Hey everybody - I don't know if anybody remembers me (Hazaanko). I guess is doesn't really matter. Anyways...

I pulled this one from the graveyard.

Basically, I wanted to start it back up. Since there's another guild with "Syndicate" as a name... we obviously need to make up a new one. That is, unless, syn_noob kindly allows us to use the name... Anyways, I would really like to see a more organized pirate force out there. But we obviously need quite a few people if we're going to control Odia. And I'm not exactly fresh on my PvP skills. So, basically, what I need right now is suggestions. Let me know what you think, and what kinds of things would be good to see in a large pirating guild.

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This was the original Syndicate organization about 3 years ago. There obviously needs to be some changes made, since the game structure is completely different (such as the build-in guild system). As soon as we get some good suggestions going, I'll make a new code of honor, new rules, etc. then we can lock this thread and I'll post the new code of honor, as well as start making invites to anybody who is interested. Please! Read this over quickly and speak your mind.
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- - - - - SYNDICATE CODE OF HONOR - - - - -

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**CODE 1: A Syndicate member's gameplay should promote profit.

(What this means: if you're losing money, change your tactics around so that you make money. This could mean running away from more fights, and especially teaming up with other Syndicate members to fight back anti-pirate forces as well as teaming up to pirate cargo ships with more effectiveness)

**CODE 2: A Syndicate member will have no governmental ties.

(No stealing the flag, no HELP stealing the flag, and no help defending against other nations)

**CODE 3: A Syndicate member will live by honor.

(ABSOLUTELY no killing of newbies, ABSOLUTELY NEVER make someone go dead broke or EVER discourage them from playing the game, and no killing someone just because you 'do not like them.')

**CODE 4: Never purposefully harm another Syndicate Guild Member, unless he has constantly violated the Syndicate Code of Honor.

**CODE 5: If a Syndicate member were to greatly violate his code of honor, he is simply no longer a member of the guild and is cast out.

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-0-0- The following is a list of things that aren't utterly necessary, but they are things that we _just do_ (you'll be a lot cooler if you DO choose to follow them, however). -0-0-

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Don't ever go trading. It completely negates the whole idea of why I made this Syndicate. Trading runs = completely and utterly boring. (of course you can still go trading on your 'normal' character, but don't transfer money over to your pirate account - try to be self-sufficient.
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You warn your target that they are about to be pirated and that they are to either 1: Jettison their cargo and flee, or 2: Be destroyed. (this is done more for reputation than anything else, because sometimes people would rather just lose their cargo then lose their ship AND their cargo, and we still gain the same thing out of it)
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Make your home sector in one of the central sectors, and rarely go into government controlled sectors.
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ABOVE ALL: we stick together. Always help a fellow guild member even if it means losing a pirating opportunity.
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This is up to a member's best judgement, but we don't take part in any pointless arguments of ego or insults.
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Try to pirate completely indiscriminately... don't go after the same person over and over again, our purpose is to fill a role, not to mindlessly blow up everything in sight.
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Destroy those who bring shame to pirating. If you see someone giving pirating a bad name (not by their words alone, but mainly by their actions [like blowing up people for no reason at all]), "Discourage" them from their dishonourable actions....
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You can be any color you want.
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Lastly, for informational purposes, we add the [Syn] prefix to our pirate characters' name for identification purposes as well as 'advertisement.'

-0-0- A few last things... Being a pirate is NOT easy. We are a deeply misunderstood guild, and most people will try to insult you or make you quit the game. Keep in mind that whether they realize it or not, we are keeping this game fun. Not just for us, but for them as well (afterall, who doesn't like to blow up a few pirates?) Some people might not like the style of gameplay that being a pirate offers, but try it for a while. It IS quite fun. <evil grin>

- Keep in mind that the purpose of the creation of this guild isn't to ruin anybody's fun. If you're a complete jerk trying to ruin the fun of the game... you will no longer have the support of the Syndicate (and if I'm correct.. you won't have the support of most of the Vendetta community).

Anyway - other than the rules, the code of conduct is pretty much up to you. Oh - and I suggest that you create a new character when you start pirating. We can help you transfer some funds over to help get him started... but other than that, we pirates try to be self-sufficient.

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So there you have it. Hopefully some of this makes sense. Is there anybody out there that would actually be interested in doing something like this? What kinds of changes need to be made? How can we design the guild to be more fun? What should be our policies? How strictly should we be pirates? Where would be the best place to call our 'base?' Why do hot dog buns come in packs of 6 and hot dogs in packs of 8?

If you want to contact me in game - Hazan, KamikazeSuperbus, and my pirate char - Kteln
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The Syndicate is alive and well.

