Is there a quicker way to make high amounts of cash quickly or at least more fun than mining? Im extracting small amounts from the chunks and thats only for 1 full piece out of three. This is too mundane.
Fast Money
- Thread starter Chillchilly
- Start date
Try all the professions and go with one that strikes a good balance between fun and profit 
Usually best to run missions starting out, and replace the Sidewinder ASAP. Once you've got a Cobra, you can make more money hauling cargo, running missions, and bounty hunting.
Ranking up with local factions will eventually get you better missions, which have a better pay scale than what you're probably seeing at this point.
Ranking up with local factions will eventually get you better missions, which have a better pay scale than what you're probably seeing at this point.
For mining you need prospector limpets and collector limpets in order to make it worth the time and effort. Mining can be a good relaxing activity but if it starts to get tedious then that's a good sign that you need to find something else to do. I've always enjoyed the free flight experience that comes from exploration ... but some people need more action.
Remember: It isn't about your credit balance. It's about finding an activity that is compelling enough to get you to log back in and play. Missions can be extremely profitable and provide you with a variety of activities to keep you from feeling stuck doing the same thing over and over again.
Usually. In one of my accounts though I took that starter Sidewinder to the center of the galaxy and back going from Aimless to Elite (in exploration) in one fell swoop. It was actually a lot of fun. With the new payouts for exploration data I wound up sitting on a nice tidy sum at the end too.
Mining will benefit depending on where you're doing the mining. A metallic ring in a Pristine system will get you more. Delkar system is such a system, with a planet containing a metallic inner ring. I believe Njikan is as well.
Start with data delivery missions, they don't take up cargo space and therefore are perfect for the sidewinder. Upgrade to other ships quickly, next steps should be Cobra Mk.3 and then DBX or AspX for "universal" ships that can do a bit of everything. Try to at least D-rate every internal module at first (lowest weight and thus highest jump range and speed), FSD should always upgrade to A asap. Try not to jump all over the bubble, gaining reputation with the factions at one place yields better jobs and higher pay. ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH CREDITS FOR AT LEAST ONE REBUY. Don't try to fight enemies you can outrun when you're not combat fitted. Fit a fuel scoop when you're travelling further, keep an eye on your fuel gauge and plan your jumps via the KGBFOAM method.
The biggest moneymaker in the game atm are passenger missions. A ship with a high jump range like the DBX, AspX or Dolphin can make you millions of credits per hour doing shortrange (= up to 200ly) sightseeing missions (pay attention to the distance of the mission target so you dont end up having to take people to SagA*).
Other than that, enjoy the game, take it as slow or fast as you need. There is no endgame, there is just a time when you won't care about money anymore. Elite is a beautiful game where anyone with a bit perseverance can find his niche. Understanding ED heavily depends on third-party tools and the community. Just ask on the forums and try tools like eddb.io, inara.cz or coriolis.edcd.io
Godspeed CMDR o7
The biggest moneymaker in the game atm are passenger missions. A ship with a high jump range like the DBX, AspX or Dolphin can make you millions of credits per hour doing shortrange (= up to 200ly) sightseeing missions (pay attention to the distance of the mission target so you dont end up having to take people to SagA*).
Other than that, enjoy the game, take it as slow or fast as you need. There is no endgame, there is just a time when you won't care about money anymore. Elite is a beautiful game where anyone with a bit perseverance can find his niche. Understanding ED heavily depends on third-party tools and the community. Just ask on the forums and try tools like eddb.io, inara.cz or coriolis.edcd.io
Godspeed CMDR o7
Passenger missions bulk human meat transport to a location with a starport 10k+ LS away.
Yes basically it is masked slave transportation,
but it pays around 500k credits per head.
Currently doing refugees transport missions in my Cutter. Best pay per hour of all the activities I've done so far.
I stack-up 8 to 10 missions (to the same station) paying from 1.5 to 9 million credits each and do a 30-40 minutes trip. I get interdicted one or two times per trip, which I like, and keep on doing. Usually earn 20 to 40 millions per go, with minimum risk.
