Beginner looking for help.

[Shinzra]

Hello all,

So I have recently purchased a x52 pro flight system and also Elite dangerous + Horizons.

I have a few question's I hope can be answered.

I have currently done some of the tutorial missions, all apart from the advanced incursion.

So open play is the main game mode?, where you can see and interact with other online players?

When I first start should I go with the horizon starter sidewinder or the normal?.

And finally, what starting system or systems are best when first starting the game?, what should I do to start out?.

Basically any tips or further information for players who literally just purchased the game and are now working out how to begin.

Thank you.

 

[Marshall...]

Welcome!

Q. So open play is the main game mode?, where you can see and interact with other online players?
A. That is indeed correct!

Q.When I first start should I go with the horizon starter sidewinder or the normal?.
A. Go with the Horizon Sidey.

Q. And finally, what starting system or systems are best when first starting the game?, what should I do to start out?.
A. Leave the starter systems, if you want to avoid the odd naughty player, head about 70 ly away and you should be good. Hand Ring in the Ho Hsi system is a nice place to have as a base when you start - its a high tech system, with lots of nice systems in easy reach (Gamma Coronae Austrina, my home system is next door). Plus you will generally only meet more "friendly" players away from the starter systems - though i cant guarantee this. Delivery Missions are a cheap way to start your career in game.

Q. Basically any tips or further information for players who literally just purchased the game and are now working out how to begin.
A. You could join a player group if you want some "live" help with getting up to speed with the game - PM me if you are interested.

Cheers
A

 

[grammatonfeather]

What I did was search on youtube when I wanted to learn something in particular.. Like Interdiction or how to earn money etc.

Open play is optional and I didn't touch it for the first month but since I've been in open play I don't think I've actually come across another live player in my system. If I look on the galaxy map I can see the odd one within about 30 lightyears.

I just used the default ship for the first few weeks at least and upgraded bits. More powerful lasers and kinetic weapons.

I had my ship blown up a lot by NPC pirates.

I learned that if I got interdicted sometimes it's better to put all power to engines and boost away then quickly select any other jump destination and supercruise to it.

Unless the pirate is a novice.

One thing that caught me out with Horizons is the SRV and SRV hanger. None of the space stations I docked with had the SRV hanger and thus I couldn't get the SRV. Took me a week and then finally I asked on this forum. Was given a couple of names of star bases that would have it in stock.

Be aware that stock of ships and ship modules varies from one star system to another.

I find Horizons to be a lot of fun.

 

[Anuranium]

Greetings CMDR and welcome to Elite: Dangerous!

First I'd like to point you towards the newcomers section of this forum, where you can meet both new and experienced players and share experiences/hints and tips. -> https://forums.frontier.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=75

In terms of game modes, there is no "main" mode, rather than different modes:
- Solo means that you are playing the game as a single player experience, where you share the same galaxy as everybody else, but will only be interacting with NPC's.
- Group means that you can play together with your friends, or join an existing group like the Mobius group where they are not engaging in player vs. player action, but rather playing against the environment (the AI). You can create a group like this yourself and invite others to join it.
- Open means that you are playing with everyone else that plays this mode. There can be friendly players and there can be hostile players. The galaxy is however very large, and there is no guarantee that there will be players in the system which you are currently in.

As for starting out - I have not tested it myself yet: The Horizon starter puts you in a sidewinder which is located on a planet, and has a SRV already fitted inside your ship. The "normal" starting puts you in a basic sidewinder, without the SRV but in a station located in space. I would recommend the Horizon one - more option right off the bat.

In my opinion it doesn't really matter which starting system you choose, as very early in the game they will bring no significant penalties or bonuses. Every station is basically the same in terms of bulletin boards and outfitting options in the beginning.

Hope this helps.
Fly safe CMDR.

 

[Stigbob]

Here a really handy thread (within the newcomers section posted above) it contains a lot of comedy posts with good advice in equal measure.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=146118

 

[Shinzra]

Thank you for the replys.

I have another question, so I accepted a mission to locate a wanted criminal/pirate in a system. I jumped to the system in which they were said to be located, which point I arrived in super cruise.

Now how do I go about attacking my target, as the only way I can exit super cruise is to emergency stop, at which point it drops me off a long way off.

 

[Stigbob]

You need a frame shift interdictor to drag a target out of supercruise, you can buy them in outfitting. Assign it to a fire group and "fire" it when you are behind the target it'll tell you if you need to get closer (or further away from stellar body gravity wells) and try again.

If you don't have one fitted you can still attack your target, follow him in supercruise and when he drops out of cruise he'll leave a low energy wake target it and approach it as you would a station, nav beacon or signal source.

Make sure that he's wanted in the target display before you open fire or you'll get fined. And if you have one do a kill warrant scan on him.

EDIT : if he has escorts hit them first, leave the big boy till last and target his power generator.

 

[dayrth]

Try to team up with a more experienced commander. You'll learn quicker than watching any tutorial that way. Best of luck commander.

 

[Caldric]

I never played in solo when I started and have never talked to a player in several weeks of playing seen many. I recommend getting out of the sidewinder asap and buying cobra mkiii right away. You can super cruise up to the nav becon and follow police around killing wanted npc ships. Careful of what you attack stuck with little guys until you get a handle on it. You can easily make your first million at these spots and get out of a sidewinder quickly.

Even a viper makes more money faster.

I went from sidewinder to viper to cobra to vulture in a few days. With the x52 once you get a handle on things is easy to fight npc with. Just go do it if you get shot down in a sidewinder not a big deal get a new one for free. Those missions go kill such dude are not very good place to start in my opinion. Time consuming and without combat skills can be dangerous and a waste. I watched few you tubes and read side advice and most importantly just went and did things, nothing beats hands on.

 

[Alex Brentnall]

Thank you for the replys.
I have another question, so I accepted a mission to locate a wanted criminal/pirate in a system. I jumped to the system in which they were said to be located, which point I arrived in super cruise.
Now how do I go about attacking my target, as the only way I can exit super cruise is to emergency stop, at which point it drops me off a long way off.

To drop out of supercruise without emergency stop slow to below 1Mm/s speed. If targeting a station or other fixed object like an asteroid or whatever (use select target key or left hand panel) there will be a blue indicator bottom right, line up the target in the centre of the screen, match the blue speed and distance indicator bottom right and it should drop you out within about 10km.
Generally the new-player advice is keep the time to target at about 6 seconds for a steady entrance.

If you've picked up a kill contract for a named person then that's generally a higher level mission and you'll probably get stomped into space-dust quickly. As above these can be found either flying around (in which case you need an interdictor) or in unidentified signal sources that pop up periodically in supercruise.

There's a few excellent youtube videos on starting Elite, that offer some of the best advice, I'd recommend searching there to get started quickly.