I'm not sure if this has been discussed before as forum search overloaded me with irrelevant topics.... buuuut.
What do you guys think of allowing players to hire npc escorts when trading to protect against pirates? As well as human players (for an agreed upon amount more than the measly 5% dividend)?
Specifically it would be useful during CG trade events with higher pirate activity, and it would give players with vultures something to actually do (escort traders and have a chance at actually making some money).
I know some people patrol high traffic systems or wing up with traders just for fun but if you have something like a vulture where literally the only thing you can do is fight in it, this might allow you to actually make some money doing so.
Or maybe it can be done through the pilots federation - traders can hire escorts and the pf handles payout based on time escorting / profit made / pirates dispatched etc.
The other side of the coin is pirating isn't profitable either right now but hopefully with cargo drones this changes... pirates can make more money, and traders have a lot more to lose and will have incentive to hire escorts. Plus people just starting out can get involved in CGs without having their hauler stripped clean every time they try to approach a station.
More player interaction++ And an option for those who can't find player escorts to hire npcs?
Think of it like a new career for both players and npcs (not the same as bounty hunting).
Thoughts?
What do you guys think of allowing players to hire npc escorts when trading to protect against pirates? As well as human players (for an agreed upon amount more than the measly 5% dividend)?
Specifically it would be useful during CG trade events with higher pirate activity, and it would give players with vultures something to actually do (escort traders and have a chance at actually making some money).
I know some people patrol high traffic systems or wing up with traders just for fun but if you have something like a vulture where literally the only thing you can do is fight in it, this might allow you to actually make some money doing so.
Or maybe it can be done through the pilots federation - traders can hire escorts and the pf handles payout based on time escorting / profit made / pirates dispatched etc.
The other side of the coin is pirating isn't profitable either right now but hopefully with cargo drones this changes... pirates can make more money, and traders have a lot more to lose and will have incentive to hire escorts. Plus people just starting out can get involved in CGs without having their hauler stripped clean every time they try to approach a station.
More player interaction++ And an option for those who can't find player escorts to hire npcs?
Think of it like a new career for both players and npcs (not the same as bounty hunting).
Thoughts?