The PIRACY Thread - new ideas for changes needed to make it more viable as a Role

[X-Terminator]

Please copy/paste then complete the following Survey to help FD out here: - ​

• Have you ever been Pirated by NPC and given Cargo and then let go on your way? -
• Have you been Pirated by a Player and given Cargo and then let go on your way? -
• Have you tried Piracy without trying to kill the Ship and picked up Cargo? -
• What Cargo do you hope to find and what is it's value? -
• Have you tried Piracy in Multicrew? -
• If any of the above what Mode do you Pirate in: SOLO/GROUP/OPEN? -
• Why did you try Piracy else would you like to? -
• Can you suggest how to improve this Role to become even more viable? -

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(It's a BIG Role in this game and it even has Paint Jobs & Decals & Outposts!)

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ps You can select Go Advanced and Select All then add Bullet Points for easier reading.

THANK YOU,
o7 XT

 

[X-Terminator]

• Have you ever been Pirated by NPC and given Cargo and then let go on your way? - NO
• Have you been Pirated by a Player and given Cargo and then let go on your way? - NO
• Have you tried Piracy without trying to kill the Ship and picked up Cargo? - YES
• What Cargo do you hope to find and what is it's value? - LOW TEMP DIAMONDS, 50k
• Have you tried Piracy in Multicrew? - YES
• If any of the above what Mode do you Pirate in: SOLO/GROUP/OPEN? - PvE GROUP
• Why did you try Piracy else would you like to? - I tried because there's so many NPC's but not many actually seen collecting Cargo. I since seen some pickup Cargo I was about to collect for myself! It's a challenging Role for a Ship Build in an appropriate Ship size - i.e. you need to be desperate enough to need to Pirate and your Ship size would reflect this for the rewards/time ratio. I found both the Cobras and think a Keelback are the typical Ships to suit this.
• Can you suggest how to improve this Role to become even more viable? - Limpets die too fast. They never should die! You can not collect any of your own Collector Limpets even using a Scoop but should! At least you CAN use Stolen Limpets You can not collect if the Ship is moving - you should as you're often under fire! You can not use more than 1 Collector Limpet at a time (so allow any number) even though you can use 2 Hatch-breakers at a time if you select that Class-B type. The goods are ONLY for sale on the Black Market and therefore you only get 75% of the value even though some are on the Commodities Market - you should get FULL PRICE! Why does the Manifest Scanner need to use say 17% Power so I must always use enable/disable to get all I require? Make spawns more common for the Diamonds - I'm in a 10mill Populated Anarchy System and they require Agriculture Systems mainly. Not enough places!

 

[Gunnet]

Have you ever been Pirated by NPC and given Cargo and then let go on your way? - No.
Have you been Pirated by a Player and given Cargo and then let go on your way? - No.
Have you tried Piracy without trying to kill the Ship and picked up Cargo? - Yes, against NPCs.
What Cargo do you hope to find and what is it's value? - Low temperature diamonds.
Have you tried Piracy in Multicrew? - No.
If any of the above what Mode do you Pirate in: SOLO/GROUP/OPEN? - Solo/group.
If you have never tried Piracy would you like to try and why? - N/A.

Can you suggest how to improve this Role to become even more viable.

Make hatch breaker limpets dump X units of cargo all at once rather than allowing it to be trailed out over a large area by a moving ship. Remove the artificial limitations against long range rares trading (also spawn NPC rares traders) and/or introduce new commodities with much higher value (in the latter case I imagine them being slightly more profitable to buy and sell then existing cargo, but of course far more profitable to steal). Allow players to communicate piratical intentions to NPCs, then have the NPC drop cargo, run or fight based on various factors such as the relative power of the ships, the player's combat rank, active murder bounties on the player etc.

For PvP piracy, introduce C&P including very strong deterrents against murder so that players in non-combat ships feel more comfortable sticking around to roleplay pirate encounters. Make cargo dropped by a ship which has been interdicted be marked as stolen even if the victim selects abandon when ejecting it, so that the gameplay around carrying and selling stolen goods can't be avoided.

 

[X-Terminator]

Well said Gunnet and nailed it!

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Surely if I were to say DISABLE my Collector Limpet it should become scoopable - however, it blows up!
Far better if it simply gets back into the Cargo Bay once I retract Hardpoints. It did not require the scoop to be deployed to send it out either so whilst scoop is retracted also.

1 other thing I hate to come across is any Point Defence. I scan over the Sub-Systems before engaging but it's a waste of your time trying to get close enough to attach a HB on those. Also trying to disable the PD via targeting Sub-Systems is a complete joke!
At least they go through Shields.

 

[Commander Biscuit]

+1 Re-usable limpets would be ace for everybody. They should refuel from the ship's supply when scooped. That or limpets that could by synthesized from material and data. This would have a twofold fix of making another materials sink which is sorely needed.

