Newcomer / Intro Advice before this newbie takes a LONG trek?

As mentioned in another post here, I'm wanting to fasttrack a Sol Permit, and I'm finding advice that running Fed courier missions between Ceos and a neighbor system is a great way to do that. But I'm WAY far away from it. I've not done a trip this long and far... with help from that other post, I've at least confirmed that I can fuel scoop my way there if I have to using the course pictured below. But what else should I beware of? Be careful of? Or any tips and advice at all?
I'm in a Cobra Mk III, I have 3x the rebuy in creds. I've a 4c Shield Generator and a A Shield Booster. 2B Fuel Scoop. Regular other mods (assists and DSS and lightweight alloy).
Thanks for any feedback!
(BTW, stupid question... but is there not some easy way to see general set course information? Like, even an exact count of how many jumps this course counts, and how many LYs it is?? Am I just totally overlooking that info?)
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If you can, have a jiggle around, a bigger fuel scoop will mean faster replenishing, otherwise you might sit in the heat too long. Not a biggie if you cant but could increase your journey time.

You should be able to ‘click’ on the destination in the above mop and ‘plot route’, then, back in your ship, nav panel on the left, it will tell you how many jumps it is going to take.
 
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After you plot a course, the number of jumps will be in your Navigation panel on the left in the cockpit.

What Frame Shift Drive do you have in your ship? If it's not the biggest A rated you can fit you're going to have a lot more jumps to do, as rating matters a lot when it comes to number of Light Years (Ly) you can cover per jump.

Once you get to Ceos/Sothis, by the way, it's pretty easy but monotonous. And it starts slow if your reputation is low. Prioritize jobs that give Rep++ (as many + as you can get) and make sure you're either taking missions From Federation Unite! Or delivering to them. Delivering for Sirius or any of the other groups won't progress you toward a Sol system permit.
 
What Frame Shift Drive do you have in your ship? If it's not the biggest A rated you can fit you're going to have a lot more jumps to do, as rating matters a lot when it comes to number of Light Years (Ly) you can cover per jump.
I've a 4C Frame Shift Drive... maybe I'll work to increase that and the Fuel Scoop before I go. Thanks for the tips!!
 
If you are only running Courier missions, might I suggest this?


I noticed that you didn't mention Engineering, this gets ~30 LY, but is not a Combat build in the slightest. If you threw a Guardian FSD Booster on it, it would hop up to ~36 LY w/o otherwise Engineering. If you are not risk averse, cut the fuel tank back to a Class 1 and it adds ~3 LY.
 
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If you are only running Courier missions, might I suggest this?


I noticed that you didn't mention Engineering, this gets ~30 LY, but is not a Combat build in the slightest. If you threw a Guardian FSD Booster on it, it would hop up to ~36 LY w/o otherwise Engineering.
Thanks for the link.... oh a different ship? I guess I could, I kinda like the Cobra :) But I can look into a hauler.
Uhm, sorry Engineering, what? :( What's a "Guardian" booster? :( Sorry, I've only been playing like 4 days, I'm pretty newbie :(
 
Thanks for the link.... oh a different ship? I guess I could, I kinda like the Cobra :) But I can look into a hauler.
Uhm, sorry Engineering, what? :( What's a "Guardian" booster? :( Sorry, I've only been playing like 4 days, I'm pretty newbie :(
No worries, that is why I gave a newbie friendly build. Engineering and Guardian are both "quests", so, not needed in beginning game play.

Keep the C3, buy the Hauler just for Courier work.

While you are rank grinding, I suggest playing in Solo or PG unless you have folks to keep you covered.
 
Hmm. I've been around, PS4, PC, second PC account. I'm currently in Lung, (near Sol) working pretty good for Fed ranking. I'm not sure the Sothis/Ceos thing is that good anymore. A lot of out of date stuff seems to get perpetuated.
Mind you, I'm working out of 82 Eridani, doing Fed rank, combat rank, earning credits, boosting my SLF pilot and contributing to the CG.
 
Hmm. I've been around, PS4, PC, second PC account. I'm currently in Lung, (near Sol) working pretty good for Fed ranking. I'm not sure the Sothis/Ceos thing is that good anymore. A lot of out of date stuff seems to get perpetuated.
Mind you, I'm working out of 82 Eridani, doing Fed rank, combat rank, earning credits, boosting my SLF pilot and contributing to the CG.
Ceos/Sothis is good because it's two systems that are close and you just go back and forth between them. It's not as fast as the Imperial grind, but it's pretty quick once you've gotten the faction relations higher. You can only have 20 missions at a time and it's not hard to get close to that during your whole time there. You can basically keep doing courier missions until you want to stop.

