Just had a full batch of trader goods stolen, can’t people just be kind to each other?

FOR LONG HAUL DELIVERIES:
TAKE THE SOUTHWESTERN-MOST ROUTE
For that long-haul, I always try to start with a spawned camp as far south and west of Tumbleweed as I can get in Gaptooth Ridge to avoid having to go to Hennigan's Stead (up that huge cliff-ramp by Armadillo, a risky distance) and ideally an ok distance away from Tumbleweed.

Instead, that route will direct you away from Armadillo toward the river, past the moonshine shack location nobody likes. Most of the time that route is empty because that part of the map is boring and you don't get very close to Fast Travel stations. (The are is boring now, but it looks like it will be where you cross into Mexico, eventually, which will make this area very popular, I imagine.)

I've never been jumped doing that route because I think it's usually the emptiest part of the map if you're in a Free Roam map and get your camp to spawn as far south and west of Tumbleweed as you can. If the route takes you to Hennigan's then you are not far enough south and west of Tumbleweed and will have to quit the mission and try to respawn a new Gaptooth Ridge camp location in, which I realize costs money. (Once you have enough money you can easily afford spending some of it playing camp-spawn roulette to get an ideal location.)

You can also quickly shut the app, as other have pointed out, but I like to do the delivery in one go if I can, and this route always works for me.

GETTING JUMPED IS PART OF THE GAME
But, as you said, getting jumped IS part of the game. One of my worst moments was getting my 100% long-haul wagon destroyed when I was 2/3rd of the way or longer. The single rider managed to steal and deliver one bag, then went back and stole and deliver ANOTHER BAG, then the time ran out on his third attempt. It was annoying but also one of the more memorable fights I had. Unfortunately it was spoiled when the guy went Defensive and rode off. I hate Defensive mode. It takes from the game, which is based on Sergio Leon Westerns, you know, good guys and villains, murderers and thieves. The last years of the Wild West. If you don't want to get shot then go play Microsoft Hunting & Fishing or whatever.

NOT EVERYONE WHO KILLS YOU FOR NO REASON IS A "GRIEFER"
PS: I just want to add to the general forum: To me the term "griefers" applies to players who are clearly using cheat codes, or who kill you in cold blood and then quickly switch forums before you have a chance to retaliate or pursue. Those people are the worst. But sometimes I go to Saint Denis and I get on the roof and parkour to snipe human players at key points to try to provoke an impromptu Free Roam "capture and keep the roof" minigame, I don't consider that greifing and I don't always have time to check on the player's level.

Everyone else shooting at you and killing you as you go about your day... they're just playing villains and bullies in a game designed to give you the choice to be a villian or a bully. The game barely punishes your character for getting killed so I don't know why people keep whinging about this! If you find yourself without your horse and the wrong guns and there are 3-4 high-level players who have been bullying you for a while, then don't waste your tonics and just switch forums or do a mission.

/r/RedDeadOnline Thread