Newcomer / Intro Original backer trying to get back into the game, feeling a bit overwhelmed

[Gogzilla]

Hey all,

I have not played the game since power play came out. It has gained my interest again due to possible "alien" encounters. So i wanted to slowly get back into it in solo mode.
I decided to try and pickup where i left off with a python and 13 mil in the bank.

https://coriolis.io/outfit/python/0...104043458022h.Iw18eQ==.Aw18eQ==?bn=Python WIP


I looked into joining the CGs at Mu Koji but I promptly got destroyed by every NPC wing that i tried to fight. After doing some googling and before i lost my ship i decided to try and make back the money by doing some Sethos missions. It worked out with me making close to 32 mil. I am now currently sitting at Shinratha Dezra trying to figure out what to do next. I know that i don't have enough money to fully A rate my Python. Long range hauling and smuggling seems to be the fastest way to do that.

So i was hoping i could get some advice and information on stuff that i have clearly missed.

• Q1. NPC's seems a lot stronger than i remember is that just because of my ship/skills ? , if so what can i do to fix it.
• Q2. Should i ditch my discounted Python for an ASP Explorer ? ; I would like to do long range hauling, smuggling and participate in CG's.
• Q3. I bought the Horizons season pass today, can i just go the Farseer engineer straight away to try and get her upgrades ?
• Q4. Should I focus on getting "engineered" or get money for the A rated parts ?
• Q5. My weapons loadout is a joke on the python it barely has enough power to fire, can anyone advice on what i should use to deal with NPC's ?
• Q6. I am attempting to read up on how to play since 2.1 but information is very scattered at least through google with most info being outdated as off 2.1, any good repository or youtube channel i can watch to try and relearn how to play.

If you can't answer all my questions that's fine, any advice or help is appreciated.

Thanks for reading


TL;DR : I am getting wrecked by NPC's and am now afraid to leave the dock. Can i get some advice on what ship to get, how to outfit it and how to engineer it; so that i can participate in Community goals, complete missions and have fun.

 

[Gavin Burke]

Q1. NPC's seems a lot stronger than i remember is that just because of my ship/skills ? , if so what can i do to fix it.

• Q5. My weapons loadout is a joke on the python it barely has enough power to fire, can anyone advice on what i should use to deal with NPC's ?

On Q1, yes the NPC's are super duper harder now, so new guys will struggle get bounty hunt enough to make a living.

On Q5, your weapons are 100% thermal which is great for shields but not for armour penetration. Not sure what it was like when you first built this ship but you'll need kinetic or explosive to get through hull, so I'd advise swapping your three pulse's out with multi-cannons (if dogfighting is your style) or missiles (if fighting from afar, not sure on your beams range)

 

[metatheurgist]

1. NPCs got buffed. You'll have to learn to fight them or use mines. Mines seem to be popular.

2. That's really down to your play-style. Asp is a good ship. Probably better at smuggling than the Python.

3. You have to get invited to an Engineer, do their unlock condition, then get access to better upgrades.

4. Again personal preference. If you spend a lot of effort doing upgrades you might wish you'd waited til you were upgrading A modules instead of something you're going to sell.

5. Pythons usually have power to spare so I'm not sure what you're doing there.

6. Can't help.

 

[Chris Simon]

Welcome back commander.

I am unsure what you mean by "getting wrecked". It would suggest that you are either wanted in the system, have valuable cargo on board or are doing a mission above your rank. Any of these things can get you in trouble, now, but other than that, NPCs are mostly ignoring us, just as before.

So to your questions:

1) Yes, they are a bit smarter. They also scale along with your combat rank, so if you were grinding a RES against bugged NPCs of the past and gained a high combat rank without learning how to really fight, you will have problems. (I am not trying to be smug, believe me)
You can do two things. Buy a smaller ship that you won't be afraid to lose a couple of times while learning combat, or ask customer support to lower or reset your combat rank (or clear your save and start over)

2) For both long range hauling and CG's, the higher range of an Asp doesn't offset the mach bigger cargo hold of a Python. So keep her, I guess. And buy a Cobra for smuggling.

