Could use some advice on how not to die

[Ananym]

Don't get a Beluga under any circumstances right now. Just kinda pointless, since there are no luxury passenger missions at that scale.
I do better with sightseeing passenger missions than ferrying passenger missions, where it definitely is important to focus on jump range. I can manage 10m/hour if mission generation is friendly - but, since this is 2-3 missions, it does very little for the rank grind.
The dolphin is a nice cheap ship if you want to use the asp for something else, but doesn't really confer any advantages over a passenger asp since it's too small to make best use of luxury passenger missions.
Python and Asp make good mining vessels if you want to try a different credit avenue.

If you are interested in learning combat, it would be a shame to miss out on the sheer joy of the vulture.

I almost forgot to mention, im not engaging these enemies in combat, I submit to interdiction, boost constantly until I can spin my FSD back up and run, however I find that when this happens I have the message about my mass being too much and it takes several minutes for my FSD to charge up, which doesnt do my any good when I die in 5 seconds.

Stop submitting, then? They're easy to evade.

So this is pretty clearly a matter of being outranked as ive done this before without issues, this is my first attempt at grinding Empire rank and its pretty ridiculous taht I never had this happen while grinding Fed rank, yet Empire is vastly more difficult?

Can't comment here. I never actually meet the ships that are chasing me. Grinding rank, I fly my asp without shields or weapons, because I know nothing's going to touch me.

 

[Deleted member 115407]

Thank you all for the advice!

My goal at the moment is two things:

1. Earn credits for an anaconda
2. Increase rank with empire (I actually am a few ranks in for fed, but after looking at the ships the empire had the best overall ship according to the stats I saw)

I have about 68m in cash, a viper MK4 A rated (not engineered) a Python and my Asp. Until I get better im not flying my python. I want to try passenger missions so I outfitted my asp for them, however to keep my jump range up I put all my core internals at 4d or whatever was closest to that. Due to that my asp cannot boost atm as the thrusters dont have enough power. I am going to change that as the two systems I found are well within the jump range even using almost all A rated core internals.

I am using a 3a shield on my asp, perhaps I should switch that to a 5a shield.

If I end up liking passenger missions then I want to see about an actual dedicated passenger ship, but the rate im earning credits it wont be anytime soon I can afford a Beluga.

Ill keep a closer eye on the ranking of missions and make sure I dont grab anything above my current ranks.

Thanks!

Best of luck, OP! Let us know if you need more help!

 

[Alteph Four]

I am also finding that I am ready to advance to the next rank, yet none of the Empire rank up missions are available to me. Is Empire really that much harder to grind and rank up than Fed, and is there a reason for that? Makes no sense to me, almost like the devs just decided to make it more difficult for no reason that I can fathom.

 

[Ananym]

It's just luck of the mission generation. Have a few local allied empire factions and go through a little modeswap abuse until one pops up. It's not any more difficult than federal rep, it's exactly the same system. Missions you run while at 100% still contribute towards your next rank.

 

[Alteph Four]

To answer another poster, I dont use joystick curves as I didnt feel like rebinding everything as my throttle and rudder axis got combined or something when I used the Target software for my T16000 Hotas, and I like the keybindings ED has for it.

The curves didn't seem like too much of a difference to me when playing with the software, and I actually just 'accidently' evaded an interdiction while ferrying passengers lol, so I think I can evade interdictions without it.

It is odd that when I do submit to interdictions that I always have a mass disruption and it takes forever for FSD to charge.. It didn't use to be like that in the past. It is like that every single time now no matter what, even when i'm not near anything.

 

[Adhock]

however to keep my jump range up I put all my core internals at 4d or whatever was closest to that. Due to that my asp cannot boost atm as the thrusters dont have enough power. I am going to change that as the two systems I found are well within the jump range even using almost all A rated core internals.

Wrong answer. Yes jump range is important but just lightening the load means you'll be ill equipped to combat anything that shows up. Making sure you're within your weight and balance is much more important then pure LY range. Will be slower? Slightly but then your ship will be much more prepared to defend itself.

I am using a 3a shield on my asp, perhaps I should switch that to a 5a shield.

Absolutely! A class 3 shield does not have the hull tonnage rating to protect an AspX. If anything you're taking a MASSIVE shield penalty meaning you're only running at 50-75% of your shields. That's a death knell if you're caught by someone with ill intent.

If I end up liking passenger missions then I want to see about an actual dedicated passenger ship, but the rate im earning credits it wont be anytime soon I can afford a Beluga.

A nice goal to shoot for most assuredly but don't count out the other ships! I absolutely LOVE my T7 spacebus. It's well equipped for passengers of all types, has a decent 18LY range which lets me skip the odd system here and there and a decent fuel scoop so I can scoop and go giving me minimal downtime for a longer endurance thus letting me reach my destination faster. Frankly I love the T7 overall and I plan to have three of them. All of them for trading in some form or another though my cargo T7 might upgrade to a T9.

