts because smuggling Cardamine from California, Texas and Buffalo across New York to Rochester or Manhattan is not easy, but still pays off. Truth is that the Rogues always wanted that to change and "run the business themselves one day". I guess they can try and we'll see what happens - might be interesting.
What I wouldn't like: Rogues allowing Corsairs to dock on their bases in Liberty. Why? Well, it would be the same as with Outcasts before. Rogues get low (if any) gain from the trade.

But that's the problem of Corsair players en-masse ignoring the fact that they don't have a Sirius-wide ZoI. It's not a problem of faction diplomacy. Lane Hackers were neutral to Corsairs in 800 A.S. - and it wasn't a problem, since they would never meet. However, with the Corsair aggressive moves (mentioned by Igiss and demonstrated by players, too), the Hackers would pick sides, I bet. They're not Outcast puppets, but Corsair invasion into Liberty space serves no one.

Perhaps the Corsair ZoI should get mentioned in their ID. "escorting their smugglers to Liberty" is actually against their interests, since it would make the smuggler a target. If Corsairs want access to Liberty, they should fight for it first. But right now Corsairs seem to be more concerned with killing each other and sitting around the Omicron systems, with the occasional raid into Bretonia. (question is to what extent (and if at all) player behavior and events actually influence the storyline or vice versa).