Piratey Stuff - So far

Sentrosi · 2 Dec 2013

Officer

Recently Jumpoint magazine had an interview with Rob Roy, Lead Developer and 'Scourge of the Scattered Scorpions' to get some info on all things pirate related.

JumpPoint:
What makes a player character a pirate, and how visible is it? Will I have a little “Pirate” label hovering over my cockpit as I fly around?

Rob Roy:
Piracy is a choice, rather than a player “class.” You don’t have to look a certain way, and we’re not going to stick little pirate flags on all of the pirate characters in the game. Scanning and recognizing a pirate is more about seeing a list of crimes committed than having to join a specific
pirate club.

JP:
How can I get rid of the tag (and any bounties on my character)?
RR:
Stop committing crimes and become a productive member of society. (By this, I mean doing things that the UEE likes/needs.) And pay off any outstanding bounties.

JP:
What’s the benefit to piracy?
RR:
The most obvious benefit is that you can take what you need without having to buy it! It’s also a good lifestyle to choose if you’re not too keen on being a part of the UEE.

JP:
Does that mean piracy will be a viable career, or is it something limiting?
RR:
There are obviously risks to being a pirate, particularly a well-known one. But it is absolutely a viable career. You’ll just need to choose your shopping locations carefully.

JP:
Will a relatively unknown pirate be in more danger from player characters or from the NPC law-enforcement organizations? How about a pirate with high recognition?
RR:
I wouldn’t think of it as NPC or PC, since that can vary based on your preferences. You’ll always be in danger from both. If you don’t have a significantly bad reputation or lengthy list of crimes, you probably won’t get much trouble from the Advocacy directly (but we may have player missions from the Advocacy, as well). Well-known pirates with very bad reputations and extensive rap sheets are a different story, as the Advocacy and Bounty Hunters’ Guild will actively seek them out.

JP:
What sources do you draw from for creating Star Citizen’s pirate experience?
RR:
There have been a number of great pirate games over the years, and we draw inspiration from many of them. Of course, previous Wing Commander and Star/Freelancer provides significant influence as to how these groups operate. Some other favorites are Sid Meier’s Pirates! and the Merchants and Marauders board game, but inspiration comes from other game types, as well.

JP:
Will pirates have access to anything unique? Will they be denied anything?
RR:
It’s more based on your reputation than your career choice, but those who have a good reputation with certain pirate groups might have access to some special equipment that the do-gooders can’t have. On the other hand, they will have a much harder time getting their hands on
military spec equipment, however, and there will be trouble if the Advocacy catches you with illegal hardware!

JP:
Are all pirates equal, or is there a more detailed reputation system?
RR:
The reputation system is quite detailed, and does distinguish between different groups. It doesn’t just impact your relationship with pirate groups, however. And some pirate packs might even be sworn enemies of other packs, so a positive rep with one pirate group might mean a negative rep with another group.

JP:
How will pirate organizations work? Is there honor among thieves, or is it every man for themselves?
RR:
That can vary widely, just like player groups will. Some packs will be very cutthroat, and you’ll have to watch your back constantly. Others will be more organized and operate as a team. Just depends on how you want to play.

JP:
Is Cutlass or Caterpillar ownership a black mark, or will they be common in civilian (non-pirate) hands?
RR:
The Advocacy will not automatically assume that you’re a pirate simply because you have a Drake ship. That being said, if there is a lot of pirate activity in a particular area, you might be more likely to be scanned and identified by an Advocacy ship if you’re in a ship that is typically associated with that sort of activity. Of course, if you’re not up to anything nefarious, scanning won’t be a problem, regardless of what type of ship you’re flying.

JP:
Is it an “asteroid” hangar or a “pirate” hangar? Is there a difference?
RR:
Asteroid hangar! Not all asteroid hangar occupants will be pirates, nor will all pirates necessarily hang out in asteroid hangars. It’s the occupant that makes a pirate hangar.

JP:
So how is an asteroid hangar different from any other hangar?
RR:
It’s in an asteroid!

JP:
What’s up with the Drake corporation? How does it continue to exist in legal areas of space?
RR:
As they will be quick to inform you, Drake does not manufacture pirate vessels. Although their ships are possibly more attractive to those who dwell outside the law, they are intended for non-criminal activity. (At least according to the company’s PR team ....) Some might even say that their ships must be better if pirates prefer them in dangerous conditions.

JP:
But declared pirates will get discounts on Drake equipment, won’t they?
RR:
Er ... I guess we might have said that somewhere at some point. Or are you just making it up? I guess it depends upon where you buy that equipment.

JP:
How will anti-piracy work? Will there be UEE patrols? How can “good” players get involved?
RR:
There are several different groups that tend to hunt down pirates. The military does not generally get involved unless there is a major outbreak of pirate activity that seriously threatens the livelihood of a UEE world. The Advocacy and local police groups are more likely to get involved when pirate activity is reported. Bounty hunters also like to hunt down specific individuals from the pirate world. And any of these might contract out a hunt to eager player characters. So it’s not necessarily an easy life ...

JP:
Meanwhile, we’ve got pirate havens like Spider. Surely the UEE knows
about them. Why not go in and clean them up?
RR:
The more cynical among the UEE leadership might say that a little piracy is good for the economy. Keeps insurance companies afloat, provides jobs for countless citizens, and creates competition for groups that get toobig. And a little piracy is an acceptable level, as far as they’re concerned. Places like Spider do contribute to the economy and would be far too costly to clean up entirely. As long as the pirates don’t get too
out of hand, the UEE will generally let them keep to their own territory.
Other races might not be so cooperative, however.

JP:
What about player raids on Spider? Will they be sanctioned by the Advocacy, or does attacking any other player (including a pirate) make you a pirate also?
RR:
While you do not take an instant reputation hit for attacking a known pirate, you had better be certain that your target actually is a pirate before attacking. We can’t assume that everyone who visits Spider is a pirate. And undertaking freelance missions against pirates still requires clearance from the Advocacy or Bounty Hunters’ Guild.

JP:
And, finally, of course ...
Who are you that flies so good? Are you insane?
RR:
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!
Click to expand...

Some good info of how piracy will be handled within Star Citizen. What caught your eye in this discussion?

scrub · 3 Dec 2013

good read, thanks sent

Asp · 3 Dec 2013

Officer

I know we're not going in this direction but there's a part of me that really wants to play the bad guy..

scrub · 3 Dec 2013

you are the bad guy asp.....gawd

Khorneholio · 3 Dec 2013

Asp said: ↑

I know we're not going in this direction but there's a part of me that really wants to play the bad guy..
Click to expand...

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Asp · 3 Dec 2013

Officer

Pretty much

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