Piracy

[worldstrider]

This is true, but the debate here is how to lessen the impact of piracy without impacting the RP on either side. Trust me, the summer months make discovery chock-full of unlawful liberty types who fly in numbers to win at any cost.

I understand the point. I think house navies and police should be ONE faction. But not "one player's" faction. Here's what I mean:

You have a legal codex in each house voted on by all house players (corps and the like even). It is the actual "law of the land". cops don't make arbitrary and subjective calls. They have rules of engagement, set fines and penalties--that are applied uniformly and do not vary from player to player. In return, they can load up on armor and caps and whatever. But they have assigned areas, protocols for leaving them to assist others, etc. House shippers get free escort in house systems from the police and Navy--others do not. Non-house or foreign shippers have to PAY to get escorted in (a commission for the cops). It would take some creative brainstorming but a "house" ought to feel like one--grand and powerful and proud. Player factions could be admin approved only even with suitable rewards for acceptance and ppenalties for abuse.

Houses have fragmented RP--that's why "lawful and orderly" appeal less. No one and everyone can be "admiral"--but its mostly player made up and means nothing in practical terms. Limit titles and ship types but grant them to players. You start out a private and get a free fighter. Do better get a free kitted out gunboat with rank. Then on up to admiral, battleship or whatever. Would take a lot of work but would make houses a lot more fun instead of the AOL chats they are now. Pirates become pirates 'cause they can go straight to the glory and action. Houses need to have their own unique action.

Just as you would have character play rules, you could have player rules. Get caught by a superiror oorp chatting, lose a rank--etc.

That's one way to address it--or begin to.

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