I almost forgot to mention, im not engaging these enemies in combat, I submit to interdiction, boost constantly until I can spin my FSD back up and run, however I find that when this happens I have the message about my mass being too much and it takes several minutes for my FSD to charge up, which doesnt do my any good when I die in 5 seconds.

Also wrong answer. Interdictions take practice but evading them is really easy. I don't get interdicted unless I want to be. But the way your ship is set up you don't have the thrusters to outrun your pursuer nor do you have the shields to protect yourself. Remember, weight and balance, not pure LY is the key to surviving being interdicted.

I am also finding that I am ready to advance to the next rank, yet none of the Empire rank up missions are available to me. Is Empire really that much harder to grind and rank up than Fed, and is there a reason for that? Makes no sense to me, almost like the devs just decided to make it more difficult for no reason that I can fathom.

No it's not. People have just as much trouble ranking up with the Feds as well.

What you need to do is settle in a system with an Empire aligned minor faction. Get to allied with them by doing their missions. Doesn't matter which ones just that you're doing them. These are the ones who will offer promotion missions.

The other problem is that you can't just get them at 100%. You won't be able to see it but they generally pop up more at around 102% so keep doing missions for them. They pop up eventually. Resist the urge to board switch and bank the additional reputation for the level beyond. You'll get a jump start on the next rank when that promotion mission pops up.

 

[rhiz]

Thank you all for the advice!

If I end up liking passenger missions then I want to see about an actual dedicated passenger ship, but the rate im earning credits it wont be anytime soon I can afford a Beluga.

Thanks!

Ferrying rich tourists around the bubble can be quite lucrative. You could outfit/engineer your Asp for exploration and just install a first class passenger cabin between trips. Depending on your Explorer rank and local rep, they can earn up to 12 million for a 3 stop trip, which typically takes about 30 minutes if you have a decent jump range. If I never see another set of ice geysers again it’ll be too soon, but these missions can take you to some interesting places if you enjoy that kind of thing.

I’m not sure that bulk passenger missions are all that lucrative since the nerf. Transporting wealthy individuals is probably a better idea at this point. I bought a Beluga for bulk passengers and have now kitted it out with first class cabins. It’s still netting a very respectable income, but with hindsight I probably wouldn’t have made the investment. Still, I’ve grown quite fond of her gaudy gold cockpit and gnarly backside.

 

[Spacecat]

Simply submitting and boosting and low waking away works for most npcs (for cmdrs you need to high wake).

 

[Spacecat]

What?! The AspX is plenty capable.

It's decent at combat, but not great.

 

[Ananym]

Simply submitting and boosting and low waking away works for most npcs (for cmdrs you need to high wake).

Applying 5 seconds of steering also works for all NPCs. Every single one. It's a heck of a lot faster and less fatal.

 

[DeathStroke]

1. Earn credits for an anaconda

You are unlucky with that one. Just a few weeks ago, you could earn enough for an anaconda in 2-3 days (less if you were super serious about it) in a python. FD nerf'd the out of that though. They said they will 'fix' it and bring it back to a lesser extent in the future.
The idea was that you would get paid more if the delivery station was farther from the jump in star, so stations that were millions of ls away paid a LOT. I got 40-50 million a run in my python, took about an hour though.

2. Increase rank with empire (I actually am a few ranks in for fed, but after looking at the ships the empire had the best overall ship according to the stats I saw)

You should have a look at this site, lots of useful information: http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Empire/Ranks
The comments are also useful.

 

[Alteph Four]

I am noticing that everywhere I go in Empire space every single mission type has a notice saying Hostile ships may be sent against me. Are there any missions that don't have that message? If Elite is supposed to be 'Play my way', and yet the ONLY way to increase rank with empire is missions, why am I being forced into combat when I do not want to do combat?

This is not 'Play my way' that was advertised, I am being forced to either participate in combat, or at the very least constantly be at risk of becoming forced into combat.

 

[Alteph Four]

Thanks again folks!

Unfortunately after putting some time in again today, i'm pretty much done with Elite again. Too much bad design and RNG to be fun, at least for me. Ill check back in another 6 months or so, maybe things will change by then. The game just isn't any fun, and I don't play games that I don't find entertaining.

Good luck to you all!

 

[Ananym]

You're not being "forced into combat". Evade the interdictions and combat never happens.
If a 5 second minigame is too much combat for you, you're not going to get far.

Too much bad design and RNG to be fun

Oh there's plenty of absolutely terrible design, but I don't really see any RNG beyond the engineering rolls that are incremental next patch.
Mission generation is a result of the simulation, not blind luck. Mission complications can be blind luck, but very few drastically alter the way a mission plays out.

