Have you made a definitive decision to go exploring or are you just having a look round the neighbourhood? Either way I think you need to do a bit more research or you are likely to end up in trouble (run out of fuel etc)
Well yes, I had decided to explore. I don't know why everybody assumes I haven't bought a fuel scoop. What annoys me is I've just spent over £100 on a joystick and then found I can't park my ship outside the tiny area that has space ports. (And it really is very, very tiny compared to the 400bn systems touted by the developers) I feel like someone who's bought an electric car and discovered the only place you can charge it is in my garage. (Well maybe that's would have been the case few years ago)
i don't agree with most of the comments on this thread. I can understand that humans will have a very 'Sol-centric' view of the universe, but I don't agree that it is the centre of the universe. In fact I would say the Sun is in a real backwater. It isn't even a proper spiral arm! Someone said it would be "silly" if the whole universe would be 'developed', for want of a better word, but I think it is far more silly that 'our area' is the only civilised area of the galaxy. I think this is really narrow minded of the developers and doesn't continue the tradition of the original game of the eighties.
I think that there should be the option of trading across the entire galaxy, even if only 5% of the systems have an automatically generated station. When I go exploring I like to spend months of real time doing it, and not a quick dash across the universe for a screenshot and back again, like a meerkat which has spotted a scrap of food. Maybe I have missed some function, but I would like to go to the centre, or a faraway section of the universe, park, and then be able to log out and get on with my real life. Then log back in again, and continue my epic voyage. I think the original Elite was better in that respect.
I really don't want to be around Sol, where you get interdicted all the time by other players who think it's funny to attack people for no reason. So this is why I decided that going exploring was what I wanted to do, I didn't like the area around Sol. I'd like to explore the galaxy and never need to return. Set up camp where nobody can find me. Much prefer the company of aliens...
I don't agree that humans should be the only race that are intelligent enough to build space ports and the only ones we should meet in the game. I also don't think it will remain that way. At least I hope so. Otherwise expect to see a bargain X55 Rhino on eBay.
Right, 'nuff said. I have a real life little daughter who wants to play with me. Priorities!