Another Mystery Solved

From time to time, and during the hunt, I encounter exploration ships just sitting out at random locations in space.  Sometimes there are scannable signatures and other times not.  I know about the filament placing ships around/near constellations/structures, but what about the ships located oddly or not near any known structures/planets/etc?

Adding to this conundrum, there are no data/relic sites for explorers to run within Pochven.  Yes, during events there might be some special sites for a limited time, but in general and day to day they don't exist.  So, when I ran across this explorer that appeared to be at a scannable signature, or at least what I hoped was a scannable signature, I needed to find out.

I needed to refit my death-dealer to scan this signature.  I elected for Core Scanners as opposed to Combat Scanners, no need to scare the prey.   Another issue, I needed to refit my ship discretely and this system is somewhat small with most locations all being on dscan.  Luckily I had a safe spot that was based on an old Astrahaus location.  This location was questionable as it was way outside anything you can reasonably warp to.  I quickly refit.

Another point of order, I needed to run the scan quickly.  Sometimes the prey will run if probes are seen, especially Combat Probes, so I needed to be quick.  Before going to the outside safe location I had isolated the ship to a particular point in space.  Using this I was able to place and perform my scan quickly, only 2 passes.  Likely I need to discuss the process of isolating ships in space to speed up scanning, but another tale for another time.

The explorer was at a Deepflow Rift.  I believe these signatures/sites arrived with an event a while back, but seems like they are still around.  I warped into the site at range and created a perch just prior to landing to allow me a quick warp point to reset my position.  No NPC's around and our intrepid exploration ship just simply pulling cans out of the Deepflow Rift.

I was quickly able to pin down and pop the ship.  The trophy frozen corpse also awarded, always a nice moment.  I also picked up the remaining cans floating nearby, each containing "Proven Deepflow Adaptive Container". Not sure what or how these work, but seems like they are opened like a loot box.  Op success!

But the evening was not yet over.  As I awaited my logoff timer an Epithal appeared on dscan.  Having some previous success I figured why not, let's try to snap this up as well.  And with all PI haulers this character too had evolved some interesting survival skills.  This Epithal pilot would go to a POCO, then return to the station.  Rinse and repeat, over and over.  I adjusted my observation tactics and luckily the PI hauler had at least one POCO to visit once I understood the pattern.  Sitting off the station I could see which POCO the Epithal was headed towards.

Sadly, in my eagerness I had not been minding my decloak timer.  My cloak promptly dropped at the station just after the Epithal warped off.  Rookie mistake, but I was committed.  I was exposed and visible, and as a Stealth Bomber I was vulnerable, naked.  Still decloaked I landed within range and quickly tackled and eliminated the target.

Oddly, the Epithal was unfit and the cargo hold empty.  This pilot likely hunted previously and adapted to minimize the loss, but no PI inside was just odd.  But, a kill is a kill, so merrily I ended the night.

For now,

Be Well New Eden!

Clever, but not Clever Enough

I like the adaptation that takes place around New Eden.  The evolution of hunter and hunted.  As the hunters find success, the hunted will evolve and improve.  This, for a short time, will confound and perplex the hunter until they too can evolve and improve.

In Pochven there is a good mix of hunter and hunted.  All of this in a convenient loop of connected systems.  An ecosystem on its own.  Some of the activities in Pochven can be extremely lucrative.  Some mildly rewarding.  Some take part in no activity and are just visitors passing through, using the filaments to come and go.  All activities make the chances of encountering other players across the various timezones possible.

I mentioned a while back how I have slowed down as I pass through the systems.  I will bounce around the system, take a look around, take a pause.  This has yielded some nice kills adding explorers and salvagers often found away from the gates.  I even feel I've been able to catch clever mining frigates that have the ability to cloak up at the first sign of activity.  

Last night before logging out for the evening I ran across an industrial hauler, an Iteron Mark V.  These ships can be performing a range of activities, but are always generally hauling something of value so my interest was piqued.

