Engineers How do I start?

[Jon Jaymes]

Sitting in Orbis Starport in Wolf 397 looking for info about Tod McQuinn. I have 100k worth of bounty vouchers, but that part of the engineer screen doesn't have a tick next to it. How do I even start engineering?

I understand it's really grindy and since I only PvE, it's prob not necessary; but I just want to get going and when it requires using SRVs, just stop. As a rule, I don't land on planets as it seems to take ages to land and then leave - did it once and have never carried a SRV

Thanks,
Jon Jaymes

PS On the database it says something about needing Alliance rep, i'm Imperial and dont really want to grind Alliance rep. Using the database is cheating a little, how did FDev expect people to do it before such player generated guides were created?

 

[goemon]

- there are potentially 5 engineers at the beginning, if you meet the rank- or other requirements.

- as a start, if you know about an engineer and have an ivvitation (all those showing in the engineers screen which can be access via right hand panel), you can simply fly to their bases, and hand in the unlock thingies there, like in todds case: bounty vouchers.

- all engineers are sitting on surface ports, so you have to land at planets at least.

- only one requires the use of a srv in some circumstances

- if you don't want to use the srv at all, you'll either need to mine for some materials for the upgrades -> https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/337796-testing-of-mining-for-materials , or use other options to gain higher grade access to the engineers (for exampel: alliance superpower bounty vouchers for todd).

 

[goemon]

how did FDev expect people to do it before such player generated guides were created?

i don't think FDEV expect anything in this case ... the basic design is: you don't know about an engineer before you meet the unlock requirements. than you feel special for getting an invitation, a recommendation to the next engineer etc.

__

anyway, engineering is fully optional - i have three accounts, one without any engineering, and a third with just very basic access to engineering. it is totally possible (and a good challenge on higher combat rank) to fly unengineered ships! so, if you don't enjoy the process, don't do it - simple.

 

[Ashnak]

Ok, first of all, on which "the database"? There's more of one of them around, and not all are updated or provide reliable information.

Next: all the information you need is in the game. Places like inara.cz don't provide anything you couldn't figure out with a pencil and a piece of paper.

Now we have that out of the way, my guess is, since you're talking about "a tick next to it", that you have received an invitation (mail, comms panel) from Tod after handing in 15 bounty vouchers (anywhere). Read that invitation. It will say (somewhere) that you should come and visit him.
Well, his base is on a planet in Wolf 397 and is called "Trophy Camp" (that's where the bookmark is pointing at). Unless you actually go there, you won't be able to use his services.

If you decide to go to his base, in Station Services, you'll have a posibility to go to the Engineer's Workshop. Only thing you can do there at the start is handing in (donating - you won't get any Credits for them) your bounty vouchers. I'm not sure whether he will accept all bounty vouchers or only Alliance. Later on, when you have a working relationship with him, you can improve your reputation with him by handing in (in thise case, you will get the money) more Alliance bounty vouchers at the Contact section on his base.

 

[metascrawl]

It's not really a question of reaching a particular point at which engineers start needing materials found planetside. Some very common materials used in low level mods are easiest to get with an SRV. You'll be able to land much faster with a bit of practice, and leaving shouldn't be too bad - just climb for a little while and wake out.

Up to you of course, but you may find you run into a barrier very quickly if you don't have any nickel for example, which McQuinn will want for overcharged multicannons even at the lowest levels. I think you can mine nickel too, but this may be even more hassle (I've never done any mining so I don't know for sure).

 

[goemon]

I think you can mine nickel too, but this may be even more hassle (I've never done any mining so I don't know for sure).

yes, you can mine nickel. but generally mining materials makes only sense, if you like mining (materials as a byproduct of something you do anyways) - it is not the fastest way to get them.

i like mining, and so i mine in the rings from the thread linked above to always have a good stock of materials. if i really need a specific material, i take my srv to a fumarole or barnacle.

it's a bit like with materials from missions - you can get (nearby) all materials from missions just playing the game, but if you want larger quantities you'll have to look outside of missions.

 

[EISENHORN01]

PS On the database it says something about needing Alliance rep, i'm Imperial and dont really want to grind Alliance rep. Using the database is cheating a little, how did FDev expect people to do it before such player generated guides were created?[/QUOTE]


Set the record straight using outside sources is NOT CHEATING it's common sense and absolutely no different than what we do in our lives today. You want to know something you use a search engine why would it be any different in the future? It's not immersion breaking etc etc etc etc nor lazy or cheating it's making the most of the sources available to you to help in what ever occupation you perform in Elite Dangerous