Beginning Pirate

I'm having a slight problem... I'm at the beginning of Act 1 where you have the opurtunity to pirate ships galore... So far I've been hitting the Smarkerland (whatever its called) L-Point and quite frequently, I get blown up whenever I try to get a ships cargo... That or Jaf won't come because there are hostiles around.

SO, how am I supposed to tell which ships have escorts, and should I take out the cargo ship and THEN the escort, or the other way around.

Also, when I LDS to the L-Point, some ships are already hostile... any reason why?

Just pondering

-(V)

Bleep........Bleep.....Bleep....Bleep....bleepbleep..bleepbleepbleepbleepbleep... bang

Welcome to the board

For the beginning you should hunt for SNRV ships (like jafs got one without a mod).
At a L-Point there are two possibilitys:
ships jump in or arriving convoys and even single ships want to jump out.
First version:
incoming ships are followed by their guards - freighters allways appear before the watchdogs come in. So sit next to the L-Point and watch the scenery. One SNRV jumps in - two tugs appear right after that vessel. All three belong to "Independant" faction.
It's a small convoy, and I prefer to shoot the freighter first.
Shoot him one or two times and he will release his cargo. The guards turn hostile but have to turn around to face you. Don't move too fast but stay in motion, stay behind them and shoot one. At the rear side they have no shields (you don't have them either).
Number two has managed to face you and starts to bite you. Now it's a one on one dogfight and with some practise you will get him easy.
Second version:
a convoy wants to jump out. Sitting next to the L-Point check your contacts and use the globe for orientation - watch them come in. If the convoy suits your skill (one or two SNRVs and two guarding tugs?) them get behind them and the story goes on...
Let the freighters go after releasing the cargo, they don't shoot you. The convoy stops for a moment when lining up for the jump, a good situation for an attack.

Remember some hints:
-learn to manage your ship and your weapons - it takes some time.
(instant action is a good training ground)
-start with the smaller fishes - the big ones are well guarded but you will get them later.
-patience pays
-stay in motion and watch your six

For training: circle around a ship in motion and try to face it.
( W and A or D !!)
e-mail me if you want to get some lessons online:
tarcoon (at) web.de - Title it EoC Lessons.

funny signature - lol

good hunting

oh - ships and escorts stay together. Incoming convoy: two freighters and four tugs right behind the freighters. You shoot one freighter and all four tugs turn hostile.
Your signature starts running...

Some reasons for foes at the L-Point:
Last shooting was incomplete - you or they managed to run. Your ID is remembered. If you come close they try to finish their job.
Marauders are hostile but they don't attack you.
Next to Samarkand there is a criminal station. Shoot one of them and all of them turn hostile.
Leave the L-Point and come back? They know you - untill you have docked to your base.

Sure your signature turns to:
tchak..tchak..tchak..tchak..tchak..tchak - beep

Here's a good tactic:

SNRV pilots are often underpaid, so they won't risk their lifes and give up cargo quite easily. Fire at the SNRV or Freighter until they dump their cargo. While doing this, you may need to take evasive action from the incoming fire from the escorts.

Be warned that Maas freighters, freighters with more escorts, etc don't give up their cargo so easily. It's better to take out the freighter first before it jumps into LDS or out of the system, but watch your six.

Duffy
-"Maas Megafreighters are beautiful paradises..."

Like others it takes practice, unless you are a born fighter pilot, like me:D

Snrvs only take one shot on their hulls to have them drop their cargo.

The other freighters- you will have to get their hulls to about 49-60 to get them to drop.

Knowing who is with who takes some observation. Watch who comes through the L-point together and who comes by themselves.

Many times you will get ships coming through the L-point with buddies who are at the L-point but who didn't arrive with them.

The Mauraders do attack you. I like to hang out at Blackeye L-point because they come there often in the early stages. And you already have them as hostile on your target so they're easy to identify. Pls at Blaceye you have no snotty authorities hailing you to leave the area- although I never listened to them anyway heh.

Also, don't go about shooting everything. CHeck the freighter out. Sort of survey the area. Get withing 5km of the freighter and press y to cycle through the cargo, if its juicy then suit up and shoot its engine(i like shooting the engine because I won't be hittin the cargo)

But dont be chicken. It's fun and exhilirating to go after big targets. Just be confident in yourself and dont do anything stupid. Don't push your engines unless you are trying to get away.


And Always remember to save after a nice looting.

I love this game...[}]