Changes

Pirating

5,558 bytes added, 21:07, 30 June 2005
added pirate terms
One of the activities you can enjoy while playing Vendetta is '''pirating'''. Pirating is an accepted aspect of Vendetta. Pirating people in a nations space is not wise, as this will cause your standing to plummet. Pirating happens most often in sectors that have a wormhole but don't have a station. When you partake in pirating, you need to consider what ships to pirate, and what ship to pirate in.
==Tips and Tricks of the TradeGoing on Account==
First off, pirating is far from easy in Vendetta. I myself gave it up due to the fact that I wanted more money then it paid. However, all that aside, it has to be one of the most fun occupations to have in VO. Here are some tips to getting started that should help out you young land lubbers want'n to test yer mettle. So without any further adue... Arr!
|}
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==Pirate Terms==
This is a growing list of terms used both historically and internally to Vendetta Online. Feel free to add your favorite Pirate terminology so that others may use, or at the least, understand what you are saying as you take there goods.
 
{| border=1 width=100%
|-
! width=80 | Term
! Description
|-
| align=center | Pirate
| A robber. Any act of theft while in space is piracy in the most general sense.
|-
| align=center | Privateer
| A privateer is a pilot with a "letter of marque" (see below) from a governement. This letter "allows" the sailor to plunder any ship of a given enemy nation. Technically a privateer was a self employed soldier paid only by what he plundered from an enemy. In this, a privateer was supposed to be above being tried for piracy. Tell that to Cap'n Kidd. Most often, privateers were a higher class of criminal, though many turned plain pirate before all was said and done.
|-
| align=center | To Go on Account
| A pleasant term used by pirates to describe the act of turning pirate. The basic idea was that a pirate was more "free lance" and thus was, more or less, going into business for himself.
|-
| align=center | "Avast Ye!"
| A hailing phrase to indicate that the hailed must "stop" and give attention.
|-
| align=center | Landlubber
| A term given to one fond of planets as opposed to space. The terms doesn't derive from "land lover" but rather from the root of "lubber" which means clumsy or uncoordinated. Thus, a landlubber is one who is awkward at space for familiarity with the land. Of course, this terms was used to insult the abilities of one in space.
|-
| align=center | Davy Jones's Locker (or Air Lock)
| A fictional place at the bottom of the ocean. In short, a term meaning death. Davey Jones was said to sink every ship he ever over took, and thus, the watery grave that awaited all who were sunk by him was given his name. To die at sea is to go to "Davey Jones's Locker".
|-
| align=center | Walk the Plank
| Perhaps more famous than historically practiced, walking the plank was the act of being forced off a ship by pirates (as punishment or torture) into the watery grave below. History suggests that this might have happened once that can be vaguely documented, but it is etched in the image of the pirates for its clearly dastardly content.
|-
| align=center | Swing the Lead
| The Lead was a weight at the bottom of a line that gave pilots a way to measure depth when near land. To Swing the Lead was considered a simple job, and thusly came to represent one who is avoiding work or taking the easy work over the hard. In todays terms, one who swings the lead is a slacker.
|-
| align=center | Keel Haul
| Another term made famous by pirates. This is the act of throwing a man overboard, tied to a rope that goes beneath the ship, and then dragging him from one side to the other and hauling him out. Besides the torment of being dragged under water, this would drag the victim across the barnacle studded ship's hull and cause great pain and injury. This was a serious punishment and not administered lightly.
|-
| align=center | Yellow Jack
| Like any "jack" or flag, the yellow jack was used to indicate a particular disposition of a ship. In this case the yellow was to signify the yellow fever. A yellow flag flying meant that there was illness aboard. Often this was used to trick pirates away from potential targets.
|-
| align=center | Take a Caulk
| On deck of a ship, between planks, was a thick caulk of black tar and rope to keep water from between decks. This term came to mean to "take a nap" either because pilots who slept on deck ended up with black lines across their backs or simply because pilots laying down on deck were as horizontal as the caulk of the deck itself.
|-
| align=center | Shiver me Timbers
| This term was used to express shock or surprise. The idea of timbers shivering comes from the vibration set up in the mast (timbers) by either running aground or a solid hit from a larger gun. The suggestion is that something has shaken the speaker from a state of less awareness.
|-
| align=center | Black Spot
| Tipping the black spot was a way pirates gave a death threat. As in the Novel, Treasure Island, a paper was marked with a black smudge on one side and often a message on the other to make the threat specific.
|-
| align=center | Jolly Boat
| A light boat carried at the stern of a larger sailing ship. This (probably) Danish Yawl (jol), proved better at high sea when a larger ship could harldy carry any sail.
|-
| align=center | Long Boat
| The largest boat carried by another ship. This was used to move larger loads, often anchors, chains, or ropes. In the case of pirates, the longboats were used to transport the bulk of heavier treasures.
|-
| align=center | Quarter
| Deriving from the idea of "shelter", quarter was given when mercy was offered by the pirates. To give no quarter was to indicate that none would be spared. Quarter was often the prize given to an honourable loser in a pirate fight. If enraged, however, a pirate would deprive the loser any such luxury.
|-
| align=center | Letter of Marque
| A document given to a pilot (privateer) giving him amnesty from piracy laws as long as the ships plundered were of an enemy nation. A large portion of the pirates began as privateers, with this symbol of legitimacy. Still, the earnings of a privateer were significantly better than any given a soldier at sea in any Navy.
|-
! colspan=2 | [http://www.inkyfingers.com/pirates/terms/index.html Source of some of these terms]
|}
[[Category:Activities]]
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