Taking a Starship

[aramis]

one thing to consider in re drives... the drives appear to be (based upon Bk2 and Bk5) comprised of discrete modules. It is entirely possible that those drive chunks on a Type A may be entirely compatible with the same chunks on the larger type P or T ships.

Keep in mind that JDrives under bk2 are 5Td chunks...perhaps each chunk is a reactor unit and converter unit in a sealed combination.

 

[CosmicGamer]

spares & ships stores were just about the number one target for C17th & C18th pirates. Generally the only thing that that they wanted more was crew. Especially specialists such as carpenters & surgeons. Ships engineers might find themselves forced to sign on to avoid the killing / torture of their ship mates.This made it quite tricky for courts dealing with captured pirates to sort out the guilty from their victims. As naturally everyone immediatly claimed to have been "pressed" into joining.

Nice point. One of the reasons I felt that pirates would just part out a captured ship was because of needing manpower to crew it. I had not thought of this.

 

[Mithras]

Fabulous discussion guys, that has really made me think alot.

Well, we ran the game tonight. I can't go too deep into the legalities, because my sons are 9 and 13.

The boys began attaching the lifeboat to their cutter, in came the Seeker and ordered them to 'heave to'. The Seeker then took out their powerplant with the ship laser. Two guys in suits crossed the gap with guns. The PCs hid on the cutter and lifeboat with their guns, aftertaking out one of the pirates, they realised they were after a 'crate' on the lifeboat - something from the Fourth Frontier War. A great gunbattle ensued on the darkened lifeboat full of frozen imperial navy corpses, my 13 yr old was shot in thefaceplate anddied, the 9 year old decided to kill the other pirate who was holed up in the lifeboat's cockpit, by blowing out the cockpit window (he'd seen something similar in a James Bond movie!).

There were no other pirates ... and the survivor couldn't pilot so he sent out a mayday call. I ruled that the insurance company could not find the scout ships owner. They would give my 9 year old a cut of the ship as a bounty, say MCr1, or the ship in full if he agrees to perform a mission for the insurance company.

He agreed Now I need to think up a crazy ass mission for him to carry out, and my 13 year old needs to come up with another pilot!

But don't let the piracy discussion end!

 

[boomslang]

Well, we ran the game tonight.

Groovy.

I ruled that the insurance company could not find the scout ships owner. They would give my 9 year old a cut of the ship as a bounty, say MCr1, or the ship in full if he agrees to perform a mission for the insurance company.

Since insurance and banking conglomerates are often one in the same in Trav, I'm thinking a mission as an independent-contractor "skip tracer" hunting down a large, mortgaged vessel that has been moved outside the insurance/finance company's ordinary jurisdiction (across an interstellar border, for example) and which therefore cannot be pursued through normal, legal channels sounds about challenging-enough for such a reward.

And a freelance pilot answering a discreet Want Ad or recruited through a mercenary back channel would certainly need to accompany the tracer to make sure the vessel is recovered safely and flown "home" promptly...

 

[Mithras]

Hah, I'm thinking though, Boomslang, that the mission should include the pirates' Type S, which makes the gift all the more poignant! To get it, they must use it! And risk loosing it!

Since insurance and banking conglomerates are often one in the same in Trav, I'm thinking a mission as an independent-contractor "skip tracer" hunting down a large, mortgaged vessel that has been moved outside the insurance/finance company's ordinary jurisdiction (across an interstellar border, for example) and which therefore cannot be pursued through normal, legal channels sounds about challenging-enough for such a reward.

And a freelance pilot answering a discreet Want Ad or recruited through a mercenary back channel would certainly need to accompany the tracer to make sure the vessel is recovered safely and flown "home" promptly...

 

[boomslang]

Hah, I'm thinking though, Boomslang, that the mission should include the pirates' Type S, which makes the gift all the more poignant! To get it, they must use it! And risk loosing it!

Well, if you go that route, how do they fly both ships back with only one pilot between them? They'll need to repo something big enough to haul the Type S as cargo.

There are two challenges: finding and taking possession of the target ship, then transporting it back over the border to where its ownership is properly recognized. Note that the tracers will be considered pirates in the foreign territories, having "stolen" the repossessed vessel they've been sent to retrieve..

Also, make sure the company hires the pilot under the condition that he has to bring the Type S back along with the repo in order to get paid (or perhaps have a bad debt cancelled)...

 

[aramis]

Another option for that "Crazy-Ass mission" would be repo'ing a local planetary governor's yacht. Yes, the bank has legal ownership, BUT... it's gonna be sneak, grab, and RUN. Once you get it outsystem, you're safe. But all the locals like their barrater of a governor.

You might be able to get the local noble's help in gaining access tho... (I've used this or variation several times.)

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

*grinning*

So where and when exactly did this occur? Was wondering as this thread is now in my personal AAB. You know for that mythical day when I start my online game.

Awesome stuff, though the Thornwood paint job comment required a second look, wow there are a lot of us Thornwoods out there...

