how the do you gain money in this game?

[Gully Foyle]

bi weave shields ok, i'll swap those out right now currently just using regular shield generator.
the amount of info is great
I have some shield boosters in utility, should i also use shield banks? instead of hull reinforcements?

EDIT:also in response to thundersqueak, I am now playing in solo as I got blown up a few times by players in open :F

I like a shield booster more than shield banks. It doesn't need ammo.

This is my Vulture, Death Birdy:

3C Gimballed beam laser
3B Plasma Accelerator

Point Defense, A rated Shield booster and heat sinks

A rated PP, A rated Thrusters, A distributor, D sensors, D FSD, D life support. Military hull. tiny gas tank for weight saving.

C rated shield, all hull reinforcements except the two 1u sizes, those I have as mod reinforcements.

Its a tank. I have the FSD set to level 4 so that it turns off when I deploy weapons. She runs at 100%.

All pips to the laser and it never runs out.

I can get behind the big ships from less than 1km out and toast his engines with the PA.

I'm at work, so I can't check if I forgot anything.

This setup has made me very happy while bounty hunting and doing pirate kill missions.

o7

 

[Schmack]

You need to wing up with someone who has an Anaconda or the like, so you can get your funds in the green again. It's a lot more fun playing in a wing as well, as long as you don't bite off a big chunk of Open PvPers.

 

[Kaocraft]

trying to do missions or combat zones and just completely get annihilated, today I'm already -3m credits
I warp to zone and before I even deploy hardpoints my shields are gone so I try to warp away yet my thrusters and fsd continually get knocked offline. so I bring them backonline, before it gets a chance its broken again.
how is this even possible? is there some form of paytowin I'm missing? because this vulture is complete and its taken me forever just to get it.

CZs take a little bit of finesse in how you approach them, and things can go south pretty quickly if you do the wrong thing. It's not so much a matter of skill it's just you have to develop a feel for where to go and where not to go and at what times. Best to read some guides and/or go as part of a wing until you get the hang of them.

 

[CMDR Poet Starwind]

I have to agree with the advice about getting out of sensor range when first dropping into a CZ. It's a must. When there are no contacts on screen, then pick a side, head back to the action and try to get with a group of green contacts. Watch your heat signature, as this is literally a beacon and you will pull a lot more attention to your ship.
Try to keep with the group of greens and move together. I also find taking out the smaller craft first will help keep tou group firing on the tougher hostiles, long enough to wear them down and make the final blow easier.

 

[kofeyh]

trying to do missions or combat zones and just completely get annihilated, today I'm already -3m credits
I warp to zone and before I even deploy hardpoints my shields are gone so I try to warp away yet my thrusters and fsd continually get knocked offline. so I bring them backonline, before it gets a chance its broken again.
how is this even possible? is there some form of paytowin I'm missing? because this vulture is complete and its taken me forever just to get it.

If you want money, Combat Zones aren't the place (unless you have a number of exterminate type missions). Resource Extraction sites, in a Vulture, are pretty much fish-in-barrel. Also I'm not sure why you are being shot at in a CZ if you haven't even picked a side - are you wanted?

I think if you want help, you probably need to better explain what you are doing. And also what you'd prefer to be doing. So we can respond accordingly.

 

[uppsju]

The only times I really spend time in a CZ is if I want to up my Combat rank. Then I scan for the ranks above me and selectively kill them, so CZs are good for that. When it comes to low risk, high pay I've found passenger missions pretty good. This helps you quickly to get in the good books of a faction to get higher paid missions. Community goals can be good. When I was using a Vulture I would even do CGs related to trade. Just transport 1 ton of cargo and you would be guaranteed the low tier bonus for no effort.

 

[Ashnak]

Regarding you Vulture layout:
- what do you currently have
- how much money do you have
- do you prefer distance weapons (like lasers) or do you want to get up close and personal (like frag cannon)?

That's one (unengineered) example build - feel free to criticize, I haven't built it yet. If you start engineering, you'll have to look out for mass and power. Problem in your case might be that it's slightly above 40 MCr..

 

[lokvette]

With regards to the OP's question.

I started out running data missions with a bit of trading on the side. Here are a few very helpful sites.

https://eddb.io/trade/single

http://etn.io/

https://inara.cz/galaxy

Then I think i went into combat when I had the CMK3, worked my way up to the Vulture

https://coriolis.edcd.io/ for ship builds.

After that it was the I got a T6 more trading. cargo missions, data missions did some trading in Imp slaves which was good cash, then a T7 more space then a Pthyon which is a fine ship, got the Conda and that thing fitted for trade is a money maker. During all of this I was also mining, doing CZ, BH, or exploering in my Asp.

But the last time I needed cash I stipped down my AspX slapped in a 1st class passenger cabin (my FSD is pimped so it makes me jump just under 50Ly) and ran rich people about for 10 to 20 mill a pop. I would say tho work on your rep with who ever you want to be running missions for as this will increase the amount you get paid and the amount of work they give you, one last little earner is to run meds into a system in outbreak or food into famine systems.

