I love piracy. I think it's one of the most unique rolls in ED but as it stands right now it is a bit lacking. It's high risk with little reward. If you look at how people are making money piracy would likely be towards the bottom. I think I may have thought of a way to improve it in the ED style that may not be too hard to implement. Right now as it stands with stolen goods all you can do is sell them at a black market. Now some goods sell better at black markets but most do not. In my experience it's not worth the risk of picking up stolen commodities unless they are something really special.
Here's the idea. It's basically a hybrid exploration/rare reward system. It would work like this.
1. Find/Pirate stolen goods.
2. Take goods to black market in an anarchist system.
3. Have multiple options in the anarchist system to include Launder Goods as well as "I want to sell stolen goods." Then the Black market can charge a fee, either a percentage or fixed cost to launder (hack canister serial codes etc) the items. Once laundered you still do not get paid for the goods until you sell them at least 40ly(ish for starters) away from the station they were laundered at. (because you wouldn't sell the stuff you stole in the same area so to avoid suspicion) Similar to the exploration mechanic that requires you to be 20 ly out of the system to sell your data)
4. Take to closest station outside of the required distance from the anarchist area.
5. Sell on the commodities market at full price. (minus the laundering fee you already paid)
I think it could work out nicely. It may make you think twice about committing crimes in areas where you usually wouldn't if you see a hauler carrying platinum. It would also force you to go to those anarchist pirate hideouts and then force more exploration. Well that is my idea. Let me know what you think.
Here's the idea. It's basically a hybrid exploration/rare reward system. It would work like this.
1. Find/Pirate stolen goods.
2. Take goods to black market in an anarchist system.
3. Have multiple options in the anarchist system to include Launder Goods as well as "I want to sell stolen goods." Then the Black market can charge a fee, either a percentage or fixed cost to launder (hack canister serial codes etc) the items. Once laundered you still do not get paid for the goods until you sell them at least 40ly(ish for starters) away from the station they were laundered at. (because you wouldn't sell the stuff you stole in the same area so to avoid suspicion) Similar to the exploration mechanic that requires you to be 20 ly out of the system to sell your data)
4. Take to closest station outside of the required distance from the anarchist area.
5. Sell on the commodities market at full price. (minus the laundering fee you already paid)
I think it could work out nicely. It may make you think twice about committing crimes in areas where you usually wouldn't if you see a hauler carrying platinum. It would also force you to go to those anarchist pirate hideouts and then force more exploration. Well that is my idea. Let me know what you think.