Bounty

The bounty subsystem fuels the bounty contracts available to the player and provides the mechanics for the bounty rank and gang system. Gangs are loosely grouped fleets of hunters which may have exclusive contracts offered to them and may be offered employment with companies on the merit of their rank.

Bounty Hunter
The bounty system is not heavily driven by story; rather it is intended to offer the player an action packed experience with quick and constant access to combat and with very few ‘management’ or ‘administrative’ needs. Bounty hunters are by and large free of repercussions for their actions - as such, the story behind a contract is there mostly to tempt action players into a more role playing or adventure mode of play through a company, faction or criminal path, and can be completely ignored without degrading the experience. At any given time there will always be available bounty missions no matter the player’s or the galaxy’s status.

Bounty rewards at the higher ranks offer technology upgrades, modifications and ship components thus alleviating the need to research and manufacture. Bounty contracts may also offer partnerships and complete ships expanding the player’s arsenal, and allowing wings or even small fleets to be formed without any administrative need.

Bounty hunters do not own sectors of space and cannot take ownership of structure assets. However, they do have access to hunter only structures controlled by the AI, offering hunter players the opportunity to research and manufacture if they so choose; this provides a place to spend resources earned on contracts as well as an avenue to start a company, crime syndicate or faction.

The Bounty Board
Who is the top hunter and how long will he be the best? The bounty board is an ongoing tournament between the hunters; while there is no reward aside from bragging rights, top hunters do tend to get the better contract offerings.

Gangs
Hunters on occasion band together to form 'gangs'. These gangs co-compete for rank and mutual benefit, though loyalty is a grey area.