Crime & Punishment

Background: I'm an old school player and recently returned, again. I've decided to live life on the fringe. Solo, low sec. I've quite literally lived in the same system for years and made an decent living off of exploration and general carebear activities. I've pirated for years however and know the basics.

Problem: Now that exploration is relevant and easy, I'm losing sites to various explorers throughout the day/night. I want to send a message to others and let them know this system's exploration prospects are mine.

Solution: Kill the explorers.


Due to my downtime, I'm struggling with how to handle this. T3 is out of the question. I will be hunting T1/2 frigs with low to no offense/defense. So I'm thinking a T2 ship decked out for war should be sufficient. I fly Minnie, but can pilot most Amarr and some Gallente.

Since I'm alone, I know I'm at a disadvantage. I'm struggling between Covert Ops Frigs/Force Recon since cloaked warp is crucial.

Primary objective would be to do this as cheaply as possible, since money comes in sporadically. I have no problem making something work vs. spending double for effortless kills, it sort of my mantra. Again, I've been playing for a long time so I have excellent ship/gunnery skills.

I'd appreciate some ideas/builds/experience if you have any. Due to the nature of the subject I will gladly accept mail both here and in game.

Thanks.

If this were Nul, or a WH, I'd say 'Bomber Up.'
Dropping a bomb on an explorer who's about to start opening cans may not (probably won't) kill them, but is will make 'em download, if you know what I mean. Plus there's a decent chance you'll vape any free-floating cannisters.
A kill isn't strictly necesasry - you want them to leave, and if being bombed does the trick, that's good enough.

Actually, come to think of it... In Hi- and Lo-Sec droping out of cloak, firing off a few volleys of missiles or torps, and vanishing again may do the trick anyway. Plus it allows you to troll the hell out of them.

If you mean the hacking sites:
Pre-mark the sites, leave a crappy can and fit a duel scram/MWD hookbill. It's fast enough to get on them before they warp out and the 2 scrams defeat the stabs they are fitting. That's what I'm using anyway and I'm making more off the sister launchers than the sites.

DED plexes? Pilgrim works good for me just make sure there aren't a bunch of rats that will switch to you before ya decloak.


Edit: If you're using a hound misfit it with scrams and autocannons like a normal frig with a cloak since 99% of the assplorers aren't using anything with a tank.

Well, as of right now I don't have a ship for the job. Others had suggested a Hound and that intrigued me. Funny you should mention honeypot. My system, while occupied by several Pirate POS is rarely active, and when it is, it's on my off hours (Yay Europe). So I essentially have a honeypot, exploration-wise.

So far the suggestions that really clicks with me is camping a site cloaked. Warping cloaked is huge and the Stealth Bomber (Hound) seems to be a very nice choice.

My only concern is can 1 or 2 volleys actually kill an explorer's frig? I've never attempted it but my gut says no. At that point it almost makes sense to go with the Cheetah which actually has some offensive turret bonus', unless I'm incorrect?

An SB using t2 rocket launchers and faction ammo will pop most explorer frigs (t1 or t2) very nicely.

You could get away with meta 4 rocket launchers if your not able to use the t2's, but they will probably cost more.

Fit scrams/webs in the mids, the usual BCS t2's in the lows, and you will teach them to fear the night.....

As for rigs, anything that ups your damage, of course.

3-4 volleys with void in neutron blasters will do the trick just fine

I would pick any SB over covert ops as SB has that nice bonus of -100% decloacking targeting delay.
You have to bump with Cheetah.

Stealth Bombers with Rocket Launchers.

rapier, hands down best for what you want to do.
probe all sigs in you system and when you see an exploration frig in any of those wait for them to be distraced by the minigame and drop the hammer.