3) No. Unfortunately, you need to get an invitation and then gain their favour by "something" (different thing for every engineer). Then you start with Grade 1 mods and higher grades will be unlocked to you as you gain reputation. All engineers, their requirements and needs are very nicely summed up here: http://inara.cz/galaxy-engineers

4) You always need to have your ship in the shape you want her, before starting to tweak her with mods. Not necessarily A-rated, sometimes, especially on an explorer you want D-rated stuff for weight saving and so on. But obviously don't mod a part that you know will be replaced in the future.

5) Yea, this is probably very closely tied to question 1.
You have a choice, you either need to reinforce your Python and add some power to be able to fight (Which will never be ideal in a Python, btw. It's not a combat ship. Against more than one higher-ranked opponent you won't stand a chance) or learn to run.
Submit to the interdiction, boost away, put 4 pips to SYS and release chaff if they start shooting at you, target another system (NPCs usually don't follow, and also if the opponent ship is bigger, your mass-inhibited FSD would charge much slower, if you wanted to return to supercruise)
Mines are also very helpful, if you know how to use them.

Spoiler

[video=youtube;xzVYxOhteq4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzVYxOhteq4[/video]

6) Try to visit Elite Dangerous official channel and watch all the Horizons and Engineers tutorial videos. That should give you an idea of the features you're dealing with. While you're on Youtube, you can check both Obsidian Ant's and ChaosWulff's channels, though it'll take you a couple of days to go through it all. For the fighty stuff, Vindicator Jones has done some great combat vids, or you can go and watch some PvP matches, for example to observe and learn some tricks. (In which case you'll need a different ship, though)

 

[BigBANGtheory [VR]]

I think you need to set yourself some kind of objective and then divide and conquer your way there. For example maxing out your Python is a great idea (because the Python is arguably one of the best ships) if you've got something in mind to do with it afterwards.

 

[Hell Razor5543]

Well, welcome back to the Elite: Dangerous Galaxy.

Q1, The NPCs are a lot harder. The best way to deal with them is for you to increase your skills. I would practise the various combat tutorials. The "Waves" ones are the hardest, as you will get attacked by more powerful ships.

Q2, The best ship for you is the one you feel most comfortable flying (whichever that is). However, the Python is the largest "Medium" ship in the game, and can go anywhere. It is also a very capable ship, if you put in the effort to get her right.

Q3, All Engineers will only 'Invite' you to visit them when you have completed a certain task (such as travelling a distance from the 'bubble').

Q4, Get the ship right before you start making modifications. Making a mod to a C class devise is not a good idea, as it will use materials. When you then fit a better Class of equipment you will lose any mods done on the lesser Class of equipment.

Q5, When I build a new ship I will fit the best Power Plant and Power Distributer as soon as I can (as well as other equipment). This means I have options open to me.

Have fun out there, and feel free to ask any questions. We all had to start somewhere, and we all will need help at sometime. Those who care will answer any questions they can.

 

[D.G.Cerberus]

If it were me, I would park the Python for the moment because it is expensive to both upgrade to be viable and then the insurance will be expensive for you too.

I would purchase one of my all time favourites - the AspX and go some way to A rating it. You won't go all the way because that tops 30M even with the standard bulkheads.
I would keep it light, with Powerplant, Thrusters and Power Distributor all D rated.
Get the 5A Frame Shift Drive
Fit 3C Bi-weave shields (Faster recharge and you will be running back into Hyperspace anyway)
3A Fuel Scoop
All other optionals are Cargo, giving you 112T and a Jump range circa 31.7ly unladen and 25 laden

Next, 4x mine launchers on the small hardpoints. Up to you, but in my runner Asp if I have taken out most of them with mines whilst running, I like to finish them off. I find 2x Medium seeker missile racks work just fine. You might prefer filling them with lead.

Utilities: Point defense is a must and goes on the reward slot. All others are D rated boosters (I will explain why in a mo but short version is power whilst you are D Rated)

You now have a pretty fast ship (Boost 356m/s) with 112T cargo.
It will have cost you 12m Credits if you research and buy from Li Yong-Rui systems with the 15% discount (Find using Inara.cz)
And your rebuy will be 617K Credits (Never fly without re-buy!)

Go to Sothis/ Ceos. Rep up doing the data delivery missions between the two and then the haulage. This will replenish your bank balance.

