Newcomer / Intro Breaking my own rules.....

Touchwood

T
These forums are a wonderful source of advice and help, and I have been using them since I started the game. There are, however, some questions which really shouldn't be asked, in my humble opinion - questions of the "should I go exploring, or should I be a pirate" type - you know the ones I mean - it's not really something anyone else can help with, some aspects of the game are absolutely down to yourself to decide - and that's one of its principle attractions, for me, anyway. So - I normally stick to technical type queries about the game - most of which in all honesty can be answered with a little research, but I find the question and answer process entertaining in itself, and thankfully there are plenty of good eggs amongst you who are ready to spend some time helping.

I am, however, in a bit of a quandary at the moment, and would appreciate you thoughts on what is one of the types of question I don't really think should be asked!

I had made up my mind to do some pretty intense exploration in my Cobra Mk III - did a couple of short runs out to get the feel and unlock Felicity Farseer for some FSD upgrades, and was quite looking forward to a long trip out somewhere. Then the Pleiades exploration CG came along, and I couldn't resist it, as I was already well equipped for it. Plugged away and managed to get top 25%, and a very welcome 10 M Cr boost to the finances. Then greed kicked in, so I signed up for another CG, this time delivering equipment to Maia. I've made a start, delivered about 160 tons and am in top 50% - but it's still got 5 days to run and I'm bored with it.

So, I asked myself - why am I doing this?

The answer, I guess, is partly because I've happened across some other threads on here where players have mentioned the cost of more advanced ships - and I've realised that with about 16 M Cr plus my Cobra and a not very well equipped Eagle I'm absolutely nowhere near having enough money to even start thinking about the more exotic vessels available - hence the urge to do CGs to earn quickly.

I think that writing the above has actually cleared my thinking and answered the question - bu**er the CG - I'm off out into the dark!

Unless of course someone answers this thread with a good reason I shouldn't?
 

GJ51

GJ51
I find the best way to make progress is to stick to a goal you've set for yourself.

I also think that exploration is a necessary skill that many players never learn and is one of the most beneficial foundation level things that everyone should do.

If you stick with it, it's also probably the fastest way to get to Elite and gain access to Founder's World where you can buy any ship or module fo a 10% discount and it has everything available.

It takes a while, but it is probably the route I would go if I did a clear/save re-start.

HTH
 

Chris Simon

Chris Simon
I'm not really sure which part of your post is a question. :D

But if the question was "What am I going to do?", I'd advise to wait for the CG to end, cash in and then do what you planned to do before. Only in an Asp Explorer. ;)
Something like this is definitely in your reach and even stock it will outperform the Cobra. If you stop by Felicity on your way out, just a level 1 FSD upgrade will get you over 40LY.
 
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Arry

Arry
Play your own way and make you own rules: Break them as you wish; although, self discipline is a good start to any path in life.
 

SeaFireliv

SeaFireliv
Touchwood said:
These forums are a wonderful source of advice and help, and I have been using them since I started the game. There are, however, some questions which really shouldn't be asked, in my humble opinion - questions of the "should I go exploring, or should I be a pirate" type - you know the ones I mean - it's not really something anyone else can help with, some aspects of the game are absolutely down to yourself to decide - and that's one of its principle attractions, for me, anyway. So - I normally stick to technical type queries about the game - most of which in all honesty can be answered with a little research, but I find the question and answer process entertaining in itself, and thankfully there are plenty of good eggs amongst you who are ready to spend some time helping.

I am, however, in a bit of a quandary at the moment, and would appreciate you thoughts on what is one of the types of question I don't really think should be asked!

I had made up my mind to do some pretty intense exploration in my Cobra Mk III - did a couple of short runs out to get the feel and unlock Felicity Farseer for some FSD upgrades, and was quite looking forward to a long trip out somewhere. Then the Pleiades exploration CG came along, and I couldn't resist it, as I was already well equipped for it. Plugged away and managed to get top 25%, and a very welcome 10 M Cr boost to the finances. Then greed kicked in, so I signed up for another CG, this time delivering equipment to Maia. I've made a start, delivered about 160 tons and am in top 50% - but it's still got 5 days to run and I'm bored with it.

So, I asked myself - why am I doing this?

