How to make Elite actually challenging and not an easy credits-grind?

[Aedil]

Didn't play the game since 1.1 and must say Elite looks much more advanced now with many new interesting features and active updates ongoing, so the atmosphere just gets better and better. However, I must admit I lack the challenge. Despite missions been reworked (with all those reputation requirements added, new descriptions and so on), they are giving even more credits than before and are actually easier than they were before (example of smuggling mission for slaves - before when you got a mission to deliver 2 slaves for example, you had to go to distant +20 l.y. system full of pirates, buy slaves there with your own credits and were risking with all your stuff while trying to get back and then sneak into a heavily guarded starport; now these missions feel more like "take those 2 slaves and deliver then to a nearby non-guarded stardock and get your 70k credits without any risk"), so I feel that even if I'll focus on illegal missions only I won't feel any pressure. What I really want is to make credits flow as slow as possible, to make every 1000 credits a hard-earned money in other words. I'm really not the kind of player who likes to progress very fast in such type of games, I prefer slow and hard gameplay instead. So it's not a problem for me to spend hundreds of hours flying on a basik Sidewinder if it will keep my interest in Elite high, actually I really like flying between systems or just sitting on stations to feel the great atmosphere of this game. But as the game unfortunately has only Solo and Open play modes, with Really Challenging Open play mode still missing, I would listen to your suggestions how to get emotions I want fro the game. I'm sure I'm not the only player feeling like that

- Should I stop using some types of missions or missions in general?
- Should I avoid trading or focus on trading only instead?
- Is mining the thing I should avoid as well?
- Should I stick to Sidewinder or Eagle only (so far I'm fining that playing on 2 cargo only Eagle is a good option) to have no ability to pick a lot of cargo?
- Or maybe I should ignore all the missions/trading stuff and play as pirate/bounty hunter to make game more risky and less rewarding?
- Or maybe Powerplay mode will give me what I'm looking for (if it's not easy money flow ofc)?
- Other ideas/suggestions?

If someone here will suggest me something, I'd be so glad

P.S. I've bought a joystick few days ago specially to enjoy 1.3 in full

 

[drpaul]

Didn't play the game since 1.1 and must say Elite looks much more advanced now with many new interesting features and active updates ongoing, so the atmosphere just gets better and better. However, I must admit I lack the challenge. Despite missions been reworked (with all those reputation requirements added, new descriptions and so on), they are giving even more credits than before and are actually easier than they were before (example of smuggling mission for slaves - before when you got a mission to deliver 2 slaves for example, you had to go to distant +20 l.y. system full of pirates, buy slaves there with your own credits and were risking with all your stuff while trying to get back and then sneak into a heavily guarded starport; now these missions feel more like "take those 2 slaves and deliver then to a nearby non-guarded stardock and get your 70k credits without any risk"), so I feel that even if I'll focus on illegal missions only I won't feel any pressure. What I really want is to make credits flow as slow as possible, to make every 1000 credits a hard-earned money in other words. I'm really not the kind of player who likes to progress very fast in such type of games, I prefer slow and hard gameplay instead. So it's not a problem for me to spend hundreds of hours flying on a basik Sidewinder if it will keep my interest in Elite high, actually I really like flying between systems or just sitting on stations to feel the great atmosphere of this game. But as the game unfortunately has only Solo and Open play modes, with Really Challenging Open play mode still missing, I would listen to your suggestions how to get emotions I want fro the game. I'm sure I'm not the only player feeling like that

- Should I stop using some types of missions or missions in general?
- Should I avoid trading or focus on trading only instead?
- Is mining the thing I should avoid as well?
- Should I stick to Sidewinder or Eagle only (so far I'm fining that playing on 2 cargo only Eagle is a good option) to have no ability to pick a lot of cargo?
- Or maybe I should ignore all the missions/trading stuff and play as pirate/bounty hunter to make game more risky and less rewarding?
- Or maybe Powerplay mode will give me what I'm looking for (if it's not easy money flow ofc)?
- Other ideas/suggestions?