When interdicted, use the run methods proposed in the above posts and drop some mines

When you unlock Felicity.....
1) Overcharge your Powerplant with the grade 1 roll.....have enough mats for a couple of rolls but it can yield some surprising results - my 'Vette 8B powerplant got to 39.5Mw which is more than I need so I haven't bothered upgrading it further
2) Check power, but you can then look at upgrading Thrusters/ PD
3) Boost the FSD
4) There are some maths around somewhere but the percentage improvement from the engineers on the D rated boosters can be better than the A rated ones when you start looking at weight so search for that thread. Not done this myself as all my boosters were A rated but definitely worth a look.

Continue, build up the balance, plan for your Python to make it survivable. Don't sell the Asp - you will want it for the exploration requirements further down the engineer tree!

Enjoy, and fly safe CMDR

 

[[VR] Zakk]

Welcome back, Commander. I was in your shoes just a few weeks ago - got Horizons, jumped back into the game, felt a little lost, but got a lot of good advice here.

To answer your questions from, my point of view:

Q1: Mines are great. Get a few mine launchers (I strongly prefer regular ones over shock mines), fly away from your attacker until you have him in your back, and start launching mines. Your attacker won't last a minute.

Q2: I never flew a Python, but do love my AspX: https://coriolis.io/outfit/asp/0pft...05B2022vv62i2f.Iw18WQ==.Aw18WQ==?bn=Zakk AspX

Q3: If you got invited, yes. If not, check the Engineers menu (on your right-hand bord computer) to see what you have to do to get an invitation. A word of advice on Farseer - when you visit her, she will demand meta-alloys, that are not easy to find. From what I heard, you find them (or the barnacles that generate them) on planets within nebulae.

Q4: I preferred A-rating my AspX first, but I can't really say what effect is greater - A-rating or engineering. I do think that A-rating is quicker, though, that's why I went for that first.

Q5: I prefer 2 gimballed beam lasers and 4 mine launchers on my AspX (see above link).

Q6: I know what you mean, but I have not found 'the one source' for that yet. There are a lot great sources for specific questions, though, e.g. on planetary landings and surface battle missions.

 

[Macros Black]

Q2: This is my shieldless Asp Explorer Robigo Runner. It is funny as heck seeing NPC interdictors explode in my mine field, in fact I need to slow down for my sensors to pick up the explosion.

Note that if you haven't repped up with Robigo Cartel, you can sell cartograhic data to get to Cordial with them. I have no clue how to rep with CDE Corporation, since the only missions I've seen required Cordial.

 

[Gogzilla]

Hey all,

A thanks to all of you for the advice and help. I have decided to put my Python in storage and try out the ASP X, seems like nice cheap way to get the job done. Thanks for that D rated ASP X build advice Commander D.G Cerberus, that should help me get started. Commander Chris Simon, really appreciate you pointing me to those YouTube channels.

One thing i will say however is that there really needs to be a storage option for the engineer commodities, had to sell them all when i picked up the ASP X. A whole days worth of mission rewards down the drain what a bummer.

 

[Chris Simon]

Hey all,

A thanks to all of you for the advice and help. I have decided to put my Python in storage and try out the ASP X, seems like nice cheap way to get the job done. Thanks for that D rated ASP X build advice Commander D.G Cerberus, that should help me get started. Commander Chris Simon, really appreciate you pointing me to those YouTube channels.

One thing i will say however is that there really needs to be a storage option for the engineer commodities, had to sell them all when i picked up the ASP X. A whole days worth of mission rewards down the drain what a bummer.

Yea, we know. It's kind of a bummer. We'll get at least a module storage, next month, so that's something.

 

[pipo zelvelder]

Yea, we know. It's kind of a bummer. We'll get at least a module storage, next month, so that's something.

I only believe it when I see it; so far the engineers only brought an unplayble game

 

[MickyG1982]

Hey all,

I have not played the game since power play came out. It has gained my interest again due to possible "alien" encounters. So i wanted to slowly get back into it in solo mode.
I decided to try and pickup where i left off with a python and 13 mil in the bank.

https://coriolis.io/outfit/python/0...104043458022h.Iw18eQ==.Aw18eQ==?bn=Python WIP


I looked into joining the CGs at Mu Koji but I promptly got destroyed by every NPC wing that i tried to fight. After doing some googling and before i lost my ship i decided to try and make back the money by doing some Sethos missions. It worked out with me making close to 32 mil. I am now currently sitting at Shinratha Dezra trying to figure out what to do next. I know that i don't have enough money to fully A rate my Python. Long range hauling and smuggling seems to be the fastest way to do that.

