Traders with Big Guns

[Dagless]

I wanted to play the archetypical role of combat ready trader. Taking relatively small amounts of high value goods through dodgy areas of space and fighting / running from pirates (depending on situation). High risk, high profit trading was the plan, with maybe a bit of smuggling thrown in. Picking fights was not the idea.

This didn't seem to work that well early on, so I've not done it for a while.

Now all I see on forums is a great big schism between combat pilots and traders. No one ever seems to talk about the "classic" game role.

Does no one else enjoy making themselves a target? If so, how's it working out?

I play solo simply because I prefer to play games on my own, but I'm interested in how it's going in open too.

 

[SirKiwi]

I wanted to play the archetypical role of combat ready trader. Taking relatively small amounts of high value goods through dodgy areas of space and fighting / running from pirates (depending on situation). High risk, high profit trading was the plan, with maybe a bit of smuggling thrown in. Picking fights was not the idea.

This didn't seem to work that well early on, so I've not done it for a while.

Now all I see on forums is a great big schism between combat pilots and traders. No one ever seems to talk about the "classic" game role.

Does no one else enjoy making themselves a target? If so, how's it working out?

I play solo simply because I prefer to play games on my own, but I'm interested in how it's going in open too.

Trade in open if you like a challenge. No need to communicate with players, just act like they're really good AI.

 

[Loskene]

It's going fine in open, ignore the crybawwing everywhere. The only issue is how few and far between player encounters are outside of the really populated areas like Lave. Most armed traders such as yourself are having a hard time finding pirates to prey on them, and hired goons like me are having a hard time finding traders in need of escorting. Hopefully space gets a bit more dangerous soon.

 

[Dagless]

Thanks. Maybe I'll try open sometime.

Just to be clear though, it's not about making things difficult just for the sake of it for me. I'd hope that rewards for putting myself in danger at least partly make up for having a smaller hold and needing combat gear.

 

[SirKiwi]

Thanks. Maybe I'll try open sometime.

Just to be clear though, it's not about making things difficult just for the sake of it for me. I'd hope that rewards for putting myself in danger at least partly make up for having a smaller hold and needing combat gear.

They don't, really. Not unless you are trading rares- if you're trading rares a smaller hold, combat gear, and fighting will be your bread and butter.

 

[COOPER TTE]

I do exactly that, it's how I loved the original Elite most. So I mostly bum around space in my Cobra, sometimes trading rares or high-value items, sometimes touring RES and beacons, missions here and there, always welcoming intersections then deciding whether to fight or run. Mostly fight, but occasionally come across a real tough guy or a mean Wing. I love it

 

[xDreadnoughtx]

I'm having fun meandering across the inhabited zones, trading as I go. Coming across PC's occasionally. It could however be more exciting with some actual danger.

Funnily enough, my Python "trader" rarely attracts unwanted attention, even from NPCs.

I would welcome a bit of pirate love. Ramp up interdictions when I'm in an Anarchy FD, carrying a 1.5 million in whatever form. Currently its like a sleepy Devon village out there.

 

[COOPER TTE]

I removed my reflective armour and downgraded some modules back from A's, and interdiction rates seemed to improve (or is it just my imagination™)