This new police TLAGSNET is very very nice, and helpful, space doesnt seem so big when you know whats going on in it.
I have a suggested addition to this great system.
Surely if the tradelanes can notify you when a vessel exits and enters a lane, they can tell you if they are encountering a problem. i.e. a lane disruption.
Example:
a tradelane going from B-1 in a system to B-7, a trader enters the lane at B-7, a pirate disrupts the tradelane and pulls the trader out at B-4, but the lane already sent a signal to those police vessels that it encountered a problem, arousing suspicion that something is going on.
/net all on OK
Monitoring All Network Traffic
Ship2[$5] has exited the tradelane at B-1
Ship1[$3] has entered the tradelane at B-7 Tradelane in <system> <location> reporting malfunction
Ship1[$3] has exited the tradelane at B-4
this can also be used to bait lawfuls into traps also, could be alot of fun.
In-rp it makes sense. OORP it makes sense.
But the pierat in me says PLEASE NO.
One of the greatest tools we have is fear.
Traders pay up beacuse they fear.
If that fear is negated, if they know that every single police in that house knows somethings going on, it might get harder.
Might.
I dunno, maybe not.
I've already had some fun inventing tactics with some pierat buddies, messing with the poor po-lice of Liberty.
But it is rather disconcerting to enter a tradelane, pop out, and then ten seconds later have a navytype or police type come popping out right behind you. A majority of the time.
*shrugs*
It rebalances the fight, i suppose.
gone four years, first day back: Zoners still getting shot in Theta :|
Hmm, its a nice idea. But being an ex pirate I do understand what Darth is saying, in RP it would be completely normal (A Trade lane is malfunctioning) I'd agree to give it to the Repair Factions, however police? Its too much, I'd agree it would kill the fear factor as the trader would know they already have back up on the way and could start fleeing as the Police catch up then intervene, a pirate will never claim a bait. Unless pirates started working in packs, which again would boost Pirate Factions Player Count.
So hmm, I'm in the middle?.. Willing to give it ago for 2 weeks? // SUMMON CANNON - make it happen pl0x?...
See if it goes well for all, or bad for most.
As a BPA Officer, I'd like this to go ahead, it would make it harder for Pirates, but then again.. Isn't that the point?
As a Pirate, it makes it too damn hard to do it lone-ranger
Not really necessary, IMO. Using the information that it already gives you, you can pretty much tell when a lane disruption has taken place (corporate trader carrying lawful cargo exited in the middle of a lane? probably a disruption) by looking at the locations.
Pretty much as stated above, the function totally makes sense.
OORP however, this could make pirating really very difficult. A tagged ship already gets followed around system to system by enemies and mercs/hunters. Giving the police a pinpoint location as well seems too much.
Yeah sure, pirating in open space could work around this, but it's incredibly difficult to do as any trader with brains just flies around the red contact at 13K+.
I think the end result of this would be an increase in pirate wolfpacks, and also an increase in very short "Give me the credits in 10 seconds" type encounters. After every hit pirates will need to move far and fast, since the police are likely on the way.
So in the end pros:
Boost to police ID
RP sense
Cons:
Less trader-pirate rp?
Whenever I pirate, I stop more people in the lanes that I DON'T pirate then I do. Rhinos, Civilians, fighters etc. Having to move after each lane down would be pretty tedious.
Push pirates even more to mining fields
In the end I completely understand the concept, but it just feels skewed and the arguments for expansion might get out of hand. There are many things in FL that should get scanned/reported to commands automatically (attacks on weapons platforms, hostile contacts near hidden bases, smugglers selling their goods on lawful planets etc.) I think that they aren't automated to leave some amount of player importance, and some room for subversion (smuggling, sneak attacks, pirating).
Without the room for subversion except in very select/discrete circumstances you get a world that is more realistic, but probably less conducive to gameplay.