So i was hoping i could get some advice and information on stuff that i have clearly missed.

• Q1. NPC's seems a lot stronger than i remember is that just because of my ship/skills ? , if so what can i do to fix it.
• Q2. Should i ditch my discounted Python for an ASP Explorer ? ; I would like to do long range hauling, smuggling and participate in CG's.
• Q3. I bought the Horizons season pass today, can i just go the Farseer engineer straight away to try and get her upgrades ?
• Q4. Should I focus on getting "engineered" or get money for the A rated parts ?
• Q5. My weapons loadout is a joke on the python it barely has enough power to fire, can anyone advice on what i should use to deal with NPC's ?
• Q6. I am attempting to read up on how to play since 2.1 but information is very scattered at least through google with most info being outdated as off 2.1, any good repository or youtube channel i can watch to try and relearn how to play.

If you can't answer all my questions that's fine, any advice or help is appreciated.

Thanks for reading


TL;DR : I am getting wrecked by NPC's and am now afraid to leave the dock. Can i get some advice on what ship to get, how to outfit it and how to engineer it; so that i can participate in Community goals, complete missions and have fun.

My advice, ditch it all and restart your CMDR. Those combat ratings now mean something.

Yes it means starting off in a sidey again but you'll be out of that in minutes, and back into a semi decent ship not long after that.

The AI (as nerfed as it has been) is still tougher and more dangerous than it used to be back in the day, you'll need to learn that from the ground up.

 

[Chris Simon]

I only believe it when I see it; so far the engineers only brought an unplayble game

There is a big difference between "unplayable game" and "game mechanics I don't like"

Speaking for myself, although some of the upcoming features will make my life easier, I don't have any major issues even now.

 

[pipo zelvelder]

There is a big difference between "unplayable game" and "game mechanics I don't like"

Speaking for myself, although some of the upcoming features will make my life easier, I don't have any major issues even now.

Deadly i see, probably old school with lots of money?
Well, If ever the point arises where i can actually afford the insurance cost of my A-rated Clipper, I hope to slowly progress to that A-rated Annie in about a year, and that will probably be the day I also "don't have any major issues". But maybe you are right, and I should be talking about "game mechanics" that made me play two months now to earn enough enough credits to actually make me fly my A-rated Clipper, which had not succeeded so far:

because "game mechanics" force me to upgrade my A-rated ASP with all engineering stuff first, to be able to withstand all interdictions "game mechanics" put me in. And the same "Game mechanics" interdict me as soon as I have any engineering stuff with me, that I need to have, because "game mechanics" order me to transfer engeineering stuff to engineers.
But i am happy that you don't struggle with this, unluckily I am, and so far the best help there is seems to be "don't do missions" and "run like hell", so I do... and still struggle... Do 30 good runs, bringing about 6M and then have one bad run, costing me 5M... so there is progress

 

[Chris Simon]

Deadly i see, probably old school with lots of money?
Well, If ever the point arises where i can actually afford the insurance cost of my A-rated Clipper, I hope to slowly progress to that A-rated Annie in about a year, and that will probably be the day I also "don't have any major issues". But maybe you are right, and I should be talking about "game mechanics" that made me play two months now to earn enough enough credits to actually make me fly my A-rated Clipper, which had not succeeded so far:

because "game mechanics" force me to upgrade my A-rated ASP with all engineering stuff first, to be able to withstand all interdictions "game mechanics" put me in. And the same "Game mechanics" interdict me as soon as I have any engineering stuff with me, that I need to have, because "game mechanics" order me to transfer engeineering stuff to engineers.
But i am happy that you don't struggle with this, unluckily I am, and so far the best help there is seems to be "don't do missions" and "run like hell", so I do... and still struggle... Do 30 good runs, bringing about 6M and then have one bad run, costing me 5M... so there is progress

Actually I cleared my save, two months ago. I am an Expert rank, now and just made it to Anaconda, using only a Keelback and Cobra. I haven't done any engineering on either of them and died three times, so far, in all three cases due to my own stupidity or greed.

Of course I have knowledge of the game that makes my life easier and believe me, I am trying hard relay it to newbies, here.

