Traders: "Kill me now" OORP?

[chovynz]

-snipped for extra parts-
My route takes 45+ minutes as is, Assuming this is one way, your doing it wrong! 45+ for a route is... an astounding amount of time. I hope your hauling some good stuff, cuz you can make lots in 15 minutes.

Furthermore, sitting on a trade lane waiting for some trader to come along with a swarm of NPC ships attacking the pirate isn't exactly RP either. How else do you suggest we pirate?

But some pirates, most I'd have to say, are extremely impatient and open fire as soon as you try to plea your case in RP. They just don't wanna hear it. In my experience it's because the traders are delaying for some sort of "call for backup"/Rabbiting tactic. Maybe the difference with me, is in my RP i warn them about that.

I've seen zoners be pirated in front of zoner freeports, or an IMG in front of their bases. This is also absurd as the base would send protection if it wasn't a computer simulation, which it isn't in RP. This is true. Bad form for the pirates. But then you also get bad-to-the-bone pirates. Avoid them.

On the other hand I'd be lying if I said I don't have fun when I have to run from some pirate with a half baked plan. There are also counters available such as escorts and bounties to deal with pirates, though currently they are ineffective. I hope you have just as much fun when you're outsmarted by a pirate.

Now if we made a rule that if a pirate who dies because of a bounty not only has to give the money they took back, but also pay for the bounty...that would be something. Make it cost them too for pirating and getting caught. Or a flat fee of 3 million for fighter class pirates, 5 million for GBs when they are caught and killed. Money goes to the trader of course, for his trouble and expenses of a bounty. Silly Idea. Pirating is hard enough as it is.

I also feel that corporations would take measures to prevent pirates from taking their cargo or credits. Like areas around bases can't be touched, per RP. Trade lanes shouldn't be used by pirates either, since they are supposed to be security codes on those lanes. Most house systems probably charge taxes for their trade lanes being used, or should per RP. Politically, as well, a company like BoWEx wouldn't stand for one of their ships being torn up or robbed. The repercussions would be rippling through all levels of law enforcement to get off their butts and make pirates understand 'come to our systems, and pay through the teeth...right after we kick you in them'. Most of all I hear in this is "Wah wah". Corporations DO do things. Like Hire escorts. Like switch chars onto the LABC's. Base areas, well, thats up to the individual pirates conscience - will he be a sportsman about it or not? Nothing you can do about it. Tradelanes is a debatable point. Some yes, some no. I'd hate for that to become a rule. Politically they might not, but realistically what could they do? Oh I dunno, pay insurance, and hire escorts? Maybe. Don't forget that there is an entire Two HOUSES and societies made up of Criminal elements (corsairs and outcasts) that the houses have to deal with. In comparison to what they do, tradelane/trader pirating would be considered petty theft.

For the record, I do have pirate characters. But they don't hold up traders, mostly for the reasons above. Lastly, most of my pirate friends make more money pirating than trading.
I pity your pirate character then. Take some lessons from Baltar or the Liberty Rogues (player faction).

If I may comment.:)

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Seek fun and you shall find it. Seek stuff to Q_Q about and you'll find that, too. I choose to have fun.