Newcomer / Intro Hey chaps a couple of questions

Hi guys, long time old world player "fresh" from the 84 version which was my first ever game on a "floppy disk"!!

A couple of queries, regarding starting out - as I've flown a couple of missions and killed a pirate for bounty already! But in looking at my galactic map I seem to have started in the back end of nowhere - does the game randomise your starting system or is there logic to it?

Secondly (and I'm deliberately not giving my starting point as I don't want to get too many "spoilers" if you like from the very helpful folk around) is there a way I haven't found yet of identifying more technologically advanced stations and or systems - and coupled with this would folk recommend heading towards more populous areas straight away or "jobbing" until I can get a bigger ship?

I get when I jump into systems a "you have identified a new xxx" apparently I can scan these for more money as I'm bumbling around - can anyone point me to an idiot's guide to doing this and the equipment I would need?

Finally - does anyone get along with default keyboard/mouse bindings? Running through the tutorials I rapidly had to change them... I ALMOST set A Z < > for those real oldschoolers out there but settled on one that seems to work for my hands.

Played for a day so far and while I'm only trying my hand in solo play at present until I get the gist I hope to join you all in the big black soon.
 
Hi guys, long time old world player "fresh" from the 84 version which was my first ever game on a "floppy disk"!!

A couple of queries, regarding starting out - as I've flown a couple of missions and killed a pirate for bounty already! But in looking at my galactic map I seem to have started in the back end of nowhere - does the game randomise your starting system or is there logic to it?

Yes, its completely random. You can wipe your save and start from different system.


I get when I jump into systems a "you have identified a new xxx" apparently I can scan these for more money as I'm bumbling around - can anyone point me to an idiot's guide to doing this and the equipment I would need?

Your starting ship has a basic scanner. When entering system, steer away from object, throttle down and select the object from either ship menu or press the according key for target ahead. You'll see a scan taking place when you "aim" at selected object. Sell the data on stations 20Ly away from the spot.

Finally - does anyone get along with default keyboard/mouse bindings? Running through the tutorials I rapidly had to change them... I ALMOST set A Z < > for those real oldschoolers out there but settled on one that seems to work for my hands.

I'm a stick man myself, altough its personal preference, thats my take on the control issue. It doesnt need to be expensive one! Had Logitech extreme 3d pro as a stick and it worked very well. Still, upgraded to better one after a week :p

I'll suggest you do what I did, play for a while with the setup you have. If after a week you feel like investing in a stick, do it. Get H.O.T.A.S. if possible.
 
... does the game randomise your starting system or is there logic to it?
It was mentioned that the starting areas are randomized to spread the beginning players already, what makes sense. However actually I don't know if it's implemented, my guess is there are n starting systems defined to which new players are assigned currently.

... is there a way I haven't found yet of identifying more technologically advanced stations and or systems - and coupled with this would folk recommend heading towards more populous areas straight away or "jobbing" until I can get a bigger ship?
In the galaxy map in navigation tab there is an option to show e.g. only high tech systems (or only Empire systems ...) as well as a slider for showing only higher populated systems.

You may move at the beginning, but when you want to take missions as a start it's better to take them from the same minor fraction. When you've done some for them they'll offer you more and better ones.
So that's a nice way to get started, with the delivery missions you don't need to pay for the cargo at the beginning plus get the trading info of the surrounding systems in that process to later take the "getting" missions.

I get when I jump into systems a "you have identified a new xxx" apparently I can scan these for more money as I'm bumbling around - can anyone point me to an idiot's guide to doing this and the equipment I would need?
You need a discovery scanner at an internal hardpoint.
The basic one does the job up to 500LY, intermediate and advanced have larger ranges but are very expensive.
You can visually spot planets outside your scanner range by moving fast in supercruise and watching the sky. All planets outside your current system are static, but in-system planets visually "move" kompared to these ones (in fact you move relative to them...). When you've found one you can head up there to scan it.

To scan you have to select the planet, e.g. in your left panel, and keep it in sight, in the hud bottom left you'll get the scanning message and the planets name when it's finished.

There is another type of scanner, the detailed surface scanner. It gives more information about the planet itself = more money. However for a start you don't need it and it takes an additional hardpoint (you still need the discovery scanner).

Played for a day so far and while I'm only trying my hand in solo play at present until I get the gist I hope to join you all in the big black soon.
Hope that helped to see you in open soon.
 
