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hal · 09-02-2018, 08:57 AM

Now the fun part in your response is that if the money isn't worth the end result, then chances are, the bounty value for capturing a pirate or destroying a pirate would have to be upped to be worth the game (so to speak).

As for how the analogy of Age of Sail relates to the Traveller Universe - yes, it is true, they are not always good for each other.

None the less - what kinds of prey will pirates generally go after? How might pirates work towards their goals? Then flip the question and ask "What ships might a privateer go after? How might privateers work towards their goals? In a Traveller Universe, whether large ship or small ship as far as philosophy is concerned (basically pre or post High Guard) - Pirates will be built on...

Wait for it...

Civilian ship platforms. Ditto on the privateer. So, analogy wise, we're still in Age of Sail mentality here.

Who are the likely targets? Those ships that are under-gunned (which by definition, are either fewer guns, or no guns). Both the Privateer and the Pirate want to engage the enemy with the least amount of damage to their own hull as possible.

Now, given a choice (assuming you were a pirate), which would you prefer to do - engage a larger hull ship with a smaller hull, or engage it with multiple hulls? If the answer is the latter, that's oddly what some pirates did do, they ganged up to get temporary superiority where possible. This is how the Galleons would be taken down despite their firepower during the age of sail.

So, ruses - yup. What would be the Traveller equivalent to the ruse of a ship suddenly appearing from a cove or around an island unexpectedly? Staying behind a moon would mimic that right? But so would starting on the surface of a world on the other side of where the star port is (assuming a low population small starport type I or II type situation). Taking off from a size 7 world with a 4G armed pinnace would take shorter time than would a freighter with 1 G. Being in an atmosphere would degrade sensor acuity to some extent by lowering the sensor rating of the ship by a set value.

So, back to the original poster's comment. In a universe where the local authorities may very well HIRE a security force (read that as mercenaries for hire) to protect their shipping interests, said authorities may very well take a page from the Royal English Navy and try to offer incentives to make their forces more aggressive.

09-02-2018, 08:57 AM	#9
hal Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Buffalo, New York	Re: Bounties for pirates Now the fun part in your response is that if the money isn't worth the end result, then chances are, the bounty value for capturing a pirate or destroying a pirate would have to be upped to be worth the game (so to speak). As for how the analogy of Age of Sail relates to the Traveller Universe - yes, it is true, they are not always good for each other. None the less - what kinds of prey will pirates generally go after? How might pirates work towards their goals? Then flip the question and ask "What ships might a privateer go after? How might privateers work towards their goals? In a Traveller Universe, whether large ship or small ship as far as philosophy is concerned (basically pre or post High Guard) - Pirates will be built on... Wait for it... Civilian ship platforms. Ditto on the privateer. So, analogy wise, we're still in Age of Sail mentality here. Who are the likely targets? Those ships that are under-gunned (which by definition, are either fewer guns, or no guns). Both the Privateer and the Pirate want to engage the enemy with the least amount of damage to their own hull as possible. Now, given a choice (assuming you were a pirate), which would you prefer to do - engage a larger hull ship with a smaller hull, or engage it with multiple hulls? If the answer is the latter, that's oddly what some pirates did do, they ganged up to get temporary superiority where possible. This is how the Galleons would be taken down despite their firepower during the age of sail. So, ruses - yup. What would be the Traveller equivalent to the ruse of a ship suddenly appearing from a cove or around an island unexpectedly? Staying behind a moon would mimic that right? But so would starting on the surface of a world on the other side of where the star port is (assuming a low population small starport type I or II type situation). Taking off from a size 7 world with a 4G armed pinnace would take shorter time than would a freighter with 1 G. Being in an atmosphere would degrade sensor acuity to some extent by lowering the sensor rating of the ship by a set value. So, back to the original poster's comment. In a universe where the local authorities may very well HIRE a security force (read that as mercenaries for hire) to protect their shipping interests, said authorities may very well take a page from the Royal English Navy and try to offer incentives to make their forces more aggressive.