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I just started the JTL as a privateer on Tatooine a few days ago, its fun but I am a bit unhappy with the privateer class. I can join the CorSec or RFS or work for Jabba, but you can't be a bonafide independant privateer.

When I think of privateersin space, I think of independant pilots who will fly people or items where they need to go if the price is right, or if they are rookies pilots that work for some foul employeer, who only highers the rookie because he can't say no to the money for jobs he'd never fly himself.

A great privateer 'Quest flow' would be a rookie pilot getting his first job with some horrible boss, flys missions, moves legal valuables through heavy pirate zones and questionable wares through imperial checkpoints. Get enough contacts, that NPCs make offers for missions that don't go through the Horrible Boss and cut him out of the loop, and finally be independant. May be fun if the Horrible Boss figures it out and becomes a sworn enemy, maybe even being one of the pirate aces the privateer runs into on a deep space run.

More than just moving '1000 units of self locking stembolts from naboo to tatooine' true independant privateer missions could be really fun, moving stolen imperial plans to a rebel contact that is supposed to be easy money - runs into a sizable blockade at a checkpoint. Players may have to put up an escrow of their own funds that are worth more than whatever is being smuggled/transported, so if they keep it, it costs them more in the end.

Having to choose from RSF, CorSec, Rebel, Imperial, or pirating freighters for Jabba isn't really offering a real privateer option. I love the expansion but I would really like it if some more options were given to this class.

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Padren Talisan - Starsider pilot
Padrig Talsani - Corbantis

I'm a bonafide independent privateer.

You should see the move Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.

The Ship they were chasing in that movie was a Privateer ship that was working for France in that they would be granted permission to war on English ships and take them as prizes for money or just burn/sink them.

I think that you guys should have the option of becoming pirates or privateers since they are very different things.

You have great ideas on that story line.

Youta Cole - Jedi or... So'reena Hige - MBH

Far side of the world is my favorite movie!

This paragraph I found below, sums it up.

"A privateer was a pirate who by commission or letter of marque from the government was authorized to seize or destroy a merchant vessel of another nation. The privateer was used as a cheap means of weakening the enemy by frequenting shipping routes (avoiding the costs related to the maintenance and creation of a navy).

In theory no Privateer with a letter of marque could be charged with piracy, since it was recognized by international law. However, it was not uncommon for privateers to be charged and prosecuted for piracy by hostile nations. All occurrences of vessels captured by privateers had to be brought before an Admiralty Court where they were tried to ensure that their plunder was legal game."

Wether it be a privateer, smuggler, pirate or what ever career choosen you have to go to flight school sort of speak or have a history of some kind. You dont just wake up one day and say...... im a pilot and you know what, im a privateer.

See what they have established here is a history you live through. What you do with your ship or what ever buissness you do after you master is really up to you. You dont even have to master. You can learn the basics stand in a starport and shout out that your a privateer and you will taxi them from space port to space port for a small fee and there is no waiting 10 minutes.

Im sure people will pay but the job will be boring. Then again you can make alot of money..... if they havent invested in JTL.

Fair enough, that you are building your history, but it would be nice to be able to build a history that doesn't involve a naval (Imp, RSF, CorSec, Rebel) or pirate (Jabba) background but that of a good old transport/freight pilot. Sure, you can't wake up one day and just decide to be a master pilot but how you get there can include working for someone who is in the transport business. I guess my favorite space game Of Olde is Origin's Privateer, which let you build on that style of pilot.

Its the style of pilot that wants to make it big, probably has flown cargo and has a natural aversion to pirates, tries to stay within the laws but can't help but to be tempted by the cash that 'one easy run' or two can make. Naturally you can't make too much if you are moving basic stuff, but you don't need to break the law either to do exciting missions. Most early pilots can't get big ships, but a small fighter sized craft can move legal data disks or other valuable supplies through heavily pirated space, rescue stranded fellow freelancers. Half the fun is getting a little shady while keeping up the appearance of being just another hauler to the empire. For extra cash, you may be loaned a special ship fitting designed to evesdrop on imperial communications in an area rebels couldn't get to and live, but where traders frequent. If you let the imperial ships get within x distance of course, they may detect your suspicious equipment and attack. This would be extra challanging as you'd have to lighten your ship to make room for it, perhaps jerry rigged to the booster slot. A fellow pilot could get stranded, barely getting a mayday out before hiding his crippled ship on an abandoned mining outpost on an asteroid somewhere. Hunted by Imperials and Pirates alike, you have to bring the guy some spare parts to get his ship up and running.

Being a privateer can be the legal piracy of the old seas, but it would be nice to be able to be a pilot who doesn't engage in it but also doesn't fly with a naval combat type group, and there is lots of room for exciting missions and story lines that fit that type of role.

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Padren Talisan - Starsider pilot
Padrig Talsani - Corbantis

Youta Cole - Jedi or... So'reena Hige - MBH