This is part of a series I'm posting, giving players who are looking for something to help "get into character" when chatting with other players, writing their stories, or even just posting on the forum. I'll update this as more lists are made available:
Traders: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=115768&p=1797210
Bounty Hunters: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=116133&p=1803554
Pirates and Privateers: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=116134&p=1803574
Miners: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=116644&p=1811584
Explorers: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=116536&p=1809874
General Slang: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=61871 (This is a great list compiled by Anopheles some time back, which could be seen as a "universal" slang outside of specific occupations if you want)
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Pirates and Privateers - Know the Code
First of all, none of us go "arrrr" unless we're having a laugh. Let's get that out of the way right now.
Just as in the days of sail, pirates and privateers are two sides of the same coin. While both prey on merchants in order to take their cargo, pirates are opportunists, holding to no master other than themselves. Privateers, on the other hand, consider themselves somewhat patriotic, preying only on the enemies of their faction, either with the explicit or implicit permission of its government. Pirates tend to consider Privateers as little more then mercenaries, while Privateers feel Pirates have no code or honor. This has made for many a barroom brawl.
But one thing is universally accepted - the need to communicate. Whether you are teaming up to take down a big prize or just sharing information on profitable trade routes, it's important to keep those Comm channels open. It might save your life, or help you make a fortune.
Some of the slang we tend to use you'll also hear from bounty hunters. We all tend to hang out in the same places, after all. And since most of our time is spent flying, some terms go as far back as old Earth fighter pilots. It makes for a unique mish-mash at times, but that's the spice of life.
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Action – Any ship to ship engagement
Basic (Flying Basic) - Basic Fighter Maneuvers. Dogfighting. Basically a lot of turning.
Beans - limpet mines ("I'm dropping my beans")
Betty - the voice of your cockpit computer, sometimes embellished to reflect her nagging attitude.
Blast Proof – A Pirate with zero insurance claims
Bloodsuckers – The people at a black market you sell to (who take a cut of your booty), especially if they offer below market average.
Booty – Cargo acquired from a prize
Brother (or Sister) – A fellow pirate. The Brotherhood (or Sisterhood) refers to an alliance of pirates.
Bumboat - SRV (alternately Armed Tender)
Club – High powered weapons like rail guns, with the intention of taking out subsystems.
Coreward – Towards the heavily populated center of human space, or towards the capital planet of one faction (ie, Sol)
Cruise – Going raiding for an extended period
Deep Lurking – Lurking along the edges of civilized space.
Dirt Raid - Attack on surface base
Dirt Swag - Materials collected on a planet surface
Donkey – A prize with no valuable cargo in it. “Dang, I won the donkey.”
Foul - inflicting or receiving friendly fire.
Fox - any missile (Bounty Hunters tend to be specific about type, Pirates could care less)
Free and Clear - Abandoned cargo (not Jettisoned). Not considered stolen. The electronic tags on the canister have been deactivated and the booty can be sold at any station, not just a black market.
Freeze – Space. (as in the Deep Freeze)
Guns – any weapons mounted on a ship, be they lasers, multicanons, or plasma accelerators.
Hands – crewmembers, but not the captain.
Jeremiah Weed - refers to top-shelf alcohol, regardless of its actual name (for example, Indi Bourbon). The preferred brand will vary from sector to sector. Often drunk to celebrate a big score.
Lapdog – Pirate term for Privateer
Long zone – the route to a station more than 100,000ls from a Nav Beacon.
Mad dog - Privateer term for pirate
On your six (on my six) - behind you, or more generally, on an intercept course with you.
On your twelve (on my twelve) - ahead of you, or more generally, whoever you're pursuing.
Pickle - to barrage a target with missiles (typically dumbfire) "I pickled the Python before it could turn its guns on me."
Pirate King/Queen – head of an brotherhood/sisterhood of pirates.
Prize – A targeted cargo ship filled with booty.
Prize money – cash value of the loot obtained
Red Flag - a combat zone (Low intensity or High intensity). Tends to be avoided unless Slumming it.
Raider – generic term for pirate or privateer
Rimward – leaving civilized space, out towards the rim.
Salted – Experienced pilot who has risen above “Mostly ____” in all three ranking categories.
Seasoned – Very experienced pilot. Reaching the ranks of Expert/Merchant/Trailblazer in 2 or more categories.
Shareout – dividing loot between pirates/privateers
Short zone – a station within 1000ls of a nav beacon
Ship’s Articles – the terms groups of pirates/privateers agree to while working together
Slumming it – Temporarily taking on Mercenary work in a conflict zone.
Spaced – Ship destroyed
Spiced – Highly experienced pilot. Reaching the ranks of Deadly/Tycoon/Pioneer in 2 or more categories.
Surprise package – a trap, such as a cargo ship that is surprisingly well armed, or has escorts waiting.
Tender – Inexperienced. Harmless/Penniless/Aimless in 2 or more categories.
Thriller – one who looks for notoriety as a pirate/privateer. Wants to make GalNet.
Tour – a series of Cruises. Typically with either an end destination in mind, or a set goal to achieve before turning in.
Transit – moving to a station from a nav beacon.
Vac Suited Sun God - derogatory term for military fighter pilots. They tend to be viewed as arrogant.
Walk the lock – execution by blowing someone out the airlock.
Zoning – laying in wait for a prize, such as at a nav beacon. Also called “lurking”, “lurking the zone” or “cruising the zone” (if flying looking for USSs).
