Argh! (GH2 main story)

[peridot]

I'm working through the GH2 main story (into episode 2 now) and there is a recurring frustration. In episode 1, I was supposed to catch some crook or other, and I followed a few clues, but then got to a point where the only clue I could find was that people would randomly say to me "I hear that <crook>'s henchmen have been seen in Cayley Rock exterior." Great, I think to myself, and go out there and look. Nothing. So I go back in and talk to people, and apart from getting that same rumor from time to time, nothing. Just a pointer that I should go outside and look for him, but he's not there. Eventually I give up and just start taking random missions. After a while (ten missions? twenty? I'm guessing it's keyed to my renown, which was negative for a while?), with no discernible change in the plot, when I try to enter a random encounter, instead I get some message about the crook, and I'm able to track him down and fight him. (Or his henchmen, or whatever.) So to advance the plot, rather than actually do anything about the clue I kept being given, it seems like the right thing to do is take lots of unrelated missions?

Now I'm in episode 2, and it seems like something similar is happening - it's a different crook this time, and a different spinner, but I keep getting the same message ("Gicici's henchmen have been seen in ... Exterior") that I don't seem to be able to do anything about. If it's renown-keyed, it'll take a while for me to get high enough as I'm at the point where missions are just barely possible.

Am I missing something here, or is there really no way to follow up on those hints? Is there a time limit on this mission, or can I take the time to repair my mecha?

[Frumple]

They're out there, they're just not as easy to find as normal mission encounters. Either put some points into awareness or walk through every tile in the map untill you hit them.

Also, there may be a time limit involved, but I don't remember if it triggers before or after you run into the henchmen for the first time. It might be something else entirely, or even a different plot story that does it. It doesn't stop you from finishing the episode, but it does trigger a sort of BAD END to it.

[peridot]

Quoting: Frumple

They're out there, they're just not as easy to find as normal mission encounters. Either put some points into awareness or walk through every tile in the map untill you hit them.

Ah, thanks, I found it (by mindlessly quartering the featureless void). But I can't be the only one who finds this frustrating and non-obvious... perhaps some rumors to the effect that they're out there but the base is hidden? Or, maybe better, some new find-the-hidden-X missions, to get players used to the idea that not all destinations are conveniently marked on the map? Even so, knowing you have to wander the map blindly doesn't save it from being boring...

[Snakebit STI]

Seconded. There should be some indication that your awareness is too low or that the battle is otherwise hidden.

[Daemonward]

Quoting: Snakebit STI

There should be some indication that your awareness is too low or that the battle is otherwise hidden.

Maybe awareness should just indicate the general area to search, and as the skill increases the area gets narrowed down.

[Burzmali]

*Cough* Shift+6, Crtl+v *Cough*