The answer, I guess, is partly because I've happened across some other threads on here where players have mentioned the cost of more advanced ships - and I've realised that with about 16 M Cr plus my Cobra and a not very well equipped Eagle I'm absolutely nowhere near having enough money to even start thinking about the more exotic vessels available - hence the urge to do CGs to earn quickly.

I think that writing the above has actually cleared my thinking and answered the question - bu**er the CG - I'm off out into the dark!

Unless of course someone answers this thread with a good reason I shouldn't?
Click to expand...

I have never understood posts that basically ask other people what they should do. I`ve seen a lot of them for other games, especially RPGs... `Should I be a sorcerer or a wizard or a warrior or all? Should I be an elf, Orc or troll?`

I always know what I want to be and if not, i`ll figure it out as I go along, much as I`m doing in Elite right now. It`s the journey that I enjoy. I`m not even that bothered about making billions of cash. I have a pretty good idea I will become a Bounty Hunter in time, bringing Law to the cosmos.

I won`t ask people what I should do regarding career/job choice. I`m happy to take advice on how to do something well once i`ve chosen a path/s.

There`s a point where people will be playing your game for you and that`s when it becomes pointless.
 

CmdrJacks

CmdrJacks
If you find a system with a faction which has several stations and is in expansion or war (for combat), or boom (for trade), or anarchy or civil unrest (for crime) you can become allied with them and they will give you missions paying out several million for pretty easy goals. Travel between the stations picking up missions, go off to complete them and repeat (you might even find the faction has a presence in surrounding systems). You can earn much more than CGs, and it is more varied. I like to do missions and dip in to CGs, top it off with some trading and bounty hunting and you're earning while having fun, and you'll also be picking up materials for engineers as a side effect.

Having said all that, I wouldn't recommend grinding your way to riches. It's supposed to be fun. Take it easy, try to learn how things work and let the rest come naturally.
 

Gator Country

Gator Country
Trust me, I know exactly where you're at, because I'm almost there too. :)

I've signed up for my third CG, the one delivering aid to the refugees in Kalana. I ground the hell out of the first two I participated in; the first was the explosives for the Empire at Obotrima one which I finished out in the top 25% by delivering 40 T at a time in a Cobra; the second was the exploration one you did, where I finished in the top 10% using the same Cobra outfitted as an explorer. On the current one I'm using a T-6 which can deliver 92 T per load and it's so much easier than the first trade CG.

But I'm not going to grind this one out like I did the first two. I'm going to work at it until I've dropped a couple thousand tons or so and then just let things happen. If that's good enough to stay in the top 25%, well and good. If not, oh well. For one thing, like you mentioned, after a while it gets grindy and I want to do something else. Secondly, I've unlocked Felicity Farseer and have already put the Grade 1 dirty drive tuning into the Cobra which increased its maximum boost speed to 451 m/s. I'd like to do the same with the T-6, which means I need to hunt for another Specialized Legacy Firmware. I'm also only 13K or so bounty vouchers away from unlocking Tod "The Blaster" and I'd like to get that done. Certainly before 2.2 drops later this month, when the boost - drop mines - repeat until BOOM! - tactic, by some beta reports, gets severely nerfed. Long story short, I've been bitten by the engineer bug.

I actually have enough money now to buy and outfit that Asp Explorer and still have a comfortable credit balance. At some point I just have to pull the trigger on it, but I'll do that when I'm ready. But it'll be soon.
 

Hell Razor5543

H
Carry on with the CG. OK, you may not much much money doing it, but you will make money, and that will then help you make more money (as more expensive commodities normally have higher profit margins).
 

Touchwood

T
Many thanks to all for some excellent replies and great advice.

Decisions taken.

1.) Stop the CG grind and go exploring

2.) Do it in an Asp (thanks Chris Simon)

3.) Get a FSD upgrade in the Asp? Need Atypical Disrupted Wake Echoes for that - do I need to get a wake scanner to get some of these? I had one when I first visited Felicity Farseer, but I've no idea how I got it! Certainly not with a wake scanner - never had one!

4.) Have I enough Cr? If not, maybe do as Cmdr Jacks suggests?

5.) Keep the Cobra (I like it too much)

6.) Sell the Eagle - so first step is back to where it is stored (still think it ought to be possible to sell a ship without going to where it is stored)
 

Ashnak

Ashnak
Your first decision was the most important one:

Don't grind.

