Newcomer / Intro Newcomer needs some advice

[Windom]

As it already took me some time to learn how to fly and do the tutorials, I decided to ask for a little help with my first mission because I am already somehow lost in space and don't know what to do

I started at LHS 3447 and signed a mission to recover a black box from LTT 15613 for some Security Corp (cause I am little bit afraid of shooting, I admit )
I ploted a route and jumped.

Now I have 3 questions.

1.) On my way I stumbled across a system which only seem to have one sun. Its marked as unexplored and even the System view does not show any other planet. Is there any way to scan the system for other planets? Do I have to explore a planet to mark it as explored? If so, how?

2.) Whats with heat? There was a heat warning that I only survived by accident ... how do I cool my ship, and why it was heating up while fast travelling?

3.) LTT 15613 is another system with an unexplored sun and nothing else. And no sign of the black box? I do not think I am supposed to fly around and look for it manually.. there must be a way to scan or show a quest marker, right?

 

[carlisle]

1) you have an equipped discovery scanner (which you can assign to a fire button using the screen on your right if you want) this will discover anything with range in an unexplored system.

2) my guess is you flew too close to a star

3) I haven't tried that quest, but are there any unidentified signal sources in the system?

Be wary, those black boxes are illegal cargo when you try and carry them back to complete the mission.

 

[Errantthought]

1.) Yes, use your basic discovery scanner. This has a short range but depending on the system it will give you a few points. Some systems ONLY have a sun so don't worry if you find nothing. You can also get to high speed and watch for moving points of light. Those are usually planets/moons or suns in the local system.

2.) You were too close to a sun. Some types give off huge amounts of heat even at a distance. The safest plan is to fly away from the sun as soon as you jump in. You'll get the warning at 100% but won't take damage until 140-150%

3.) You will find the black box within a USS - Unidentified Signal Source. Finding one of these doesn't guarantee finding the item you are looking for but it does have a good chance of being there if you have a mission for it. Just fly around the system watching your contacts, as they pop up within a certain range and can be fleeting if you don't target them. Once you see one pop up set it as your destination and drop in. You will hopefully find the item you're looking for - it'll be a white contact. Just open your cargo scoop, and fly VERY SLOWLY up to it, keeping it centered in the small targetting box that comes up to the left of the radar and you'll get it.

If you accidentally destroy it try jumping out and looking for another contact as more will definitely spawn eventually.

Send me a PM if you are still having trouble.

 

[Del-Dredd]

1. The Sun marked as Unexplored - Do not get too close, that's where the Heat build up comes from, Face the Center of the Sun (where the circle is) and target it.
You should see a symbol on the left panel rotating as it is scanning, after a while it will identify the Star, you will get credits for that at a station Cartographic section.
.
2. The Heat is generally from getting to close to the sun, usually you can get up to 110% or more without damage but you will start to get hull damage far above that and smoke in the cockpit.
.
3. In the unexplored systems it pays to use the Discovery Scanner, you will have to assign it to a fire group if not already done, I usually leave it in its own group and primary, then use trigger to charge it
(keep trigger pressed until it is fully charged, you will know when as it makes a loud bwang sort of noise).
.
Assigning Fire Group - Select Right panel, select 2nd Tab I think (FireGroups), Use UI Up/Down controls to highlight the Scanner, Left key etc to select Group 2 for example, then the Select key to assign Primary or Secondary Fire.
.
When searching for the Black Box or any of the other types ie Military Plans or Ancient Art etc, you will need to find a USS (Unidentified Signal Source) while cruising around in Supercruise,
they are randomly generated but will generally appear in front of you while cruising around (continue regular scanner charging while doing this as you may find planets/moons etc).
Once you see a USS, target it and once in range and slowed down enough, drop out of Supercruise and see what is there, dropped cargo etc shows as a grey square on your center scanner display.
Open your cargo scoop and scoop it up, usually best below 15kms or you may just smash the container and it is a bit easier to aim at that speed.
.
Hope that helps.

Deyrick

 

[RobinsonUK]

There is a heat sink module that allows you to "eject" heat (requires ammo). Also if you initiate hyperspace to jump to another system close to a star when you're already quite hot the added head from charging the drive might put you over the limit and you'll take some damage. So before you jump to the next system get some distance between you and the star to cool off a little.

