Bounty hunting in RES

[Nebiroth]

I thought I'd try bounty hunting as I got bored with mining. I have a well equipped Vulture with mostly A-class stuff. The normal RES sites are dull because not many wanted ships turn up and the ones that do tend to get blown to bits by the cops very fast, unless they are big ships. The guides around suggest a High RES site (I presume "hazardous" ones would need a bigger ship, such as a Python at least, I think)

However, the problem is that every time I tried there wasn't any help from security ships. I got lots of spawns of wanted guys, but I'm pretty sure I can't take on an Anaconda without some help - particularly when they are in a wing with fighter ships as well! Either that or the bad guys mostly turned up in wings of three.

The only help around was a wing of three "clean" NPC ships that also seemed to be trying to do some bounty hunting. However, as they invariably were doing it in Eagles and Sidewinders they just tended to constantly get blown to bits.

Have Frontier changed High RES sites - the YouTubes of people taking on big ships with help from the cops, som of them are recent, like a week or two old.

Or did I just get very unlucky? One try I got four bad guy Anacondas and nothing else, presumably because I didn't destroy them there were no respawns? But they were all in wings, no way I could take them on realistically.

 

[Malkevin]

I think the amount and quality of security ships you get at a res is based on the systems security level, and no I don't know where you check that.

 

[OldSalt]

With a tooled up Vulture you can eat NPC Annies for breakfast. Target the power plant, get in close and use your ships agility to minimise hits from incoming fire and keep the sights on the target.

 

[Hexcaliber]

You can kill AI anaconda fairly easily in a ship like the viper, the vulture should have no problems.

In smaller ships stay around 2km's away, even if this means flying in reverse, this ensures that the enemy will miss far more often than you will, also get in the habit of using lateral thrusters so you are not constantly flying in a straight line. Using chaff on smaller ships is also advisable, as many ai are equipped with turrets/gimballs. The alternative is to get right in on top of the conda or sit behind it to limit the number of weapons it can bring to bear.

If you are looking for security ships to help you, ensure you have the option "report crimes against me" turned on.

 

[Nebiroth]

Okay, I will give it a go. Just wondered why there were no security forces turning up. Maybe I just chose the wrong system. I know that High RES sites are generally in rich/pristine reserve systems around rings, which makes sense. I would also presume that a system secureity level would be based around how developed it is (population size, for example) and political level (with democracies better than anarchies). Also that Federation allied systems would be more likely to have Federal security

I'll check it all out. I just wondered if Frontier had nerfed it in some way. I'll try flying to one of the systems that the guides actually use. I picked Bhotho because it was convenient, I did my mining in it's pristine metallic ring planet AB3.

Thanks for the headsup about the "report crimes" thing. Whereabouts is that?

 

[Night Hawk]

With a tooled up Vulture you can eat NPC Annies for breakfast. Target the power plant, get in close and use your ships agility to minimise hits from incoming fire and keep the sights on the target.

Yes that is true - but when you take on an Anaconda with 1 or 2 wingmen, while you are busy attacking the Anaconda the other ships will quickly drop your shields if you are not careful.

In this situation, if you are flying alone, you need to follow the wing and wait till they engage another target. Then while they are busy, move into position and take out the smaller wingmen before attacking the Anaconda.

The other option is fly in a wing yourself and then you can co-ordinate your attack with your wingman - this is great fun, especially if you have a couple of good pilots in decent combat ships. Although you have to share the bounty, you will be destroying ships much faster than working alone and the bounty will rack up very quickly.

You need to pick your targets carefully when Bounty Hunting alone, especially in a Haz Rez, so you dont get overwhelmed and lose your ship - start with smaller ships (up to the Asp) until you get more proficient.

Also consider that the AI may be getting tougher when 2.1 gets released, so you will need to adjust your tactics accordingly.

 

[cmdr_Havalok]

Check the security level of the system you are in, as that has impact as to what shows up security wise. You have several options to BH.

NAV Beacons - Easiest*. Security should show up to help. Generally, easy targets. Good place to get a feel for the job.

LowRES - Easy to Medium*. Security should show but not as often as a NAV

HighRES - Medium. Tougher targets but security should still show.

