Newcomer / Intro I Delayed Getting Any Combat XP; What Now?

[withnail67]

Greetings All,

I've had ED for almost a month now and I think I've got the hang of the basics and I've made some good Cr$ from mining and running passenger services.

One thing I've not done yet is shoot down an enemy ship. As my Trade & Explorer ranks increase, should I be keeping my combat rank up too? Also; is there a suitable area (general Sol + 200ly sort of range) for new combat pilots, or will the NPCs that spawn ahead Nav Beacons etc automatically be around my combat rank? I'm pretty sure I'll concentrate on mining, with breaks to go on extended exploration routes, for a good while.

Thanks in advance for any replies and suggestions.

Withnail67 - over and out o7.

 

[Dommarraa]

As you increase trade or exploration, any enemy that interdict you will also increase (it's based on highest of combat rank or other rank -2). You dont need combat rank, but it might be worth getting some combat skills before the enemy get too tough.

Nav beacons and Res are not linked to rank

 

[Factabulous]

Don't feel you need the combat rank - many don't bother with it for years. Though it is fun once you get into it.

 

[GeoJase]

Strap on some guns and go to a Resource Extraction Site (RES), not a Hazardous RES, and shoot at the wanted ships the authorities are also shooting at. You'll get the assistance of the cops, you'll get some experience and some credits. See how you go. Upgrade ship/guns/engineering to get into more combat depth.

 

[Maggie_Oz]

I've never carried guns on my ships other than to shoot Thargoids and I don't intend to change that at any time in the future.
Not gaining combat rank isn't going to put you at a disadvantage in the game.

 

[aRJay]

As has been said the random interdicting NPCs are based on either your combat rank or a couple of ranks below your highest other rank, mission related ones of course are based on the missions rank.

If you want to have a go pick a system convenient stations and ringed planets preferably with an Interstellar Factirs close by.
The easiest places are Nav Beacons and Low Resource Extraction Sites usually low numbers and low ranked opponents RES will have higher traffic with High RES likely to have the most traffic and higher ranked opponents all of these should have a police presence to help out system security levels should affect numbers and response time.
There are also Compromised Nav Beacons and Hazardous RES where not only might you find targets winged up but you won’t find police so not ideal to start learning in.

There are also Conflict Zones but they are really much more for commanders with combat experience and ships built uncompromisingly for hard combat.

 

[withnail67]

Thanks for the replies and information fellow Commanders! It's good to know I don't have to worry about ranking up in combat until I want to.

I've been interdicted quite a few times (especially when hauling Tritium from my favourite mining spot) but the pirates are yet to drag me out of Super Cruise and I hope to keep it that way!

Now, what did I do with the keys to my Asp X..........?