Pirate: Difference between revisions

| timeinvestment    = Small

| suggestedships    = [[Anaconda]]; [[Imperial Clipper]]; [[Asp Explorer]]; [[Cobra MkIII]]; [[Federal Dropship]]; [[Python]]

|image = Pirates_in_rings.jpg}}

'''Pirates''' are NPCs and players who take cargo from other pilots for monetary gain. The philosophy of pirates in Elite is one of simplicity, and draws on the fear of total loss of ship and cargo from attacking players. Pilots either drop some of their cargo to meet the demands of the pirate, or risk death and complete loss of expensive cargo and a pricey insurance payment. In Elite, most pirates only seek cargo and do not actively engage for PvP kills; though will not hesitate to attack if pilots do not cooperate. Pirates may use any number of activities to assert dominance over the situation and persuade the target into cooperation, (i.e.- mass locking, proving faster speed, or showing superior firepower). Sometimes the simple presence of a large combat ship is enough to pressure a pilot into dumping some of their cargo. Generally pirates will leave players unharmed if their demands are satisfied, although some will still attack to kill afterwards. However like any other flamboyant task, those who engage in piracy will start to become known among pilots and those who destroy their targets after receiving cargo will become known for doing so. These pirates will become known as "player killers," and pilots will be less likely to cooperate, instead attempting to escape to the death leaving the pirate with nothing. It is therefore beneficial to long-term success as a pirate to be careful in what actions are taken and to hold to their word if a promise of no harm is made.