 

[Darley51]

So where and when exactly did this occur? Was wondering as this thread is now in my personal AAB. You know for that mythical day when I start my online game.

Awesome stuff, though the Thornwood paint job comment required a second look, wow there are a lot of us Thornwoods out there...

The Thornwood Decor was pointed right at YOU! (from what I've seen of your postings... it might fit quite well, and you're probably creative enough to pull it off!

(Me... I'm an engineer, not an artist!)

cheers!

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

*looks at ground all shy and skuffs foot*

The Thornwood Decor was pointed right at YOU! (from what I've seen of your postings... it might fit quite well, and you're probably creative enough to pull it off!

(Me... I'm an engineer, not an artist!)

cheers!

Aw, shucks Mister, twern't nuffin. Though, it did take me aback, though I thought my ideas for the paint scheme were pretty neato, but I am biased. *grins* Nice to peeps are entertain in the background. *looks for other lurkers on post* Though only slightly creepy...for us professional paranoids anyway.

 

[samuelvss]

Pirate Criminology 102

Sounds like your dealing with the ones that got caught. ... Can you tell me statistically what % of crimes go unsolved?
I don't see how someone in possession of a ship could be called desperate... What type of criminals are you dealing with? Do you consider a computer hacker desperate and stupid, an inside trader, an accountant skimming the books?

My criminal defense is of the ones that got caught. They ranged from the truly uneducated and profoundly stupid, to those with professional degrees. A large chunk were college students. My studies in criminology, after I was no longer in active criminal defense, showed me the bigger picture that I was seeing a part of in practice. Most criminals get caught for any sort of serious crime, and the vast majority of repeat offenders get caught. Clearance rates vary widely based upon the seriousness of the crime; burglary clearance rates are around 13%, but serial burglars are almost always caught. A serial burglars account for something like 85% of burglaries, and one will typically commit dozens until he is caught, at which point many of the previous uncleared burglaries may be attributed to him. Clearance rates for murder is still only 63%; they get a lot more attention than burglaries, but most murderers only kill once. An accountant skimming the books, because of the high likelihood of getting caught, I would consider to be desperate and stupid, in variable proportions. As to inside trading or a hacker, it would really depend on on the stakes involved. Those in high visibility positions (sign for Martha ) are stupid or desperate to engage in any kind of crime that is so easily traceable. (Remember DeLoreon....with all those skills?).

Pirates, in my opinion are not the typical criminal. To operate a ship you need people with computer skills, electronics, gunnery, navigation, piloting, engineering, and more. Pirates have skills, they wouldn't be desperate.

People with skills do some pretty desperate things. Most of my cases had some locus with substance abuse, be they DUI's, drug dealing, or drunken brawls. I think addictions can play a serious part. I agree pirates are atypical, though, but so are arsonists or dealers in kiddie ⌧. But that does not mean they are particularly smart or risk averse. I would most closely analogize pirates to international drug running in the western hemisphere.

On this we agree. And because "the pirate's most critical asset is a starship" I believe if they are approaching a random target and it looks like they can put up a fight, the pirate would let it "escape". .

I believe I said that anyone running a Type-S as a pirate ship was stupid and desperate. That was a tactical call. Even inside information can be problematic. A patrol cruiser-cum-corsair skipper has likely worked his way up.:devil: A Type-S pirate is likely to be a scout with meth mouth. o:

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

*clears for action stations*

Umm, hate to stick my Civilian nose up in this again, but the facts are that outside of the antics of the skull and crossbones types in the Carribien (spelling way off, but don't have access to a map due being lazy, I have to work tonight ), anyway, outside of the drug running in the East Coast US Region, most piracy is still rampant around the Horn of Africa (one of the reason's the US is still almost liked there, the USN/USCG goes after pirates) and the SE Asia area around Singapore and Malaysia. In those areas it is still old fashion storm and board and loot and pillage. Sadly.

So if you want a realistic look at piracy of big and small ships there you go. BTW, it should be noted that these folks are carrying and using milspec weapons often times that the two superpowers sold someone for some retard proxie war and now the people who lost are targeting our shipping (well what there is, but that is a different topic).....karma's a bitch, huh?

 

[Commander Truestar]

I am wondering what system this takes place in?

Ias it a backwater system that does not see lots of Imperial law enforcement? Might they not see two enterprising young lads as a local resource to be supported. So , backed by a department of the local world government, there might be a reward ceremony and political photo-op where the lads are given title to the ship...free and clear. Where the transponder will be legally and properly changed and the repairs will be...back....in a low cost loan....so long as the world can call on the lads every so often,...

Forcing them to undertake adventures....

notice the game master's nasssssty little hook...

Mind you, I allowed a few of my players to become Imperial Knights. Now they CNA'T SAY NO
/\_/\
( \ / ) MUHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
\ - /


Commander Truestar

 

[Mithras]

Frenzie/Vilis A class with a Naval base ... but I catch your drift. That's a neat idea!!!