 

[Alex D]

Well, If ever the point arises where i can actually afford the insurance cost of my A-rated Clipper,

Maybe if you can't afford insurance for A-rated Clipper, you shouldn't be flying one?

because "game mechanics" force me to upgrade my A-rated ASP with all engineering stuff first

Maybe if you don't know how to operate ASP, you shouldn't be flying one?

But i am happy that you don't struggle with this, unluckily I am, and so far the best help there is seems to be "don't do missions" and "run like hell", so I do... and still struggle... Do 30 good runs, bringing about 6M and then have one bad run, costing me 5M... so there is progress

Didn't you say in the other thread that you don't like combat?
In such case an option to run away from interdiction, seems pretty reasonable and acceptable for you, correct?
Also - if you are earning 0.5m per run in AspX/Clipper, you should probably switch to Type-6 or something?
Especially if you apparently can't afford insurance (I assume you felt for the "bigger ship is better" illusion?)

 

[D.G.Cerberus]

Deadly i see, probably old school with lots of money?
Well, If ever the point arises where i can actually afford the insurance cost of my A-rated Clipper, I hope to slowly progress to that A-rated Annie in about a year, and that will probably be the day I also "don't have any major issues". But maybe you are right, and I should be talking about "game mechanics" that made me play two months now to earn enough enough credits to actually make me fly my A-rated Clipper, which had not succeeded so far:

because "game mechanics" force me to upgrade my A-rated ASP with all engineering stuff first, to be able to withstand all interdictions "game mechanics" put me in. And the same "Game mechanics" interdict me as soon as I have any engineering stuff with me, that I need to have, because "game mechanics" order me to transfer engeineering stuff to engineers.
But i am happy that you don't struggle with this, unluckily I am, and so far the best help there is seems to be "don't do missions" and "run like hell", so I do... and still struggle... Do 30 good runs, bringing about 6M and then have one bad run, costing me 5M... so there is progress

This that I have underlined is your problem right here. All the excellent people on this forum giving you advice will no doubt agree. If you cannot handle what you have now, and up to an A rated Clipper forsooth, then the "A rated" Conda you allude to will not help you one iota. You will die pretty much as quickly as anything else (Don't forget there is a mechanic now that takes into account the ship you are flying so you will enjoy FDLs, Pythons, Condas and so on once you get it.

I know you are doing Ceos runs from other threads. You can upscale in considerably less than a year so try and dial down the hyperbole

Lets be clear here. I am Dangerous, some of it "old school" as you call it (And I know what you mean, shooting NPC fish in a barrel etc) but not all. I am only 10% Dangerous. But I am comfortable to know that I can take any ship in the fleet - hell, or just buy a stock ship from anywhere, fill it with a mission and get from A to B. Unarmed.

If you are genuinely unable to keep an A rated clipper (I have one, non-engineered btw) flying then frankly you will always have issues. You know, I never lost my Clipper - even D rated. Its just too fast.

 

[[VR] Zakk]

You know, I never lost my Clipper - even D rated. Its just too fast.

Speed won't help you if running away from an attacker is 'not your kind of fun'...

 

[pipo zelvelder]

Especially if you apparently can't afford insurance (I assume you felt for the "bigger ship is better" illusion?)

Yes, i did. I thought bigger was better and I also thought that upgrading is always good. Just like I saw 24 hours from sidewinder to anaconda and believed that too. That's me.

But tell me, how am I supposed to know which videos are correct and which are a lie? True, I got a lot of good advice, but also some poor advice. After earning 50M with my ASP, I thought I could afford this Clipper, but apparently that is not true. So, I learned that the hard way. I am good with that.

Thing is, in my first few ships, upgrading was good and made my ship grow faster, stronger, more cargo and all of that. That was all true up until my ASP. Then 2.1 hit and I am struggling like hell. Had my ranking reset and that brought me my 50M and therefore the Clipper. And i really hoped that would solve my flying and battle problem, but it hasn't. So now i am back at my original ranking and very slowly progressing towards being able to fly my Clipper two times to shreds. Still progress, but slowly.
As for the ASP: I could handle it very well up to 2.1 with that ranking and now the problem is back, so i will probably ask to be dereanked again and that will solve my problem for the next 50M and Type-9?