Difference between revisions of "Piracy"

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==The Bane of Shipping==
  
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{{QuoteText|Text=...The two thousand star systems of the Cooperative once enjoyed a golden age of peace and prosperity, and perhaps the wealthiest of them can still pretend to. The trade ships that once safely travelled between planets now have to be well armed and escorted to fend off pirate attacks, from small-time criminals desperate for their next meal, to powerful robber barons extracting tithes from everyone who passes through their space.
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Ever since the earliest times of maritime and space travel, there have been individuals who have preyed upon those they saw as helpless and likely to yield a profit. They have gone by many names, privateers, reavers, brigands, buccaneers, marauders and 'alternative entrepreneurs'. However, most traders and the police force of [[GalCop]] know them as pirates.
  
   
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These outlaws make their livings by attacking trading ships, forcing them to dump their cargoes, so that the pirates can scoop and sell them at their leisure. It is a brave trader that refuses to dump his cargo as the predatory pirate ships rake his vessel with laser fire. One reason some traders refuse to lose their cargo is the enduring story that many pirates will not allow an attacked vessel to escape to inform the authorities of the piracy, thus forcing the pirates to take extra care should they end up facing squadrons of [[Viper_(Oolite)|Vipers]].
  
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The Cooperative's police force, concentrated near a few influential planets, can no longer maintain order. The mercenaries they hire for a few credits a kill are too few, too unreliable to do so either... |Source=([http://www.oolite.org/ www.oolite.org])}}
   
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For this reason, entrants to the Flight Training Academy on Lave are trained in combat tactics and even use sim-combat to learn to defend themselves at least to a basic level of competence. On top of this there is the Federation of Elite Pilots' ranking system, with full endorsement from GalCop, to spur starry-eyed young combateers from the ignominious rating of 'Harmless' up to and including the immortal heights of 'Elite'.
  
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== The Bane of Shipping ==
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Ever since the earliest times of maritime and space travel, there have been individuals who have preyed upon those they saw as helpless and likely to yield a profit. They have gone by many names: privateers, reavers, brigands, buccaneers, marauders and 'alternative entrepreneurs'. However, most traders and the police force of [[GalCop]] know them as pirates.
   
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Many Pirates live in systems where the law is decided by the strongest, Anarchies and Feudals, and GalCop has little presence. While most pirates remain in these systems, many venture out and raid the space-lanes of more affluent neighbouring systems where trading ships are less likely to have squadrons of escorts accompanying them, and then fleeing back to their home systems when the heat gets too high. Squadrons of pirates roam the space lanes freely in these systems, their usual formation being one or more large cargo-carriers equipped with fuel scoops, and accompanied by a bevy of small fast fighters to swiftly tear apart the target.
  
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These outlaws make their living by attacking trading ships, forcing them to dump their cargoes, so that the pirates can scoop and sell them at their leisure. It is a brave trader that refuses to dump his cargo as the predatory pirate ships rake his vessel with laser fire. One reason some traders refuse to lose their cargo is the enduring story that many pirates will not allow an attacked vessel to escape to inform the authorities of the piracy, thus forcing the pirates to take extra care should they end up facing squadrons of [[Viper_(Oolite)|Vipers]].
   
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==Traveller’s Tales==
  
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For this reason, entrants to the Flight Training Academy on Lave are trained in combat tactics and even use sim-combat to learn to defend themselves at least to a basic level of competence. On top of this there is the Federation of Elite Pilots' [[Elite Rating|ranking system]], with full endorsement from GalCop, to spur starry-eyed young combateers from the ignominious rating of 'Harmless' up to and including the immortal heights of 'Elite'.
   
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It is rumoured that in the more dangerous systems, pirates have the temerity to go as far as actually setting up a base of operations within the Space Lanes. From this [[Pirate Coves OXP|Pirate Cove]] the brigands lie in wait for passing traders. Occasionally, a battle scared ship will limp into dock and its crew will tell tales of an attack by [[Renegade Pirates OXP|Renegade Pirates]] slicing through their shields with multi-coloured laser beams. Whatever the truth of these tales, Commanders are well advised to keep a close eye upon the scanner in systems where pirates are known to lurk.
  
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Many Pirates live in systems where the law is decided by the strongest: Anarchies and Feudals, and where GalCop has little presence. While most pirates remain in these systems, many venture out and raid the space-lanes of more affluent neighbouring systems where trading ships are less likely to have squadrons of escorts accompanying them (and then flee back to their home systems when the heat gets too high). Squadrons of pirates roam the space lanes freely in these systems, their usual formation being one or more large cargo-carriers equipped with fuel scoops, and accompanied by a bevy of small fast fighters to swiftly tear apart their targets.
   
