Newcomer / Intro How did you guys learn Elite Dangerous?

[CMDR Heisenberg B. Damned]

Don't forget that you have lateral thrusters!
Your ship can move up and down and strafe left and right. Be sure to have these functions bound (By default on the keyboard they are bound to the Q and E keys for strafing and R and F keys for up and down)

Completely this, zero throttle once over the pad and then use thrusters to fine tune where your ship is until you're directly above the circle on the holo display of the pad. Then thrust down (once you've put your landing gear down).

The compass will also tell you where the pad is

Hollow means behind, solid means in front, I've slightly over shot the centre of the pad on this one but it's fine to thrust down onto the pad till you get the visual form the holo display. Or you can just point the nose of your ship directly at the centre of the pad and slow to a stop directly above it. then just lift your nose till it's facing the pad number end.

 

[Alec Turner]

Thanks all! I've managed to enter a space station twice already now, partly due to your tips. However, landing... no, I haven't been able to do that, in spite of watching the video multiple times. Any tips?

Incidentally, attempting to land finally broke my wife. After spending an hour shouting at the screen - "stop spinning you b@st@rd!" - she finally quit and hasn't played since!

 

[Para Handy]

Thanks all! I've managed to enter a space station twice already now, partly due to your tips. However, landing... no, I haven't been able to do that, in spite of watching the video multiple times. Any tips?

If you watch the videos here (or on youtube):

https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/tutorial-videos (so you can check them while the game is running)

Specifically watch the relevant one before doing the related training mission you will find it easier to get a good grip on things.


BTW - When I started (2 years ago) I just did the training scenarios of the time (not like the current ones) and then got into the game and learned (or not) as I went. You can't beat actually playing the game as a means of learning, sure you will die a few times (maybe) and you will come across things that are a puzzle - just ask in here and someone will sort you out. When you think you have got the basic idea and feel you can handle your ship, H-jump and dock with little problem, just do a "Clear Save" from the main menu options and start over, that way you can forget any embarrassing "deaths".

 

[Stealthie]

I've said it before but this place isn't just a "forum about a game".
In fact, it's really part of the game.

Most of the stuff you'll ever need to know about ED can be found by reading here, or asking.

Trouble is, a lot of what people are discussing is likely to go right over your head until you actually realise, for yourself, that there's something going on that you want to find out about.
At that point, you'll find yourself thinking "Ahhh, so that's why they were all discussing [insert subject here]!"

You can learn the basic mechanics of operating a spaceship in the ED universe by yourself but there's an awful lot of subtle "cause & effect" stuff that you'll probably only ever understand (and possibly even realise is happening at all) after hanging around this place for a few months. [up]

 

[Alec Turner]

Trouble is, a lot of what people are discussing is likely to go right over your head until you actually realise, for yourself, that there's something going on that you want to find out about.
At that point, you'll find yourself thinking "Ahhh, so that's why they were all discussing [insert subject here]!"

So true!

Spoiler

[video=youtube_share;uT8t093M2z0]https://youtu.be/uT8t093M2z0[/video]

 

[Hellakitty]

Never forget it's not the loop of shame, it's just checking round the back of the station/planet to make sure no bad types are loitering there.

 

[Noddie]

Blue zone on the throttle is automatic.

So use that to hit the target.

It's also optimum agility, so use this setting in.combat

 

[the100thmonkey]

Never forget it's not the loop of shame, it's just checking round the back of the station/planet to make sure no bad types are loitering there.

Absolutely this!

We're just being good citizens.

As for how I learned the game, I played the Atari ST version to death, and played it many times in an emulator since then. I'd say that the original version made a good baseline to start the game at v1.0. It's how I didn't need to be told that the solid/hollow point on the cue ball scanner meant ahead/behind, and I was well practised at docking at coriolis stations already.

I think the game often seems quite overwhelming to newbies, expecially two and a half years after release - there's a great deal of procedural knoiwledge to learn (i.e. requesting docking, landing, approaching stations, etc.) which makes even a simple goal (such as buying some commodities. flying to the next system and selling it) quite difficult.

My advice would be to break it down - learn individual parts of the tasks and become fluent at them before putting them together. Start with undocking, leaving the station, clearing the no-fire zone, then turning round, requesting docking and finally landing your ship. Once you've managed that a couple of times, try doing the same but with a short trip into supercruise before turning round, dropping out and docking. Then add to that by jumping to a nearby populated system and locating a starport using the contacts panel, flying to it, dropping out and docking. Then go back to home base but instead use the galaxy map and system map to set your navigation target.

Just try to make each part of what you do build on something you've already got the hang of.

 

[Stealthie]

One thing which I heard, and ignored, when I started playing ED was this: Try everything in the freebie Sidewinder.

It really IS about the best advice any newbie could get.

It doesn't matter if you "don't think you're ready" to try planetary landings, Combat in RES's and CZs or whatever else. DO IT ANYWAY!

The ship is free, it gets replaced every time you screw up, you gain experience and it costs you nothing.

What's the alternative?
You tread really, really carefully. Don't do anything scary-looking, earn a few credits, buy the inevitable Cobra and then destroy that instead?

You're going to have to find out how this stuff works sooner or later so you really might as well do it in the free Sidewinder.
Or Eagle.

