History Main / ScoundrelCode

* [[The Mafiya Thieves in the USSR]] had a semi-official code, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thief_in_law#Ethics_and_code_of_conduct Ponyatiya]].

* Thieves in the USSR had a semi-official code, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thief_in_law#Ethics_and_code_of_conduct Ponyatiya]].

* Thieves in the USSR had a semi-official [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thief_in_law#Ethics_and_code_of_conduct code]], Ponyatiya.

* Thieves in the USSR had a semi-official [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thief_in_law#Ethics_and_code_of_conduct code]].

* The many variations of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirate_code Pirate Code]].

* The many variations of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirate_Code Pirate's Code]].

* The many variations of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirate%27s_Code Pirate's Code]].

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'', the port city Limsa Lominsa was founded by pirates. To keep from tearing itself apart, a code was put into effect with three core tenants. One, you don't steal from fellow Lominsans. Two, you don't rob another pirate crew of their hard-earned spoils. And three, [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil You don't treat people as goods.]] To help uphold the code, the Rogue's Guild (formerly the Upright Thieves) act as Limsa Lominsa's SecretPolice, targeting and assassinating those who break the code.

* In the Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse game ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'', you learn on [[WretchedHive Nar Shaddaa]] there's a bounty on all Jedi - you count for this - and its a big one. Thing is the bounty hunter rule that they can't hunt each other is in effect, and Nar Shaddaa has gone horribly quiet. This should be an indicator of just how many bounty hunters are after you.

Depending on the society in a PlanetOfHats, this kind of list can be a central tenet of its culture. Due to its nature, the people that follow such a code tend to be amoral. Evil characters may consider it as advice, but will generally ignore the bothersome moral excerpts for profit. Unless they don't which generally implies at the very least a [[NobleDemon kind of honour]]. A chaotic character may lack the discipline to follow it, or may prefer to improvise. Lawful folks won't usually follow such a code unless said code is the cultural norm. The LovableRogue and others of TheTrickster stock are prone to following this kind of code. It is always dangerous to count on someone following the scoundrel's code and many even instruct their followers to ignore the rules for results. Again, this is a code for scoundrels and so they're not big on rules in the first place.

Compare HonorAmongThieves, which is an genuine moral code for how the criminal or unsavory should treat their colleagues. Also compare the EvilOverlordList, a meta[=/=]GenreSavvy version of this for {{Evil Overlord}}s.

* In ''Manga/YuGiOh'' story ''Fanfic/AGameOfMasques'', Yugi is an incubus who doesn't have much use for others' rules (for instance, he's on the run for seducing a Lord of Hell's consort). However he has his own set of rules that he abides by, including that he will never break up an established couple (unless they are already on the rocks or established on false pretences) and he doesn't use his actual powers for seduction, because that would be "cheating".

** Is Captain Teague within hearing distance? If he is, then obey the code or [[JudgeJuryAndExecutioner he will shoot you without hesitation and neither your captain or mates will complain about it.]]

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'', the port city Limsa Lominsa was founded by pirates. To keep from tearing itself apart, a code was put into effect with three core tenants. One, you don't steal from fellow Lominsans. Two, you don't rob another pirate crew of their hard earned spoils. And three, [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil You don't treat people as goods.]] To help uphold the code, the Rogue's Guild (formerly the Upright Thieves) act as Limsa Lominsa's SecretPolice, targeting and assassinating those who break the code.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' story arc in which the Guardians are hired to retrieve ... something ... by Howard the Duck, Rocket keeps insisting that Howard wouldn't double cross them, because that would be against the Scoundrel Code. [[spoiler: It turns out the Scoundrel Code is very flexible on what you're allowed to do to save your own skin.]]

* The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition from ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', which range from harsh ("A Ferengi without profit is no Ferengi at all.") to pragmatic ("You can't make a deal if you're dead.") to PetTheDog ("Good customers are as rare as latinum. Treasure them.")

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Do you want to join the pirates, thieves, less savory people, scoundrels in general? Then you need the Scoundrel's code. It teaches those that want to be scoundrels how to behave, at times only for their best gain, but at others how to maintain ''some'' [[EvenEvilHasStandards morals]]. Its suggestions and rules are usually less than ethical, when not outright illegal, hence ''Scoundrel'' code. Less savory anti-heroes and [[VillainProtagonist other protagonists]] will often quote it. Antagonists will quote it less often.

Depending on the society in a PlanetOfHats, this kind of list can be a central tenet of its culture. Due to its nature, the people that follow such a code tend to be amoral. Evil characters may consider it as advice, but will generally ignore the bothersome moral excerpts for profit. A chaotic character may lack the discipline to follow it, or may prefer to improvise. Lawful folks won't usually follow such a code unless said code is the cultural norm. The LovableRogue and others of TheTrickster stock are prone to following this kind of code. It is always dangerous to count on someone following the scoundrel's code and many even instruct their followers to ignore the rules for results. Again, this is a code for scoundrels and so they're not big on rules in the first place.

