Newcomer / Intro Coming back to the game after a long break- couple questions

[Panzerbeard]

Well, I haven't played the game since the month or so after release; I wasn't bored of the game or anything, I just got distracted by other things and never got around to playing it. Thought I'd get back into it, though, and was just wondering about a few things.

Question the first: Wings. So, my friend and I finally met up, which wasn't easy since I was some 600ly away in the rear-end of nowhere, and he was in a stock sidewinder (he's fairly new to the game and I was going to show him the ropes). We managed to set up a wing, but we're a little confused about how it works. We've figured out the basic functions, but we want to go exploring together; the problem is, if we decide to plot a route somewhere, it'll take us on different routes, since I'm in a cobra with a vastly higher jumprange and fuel capacity than his little sidewinder. Is there any way we can get it to only plot the route based on his jump capabilities, so we can travel together? We were going to do some missions as well, to try to get him some cash and a new ship, which brings me on to the other question.

I've mostly only done exploring, and the occasional trading/smuggling on the side when I felt like it. I've certainly done combat, I've fought off plenty of would-be pirates and also claimed a few bounties while exploring, but I've never really looked at the combat/assassination missions. How do I tell how dangerous those missions are going to be? I'll see plenty of combat missions in a station, but how do I know they're not pitting me up against enemies way out of my league? I don't mind taking risks but I'd prefer to have some idea about a mission before I accept it, especially if I'm rolling with a fairly new player in a squishy ship.

 

[Suicidal Tendencies]

so make sure you set the wing nav beacon - check your route and it should indicate the wingman range when scrolling through the navigation panel. If he's in a sidey, try doing dome trade runs together - he will get a dividend payment from the local system (must be in the same system) for your trades. haven't tried the assasination missions but have read that if you both take the same mission and you get the kill - you both get the reward? the more bounty the more difficult - but if the mission is to kill a "GEN" (general)) it normally means a fed drop ship - which are easy kills

 

[Feldspar]

I would avoid the assassination missions, chances are it is someone who will steamroller your buddy without thinking about it, if you were both in Cobras you might have a chance. If you want to take him into some combat, use a nav beacon or RES.

 

[Undecided]

Originally posted by Michael Brookes:

Wingman nav-Lock

You can slave your ship’s frame shift drive to a wingman’s vessel. Select a Commander from the Comms Contacts tab in the Comms panel who is listed under the “Wing” heading and choose:
[ENGAGE WINGMAN NAV-LOCK]
You will see a square marker appear on the wingman’s status element in the wing interface.
When you are nav-locked, the following effects occur *automatically* if you are close enough to them.
When the nav-lock marker is cyan, you are within nav-lock range.
When the nav-lock maker is red, you are out of range.
· You will follow the wingman into and out of super cruise
o Standard requirements still apply (retracted hardpoints and gear, etc.)
· You will follow the wingman into a hyperspace jump
o Standard requirements still apply (retracted hardpoints and gear, capable FSD, fuel, etc.)
· You will follow the wingman’s wakes
o Standard requirements still apply
Note, you can only slave your drive to a single wingman at a time, but you can change the nav-lock target freely.
To turn off the nav-lock, select the nav-locked Commander from the Comms Contacts tab in the Comms panel who is listed under the “Wing” heading and choose:
[CANCEL WINGMAN NAVLOCK]

You'll want to slave your drive to your friend since he has the shorter jump range.

I'd stay away from the assassination missions for now. Even the weaker targets can splat a Sidewinder in seconds. Try the "kill X number of pirates" missions instead.