Pirates as playable faction?

Its been attempted before and is possible.

Just a lot of work to be honest.

How 'bout it?   Being able to play as the pirates!  They could have thier own economic system based on ties to the black market. Maybe you have limited logistics but your frigates are BADASS.  Maybe you get a limited number of cap ships but like frigates they're real battlewagons.  There could be unique military techs that focus on hit and run,  escaping a bad situation, and bumrushing your enemy with everything ya got tactics.  Another Idea is that you would have to clear out x number of gravity wells before you can start to colonize.   

That's the most I have for Ideas so far....    But let me know what you think...

Really that's better suited for a mod (which has been done before) rather than an expansion.

@soulspark - got a lot on my plate as is with Distant Stars (that has possibilities though) so currently I am going to have to turn you down. Maybe someone else can do something with it.

Heck, you can even learn to mod the game yourself and figure it out. A lot of us would be glad to help. There are even some nice tutorials by myfist0 that you can use.

My Rogue race is going to be similar to a pirate faction and in fact will use some pirate frigates initially until you unlock the stronger merc vessels. I'm hoping to have some play testable releases in the coming weeks.

https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/388917/page/9

@ Ryat  -   Seems like ZombieRus5 is already taking the ball and running with it.  Checked out his link and saw the light.

That kind of stuff is far beyond what I was thinking.  Can't wait to see his mod finished! 

Same here, also looking forward to seeing his pirates + hammersun's pirates in 7DS -hopefully.

No No No and NOOOOO !!!!

While the idea seems fun to me, the idea would ruin the game because the player would be free to do whatever he wants ! Oh you just gave me a million credit ? I'm going to attack you, not the target you want me to ! Their entire economy would be based of players or / and own and it would be a mess ! If a player controls it, why do we need to give them money? What is the purpose of helping a player that will come destroy your planets and colonize them? What about their tech tree? They would be able to travel directly with huge armies since the begining of the game, if yes it would be way too powerful, if no, what's the purpose?

Their purpose is that they are neutral, they don't attack unless the bet begins on players.

Also, their role is to "harrass" players, if a player control them, it won't be harrassment but he will clearly come to kick your *** ! It would not be fun anymore !

I don't think a player would be neutral enough while controlling them !

You could probably make it so that the player would have to carry out the mission or objective or whatever before he gets the payment. Like the current bounty system where you don't get the money unless you kill ships/structures and such.

have you looked at this ? - https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/369301

A bit old and long in the tooth but it had potential. Pity eviltesla didn't finish it.

Agreed, it was a good concept but it didn't get nearly far enough to be playable.

there are two ships a pirate shouldn't have.   a colony ship, and a capital.  they should be able to build star bases.

pirates are interested in colonies, and a capital ship would make them too dangerous to be allowed to survive by the other factions.

where as a starbase might make them too dangerous, the base should be able to defend itself, not counting its screen of cruisers and frigates.(at least in the real world)

also the only credits a pirate should get is from pirating.  except from its main base, you know that rock they start out on.

If the fanbase cries about the possibility of pirates getting an iconic cruiser launched at the highest threat levels, they'll certainly balk at pirates getting a starbase.  Not to mention a starbase is supposed to be the cutting edge of military technology.  Their space rock is their equivalent, a fully fortified asteroid surrounded by guns.

yes i know.  just stating that they would build starbases over planets that they might gain control of  instead of colonizing it.