 

[jspaceman]

even though i have been playing since beta, i dont really know what to suggest to you that
will be helpful. if you are just now buying the game then you will be a bit behind in terms of
finances so i would stick with trade for now. its easy money. keep an eye out for trade missions
as well as you normally get the items given to you and all you do is fly to the destination.
bounty hunting will be very difficult in a default sidewinder but if you save up enough to replace
those starter guns with something better you can manage them ok. exploration data can be sold
but only to systems that are 20+ LY away as far as i know. that is a pretty easy source of income as well.

good luck

 

[Windom]

Thanks guys .. great help so far.

Only issue is that I can not seem to find the right timing to drop out of Supercruise when I discovered a USS ... already missed 5, but when I once passed by its sometimes hard to find the same source again ^^

Leads me to another question : Is it possible to start new? I already burned 70 % of my fuel, not earned a single credit and its not even guaranteed that I will accomplish the mission ... to be honest I'd rather start new with simple trade missions.

Lol, I am lost in space but its fun!

 

[Rubix]

Thanks guys .. great help so far.

Only issue is that I can not seem to find the right timing to drop out of Supercruise when I discovered a USS ... already missed 5, but when I once passed by its sometimes hard to find the same source again ^^

Leads me to another question : Is it possible to start new? I already burned 70 % of my fuel, not earned a single credit and its not even guaranteed that I will accomplish the mission ... to be honest I'd rather start new with simple trade missions.

Lol, I am lost in space but its fun!

to start anew, you can 'self destruct' its located in your right side panel.

when flying to a USS or any target for that matter, you can adjust your speed slider. if you have the speed 'in the blue' then your ship will automatically keep a safe speed to your target. when you get within a safe distance, you will get a message telling you that you can exit safely (in blue, in the centre of the cockpit, just above the area radar) pressing the button will exit you from supercruise safely within range of your target.

 

[AndyC77]

As it already took me some time to learn how to fly and do the tutorials, I decided to ask for a little help with my first mission because I am already somehow lost in space and don't know what to do

I started at LHS 3447 and signed a mission to recover a black box from LTT 15613 for some Security Corp (cause I am little bit afraid of shooting, I admit )
I ploted a route and jumped.

Now I have 3 questions.

1.) On my way I stumbled across a system which only seem to have one sun. Its marked as unexplored and even the System view does not show any other planet. Is there any way to scan the system for other planets? Do I have to explore a planet to mark it as explored? If so, how?

2.) Whats with heat? There was a heat warning that I only survived by accident ... how do I cool my ship, and why it was heating up while fast travelling?

3.) LTT 15613 is another system with an unexplored sun and nothing else. And no sign of the black box? I do not think I am supposed to fly around and look for it manually.. there must be a way to scan or show a quest marker, right?

It might be worth clearing your save and starting again which you can do from the main menu under options. You have the right attitude so keep plugging away, ask for help when you need it. You will love it when it comes to you.

 

[Ted Striker]

Do the black boxes count as stolen? I haven't wanted to do any missions involving black boxes or any other items that have to be retrieved in space because I've heard virtually everything you can scoop is considered stolen.

 

[carlisle]

Thanks guys .. great help so far.

Only issue is that I can not seem to find the right timing to drop out of Supercruise when I discovered a USS ... already missed 5, but when I once passed by its sometimes hard to find the same source again ^^

Leads me to another question : Is it possible to start new? I already burned 70 % of my fuel, not earned a single credit and its not even guaranteed that I will accomplish the mission ... to be honest I'd rather start new with simple trade missions.

Lol, I am lost in space but its fun!

To ensure you don't overshoot your target keep the throttle in super cruise in the blue zone, you can go above the blue zone when covering big distances but be sure to get back inside it as you close in on your destination.

 

[Araviel]

once passed by its sometimes hard to find the same source again ^^

you have a little mini radar for stellar objects you locked on to at the upper left side of your main radar.
it looks like a small circle whit a dot inside. if the dot is full that means the target is infront of your ship, and if its a hollow dot the target is behind you, when you got a full dot right in the middle of it you are on target, hollow dot in the middle you are flying straight away from target.
press T to lock on to the USS when you got it ahead of you and you can track it on your mini radar.

 

[Del-Dredd]

Do the black boxes count as stolen? I haven't wanted to do any missions involving black boxes or any other items that have to be retrieved in space because I've heard virtually everything you can scoop is considered stolen.

