Newcomer / Intro My first two hours

[andyraptor]

If you're in combat, there's a 15 seconds timer from when you click exit to when you actually disappear. It tells you.
Mind you, this can be circumvented, but is currently considered an exploit.

Tis why FD are currently monitoring telemetry* on so called "combat logging".... those that do can ........exploit away ... but flagging yourself up for future action ....seems like a silly move to me

* remember the 1.07 patch notes included telemetry software !!

 

[SpydersByte]

Thanks all, I'll give that a try in a moment.

I can't take any credit for getting the Cobra though, it was my start option!

Are you sure you're not in a Sidewinder? How did you start with a Cobra?

Everyone has answered your questions so far so I only have a tiny thing to add about fuel scooping. Everyone so far has given you different advice, because there are different ways to do it. Honestly, I don't understand the people who do it with no speed, or just sit by the star. Seems to me it would be a very slow scoop, and very boring. The way I do it, and it seems very efficient and very fast, is to simply circle the star at full speed or 75% throttle. It seems the faster/closer/hotter you get, the faster you scoop. When I first jump in I angle myself downward so that I am always pitching upward, doing circles around the star. If you stay at full speed, pitching up, with the only the tiniest sliver of the star (or for less heat, it's gravitational line) you seem to generate heat very slowly but scoop at the fastest rate your equipped scoop can do. If you start getting too hot just pitch a little less upward to give yourself a slightly further orbit. You don't need to have the star in view, you can simply watch your heat guage to be able to tell if you are increasing or decreasing the diameter of your orbit.

It's not an easy thing to explain, but it's an easy thing to do (so I wish I had FRAPS right now to show it). I suggest just trying to orbit the star at 75% speed. I think the methods of slowing down and speeding up are not only making it more difficult than it really is, but are also more boring. I personally love flying a fast, close orbit, and slingshotting off to my destination when full.


Here is what I was trying to describe, you can see at the very very top the gravitational line for the star. I just fly at full speed pitching upward at a rate that keeps that line exactly where it is and the heat build is very slow while the scoop is very fast. Also, you can safely take the heat up to 140% without doing any real damage. The only thing it will change is the wait-time before you're at a heat level you can start FSD with (without it causing an overheat).

 

[Derpster Frey]

Are you sure you're not in a Sidewinder? How did you start with a Cobra?

Alpha backers got a Cobra.

 

[SpydersByte]

Alpha backers got a Cobra.

Ah I see, guess I kind of figured that but since it was his first two hours I was kind of confused (figured he would've had his first two hours a long while ago if he were an alpha backer).

 

[Porina]

I have been messing around more with scooping, and now suspect different stars behave differently. I find it easier on some, harder on others, but not figured out any pattern yet. I also tried doing high speed, varying height to get a good rate without excess heat although not always that well. Still, I haven't bought any fuel since my 1st day so I can't be doing that badly at it!

As for the Cobra, I did pay up front in the Kickstarter, and went for the "lifetime update" package. So in theory I should have access to future content update packs (as opposed to routine updates) without paying more for them. As a side "benefit" of that level, I could also access beta and get different start options including the explorer pack which I settled on. This is basically a Cobra mk3 with assorted kit, better than basic, not top end. But the kit is "loaned" such that there is zero resale value. I was busy when beta was out and decided to wait until the release before playing, and even then I didn't find time until now.

 

[SpydersByte]

I have been messing around more with scooping, and now suspect different stars behave differently. I find it easier on some, harder on others, but not figured out any pattern yet. I also tried doing high speed, varying height to get a good rate without excess heat although not always that well. Still, I haven't bought any fuel since my 1st day so I can't be doing that badly at it.

I wouldn't doubt that different class stars give different rates of fuel but I've never noticed it. Some are just plain un-scoopable but beyond that I haven't noticed a difference. I used to scoop-to-full at every jump but fuel is actually pretty cheap when you start making decent money so now I only scoop every few jumps, and I don't mind landing at 80% or so if it'll make the journey faster. But yea, obviously if you haven't had to pay for fuel yet then you're working the scoop just fine.