Pirates

    Once you get them past the urge to blast: "piracy and victim rules of conduct".


    One mod in particular used a "fuse" implementation to enable player looting
    where the victim's ship would drop it's cargo at some point near death.


    But, where's the etiquette in that?


    Kill a cargo ship carrying 50,000 units of cargo and a pirate can carry only
    75? That's a rediculous loss of revenue and the basis of needless bickering.


    Etiquette?


    Scenario 1
    Pirate holds up a cargo vessel at threat of destruction.
    Cargo vessel drops all cargo.
    Pirate grabs al the cargo it can carry....and then leaves.
    Cargo ship tractors in remaining cargo and finishes the run.


    Scenario 2
    Pirate holds up cargo vessel at threat of destruction.
    Cargo vessel refuses to drop.
    Both vessels enguage in combat.
    One or the other dies.
    Pirate dies = no loss of cargo but looses unmounted equipment and cargo.
    Cargo ship dies = total loss of cargo and unmounted equipment.


    Scenario 3
    Pirate holds up cargo vessel at threat of destruction.
    Pirate has extra backup including additional pirates.
    Cargo vessel has plenty of escorts.
    Large battle ensues directly and escalates.
    Pirates and Corporations enguage in all out free for all.


    Scenario 3 seems like fun.

    The last time I played on "Top Freelancers", they had it.
    That's been well over a year ago.
    Strail (I think that's him) is the developer of that mod.

    It sort of already happens in Freelancer now. Except in the case of those big transports, they don't drop their cargo for anyone.


    Pirates rob the pirates and lawfuls. Sometimes the victim will drop their cargo
    but most times, they won't drop and a big fight ensues. Sometimes it escalates.
    Military, Police & Bounty Hunters scan for "contraband" and rob that from
    anyone. Some "smugglers" will drop their contraband and not much else happens, but if they refuse to drop... ("Forget it, come and get it if you have the guts") IF that happens near a base or planet, it quickly escalates.


    In the TFL mod, it was a common site to see loot floating around everywhere.
    I use to make a lot of credits capitalizing on all the bats and bots dropped at a base where pirates and lawfuls got into constant fights.