that would be over kill, somtimes it is just impossible to pull away fast enough in a bomber or fighter. Or if the BS/CR/GB is spinning somtimes they can't help it
gotto agree with that one - even if its more realistic, its too much. in beta 2, we got the ramming damage increased by a lot ( not enough yet imo ) - but enough to punish a someone ramming.
Having instant kill impacts would SERIOUSLY mess up the mod.
Usually ramming is by accident, when a Battleship is being swarmed by NPCs, it usually spins around tonnes, if you get hit by this thing spinning around, its in NO way your fault. To stop the "ping pong" we would have to make the battleships a lot worse at turning so they don't bounce off the rocks as much ( I think, correct me if I'm wrong), Battleships would have problems getting through rock fields anyway, so, its in RP, just, not in the best way.
You can usually tell if somebody is ramming on purpose. If they fly DIRECTLY into you without trying to turn away, they're ramming, since I'm used to having a Light Fighter, I've accidentally rammed a few people in my bomber, though, I did say the simple "sorry" after.. Instant kills would also make the battleship SO uber to fly into NPC missions, stay in cruise and just RAM all the fighters to death, then fly off home, there should be damage to both Battleship and Fighter, kamikaze-ing into a battleship with a bomber would do lots of damage.
Simply put? It's exactly what J. A. said with more detail.
Also, then battleships wouldn't NEED to shoot a single shot at a fighter, just RAM it head on, "poof" gone.
I wouldn't mind adding a little damage, to BOTH fighter and bomber from ramming, but, not instant kill, or even half kill, about 10% hull/ shield would suffice on a fighter.
EDIT: Unfortunately, I know very little of how Freelancer ACTUALLY works, so, yeah, do point out if what I say is impossible