Pirate complaint(But not the usual one)

from GalCiv3 Forums

Something occurred to me the other night. Let me know if anyone else has been bothered by this seemingly small annoyance. As I was creating a custom race, and picking it's ship package, I took another look at the Pirate ships. Then it hit me. Why are the Pirate ships displaying the traditional Pirate skull? I'm referring to pirate ships in a GALAXY. Why would they choose an ancient, Earth tradition to display? Are we to assume ALL pirates are human? Furthermore, if the concept of using skulls and bones is indeed universal...why would alien pirates choose human skulls or bones? Why not an alien skull? I have no problem with the pirate symbol...just not on what I thought were, potentially alien pirates. Anyone agree?

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Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Nope. I think this is one nuance that you should not be so picky about it. The symbolism is more for the player to recognize. If any other symbol was used, one would naturally be confused as to what it means without further explanations. However, when you get the iconic pirate symbol, you immediately recognize that these are indeed pirate ships without needing details, and that your weaker ships should stay away.

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I'm not sure it is really a problem, but I see your point.  If it was a problem, what would be the solution?  What would you use as a universal symbol/identifier for pirate?   And a picture of Jack Sparrow isn't going to cut it.  :)

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Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

To assist your suspension of disbelief...

Not all pirates are humans but all known pirates so far are humans with the occasional alien recruit. Piracy is apparently a natural occurrence among humans, not so much with aliens.

The emblem is a skull not a skull and crossbones. The skull has been used by humans forever as a threatening icon. Hitler's SS is an example.

You have to work at it. :) 

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Lol, I think my original post was not taken as intended. Nilfiry, I wasn't attempting to be picky. It was a poor attempt at being clever. I was trying to point out that either all the Pirates were humans, or the alien pirates were copying them. Hope no one took me as trying to start a war. 

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

The actual reason is that the player is a human and can recognize the symbol on an iconic level, but that is boring.

I am not buying that the other races had to learn piracy from the Terrans, especially not the Drengin.  However, I can envision humans being so naturally good at it that their historic icon, an abstracted skull from the original and forgotten Jolly Roger, has become adopted as the galactic symbol for piracy.  That makes all too much sense, really.  ;)

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Oh this one is simple.

 

My galactic system uses a VR interface that adapts alien symbology into more immediately recognizable forms. This is similar to how Universal Translation system will allow me to "read" words I normally could not.

In this context, the skull and crossbones takes the original symbol and adjusts it into a form a more immediately recognize as dangerous.

 

There you go!

Reply #7 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Are you sure those aren't Altarian skulls?  They look Altarian to me. 

Reply #8 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Thanks gents. That's a bit more like the light-hearted tone I was striving for. Actually, the skull is from a Precursor "seeder" race. It would naturally have a human flair.  :grin:

Reply #9 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Arr ... invent your own symbol, matey!

I guess it would be kind of interesting to design skull-symbols of the different races in GalCiv.