Freelancer ID and factions using that ID.

[The Savage]

I have a quite interesting question here, since unlike all other IDs, only Freelancer ID have defending line in this form:

Can attack any ship in self-defense or to protect an friendly or allied ship.

While I understand there are rules regarding escorting and hiring on spot by generic ID are off the table here (Rule 4), what about two cases that doesn't seem to fall into category of frienly/allied ship - since those are 'employer ship(s)'.

1. Freelancers are banded into one group of pilots, having no tag and one of them is being pirated or being engaged.

2. Freelancers are part of one faction, but according to the rules from ID cannot defend each other in this case as well.

[Lythrilux]

That line lets the FL ID hop into literally any fight without the need of a bounty.

Honestly it might be a good idea if assist lines are removed from Mercenary IDs and they're forced to have to be collecting a bounty. It means that the FL ID can't be abused, and actually it makes more sense for the BHG ID to only be going after bounties if there's money involved rather than offering to help.

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[The Savage]

That line lets the FL ID hop into literally any fight without the need of a bounty.

Lemme quote Jansen (I hope he doesn't mind):

[2016-03-26 21:47:21][2016-03-26 21:37:03] Toris: what in case of group of freelancers?
[2016-03-26 21:37:11] Toris: Now, it looks like they cannot defend each other.
[2016-03-26 21:37:35] Jens (Jansen): Thats intended
[2016-03-26 21:37:45] Jens (Jansen): People abused it too badly in the past, so it got taken away
(...)
Jens (Jansen): Can attack any ship in self-defense or to protect an friendly or allied ship. Thats essentially escorting
[2016-03-26 21:47:32] Jens (Jansen): Freelancers dont really have allies or friends

[Skorak]

The Bounty Hunter ID might get "to assist another BHG ship" since... well another hunter might help his buddy out.

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[SnakThree]

Yeah. It can be abused right now. I know BHG constantly assists lawfuls but if they don't get the blue, they are not claiming the bounty. So they might be working for free, which would be against the idea of BHG. But, the players behind characters want PvP so they are happy about that despite circumstances.

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[The Savage]

According to Jens, Freelancers cannot defend each other. The line applies only to being hired on spot and for escort duties only.

However, it means that a faction using Freelancer ID cannot help each other.

[SnakThree]

However, it means that a faction using Freelancer ID cannot help each other.

I highly doubt that. A group of Freelancers is not the same as a faction with unified tag using Freelancer ID.

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[The Savage]

That is why it needs clarification, because as Jens stated, Freelancer's right to defend each other was taken away. Freelancers do not have allies and friendly factions, besides the ones which hire them.

[SnakThree]

Own faction's ships are certainly "allied ships".

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[Sand-Viper]

So, scenario. Say I as a Freelancer, have a friend who is also Freelancer. Our Freelancers fly around doing things and mostly RP with folks for fun. Now, say we run into a Xeno in our travels. This Xeno looks at me, having a clearly Kusarian name, and tells my Libertonian friend to scram, then summarily opens fire upon me for being a foreigner. Do you mean to tell me that my Freelancer FRIEND cannot then jump in and shoot at the Xeno, because Freelancers "can't defend each other?"

This doesn't make any sense to me. Why would you just sit there while watching your buddy get shot up by a hostile? If somebody shoots my best friend, I'm not from an in-character standpoint going to just kick back and watch. Now, I can see it being different if the attacker challenged my character to one-on-one combat. But it comes back to realism, and how someone would react to their friend being shot at.

By the way.. Hi! Good to be back!

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