Apart from that, I am/was in the same boat. Had my expedition ship all kitted up, and was already a few kly's onto my route, when an interesting CG came up in which I wanted to participate. Jonked back, did the CG, stayed for a little more stuff. Finally managed to make the jump. Now in the black for 3 months (in a different expedition ship), and ~2500 ly's off saggy A*. May make it this weekend (Monday's a holiday over here). Then onward to the Big Annihilator and further on to Jaques.

Regarding expedition ships: the AspX is the technically best ship for exploring. And also the most boring. So I started out on the first part with a brand new Python (exploration setup is a little bit cheaper than a combat setup). I got the rank for and then tried a FAS during the interlude. And stuck with it. Medium ship means you can land everywhere, handles like a fighter, also in SC, and has two coffee machines in the cockpit (I keep one loaded with Red Mountain Special, the other with Klatchian Black). Ok, it has, even with Engineers, a very limited jump range - but when you're going towards the core, you don't need large jump ranges.

As for 6) - that should be coming in 2.2.

Finally, a postcard from the Eta Carina sector

PrcU6O2.jpg
 

Chris Simon

Chris Simon
Touchwood said:
3.) Get a FSD upgrade in the Asp? Need Atypical Disrupted Wake Echoes for that - do I need to get a wake scanner to get some of these? I had one when I first visited Felicity Farseer, but I've no idea how I got it! Certainly not with a wake scanner - never had one!
Click to expand...

Yes, buy a wake scanner, find a nice busy station and just hang around for half an hour and scan the high-wakes of departing ships. You should have plenty, after that.
 

Gator Country

Gator Country
Touchwood said:
3.) Get a FSD upgrade in the Asp? Need Atypical Disrupted Wake Echoes for that - do I need to get a wake scanner to get some of these? I had one when I first visited Felicity Farseer, but I've no idea how I got it! Certainly not with a wake scanner - never had one!
Click to expand...

You had to have gotten it as a mission reward - I got the Specialized Legacy Firmware I needed for the Cobra's Level 1 dirty drive tuning from one - probably when I was still running data courier missions in my Sidey to save up for the Cobra.

I picked up my first wake scanner last night, put it on my T-6 and learned how to use it outside the CG station. You have to assign it to a fire group, get within range of a high energy FSD wake, slow way down and deploy hardpoints, and use it like a weapon.
 

BigBANGtheory [VR]

BigBANGtheory [VR]
You can progress at your own rate I think frustration kicks in when:
1. you want to progress fast and don't know how or feel the game is working against you <--- that was me
2. you are following someone else's path so it feels meaningless and grindy
3. you see other players in their 1B cr ship and think [wacky]

All you need is knowledge a bit of a plan and time to execute a plan, there is no rush those big ships aren't going anywhere. Imho CG's whilst open to all are more geared towards established players and they are far from the best money earners in the game. Try to be doing something in game for a reason...
 

NorMonsta

NorMonsta
Chris Simon said:
I'm not really sure which part of your post is a question. :D

But if the question was "What am I going to do?", I'd advise to wait for the CG to end, cash in and then do what you planned to do before. Only in an Asp Explorer. ;)
Something like this is definitely in your reach and even stock it will outperform the Cobra. If you stop by Felicity on your way out, just a level 1 FSD upgrade will get you over 40LY.
Click to expand...

I made some disparaging comments about farseer in a thread about in game advertising.....must have upset her.......took my mid 20 ly range asp in...spent all the resources to go 3fsd upgrades......no significant improvement on 1 2 or 3!!

or I just royally botched up the process, hard to be sure



as you can see by this unintended double post.......I struggle with this tech...or my slow connections screw with me

back to grinding for the resources again

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Chris Simon said:
I'm not really sure which part of your post is a question. :D

But if the question was "What am I going to do?", I'd advise to wait for the CG to end, cash in and then do what you planned to do before. Only in an Asp Explorer. ;)
Something like this is definitely in your reach and even stock it will outperform the Cobra. If you stop by Felicity on your way out, just a level 1 FSD upgrade will get you over 40LY.
Click to expand...

I made some disparaging comments about farseer in a thread about in game advertising.....must have upset her.......took my mid 20 ly range asp in...spent all the resources to go 3fsd upgrades......no significant improvement on 1 2 or 3!!

or I just royally botched up the process, hard to be sure

back to grinding for the resources again
 
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