I've been played...

[ulukinatme]

Had a funny little exchange with an NPC pilot tonight and thought I'd share. I just finished doing a simple Fuel exchange for a stranded pilot. I'm getting ready to jump back to the station when the NPC flags me down to do a trade. I'm thinking "Maybe he's feeling generous for helping him out?" So I accept the Trade. He's not offering any goods, so I'm thinking he's got some juicy info to share. Well, he does...but it's going to cost me $23,000 for the info....roughly half my reward for bringing him fuel! I decide to go ahead and accept, hoping I'm getting something good. As the encrypted message is sending...the NPC moves out of the 1k range and the Trade window disappears...no message delivered.

I keep my cool, turn around to catch up to him, and re-engage the Trade window once we meet. I request the info from him again, he thinks about it for a sec...then replies "Nah, I decided not to share after all, sorry." Now I'm a little ticked. He may be a Federation guy, but I'm seriously considering blasting him out of the sky and taking any cargo he leaves behind. After some contemplation I decide to just bring up the Navigation pane and head back to the station as I originally planned. Before I can jump away I get ANOTHER Trade request...same NPC. Now I'm hesitant...but I'm really curious what he has to offer. No goods again, just info....for $23,000 a pop again. Surely he won't get out of my range again, I'm right up against him. I'm going to hug this ship like a hippy tree lover until the encrypted message is delivered. I go ahead and accept the price, waiting for the message to be delivered....and the NPC jumps out of sector!

So, in the end an NPC paid me about $46,000 to come refuel him. I provided the fuel, at a cost to me, and then ended up giving him all his money back before he said "Buh bye" and took off. Someone once said, "Fool me once, shame on....shame on you...you fool me you can't get fooled again!"

[Slayer]

Someone once said, "Fool me once, shame on....shame on you...you fool me you can't get fooled again!"

LOL!

Next time a NPC does that, blast em' to bits, regardless of their faction! I've had my fair share of trade requests go sour in search of data drives or secret containers ... they don't live to count the credits!

[Raven0]

Next time, just remember you can use "form on target" and your autopilot should keep you in range long enough to do business. Unless the target jumps away, that is...

[Marvin]

Blowing the guy up is good for easing the frustration. I do it all the time during a race. My opponent might win ... but not for long.