I'll keep on it until getting enough money to buy my next 8A prismatic shield, which at the current rate, won't be long...
I stack-up 8 to 10 missions (to the same station) paying from 1.5 to 9 million credits each and do a 30-40 minutes trip. I get interdicted one or two times per trip, which I like, and keep on doing. Usually earn 20 to 40 millions per go, with minimum risk.
I'll keep on it until getting enough money to buy my next 8A prismatic shield, which at the current rate, won't be long...
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Lots of great advice above, but I'll add some of my own:
1) Try all the professions AND ships.
You should be able to buy a new ship every two hours like we did in Two Guys in Space.
2) IMO the best Data / Cargo ship progression is: Sidewinder, Hauler, Corba, Type 6, Python, Anaconda. (see Coriolis.edcd.io)
I advise new players to start with one way cargo and data missions to get an uprgaded FSD, but then mix it up once they get the hang of it
3) IMO the best cheep Combat ship progression is: Eagle, Viper MKIII, Vulture. (see Coriolis.edcd.io)
New players can make good money and have lots of fun bounty hunting in a Resource Extraction Site
4) While you can take passengers in any ship with cabins, check out the Dolphin as it's cool and cheap.
And passenger missions pay well.
5) Find a system you like and become allied with factions so you can get higher payouts.
You also get super power rep if the factions are aligned with a super power, like in Okinura.
6) Want to visit some of the in game sights? A Keelback with SRV and SLF is a good way to do it cheaply
Some of the new megaships and stations look really cool up close, and I love flying in and around them in a SLF. And the cheapest ship to support SLFs is the Keelback.
7) Checkout ELITEpve.com and EDDB.io.
8) Checkout the weekly CG's, sometimes new players can make millions by delivering a single unit/ton of commodities
Fly Safe CMDR!
This. Unlocking the engineers not only send you trhoughout the bubble, they will also introduce you to almost every detail of the game. Plus, you won't have to go through the hassle later when you're already stuck in your ways.
No matter what you do...you will spend a lot of time on this game.
So to set your mind at ease....you will get money all the way, so if you are just in it for the money, it is one of the most grinding xp you can get.
If you want cash quickly, DO PALIN MISSIONS (get missions when docking at obsidian orbital in your inbox, get thargoid stuff at scout ship in HIP 17125)
You get an average of 15 million per mission. I made 300 mil in a day just by using the Cobra MK III (Fit it with best afm). Made more money than my Type-7, Type-6, Vulture combined. If he asks for 4 units of resin, stock up with 8 resin, 4 tech samples and 4 bio samples. You might have to relog to get what you need. Then get out of station, relog, redock. Then you will already have what you need in cargo hold. Keep doing until you have to go back to crashed scout ship then sell at black market. It might be a grind but it is probs the currently highest paying activity for lower level ships like mine.
Second best way of getting money probably passenger missions, once you get Type 6/7. Can earn up to 7 mil in 14 minutes if you find right system. Or use it to do rescue missions at damaged starports. Can earn 1.5 mil per trip (only 5Mm trip). Or get a bunch of gold, silver, tantalum and just accept all missions at repairing starport.
You get an average of 15 million per mission. I made 300 mil in a day just by using the Cobra MK III (Fit it with best afm). Made more money than my Type-7, Type-6, Vulture combined. If he asks for 4 units of resin, stock up with 8 resin, 4 tech samples and 4 bio samples. You might have to relog to get what you need. Then get out of station, relog, redock. Then you will already have what you need in cargo hold. Keep doing until you have to go back to crashed scout ship then sell at black market. It might be a grind but it is probs the currently highest paying activity for lower level ships like mine.
Second best way of getting money probably passenger missions, once you get Type 6/7. Can earn up to 7 mil in 14 minutes if you find right system. Or use it to do rescue missions at damaged starports. Can earn 1.5 mil per trip (only 5Mm trip). Or get a bunch of gold, silver, tantalum and just accept all missions at repairing starport.
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What class should you get modules D-rated at? I can easily change all my 4Es to 2Ds!