Introduction I have decided to take the time to sit down and write what I feel are things that a highly effective pirate will do. The style of this writing is of course inspired by the book "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" though the habits themselves have no particular relation. It is my hope that other pirates will look at these ideas and learn something from them, and to perhaps rethink the way they approach the art of piracy. Habit One: Be Polite and Professional There are those out there that think a polite pirate is a foolish pirate but I believe the opposite is true. A polite pirate is much more likely to get what he wants than a pirate who is rude and threatening. The pride of those you rob cannot be underestimated and it's certainly no secret that there are merchants out there that would rather destroy themselves, their cargo and their ship rather than give in to a pirate on the basis of ideals. If you're calm and polite, you can help reduce the likelihood of this happening as you may avoid their displays of defiance and pride. The following is a quote from Fodagus who more or less describes the intended effect of being polite and professional from the point of view of a potential target. I would maybe state that as being "Professional". In many careers, there are times where you must deal with unreasonable people and maintain a certain level of decorum while telling them how things are going to go down (as opposed to 'asking'). High level business transactions or negotiations between nation-states, for instance. Were I being held up (and lets face, merchants aren't the only targets: other pirates, bounty hunters, and even mercenaries are equally tasty prey provided they have desirable equipment, ships or are transporting a prize), i would be more willing to trust an assailant that conducted themselves in a composed and professional manner. I would have more faith that they would keep their word, and less emotionally upset at 'losing' to them than if it's someone who behaves like a zoo animal and speaks like an adolescent with anger problems. It's like the reverse of greifing: you want to consider your mark's emotional state and pride and conduct yourself as a person they would feel less bad about losing to. If you're an insufferable brat, they may not wish to comply or negotiate because they would not be able to cope with the shame of surrendering to such a intolerable person. Not all incentives are tangible: many marks will take the robbery hard, and being the sort that you could grudgingly accept "out foxed you this time" will help sweeten the deal and avoid unnecessary action. Habit Two: Be Efficient Piracy, like any other business is really all about efficiency. The greatest expression of our art is being able to obtain what we want without having to use force or to expend much time and energy. Thus, it is imperative that a successful pirate make demands that are reasonable and are not likely to stir the aggression of the merchant. While there are those that revel in fighting, the simple fact is that the more people you can rob and the faster you can rob them without a fight, the more successful you'll be while minimizing the risk of damage, injury or even death to your person. Habit Three: Set An Example Though Habit Two mentions that the least amount of violence used the better, there are times when a pirate must show force and strength. It is for these moments that every pirate should train and prepare for. Defiant merchants must be taught that the cost of defiance is far greater than the cost of cooperation. This can be done through a multitude of ways such as destroying a merchants ship, capturing the ship or damaging/crippling the ship. One important thing to note however is to avoid killing the merchant himself whenever possible, especially if they have surrendered or ejected into space. It may be tempting to exact revenge but always remember a dead merchant is one who you cannot rob later and it brings unwanted attention to yourself and those who operate in the area. Habit Four: Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate Everyone loves to feel like they got a good deal. Whenever you encounter someone that you will rob, make sure to give them an opportunity to provide ideas on how they can pay you. Perhaps they will not pay you in cargo but if you escort them to a certain point they may pay you handsomely. It is important to take these offers with a grain of salt but to never turn your nose at potential profit. A smart pirate will demand half of what was promised and the rest when the task is completed. It is in this way that you may gain contacts and even a relatively good reputation, meaning other merchants may be more willing to deal with you and provide other sources if income which could prove quite lucrative. Habit Five: A Deal's a Deal It may be tempted to succumb to your greed when you get what you want. A merchant might have given you their cargo or they have already paid you and you remain in a position of power. There is an expression however, it is better to milk a cow for a long period of time than it is to kill the cow for short-term gain. You may perhaps make more than you otherwise would have but word will spread that you are not to be trusted, even if merchants do comply, Once you are known for this, merchants will have no reason to bargain with you or comply with your demands. You will have a fight on your hands each and every time which, as we've learned from Habit Two, is not a good thing, Habit Six: Always Fight on Your Terms In our line of work, combat is inevitable at some point. The important thing to remember however is that you are the wolf that stalks the sheep. You dictate when and where you'll attack, with what forces and with what tactics. The enemy can only react to your actions and there is no shame in retreating when things get rough. We're pirates not noble knights, a dead pirate is a pirate that can't spend his wealth after all. When reacting to an enemy attack it's important to fight unfair. Use whatever you can around you and the environment to even the odds. Are you being chased by Bounty Hunters in ships that are fast but not maneuverable? An asteroid field is an ideal place to engage or lose them. Likewise if you're in a faster ship, then withdrawing is a valid tactic. After all, you can always regroup and counter-attack should the need arise. Habit Seven: Reputation is Everything The way a pirate is known and thought of can mean everything. A pirate known for being fair to merchants but merciless when they resist is more likely to obtain compliance than someone who goes back on deals and attacks and destroys everything regardless of whether or not they comply. You want to maintain a reputation for keeping your word while at the same time being a formidable opponent. In this way you will be much more likely to become rich and become a truly effective pirate.