So well in fact the commander can give himself the luxury to kick people off!

So let good things be.

Tell you what: name your Guild: The Outfit.

Eh, msg me ingame, I'll join.

We spoke yesterday. Msg me too.

Oh, you know what, fine. I'll be more than willing to let you use the shell of a guild that is the syndicate.
One condition: Yoda can't join.

i wanna be too!

I'll think about it and I'll certainly help you start it if you need names on the board.

can I be a [SYN]sarah?

Sweet. Looks like there's still some pirates out there. But before we form it, we have to get some updated foundation.

Ok, most likely, we don't have to add anything extra to our names anymore, since the guild system now does that...

As far as nations / factions go... what should we do there? Do we just go for Corvus faction and nothing else? Or should we be friendly with UIT? Serco? I don't know what would work best. I really want it to be a pirate guild. Nothing like:
Person A: "Hey, can you help us out with this blockade?"
Person B: "Not at the moment, sorry I'm in Azek running a traderoute."

It'd be a good idea to set up a code of conduct regarding certain things, i.e.:
Can someone pay us a fee to trade in our controlled space? Does that count for as many times as they want to pass? Should we have someone 'escort' them to keep an eye on their activities? What is our policy with newbies? A smaller fee? What are some guild activities we can come up with?

I also found this interesting little tidbit on the Devs Wiki page... scroll down to the Corvus section. http://design.vendetta-online.com/wiki/index.php?title=Organizations

As far as the faction, I think it would be nice if all members are KOS with all 3 nations, and then they can choose grey space factions as they like.

As far as the other questions you posed, I dunno exactly, I think we should probably get everyone together and get a consensus.

goddamit i need someone to help me lose tha darn serco standing!! ARGH!!!

Just head into a station sector, blast a Station Guard to bits, then run like hell.

he can't with friendly fire. If it were that simple he would be in my crosshairs by now.

just ask friendly if you can shoot a uit or itani with good serco standing. Maybe calder would be willing to help if you can catch him online :D

Yoda doesnt want to join, simple reason, im a strong beliver in sticking around for any fight is start, I thought some of the people I see saying *I will join* were too.

Oh well, good luck new Syn, your going to need it.

Eh, I see the running part as negotiable, it came from a different era, eg. alpha. I still won't run and I'll encourage my mates not to as well.

Just like Shape said, this whole thing is up for change. The Code of Honor is 3 years old. I haven't touched it since then. Obviously the game is different. Besides, even in the original Syndicate Code, staying and fighting or running was completely up to the individual. It will probably stay that way in the new organization as well. Retreat was just _suggested_ as a means of holding on to profit instead of holding on to pride and ego. Retreat is always an issue of circumstance. If there are 2 pirates vs 10 VPR, for example... staying and fighting would rarely be a good idea.

The real issue is the balance between making a profit, and creating a fearsome reputation. It would be pointless to just make a guild of hatemongers destroying everything in sight just to make us feel good about ourselves. It's about honor and purpose. We just want to make the game a little more fun and challenging for everyone.

Read up, Genka gave his permission.

Whups! Sorry. Missed that one. Thanks, Genka! I owe you a couple.

Well, Martin and I were talking last night about the whole thing...

It seems like everyone in the game is a little bit of everything - Pirate, Anti-Pirate, PvPer, trader/miner, Itani/Serco soldier... even UIT participates in BP and CtC... I think that's due to there being so little to do in the game. That may have been the main reason for the last two pirate guild dying out.

--Some of the problems of a pirate guild:
It would be sort-of an inconvenience for most people to stay a strict pirate and adhere to a strict pirate code of honor, since you usually can't pirate 100% of the time you're online or you'd go insane from literally staring into space. Eventually, due to a low point in miners and traders in the area, a player has to resort to something else more entertaining. So problem #1: sometimes (not always) there is a lack of traders, thus giving _real_ pirates nothing to do.

Proposed solution: Create a new character, if you don't want your main one to forever remain a pirate. Let your main character do whatever else you please, which will usually be the most entertaining thing at the moment. But when you feel like pirating, simply jump on your Syndicate character. You are instantly thrown into the information web of the guild, and the rest of the Syn members that are on will inform you of hot spots for pirating. If the pirating scene slows down, then jump back on your other character. I realize it takes some time to develop a new character, but it's actually quite fun. When we get the guild set up, we can help eachother get our rep/liscenses up. I will usually be on my pirate character from now on, trying to generate things to do from there.

Something else that will help in the short-term... looks like the NPCs are on their way back (hopefully). It will be a lot easier to maintain a pirate character without being forced to trade.