If someone here will suggest me something, I'd be so glad

P.S. I've bought a joystick few days ago specially to enjoy 1.3 in full

The essential problem is that credits seem to be the primary reward players seek. There need to be a variety of different types of reward that vary base on playstyle and role.

 

[Bazorlag]

Stick to ships at Cobra/Viper/Diamondback level, that will slow you down quite a bit.

 

[Mr_Blastman]

Play as a pirate! Prey on humans. That'll slow you down... a lot! But you'll have fun.

(well, as soon as they fix the 20 ton maximum cargo drop limit bug they introduced with 1.3 which ruins piracy as a career choice)

 

[CMDR Nightjar]

Play in open and learn to use the chat/threat system ... should prevent boredom (and open you to the possibilities).

 

[Aedil]

And what about real smuggling in 1.3? Does it work?

 

[CMDR Hagglebeard]

Didn't play the game since 1.1 and must say Elite looks much more advanced now with many new interesting features and active updates ongoing, so the atmosphere just gets better and better. However, I must admit I lack the challenge. Despite missions been reworked (with all those reputation requirements added, new descriptions and so on), they are giving even more credits than before and are actually easier than they were before (example of smuggling mission for slaves - before when you got a mission to deliver 2 slaves for example, you had to go to distant +20 l.y. system full of pirates, buy slaves there with your own credits and were risking with all your stuff while trying to get back and then sneak into a heavily guarded starport; now these missions feel more like "take those 2 slaves and deliver then to a nearby non-guarded stardock and get your 70k credits without any risk"), so I feel that even if I'll focus on illegal missions only I won't feel any pressure. What I really want is to make credits flow as slow as possible, to make every 1000 credits a hard-earned money in other words. I'm really not the kind of player who likes to progress very fast in such type of games, I prefer slow and hard gameplay instead. So it's not a problem for me to spend hundreds of hours flying on a basik Sidewinder if it will keep my interest in Elite high, actually I really like flying between systems or just sitting on stations to feel the great atmosphere of this game. But as the game unfortunately has only Solo and Open play modes, with Really Challenging Open play mode still missing, I would listen to your suggestions how to get emotions I want fro the game. I'm sure I'm not the only player feeling like that

- Should I stop using some types of missions or missions in general?
- Should I avoid trading or focus on trading only instead?
- Is mining the thing I should avoid as well?
- Should I stick to Sidewinder or Eagle only (so far I'm fining that playing on 2 cargo only Eagle is a good option) to have no ability to pick a lot of cargo?
- Or maybe I should ignore all the missions/trading stuff and play as pirate/bounty hunter to make game more risky and less rewarding?
- Or maybe Powerplay mode will give me what I'm looking for (if it's not easy money flow ofc)?
- Other ideas/suggestions?

If someone here will suggest me something, I'd be so glad

P.S. I've bought a joystick few days ago specially to enjoy 1.3 in full

If you have that amazing outlook on the game, become a pirate. We're really complaining a lot about the rewards right now, and rightly so, but i think it would be great fun for you.

Perhaps you could roleplay a starving pirate in an agricultural economy, stealing the foods from traders?

 

[KaizoMK]

The consequence of what you're asking is one of two things.

1) earning the same credits will get harder as you go along (you'll need to keep upgrading your ship just to make that 1000 credits), which is hilariously unfun

2) dissuading everyone from buying better ships, since you'll only ever make about 1000cr.


The scale for credits is fine, and that scale is exponential, under the exponential curve of ship cost. Missions should not get easier, but they should get more rewarding as you go along.

 

[Aedil]

If you have that amazing outlook on the game, become a pirate. We're really complaining a lot about the rewards right now, and rightly so, but i think it would be great fun for you.

Perhaps you could roleplay a starving pirate in an agricultural economy, stealing the foods from traders?

Yeah with joystick I could really try to pirate somehow finally ahah.

