Several issues with the Vigilante ID and its associated restrictions make me quirky.
The Vigilante ID states that the player must have a lawful IFF, but at the same time they cannot ally with anybody but their own. This, in my opinion, is a serious contradiction and could inadvertently land people in trouble. I believe that a Vigilante should not have any IFF at all, with the sole exception of Freelancer (since this is not actually a faction), possibly Bounty Hunter and Zoner too since they can dock with their bases.
According to the ID it is perfectly fine for somebody to use a police tag because it is a lawful entity, yet the police are not particularly keen on their activities and would be even less happy about such sorts portraying the force. The same could be said for navy and military.
On another hand, what about using a corporate IFF? Well, Vigilantes cannot trade or escort traders, so again we have a conflict. If they have any relation to a corporation, they should really use their ID. In fact, it might even allow for the activities which they endeavour to commit (example, hunting Lane Hackers or unlicensed gate/lane haulers with an Ageira ID).
Another example might be related to war diamonds. They are not contraband in Liberty, but what about a Vigilante that is sympathetic towards the Rheinland government? Well, their ID does not allow them to ally with Rheinland's forces, so what right do they have to demand Blood Diamonds from a trader that is outside of Rheinland?
Another problem with this ID is the fact that they cannot operate in the Omega systems. That's all very well until we consider the major trade route between Cambridge and Stuttgart. Omega-3 and Omega-7 (possibly Omega-11 as well) should be exempt from this rule. I believe that all systems with a jump gate should be permitted (not including alien gates of course, or Alaska, whilst allowing Coronado and Baffin which have no gate).
The restrictions are quite strict as it is for the Vigilante, tightening them could be overly burdensome for the average. It probably wouldn't bother me, maybe even make my life easier in fact, but some may not want any further rules being placed upon it. However, I do feel that these matters need tweaking so as to avoid any potential conflicts.
Quote:Another example might be related to war diamonds. They are not contraband in Liberty, but what about a Vigilante that is sympathetic towards the Rheinland government? Well, their ID does not allow them to ally with Rheinland's forces, so what right do they have to demand Blood Diamonds from a trader that is outside of Rheinland?
A vigilante... Does what their government, in their eyes, cannot. They can't jump from saving one House to another from thugs, thus they cannot say "Ohai, Libz. ZOMG y u heif teh dimunz in rhinz, illehal! DRAWP!" If its a Rheinland Vigilante, he abides by Rheinland law. If its an Liberty Vigilante, he abides by Liberty law... More or less. You don't see Taiwanese freedom fighers taking a trip to Japan and trying to take out the Yakuza. Why? They have no reason to care.
Your other points, I think, are over-thought.
1. Just don't have an IFF. Regardless of what the ID says it should be implied that a Vigilante shouldn't have one anyways. Considering the traits of a Vigilante. Just like a Pirate ID is neither Rogue nor Outcast and a Trader ID is neither BMM nor Cryer.
2. Vigilantes can't ally with anyone but their own because they're... Vigilantes. It's probably breaking more than one law. You know how if you see somebody shoot someone you're supposed to call the cops? And then if you decide not to, go after the shooter, and shoot him down and get caught by the cops, you're in trouble? Marvelous. Moving on.
3. If you're a 'corporate vigilante', thats called a gun for hire. i.e. Mercenary. If you're hunting down Hackers for a company, thats not vigilantism. Thats a paycheck.
4. Why bother with lightly colonized systems like the Omegas when there are thousands more pirates in the heartland? Its like looking for water in a desert when the nearest city is a mile away.
So, in a nutshell:
No IFF
Don't say, "Hey, I'm committing a crime because I think you're incompetent!"
Don't confuse mercenaries with vigilantes
Somebody who is looking to kill the most thugs in the least amount of time wont waste his time headhunting in the middle of nowhere.
I think of vigilante's as "wannabe super heroes". If you know the Watchmen story, people who want to be seen as special and heroic crime fighters and righters of wrong. I'd imagine them as an eclectic bunch and they really do need to have their ship lines expanded so you can have Liberty Bretonian or Kusari "heroes" for example. Certainly the civilian fighter line should be fully open and I would hope some of the heavy and other fighters as well. As to the not allying with lawfuls, think "Batman" when in the last movie he is hunted as a criminal or Watchmen where they are outlawed.