 

[TheNavvie]

Take part in some Community Goals. You'll make good money hauling cargo, killing bad guys (perhaps leave this one for the moment!), or exploring (not seen an exploration CG in a while). Then, there's a bonus at the end.

 

[Gutser]

Git gud

 

[NW3]

Community Goals can easily net you a few million credits.

If you'd rather do some exploring, there's a mission in Meene system at Felice Dock which pays up to 201 million credits for scanning the Alien Ruins. You have a few weeks to complete it, but I'd call it an "advanced" mission.

You need an exploration capable ship (I think a Cobra would probably be OK) and an SRV along with a fuel scoop and 12 tons of (empty) cargo space. It's a bit complicated to find and scan all the sites, but it pays quite well. It took me about a week to complete, but regular "trade" missions only earn me about 14 million credits a week (playing a couple of hours each day), so this earns me credits about 14 times faster. You can do the mission multiple times; I'm halfway through my second attempt. I'm not actually doing it for the money; this is the fastest way I've found to earn Trader rank. I'm now Tycoon.

You can find the details here: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...UARDIANS-MISSION-GUIDE(Step-by-Step)-201-M-Cr

Here's a quick Cobra configuration I made, which should be capable of this mission (of course better modules could be used) : https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/cob...1/kA==.Aw1/kA==..EweloBhBGA2H4FMCGBzANokMK6A=

You can quit the mission at any time and get 1 million cr for every successful scan, but you must return to Felice Dock to complete the mission (and get paid).

 

[zarrazee]

I see, so combat zones are offlimits for now. I'll try to put a few cargo racks or passenger cabins? in the vulture to get some revenue to upgrade the modules.
also I'm currently using gimballed pulse lasers, but I've been thinking about multicannons, having only 2 hardpoints makes it hard to choose :s

python sounds lovely, but about 50m above my paygrade

OP. You don't need a Vulture to make lots of money in this game. You can make lots of cash bounty hunting in low and high RES in a non engineered Viper Mk3. You can also make money exploring, trading & doing delivery missions in a Cobra Mk3.

If you need any mentoring in game, I play mostly in Open mode.

CMDR Zarson

 

[Hellfire85]

@OP:

My only ship is a Vulture and I had it for quite some time now.

If you bought it recently, don't try to go at big targets from the beginning. The Vulture is a great ship but you have to learn to fly it first. It's not forgiving if you make maneuvering errors.

Pick small targets first in High RES and go along the security ships if you spot a bigger target. Engineer your powerplant and put some shield boosters to keep your shields high and your mass low.

The Vulture is agile and well armed for it's size, but it's a pure combat ship and as such, skill is required to become efficient with it.

Don't give up and keep practicing. Also, practice FA-off. It works wonders, again, when you know how to use it.

btw, add me: Hellfire85
I might be able to show you a thing or two.

 

[CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost]

To answer your main question:
Do missions, preferable passenger missions. As others already pointed out getting allied with factions will result in better missions.
If you want to earn credits by fighting: Go to a RES and use a kill warrant scanner. Learn how to fight with your ship. At first only attack ships that are already under attack by the system security forces (but be very careful with your trigger, don't accidentally hit a clean ship), later you can pick weak NPCs alone and see how it works, then move on to other targets.

trying to do missions or combat zones and just completely get annihilated, …

Before entering the CZ put 4 pips into SYS, this will increase the shield strength. In combat constantly move pips around to where they are needed.
After entering the CZ boost away and select a side at a comfortable range.
Select a hostile ship that is away from the bulk of the other hostiles, preferable engaged in a fight with a friendly. Attack that hostile.
Keep an eye on the sensors. Hostile NPCs love to lure you into the bulk of the other hostiles.
The moment you notice that your shields get hit run away and checkout who is attacking you.
Always try to fight hostiles that are already engaged in combat with friendlies, that way you can control the "aggro" of the enemy.
Remember that ships in CZs have better armor and better shields than the usual RES pirate NPCs.

Over time you will know how to fight in a CZ, what ships are dangerous to you and in what situations you are not that much in danger.

Fighting in CZs is fun, but not the best way to earn credits.

 

[EddyRockSteady]

trying to do missions or combat zones and just completely get annihilated, today I'm already -3m credits
I warp to zone and before I even deploy hardpoints my shields are gone so I try to warp away yet my thrusters and fsd continually get knocked offline. so I bring them backonline, before it gets a chance its broken again.
how is this even possible? is there some form of paytowin I'm missing? because this vulture is complete and its taken me forever just to get it.

Is your Vulture G5 engineered?

If not, don't bother. You're pee-peeing against a hurricane.

Want to make credits?

Head to Quince. Do planetary scan missions. Make billions. Just be aware that it's not an instant-gratification scenario: You have to become allied with the six factions to ensure big payouts.

If you don't want to travel that far, seek scan missions out in the bubble. Just the same as Quince with billions to be made.

