Why are most tips about "How to be pirated successfully" along the lines of "pay them"?
I've had some pirates that I've truly enjoyed RP'ing with, and I've had some that have been the classic "Pay of die" 1 line chumps. I prefer the first of course. And since the tactical advantage for me isn't there (namely...I know I'll be destroyed) I'll pay. Good pirates will know that and will make sure to put you in that position...and more importantly will let you know they have you in that position with some good RP'ing.
I would rather hear "All rightie, you're 12k away from the nearest jump hole and I've got a bead on your engines...whatever you're thinking about doing...I'd think twice" rather than "Pay 1 mil or die"
If the pirate is right, than I'll weigh my options and pay, of course.
However. If the pirate isn't smart enough to stop me before I'm within range of a jump gate (namely, I weigh my options and decide that I have a good shot at making the gate before he takes me out) Why can't I?
If I'm stopped close to the corona of a sun, why can't I use RP to try lure that pirate to chase me where (hopefully) my shields will outlast his. (Not saying that would work, in fact it would be suicidal most likely...but I'm just using it as an example of "anti-pirate tactics")
In that same vein, If I'm cruising along and I know a pirate is up ahead, why can't I cut my engines and try to coast through since I'll still hold 340 or so and his CD will have no effect?
I get the sense that traders aren't allowed to "weigh their options" with regards to pirates. I don't mind being pirated, in fact I rather enjoy it sometimes. Pirating is a job. And some do it really well. A good pirate will make sure that the traders best tactical option for survival is to simply pay them. But if the pirate hasn't done that, than why in gods name is the best advice still "pay them"?
There are nearly limitless opportunities for various RP's between pirates and traders, all based off of tactical options. The pirates job is to limit those options to one...pay them or die. The traders job is to avoid it coming to that, and weigh his own tactical options carefully.
It seems to be poo pooed upon for a trader to try to out-tactic his pirate foe rather than simply paying up after chatting for a bit. And as a result, pirates don't have to do much work at all. If a pirate has done his homework, manages to stop me where there is no way out for me. I will pay him. But if he/she just stops me where there are ways that I can out-think him (rare, but they exist if the pirate hasn't done his job), I'm not going to reward them by just chatting a bit, throwing some money at them and moving on. Not good RP.
Sorry. Turned into a bit of a mini-rant there. My apologies. Like I said, I have no problem with pirates, I just wish they would have to work a bit harder, and that the general consensus wasn't simply "pay them and move on regardless of the situation".
And yes, I blame SNAC's for much of it. SNAC's, in my opinion are the death knell of good Pirate/trader RP.