 

[thirstyfish]

Please copy/paste then complete the following Survey to help FD out here: - ​

• Have you ever been Pirated by NPC and given Cargo and then let go on your way? -
• Have you been Pirated by a Player and given Cargo and then let go on your way? -
• Have you tried Piracy without trying to kill the Ship and picked up Cargo? -
• What Cargo do you hope to find and what is it's value? -
• Have you tried Piracy in Multicrew? -
• If any of the above what Mode do you Pirate in: SOLO/GROUP/OPEN? -
• Why did you try Piracy else would you like to? -
• Can you suggest how to improve this Role to become even more viable? -

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(It's a BIG Role in this game and it even has Paint Jobs & Decals & Outposts!)
​

1. No
2. No
3. No
4. None and N/A
5. No
6. n/a
7. n/a
8. no.

You asked. I answered.

 

[X-Terminator]

I was once asked by NPC if I dropped Cargo in 30secs he'd let me go. As I scrambled to Abandon some Biowaste he opened fire after just 10secs!
The potential is in fact there though.

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You asked. I answered.

Thanks Fish, this is good feedback all the same.
7. Would you like to try Piracy?

 

[Commander Biscuit]

I made an npc happy enough a few days ago. Dumped some quest reward cargo in a hazres and he took some of it and flew off. Very polite, he even left some for the other pirates. Not sure he would've been happy with biowaste though

 

[Hasaf]

Have you ever been Pirated by NPC and given Cargo and then let go on your way? - No, I just run
Have you been Pirated by a Player and given Cargo and then let go on your way? - No, that isn't how piracy works in ED. In ED piracy is nothing but "interdiction" "pew-pew" "eject - eject" there is no communication, there is no giving cargo. For that matter, the pirate ships couldn't carry any cargo, they are pure fighter role ships.
Have you tried Piracy without trying to kill the Ship and picked up Cargo? - No
What Cargo do you hope to find and what is it's value? - Never did it
Have you tried Piracy in Multicrew? - No
If any of the above what Mode do you Pirate in: SOLO/GROUP/OPEN? - n/a
Why did you try Piracy else would you like to? - n/a
Can you suggest how to improve this Role to become even more viable? - Viable? Why should playing the role of murdering psychopath be made more viable?

 

[thirstyfish]

I was once asked by NPC if I dropped Cargo in 30secs he'd let me go. As I scrambled to Abandon some Biowaste he opened fire after just 10secs!
The potential is in fact there though.

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Thanks Fish, this is good feedback all the same.
7. Would you like to try Piracy?

7. No. not really. Not my thing and don't really see the point.

 

[X-Terminator]

Hehe, there are quite a variety of responces from NPC Targets. Some try to get away, some fight, some just circle you and take pot shots to ward you off, then some get their mates to gang up against you. I even had a Clipper constantly come up to me and back off time and time again whilst he could have just ram killed me which has happened in other BIG Ships I came across. It's quite a revelation to find out they don't want to kill you (that easily). Also I have had help from other NPCs join in to help me!

 

[M. Volgrand]

Have you ever been Pirated by NPC and given Cargo and then let go on your way? -

Nop.

Have you been Pirated by a Player and given Cargo and then let go on your way? -

Yep.

Have you tried Piracy without trying to kill the Ship and picked up Cargo? -

Yep.

What Cargo do you hope to find and what is it's value? -

Platinum at least. For my newly started pirate cmdr, I'm quite happy if I manage to make 200k per hour at least.

Have you tried Piracy in Multicrew? -

Yep. Pretty fun!

If any of the above what Mode do you Pirate in: SOLO/GROUP/OPEN? -

Open, always.

Why did you try Piracy else would you like to? -

Just for fun. Let's be honest, it's difficult to make good money as a pirate. This needs fixing.

Can you suggest how to improve this Role to become even more viable? -

The main point is: MAKE PIRATES FEEL LIKE PIRATES. A pirate/criminal career is needed, better security forces are needed... Hell, a high security station should not even allow a known criminal to dock in the station!

 

[X-Terminator]

7. No. not really. Not my thing and don't really see the point.

Well it's a Role. I haven't yet tried Exploring as a Role and never once Mined either. I see the point but think I'd get bored.

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• Have you been Pirated by a Player and given Cargo and then let go on your way? - No, that isn't how piracy works in ED. In ED piracy is nothing but "interdiction" "pew-pew" "eject - eject" there is no communication, there is no giving cargo. For that matter, the pirate ships couldn't carry any cargo, they are pure fighter role ships.
• Can you suggest how to improve this Role to become even more viable? - Viable? Why should playing the role of murdering psychopath be made more viable?

Thanks for this feedback. Of course it is the popular view of "Piracy" but surely this is a misconception of Psycho Killers. A true Pirate is out there to make a cheap but desperate living. Things must change to update this Role and bring in a C&P System for those Psycho Killers. There is NO REWARDS in that type of gameplay other than becoming more Psychotic!

Remember, true NPC Pirates do stop and scan then request for your Cargo if they find any on you. Else they let you go. They should be actively Pirating the Miners however! It then makes greater sense to Bounty Hunt them

Oh and Pirates can even be Bouny Hunters also you know (oooarghhhhhhh)

 

[X-Terminator]

There are Pirate Outposts out there with Pirate Flags on them. Although I have NEVER found any reason for these in any advantage for Pirates!!! There should be, e.g. they mark a known Hotspot e.g. High Population Agriculture for LT Diamonds and others.

