Friendly faction = Bad for bounty hunting

VRevs · Jan 2, 2015

I recently got the title 'Friendly' due to heavy trading in a fraction.

Before, when I was neutral with all fractions, I can bounty hunt without fearing of Federation Securities.

Now that I'm friendly with one of the fractions, I can't even attack Green 'Wanted' targets without all securities turning onto me... Whats the point of getting friendly with a fractions?

I'm better off staying Neutral at this rate... at least I can shot nearly everyone without Securities on my tail..

Bardolin · Jan 2, 2015

System/Federal/Empire Authority always turns hostile if you shoot a Wanted NPC that is in their faction, whether you are friendly or neutral.
If you get to Ally status with the sub-faction, they will no longer turn hostile as long as you only shoot Wanted targets.

I think that while you were still neutral you only happened across bounties that were not members of the controlling faction.

Phier · Jan 2, 2015

Which is sort of ironic since even though I'm friendly with them, they will shoot the crap out of me for being wanted

Hethwill_Khan · Jan 2, 2015

Is not bad at all. You just have to be more selective on your targets and let go the friendlies.

The more unwelcome sons of start dust you blow the more the system flourish and trade increases, meaning better prices and refreshing offer and demand ( and possibility for civil wars if lesser factions feel threatened or the most powerful one decides it is time to finish the opposition for good.)

Crabwich · Jan 2, 2015

VRevs said:
I recently got the title 'Friendly' due to heavy trading in a fraction.

Before, when I was neutral with all fractions, I can bounty hunt without fearing of Federation Securities.

Now that I'm friendly with one of the fractions, I can't even attack Green 'Wanted' targets without all securities turning onto me... Whats the point of getting friendly with a fractions?

I'm better off staying Neutral at this rate... at least I can shot nearly everyone without Securities on my tail..

It seems you were fractionally friendly at best.

Ydiss · Jan 2, 2015

I've said this often. True bounty hunting for the biggest profit should be done in anarchy systems with a KWS. Anything else is more effort than it's worth.

Bear in mind, some anarchy systems have factions and security. Avoid these.

The anarchy I hunt in has one faction that I am neutral to and I never see green ships or security forces. I make a good profit and it's way more fun. It's located near all three factions for hand in as well (an important consideration for anarchy hunting, due to never getting local bounties).

Borborygmus · Jan 2, 2015

Is it because the wanted target is of the same faction as the system authority? I've noticed this being an issue before. Usually need to leave an area and come back to fix it.

Fost · Jan 2, 2015

Always found this a bit odd myself - seems mad that a faction would be upset if you kill an NPC they have issued a bounty on!

HeavyGroovez · Jan 2, 2015

Ydiss said:
True bounty hunting for the biggest profit should be done in anarchy systems with a KWS. Anything else is more effort than it's worth.

Exactly this.

talharbash · Jan 2, 2015

Ydiss said:
I've said this often. True bounty hunting for the biggest profit should be done in anarchy systems with a KWS. Anything else is more effort than it's worth.

Bear in mind, some anarchy systems have factions and security. Avoid these.

The anarchy I hunt in has one faction that I am neutral to and I never see green ships or security forces. I make a good profit and it's way more fun. It's located near all three factions for hand in as well (an important consideration for anarchy hunting, due to never getting local bounties).

Are you hunting in Tarach Tor? I cannot find an alliance dock anywhere near it. The closest empire one is a 2k lys hike from its sun.

Vandaahl · Jan 2, 2015

If you want to down grade, just get caught with illegal cargo. It does quite some damage to your rep (and also (sadly) to your credit balance).

Sorina · Jan 2, 2015

Well, if a Friendly Npc has a bounty, and its faction is related to the System Vessels Faction there are three options when the vessels are red to you: If you didnt get a bounty on your head for shooting the Bounty Npc 1. Supercruise out and directly back in - everything reseted, 2. Log off and back on - everything reseted, 3. Dont hunt Bountys ;P

Helvellyn · Jan 2, 2015

I've seen two NPCs shooting each other from the same faction (that I'm friendly with), one of them "Wanted." Shot the Wanted one myself and had the guy who had been firing on him a minute ago turn on me.

Jovial · Jan 2, 2015

Ydiss said:
It's located near all three factions for hand in as well (an important consideration for anarchy hunting, due to never getting local bounties).

Any chance you'd be willing to name that system?

talharbash · Jan 2, 2015

Hi Jovial,

You can try Komovoy. It has alliance, fed, and empire near it.

Komovoy is Anarchy.
Codorian is Empire.
Ditibi Fed.
Alliance is not too far: Arque.

Please do some missions n Komovoy to keep the anarchy government in place if you find this useful.

Jovial · Jan 2, 2015

Thanks talharbash, I'll look into that.

Kitiara · Jan 2, 2015

There is a bug with system authority craft (and their equivilents).

If you shoot a ship that is wanted in the current jurisdiction, but is also allied to the system controlling faction, then the system authority vessels turn hostile to you and attack you.

Things to note are

You do not gain a bounty for attacking the wanted ship
You do not become wanted for attacking the wanted ship
You do not lose faction standing for attacking the wanted ship
The system authority vessels do not become legitimate targets for you
If you fire on the system authority vessels, you will become wanted, with a bounty to pay off and lose faction standing.

It is a bug, and Frontier have acknowledged that and stated they will fix it as soon as they can, but it is buried deep in the reputation system and is not an easy fix.

To work around it, you should enter supercruise and then re-enter the nav beacon. On re-entry, you will find the system authority vessels are no longer hostile to you.

talharbash · Jan 2, 2015

Also look at Lave. It's a pirate haven with rares and I can see alliance, fed, and empire nearby. Going to check it out more closely now.

Sentdex · Jan 2, 2015

Just leave and come back if they are severely damaging you. I am allied with Empire due to all of the bounty hunting I've done. I try to avoid the other friendly/allied empire folks, but, if they are wanted with enough bounty, I will deal with the little mosquito Eagles for a while.

I dunno what you're flying, but they don't actually do much damage. I'll usually spend 10-15 minutes bounty hunting and usually have my allied faction's Auth on my tail the whole time. They miss a lot and are pretty bad in general.

It definitely smells of a bug though, it's just the case whenever you attack someone who is allied with the auth vessels. You wont lose any status as far as I know, or at least the killing of a wanted ally is still more than the killing of an ally.

Zenicetus · Jan 2, 2015

Right, it's a bug and shouldn't work like that (as far as we know). One of the FDEVs mentioned a while back, that NPC's generated with Wanted ID's are supposed to have their factions set to neutral/non-allied, so this wouldn't happen. Criminals shouldn't keep their faction alliance. But they haven't fixed this yet.

Best workaround is to exit the instance and jump back in, which resets everything. Also, I suggest filing a ticket to help remind the devs that this is still happening. Maybe that will help bump it up the to-do list.