Defining a Mercenary

[Knucklehead]

First of all, it's been a while since the last time I was here, back in beta 1 of 4.83. Quite frankly I was surprised my main character hadn't been deleted for being inactive. But seeing as how it wasn't, I decided to keep going. This brings us to the topic at hand.

Shortly after returning to the server, I was in the Dublin system when I was asked to explain my ship's setup. (Currently a Chimaera VHF with class 9 Adv. Splitters [Bretonian in origin], a Merc ID and [temporarily] an LSF tag.) My explanation was that as a Mercenary, I wasn't restricted to any particular source for ship or weapons, given the hired gun aspect of the job. The person who asked (I forget who it was) wasn't entirely satisfied with my answer, saying he thought Mercs should be using only BHG or Civilian ships/weaps.

My question, therefore, is what makes a Mercenary? Is it simply someone who is basically an unofficial member of the BHG? Or is it more general, someone who is a hired gun who can use whatever his employers can supply?

For the record, I will be going with the following story: Having been previously hired by the Bretonians for a covert operation, I was given a Chimaera in order to obtain information. My positive reputation with all the houses enabled me to achieve that goal easily. I liked the Chimaera's handling so much I decided to keep it, but liked the performance of the Bretonian weapons better than the Kusari cannons. I would much rather do escort and support work than covert operations, however, and have not had much luck getting my name out to the relevant parties. So if you know someone who could use a little extra support, look me up.

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It's official, I have too few ships now...

[Hyperwave22]

A mercenary is absolutely NOT an unofficial member of the Bounty Hunters. A bounty hunter makes a living collecting bounties, killing one or a few enemies for someone else. Mercenaries are not in this same category. A mercenary should have the freedom and ability to work for whomever they want, and are payed for each they do. Much like a freelancer.

My view is that bounty hunters are a type of mercenary that set up their own organization. They do not fight wars for people, and they only fight on the legal side. A mercenary can fight for whomever they want, and can fight wars for people. They should not have the same limits that a BHG member would have.

Hype

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Retired
A very big thanks to Dark Oddity who put my signature pic together

[Zyreal]

^ Agreed

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[Shimmer]

So, would you say that a Merc would be able to assassinate a character in a trading ship, if that was what they were paid to do?

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Jupiter Guild Forums
Character History

[kiggles]

Ok I am assuming you are refering to me as the person in Dublin.

Well as I said a few times it was my opinion and not being a merc my self i'm not fully certian and I had just always though of them as using BH/civ ships and weps.

I also found it odd that you could obtain a ship from kusari and weps from bretonia whilst we are at war, but now I know your reasoning better I guess it makes sense.

The other thing I said is that it seemed like you where just using being a merc to get the best equipment to suit you by when you said "Simple. I'm a merc, I pick the weaps and ships I like." but maby that is what mercs are ment to do as I said never been one my self...

Kiggles:mellow:

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I've been mildly miffed by one-shot weapons since their implementation, oh so long ago. I remember the days when fights were a matter of who could aim better, rather than who could aim a single shot. - Virus

[Raven_ipb2_import227]

Hmm Kiggles does have a point... while Mercs could be allowed to get different weapons and ships from around sirius... Should they observe faction standings between NPC factions?

What I mean is.... Can a merc get both Bertonian and Kusari weapons and ships? Can a merc get Outcast and Corsair ships and weapons? or Outcast and IMG? or Rheinland and GMG?

To be honest it doesn't quite seem fair to the rest of us, who have to sell weapons and give stuff back because it doesn't suit our RP but can mercs have such freedom? and if they can, what stops every PvP whore and their girlfriend to become a merc?

Just asking questions here so be nice:P

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Raven

aka

RavenZahadoom

aka

Raven Corvus

**[IND]/[GEO]**
[IND]Lexxian
[GEO]Raven™

**[SF]**
[SF]-SFF-Raven.Corvus

[Nightfall]

Popular cop-out these days. 'I'm a merc! I don't care about RP/NPCs/Reps/[insert whatever excuse]!' Think about a decent story and post it on the forums, if the people like it, they'll let you go by.

On the other hand, we have something closest to being a mercenary faction - the Bounty Hunters Guild. So, in my opinion, here's the answer. Anyway, to get a mercenary ID, you have to be fully green with the BHG - makes sense somehow.

The game is giving you a tag in reflection to how you interact with the NPCs, your reputation reflects that, so why is it so hard to go by that and not fabricate all kinds of non-existent excuses to have the best combination of weapons/ships? It'll make life simpler for everyone and it will certainly reduce the flames.

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If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God? - from 'Nightfall' by I. Asimov
The Outcasts consider Siniestre Nube a sacred place for several reasons. Early explorers discovered a jumphole within the depths of the cloud that leads to a strange world of ringed stars and strange craft. All ships in the burrial ground are placed facing that hole to honor the Alien Spirits. - An Outcast rumor

[Fellow Hoodlum]

We do have two official servers now, Thanks to Igiss and Bulldog. One for those people prepared to work a little
on their background stories, and one for those who just wish to buy any equipment they want, for any purpose.
The choice is yours ...

Hoodlum

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Some say he is a proud member of: "The most paranoid group of people in the Community."

[Knucklehead]

Popular cop-out these days. 'I'm a merc! I don't care about RP/NPCs/Reps/[insert whatever excuse]!' Think about a decent story and post it on the forums, if the people like it, they'll let you go by.

On the other hand, we have something closest to being a mercenary faction - the Bounty Hunters Guild. So, in my opinion, here's the answer. Anyway, to get a mercenary ID, you have to be fully green with the BHG - makes sense somehow.

The game is giving you a tag in reflection to how you interact with the NPCs, your reputation reflects that, so why is it so hard to go by that and not fabricate all kinds of non-existent excuses to have the best combination of weapons/ships? It'll make life simpler for everyone and it will certainly reduce the flames.

I, for one, do care about RP. However, none of the NPC factions truly suit what I want to do, which is escort whoever is willing to pay a little for my services or assist with mining operations (blowing up rocks for the miners to tractor in, keeping hostile fighters off their backs, etc.) I suppose IMG is a close match, and that's what I'm aiming for, but it still doesn't quite fit the flexibility I need. Last night, Virus suggested that I try for no tag. While it isn't impossible to do, it will take a while for me to get there.

Oh, and Kiggles, I wasn't complaining about what you said, I just wanted to clear up my confusion.

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It's official, I have too few ships now...

[Nightfall]

I'm just trying to explain things and I was giving an example, I didn't mean specifically you. We had quite some bad things happening lately so I'm just trying to make it clear that this is after all an RP server.

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If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God? - from 'Nightfall' by I. Asimov
The Outcasts consider Siniestre Nube a sacred place for several reasons. Early explorers discovered a jumphole within the depths of the cloud that leads to a strange world of ringed stars and strange craft. All ships in the burrial ground are placed facing that hole to honor the Alien Spirits. - An Outcast rumor