I have greatly improved at pinning down the general location of my prey, so often I can get within a reasonable range quickly.  This has served me well and allowed me to observe my prey and understand their habits and practices.  Knowing your prey will allow you to anticipate and gain the advantage on them.

This particular Iteron was warping from one Player Owned Customs Office(POCO) to then next.  I was able to get to the first POCO quickly.  As I approached the Iteron I noticed they were warping to the next location so I did not de-cloak and waste my opportunity.  I followed on to the next POCO.  As I landed a bit off the POCO structure I noticed they were about 200km away.  Bummer.  I foolishly approached feeling they might use a filament or maybe just sit there, but no.  They warped down to the POCO to conducted their business then warped on to the next POCO.  I followed.

At the 3rd POCO I now knew the drill.  Still at a short range from the POCO structure I waited.  When they came down the POCO structure I was ready, kind of.  Sadly they were on the other side of the structure.  This presented an issue as I was 45km away still and would have the slowly burn around the structure or decloak and be extremely quick but now give away my advantage.  Either scenario I am risking the loss of this target.  So I waited and hoped that they had at least 1 more POCO to visit.  They did.

On the final Poco I landed and waited.  This time they came down almost next to me.  A gift.  I quickly snapped them up.

As luck would have it I also obtained a trophy for the cabinet, the frozen corpse.  This capture ended the evening on a good note, and I left grateful for the quick and successful adventure.

For now,

Be Well New Eden!

Returning to the Old Ways

Well, dear reader, I have failed you.  Thera was great in concept, but just didn't pan out as expected for solo hunting.  Specifically solo hunting in the form I prefer, my trusty Stealth Bomber.  While I did arrive into Thera and made the rounds a few times, I found that Pochven was a better compliment for my available hunting time and the prevalence of potential targets.

And...I also took a short break.  A healthy thing to do from time to time.  I bet you were thinking you'd see me again in 1 year.  Nope.  Take note of this dear reader, I will keep you on your toes.  You can expect the unexpected.  That said, yeah, I'm back in Pochven.

My return was timed along with the arrival of the game's Catalyst release.

More info about the release found here.

This release of particular note as it is focused on resource acquisition and added some new ships in the mining frigate and destroyer classes.  The addition of these ships is a particular draw for me as it excites the very players I am after, the miners.  There is also a new Exploration Battlecruiser that looks interesting.

So, with some new ships to hunt, missing my old stomping ground, and wanting to interact with my targets, why not step back in.  Game on.

The first week began with my return to Pochven.  I fit up a Nemesis and began making the rounds.  Unfortunately I was unable to find targets the first few days.  When I did find targets they were in groups or had some support ships that made it difficult for me to capitalize on a kill.  There was nothing really to report aside from hopping gate to gate in the hopes of finding a target.

As fate would have it, my luck changed on Monday.  I found an intrepid explorer followed by one of the newly added frigate mining ships, the Venture Consortium Issue.

The explorer, a Heron pilot, reached out for conversation.  They were somewhat caught off guard as to how I was able to catch and kill.  I detailed a few tactics and after a good conversation we parted ways.  Of note, they were interested in finding a good corporation to learn and improve.  I relayed a very well known exploration group and wished them well.  This likely a good topic to cover in a future entry.

While awaiting my cooldown timer I then ran across the Venture Consortium Issue.  Juicy.  One of the new frigate mining ships.  This particular pilot proved quite elusive.  Anything that arose on dscan they were quick to cloak up and await the system to clear.  Initially I thought I had missed the opportunity, but then they showed back up on dscan.  Once locating them, I was able to observe their behavior and better understood what they were doing.  I had to manage my de-cloak timer, but was able to get into position and pin them down.

A good start to the holiday season!  I am grateful to the newly accumulating abundance of players out mining and trying these new ships.  I will try to not over-farm the mining herds.  I do, however, look forward to sampling the various hulls of these new ships.

For now,

Be Well New Eden!