The Black Boxes and other stuff like Military Plans etc are classed as stolen.
.
Depends where you got the mission from, if a Platform type usually not much of an issue as they do not tend to have any security ships or even bother to scan you.
.
At main stations best way to avoid a scan is just make sure you are fast at docking, do not hang about outside, If using a Docking Computer forget it as its way to slow.
.
Once you build up rep with a station it will turn green on the scanner/holo display, they do not tend to scan you as much then.

 

[Del-Dredd]

Thanks guys .. great help so far.

Only issue is that I can not seem to find the right timing to drop out of Supercruise when I discovered a USS ... already missed 5, but when I once passed by its sometimes hard to find the same source again ^^

Leads me to another question : Is it possible to start new? I already burned 70 % of my fuel, not earned a single credit and its not even guaranteed that I will accomplish the mission ... to be honest I'd rather start new with simple trade missions.

Lol, I am lost in space but its fun!

As others have said is to keep the speed down in the Blue area as you approach, best way to lose speed is to loop or bunt ie full up or full down, or even a combination.
.
Best info I found and have used ever since as a basis is approach your targeted location be it a Station or USS as fast at full speed but as you get closer and the Time to Target reaches 10 seconds drop the throttle to mid Blue range (50%).
.
Increase or decrease slightly until it is down to 7 seconds (I usually go down to 6), it will stay there as the drive will reduce your speed as the range decreases, once within a 1000Kms you can exit Supercruise and will arrive at your destination.
.
Follow a spiral path to the target in Supercruise as it helps evade those trying to Interdict you.
.
If you drop to 5 secs or below before reducing speed you will invariably overshoot unless you immediately loop up.

 

[Calibisto]

Make sure you have the USS selected as navigation target.
Fly at full speed till 7-10 seconds removed.
Slow down to 75% or less.

The flight computer will slow down automatically for a proper approach.
At <1.00Mm there will appear "Safe to Disengage" in blue on the screen.

Disengage and you'll arrive at the USS.

 

[Windom]

Thanks to you I managed to locate the blackbox and delivered it - though they paid me about 10,000 Cr less than promised (at least I think so Oo) .

I am still a little bit puzzled about system jumps.
When I jump to another system I am always dropped near the sun (and thats where the heat problems begin). Do I really have to jump towards the sun first and then Supercruise to a base,planet etc. within a system, which on the downside takes some minutes ? Ain't there a way to directly jump to a location?

I already played around with the system maps but do not find an option to directly jump to a starbase.

 

[carlisle]

Thanks to you I managed to locate the blackbox and delivered it - though they paid me about 10,000 Cr less than promised (at least I think so Oo) .

I am still a little bit puzzled about system jumps.
When I jump to another system I am always dropped near the sun (and thats where the heat problems begin). Do I really have to jump towards the sun first and then Supercruise to a base,planet etc. within a system, which on the downside takes some minutes ? Ain't there a way to directly jump to a location?

I already played around with the system maps but do not find an option to directly jump to a starbase.

No it puts you by the star by design, to create a bottleneck in the route where people are more likely to meet each other, and also to ensure that you always have to do some traveling and can't just hyperspace from station to station.

Once you're in hyperspace, put the throttle down to zero, that way when you come out of hyperspace you'll just be stationary, rather than heading toward the star.

 

[Traceracing]

agree on throttle back when you see /hear 4....3...2 then when you exit hyperspace you'll be at 30km/s (about 1400 mph) so effectively standing still....

another reason for not going directly to the station as there's so much opportunity for "stuff" to happen between star and station... exploring, interdictions, USS, piracy, bounty hunting, smuggling, war zones, mining.....

 

[Windom]

Ok thx .. even makes sense when I think about it.
As I am still in solo mode I almost forgot there will be other players around once I enter multiplayer

 

[Windom]

Is there an guide to outfitting anywhere?
Because I do not really get it ...

1.) Why are some parts listed, but not buyable, although I have enough money to buy them?
2.) Does it even make sense to upgrade my starter ship or would it be better to save the money for a new ship?
3.) Can I transfer parts from an old ship into a new one?
4.) I do not get the slot management at all ... for example I d like to buy a refinery but it only seems to fit into my cargo bay slot. Does that mean I will loose cargo capacity or even the whole cargo bay if I install a refinery. Speaking of Cargo I would like to buy more cargo space but do not know how .. or is 4 the max for the Sidewinder?
5.) I do not even really understand why all parts are loaned and what are the ups and downs of loaned and owned parts.

I am sorry for the flood of questions - Frontier really should have presented a proper tutorial or at least some tooltips for new players