I've been playing for a couple of weeks having been Elite back on the BBC when I was a kid but I'm getting my *** handed to me on a plate in combat (solo mode). I've been building up credits using core mining and I'm up to about 100M CR but on the occasions I've been attacked by a pirate I'm dead before I've even switched weapons from mining to combat. I accept the diamond back explorer is not really a combat ship but on my last mission I placed a couple of beam lasers and a couple of multi-cannon things and headed to a mining ring to wait for the pirates (having placed something valuable in the hold). On arrival I deployed the weapon hardpoints and sure enough a pirate asked me for my stuff but I was ready to battle. Same thing - i get the "Under Attack" message and then "Taking Damage" (literally seconds later) followed by death before I've even moved. Are the non-player pirates super-tough or am I missing something? Do I need a lightbulb moment like when I learned to recognise asteroids with core mining potential?
Any advice welcome.
Any advice welcome.