Newcomer / Intro Assassination missions - Do I really need an FSD Interdictor...?

[jpjeffrey]

Assassination Missions

Up to now I haven't been brave enough to try these missions, but finally decided to give it a go....

Tried 2 so far and they fall into a pattern; travel to system X, fire off the Advanced Discovery Scanner to reveal the target body in the system, go to the target and wait for the USS to spawn
(ie very similar to the 'recover the ITEM missions' (where the ITEM is a Black Box, Trade Data, Rebel Transmission etc)

Neither of these required an FSD Interdictor; when the USS finally spawned the target 'Pirate Lord' was inside the USS and duly gave battle. Didn't attempt to flee at any stage, so no need for an FSD Interdictor there.

So, for the purpose of these missions, is the FSD Interdictor useless, just using up an equipment slot....?

 

[Chris Simon]

Many times I met my target in SC, actually.
Technically you don't need the FSDI even then, because you can follow them around and wait till they drop, or wiggle your tail at them and sometimes they catch and interdict you.

So it really depends, but I think it's simply a good manners for bounty hunter to have an interdictor. That's the main reason for having it

 

[Ism]

I have done several missions without FSD. If you go to the designated spot (usualy scan nav beacon or incomming comm message when you enter target system) during the designated time frame and you will find your mission target as a signal source. You don't have to scan them, your computer will alert you that you found your mission target.
You may encounter some tough opponents along the way to your target. Some of the highest paid targets were the easiest to kill, so don't let reward scare you.

 

[jpjeffrey]

Is it the case (... good manners aside! ) that the target will always be found in a USS .. (eventually, at least).....?
Or are there some missions where 'only an FSD Interdictor' will do' ....?

Some other points:

Q. If you get involved in other entanglements - requiring either a jump out or a diversion for repairs to a nearby station - will the mission fail...?

Q. Are the targets usually on their own, or flying with wingmen..?
(one of my targets was in a USS with 3 other ships - I thought I was in trouble, but the other 3 flew idly by while I was in combat with the target)

Q. Bad guys: 'Pirate Lords' are almost guaranteed to be 'wanted' wherever you find them; but what about deserters? Religious or Political identities? Any tip on the consequences of hunting these guys...?

 

[Chris Simon]

Is it the case (... good manners aside! ) that the target will always be found in a USS .. (eventually, at least).....?
Or are there some missions where 'only an FSD Interdictor' will do' ....?

Some other points:

Q. If you get involved in other entanglements - requiring either a jump out or a diversion for repairs to a nearby station - will the mission fail...?

Q. Are the targets usually on their own, or flying with wingmen..?
(one of my targets was in a USS with 3 other ships - I thought I was in trouble, but the other 3 flew idly by while I was in combat with the target)

Q. Bad guys: 'Pirate Lords' are almost guaranteed to be 'wanted' wherever you find them; but what about deserters? Religious or Political identities? Any tip on the consequences of hunting these guys...?

1) Depends on the mission. Some have a given time window in which the target may appear. If you're too late, they're gone.

2) Higher ranks have about 50/50 chance to have at least some escort, in my experience. Again, I think this is rather random.

3) You have to be really careful about this, actually. As a matter of fact, most assassinations are illegal (surprisingly )
Meaning - save the pirates, the targets are very often clean in the system where you found them (that's why they took a refuge, there, I believe) So unless you provoke them to shoot first, it can end badly for you. Unless it's an anarchy system, you usually want to resolve the business before cops arrive.

 

[D.G.Cerberus]

1) Depends on the mission. Some have a given time window in which the target may appear. If you're too late, they're gone.

2) Higher ranks have about 50/50 chance to have at least some escort, in my experience. Again, I think this is rather random.

3) You have to be really careful about this, actually. As a matter of fact, most assassinations are illegal (surprisingly )
Meaning - save the pirates, the targets are very often clean in the system where you found them (that's why they took a refuge, there, I believe) So unless you provoke them to shoot first, it can end badly for you. Unless it's an anarchy system, you usually want to resolve the business before cops arrive.

Specifically on (1) - There is another thread somewhere on here where this is answered, however the search function isn't the greatest - however, IIRC, if you are in the target system within the time parameters that the target will be there, and you jump out without killing, or even meeting your target, your mission will fail I believe, even if you are able to get back again, still within the window.