Traders: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=115768&p=1797210
Bounty Hunters: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=116133&p=1803554
Pirates and Privateers: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=116134&p=1803574
Miners: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=116644&p=1811584
Explorers: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=116536&p=1809874
General Slang: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=61871 (This is a great list compiled by Anopheles some time back, which could be seen as a "universal" slang outside of specific occupations if you want)
-----
Pirates and Privateers - Know the Code
First of all, none of us go "arrrr" unless we're having a laugh. Let's get that out of the way right now.
Just as in the days of sail, pirates and privateers are two sides of the same coin. While both prey on merchants in order to take their cargo, pirates are opportunists, holding to no master other than themselves. Privateers, on the other hand, consider themselves somewhat patriotic, preying only on the enemies of their faction, either with the explicit or implicit permission of its government. Pirates tend to consider Privateers as little more then mercenaries, while Privateers feel Pirates have no code or honor. This has made for many a barroom brawl.
But one thing is universally accepted - the need to communicate. Whether you are teaming up to take down a big prize or just sharing information on profitable trade routes, it's important to keep those Comm channels open. It might save your life, or help you make a fortune.
Some of the slang we tend to use you'll also hear from bounty hunters. We all tend to hang out in the same places, after all. And since most of our time is spent flying, some terms go as far back as old Earth fighter pilots. It makes for a unique mish-mash at times, but that's the spice of life.
-----
Action – Any ship to ship engagement
Basic (Flying Basic) - Basic Fighter Maneuvers. Dogfighting. Basically a lot of turning.
Beans - limpet mines ("I'm dropping my beans")
Betty - the voice of your cockpit computer, sometimes embellished to reflect her nagging attitude.
Blast Proof – A Pirate with zero insurance claims
Bloodsuckers – The people at a black market you sell to (who take a cut of your booty), especially if they offer below market average.
Booty – Cargo acquired from a prize
Brother (or Sister) – A fellow pirate. The Brotherhood (or Sisterhood) refers to an alliance of pirates.
Bumboat - SRV (alternately Armed Tender)
Club – High powered weapons like rail guns, with the intention of taking out subsystems.
Coreward – Towards the heavily populated center of human space, or towards the capital planet of one faction (ie, Sol)
Cruise – Going raiding for an extended period
Deep Lurking – Lurking along the edges of civilized space.
Dirt Raid - Attack on surface base
Dirt Swag - Materials collected on a planet surface
Donkey – A prize with no valuable cargo in it. “Dang, I won the donkey.”
Foul - inflicting or receiving friendly fire.
Fox - any missile (Bounty Hunters tend to be specific about type, Pirates could care less)
Free and Clear - Abandoned cargo (not Jettisoned). Not considered stolen. The electronic tags on the canister have been deactivated and the booty can be sold at any station, not just a black market.
Freeze – Space. (as in the Deep Freeze)
Guns – any weapons mounted on a ship, be they lasers, multicanons, or plasma accelerators.
Hands – crewmembers, but not the captain.
Jeremiah Weed - refers to top-shelf alcohol, regardless of its actual name (for example, Indi Bourbon). The preferred brand will vary from sector to sector. Often drunk to celebrate a big score.
Lapdog – Pirate term for Privateer
Long zone – the route to a station more than 100,000ls from a Nav Beacon.
Mad dog - Privateer term for pirate
On your six (on my six) - behind you, or more generally, on an intercept course with you.
On your twelve (on my twelve) - ahead of you, or more generally, whoever you're pursuing.
Pickle - to barrage a target with missiles (typically dumbfire) "I pickled the Python before it could turn its guns on me."
Pirate King/Queen – head of an brotherhood/sisterhood of pirates.
Prize – A targeted cargo ship filled with booty.
Prize money – cash value of the loot obtained
Red Flag - a combat zone (Low intensity or High intensity). Tends to be avoided unless Slumming it.
Raider – generic term for pirate or privateer
Rimward – leaving civilized space, out towards the rim.
Salted – Experienced pilot who has risen above “Mostly ____” in all three ranking categories.
Seasoned – Very experienced pilot. Reaching the ranks of Expert/Merchant/Trailblazer in 2 or more categories.
Shareout – dividing loot between pirates/privateers
Short zone – a station within 1000ls of a nav beacon
Ship’s Articles – the terms groups of pirates/privateers agree to while working together
Slumming it – Temporarily taking on Mercenary work in a conflict zone.
Spaced – Ship destroyed
Spiced – Highly experienced pilot. Reaching the ranks of Deadly/Tycoon/Pioneer in 2 or more categories.
Surprise package – a trap, such as a cargo ship that is surprisingly well armed, or has escorts waiting.
Tender – Inexperienced. Harmless/Penniless/Aimless in 2 or more categories.
Thriller – one who looks for notoriety as a pirate/privateer. Wants to make GalNet.
Tour – a series of Cruises. Typically with either an end destination in mind, or a set goal to achieve before turning in.
Transit – moving to a station from a nav beacon.
Vac Suited Sun God - derogatory term for military fighter pilots. They tend to be viewed as arrogant.
Walk the lock – execution by blowing someone out the airlock.
Zoning – laying in wait for a prize, such as at a nav beacon. Also called “lurking”, “lurking the zone” or “cruising the zone” (if flying looking for USSs).
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