For the second time within a week I, playing as Sabzi_Mandi farming with my freighter, have been the subject of a bounty posted by a player with whom I have had no previous contact. It's very irritating. My conduct on the server has been guided by the excellent examples set by Dented, Boks and others. Consequently, I have coached, shared and partnered with less experienced players to see that if their goals are not met, they understand how to achieve them. I treat players I encounter with the same respect with which I would wish they treat me. As a licensed smuggler unaffiliated with any clan, I understand that I am at the bottom of the food chain and I accept that I may be taxed or robbed at any moment by another player or an NPC. But bounties, from what I've read, are the appropriate recompense when a clan/player slighted by another player. I accept the acts of piracy, taxation, even competition among smugglers are customary but nowhere have I read that bounties are posted for the amusement of others.
In both cases; Meranti dba |AS|Liberator posted the bounties and |DP|Avenger dba |DP|Lucifer came to collect them. In the first instance, Avenger took a more junior player I'd been helping, hostage (threatening Bob_the_dwarf with death if he moved) until I showed up. I did; I fought back as best I could in my freighter and died predictably. This evening I was minding my own business, fighting off NPC's while trying to farm Breton space, when Pinkie_fighter logged in. I greeted her and she responded in kind. Then we were informed on screen that |AS|Liberator had placed a bounty on each of us. |DP|Lucifer killed Pinkie_fighter and then he contacted me suggesting that I make it easy and come to him. Recognizing the pattern from the other night, I mentioned his hostage taking and Avenger/Lucifer admitted that it was he. He later admitted that Meranti was the player who posted the bounty. Long story short; Meranti killed me in Tau-31 and collected $10,000,000 for his part in my death.
I don't like that my character's death is serving as some sort of amusement for the idle rich in the game but what can I do. I don't suppose we freighter drivers could get shields higher than level 7, could we... SWAT_Op-R8R?