I'm Clean, they're Clean. Why are they attacking me?

[Cody]

They only thing they're missing to be seriously ninja are cloaking devices.

Hush... don't go giving the Admiralty ideas like that! Mind you, mil jammers would be worse!

[mossfoot]

Sounds like the assassins are trying to do it ninja style. They only thing they're missing to be seriously ninja are cloaking devices. Which, we should count ourselves lucky that's above their pay grade.

Mossfoot clenches his fist. "Space ninjas. I knew it."

[Malacandra]

I've obviously not figured out the shipnames fix yet, but eh. Meanwhile, I look forward to some assassins turning up screaming for the head of one of my latest passengers, who rejoices in the name "Veonesle Xeones-Xeones-Davybern"

Incidentally, changing the name of my Python to "RMS Titanic" might be seen as tempting fate.

[Zireael]

My in game view is that any assassin with their salt would be hiding or not have ship names.

Probably true - but if all other ships have names, they identify themselves by not having them.

All assassin ships are named "Guy Incognito"

LOL

[CaptSolo]

'Maybe someone else got him... Or he is still on his way.'

'Chill guys, he'll be the one flying a purple Adder and armed only with a pulse laser.'

[Diziet Sma]

My in game view is that any assassin with their salt would be hiding or not have ship names.

Probably true - but if all other ships have names, they identify themselves by not having them.

Exactly.. in a Ooniverse where everyone names their ships, not having a name only draws attention to yourself. Any assassin worth their salt knows how to blend in with the crowd. They might change the ship name after every job, but they'd have a name, and basically an innocuous one. To do otherwise is to invite suspicion.

[mossfoot]

My in game view is that any assassin with their salt would be hiding or not have ship names.

Probably true - but if all other ships have names, they identify themselves by not having them.

Exactly.. in a Ooniverse where everyone names their ships, not having a name only draws attention to yourself. Any assassin worth their salt knows how to blend in with the crowd. They might change the ship name after every job, but they'd have a name, and basically an innocuous one. To do otherwise is to invite suspicion.

Assassins should in fact have a list of harmless sounding names.

"help! Mayday! I'm being attacked by the Fluffy Bunny!"

[Diziet Sma]

Assassins should in fact have a list of harmless sounding names.

"help! Mayday! I'm being attacked by the Fluffy Bunny!"

Good point.. think I'll rework that patch, to give them ordinary traders names.

[mossfoot]

Assassins should in fact have a list of harmless sounding names.

"help! Mayday! I'm being attacked by the Fluffy Bunny!"

Good point.. think I'll rework that patch, to give them ordinary traders names.

Its a good idea, but there should perhaps be some kind of clue that lets you figure out they're assassins and not glitchy traders... Names that could have a double meaning, perhaps? Or perhaps names that are super harmless sounding (ie fluffy bunny) so that they get the 'joke' once fired upon?

[Diziet Sma]

Its a good idea, but there should perhaps be some kind of clue that lets you figure out they're assassins and not glitchy traders... Names that could have a double meaning, perhaps? Or perhaps names that are super harmless sounding (ie fluffy bunny) so that they get the 'joke' once fired upon?

The problem as I see it, with that approach, is that it just ends up making the assassins look a little foolish.. "Huh.. 'Muffins The Kitten', 'Fluffy Bunny' and 'Mostly Harmless'? Who do those idiots think they're fooling? "

For those that like their Ooniverse logical (no matter how much handwavium the "logic" requires), it would make more sense that the names not give the game away.. for that, you already have the comms chatter and the fact that half a dozen clean traders suddenly opened fire on you.. how much of a hint do you need?

Besides.. for those doing passenger and parcel runs, it helps add a nice touch of paranoia to their game.. is that group of traders over there really what they seem? Should I go over and convoy up with them for the run in-system, or would that be a terrible mistake? Decisions, decisions..

(p.s. - there are no "glitchy traders".. )

[Neelix]

For those that like their Ooniverse logical (no matter how much handwavium the "logic" requires), it would make more sense that the names not give the game away.. for that, you already have the comms chatter and the fact that half a dozen clean traders suddenly opened fire on you.. how much of a hint do you need?

Not to mention, that many "traders" not in any formation just hanging around the witchpoint? kind of a big hint.. Especially if you happen to be using the  Police IFF Scanner Upgrade.

- Neelix

[cim]

Bounty hunter names might be better cover: also clean, also sometimes seen near the witchpoint. Arguably even the same job...

[Diziet Sma]

Bounty hunter names might be better cover: also clean, also sometimes seen near the witchpoint. Arguably even the same job...

Very nice idea.. I like.

Edit: As it happens, that's what they're currently using anyway.. Bounty Hunter names.

[Disembodied]

Although Random Ship Names does have categories of nouns and adjectives that are classed as "Peaceful" or "Violent", and although pirates, hunters etc. do tend to have more bloodthirsty names (a gram of threat can be worth a kilo of violence), there is an area of overlap. A short while ago I was chased by a pirate pack that had the dread Python Bessie at its heart.

[Diziet Sma]

A short while ago I was chased by a pirate pack that had the dread Python Bessie at its heart.

Named after the Pirette Lady Elizabeth Killigrew, no doubt..