just so all the pirates don't think I'm completely one-sided, I do agree with this point -- I do think the pay-offs from piracy should be greater.
Not because I support piracy, but if I start from the premise that piracy is a supported feature (and again, whether I agree with this or not is irrelevant --it is) m then the current market makes zero sense. Certain cargo -- like illegal cargo, slaves, drugs, etc., should bring a premium in certain areas, just like in rl... for example, in rl, blood diamonds and the ivory trade, all command huge premiums for criminals. There's no reason that in-game economies shouldn't mirror this.
So maybe that's one way to balance this. Fix the economies, make the pay-outs greater to there's a bigger upside to piracy, but make the risk greater as well... if you're labeled a pirate in federation space, you lose insurance payout if you get killed in that area. ostensibly, the greater payouts from being a scumbag criminal *should* outweigh the need for insurance.
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Anyway, this is just by way of example, and just drive home-- whether I like it or not--- I accept that pirates have a right to be in this game. They are a supported feature, and that just ends the debate.
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But please guys, stop trying to insult our intelligence by quoting cereal box philosophy to support any notion that your character is morally justified. You're stealing from other people to earn a living. And while I'm aware that some will argue there's no such thing as an "absolute" moral, I doubt anyone in here -- except fang-- really will argue they their criminal scumbag pirate is morally justified to steal and kill.
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anyway, I actually do have work to do. This has all been very entertaining, but once the debate dropped into insulting the U.S. ... on Mermorial day... the debate lost its fun. FD will do what it will do. I wish the infants in this forum could stay on point and refrain from personal attacks.
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And last -- HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY everyone. God bless the U.S., and God Bless our troops.
