Pirate players are ok but you get hunted

[Cmdr Andrew Johnson]

I spend most of my time reading on the forums about players shooting other ships just because they can.

Piracy is part of the game and I have no problem with that but a simple solution would be:

You destroy a players ship that did not have a wanted status, you become wanted until you are hunted down and destroyed. You cannot clear the status by paying a fine or self destructing.

The more you destroy the bigger the bounty and the wider Galnet spreads your details.

Bounty Hunters will come looking for you.

 

[igor37]

I have to disagree. Such a change would instantly make pirating impossible. Any victim would just flee as they'd know that the punishment for shooting them to prevent that is too hard for any pirate.

 

[Quineloe]

I have to disagree. Such a change would instantly make pirating impossible. Any victim would just flee as they'd know that the punishment for shooting them to prevent that is too hard for any pirate.

You can't be serious. There's pirates who've been pirating with bounties on their heads for weeks now. They never clear their bounty.

 

[Cmdr Andrew Johnson]

You can still pirate - reduce the shields and blow the cargo hatch, just don't kill the ship

 

[Defacto]

Scale the price of all trade goods upwards. More piracy profits, larger trader investments.

Then, increase base bounty levels, add Pilot's Federation Bounties that allow people to double up on bounties issued to those commiting crimes against them, if they have the money.
Make NPC Pirates, Security and Bounty hunters more competent.
Make it harder to escape a fight. Improve instancing so that it's not so easy to loose your target if you are a bounty hunter.
If you get your ship destroyed in such a way that someone claims your bounty, pay the cost equal to what clearing your bounty would have costed you.
Beyond some level, I think that clearing your bounty should become harder. Maybe at some level (perhaps 100 000 Cr), the cost for clearing your bounty increase from 150% to 250% of your bounty, or something like that.
At one level, maybe your bounty gets upgraded to ''Death sentence'' or ''fugitive'' and at that point, you'll have to do some seriously devoted actions to the faction to redeem yourself.

 

[Oddball]

Unfortunately, there are some people out there who like wasting folk just for the hell of it. This is why most people hate pirates.
But it doesn't have to be like that.

I pirate quite a bit because for me it is the most enjoyable part of the game but I only attack npc's. I never attack players
unless they fire on me first.

Someone mentioned in another thread that the 'outlaw' status should be attached to those that persistently attack other players.
I think that this could work well if a huge bounty was placed on their heads.

 

[Derath]

I have to disagree. Such a change would instantly make pirating impossible. Any victim would just flee as they'd know that the punishment for shooting them to prevent that is too hard for any pirate.

I'd have to sell half my modules to pay my bounty

 

[Zylark]

Some wear their Bounty as a badge of (dis)honor. Though most pirates won't rack up a huge bounty. For one thing, killing players is entirely unnecessary, and adds a lot to ones bounty. Much more efficient and cheaper to just cripple the victim by shooting out the drive, pop a few limpets when they are drive and shield-less, steal all the cargo due to their insolence in not cooperating, and then leave the robbed to self destruct. Because you just know no trader gives up some cargo-space for a repair module that would fix the drive up enough to limp back to a station.

When all is said and done, the few thousands the smart pirate racks up in bounties and fines get payed. Why? Because having the law chasing one at ones favorite hunting-spots is annoying. Interrupts business.

 

[kurush]

Stupid. Bounties are sold for real world cash already, how can that deter the in-game crime in any way?

 

[Sandmann]

Someone mentioned in another thread that the 'outlaw' status should be attached to those that persistently attack other players.
I think that this could work well if a huge bounty was placed on their heads.

I was thinking of something similar... we already have "fines" and "bounties"... add a third stage that is "warrants" (though you can call it "outlaw".. in fact I think I like that one better now) which applies for murder. This third state:
- Either can't be paid off
or
- Can only be paid off at certain rare places for very high amounts (because you're having to bribe officials etc)
and
- Precludes you docking at stations other than pirate/anarchy/unsanctioned/etc stations. Maybe even include independent stations of certain govt types (eg: independent democratic stations won't let them dock coz they have rule of law, but independent dictatorships and independent religious cults will because they're more corrupt, and independent corporate states will allow it IF you pay an expensive "docking fee" since they're all about profit.

This would encourage the formation of "Pirate Bays" which would be safe harbours for "low life villainous scum" (like olde days Tortuga, Port Royal, etc) from which they could venture out for raiding parties but to which they'd have to return when it got too hot. It would also form real "hotspots" which would gain a reputation of always being dangerous places (much like Freeport was back in the beta/gamma days). Not only would this mean relatively safe harbours for the pirates, but also prime hunting spots for bounty hunters, and the stations there could offer stupidly high profit margins for the bravest traders who WANT to put themselves "in the line of fire". There could even be a mechanism whereby the more murders in the vicinity of these specific stations, the more the profit margins went up at those stations (higher demand caused by lower supply = higher prices) which would attract more "flies to the honey pot".

