[Baron Munchausen]

The problem with implementing 'pirates' as opposed to 'nomads' is that detection and identification are much too simple and easy in SE IV. In RL, pirates rely on the ability to avoid detection and to pass themselves off as 'civilians' - or at least someone else - when they cannot avoid contact. In SE, you can see EVERYTHING in a system when you enter it unless it is cloaked, and if you get the right sensors you can STILL see everything in a system. There is no range effect on sensors, and there is no 'percentage' chance to see something or not. If it's there, you can see it. If sensors were changed to have a definite RANGE like 'long range scanners' then the pirate races would be much more viable.

But even then, identification is too easy. There is no such thing as 'disguise' and there is no representation of 'civilian' traffic in SE IV. When you see a ship, EVEN a captured ship originally built by another race, you automatically know who controls it. This also ought to be changed to allow 'pirate' races to exist. There should be some way to make your ship seem to be controlled by the original race which built it if pirates are to be a success.

Both of these problems are much reduced with a merely 'nomadic' race. Add the ability to have components which generate research and intelligence, and a "habitat" ability that lets population grow while residing in a ship/base component, and you could have a fairly useful nomadic race even with the current very simply system of detection and identification in SE IV.

[This message has been edited by Baron Munchausen (edited 09 March 2001).]