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== Traveller’s Tales ==
   
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[[Pirate Coves OXP|Pirate Coves]] [[Renegade Pirates OXP|Renegade Pirates]]
  
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It is rumoured that in the more dangerous systems, pirates have the temerity to go as far as actually setting up a base of operations within the Space Lanes. Within this [[Pirate Coves OXP|Pirate Cove]] the brigands lie in wait for passing traders. Occasionally, a battle-scarred ship will limp into dock and its crew will tell tales of an attack by [[Renegade Pirates OXP|Renegade Pirates]] slicing through their shields with multi-coloured laser beams. Whatever the truth of these tales, Commanders are well advised to keep a close eye upon the scanner in systems where pirates are known to lurk.
   
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==Pirate Coves==
  
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== Sociometrics of Piracy ==
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Some exceptional pirates manage to gather up a band of cutthroats and take over either abandoned or manned Rock Hermits, slaughtering or inducting those who they find inhabiting them. From this point, the Rock Hermit is referred to as a Pirate Cove and are considered real navigational hazards to trade shipping. The normal tactic of a Pirate Cove is to remain powered down until a likely target comes onto their scanners, then the pirate ships power up, mass-locking the target's in-system hyperspeed drive. From this point, only the most skillful or lucky pilots can fend off or escape them. The usual result is the target is overwhelmed and destroyed, their cargo scooped and any evidence of the combat cleared away before the police arrive on the scene.
  
   
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This station is an [[OXP]] and is available [http://capnhack.com/hosting/oolite/Oolite/OXPs/pirate_coves.zip here]
  
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[[User:Cim|Cim]] wrote a [https://cim.sotl.org.uk/games/ Space-sim simulator] (''see bottom of page'') setting up a basic ecosystem with pirates, traders and bounty hunters. It allows you to change the rules - ship performance, trade good costs, legal system, ''etc''. - to see what effect this might have over time. It starts with some Oolite-derived settings.
   
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==Renegade Pirates==
  
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Also see his [http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15061 thread]: The Oolite NPC ecosystem (and other questions - where do pirates come from?)
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[[Image:Renegade_Attack!.png|right|thumb|300px|Fatal Encounter: The last Flight Recorder image from the Python trader 'Santa Anna']]
  
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A new and fearsome prospect for the young 'Jameson' is the emergence of the so-called Renegade Pirates. Where these individuals came from is unknown, but speculation is rife. Some say they are the embittered leaders of pirate bands that have been destroyed by GalCop police Vipers, some say they are combat-maddened initiates of the shadowy [[Powers_and_Organisations#The_Assassins_Guild|Assassin's Guild]], while still more claim them to be undercover agitators from the Empire or Federation trying to stir up dissent in GalCop space. The most laughed-at rumour is that they are actually members of the 'Dark Wheel', an organisation of expert pirates with an unknown agenda mentioned in the popular fiction novella of the [[The_Dark_Wheel|same name]].
  
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[[Image:Pirate_FdL.PNG|left|thumb|260px|A Bounty-hunter's nemesis, a Renegade Fer-de-Lance sporting Plasma Cannon turrets]]
  
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What is known is that these Renegades are highly-skilled, highly-driven pilots. Their skill would indicate Elite ratings of at least Deadly while their callous disregard for their own safety makes them rightly feared. They favour ships of the old 'Serpent' classes, as opposed to younger pirates who tend to favour the growing numbers of faster and upgraded ships coming onto the market.
 
   
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These Renegade ships are heavily upgraded with multiple forward lasers and cruiser-grade Twin Plasma Cannon turrets mounted on the flanks. These weapons however appear to have been fitted at facilities unable to properly mount them and as such they are vulnerable to careful laser fire. Regardless, GalCop has placed massive bounties on these individuals' heads, dead or alive, and this alone ensures there is no end of young and hopeful would-be bounty-hunters trying their guns against them. And every so often one of these youngsters actually manages to damage a Renegade before they die.
  
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See also the discussion here: [http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18018 System Populator Memory] on the balance between realism and playability (2016).
   
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GalCop are still at a loss as to how they can avert the atrocities of these psychotic and merciless killers, their only resort being to heap greater and greater bouties upon the Renegades' heads, an act that only causes them to become boastful and, if anything, more active as they force their bounties higher. In the run-down space stations of many Anarchies, groups of Renegades cheer each other as their names and ships appear on GalNet news bulletins, along with the lists of their crimes and increasing bounties, while sneering and joking at the deaths of their less fortunate colleagues.
  