Hi, welcome!

As a member of the class of '84, let me try and help :)

Firstly, starting positions are randomised in order to spread players around the galaxy. I also started in the back of beyond but have traveled far and wide since.

On the star map, it seems to me that systems named "HIP nnnnn" or "CHI - xxxxx - nn-3x" or whatever are mainly unpopulated... find ones with pronounceable names and it's a good start. The Info on the galaxy map may also indicate what type of system it is (federation etc, agricultural etc) as a pointer.

You've been kitted with a basic discovery scanner. assign it to a fire group (2, assuming the pew pews are on 1) which for the mouse is the right button. When you enter a unknown / unexplored system (and there are a LOT of them) you'll get a message "discovered 1 astronomical object (the star), target it and it will auto scan. Fire off the discovery scanner at the same time (hold RMB until it goes - buuuurrrrrr) and it will discover all objects in a sphere of 500Ls from you. Target and fly towards each one in turn until they change from "undiscovered" to a name.

Rinse and repeat for several star systems, and then once you are more than 20Ly away (hence the star skipping rinse and repeat) you can sell the info at a base station for credits...

I'd stay in solo until you get the hang of things then look to either join a group or play open as you wish... solo is a very lonely place...

HTH

Cmdr Traceracing
 
Hi,
Lucky man, I had to use the tape version until I could afford a disc drive!

In the Shift + d panel, select the fire control tab, and allocate the discovery scanner to one of the mouse buttons. The basic scanner has a short range, so keep triggering it as you explore a system.

Select an unknown location as destination and approach it. As you get near, a scan will take place automatically (left HUD panel) providing you keep pointing at the location.

Be careful with the key and presses, I found my craft was aiming below the exit slot of one space station, so I used key "W" to pitch up. Well, that's what the BBC key did....
I should have used R, or the mouse...
The school survived the impact with the walls, but to reform you have to exit, then request docking again. The 3% remaining hull didn't survive the collision with a freighter entering.

Cheers

ColP
 
Starting location:
  • I'm not sure yet on this.

Station types:

  • Navigation > Galaxy Map > View > Filter by Economy ... Assuming this is the info on the stations your looking for.

Discovery:
  • when you get the message about discovering new objects, target the unexplored object and face it
  • your ship will scan it automatically as long as you are within range. (seems to be the lower the mass of the object, the closer you need to be)
  • using an equipped Discovery Scanner will find more unexplored objects around your ship within the range of the scanner
  • repeat the above steps to scan the new objects
  • each explored system can be turned into stations, over 20Ly from the scan, for credits - it seems the more complete the system info the more it is worth

I hope that helps :D
 

MACMAN86

Banned
Nice info thanks. About the default controls, well, I changed quite a few just to make it playable. I had to stop using buttons 1,2,3,4 because I kept accidentally pressing them so I used function keys instead. Each time I pressed TAB I caught the CAPS key which blanks the screen for a second. WHY?! I will not install extra keyboard software to disable it due to Razer screws up drivers.
I use mouse/keyboard and after setting mouse to continue up/down it was ok to dogfight. But the most important additions I needed to control Power Distribution was VoiceAttack -get this! But again it needed days to setup correctly and I add commands as I go.
Lastly, I added Facetracknoir which also needed the updated Game Compatibility CVS file (else it flickers) and after setting the lines (not curves as its not smooth) and selecting "When OFF - View Stay" to enable panels to still work (even on voice commands) plus add Enable reverse Axis (as well as roll for realism) but input "When Reverse 0cm". All works like the real deal but less so if you wear glasses. I add a voice command to reset centre screen and to enable/disable it. It wasn't easy to setup as I had downloaded a virus program WowCoupon from SourceForge and needed fixing too!

Yes it should be easier at defaults plus they could advertise these 3rd party plugins. In this simulator you need them.
 
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I am also a die hard 84 keyboard player.

I worked out binding keys into logical positions. It makes a huge difference.
I then spent a lot of time floating around in space testing key combinations and docking/undocking.

I will invest in a good joystick at a later date just for serious combat.
For trading/exploring a keyboard should be fine.

I use a Razor Ultimate Stealth. A great mechanical keyboard. A good keyboard is essential for long sessions as it prevents strain on the hands/fingers.

Now setting up a new Logitech G502 mouse for combat testing. See if I can nail a pirate or two with the mouse. If not back to the keyboard.
 
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