Newcomer / Intro Bounty Hunting tips/observations

[_twilight]

After watching several good YouTube videos, I found my way into Bounty Hunting which has required a bit of a learning curve and a lot of practice.
To begin with I tried with the Sidewinder which went better than expected, then gave it a try with the Cobra Mk III. Now, I am experimenting with the Asp Explorer.
I haven't tried the Viper Mk III ship yet, and plan to also try that.

Some of the silly mistakes that I have been making:
not realising that I accidentally deployed my landing gear or cargo scoop and wondering why turbo boost is not working
targeting the wrong ship and getting a bounty
not allocating any power to weapons (all to systems/engines) then wondering why I can't fire any weapons
attacking a ship, not realising it is in a team then they all gang up on me and narrowly escaping with canopy damage (emergency life support)
forgetting to turn on "night vision" and crashing into an asteroid at full speed because I couldn't see it
accidentally turning on silent running during battle and then no shields (fixed my keyboard bindings to prevent that happening again)
forgetting to divert extra energy to weapons so that Beam Lasers can recharge

for the Asp Explorer with two Beam Weapons (this configuration can require more energy then available, meaning some modules are automatically disabled):
not using Energy Allocation properly and finding modules are no longer working (everything trying to use priority 1 for energy). this allocation approach for energy is giving good results
4 - Cargo Hatch
3 - Other modules
2 - Weapons
1 - Shields/Defensive

I have also noticed that some Elite ships recharge Shields extremely fast, much quicker than what I am able to do.
Also, some Deadly/Elite ships appear to bait you into chasing them then they flee and high wake out of the system diverting your attention away from other ships

 

[metatheurgist]

Asp Ex is not a very good combat ship at all. There are better options. Be glad that you weren't playing at a time when you had to use it for combat because it was sturdier than other options even though it's bad for it.

 

[aRJay]

After watching several good YouTube videos, I found my way into Bounty Hunting which has required a bit of a learning curve and a lot of practice.

Always check dates on videos older ones can show things that are no longer right and remember the videos will generally show where the poster did well so don’t judge your own performance too harshly.

To begin with I tried with the Sidewinder which went better than expected,

It is a good ship for its size.

then gave it a try with the Cobra Mk III. Now, I am experimenting with the Asp Explorer.

The Asp isn’t a great combat ship but can work surprising well, it is a big target from the top or bottom so expect to take damage, hits at least.

I haven't tried the Viper Mk III ship yet, and plan to also try that.

Went to that after my Sidewinder then went back to the Sidewinder as I didn’t like the handling for some reason.

Some of the silly mistakes that I have been making:

Be nice these are mostly the usual mistakes we all make from time to time.

not realising that I accidentally deployed my landing gear or cargo scoop and wondering why turbo boost is not working

Allegedly can be used to pull fast manoeuvres, I am not that advanced a flier.

targeting the wrong ship and getting a bounty

not allocating any power to weapons (all to systems/engines) then wondering why I can't fire any weapons
attacking a ship, not realising it is in a team then they all gang up on me and narrowly escaping with canopy damage (emergency life support)

Always read the info at the bottom left.

forgetting to turn on "night vision" and crashing into an asteroid at full speed because I couldn't see it

Night vision can be helpful even in the light as it highlights edges making stuff easier to spot.

accidentally turning on silent running during battle and then no shields (fixed my keyboard bindings to prevent that happening again)
forgetting to divert extra energy to weapons so that Beam Lasers can recharge

for the Asp Explorer with two Beam Weapons (this configuration can require more energy then available, meaning some modules are automatically disabled):
not using Energy Allocation properly and finding modules are no longer working (everything trying to use priority 1 for energy). this allocation approach for energy is giving good results
4 - Cargo Hatch
3 - Other modules
2 - Weapons
1 - Shields/Defensive

My usual settings are

1. Essentials; FSD, Thrusters, Sensors, Life Support.
2. Defences; Shields, Shield Boosters, Point Defence, Heat Sinks.
3. Weapons and tools.
4. Fuel Scoop, SRV Hanger.
5. Cargo Hatch.

The items in 1 will get me home.

I have also noticed that some Elite ships recharge Shields extremely fast, much quicker than what I am able to do.

Bi-weave shields charge much faster than standard ones and the Shield Cell Bank module can recharge an unbroken shield very quickly usually at the expense of adding heat to the ship.

Also, some Deadly/Elite ships appear to bait you into chasing them then they flee and high wake out of the system diverting your attention away from other ships