Privateering
Idea of enabling limited piracy for Freelancer ID
Privateering rules would be extension of existing rules in regard to Bounty Hunting - but instead of killing targets, Freelancer would be able to extort the targets. In order to become a privateer of X house, you'd need to make a proper registration with obligatory fee for Letter of the Marque. After acceptance into such a subforum, you could almost freely pirate everything that not comes from the guys you registered - following the common sense.
Overpowered? Absolutely not. There are three serious limitations:
- Only houses* CAN issue aforementioned Letter of the Marque.
- Acts of piracy CANNOT take place in any House Space system.
- You NEED to be red to the faction you want to pirate. *Liberty, Kusari, Bretonia, Rheinland, Gallia, Corsairs, Outcasts.
Such idea would make the non-House systems wild again, with strong uncertainity whom to trust and who to fear. The official factions could have an exception in targetting the houses, corporations or other kind of factions they don't really like but can't wage open war against for various reasons - normal bounty board doesn't offer bounties against guys who aren't official foes.
For example, while Rheinland doesn't like GMG, they cannot risk open war - but nothing would prevent them from hiring guys to harass GMG and have clean hands in case of any issues.
Bretonia already has that - it's the Bretonian Privateer ID. I'm enjoying it quite a lot in both, piracy and supporting the BAF in their fights against the bloody frogeaters. It wouldn't hurt to have an equivalent in other houses. But i wouldn't mix that with the freelancer ID to be honest - for starters, how would one know the exact affiliation? If i privateer for liberty i can't engage say DSE, but then i could say i'm with Rheinland on this one whitch would be a fat lie, but who will know?
This could already be done using the generic Pirate ID, all it would require is the House Governments to propose the offer and folks to accept it. Giving the FL ID yet more power is not a good idea.
(03-11-2017, 08:06 PM)Docent Wrote: Bretonia already has that - it's the Bretonian Privateer ID. I'm enjoying it quite a lot in both, piracy and supporting the BAF in their fights against the bloody frogeaters. It wouldn't hurt to have an equivalent in other houses. But i wouldn't mix that with the freelancer ID to be honest - for starters, how would one know the exact affiliation? If i privateer for liberty i can't engage say DSE, but then i could say i'm with Rheinland on this one whitch would be a fat lie, but who will know?
Basically, that's why I wrote you have to register first. Plus, take into account such a thing wouldn't be just pushed to everyone. Also, Privateers in real life never really shown their affiliation with one kingdom or another - they just had papers in order NOT to get screwed up the fleet of the kingdom they worked for. Obviously, privateers of Kusari couldn't be able to pirate Samura - otherwise it would mean instant loss of the ability.
@Croft
I wanted to try such an idea with Pirate ID, but this idea was a serious failure due to one fact - indies, which were too trigger happy. While I do not mind Bounty Hunters who are way separate from any government, the indies can ruin pretty much when they see Pirate ID. Oh, and I remember the warning I got the other day which simply stated "keep to your ID and don't break it".
I could give it another try, but I wouldn't put much faith into that. I think only Privateer ID with no-dock on all lawful bases would solve such a thing, if you fear Freelancer ID could be powerful.
Actually most pirates issued a Marque usually ended up being killed by the Kingom they served once their usefulness had run out but yeah, trigger happy indies will screw up your day and would probably do the same even with the FL ID.
Best bet is probably to do a reward for piracy deal rather than Marque, that leaves it up to the Pirate if they want to hold their attacks against whichever gov hired them.
I suppose that depends on the factions themselves, you could approach them directly as a willing party, maybe offer to subtract the price of whatever booty you gain from the reward? Market yourself/group as interdiction specialists or something to sell your services to the highest bidder.
