Piracy: ok or not?

[maclypse]

Thanks for the opinions on the questions. There's just a few things that kind of bother me about it all:

On question 1:

Most IDs are very specific. As an example, a liberty police ID clearly states they can stop smugglers and fine them, and destroy them if they don't comply. A libery navy ID allows you to stop smugglers, but not fine them, and they can't do anything within a few specific systems (out of their jurisdiction I guess). What I'm getting at, is that the IDs are very specific and restrictive, even for a faction in their own space. Does it make sense that a navy cruiser can't do anything about a cardamine smuggler in New York? Maybe not, but that's what the ID says.

A Kusari Navy ID for example reads "Can destroy traders in Kusari who belong to corporations headquartered in Houses that Kusari is at war with if the trader refuses to drop all cargo and leave Kusari." There's nothing like this present on the Xeno ID, that indicates the Xeno can demand that traders leave and stay out. Then again - there's no comment like this on a Liberty Police ID either, so I can certainly see you have a point too.

Cops can go after a "known smuggler" even if they are not smuggling at that very moment - I know that.
When it comes to the Xenos though, they are operating in hostile space, not their own. While liberty is definitely their zone of influence, I wouldn't call Colorado a Xeno-system - I'd call it a Liberty system. On top of that, the Xeno IDs are basically the same as any other pirate ID, but even more restrictive. I guess the thing that bothers me is that in liberty space, a legitimate trader is forced into the role of a smuggler by the Xenos. Being highjacked by pirates is one thing, but being hunted down like a known smuggler is another.

From what you are all saying, it feels like what you are doing is basically acting like the police - but targetting lawfuls, not smugglers: you demand cargo, and destroy them if they don't go away. I certainly understand the RP reasons for doing this, and I certainly see the appeal of being "more than a pirate", having a political agenda. I'm just wondering if it's ok that traders become smugglers everytime a Xeno is around. Sort of... "If we wanted to play smugglers, we'd get a smuggler ID and buy cardamine", you know?

I see your RP point - I hope you see my OORP point. I just think it's a complicated situation, which is why I'm asking, and hopig to get an answer from an admin or something.

Wow, that was long... sorry.

On question 2:

You seem to equate "demand" with "initiate RP", turning "can hurt a trader before making demands" into "can hurt a trader before initiating RP". I know many pirates do this - but most of them do not. The majority of the pirates I met have all said something before firing (they don't always make a demand) and my pirates always initiate some kind of RP before attacking. "Oh look, a fat trader." initiates RP, but its not a demand. See what I mean?

I think my problem is that it doesn't say "pirates can attack without initiating RP". Maybe this is what rule 6.19 was intended to mean - but it's not what it says. Thus, me asking... Has an admin ever commented on this, on whether it's ok or not?


mac