 

[Lucifer Hate]

Please copy/paste then complete the following Survey to help FD out here: - ​

• Have you ever been Pirated by NPC and given Cargo and then let go on your way? -
• Have you been Pirated by a Player and given Cargo and then let go on your way? -
• Have you tried Piracy without trying to kill the Ship and picked up Cargo? -
• What Cargo do you hope to find and what is it's value? -
• Have you tried Piracy in Multicrew? -
• If any of the above what Mode do you Pirate in: SOLO/GROUP/OPEN? -
• Why did you try Piracy else would you like to? -
• Can you suggest how to improve this Role to become even more viable? -

---

(It's a BIG Role in this game and it even has Paint Jobs & Decals & Outposts!)
​

• Have you ever been Pirated by NPC and given Cargo and then let go on your way? - YES
• Have you been Pirated by a Player and given Cargo and then let go on your way? - YES
• Have you tried Piracy without trying to kill the Ship and picked up Cargo? - Yes as this is the way The Code does it. We only kill those traders that do not comply
• What Cargo do you hope to find and what is it's value? - Anything of value or required by CG that I can use for it when pirating at one
• Have you tried Piracy in Multicrew? - No
• If any of the above what Mode do you Pirate in: SOLO/GROUP/OPEN? - Open only
• Why did you try Piracy else would you like to? - Because I do enjoy the role
• Can you suggest how to improve this Role to become even more viable? - Bring it more in line with earnings of other roles. Give us more ways to disable a ship so killing is less necessary. Like when we shoot out drives a way to stop the enemy momentum so if we hatchbreak it is not spread all over. The black market as it is does not make sense as illegal items should bring a premium price, this would help both pirates and smugglers. I agree there needs to be a C&P but as it stands the reward does not match the risk when it comes to piracy. A trader in a couple A-B runs can make their rebuy back a pirate takes alot longer as an equipped pirate ship is alot more expensive in rebuy.

Well it's a Role. I haven't yet tried Exploring as a Role and never once Mined either. I see the point but think I'd get bored.

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[/LIST]

Thanks for this feedback. Of course it is the popular view of "Piracy" but surely this is a misconception of Psycho Killers. A true Pirate is out there to make a cheap but desperate living. Things must change to update this Role and bring in a C&P System for those Psycho Killers.

What worries me is the fact that Frontier has a history of 1 extreme to the other and a C&P system that is strong enough to effect "psychotic killers" (as you call them) will destroy piracy as death is one of the only threats we have to insure compliance. Also if they do C&P which I do agree they need they also need to address the other end of the spectrum, the combat loggers as well as increasing the graceful log off timer or make it reset if you are hit in combat. Those changes need to go hand in hand.

 

[X-Terminator]

Hatch-breakers working through shields? Come ON.

Well they go through the Pirates own Shields so this kinda is sense. It must be part of it's great technology rather than being just a robot can-opener. You can at least use Point Defence and there are plenty that do not use these as a method of target selection.

Another method would have been to get past PD but require us to shoot down Shields as in the old original method.

 

[Lucifer Hate]

I don't think piracy should be made more viable as a role. Piracy should be a fringe role for players who are truly dedicated to it; trading should be the easy, steady, go-to role for the vast majority, smuggling should be risky but highly profitable, etcetera, etcetera. If anything, I think they make piracy too easy. Hatch-breakers working through shields? Come ON.

Well if the hatchbreakers stop working through shields that just makes pirates have to shoot first as there is so little time for cooldown or graceful logging there is little time for niceties

 

[X-Terminator]

Yes and incidently here, you'd then think they are Psycho Killers and not Pirates begging for Cargo but they become WANTED as soon as they shoot their HATCH-BREAKERS at you within Secured Systems. It is seen as a Missile and therefore a threat to the Ship! This should change I think. Pirates are therefore best sticking to Anarchy Systems - only thing is there is little need for Traders to go there except for Smugglers perhaps. WANTEDs should be just killers and not Pirates which go after cargo and not accidental shootings without any killing taking place. ENTER the new C&P system.

Picture the life of said Pirate...Lives in an Anarchy Hotspot for his LT Diamonds or other...visits the neighbouring Secured Systems for kicks when he wants something else (as if) but gets WANTED all around his own home Outpost (with Pirate Flag) and so gets Outside Bounty Hunters come after him from ALL the surrounding area and Player BH out to kill him too and even within his own System. Hard life being a good crim init Sir!

 

[Valethar]

Actually, 75% is generous. No fence is ever going to give you full price for stolen goods. They have to make some sort of profit flipping it.

 

[X-Terminator]

Actually, 75% is generous. No fence is ever going to give you full price for stolen goods. They have to make some sort of profit flipping it.

Well an Anarchy System should have the advantage of full price imo and why you may have Pirate Flagged Outposts.

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I really had hoped they'd add TOWE Ships so you could disable and steal them to repair and sell or use.