Preamble
This idea started after a few of us got together to make a Gallic pirates faction based on the generic Pirate ID, a difficult task at the best of times given its limited docking rights but made double by our wish to stay within the limitations of being Gallic (only using their tech, staying near Oil etc) and hoping to pirate everyone in the Tau area.
For now we've been launching from Charost Depot and avoiding fights with the Council to back up that dependency but its not something that makes sense considering we attack Bretonian and Kusari convoys, eventually RP consequences will strike leaving us with only Barrier Gate as a docking point. Naturally that would throw the faction completely off track and drag us into the heart of Sirius which makes absolutely no sense in respect to what we're trying to do.
The Proposal
Basically I'd like to create a Pirate IFF base somewhere within the Tau region, ideally in the north east corner of Tau 31 (H2 or 3) to serve as home to the Pirate ID that is hostile to everyone else, a true pirate haven. There are several possible ways of making this proposed base but I think outwardly it should look like a half destroyed battlecruiser or battleship (Kusari or Gallic) to give it a dangerously rundown feel, maybe even a custom model if someone is feeling creative.
The base itself can be done one of two ways:
1. A Modfied PoB
The quick and dirty way, no messing around with economy stuff or requiring a faction IFF and isn't shown on maps but can be brought down by plugin failures and doesn't sell or buy anything without opening it up to Freelancers.
Pros:
Easier to set up and remove should things not work out.
Unlisted on the Navmap, as a pirate haven would be.
No hassle with IFF's or economy.
Cons:
Unable to sell or buy anything (ID's, ammo, bots and bats etc).
Can be effected by PoB plugin issues.
Useless for cargo pirates.
2. A Proper Base
The more complicated way that requires a lot more work and the addition of another base when the devs are trying to cut down on extras, could possibly use the vacant Gallic Junker slot for IFF and allow a pirate restart.
Pros:
Can buy/sell everything needed, including commodities.
Allows for a Pirate restart.
Not effected by plugins.
Cons: Would need a faction IFF.
Needs a lot of dev work to create.
Shown on the navmap. ~ Thanks to a quick update from Laz last night, it would appear there is little in the way of negatives for an actual base.
Summary
While this idea is somewhat self-serving I think it has a decent amount of potential for all who want to use the Pirate ID without the oddity of sharing bases with Freelancers and could possibly lead to other bases like it. In fact new bases may not even be required, instead bases that have lost their original purpose could be converted, much like squatters taking up residence in an abandoned house.
Of course this all requires refining and feedback so let me know what you think.
Why not maybe a Gallic Brigands base somewhere around there? Are the Brigands as a faction still a thing? As it is the only Gallic faction worth playing is the GRN simply because they got Leeds and enough enemies to interact with. Anything else seems so locked in Gallia and nobody used to go there even back when the server was hitting max players easily...
What did you think about Monte Carlo Freeport in Provence? It's previously was a Gallic Junker base but now its a freelancer one. You can easily reach it via the Tau44-Provence Jumphole.
(12-24-2016, 07:08 PM)Bloodl1ke Wrote: Why not maybe a Gallic Brigands base somewhere around there? Are the Brigands as a faction still a thing? As it is the only Gallic faction worth playing is the GRN simply because they got Leeds and enough enemies to interact with. Anything else seems so locked in Gallia and nobody used to go there even back when the server was hitting max players easily...
(12-24-2016, 07:08 PM)Bloodl1ke Wrote: Why not maybe a Gallic Brigands base somewhere around there? Are the Brigands as a faction still a thing? As it is the only Gallic faction worth playing is the GRN simply because they got Leeds and enough enemies to interact with. Anything else seems so locked in Gallia and nobody used to go there even back when the server was hitting max players easily...
Independent Pirates =/= Gallic Brigands
Most independent pirates either use the Zoner bases in T-37 and T-29 or Cali in T-23. There is literally no base for Gallic pirates though and Gallic Brigands are the generic Gallic pirate faction. Why should it not get some love as well?
Brigands already have a base in tau-31. Or maquis, one of them at least.
Also gaians in tau-31.
Quote:Charost Depot
CLASS: St Michel
GRAVITY: Complete
DOCKING: Yes
AMENITIES: Yes
POPULATION: 250
Charost Depot is the result of a collaboration between the Maquis and Council, recently carved into one of the more massive ice rocks in Tau-31. While unfinished, it is already an operational outpost that is administrated and maintained by the Maquis. It fulfills the most basic needs of both factions by providing a fairly remote staging point from which to launch guerilla strikes on GRN assets and supply lines. The ever more frequent raids are successful, but might eventually expose the new base.
Zealot, theres Barrier Gate for Freelancers and Monte Carlo. This is purely a pirate base.
Blood, the Gallic Brigands have a set of bases, a range of weapons and a full shipline not to mention being allied to the Council, Maquis and Corse. I think they're set. If you read my post I detailed that using Zoner bases isn't a good idea as a single FR5 cuts you adrift.
Amethran, Monte Carlo was considered but in practice it is a long flight from there to the major trade lanes outside Gallia.
(12-24-2016, 07:39 PM)Croft Wrote: Blood, the Gallic Brigands have a set of bases, a range of weapons and a full shipline not to mention being allied to the Council, Maquis and Corse. I think they're set.
If nobody plays them I think they could have some room for more love. But that's probably a topic for another thread.
I think that would fall under the long list of "Gallia Issues" and one of the reasons for the base being outside of it. Plus it could give everyone in the area someone to shoot that isn't on the Councils or GRNs side.