How do I find assassination targets?

[Bjørn]

I've just accepted my first assassination mission. It's a naval progression mission for the Federation.

The mission states what system the target is in, but I have no idea where to look.

I just tried to look at a strong signal source, but there was nothing there but some cargo (Gold) floating around. Then suddenly I got attacked by like 10 ships that came out of nowhere and I barely escaped alive (I'm in a Viper).

Do I need any special equipment like an interdictor to find my target?

I have 31 hours left to complete the mission, so plenty of time, but I'd rather not spend that time just flying aimlessly around in the system :)

[CharlieDelta]

It's random. Keep going to the signal sources and you'll find it sooner or later. You won't need any special equipment, aside from a ship not made of tissue paper. I've had those targets be anything from an Anaconda down to a fed dropship or Imperial Clipper. Sometimes they have escorts too. It can get hairy. If it looks like it's too much to handle you can run and hope you get a better roll next time. even if it expires, you'll get the mission re-offered, so just keep at it.

[Bjørn]

Thanks for the info. Maybe I should wait a while until I have a Vulture then. I have about 18 million plus whatever I get when (if) I'm selling my Viper, so I suspect it would be better to use a Vulture or even a bigger ship for this.

Anyway, I just have to fly around and check every signal source I see, all over the system? It doesn't seem worth the effort, to be honest.

I don't really want to be a military anyway since I already have a Sol permit, so maybe I should just let this one go... :P

[PetiteKerryJay]

My tactic is to fly around one of the named systems and check unidentified signal sources and if I don't find anything after checking 5 unidentified signal sources, I'll move on to the next named system and do the same again. I've never not found my target... yet :p

[teMELEEn]

Originally posted by pkkonerko14:

but charlie, some systems are so huge, theres hundreds of signal sources everywhere, does the game cater to the player once you enter "probable" system and produce the target for the player after a few signal source scans?

yes it does that, once youre in a target system, one of signal sources will spawn the target. Go for unindentified, not weak / strong. Also note there are assassination missions that mention multiple sectors. In that case usually what happens is that USS in any of these sectors spawns some NPC that will tell you in what system the target is, after that it works as described above.

[Bjørn]

Thanks for this info guys. Checking unidentified signal sources only and not the strong/weak ones will at least narrow down the search.

[teMELEEn]

good luck and lemme know if u need help taking the guy down, im close to kremainn :)

[RyonDK]

assassination missions are bugged to atm, if you get the "update" to abandon or kill a other target before getting the target itself or a update telling you where he/she is then you might never find the target as he/she wont spawn no matter how many USS you enter.

[Revolucas]

Just keep in mind if you fail or abandon missions you will lose rep and influence for the faction that gave you the mission.

[Bjørn]

Originally posted by ๖ۣۜRevolucas:

Just keep in mind if you fail or abandon missions you will lose rep and influence for the faction that gave you the mission.

Yes thanks. I haven't been able to play for a few days now, so the mission has expired. Not looking forward to seeing my Federal ranking/reputation once I log on again... :(

[Bjørn]

Originally posted by Psilio:

Originally posted by ๖ۣۜRevolucas:

Just keep in mind if you fail or abandon missions you will lose rep and influence for the faction that gave you the mission.

Yes thanks. I haven't been able to play for a few days now, so the mission has expired. Not looking forward to seeing my Federal ranking/reputation once I log on again... :(

Little update: Just logged on now, and luckily my rep was not hurt very bad. Did not get an option to renew the mission, but I'm still allied like I was before (with a red triangle pointing down after it), and still have my Midshipman rank :)

[fatboy21007]

careful on these missions, that conda sometimes comes with vulture escorts, and man my vulture gets down to hull almost instantly and i got 2 shield boosters on it and max shields! if ya have issues, run away n keep retracking till ya getem alone then its easy work

[Bjørn]

Originally posted by fatboy21007:

careful on these missions, that conda sometimes comes with vulture escorts, and man my vulture gets down to hull almost instantly and i got 2 shield boosters on it and max shields! if ya have issues, run away n keep retracking till ya getem alone then its easy work

Thanks. You say the guy is an Anaconda always, with Vulture excorts? Damin I'd better wait awhile before I try this again then, as I'm still in a Viper.

Howeverr, you say you have shield boosters? I advice you not to use those, as they seriously increase your mass (and thus maneuverabilty) and power consumption. I find it better to use the shield cell banks. They recquire ammo, but are very effective in restoring your shield almost instantly after a short cool down period.

And if you've already lost the shield, they have no effect, just a head's up :)

But thanks again for the tip. I guess I'll wait with this one until I have a Vulture or bigger...

[Unforgiving Elephant]

This is one of my favorite type of missions. I also find that as I Supercrusie through the system I scan every ship and that is how I find them, and I have used my intridicter on them Or sometimes they find me first lol!

[Gharrie]

As mentioned above you can also find them supercruising around and then you can interdict them using a drive interdictor. They also do not always spawn in condas, I've assassinated targets flying Eagles, Diamondback scouts/explorers and Pythons.

Personally I prefer to interdict the targets if they have any escorts as it gives you a few seconds extra to damage the target before any escorts join in the fighting, meaning that sometimes you can take them out and running before you get gunned down.