Alternatively, if you're determined to tread carefully, don't get rid of your free Sidewinder.
Even if you DO buy a different ship, put it in storage and jump back into the Sidewinder when you do, eventually, decide to try something that seems scary.
At least, that way, you won't be risking your shiny new ship.

 

[Nerwan]

One thing which I heard, and ignored, when I started playing ED was this: Try everything in the freebie Sidewinder.

It really IS about the best advice any newbie could get.

It doesn't matter if you "don't think you're ready" to try planetary landings, Combat in RES's and CZs or whatever else. DO IT ANYWAY!

The ship is free, it gets replaced every time you screw up, you gain experience and it costs you nothing.

What's the alternative?
You tread really, really carefully. Don't do anything scary-looking, earn a few credits, buy the inevitable Cobra and then destroy that instead?

You're going to have to find out how this stuff works sooner or later so you really might as well do it in the free Sidewinder.
Or Eagle.

Alternatively, if you're determined to tread carefully, don't get rid of your free Sidewinder.
Even if you DO buy a different ship, put it in storage and jump back into the Sidewinder when you do, eventually, decide to try something that seems scary.
At least, that way, you won't be risking your shiny new ship.

This is one reason why I hung on to my free sidewinder when I started playing. Even after 2000 hours of playing I still own it, and still occasionally use it. It's good for getting rid of accidental bounties (you can kill yourself in it for free) and it was good when I wanted to learn how to fly FA off and wanted something I could just smash up without worrying.

 

[Codger]

It's a big, big game. I learned by just jumping in and going for it. Made a lot of mistakes. Still make a few I'm always learning new stuff, after a couple thousand hours. You won't run out any time soon.

I did a restart recently (on a second account) and made a video series of my adventures starting over. You might find it interesting/helpful.

But mostly I'd just advise getting in there and flailing about until something starts to click. Your first ship is free. It's also free to replace if you get blown up (and you will). So hang onto that ship until you feel pretty confident about moving on. Moving on too soon is a bad idea.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/303947-New-Video-Series-Starting-from-Scratch

Have fun, and welcome to the obsession!

 

[evert67]

What control method are you using? (i.e. mouse/keyboard or joystick)

I'm using a Thrustmaster joystick with speed control together with my mouse and keyboard. I knew I could use R and F to move up and down, but not Q and E for lateral movement. I'm gonna try that too.

 

[Para Handy]

I'm using a Thrustmaster joystick with speed control together with my mouse and keyboard. I knew I could use R and F to move up and down, but not Q and E for lateral movement. I'm gonna try that too.

I changed the assignments for lateral movement to use A and D for left and right movement (strafing) - just about every other game (that I have played) uses WASD for the cardinal movements so I never understood E D not doing so - BTW For me, Q and E are bound to yaw (horizontal rotation) and this is more logical to my old brain.

 

[Wyaston Hypatia]

Using the thrusters for landing is best, I tend to land almost only on thrusters. Also getting a good feel for using them will help when it comes to manoeuvring in a fight.

 

[Chris Simon]

This is one reason why I hung on to my free sidewinder when I started playing. Even after 2000 hours of playing I still own it, and still occasionally use it. It's good for getting rid of accidental bounties (you can kill yourself in it for free) and it was good when I wanted to learn how to fly FA off and wanted something I could just smash up without worrying.

I also still have my first Sidey. Sometimes I take her for a spin.
Naturally she's now properly fitted and heavily engineered for added fun.

 

[Stealthie]

I also still have my first Sidey. Sometimes I take her for a spin.
Naturally she's now properly fitted and heavily engineered for added fun.

I recently undertook a pilgrimage to return my Sidey to Trevithick Dock, where she will remain in storage for eternity.

 

[Nerwan]

I also still have my first Sidey. Sometimes I take her for a spin.
Naturally she's now properly fitted and heavily engineered for added fun.

I've actually bought a paint job for mine.... (oh dear)

 

[Aekero]

my experience went like this

1 install game
2. try to do the first mission
3. uninstall
4. repeat cycle every 3 months

finally decided to buckle down and watch some vids, I would say the number 1 thing you could possibly do to get through the early game (aside from spending lots of time watching absolutely all videos) would be to ask questions right here on the newcomers forum. The community has some dedicated super helpful people on it who are usually fairly fast to respond as well. That's pretty much what finally pushed me from being frustrated with the game to loving it.

 

[Chris Simon]

I've actually bought a paint job for mine.... (oh dear)

Heh, me too! Want to keep her shiny!

- - - Updated - - -

I recently undertook a pilgrimage to return my Sidey to Trevithick Dock, where she will remain in storage for eternity.

Maybe you'll return, one day and dust her off.
One gets strangest ideas after first 3000 hours...

 

[Evil_Merlin]

I was part of the Kickstarter.

I tend to split my time between Eliteangerous, Star Citizen (regardless what that idiotic thread on this very forum says), and my standard flight sims (IL2, Rise of Flight etc). So flying for me is natural (I'm a pilot in real life).


I tend to take the control scheme for my Thrustmaster HOTAS (Warthog) with my Saitek Combat Pro pedals (no longer made boooohissss), and use them across all platforms.



And then for a few weeks, I just kept flying my Sidewinder until I didn't feel like I was doing poorly.