 

[Adhock]

I am noticing that everywhere I go in Empire space every single mission type has a notice saying Hostile ships may be sent against me.

Those are bonus encounters. You don't have to do them. If you're running trade/passanger/courier missions yes they will get sent after you. That's the risk you take.

But your primary objective is to get from point A to point B without getting destroyed. You do not have to stop and fight anything that gets sent after you to complete your goal. If you want bonus credits, sure, stop and pick a fight.

But your primary mission is to get from one place to another and not stopping to fight someone will NOT penalize you.

The galaxy is supposed to be dangerous. Hence the name Elite: DANGEROUS. Pilots with the skill to evade combat are just as much in demand as those who are cold blooded combatants.

You do not have to take combat missions. You do not have to stop and fight everything that picks a fight with you.

The Submit and Wake method was developed for those who simply couldn't hack it at escaping interdictions back when it was challenging.

I have no issue of helping you design a ship that can withstand punishment and get a decent LY range. Anyone here is more then willing to help you practice and get better at combat.

If this isn't the game for you because of the learning curve I applaud your decision to step away. Frankly I doubt it will get any better for what you're hoping for but know that any one of us is willing to step into the game and help teach you how to survive.

We do not give a fish to feed you for a day. We will teach you to fish so you can eat for a lifetime.

 

[Schmack]

To answer the thread title: Don't die with your tongue stuck out, laying on your back with your legs over your head. That doesn't look good on Galnet.

Also, don't die with half a beer.

Don't die while you still have money.

Don't die from breathing the fumes of the new leather in the Cutter.

Don't die by accidentally crossing into a parallel universe and landing in the middle of your other self.

Don't die by woogie.

 

[Schmack]

To answer another poster, I dont use joystick curves as I didnt feel like rebinding everything as my throttle and rudder axis got combined or something when I used the Target software for my T16000 Hotas, and I like the keybindings ED has for it.

The curves didn't seem like too much of a difference to me when playing with the software, and I actually just 'accidently' evaded an interdiction while ferrying passengers lol, so I think I can evade interdictions without it.

It is odd that when I do submit to interdictions that I always have a mass disruption and it takes forever for FSD to charge.. It didn't use to be like that in the past. It is like that every single time now no matter what, even when i'm not near anything.

This is what space diapers are for.

 

[Flin]

Thanks again folks!

Unfortunately after putting some time in again today, i'm pretty much done with Elite again. Too much bad design and RNG to be fun, at least for me. Ill check back in another 6 months or so, maybe things will change by then. The game just isn't any fun, and I don't play games that I don't find entertaining.

Good luck to you all!

Sorry to see you go due to "ED is not newbie-friendly" design.

My tips if you are checking the forum:

* Take up the offer to wing-up and guide you though the learning curve.

* Pick the right ship for the job. Dolphin is good for rich tourist sightseeing missions combined with some data and courier jobs.

* Immediately upgrade from E modules to at least D. Skip C and B and get A if you can afford it.

* Do use external tools like edshipyard to check ship builds. If you can't boost, then you have power or distributor issues to fix.

* Watch out for missions with criminals or wanted VIPs; they are a hassle with system authorities than they are worth. But, they can be fun once you get the hang of the game design.

* Don't worry about missions indicating that hostile may be sent; you can learn to easily flee from them or use system authority ships to help you chase away or kill them.

* If you haven't mastered winning the interdiction mini-game, submit by throttle to zero then follow the advice on fleeing.

* If you have a fast ship and in High or Medium security system, you can keep enemy out of fire range, wait until system authority show up and pick of the hostile with their help (unless you are wanted too).

* Unlock Farseer and get your ship engineered. She got the essentials.

* Here is a basic Dolphin build: https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/dol...1/kA==.Aw1/kA==..EweloBhBGA2HQFMCGBzANokMK6A=

* Lastly, lots of tips on YouTube and the web.

 

[krylite]

Thanks again folks!

Unfortunately after putting some time in again today, i'm pretty much done with Elite again. Too much bad design and RNG to be fun, at least for me. Ill check back in another 6 months or so, maybe things will change by then. The game just isn't any fun, and I don't play games that I don't find entertaining.

Good luck to you all!

Sorry to see you go. In case you happen to read this or may come back after a break, hopefully. When being interdicted in your aspx, you can still click the hostile target button. It'll tell you what type of ship and combat rank is interdicting you. Then you can decide to keep evading the interdiction or opt to face-off with the intruder, or optionally take an educated chance on being able to low or high wake immediately after interdiction. So there you already have three tactical informed options before firing even starts or not at all if you evade the interdiction. As for the combat itself, plenty of advice on combat already in this thread, or evading tactics.

 

[Stressfest]

A good diet is a great place to start.. \o/