Drop your carge... or not. We need an ignore default response.

[Radamanthe Nemes]

The comply option should not be removed, even if we almost never use it. It's simple, it works well. No point removing that. But I agree with adding an ignore option. Many times, the freighter is on its way and I simply cancel the automatic flee order if the route does not cross the pirate.

Now, I think that pirates should be revamped to respect the distance limit of scan. This would make things a lot more interesting:

• They should fit EMP missiles to stop the freighters in travel (probably a optional notification from the freighter is needed here). No need to use EMP if the freighter is not travelling (though risky to the pirate as freighters not travelling are often near a station).
• Then they should approach to scan it.
• If the cargo is juicy to them, call for drop. And probably just a portion of it. Give it some time (not more than EMP duration).
• I would like to be able to negociate too, but hey... probably too much demanding.
• If I comply, then let's go.
• If not, pirate attacks. Maybe just as a warning first, then call again... for more cargo, you trader scum!

Agree the complexity of the coding, but this would add more incentive to:

• Comply to not risk the freighter.
• Escort freighters and protect trade routes.

Currently, I almost never comply because of the too simplistic mechanic (which BTW are in complete violation of the game scanning mechanic), but I would consider that risky situation.

[Eyeklops]

Has there been any communication about this from the Devs?

This issue is one of the big list of annoyances that seems like it wouldn't be that hard to fix.

Pirates for traders are the equivalent of Khaak for miners. I think the reason there is no dev response is because piracy is an intended hazard mechanic, but it may not be fully complete. If you imagine pirates are supposed use EMP missiles to knock trade ships out of travel (and off of highways), the "incomplete" way it works now makes way more sense. If pirates are slinging EMP's to knock ships out of travel the "flee" option is essentially the same as "ignore".

[Sound19]

Has there been any communication about this from the Devs?

This issue is one of the big list of annoyances that seems like it wouldn't be that hard to fix.

Pirates for traders are the equivalent of Khaak for miners. I think the reason there is no dev response is because piracy is an intended hazard mechanic, but it may not be fully complete. If you imagine pirates are supposed use EMP missiles to knock trade ships out of travel (and off of highways), the "incomplete" way it works now makes way more sense. If pirates are slinging EMP's to knock ships out of travel the "flee" option is essentially the same as "ignore".

There was never any desire in this thread, as far as I've seen, to remove piracy or kha'ak, etc, from being a challenge. In any imagined solution to the problem, I think it's the basic understanding that they should always be a threat, and should not be bypassed.
Your story about the imaginary EMP's is viable headcanon, but that's not what the game is showing in any way. There's lots of room for making this interaction more compelling, as well. So I don't think this particular story gives Egosoft a pass on this example of jank.

[RegisterMe]

I don't mind pirates being a threat, but the constant whackamole gets pretty tiresome. It would be nice to have easier ways to deal with it.

At some point I'm just going to war dec the SCA and be done with it, though I suspect that this will have negative ramifications for eg the Teladi.

[drfoop]

I still get situations where a trader is asked to drop their cargo whilst on the highway, speeding through a sector.

If they could ignore it, they would be hundreds of km away from the pirate in a matter of minutes. If they flee, they stop travelling on the highway and start bimbling about at normal engine speed which allows the pirate to catch them.

Most of my trader piracy issues could be solved by letting them ignore requests to drop cargo. They will almost always manage to escape if they do this.

[morikaane]

I wouldn't mind being able to have a piracy behaviour for my own ships, where I could pick what faction and what sector, and my ships would harass and pick up what they can, and then sell it. Taking a small rep hit (just like a reverse of the positive increase you get with regular trading). Obviously if you pirate in an area of space owned by someone, and their friends with said faction, you should attract the wrath of the fuzz.

But, on topic, I'd say it works the way it does as others have pointed out -- if the ships don't stop and turn -- they can effectively keep going making the whole piracy thing pointless and ineffective.

Cheers,
M.

[Ormac]

I think I just had a SCA Pheonix open up on a Mokosi without a request to drop freight.
Dropped the Medical Supplies it had and queued instructions to give a wide berth and resume trading away for the sector in question.

Pirate not interested. Trader Dead in 2 Minutes.

That's with pausing to issue the instructions.

Something better a one and only chance to Comply would be nice.

[Chips]

Default is flee, but agree, they stop... and now 3 times they've turned to try and fly past the now aggressive DESTROYER in their M sized cargo ship. The inevitable is inevitable.

Need to read up on the engines again as maybe I've equipped mine with the slowest to engage travel drives.