Do you want to join the pirates, thieves, less savory people, scoundrels in general? Then you need the Scoundrel's code. It teaches those that want to be scoundrels how to behave at times only for their best gain but others how to maintain ''some'' [[EvenEvilHasStandards morals]]. Its suggestions and rules are usually less than ethical, when not outright illegal, hence ''Scoundrel'' code. Less savory anti-heroes and [[VillainProtagonist other protagonists]] will often quote it. Antagonists will quote it less often.

Depending on the society in a PlanetOfHats, this kind of list can be a central tenet of its culture. Due to its nature, the people that follow such a code tend to be amoral. Evil characters may consider it as advice, but will generally ignore the bothersome moral parts for profit. A chaotic character may lack the discipline to follow it, or may prefer to improvise. Lawful folks won't usually follow such a code unless said code is the cultural norm. The LovableRogue and others of TheTrickster stock are prone to following this kind of code. It is always dangerous to count on someone following the scoundrel's code and many even instruct their followers to ignore the rules for results. Again, this is a code for scoundrels and so they're not big on rules in the first place.

Compare HonorAmongThieves, which is an genuine moral code for the criminal or unsavory. Also compare the EvilOverlordList, a meta[=/=]GenreSavvy version of this for {{Evil Overlord}}s.

Do you want to join the pirates, thieves, less savory people, scoundrels in general? Then you need the Scoundrel's code. It teaches those that want to be scoundrels how to behave for their best gain. Its suggestions and rules are usually less than ethical, when not outright illegal, hence ''Scoundrel'' code. Less savory anti-heroes and other protagonists will often quote it. Antagonists will quote it less often.

Depending on the society in a PlanetOfHats, this kind of list can be a central tenet of its culture. Due to its nature, the people that follow such a code tend to be good or amoral. Evil characters may consider it as advice, but ignore it for profit. A chaotic character may lack the discipline to follow it, or may prefer to improvise. Lawful folks won't usually follow such a code unless said code is the cultural norm. The LovableRogue and others of TheTrickster are prone to following this kind of code. It is always dangerous to count on someone following the scoundrel's code and many even instruct their followers to ignore the rules for results. Again, this is a code for scoundrels and so they're not big on rules in the first place.

Depending on the society in a PlanetOfHats, this kind of list can be a central tenet of its culture. Due to its nature, the people that follow such a code tend to be good or amoral. Evil characters may consider it as advice, but ignore it for profit. A chaotic character may lack the discipline to follow it, or may prefer to improvise. Lawful folks won't usually follow such a code unless said code is the cultural norm. The LovableRogue and others of the TricksterArchetype are prone to following this kind of code. It is always dangerous to count on someone following the scoundrel's code and many even instruct their followers to ignore the rules for results. Again, this is a code for scoundrels and so they're not big on rules in the first place.

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* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'': The Pirates' Code (or [[GratuitousLatin Pirata Codex]]) is one that governs the relations of pirates. For instance, if someone says "parley" you have to take them to your captain alive. However, there are a number of caveats to this code.
** You have to ''be'' a pirate in order for the code to apply to you.

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--> "The last three ships we took proved to be manned entirely by orphans, and so we had to let them go. One would think that Great Britain’s mercantile navy was recruited solely from her orphan asylums – which we know is not the case."

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* In the Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse game ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'', you learn on [[WretchedHive Nar Shaddaa]] there's a bounty on all Jedi - you count for this - and its a big one. Thing is the bounty hunter rule that they can't hunt each other is in effect, and Nar Shaddaa has gone horribly quiet. This should be an indicator of just how many bounty hunters are after you.

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[[AC:RealLife]]

* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'': The Pirates' Code (Or [[AltumVidetur Pirata Codex]]) is one that governs the relations of pirates. For instance, if someone says "parley" you have to take them to your captain alive. However, there are a number of caveats to this code.

* In ''Manga/YuGiOh'' story ''Fanfic/AGameOfMasques'', Yugi is an incubus who doesn't have much use for others' rules (for instance, he's on the run for seducing a Lord of Hell's consort). However he has his own set of rules that he abides by, including that he will never break up an established couple (unless they are already on the rocks or established on false pretenses) and he doesn't use his actual powers for seduction, because that would be "cheating".

* ''Franchise/StarWars'' [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'' Expanded Universe]]:

* ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'':

* ''Fanfic/TheKillerRarityverse'': Rarity promises to never hurt Sweetie Belle the other five members of the Mane Six or foals.

** "The code's more like guidelines, than actual rules."

* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' offers a Pirate's Code of Honor in addition to the more standard types. It is, needless to say, less restrictive.
** Parodied in ''[[TabletopGame/DiscworldRolePlayingGame GURPs Discworld Also]]'', where the Pirate's Code is complicated enough that they've been known to press-gang contract lawyers, and sometimes start arguing about a point of order in the middle of a raid.