Ships & Modules

If you want to go as cheap as possible you'd go for a frig, since from what I understand you're looking to hunt Ventures and other possible targets such as anom runners. A frig is capable of killing a Venture gas mining easily but catching them is the hard part, unless you wait you'll have to scan the site/him down which will cause any half decent Venture pilot to POS up. Taking on anoms runners is easier since you don't have to scan and they tend to be slower, but then sleepers pose a threat and they tend to have large tanks forcing you to fly something big.

Another option is a Stealth Bomber, it's nice because you get the element of surprise and can wait for someone then spring the trap, however you need a well placed bomb to get a Venture and as said above, you'll needto be in the site before them and wait, you can also do similar things to anom runners, waiting for them to come back in a salvage ship then pwning them.

Basically lots of options, you need to specify what else youre looking for.

cloaky proteus.

worst advice ever...

Ventures, the most common ladar site ships, can be extremely difficult to catch and kill solo if they are not afk. They warp out nearly instantly and have natural warp core stabs. I wouldn't personally fit a faction scram on a bomber, and force recons and T3s (the other covops-cloakable combat ships) have a targeting delay after decloaking.

Fitting probe launcher is a non-issue on the above ships, it doesn't even have to be online until you need it.

I'd say the best overal cheap WH solo hunter is a stealth bomber. You will be limited in what targets you can engage. But it can be the most lucrative. Last salvager I bagged dropped about 120mil and took 2 volleys.

The next best for solo work is a croaky proteus. But this isn't without it's drawbacks. Due to range you pretty much commit to the fight. And if you lose you are losing a shiny ship and SP.

As someone mentioned, a stealth bomber is your best bet. I would suggest either the Manticore, for it's superior CPU and 4 midslots (using sensor damps and a long point can render SOME targets helpless, do your research), or either the Purifier or Hound for the lowslots, allowing more torp DPS. Sleepers deal, and thus ratters tank, omni-damage, so it's not like hunting in 0.0 where the region dictates your bomber.

I'm no expert, but I would think your best bet is to scan down the sites when there's no activity, bookmark them, and then wait. Most experienced WH'ers will be spooked by foreign probes on scan, although you might be able to snag a mining alt in a belt or something with less trouble.

Nope, only if you want to leave it again.