Newcomer / Intro Crew lounge - Asp Explorer?

[JoeDavidson456]

Hi,

Are there any ways to use the pilots in the crew lounge in an Asp Explorer?

What would be great is to have a second pilot for a second SRV while
on a planet...

Thanks!

--JoeD

 

[Yaffle]

No, the Asp won't allow NPC crew.

 

[JoeDavidson456]

Thanks!

 

[mikekim]

Even when you do get a ship that will allow you to employ some crew, they wont drive your SRV's .
only SLF's (Bay launched Fighters) and your main ship (when you are piloting the SLF)

 

[sinisalo]

Crew stunts your growth.

I've been playing three years now and have yet to hire an NPC. I look at it as an end game thing. Something new once you've done it all. They take a healthy cut of your money and XP. Progress will be faster without one, or at least that's how I see it. I am not advising against it, just my take, and info in case a new player wasn't aware that a minion takes their cut whether they are along for the ride or not.

 

[Chris Simon]

Crew stunts your growth.

I've been playing three years now and have yet to hire an NPC. I look at it as an end game thing. Something new once you've done it all. They take a healthy cut of your money and XP. Progress will be faster without one, or at least that's how I see it. I am not advising against it, just my take, and info in case a new player wasn't aware that a minion takes their cut whether they are along for the ride or not.

I think that's the best way of looking at it. Same with multicrew. End game stuff. As long as you have other things to do in the game, it's better to avoid them.

 

[sinisalo]

Yeah Chris, and even winging it up for bounty hunting stunts the growth. I progress much faster bounty hunting solo than in a wing, even though we are killing more ships, faster. But three or four players in a wing, with a few having NPCs flying fighters slows combat rank to a crawl. It's fun, and I like it a lot, but it's not the optimal path to combat Elite.

 

[mikekim]

I've only ever employed crew for exploration trips, to pilot my ship when I'm playing with the SLF..
they promptly get fired before handing in the exploration data, as not to take a cut of the hard earned creds..

 

[Chris Simon]

Yeah Chris, and even winging it up for bounty hunting stunts the growth. I progress much faster bounty hunting solo than in a wing, even though we are killing more ships, faster. But three or four players in a wing, with a few having NPCs flying fighters slows combat rank to a crawl. It's fun, and I like it a lot, but it's not the optimal path to combat Elite.

The biggest problem with winging up is that it doesn't as much hinder your income and XP gains, but your personal growth as a pilot.

 

[sinisalo]

I've only ever employed crew for exploration trips, to pilot my ship when I'm playing with the SLF..

There's autopilot for that. Does the NPC do a better job?

And yes, you can just hire/fire as the need arises. Some players may not realize that if you leave the NPC behind he still gets the cut. They may not realize he gets a cut at all. And if you hire/fire it's difficult to rank him up, which is what most players seem to want of course. As I said I am not advising against it, just a PSA with the cold hard facts

If I have my facts straight, which as someone who hasn't actually used this feature, I may not.

 

[Chris Simon]

There's autopilot for that. Does the NPC do a better job?

When you don't have an NPC pilot, your ship can just hover around while you're in the SLF. So for an explorer who just want to have a little fun in nearby canyons or something before moving on it may be enough. But if you need anything more of the mothership, you'll need to hire the pilot.

 

[mikekim]

There's autopilot for that. Does the NPC do a better job?

And yes, you can just hire/fire as the need arises. Some players may not realize that if you leave the NPC behind he still gets the cut. They may not realize he gets a cut at all. And if you hire/fire it's difficult to rank him up, which is what most players seem to want of course. As I said I am not advising against it, just a PSA with the cold hard facts

If I have my facts straight, which as someone who hasn't actually used this feature, I may not.

Re. the cut... I found out the hard way and lost 9m credits to the lazy pilot drinking cocktails in the bar... but then I've got the best part of 5bn in cash and 8bn in assets on my main account, so no real damage there..