When to hunt who?

[Renomaki]

As we all know, predators aren't a balancing factor in the game. However, there is some restraint involved when it comes to choice of hunt. Xenos getting their shit kicked in wouldn't be good hunting because they are already losing hard, and targeting marines during an urgent battle for the FoB can be a little harsh... Or at least I think so.

This begs the question (from a newbie hunter), though... When is it proper to hunt which?

Clearly in the early game, you should ignore xenos because a lot of them aren't ripe for hunting (unless they try to stir shit up with you, then you give them what they came for). Marines often come around near the 12:30ish mark, and their numbers are plentiful... Often to the point that there is bound to be a few brave stragglers begging to be made into trophies.. But by then, xenos probably would have grown up a bit at this point too.

At this point, who would we hunt first, and how much before we swap to the other side? Clearly you can't hunt just one side the whole round, you have to change it up, but what would be a good goal to work towards? 2-3 human heads and a few xeno skins? 5 humans and a single T3? Or even an even number of each?

We aren't here to wipe out a side, we are here to find good hunts and have fine fights, but how do you go about it without going a bit too far?

[Biolock]

I've always reserved hunting lone marines, regardless of who's winning or losing, is fine. If a marine is alone, they may as well be dead already.

[Sarah_U.]

I generally side with marines a lot. The most often I attack them is because they're acting retarded (Trying to befriend me being like "Oi Oi you look cool mate, ya' got some abs with ya' armor?") or they attack me directly. If they start using flamers or high-tier weapons (Sadar etc) I literally butcher them left and right for that. Aiming for the offender first if able.

So in term of end-game... I generally keep the later-part, but still aim to take out xenos one way or another.

Xenos generally have more value if they live during the extinction phase. And I even find myself willing to take on any level of caste due to how even thou they're trying their hardest, they'Re the worthiest opponents.

Also, because Marines are generally really weak and unable to RP (Seriously, you all cry about XenoRP, but they actually do more interaction(s) than marines who try to go "Unga Dunga me want attachment / pred equipment" and shoot you on sight).

[Kerek]

Rule of thumb, Marines are strongest on landing when xenos are weakest and late game marines are typically weakest when xenos are strongest.

But if a marine goes out of their way to attack me then they lose my patience and I usually hunt them relentlessly regardless on who is winning. Just a nice mix is good. 1-2 humans to xeno is a nice mix IMO. Depends on a lot of factors and who is more aggresive for me.

[Jay Burns]

I normally observe and see who is getting the most kills, so if I see a marine kill a rav singlehandedly I normally hunt them, or if I see a crusher fuck up 5 marines at once, stuff like that, also I go ham on anyone trying to shoot/slash me.

[Shyguychizzy]

Rule of thumb, Marines are strongest on landing when xenos are weakest and late game marines are typically weakest when xenos are strongest.

At this point I guess this might be invalid at certain times; though a young hunter may seem weak. Don't let looks fool you, they can easily tackle spam you to call the horde or literally takes one or two xenos to kill yah. Even a young drone has combat ability surprisingly due to tackles, the slashing part you might withstand to a certain extent depending on RNG or runners furiously speeding their way towards you. With their speed and all even young is quite difficult at times a trap usually helps fighting fast prey however its been proven a trapped prey can easily do the same damage to you at times.

[Renomaki]

At this point I guess this might be invalid at certain times; though a young hunter may seem weak. Don't let looks fool you, they can easily tackle spam you to call the horde or literally takes one or two xenos to kill yah. Even a young drone has combat ability surprisingly due to tackles, the slashing part you might withstand to a certain extent depending on RNG or runners furiously speeding their way towards you. With their speed and all even young is quite difficult at times a trap usually helps fighting fast prey however its been proven a trapped prey can easily do the same damage to you at times.

I have to agree that these days, hunting a few T2 (or even a T3 if you are lucky) xenos while waiting for the marines to deploy doesn't hurt the xenos all that much. Moreso when the marines take a long time to deploy, leaving you with nothing but xenos to hunt.

While killing T1s is something I try to avoid, if you are T2 or higher, I'm gonna attempt to skin you at some point, you know? Moreso when it has been proven time and time again that even young hunters are able to put up a good fight when pressured into it.

Back then xenos were weaker and thus it was frowned upon to bash them early in the round, but now that they are so stronk, I don't feel guilt for making a few of them into trophies, as long as I kept it only to a select few. After all, you still have to find xenos that are WORTH killing, not just any you happen to find.

[Kerek]

At this point I guess this might be invalid at certain times; though a young hunter may seem weak. Don't let looks fool you, they can easily tackle spam you to call the horde or literally takes one or two xenos to kill yah. Even a young drone has combat ability surprisingly due to tackles, the slashing part you might withstand to a certain extent depending on RNG or runners furiously speeding their way towards you. With their speed and all even young is quite difficult at times a trap usually helps fighting fast prey however its been proven a trapped prey can easily do the same damage to you at times.

I've been fucked up before by a young runner before. Its just a generalization.

[Heckenshutze]

I always act in self defence, my hunts are usually the xenos/marines who come to the lodge or stalk me.. Anyone who ends trapped in an alien mine deserves to be killed for me as well