It would also mean that murder wouldn't be something you could casually do without caring, and just spend a bit of cash to wipe the problem away. It'd still be just as possible to be a pirate or a murderer or a psychopath, but it'd be a real "career choice" with real and lasting consequences AND real benefits (ports catering specifically to piratey trades, with better black markets that pay higher profits, facilities to bribe officials, outfitters that sell more ship equipment specifically aimed at piracy (perhaps at reduced prices?) and maybe even specialised items found ONLY at these stations etc).

 

[MaraJade]

I don't think that's really a solution.

I have to say the biggest problem I see is that this is not normal PVP like in other MMO's (don't know about Eve, never played). For the most part in this game it's easy to kill another player. However there is/or can be a large cost associated to the player who looses. Regardless of being a trader, pirate, bounty hunter etc. It's not as simply as respawn, pay some gold for gear damage and do it again. I'm sure we've all been there with the 2 min counter because we've been killed too many times in a row.

That being said, this game is a different perspective on the whole loosing a fight. It can become quit costly and even force you back to the start (or lvl1). Imagine having a level 90 or 100 character who dies 6 times and is now level 1 again.

There is no easy answer to this, part of the solution of course is play solo or in groups. I'm not sure if that is the only answer. Could turning on or off a PVP flag help at all? Hard to say, because that would most likely affect pirating. Maybe if you submit, your now flagged. If you fail the interdiction, your flagged. This might help a little bit. Not sure if this would work. Just throwing idea's out there. Again, this is not just like every other PVP MMO game out there. I think that's a good thing.

 

[graeme.firth]

I was thinking of something similar... we already have "fines" and "bounties"... add a third stage that is "warrants" (though you can call it "outlaw".. in fact I think I like that one better now) which applies for murder. This third state:
- Either can't be paid off
or
- Can only be paid off at certain rare places for very high amounts (because you're having to bribe officials etc)
and
- Precludes you docking at stations other than pirate/anarchy/unsanctioned/etc stations. Maybe even include independent stations of certain govt types (eg: independent democratic stations won't let them dock coz they have rule of law, but independent dictatorships and independent religious cults will because they're more corrupt, and independent corporate states will allow it IF you pay an expensive "docking fee" since they're all about profit.

This would encourage the formation of "Pirate Bays" which would be safe harbours for "low life villainous scum" (like olde days Tortuga, Port Royal, etc) from which they could venture out for raiding parties but to which they'd have to return when it got too hot. It would also form real "hotspots" which would gain a reputation of always being dangerous places (much like Freeport was back in the beta/gamma days). Not only would this mean relatively safe harbours for the pirates, but also prime hunting spots for bounty hunters, and the stations there could offer stupidly high profit margins for the bravest traders who WANT to put themselves "in the line of fire". There could even be a mechanism whereby the more murders in the vicinity of these specific stations, the more the profit margins went up at those stations (higher demand caused by lower supply = higher prices) which would attract more "flies to the honey pot".

It would also mean that murder wouldn't be something you could casually do without caring, and just spend a bit of cash to wipe the problem away. It'd still be just as possible to be a pirate or a murderer or a psychopath, but it'd be a real "career choice" with real and lasting consequences AND real benefits (ports catering specifically to piratey trades, with better black markets that pay higher profits, facilities to bribe officials, outfitters that sell more ship equipment specifically aimed at piracy (perhaps at reduced prices?) and maybe even specialised items found ONLY at these stations etc).

This makes sense to me, a somewhat game supported career choice, benefits and dis benefits, the reverse should be true for legit traders ie heavy taxes at pirate stations. This would add quite a nice depth I think. Worth considering. +1

 

[Mr_Blastman]

So much butthurt and hate for a profession that barely scrapes by. Traders remind me of modern bankers. Filthy rich and power hungry, they try and control everyone by squashing everything that opposes their riches. So sad.

 

[BlackReign]

Unfortunately, there are some people out there who like wasting folk just for the hell of it. This is why most people hate pirates.
But it doesn't have to be like that.

I pirate quite a bit because for me it is the most enjoyable part of the game but I only attack npc's. I never attack players
unless they fire on me first.

Someone mentioned in another thread that the 'outlaw' status should be attached to those that persistently attack other players.
I think that this could work well if a huge bounty was placed on their heads.

Pirates don't kill for the sake of it. Pirates kill in the process of taking what doesn't belong to them. Big difference. Pirates are hated because they are scum....bottomfeeders that live off the hard work of real CMDRs. This is why we hate pirates.

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So much butthurt and hate for a profession that barely scrapes by. Traders remind me of modern bankers. Filthy rich and power hungry, they try and control everyone by squashing everything that opposes their riches. So sad.

And pirates remind me of parasites. Filthy lazy, unskilled, and weak. Their sole purpose is to survive off the backs of others, never contributing anything postive to the game or their own existence even.

 

[Mr_Blastman]

Hah! A week of pirating is way harder work than a week of trading or bounty hunting. Especially if you're after humans. Give me a break. Pirating is real work with low reward.

