Horizons Best way to start out for a noob

[User_Name]

Hello,

I'm new, be kind please.
I've gotten the hang of docking, leaving dock, Jumping to other systems ( assuming it's not " out of jump range?!), and getting around ( again assuming something isn't too far away, which is something I havnt wrapped my head around yet). If I need a better hyper drive engine...how do I get one when I can't go to many places??

My issue is there seems to be a VERY limited number of missions when you start out. I'm ineligible for nearly everything. Also the starting missing sometimes simply doesn't show up. I look at contact....there should be one mission. Sometimes it's not there. And some of them like black box salvage ( I actually taught my self how to use the cargo scoop without youtubing it lol) have a high risk of getting attacked and then I'll get my but kicked...

I know I should get the type of laser weapon ASAP that auto targets if the target is in front (gimbal) but every " high tech" planet or port etc is "out of jump range". I can jump to a few systems or planets away but the entire rest of the galaxy is " out of jump range"

I'm just generally confused and can't figure out how to start out beyond doing like...1 or two missions.

I know there are Youtube videos but there's too many of them and they either talk about what I already understand or simply don't explain what I'm asking here.

Halp please?

Thanks

 

[Ashnak]

In order to jump to systems that are further away, you'll have to do several jumps. That's the easy one.

You can do this through the galactic map (left panel -> Navigation - Galactic Map, bottom left). Choose your target system, then tell it to calculate a route. If it's possible to get there with your ship, a route will be calculated and shown on the map as a line. As long as the line is solid, you can get there with the fuel in your tank. When the line becomes dotted, you'll have to refuel:
- dock at a station that offers refuelling services (most, but not all, stations do)
- buy a fuel scoop and collect fuel from the corona of suitable stars (star classes KGB FOAM)
- if you still run out of fuel (happens to all of us), call the fuel rats

If you are in some backwater where your jump range is not sufficient to find a rout to get you out of there, then you will have to get either a better FSD (frame shift drive) or a whole new ship.

Drives (like all other internals) have two designators: size and quality. The number determines the size, the letter the quality. So, a class 2A FSD will be better (and much more expensive) than a 1A FSD, but a 2E FSD may not necessarily be better than a 1B. The new outfitting screen is quite good in helping you compare these things. However, if you want to use resources outside of the ED universe, here are a few links:
Coriolis - a ship outfitting calculator, will show you what your ship will be able to do if you fit in specific components. Doesn't cover Engineers, though.
EDDB - Elite Dangerous DataBase. Does what it says on the tin. If you're looking for information about human structures or goods, you'll find it here.
Galactic Academy - part of ED community. If you show up here, you can find a link to a discord server where, basically at any time, you will find a few experienced pilots to give you real time help

If that didn't answer your questions, just ask again.

Oh, and for those missions - it'll depend on where you are and how friendly you are with the locals. But you don't have to do missions - there are a lot of other career paths open to you in order to make the one or other credit. And if you're still in the Sidey, don't bother with gimballed weapons.

 

[User_Name]

Thank you so much for answering.

Yes I understand needing to make multiple jumps. I have been to a system or two where I had to do a jump, and then another jump as it was too far away to do it in one. My confusion is in systems that aren't linked with the blue lines I guess. Also, it seems impossible to chose a system that's above or below on the galaxy map. It often says can't plot route or something to that effect.
So complicated, wonderful in VR but baffling for a noob lol

 

[SciTrekker]

I echo everything Ashnak said, plus...
* These forums have quite a few posts similar to yours where you'll find answers to your next questions [heart] Unfortunately, I haven't found the search feature here to be real good so maybe use Google to do keyword searches.
* Find a group or make friends with other Elite Dangerous players. I won't list them as you can use these forums' Dangerous Groups link. However, if you're on XBoxONE, some newer players that have or are currently going through the same growing pains as you, you may find some new friends via this sub-thread (and it's stickied iirc): https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/198576-ED-Looking-for-Friends

 

[User_Name]

Believe me I've Googled and I apologize for being " that guy". It's hard to narrow down and a lot to learn. I'm on PC + the oculus Rift. I even made the jump to using a HOTAS. I want to like it but ...ya haha
I'm not sure how much I relish open play. I'm not into getting destroyed by a arm chair troll when I'm just minding my own business. Not into PvP. But that also means no friends or in game help... blarg

 

[Ashnak]

Ok, the blue lines will show the systems where you can get in one jump.

Going up or down will depend on your controller - I use the XBone controller and have to press "x" in order to switch from left-right to up-down movement.

Can't give you a practical example for the GalMap, as I'm in my SRV right now, but if you open the map and select a star system, you'll find (at least) four icons in the bottom row:
- select system. That works all the time, and for systems linked by blue lines will also enable you to select it as a jump target
- plot route. That's the one you want. Choose a system (less than a thousand light years away) and plot the route.