 

[Red Fox Four]

trying to do missions or combat zones and just completely get annihilated, today I'm already -3m credits
I warp to zone and before I even deploy hardpoints my shields are gone so I try to warp away yet my thrusters and fsd continually get knocked offline. so I bring them backonline, before it gets a chance its broken again.
how is this even possible? is there some form of paytowin I'm missing? because this vulture is complete and its taken me forever just to get it.

First "trick" to making money is to work up your standing with the local factions. Some local factions are affiliated with the galactic powers (e.g. Empire) and you get a lot of standing 'for free' since they go off your galactic standing as a minimum.

Why would you want to work up your local standing?

Because having higher standing means better mission rewards.

As an example from yesterday when I was hoofing around in my Dolphin. I went to one system where I have never been before and there were no factions affiliated with the Empire. The passenger missions to transport passengers had rewards between 80 000 to 200 000 for a 12-15Ly jump. So I took one mission paying me 150 000Cr just to from that system. In the next system I had a high standing due to my Empire standing and there were 2 missions available.

1 200 000Cr to transport someone 32Ly AND 1 550 000Cr to transport someone to the same destination as the other mission.

So I took both missions, flew 32Ly and cashed in 2 750 000Cr for about 10 minutes worth of flying.

To compare.

With low standing my reward was 150 000Cr
With high standing my reward was 2 750 000Cr

Standing matters A LOT for missions (both cargo and passenger).

(Disclaimer: Obviously your mileage will vary since the mission boards are a bit RNG and you don't always have several missions available, however you still earn a lot more by hanging out in systems where you have a high standing).

 

[Sylow]

Is your Vulture G5 engineered?

If not, don't bother. You're pee-peeing against a hurricane.

Want to make credits?

Head to Quince. Do planetary scan missions. Make billions. Just be aware that it's not an instant-gratification scenario: You have to become allied with the six factions to ensure big payouts.

If you don't want to travel that far, seek scan missions out in the bubble. Just the same as Quince with billions to be made.

.
Blah, blah.

.

1. A Vulture is a good combat ship even without engineering. As long as you don't go against dangerous, deadly and elite ranked enemies you still can do good work without engineering. The ship was among the best before engineers came around. The ship was not nerfed and only high ranked enemies have significant engineer upgrades, so anything below the top 3 ranks still is sure manageable.
.
2. Yea, Quince is the easy way for money for those who enjoy being bored during their playtime to get lots of virtual money. Interestingly enough my trade rank by far is my lowest rank and i also can make good money in game. People already described it: resource extraction sites are a good way to make money while having fun in combat.
.
And on the ship, as others already said: for a vulture consider to bring two pulse lasers or one pulse laser and one gimballed cannon or multicannon. Sure the ammo based weapons limit time you can spend in combat, but once you learned to use them, they can also help you to increase your killing speed. (Target the power plant and see how fast the big cannon on the Vulture wrecks that. )
.
Next to that, people already said a lot of stuff on the Vulture, but either it wasn't said yet or i missed it:
- If you want to get around the galaxy at some time, install a good fuel scoop.
- Don't be afraid to get a little over the power capacity of the ship.
- Just put the fuel scoop and the cargo hatch on the lowest priority of your energy management, so they get disabled when you deploy weapons. (Fuel scoops and weapons can never be used at the same time, and you also don't want the cargo hatch open when you are in combat, so it doesn't affect you at all. )
- If you go over the power limit, just leave the station, deploy weapons (no need to fire them) and check on the right side panel if all systems which you want to be active in combat still are powered. (Alternatively you can plan the ship in advance with coriolis, the ship configurator which already was posted in this thread. )
.

 

[Sylow]

[...]
With low standing my reward was 150 000Cr
With high standing my reward was 2 750 000Cr

Standing matters A LOT for missions (both cargo and passenger).
[...]

.
True. But he's using a vulture, so i think bounty hunting is his path. The vulture is not built to run missions. And for bounty hunting, the rewards do not depend on your standing, but only on the targets you take down. (On the other hand i already made allied status with some factions by just doing a lot of bounty hunting in their systems. )
.
So for the OP i think the best way is to find a nice system with extraction based economy. It has to have a starport (of sufficient size to provide repair and rearm) near a planet with rings and the rings having some ressource extraction sites (anything but hazardous for the start) inside. The perfect place to do some bounty hunting, earning money and learning to fight.
.

 

[Herbrand]

EDIT:also in response to thundersqueak, I am now playing in solo as I got blown up a few times by players in open :F

If other players attack you for no reason, you can block them from the History tab (the ones who killed you are highlighted), this way you will never meet them again.

Keep doing it, and the gankers will have nobody to play with but themselves!

 

[Cubed]

If you have the mats, engineer the hell out of it.

Keep the mass as low as possible, get rid of the military hull plating. If your shields go down you're not going to last long anyway.

Try efficient Pulse lasers.

Stick to high res or hazres and choose your targets wisely. When attacking big ships always check to see if they have a SLF hanger and if they are in a wing. If they have either and you don't feel confident that you can take them all on then follow them for a while, they will more than likely attack someone or be attacked themselves, then you can quickly take them out while they are distracted by other targets.

And don't forget the KWS