And yes, the cargo DOES belong to the pirate. It's called taxes. And they're collectin' 'em.

Pirates don't kill for the sake of it. Pirates kill in the process of taking what doesn't belong to them. Big difference. Pirates are hated because they are scum....bottomfeeders that live off the hard work of real CMDRs. This is why we hate pirates.

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And pirates remind me of parasites. Filthy lazy and weak. Their soul purpose is to survive off the backs of others, never contributing anything postive to the game or their own existence even.

 

[BlackReign]

Hah! A week of pirating is way harder work than a week of trading or bounty hunting. Especially if you're after humans. Give me a break. Pirating is real work with low reward.

And yes, the cargo DOES belong to the pirate. It's called taxes. And they're collection' 'em.

Yeah, only in the delusional entitled world of a so-called pirate, can one believe the property of another belongs to them. And then you have the nerve to call what you do "work". Pirates contribute nothing valuable to the game. Keep propping up your worthless existence.

 

[DefiledDragon]

They should just adopt the security status system from EVE online. If you destroy a player ship your security status takes a hit depending on several factors, one of those being the security level of the system you're in when you commit the crime. The higher the security level of the system, the bigger the hit. The change is fairly minor initially, but the more non consensual destruction you leave in your wake, the more your security status is affected each time. Once you get below a certain level, NPC police forces will attack you on sight and will destroy you unless you manage to escape. This creates a scenario where players who do nothing but blow up other players in secure space are eventually driven out of secure space by the space filth. They can then work to raise their security status by bounty hunting and killing rats. I think this type of system would work pretty well in Elite Dangerous too.

 

[Mr_Blastman]

Yeah, only in the delusional entitled world of a so-called pirate, can one believe the property of another belongs to them. And then you have the nerve to call what you do "work". Pirates contribute nothing valuable to the game. Keep propping up your worthless existence.

Hahaha pathetic. Without pirates traders would have nothing to do. Haul to A. Haul to B. etc. etcetera, etcetera! And then what? Oh, a bigger ship! Soon the biggest! Then what?

Oh, that's right, nothing better to do while trading than watch Netflix or whatever else there is.

Pirates do a public service. They put challenge into trading. Without pirates the game wouldn't be called Elite, it'd be called Pampers online. Nut up or get out.

 

[Sandmann]

the reverse should be true for legit traders ie heavy taxes at pirate stations.

That depends on if you want to keep pirate bases for pirates (in which case the traders would get charged more at the pirate stations), or if you want to attract traders to the pirate areas as targets. Traders go where the profit is and they balance profit against risk. Increase the profit and they are willing to take more risks. Charge higher taxes/fees etc at the non-piratey stations at the same time and you have increased safety at the cost of lower profits there. That benefits the pirates who want traders (especially the ones carrying gold, not biowaste) coming to the areas where there's lotsa pirates and no police.

This would add quite a nice depth I think. Worth considering. +1

Thanks. Glad you liked it.

 

[BishopC]

I was thinking of something similar... we already have "fines" and "bounties"... add a third stage that is "warrants" (though you can call it "outlaw".. in fact I think I like that one better now) which applies for murder. This third state:
- Either can't be paid off
or
- Can only be paid off at certain rare places for very high amounts (because you're having to bribe officials etc)
and
- Precludes you docking at stations other than pirate/anarchy/unsanctioned/etc stations. Maybe even include independent stations of certain govt types (eg: independent democratic stations won't let them dock coz they have rule of law, but independent dictatorships and independent religious cults will because they're more corrupt, and independent corporate states will allow it IF you pay an expensive "docking fee" since they're all about profit.

This would encourage the formation of "Pirate Bays" which would be safe harbours for "low life villainous scum" (like olde days Tortuga, Port Royal, etc) from which they could venture out for raiding parties but to which they'd have to return when it got too hot. It would also form real "hotspots" which would gain a reputation of always being dangerous places (much like Freeport was back in the beta/gamma days). Not only would this mean relatively safe harbours for the pirates, but also prime hunting spots for bounty hunters, and the stations there could offer stupidly high profit margins for the bravest traders who WANT to put themselves "in the line of fire". There could even be a mechanism whereby the more murders in the vicinity of these specific stations, the more the profit margins went up at those stations (higher demand caused by lower supply = higher prices) which would attract more "flies to the honey pot".

It would also mean that murder wouldn't be something you could casually do without caring, and just spend a bit of cash to wipe the problem away. It'd still be just as possible to be a pirate or a murderer or a psychopath, but it'd be a real "career choice" with real and lasting consequences AND real benefits (ports catering specifically to piratey trades, with better black markets that pay higher profits, facilities to bribe officials, outfitters that sell more ship equipment specifically aimed at piracy (perhaps at reduced prices?) and maybe even specialised items found ONLY at these stations etc).

+1
Sounds good. I think the outfitting bonus goes a bit too far, but everything else sounds like a welcome addition to the game.