in a perfect roleplay world it is indeed so that BHGs would only work for bounties - probably on a limited and restricted base for all houses. - that does not mean that they are too welcome, but they are necessary. and that is the problem when players enter the scene.
if its only NPCs... you see pirates disrupting the lanes on a regular base, you see jumpgates blockaded, like - really blocked, cause docking transports queue up. - in a perfect world, the police is overwhelmed with the work and the superior gear of the pirates. - there the BHG steps in, with weapons far surerior than the house weapons for some parts ( compared to like bretonia and liberty [ original weapons ] ) and superior ships. - houses do not have VHFs. - its pirates, BHGs and civilians.
in this world - the BHGs take up a niche and are needed. they are respected as hunters by the official law enforcement - but under a close watch, too. BHGs enjoy the freedom of someone that is hired for a result, but not so much for how he achieves the result. - with the BHGs, the houses can deal with pirates in a way that they, as officials, can not do.
the BHGs fight the pirates even in their homesystems - it is left to guesswork on whos order they do this though.
now... this is discovery:
BHGs haven t changed the behaviour in the inner sphere. they act the substitute police, they blow stuff up if they catch someone red-handed. but the capital ships were added. - the ID states that the BHG uses those for their war against the order ( that the BHG started ) and for exploration in the omicrons, where ships are not only a weaponplatform, but also a base.
in the omicrons - they are waging a war. they are not hunting bounties in the classic sense. they appear to be working on their own account - but with good profit expectations.
so here is my suggestion about how BHGs can work:
- a BHG can of course scan for cargo / ID. when there are lawful forces around, such as official factions, or even independent police ( only when they are RPing the police and are correctly IDed etc ) they can be called by by those, cause they are "employed". but if none is around, they are - what was described "a lawful pirate" chance and opportunity, get what you can, while no one is looking, and if someone happens to look, make sure you take it from someone that has no credebility within the justice system.
( who do you believe more - the smuggler with cardamine that was robbed by a BHG, or the BHG that says he acted in self defense and had no choice but to blow the smuggler up )
- a BHG will most certainly not kos pirates on sight - unless he feels that an engagement is inevitable. ( provided that no bounty has been posted ) - so, if a corsair ignores me, i ignore him - that doesn t mean we are good friends - but it means that i ll do anything to avoid a fight ( a fight = expensive = bad )
yesterdays fight against 2 gunboats + 1 bomber on cheshire ended up with me having a repair bill of 2 million + 3 weapons totally destroyed ( no, i don t fly into planets to suicide ) - mind, this engagement was inevitable.
would i do that for "fun"? not when i am inChar. would i do it when i am payed? - certainly, if i am payed enough.
thats the point that comes capital ships into that calculation. my bomber just cost me 2.5 million to fully repair again. - so, i would prolly never take a contract against a gunboat for anything less. - if i was flying a battlecruiser, ( and i don t suicide with damaged gear ) - i might end up with a lot more - so.... i don t take small contracts at all anymore.
if there is a contract for like 20 - 50 million though - i don t see any reason why there should not be a destroyer/battlecruiser going for it, even if its a light fighter. but - he should not go for them if its for nothing.
what i would like to see is - permanent but low bounties for inner house criminals. 50.000 maybe. something that is equal to a cruiser captain npc but not enough to justify flying your cruiser there. 50.000 is OK for a fighter - but peanuts for a cruiser. - and i d still like to see special contracts around; individual contracts. - but its a lot of work for the factions to post them, keep track, pay the hunters etc etc.
![[Image: just_a_signature_by_sjrarj-d63yjsx.png]](https://img00.deviantart.net/ca73/i/2013/123/e/a/just_a_signature_by_sjrarj-d63yjsx.png)