There is an easy tactic in which 2 newbs can get an EC-107 bus hunter and dual rail gun mkIIs before gaining a single level or even being able to kill an orun collector. I've seen this more than once in game and in the stats.

I've always said there should be more weapons available for newbs but... I don't think this is what the devs intended.

Correct. It's also pretty obvious when someone has done this. IMO there's no point in penalizing all the players who do play for the PVP aspect of the game for the sake of a handful of people who're prepared to have a 50 death count for a bus.

Another possible solution would be to have the EC-88 actually cost some credits and allow the potential for going into debt.

Just add level requirments to the Bus Hunter and PvP awards?

Hoax has the best solution.

How about 7/7/7/-/-?

Agreed.

7/7/7 seems high though, I don't even have those levels heh.

How about combat 3? That's about when I started PvPing in earnest.

Hey Martin, are you a new person 'round here or did they change your name Martin.mac.au?

Oh yes, and ON the topic, I agree with the give-newbs-iceflairs-and-yellowjackets at 1 or 2 licenses, but the rail gun and ec107 shouldn't be available at 0 licenses!

[EDIT] and Hoax, I think 4/4/4 should be the requirement for most everything concerning combat, as that's the level at which you don't make people LOSE combat for killing you. IE, no leaving nation space 'till you have 4/4/4, the bounty hunter thing is good, and you would get kicked out of capital ships leaving nation space if you were below 4/4/4