Even though many of the players that need to read this will not actually see this, it only seems appropriate nonetheless to remind those that wish to engage in piracy review this:
Even though it's not 100% accurate to times right now the principles and intentions behind them are still applicable.
This also doesn't excuse some of the bad RP that transports have given and discouraged pirates in the past as well. Nonetheless remember that this is a RP server, and as such your interactions should reflect this on both sides.
An example to keep of note to put things into perspective for pirates:
aluminum 5k= 51m - 10m miner fee = 41m - fee to faction trade company (5m)= 36m - about 5m for crew fee's expenses (rough estimate most likely higher) = 31m. 5m of pirate fee from 31 is about 14% of total profit from the run.*(Forgive my horrible math)*
Now this isn't 100% accurate in fact for RP sakes i think im lowballing it but the point is there is more into RP that most pirates don't take into consideration. Aside from this, the other side is, most players are here because they like RP. Don't try to rush the encounter (this goes to both sides) for pirates the more fun you both have with the encounter the more likely the trader will be happy to give away the REASONABLE funds your requesting and be content with future encounters. Traders, DON'T be in a rush to just pay and go on your way. And if that's all your after if the pirate is being reasonable then maybe you deserve a harsh treatment (okay not really but you get the point).
The point is both sides need to make the experience enjoyable, take your time think up funny witty remarks and be creative. It takes 2 to tango and if one of you isn't "playing along" then these interactions aren't going to foster memorable experiences for the new community members. And these are what make up the lifeblood of the future of the community.
Totaly, I'm a pirate player, have been since I joined Discovery and I've seen some ridicoulus demands by others which everyone justifies with "Oh well but Traders make so much money!". Just because they make a reasonable amount of money some indie Pirates or indie Junkers have the guts to demand for 30 mil just because they catch them haul Ore. Not to mention the "Drop your cargo now or you die" RP which most of the Junker players bring lately.
I always thought the same amount a Miner would charge a trader was always the same amount a Pirate should go for, because if you imagine the trader is going to make let's say 50 mil of one Haul. 10 mils given to a miner, the other 10 mil will be pirated by a single pirate, he still has got 30 mil left (this is for 5kers tho) to earn. He lost 20 mil in total but at least he's earning something to enjoy an interaction with a pirate (I dont mind if you even go 15 mil max). Now imagine if that's a 3 - 4ker, you'll just leave the player in frustration rather than a little bit of enjoyment.
Now if you see a Pirate PACK tho, a raider pack with a transport in their group that's another story, but those dont have to fear a Trader suddenly trying to run as he has no chance anyway. I realy think there should be situation based RP. I ain't saying be a complete weakling or a kind pirate, for all I care you can be an a-hole but balance it so that the trader wont shy away by the next interaction. Just my opinion tho, I never liked the idea of a single pirate to charge a trader with ridicoulus amount of money or "drop cargo or die".
EDIT: There's also one thing I can sympathize with indie Pirates (just Pirate ID) and that's when the Pirate ID got nerfed so hard that they can't interact with anyone else but traders (simply because they cannot attack law enforcements but have to wait until one of them engages them). Maybe bring back the old Pirate ID? At least it'd give indie Pirates more to do than being fixed/limited to Transports only.
I don't want to derail, but is it acceptable to demand a cargo drop to destroy the cargo if you catch somebody supplying to a hostile base? Since then you don't want the credits, you want to prevent the base from being supplied.
THE SYNDIC LEAGUES
(A co-operative of Rheinland's Shipping Unions, retired from a life of piracy.)
Call me a maverick but meh, I would not give a damn if a pirate demanded whatever he wanted and blew me up if I refused, the chances of being pirated are super low and it's all in the traders favor by checking whose logged in what system etc.
I honestly wouldn't care if pirates attacked my transport without demand and just a PvP to notice. Running Marines to Gran Canaria as a Bretonia trader, I'm honestly begging to be shot and I encourage people to shoot me.