If your ship isn't able to do the jumps on that route, the computer will tell you that it couldn't plot a route - in which case you'll need a better drive. But within the local range of the starter systems, that shouldn't happen too often. The Sidey has a default range of 7 and a bit light years - if you get a 2D FSD instead, you'll gain 1.5 ly on that. The 2A will get you up to 17 ly, but cost more than ten starter Sideys.

 

[SciTrekker]

wonderful in VR

So ignore my XB1 link of noobs

baffling for a noob

Unfortunately this game has little in-game to teach new players about the game. Even the Training Missions are not "tutorials."

 

[Monk]

My recommendation is the same I took for myself.

Get out there, and die...die a lot

Let failure teach you the way forward.

Also, better missions will appear when you have better rep with the faction providing the mission. Find a system with low or med intensity RES, collect a bunch of bounties and turn them in...you will find your reputation improve with the bounties you cash in...once the rep is high enough, you should start seeing some better missions. Plus, bounty hunting will net you some cash and materials along the way.

 

[User_Name]

Thanks everybody. Appreciate it

Going up or down will depend on your controller - I use the XBone controller and have to press "x" in order to switch from left-right to up-down movement.

I think THIS is my issue, thank you. Sure wish there was a way to use joystick instead of fumbling for my Xbox controller ( headset on).
Also if I want to hang out with you guys I might have to get that voice recognition software. Keyboard is out of the question in VR

cheers

 

[Admiral Stavanos]

I want to like it but ...ya haha
I'm not sure how much I relish open play. I'm not into getting destroyed by a arm chair troll when I'm just minding my own business. Not into PvP. But that also means no friends or in game help... blarg

You don't have to do PvP to get friends. Like others have said in various ways, you can get into groups that have like-minded ideals and goals. As for Open Play...in my experience, it's no more dangerous than being in outer space in Private Play. Know this though, it comes down to which territory you're flying through and where the most Commanders happen to be most of the times.

If you're with the Feds, stick to Federation space until you stop crawling and start walking...test the waters once you feel you are confident enough. You will be killed, and not necessarily by another human, so keep that in mind.

 

[kdjac]

Dont take missions from systems you are delivering missions too it creates an endless/ pointless cycle, you need to go back to where you 1st got the missions and work from there.

I did the above for 100+ plus hours before i copped I was never getting anywhere with minor factions because I never went back to the original mission giver. Got some great exploring in tho.

 

[Icarus1]

Hello,


I'm just generally confused and can't figure out how to start out beyond doing like...1 or two missions.

I know there are Youtube videos but there's too many of them and they either talk about what I already understand or simply don't explain what I'm asking here.

Halp please?

Thanks

You will have to keep doing those missions. If you can jump between a few stations, try to see if you can trade something with profit, beside doing missions.
YOu can also strip your ship down to the base (sell your guns and shield) and see if your jump range improves (it will). If you do that, be ready, that you may die, but you may find a better location with better missions, possibly an upgrade for your jump drive. By the way, make sure you aren't adding stuff at the beginning to your ship, that you don't really need. Everything you add has a weight and shortens your jump range.
Especially in a sidewinder. Once you get enough money, get that space shuttle looking thing..it's good for one thing and one thing only, to do light trading. Once you're doing that, grind grind grind....yeah, it's a grindy game..but you will have options what you wanna do from that point on.

 

[Adhock]

Get used to the Galatic map view. It can be a life saver. There's four controls for the map which are Rotation in which the map is locked in place and you can spin it around the center point. Vertical in which the map is locked on the horizontal plan and you can move it up and down to change the elevation. Horizontal which is the opposite of vertical. And Zoom which lets you zoom in and out centered on wherever you clicked on the map. Using a combination of these will let you find systems you want to get to.

Understand the different economies in the Galatic map which you can see by changing your view mode. Industrial economies are very common and are the best place to start upgrading basic parts. You can find most components up to a C rating and they are more likely to have a shipyard with a wider choice of ships. For higher rating parts and the more tech based components, a High Tech system is the place to look. The parts available do change so something that wasn't available previously may now be available and some parts may go missing. Probably may have to do with the state the system is in at a local level.

Outposts are good places to resupply if you need it but they won't have much. For serious work you need to look for Orbis (tube like stations) or Corolis (boxy hexagon station) as these stations have more pads for ships so will have more services to choose from. Consider basing yourself at these stations.

 

[User_Name]

Thanks

 

[sicksuntzu]

tbh you dont need to run mission when you start, a better way of making money is to go bounty hunting and shadow the police npc's when they attack a ship, when they have it down to about 10-15% then start attacking and you should get the kill claim. You will be making a lot more money that way then running mission and imo is a lot more fun too. Best way to find out how to do it is to watch a few youtube videos then go and give it a go.