 

[Aedil]

Would appreciate if more people with different game styles will say their words here

 

[KaizoMK]

Would appreciate if more people with different game styles will say their words here

One thing I can say is that I abandon assassination missions on clean targets, even though the money is sweet. You could avoid slave trade on moral grounds. Frankly, you could just as easily not pay attention to the money you get for it. Don't look at the reward, just read the missions that appeal to you and go for it.

You have that cr/h mentality I dislike so much, but you seem to be worried that you're making too much. Just pay more attention to the quest. Does that help?

 

[Chaodiurn]

Since the server's down, I typed down an answer already. But I wasn't satisfied with it, so I deleted it before posting and now you get an other instead.

If you seek adrenaline action that gets you into the game and something that doesn't let you progress too swiftly, then I'd suggest the branch of pirating (which I think is way better implemented than many say). Get into powerplay, join Archon Delaine and try spreading the pirate kingdom. Support him with hauls, go to RESs and pirate directly against the security. Steal the minerals from the local miners. Fill the Federation's black markets to the brim with narcotics. Use your long-range crafts to smuggle that spaceweed into the core-systems, make use of the increased narcotics production in Archon-controlled systems. The game has plenty of options to earn money, which can be combined. If you invest a bit into your playstyle, you might get exactly that out of it what you wish. Of course the game could give you more linear, more effective ways to become richer, too. But if you can accept that, there's one hell of fun to be had. The game is harder if everyone hates you and if you don't run away at any given point. Mildly paid smuggle missions, then, may only be a way to get into everything, or small elements for RP. And all that is just one branch!

I feel that, if you don't focus on it, progression in this game isn't that fast that it's annoying or not long-time motivating.

 

[emacinnes]

Didn't play the game since 1.1 and must say Elite looks much more advanced now with many new interesting features and active updates ongoing, so the atmosphere just gets better and better. However, I must admit I lack the challenge. Despite missions been reworked (with all those reputation requirements added, new descriptions and so on), they are giving even more credits than before and are actually easier than they were before (example of smuggling mission for slaves - before when you got a mission to deliver 2 slaves for example, you had to go to distant +20 l.y. system full of pirates, buy slaves there with your own credits and were risking with all your stuff while trying to get back and then sneak into a heavily guarded starport; now these missions feel more like "take those 2 slaves and deliver then to a nearby non-guarded stardock and get your 70k credits without any risk"), so I feel that even if I'll focus on illegal missions only I won't feel any pressure. What I really want is to make credits flow as slow as possible, to make every 1000 credits a hard-earned money in other words. I'm really not the kind of player who likes to progress very fast in such type of games, I prefer slow and hard gameplay instead. So it's not a problem for me to spend hundreds of hours flying on a basik Sidewinder if it will keep my interest in Elite high, actually I really like flying between systems or just sitting on stations to feel the great atmosphere of this game. But as the game unfortunately has only Solo and Open play modes, with Really Challenging Open play mode still missing, I would listen to your suggestions how to get emotions I want fro the game. I'm sure I'm not the only player feeling like that

- Should I stop using some types of missions or missions in general?
- Should I avoid trading or focus on trading only instead?
- Is mining the thing I should avoid as well?
- Should I stick to Sidewinder or Eagle only (so far I'm fining that playing on 2 cargo only Eagle is a good option) to have no ability to pick a lot of cargo?
- Or maybe I should ignore all the missions/trading stuff and play as pirate/bounty hunter to make game more risky and less rewarding?
- Or maybe Powerplay mode will give me what I'm looking for (if it's not easy money flow ofc)?
- Other ideas/suggestions?

If someone here will suggest me something, I'd be so glad

P.S. I've bought a joystick few days ago specially to enjoy 1.3 in full

Really depends on what career you want. I went bounty hunter/mercenary, so I take all the "pay to kill so-and-so" missions now. Now that these targets are found in supercruise, it's much faster and more fun, as police tend to try to catch me.
Legal target missions are the ones I enjoy the most. "Go to neighbouring system, destroy 8 system patrol ships", credits for them are usually very high, and there's an escalating response to my "invasion".
But really, any assassination mission in a neighbouring system will do. X number of pirates, kill a politician, anything of that sort. You may need to gain reputation with a more piratey faction first before getting the goodies.

