To many Pirates.

[El_Vlado]

I know how you feel OP, I actually was on my trader yesterday going through California and I spent all the money I had on cargo and had $245 left, and the pirates took that and then threatened to kill me 'as I had more'... It wasn't just one pirate, it was a whole squad of 8-9 made up of gunboats, bombers and fighters. So then I 'diverted' my route the next time around coming back via the more 'secretive' route but hey, guess who was waiting there?:PPirates. If there is another way to get there, be assured there are pirates there as well. Maybe not if there is only a couple of them, but the recent pirating operations in California and surrounding systems create a practical blockade. An example of the Liberty Fleet that was on at that time: 1 LNS captain.

In terms of players taking pirates>Law Enforcements its true because 80% of the time as an individual law enforcement you are outnumbered and outgunned, and unless you RP your character well most are more lured into pirating traders for money, instead of trading or doing law enforcement. Law Enforcement is tough at the best of times, its only as a 'team' of the Liberty Fleets that it can really be effective. As such was shown last night when, after the pirates were operating for a while, [LN], LPI- and LNS flooded the system and destroyed most of the pirates operating there. Not long after when alot of those involved went back to base did the system again become full of pirates.

In terms of LPI well, we are law enforcement and we do our best in policing: this includes smugglers of contraband, weapons, escorting traders, enforcing the Embargo with Rheinland, another possible embargo with Kusari, pirates and criminal entities that like to destroy civilians and the like not to mention having a semi-role as lawyers to teach people the laws and also help people with the game. That is, in essence, a very broad responsibility. The Liberty Navy as a whole are mainly interested in the destruction of criminals and their own initiatives which focus isn't on many of those duties.

Individually though, I find it wrong to say that you can't 'do anything' as an LPI Officer. I am most of the time alone without backup, it doesn't mean I can't do my duty nor does it mean I change characters because its 'too hard'. It means that when facing unsurmountable odds, instead of being cajoled and insulted to the point of wanting to suicidally 'attack', suck it up and deploy SWAT and organise and collaborate with other primary and secondary fleet to confront the pirates. Working as a squad against a squad of pirates is the only sensible solution to mass pirating. However in order for this to happen on a wider field, it requires Primary/Secondary fleets to be more cohesive which can be a challenge. If its a small amount of pirates RP'ing and individual combat is possible, however 85% of the time pirates don't RP, just PvP and moreover most pirates don't solo pirate, they go in a group with 5+ because then a lone Navy/LPI pilot can't attempt to take them on unless that pilot is suicidal.

In terms of people wanting to be Law Enforcement, in particular police, I agree, there is only the incentive of justice and making a peaceful Liberty, Roleplay as an LPI officer as well as working in an awesome team, but besides that there is little ingame incentive (what most people base their game experiences on). Incentive to be a pirate = Pirating goods and money from others, filling your coffers and being an outlaw, pvp, etc. Incentive to be a trader = Money, RP, exploration. Incentive to be Navy = PvP, battles, war, flying capitals, etc. Hence, until there is an ingame incentive police won't have that numerical presence that is needed.

However doing something that would improve the presence of Police would make all the pirates scream "Foul" now wouldn't they; like when Police factions got Tlagsnet? Tlagsnet or Police Radar and such hasn't given this incentive, only a policing power for which a.) requires somebody to know how to use it and b.) practice how to intercept certain suspects with it. Interception thus requires knowledge of criminal practice and other things that only come with experience.

I would like to see a permanent presence of Liberty Fleet in California to stabilise it for trade and commerce, however there needs to be an organised and cohesive effort to do so from all the arms of Liberty Fleet and other lawfuls so as the system is always secure. I think there is an emphasis on California as of late, but I believe it should be a focus.

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