Seems to me that a series of logical gates could handle ramming and the severity of any response or fine. You have two ships colliding.
Ship 1:
- Was impact within 1KM of mail-slot? If Yes, +1, No -1
- Was Ship 1 travelling >100 M/S? (Y/N) If Yes, +1, No -1
- Did Ship 1 boost within the last ten seconds? Yes +1, No -1
- Were Ship 1 shields up (at least 50% strength) at time of collision? Yes -1, No +1
- Did Ship 1 have docking permission? Yes, -1 No +1
- Was docking computer active on Ship 1 for at least three seconds? Yes -5, No +1
- Was Ship 1 a small ship? Yes, +1 No -1
- Was pilot of Ship 2 killed as result of collision? Yes +3, No -1
Total = X
Ship 2:
- Was impact within 1KM of mail-slot? If Yes, +1, No -1
- Was Ship 2 travelling >100 M/S? (Y/N) If Yes, +1, No -1
- Did Ship 2 boost within the last ten seconds? Yes +1, No -1
- Were Ship 2 shields up (at least 50% strength) at time of collision? Yes -1, No +1
- Did Ship 2 have docking permission? Yes, -1 No +1
- Was docking computer active on Ship 2 for at least three seconds? Yes -5, No +1
- Was Ship 2 a small ship? Yes, +1 No -1
- Was pilot of Ship 1 killed as result of collision? Yes +3, No -1
Total = Y
Ex: Let's say Ship 1 was a Python trader and Ship 2 is a shield-less Sidey hanging around outside of a station who rammed the trader deliberately in the mail slot with boost. Python is making a fast approach with dock permission, but without a docking computer. Given that scenario:
X = 2 and Y = 6
Ex 2: Ship 1 is an Anaconda. Docking computer active, not speeding, shields up. Ship 2 is Sidey, no shields, boosts into side of Conda near mailslot.
X = -4 and Y = 6
In both cases, Y is higher than X and should therefore be assessed as being at fault. If the Y pilot dies as a result of the collision, then the blame is on them and the other pilot does not pick up a 5,000 murder bounty. There will be fines assessed to each pilot based on their scores. The fines survive death.
Obviously, those who take care with slow approaches will get much lower fines and should never get dinged for a murder, if deliberately rammed. Those making hot approaches (smugglers and the like) would get higher fines, but should still come out on top of a deliberate ram situation.
EDIT: Added DC use for three seconds minimum.
Ship 1:
- Was impact within 1KM of mail-slot? If Yes, +1, No -1
- Was Ship 1 travelling >100 M/S? (Y/N) If Yes, +1, No -1
- Did Ship 1 boost within the last ten seconds? Yes +1, No -1
- Were Ship 1 shields up (at least 50% strength) at time of collision? Yes -1, No +1
- Did Ship 1 have docking permission? Yes, -1 No +1
- Was docking computer active on Ship 1 for at least three seconds? Yes -5, No +1
- Was Ship 1 a small ship? Yes, +1 No -1
- Was pilot of Ship 2 killed as result of collision? Yes +3, No -1
Total = X
Ship 2:
- Was impact within 1KM of mail-slot? If Yes, +1, No -1
- Was Ship 2 travelling >100 M/S? (Y/N) If Yes, +1, No -1
- Did Ship 2 boost within the last ten seconds? Yes +1, No -1
- Were Ship 2 shields up (at least 50% strength) at time of collision? Yes -1, No +1
- Did Ship 2 have docking permission? Yes, -1 No +1
- Was docking computer active on Ship 2 for at least three seconds? Yes -5, No +1
- Was Ship 2 a small ship? Yes, +1 No -1
- Was pilot of Ship 1 killed as result of collision? Yes +3, No -1
Total = Y
Ex: Let's say Ship 1 was a Python trader and Ship 2 is a shield-less Sidey hanging around outside of a station who rammed the trader deliberately in the mail slot with boost. Python is making a fast approach with dock permission, but without a docking computer. Given that scenario:
X = 2 and Y = 6
Ex 2: Ship 1 is an Anaconda. Docking computer active, not speeding, shields up. Ship 2 is Sidey, no shields, boosts into side of Conda near mailslot.
X = -4 and Y = 6
In both cases, Y is higher than X and should therefore be assessed as being at fault. If the Y pilot dies as a result of the collision, then the blame is on them and the other pilot does not pick up a 5,000 murder bounty. There will be fines assessed to each pilot based on their scores. The fines survive death.
Obviously, those who take care with slow approaches will get much lower fines and should never get dinged for a murder, if deliberately rammed. Those making hot approaches (smugglers and the like) would get higher fines, but should still come out on top of a deliberate ram situation.
EDIT: Added DC use for three seconds minimum.
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