I'm a fan of the Hauler for early game. It's cheap and gets you around the systems quickly. You can use the Road to Riches to make some money while you make your way to Ceos, too. https://www.spansh.co.uk/riches

If you've never heard of the Road to Riches, check this out:
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf9KkffIw8s&ab_channel=HawkesGaming
It's an easy way to get your first $30 million or more.

I follow Hawke's Gaming videos a lot. He's good at explaining things usually. Here's his "Best Start" guide:
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuLbrZtJA9g&t=2s&ab_channel=HawkesGaming
 
Ceos/Sothis is good because it's two systems that are close and you just go back and forth between them. It's not as fast as the Imperial grind, but it's pretty quick once you've gotten the faction relations higher. You can only have 20 missions at a time and it's not hard to get close to that during your whole time there. You can basically keep doing courier missions until you want to stop.

I'm a fan of the Hauler for early game. It's cheap and gets you around the systems quickly. You can use the Road to Riches to make some money while you make your way to Ceos, too. https://www.spansh.co.uk/riches

If you've never heard of the Road to Riches, check this out:
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf9KkffIw8s&ab_channel=HawkesGaming
It's an easy way to get your first $30 million or more.

I follow Hawke's Gaming videos a lot. He's good at explaining things usually. Here's his "Best Start" guide:
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuLbrZtJA9g&t=2s&ab_channel=HawkesGaming
Super. Git grinding is always good advice. Check out my youtube channel.
 
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I've a 4C Frame Shift Drive... maybe I'll work to increase that and the Fuel Scoop before I go. Thanks for the tips!!
C rated core modules tend to be avoided as they are a bit in between.

A rated best at the job with best heat efficiency, they are the most expensive though.
B rated the heaviest with the best resistance to damage cheaper than A but don't perform as well
C rated the same mass as A rated, less performance and cheaper than B
D rated the lowest mass module cheaper than C but with less performance though the low mass can be useful
E rated the same mass as A and C but the worst performance they are the cheapest, their only use is to fit to a ship that you are going to sell to reduce the losses involved in the sale

B rated fuel scoops can be a good idea in the bigger sizes as the A rated ones can cost more than the ship.
 
As mentioned in another post here, I'm wanting to fasttrack a Sol Permit,

All due respect, but why? ;)

Ok, it's nice to go to Sol, but there's not a whole lot that you can do there. I can't remember off the top of my head what Fed rank you need to get the Sol permit, maybe Petty Officer? But whatever, it's not that high, and you might have more fun doing a variety of activities to get there.

Remember, the way to rank up in either the Federal or Imperial navies is by doing missions for minor factions that are aligned to one of the superpowers. (Also, handing in Federation or Empire bounties from ships you've destroyed ;)) Doing missions for independent or anarchy factions doesn't help you with superpower reputation. Have a look around Federal systems close to where you are and look for systems that have two or even three minor factions that are aligned to the Federation. Do missions for those factions to increase both your reputation with them, but also your superpower reputation and you will soon be getting rank up missions (which have the word naval in them) and you will be on your way. Additionally, by increasing your reputation with the minor factions, you will be offered better and higher paying missions. Just be aware that higher ranked missions come with harder NPC's sent to attack you, so look at the mission rank, not just the payout!.

If you do decide on doing a bit of a longer trip, explore on the way and then sell your exploration data to a Federally aligned minor faction (in that case it will have to be the controlling faction of the system) as that will also increase both minor faction and superpower reputation.

To know whether a faction is aligned to a superpower or not, it will tell you in their information, but more easily, in the mission board they will have the Federation (or Empire for when you want to rank up with them) logo next to their name. :)
 
All due respect, but why? ;)
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If you do decide on doing a bit of a longer trip, explore on the way and then sell your exploration data to a Federally aligned minor faction (in that case it will have to be the controlling faction of the system) as that will also increase both minor faction and superpower reputation.
Oh because it's a goal. :) I mean, as I understand it, you kinda gotta make your own fun in ED, and having that as a goal is kinda cool :)

And yep on the explore on the way, absolutely planning on that!

Some great advice and tips in your reply -- thank you!
 
+1 for the Hauler. The Hauler is one of the top 5 jumping ships (as long as you discount Engineering and Guardians), and a decent starter cargo ship (unless you get to the Cobra, of course).
If you max Engineer the ship and reduce the fuel tank, you can get to just shy of 60 LY, but that discludes an SRV.
 
Oh because it's a goal. :) I mean, as I understand it, you kinda gotta make your own fun in ED, and having that as a goal is kinda cool :)

And yep on the explore on the way, absolutely planning on that!

Some great advice and tips in your reply -- thank you!
Setting goals is fine but I suggest that setting deadlines especially short ones is not so good as they can lead to grinding and making the game feel a chore to be done.
 
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