I'd like to ask, what is the point of having a Combat Rank when every NPC that attacks you is much higher rank than you. I haven't run into this problem but my best friend has and now he's threating to quit the game, and we just joined the PvE group.
He is "constantly" under attack, and I've seen it happen personally multiple times. We were mining, NPCs jump in, they ignore me and go straight for him. We both have Asp Explorers, neither of us has Wanted Status, neither of us has a standing under Neutral with any faction, neither of us were carrying cargo, yet they always 100% of the time went straight for him. We were on a planet checking out points of interest, we took off and three NPCs jumped in, seconds later they all three start attacking him and only come after me when I open fire to protect him. They were Elite or Dangerous Rank and destroyed me with missiles and cannon fire before my FSD can charge. Later, he decides to do Boom Data Delivery missions and the same ELITE NPC chases him across three systems, interdicts him successful and destroys him before he has a chance to respond.
This is on top of being attacked and destroyed while coming out of supercruise on multiple occasions. I'm not kidding, every time I turn around he's getting ganked by something way higher than him. This is absolutely insane, how is this fun?
What the heck is going on? I've checked his ship and Commander status, there is NO REASON why this keeps happening. None at all.
He's thinking of deleting his save and starting over, but if this keeps happening he'll leave the game. We need advice, what is going on? What are we doing wrong? This isn't Dark Souls, this game isn't supposed to be this brutal.