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== Piracy as a career choice ==
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*See [[Career_Options#Pirate|Career Options]] for discussion and relevant OXP's.
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*Also read [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?p=138496#p138496 Ganelon's post]
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== OXP's augmenting piracy ==
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*[[DeepSpacePirates]] adds more pirates off the beaten tracks...
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*[[GalCop's Most Wanted]] adds some really nasty pirates... and gives you opportunities to find them...
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*[[Renegade Pirates OXP]] adds tougher pirates to the nastier systems (2006)
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*[[Renegade Viper]] ditto - as above!
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*[[Spicy Hermits]] - adds character to pirate-infested rock hermits
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*[[Pirate Coves OXP]] - massively beefs up pirate-infested rock hermits
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== OXP's fighting against piracy ==
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*[[Paddling Pool]] creates a pirate-free zone west of Lave
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*[[Total patrol OXP]] introduces GalCop patrols outside the space lanes
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*[[Enhanced Vipers]] beefs up the vipers with skills and introduces more bounty hunters in weaker systems. A measured .oxp.
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*[[Galactic Navy]] introduces amongst other things naval patrols clamping down on piracy. A more extreme .oxp.
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*[[249th Naval Reserve Wing OXP]] - volunteers who fight piracy. A more extreme .oxp.
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*[[Jaguar Company]] - volunteers who fight piracy.
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== OXP's doing both - and adding complexity ==
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*[[Anarchies]]
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== Fiction ==
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*[[Imprint]] came with the later versions of [[Classic Elite]], featuring the Knights Templars, a terrorist force of pirates (by Redman).
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*[http://aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?t=8641 Carver's Anarchy] - Captain Carver, his pirate crew, and their anarchy system base (by Ganelon).
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*The Harbingers of Doom (pirates/slavers) are mentioned in the [[Dragon]] OXP Controversy/Historical Points section.
   
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These ships are [[OXP|OXPs]] and are available [http://oosat.alioth.net/files/RenegadesV3.zip here]
  
 
[[Category:Oolite]]
  
[[Category:Oolite]]

Latest revision as of 15:16, 17 December 2021

...The two thousand star systems of the Cooperative once enjoyed a golden age of peace and prosperity, and perhaps the wealthiest of them can still pretend to. The trade ships that once safely travelled between planets now have to be well armed and escorted to fend off pirate attacks, from small-time criminals desperate for their next meal, to powerful robber barons extracting tithes from everyone who passes through their space.

The Cooperative's police force, concentrated near a few influential planets, can no longer maintain order. The mercenaries they hire for a few credits a kill are too few, too unreliable to do so either...

(www.oolite.org)

The Bane of Shipping

Ever since the earliest times of maritime and space travel, there have been individuals who have preyed upon those they saw as helpless and likely to yield a profit. They have gone by many names: privateers, reavers, brigands, buccaneers, marauders and 'alternative entrepreneurs'. However, most traders and the police force of GalCop know them as pirates.

These outlaws make their living by attacking trading ships, forcing them to dump their cargoes, so that the pirates can scoop and sell them at their leisure. It is a brave trader that refuses to dump his cargo as the predatory pirate ships rake his vessel with laser fire. One reason some traders refuse to lose their cargo is the enduring story that many pirates will not allow an attacked vessel to escape to inform the authorities of the piracy, thus forcing the pirates to take extra care should they end up facing squadrons of Vipers.

For this reason, entrants to the Flight Training Academy on Lave are trained in combat tactics and even use sim-combat to learn to defend themselves at least to a basic level of competence. On top of this there is the Federation of Elite Pilots' ranking system, with full endorsement from GalCop, to spur starry-eyed young combateers from the ignominious rating of 'Harmless' up to and including the immortal heights of 'Elite'.

Many Pirates live in systems where the law is decided by the strongest: Anarchies and Feudals, and where GalCop has little presence. While most pirates remain in these systems, many venture out and raid the space-lanes of more affluent neighbouring systems where trading ships are less likely to have squadrons of escorts accompanying them (and then flee back to their home systems when the heat gets too high). Squadrons of pirates roam the space lanes freely in these systems, their usual formation being one or more large cargo-carriers equipped with fuel scoops, and accompanied by a bevy of small fast fighters to swiftly tear apart their targets.

Traveller’s Tales

It is rumoured that in the more dangerous systems, pirates have the temerity to go as far as actually setting up a base of operations within the Space Lanes. Within this Pirate Cove the brigands lie in wait for passing traders. Occasionally, a battle-scarred ship will limp into dock and its crew will tell tales of an attack by Renegade Pirates slicing through their shields with multi-coloured laser beams. Whatever the truth of these tales, Commanders are well advised to keep a close eye upon the scanner in systems where pirates are known to lurk.

Sociometrics of Piracy

Cim wrote a Space-sim simulator (see bottom of page) setting up a basic ecosystem with pirates, traders and bounty hunters. It allows you to change the rules - ship performance, trade good costs, legal system, etc. - to see what effect this might have over time. It starts with some Oolite-derived settings.

Also see his thread: The Oolite NPC ecosystem (and other questions - where do pirates come from?)

See also the discussion here: System Populator Memory on the balance between realism and playability (2016).

Piracy as a career choice

OXP's augmenting piracy

OXP's fighting against piracy

OXP's doing both - and adding complexity

Fiction

  • Imprint came with the later versions of Classic Elite, featuring the Knights Templars, a terrorist force of pirates (by Redman).
  • Carver's Anarchy - Captain Carver, his pirate crew, and their anarchy system base (by Ganelon).
  • The Harbingers of Doom (pirates/slavers) are mentioned in the Dragon OXP Controversy/Historical Points section.
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