Swap to a RES farm or combat zone for a change of pace from time to time, or use the RES to gain reputation first, and then back to it. Needs no cargo space whatsoever, but if you're hunting pirates, you can use the cargo scoop to get a little extra, although that does risk a Wanted status in your home system, and it also means wasting two slots for a limpet system, or faffing with the cargo scoop.

I find it quite rewarding, the game type is tense, not exactly the same thing every time, and happily making about 1 to 1.5mil an hour from doing multiple missions in parallel (that's in a Fer De Lance though with a Deadly combat rating, if your rating is lower, expect to earn much less, 15,000 per mission to start with, maybe up to 75,000 later, Deadly ranks get the 400,000 CR per mission stuff). Missions will change and flow a little bit as well, so it's not always "kill 1 pirate", and it usually changes systems from time to time too.

Powerplay for me is very early, and will need to get patched later, so I'm just kinda waiting there for that one. I needed a different ship for it, something "low-cost" like a Clipper or Diamondback Explorer, with a large jump range and energy weapons only. Undermining is better than Crime Sweeps, although the gameplay is a rinse and repeat of the main game, and with a little less to it i.e. there's no specific target, or number of targets, it's just Go Here, Kill As Many as You Can, not really "in the spirit" of bounty hunting, more like Merit Farming (to paraphrase the old Bounty Farming at a RES).

Remember as well, bounty hunting needs not a fancy FSD drive, bare minimum to get to the neighbouring systems, and forego the fuel scoop, there and back, there and back only. Save the weight, the lighter the ship is, the more maneuverable. You need shields, and power, those can't be helped, but the FSD, cheap n cheerful n light with a heavy emphasis on shields.

EDIT:

Add to this, participation in combat-related Community Goals are a ton of fun and can be very challenging, compared to the normal game. CG's have plain simple cash rewards, PvP as well as PvE mixed in, and the better everybody does, the more credits everyone gets at the end.

As for the ship. Personally, the sidewinder is worth 0, the eagle is worth 40,000, so sell the Eagle and use the cash to save up for a Viper at 175,000, and you're 25% of the way there without doing anything. Dying in an un-upgraded sidewinder costs nothing. Dying in the eagle costs 2000.

Still not challenging? Turn off Flight Assist, and rotational correction, and then the docking challenge gets upgraded to "level 3". It's also possible to fight entirely with flight assist off, and that'll be good with the joystick.

Mining: Nah. As one other poster recently said, of the three remaining miners, two have quit, and the third has their resume on Monster.com.

 

[Aedil]

Mining: Nah. As one other poster recently said, of the three remaining miners, two have quit, and the third has their resume on Monster.com.

Hm, what's so wrong with mining in Elite nowadays?

 

[emacinnes]

Hm, what's so wrong with mining in Elite nowadays?

It is getting better, but has a long way to go. It doesn't really "do" anything beyond just mine standard mineral commodities, which are far faster to trade. The refinery is still awkward to use, and as best I can tell, aside from mining Gold or whatever mineral, there's no "finding an area, claiming it", and little in the way of advancement (no Class 4 mining laser that can cut off big chunks, no asteroid chunk towing to a nearby mining base), the unreusable prospector drones, and the relatively light pirate interactions.

 

[Aedil]

Ok, I pirated a bit on AI ships (totally ignoring free space cargo, overpaid missions and so on), got some booty and about 40k bounty for my head then after few days I got killed by some bounty hunter hacker on overpowered ship. Deleted the save, gonna wait for more new content to come to ED in next versions. Pirating only seems to be useless actually but the game played in other way is too easy for me, I want FD to bring us actual challenge

 

[lanael]

It's easy : Iron Man mode by default for everybody !

 

[Aedil]

Could be great. Or at least 5% insurance instead of 95%.