A real group waiting to be formed is the "Bretonian League of Justice", "Junker Justice Squad" or "Liberty Avengers"...you get the idea. Could really be fun. A vigillante group could be very focused--defending one faction from injustice or spread against criminals throughout a house or even Sirius. Lot of room there.
Enter Charlie Kent, mild-mannered bureaucrat with the Liberty Office of Weights and Measures...however when there is a cat up a tree, or terrorists threatening to destroy Planet Denver, he becomes Captain Justice.
Having a starblazer that turns into a patriotberty gunboat/assault cruiser may require a special rp request.
I believe the reason why Vigilantes don't have a license to operate in the Omegas and Omicrons is because they are house citizens and not BHG, and both the Omegas and Omicrons are deep edge worlds (at least the Omegas other than 3 and 7), and there's already an abundance of IDs that lets you go kill someone in the Omegas and Omicrons, without essentially allowing you to kill everybody there. It's simply a pvp restriction, one that makes at least some sense when you think about it.
Quote:Vigilantism is generally frowned upon by official agencies (who would otherwise encourage vigilance on the part of citizens), especially when it gives way to criminal behavior on the part of the vigilante. Often seen in rapidly growing towns, where citizens sometimes choose vigilantism, capturing suspected criminals and punishing them without a trial.
Given this, I would say that a Vigilante should have Freelancer or no IFF.
They should also be slightly hostile to House Police forces, since they're trying to bring justice without a trial and and circumventing the Justice system. Having said that - there shouldn't be open hostility between them and the police, just a bit of uneasiness.
In some cases it's a nudge-nudge wink-wink relation - A cop might go - you keep us informed of a suspects whereabouts (without taking the law into your own hands) and we look the other way to your violations and harassment of criminals.
<span style="font-family:Century Gothic">Spec - Independent Trader</span> Small Transport - Hauling without earning
Current Status: Inactive - Too Much Work and Travel
' Wrote:It's simply a pvp restriction, one that makes at least some sense when you think about it.
On the other hand, the Eagle/Starflea series restriction is a PVP restriction that makes no sense at all. I still think it needs to be expanded to allow ships such as the Marauder ("One of the few true examples of a vessel that can reliably be purchased by virtually anyone with the credits in hand"), Virage (made and sold by Zoners, they can land on Zoner bases), Kingfisher, and other civilian ships.
Think about it. One of the major arguments against letting everyone use Eagles is "but then everyone will use them because they're better!" And Vigilantes are... restricted to the Eagle series for PVP reasons? The hell is that about?
Actually, I think vigilantes having the police tag is the right thing. Trying to put it short, they are opting to enact a sort of law or justice themselves, so they are their own sort of.. not really corrupt, but twisted independant police force. To show that "claim" to others the pilots hack their IFF beacons to show a police signature, which IMO is a breach of the law itself (before they do any circumventing of the law/killing/stuff). I beleive this shows another statement, something along the lines of "we're breaking the law so A) noone else has to and B) a lot less law breaking will happen."
Also, thinking in the view of a smuggler/pirate character, which will be more frightening popping up and closing on scanners - five white/neutral ships or five red? In-RP, with five bogies the smuggler will crap his pants.
Operating in only one house and only within its borders is actually a good idea. But that would likely entail the use of multiple ID cards, each defining the specific house to work in. This would by default prevent work in the Tau and Omega systems. I have no qualms at all with this option, but it just doesn't make sense currently that they can work in any Tau system, but not Omega.
As for not having no IFF at all...well I was told that I must have one and I guess I took this for granted so I immediately sought an IFF. I actually thought they read the ID from the wrong angle, but I played it safe. But using a police IFF is a conflict of interests, yes it makes sense from the perspective you put forth, Encheta, but not from the angle of the regulations surrounding IFF, ID, ship and loadout. As for a criminal spotting a hostile IFF and acting accordingly, well you wouldn't really "notice" a vigilante walking on the other side of the road...randomly punch somebody in the face and some frail old man might break his walking stick over your rear end to learn you a lesson. An unlikely yet amusing scenario, it does make the point. Vigilantes won't really have a hallmark.
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