Letters of Marque

[angriff]

The game should have letters of Marque that allows players to fight for another country and fly under the flag of the granting nation so that players can help a smaller faction without losing their entire stash of goods.  These can be granted by the highest ranks and have a could have a time limit on both when you switch and when you can go back.  This way players can play American and get allot of ships and gold then take a letter of mark from French and appear French to other players.  

 

If he attacks his own country or country of marque, maybe you could make them have the pirate warnings.  Or it allows them to switch and move all their stuff save the outposts and those in Free Towns to the Marque country capital.  As many as Five Ships of Marque might be enough. 

 

 

 

BE IT KNOWN,That in pursuance of an act of congress, passed on the 26th day of June one thousand eight hundred and twelve, I have Commissioned, and by these presents do commission, the private armed Brig called the Prince Neufchatel of the burden of three hundred & Nineteen tons, or thereabouts, owned by John Ordronaux & Peter E. Trevall of the City & State of New York and Joseph Beylle of Philadelphia in the State of Pennsylvania Mounting eighteen carriage guns, and navigated byone hundred & twenty nine men, hereby authorizing Nicholas Millin captain, and William Stetsonlieutenant of the said Brig and the other officers and crew thereof, to subdue, seize, and take any armed or unarmed British vessel, public or private, which shall be found within the jurisdictional limits of the United States, or elsewhere on the high seas, or within the waters of the British dominions, and such captured vessel, with her apparel, guns, and appurtenances, and the goods or effects which shall be found on board the same, together with all the British persons and others who shall be found acting on board, to bring within some port of the United States; and also to retake any vessel, goods, and effects of the people of the United States, which may have been captured by any British armed vessel, in order that proceedings may be had concerning such capture or recapture in due form of law, and as to right and justice shall appertain. 

The said Nicholas Millin is further authorized to detain, seize, and take all vessels and effects, to whomsoever belonging, which shall be liable thereto according to the law of nations and the rights of the United States as a power at war, and to bring the same within some port of the United States, in order that due proceedings may be had thereon. 
This commission to continue in force during the pleasure of the president of the United States for the time being.

GIVEN under my hand and seal of the United States of America, at the City of Washington, the twelfth day of Decemberin the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fourteen and of the independence of the said states the thirty ninth.

BY THE PRESIDENT James Madison 
Jas. Monroe Secretary of State.

Edited July 9, 2016 by angriff

[Fenris]

Nice idea. Mercenaries should be allowed, but expensive.

And, secondly, maybe they should be allowed to change their "real" names so, nobody would bother them, why do they fight for someone else.

Of course, when the war, in they participate is over, they return to their homelands as rich heroes;-)

[Tief N Tote]

i am totally for this

[angriff]

A few thoughts on rules that might make sense

 

1. A Letter of Marque is purchased and offered by a high rank player
2. Marques are traded the offering player pays for it and it is traded/used like any other commodity.  If purchaser wants their money back they can ask for it in the trade.
3. Marques are a time based commodity.  They work for a month or until destroyed
4. Using a Letter of Marque changes the players country flag only the ship they are in.  Only that ship/fleet moves to the Letter's country but all gold moves with player.
5. Marque Player cannot capture original country ports or ships without getting Pirate warning.
6. Once under a Letter of Marque player can trade/enter port / capture ports like any other player of the Country of the Marque.
7. Giving-up/Destroying the Letter of Marque the player reverts to original country will all Gold and former country state.   Only ship/fleet they are in reverts and all other vessels of Marque Flag act as if in captured ports.
8. Name does not change so that players learn Reputation of Marque.
9. Suggested that the Letter of Marque be purchased by player as being country specific.  Marque issued by one country against another.   (ie. French Chef de Division buys a Marque against Pirates or British)  Marque allows player to earn extra XP and Gold bonus when attacking marked countries.

A simpler implementation without all the flag changing rules would be to have the Marque only provide bonus for same country against Marque country.  That is an incentive for a Country High Rank to purchase a marque and trade it to players who then get bonuses for sinking and attacking those countries that are Maruqed.   Buy a marque for Pirate as a British Commander then give or sell to a player who then uses it to gain extra gold and xp attacking a certain country.   (note this is not the idea for the side switch effort only a directional incentive for players of a single country)  Player cannot purchase and use Marque themselves would be suggested in this rule.

Edited July 9, 2016 by angriff

[William the Drake]

Letters of Marque could definitely be the mechanic that makes the game, creating the much needed middle ground and transition mechanic needed between pirates and Nationals.

 

I suggested similar mechanics and possibilities for Letters of Marque in my own thread: Letters of Marque

[Mrdoomed]

I made a suggestion months ago about a " neutral " faction ( call them whatever ) and this faction would cover pirates, smugglers,privateers etc. They would operate much like OP suggested. Buying rights to play for a faction via merchant or privateer and pirates would not take any nation flag and aways be open to attack. Seemed realistic to me.

They couldn't own ports or conquer them etc. I hd a list of what they could do etc but at the time it was scoffed at but maybe now people are ready.

Edited July 9, 2016 by Mrdoomed

[angriff]

Letters of Marque could definitely be the mechanic that makes the game, creating the much needed middle ground and transition mechanic needed between pirates and Nationals.

 

I suggested similar mechanics and possibilities for Letters of Marque in my own thread: Letters of Marque

Yes interesting but quite a different level of approach.