I hit it last night and haven't really budged other than moving from Alioth to Founders World. I turned in the data at Alioth to max out my Alliance rep since I don't go up that way too much. So, as of right this moment, my Approximate Time Played is: 12W 6D 16H 38M. Keeping in mind I pre-ordered and was sitting here waiting for it to go live. Haha. Elite was one of my all-time favorite games for the Commodore 64 when I was growing up. I was pumped, even at my age, when I saw this coming out. I'm also retired from the Army, and have time on my hands to play.
I agree with you there. The combat I at least had in a general I know what I need for 1%. I also got lucky and there was a three system war for a community goal that I hit hardcore shooting for the top and that knocked a huge part of my combat out when I did it. Trade wasn't that hard, mentally, because I was just starting that last rank when the Cutter came out. I didn't know the Cutter was coming out. I just saw it staring back at me in the shipyard one day and almost splooged in my pants. So, not only did I suddenly have damn near twice the cargo space (I was in a 'Conda), but now I was grinding to get all the parts up to fully pimped in the cutter, *and rebuild my cash reserves. But, I agree. There didn't seem a rhyme or reason to that next 1%. Exploring... is just doing it. Pretty clear what it takes. 1 million in data per 1% through Pioneer. Just a matter of doing it. The exploration was just mental, for me, because core runs and neutron star farming seem the only real options to "getting it done." I mean, technically, I could have just explore every stellar body in every system within the civilized bubble and got it. It just would have taken me until 2034.