Compromised Nav Beacons - High difficulty*. Higher level targets often a free for all. No security NPCs to back you up

HazRES - Highest *difficulty - often WINGED targets. Best Payout. No help from NPCs Security *Fixed and added the word Security*

*Note, difficulty is a relative term, I use this term to describe the sites in relation to each other not as a measure of skill. And Of course Player targets are a whole other story.


Last not but least, let's not forget interdicting. Cruise a system and interdict WANTED ships. this way you have some control over what you go up against. Again the TYPE and Security level of the system have an impact on the targets that show. Remember in ANARCHY systems there are no laws to break so generally no WANTEDs. Also pay attention to the stations in the system. Make sure at least one has the 3 Rs (Restock, Repair, and Refuel) or you may find you have to jump out and back a lot.

Also pay attention to your Minor Faction status if you work the same system a lot. There tends to be at least one criminal faction in most systems. The Something, Something Jet Clan or the Crimson HooHaws. They will have more WANTED ships so you end up killing more of them and will eventually become UNFRIENDLY or even HATED which can lead to them being more aggressive towards you (which can be fun if you're prepared for ramming tactics).

 

[Insomnia]

Follow the cops around and attack their targets. Work with the police if you're in a Vulture. Makes BH so much easier. ^^

 

[Nebiroth]

Follow the cops around and attack their targets. Work with the police if you're in a Vulture. Makes BH so much easier. ^^

I did mention that I wasn;t actually seeing any cops!

And yes, in reference to an earlier post, it wasn't just that I felt I could be overmatched by an NPC Anaconda, it was that they were almost always accompanied in a wing...with fighters, and the AI is easily smart enough to have the fighters bring down your shields whilst you're trying to bring down the Anaconda's, and when you shields go down, an Anaconda can get lucky, turn on you and trash your hull in seconds.

 

[deckroid]

When I finally got my A-Class Vulture, I had the same issues. Once I got the hang of the Vulture and it's abilities, I could take on most any comers NPC in HIREZ and then HAZREZ. What I did was find a the highest rated wanted ship (elite, dangerous) and see if the local cops would take them on. I found that places like Gende is great for that. Hang back for a moment, see which ship the locals are taking on then step in and take it down. It also helps that I am aligned with ALD and get bonus $$ for bounties in that system.

And even if the locals get taken out, there are always more that spawn.

 

[happyfunball]

HazRES - Highest *difficulty - often WINGED targets. Best Payout. No help from NPCs

No help from security NPCs. However, sometimes you can find HazRES with opposing NPC factions. I've leeched aplenty off two pirate factions fighting over a HazRES.

 

[ShadowWolf Kell]

No help from security NPCs. However, sometimes you can find HazRES with opposing NPC factions. I've leeched aplenty off two pirate factions fighting over a HazRES.

That's changed a bit in 2.1. Cops can show up, and Power Play factions will be there a lot. If you're pledged, you'll be attacked frequently.

 

[happyfunball]

That's changed a bit in 2.1. Cops can show up, and Power Play factions will be there a lot. If you're pledged, you'll be attacked frequently.

That's good to hear. As it stands today HazRES isn't really all that much more hazardous, with the exception of more wings.

 

[cmdr_Havalok]

That's changed a bit in 2.1. Cops can show up, and Power Play factions will be there a lot. If you're pledged, you'll be attacked frequently.

 

[Nebiroth]

I moved to a high security system and some cops did show up in a High RES. Not many, and unfortunately the two of them in Eagles had a bit of a time bringing down the bad guy in an anaconda, at least until I helped out!

I've also noticed that you tend to get more "good guys", not cops, but generally wings of three clean rated pilots, who like to do a bit of bounty hunting of their own

 

[goemon]

you can take a vulture to any RES.

sometimes it is worth it, to search where the battle is going on - follow flashing laser around.

i fit A-rated sensors in RES - better situational awareness.

if facing a npc wing, take out the escorts first, or, as said above, wait for them attacking a target.

depending on several factor a res can spread out to 20 km ... so sometimes you are in the really wrong spot of it.

i take down anacondas in high res with an eagle, with and without security help, i'm no dedicated combat pilot... i'm just patient...

enjoy!

 

[Codger]

There is some randomness to the Res instances. You can get a new one by supercruising out and then jumping back in.