[Guide] A (Discovery) Roleplayer's First Steps

[Karmotrine Dream]

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BASIC UNLAWFUL GUIDE

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Maybe you think "prey" when you see a trader.
Maybe you want to show the man who's the real boss.
Maybe you know just corrupt and unwilling to change are the governments and feel you need to take a stand against them.
Or maybe you just want to watch the world burn.

Whatever the case, playing lawful just does not cut it for you; you want to walk on that wild side, and that's perfectly fine! Unlawfuls are just as central to the setting as their lawful opponents, if not more.


Who are the unlawfuls?
The universe of Freelancer has always had a vast rogues gallery, to oppose the various House lawfuls and threaten players and to tangibly show the results of social injustice, rampant industrialism, corporate corruption, and the other various issues that plague the Houses; some are House specific, such as the Mollys' dispossessed miners' fight against their former BMM taskmasters, some are more universal, such as the appeal of a quick buck and a show of strength.
There's a lot of variety and a lot of lore to most unlawfuls, so take your time to figure out which ones are most interesting to you!

In gameplay terms, unlawfuls are the flip side of the lawfuls; they oftentimes are the instigators of the trouble lawfuls are called on to stop, and as such tend to act and play proactively instead of reactively. This is typically accompanied by greater freedom of movement and ID lines allowing for more aggressive behaviour, piracy and extortion.
When not picking fights with the enforcers, piracy and extortion will probably be what you will be doing most often, but if you like RP, spreading propaganda to let the people know of their rulers' misdeeds is also a very valid occupation!


How do I make an unlawful?
Pretty much the same way you did that Bounty Hunter at the beginning or the lawful. Again, make sure to use the right /restart!


How do I behave as an unlawful?
It's a pretty safe assumption to say nobody likes getting pirated or shot up, but how are you going to stick it to the man by not doing so? Besides, if your enemies didn't want that to happen, they shouldn't have signed up for them!
Don't be afraid to tell them what they did wrong while you're telling them to hand over the goods, and if you particularly dislike them, feel free to taunt them or what they're supposed to be standing for.
It's harsh, but so are unlawfuls, usually.

On the other hand, you don't have to be nasty 24/7 - you still have friends and allies and, depending on your flavour of unlawful, you may want to win people over instead of just blowing them up.
No matter which kind of unlawful you are, though, remember to be respectful to your fellow players!


Respectful? But I'm a tough rebel man who don't--
Your character may be. You are not your character, though, just like all those other people on your screen are not the character they're playing.
This is a game, and games are at their best when everyone is having fun and feeling comfortable!

By all means, be mean to your inRP enemies, but don't go after the players! In fact, if you enjoyed your time, battle or RP with them, let them know! Everyone likes a compliment.
If you're pirating someone, ask reasonable amounts from them and try not to keep picking on the same people over and over! Find new ways to antagonise the merchant lackeys of the Houses, like forcing them to drop their cargo and haul back Propaganda instead!
And if you feel extra considerate, let them know (OOC and in private) it's nothing personal.