Usefullness of trading factions. Or uselessness rather...

[Knjaz]

As an old pirate and a current faction trader, the tag isn't what gets you caught by pirates- your rank and name are.

People name their trade vessels differently to their fighter vessels.

If your name has DHC- or Bowex) in it, that just makes the guessing game easier.

All you need to do is learn what people name their pirates.

Yeah, I remember my first Ore hauler named Exterminat0R, for the smart pirates that are monitoring player lists :). Worked pretty well, although I definetly could get a notice about some rule in... Section 3 I think?

[rainth345]

The most DEADENINGLY boring thing I can think of is trading without having someone to chit-chat with while you traverse those endless bloody trade lanes.

You can always listen to music from your music player... outside of Freelancer of course. I find it most enjoyable whilst trading alone.

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[Kontrazec (Somni)]

I actually DO listen to music, almost 24/7, not only when on Freelancer, cause honestly I don't function properly without music. And mate, still, it's deadeningly boring to stare at a transport's arse for hours on end, with or without music.

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Sucks to be a weight on the wrong side of the brilliance-insanity scale.

[Mickk]

Yep, as people have said, trading is boring..... unless you have someone to 'chat' to -or- you are in a convoy.

There have been a couple of times where I've been sitting in NY and a person (the same person both times) started up a convoy.

There would have been 6-7 ships at least.

Everyone had fun, except for the guy who accidentally upset some Kusari police NPC's and had everything go red on him.

As has also been said in this thread, most people trade for the $$.
I like to make money that way, it's been how I've done it since day one, except for the obligatory mining stint in the cloud behind Erie.

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[SnakThree]

I'll add my three cents here too.

Trading factions are not dead. They are less active then PvP. That can be proven by the fact that I saw more Ageira| snubs than transports. Sort of 10:0. Which raises the question if trading, hauling and shipping is interesting or just money grinding activity.
For example, hauling creates at least some interaction, but then it rewards with higher profit. Trading is boring, A-B-C-A type of movement.

The main reasons why trading factions are less active then PvP ones:
1. Less shooting and less blue messages. Let's agree, destroying another player is more fun than F2, F3.
2. Pirates. 2mordai type ones. No fun to at last meet someone and all the RP got was "Give X cash/all cargo". Especially if demand is higher than half of profit or cargo demanded at last lanes.
3. Once money is made few people will trade for the sake of trading. They'll have funds to get back to Reason #1.

That's why trade factions are less active. But! Well. It can be changed. More organised convoys, less aggressive and demanding pirates and friendlier players in space.

On a side note, join Interspace Commerce!

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[dodike]

Yep, as people have said, trading is boring..... unless you have someone to 'chat' to -or- you are in a convoy.

Other way of making it interesting is picking a risky route, be it pirates or lawfuls if it's shady business.

[Dane Summers]

Here's my opinion on it -

Having ground out from a lowly Rhino, to a Grizzly, to a Mammoth, to a BorderTrans - ive done a fair bit of trading.

And i enjoy it. for one, having two other friends who trade, we have so lulzy rp - and when there on other characters (like [9th] or BD's) while im trading, i still enjoy it.

For one, music is a must.

secondly, i dislike pvp, as im no good at it, and thus enjoy the success that trading brings - every payoff is success, and every friendly rp is also success - with pirating, i got crap money, and frustrating rp, and my butt handed to me on times someone fought back.

As well, ive had tons of in-game instances while flying my BorderTrans that have developed my character, who he is, how he thinks, and his own story.

I think another big thing is not being restricted in what you can trade - being allowed to make the most amount of money in the least time, will break laws in Sirius (depending on what your trading), which is why i'd never go corporate, or legit - plus, smuggling can be more fun and exciting - rushing out of Munich with a load of MV's trying to escape RM players or [FL]Vindicator is a blast - as is the rush of fear trying to sneak through Omicron Alpha with a ton of players there. Ive also hauled Counterfeit Software & Black Market Arms through New York just for the experience.

So, i have alot of fun with trading, as you can tell :cool:

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[SnakThree]

Or don't go trading all alone? Join a faction and have higher chances of forming a little convoy.

Edit: Snap. Ninja'd. Well, I will whisper that IC| will smuggle a bit too, not openly with a tag, but we will.

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[West]

right.. and this is the main problem of factions...... we will do something but without a tag.... erm why? you are scare of consequences? then don't do it at all... why IND can do it with tag.. and rest can't?

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[Jeremy Hunter]

why IND can do it with tag.. and rest can't?

IND owns Sirius.

Didn't you know?

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May you ever walk in the Light, Shizune.