Lurker's new enemy Zealot captain

[slayernz]

contributor wrote: My last post makes me think that there needs to be enemy Zealot type captains in the game. They would attack you anytime you had negative rep or there was a conflict between your faction and their faction regardless of any positive rep/trade permits/rank you might have with them. Maybe they should be pretty rare though.

Read more: startradersrpg.proboards.com/thread/5455/true-zealot-community-challenge-discussion?page=2#ixzz2heLsXuCY

GENIUS! That's what I call this thought.

Zealot enemy captain operates based on faction conflict and ignores your actual reputation with that faction. It checks the following:
1) Is your captain's faction in conflict with the Zealot's faction. If yes, Attack.
2) Is your SHIP's flag in conflict with the Zealot's faction. If yes, Attack.
3) Is your reputation with the Zealot's faction -ve. If yes, Attack.

The Zealot will be aggressive in behavior, preferring to board rather than attack at range. Attacking at range could result in you actually getting away. For the Zealot enemy captain, the results of conflict (in this order) are:
1) He/she blows you up (less paperwork, instant gratification).
2) He/she captures you for later trial assuming your reputation is only slightly -ve or better (annoying need to hold you prisoner, more paperwork, more effort)
3) He/she is defeated in combat against you (Zealots are okay with death, so long as it's in the name of their faction)
4) You surrender (see #2, but without the joy of firing your weapons)
5) You escape/flee.

[contributor]

Very well spelled out. To make it more complicated it could also recognize the difference between solar wars and trade wars, i.e. if your faction is in a trade war with zealot's faction and you are a merchant/pirate they will attack you, if other types you're safe. Other rules could be that zealots are only encountered in their home territories.

[HateSolstice]

contributor - I don't really see Zealots having the compassion or foresight to target only certain captain/ship types, especially during a conflict like war. I mean, their patriotism is beyond psychotic, and their loyalty utterly blind. That's what makes them Zealots. But this is just my point of view.

I most definitely agree they should be involved in Solar Wars. To add to it, the closer to the enemy's planet you fly, the greater the chance of encountering these psychos. I don't think they would stray far from their faction's worlds, especially into deep space.

They could, however, be very likely to be found near their enemy's planets as
well. I mean, they would want their enemy annihilated, not just surrender.

I think this should apply just to Solar Wars though. I have a hard time believing that squables between merchant guilds would even be a blip on their radar. Possibly with spy wars, or even duel of assassins. Although, I also think that each of those conflict types should increase the number captains/ships of the type that fit that theme. More hunters during duels, more pirates and merchants during trade wars, smugglers during embargoes, etc.

Er...sorry. I'm getting carried away again.