I backed the game quite some time ago yet I'm new to the forums. I didn't play the game much when I first backed it and really only started for Gamma. Now that the game is officially launched I wanted to share a few tips to help even a noob get started and on their way to getting bigger and better ships.
If you were anything like me, everything just seems daunting and that nice ship you want looks to be unobtainable. I experimented with a few things first starting out like using the bulletin board. However, that seemed like a bust because I couldn't do most of them due to a lack of cargo space. Then I went exploring around the system I was in and hit up the Unidentified Signal Sources (USS) that were popping up. I came across some that had items I could pick up but it turns out when you pick them up they're considered stolen and if you get scanned by the police you're screwed. I did manage to sneak some cargo through and made around 10k off 2 things I was able to scoop up in my tiny cargo hold. Still, 10k was chump change compared to what I needed.
This is where I remembered that I was supposed to get an Eagle for purchasing the Mercenary Edition and not just the silly starting Sidewinder. Turns out all you need to do to get it is access the Shipyard at a station to see where yours is parked. When you find the location you can fly to it and then obtain your Eagle. I highly recommend getting your Eagle, if not, what I'm about to share is doable with a Sidewinder. After getting my Eagle I hit up the Nav Beacon in my system. Not all systems have one but if they do it is located within 1000Ls of the star in that system. I flew around the Nav Beacon area scanning the ships in my vicinity and I found some people that were wanted. Turns out this is a decent way to make some cash.
The first target I came across was a Hauler. After scanning him I found out his name, that he was a 'Novice' and he was Wanted. So I attacked him and killed him quite easily with the basic Pulse Lasers that came equipped on my Eagle. I don't remember the exact amount of credits I earned but it was something over 5k. I was like "Okay, this isn't too bad. Let's see what else we can kill." I killed a few more targets that ranged anywhere from 1k to 20k credits. I then came across an Anaconda. I found that it hit hard but it was slow and easy to stay behind so you don't get hit. It took awhile to kill but after the kill I got around 52k credits. I did this for close to two hours and when I returned to the station to repair and claim the bounties I had made close to 200k credits. It's not as high as what you can make trading but you need the big expensive ships to make a lot of money so it's a good way to start out.
Doing this for a few more hours I netted close to 500k credits and I was able to afford a Cobra with money to spare. After that it's really up to you on what you want to do. You can upgrade the Cobra's cargo to hold 40+ tons which is a decent starter for trading, mining, or you can keep on hunting down wanted targets. The Cobra is more capable of taking down the harder targets so you end up making money that way a little quicker.
Some tips to make hunting wanted targets as painless as possible:
Park near the Nav Beacon and scan the ships in the area.
To scan, target a ship "default key is 'T'" and make sure you are facing them. It takes a few moments to get their information but it shows up on the left side of your interface.
The information you get reveals four things. Ship Type, Owner, Skill Rating, and whether they're Clean or Wanted.
Do not attack police vessels or anything that is 'Clean' or you will get a small bounty and you can be attacked by other ships.
Skill Rating determines how hard they are to kill and how much they are worth if they are wanted. Harmless, Mostly Harmless, Poor, Average, Above Average, Competent, Dangerous, Deadly, and Elite are the ratings.
Don't attack someone too high above your own rating unless you have help or are confident that you can successfully take them on.
Ideally you should target Vipers, Adders, Asps, Anaconda's, etc... But only if they are Competent or under. Again, this is up to you based on how well you think you can do.
Do not take any unnecessary risks! If you are overwhelmed, get out of there. If you are randomly attacked by the police (which does happen even though you don't have a bounty) make a quick jump and come back.
If you get to about 50% health get out of there, go to a station and repair! If you die you lose your bounty vouchers and you don't want to lose that progress.
I hope this helps some people starting out. I have found bounty hunting to be a good way to start out and get a decent upgrade pretty quick which can then open the way for other forms of making money. If you need help send me a message or reply to this thread and I'll do my best to answer any questions you have.
If you were anything like me, everything just seems daunting and that nice ship you want looks to be unobtainable. I experimented with a few things first starting out like using the bulletin board. However, that seemed like a bust because I couldn't do most of them due to a lack of cargo space. Then I went exploring around the system I was in and hit up the Unidentified Signal Sources (USS) that were popping up. I came across some that had items I could pick up but it turns out when you pick them up they're considered stolen and if you get scanned by the police you're screwed. I did manage to sneak some cargo through and made around 10k off 2 things I was able to scoop up in my tiny cargo hold. Still, 10k was chump change compared to what I needed.
This is where I remembered that I was supposed to get an Eagle for purchasing the Mercenary Edition and not just the silly starting Sidewinder. Turns out all you need to do to get it is access the Shipyard at a station to see where yours is parked. When you find the location you can fly to it and then obtain your Eagle. I highly recommend getting your Eagle, if not, what I'm about to share is doable with a Sidewinder. After getting my Eagle I hit up the Nav Beacon in my system. Not all systems have one but if they do it is located within 1000Ls of the star in that system. I flew around the Nav Beacon area scanning the ships in my vicinity and I found some people that were wanted. Turns out this is a decent way to make some cash.
The first target I came across was a Hauler. After scanning him I found out his name, that he was a 'Novice' and he was Wanted. So I attacked him and killed him quite easily with the basic Pulse Lasers that came equipped on my Eagle. I don't remember the exact amount of credits I earned but it was something over 5k. I was like "Okay, this isn't too bad. Let's see what else we can kill." I killed a few more targets that ranged anywhere from 1k to 20k credits. I then came across an Anaconda. I found that it hit hard but it was slow and easy to stay behind so you don't get hit. It took awhile to kill but after the kill I got around 52k credits. I did this for close to two hours and when I returned to the station to repair and claim the bounties I had made close to 200k credits. It's not as high as what you can make trading but you need the big expensive ships to make a lot of money so it's a good way to start out.
Doing this for a few more hours I netted close to 500k credits and I was able to afford a Cobra with money to spare. After that it's really up to you on what you want to do. You can upgrade the Cobra's cargo to hold 40+ tons which is a decent starter for trading, mining, or you can keep on hunting down wanted targets. The Cobra is more capable of taking down the harder targets so you end up making money that way a little quicker.
Some tips to make hunting wanted targets as painless as possible:
Park near the Nav Beacon and scan the ships in the area.
To scan, target a ship "default key is 'T'" and make sure you are facing them. It takes a few moments to get their information but it shows up on the left side of your interface.
The information you get reveals four things. Ship Type, Owner, Skill Rating, and whether they're Clean or Wanted.
Do not attack police vessels or anything that is 'Clean' or you will get a small bounty and you can be attacked by other ships.
Skill Rating determines how hard they are to kill and how much they are worth if they are wanted. Harmless, Mostly Harmless, Poor, Average, Above Average, Competent, Dangerous, Deadly, and Elite are the ratings.
Don't attack someone too high above your own rating unless you have help or are confident that you can successfully take them on.
Ideally you should target Vipers, Adders, Asps, Anaconda's, etc... But only if they are Competent or under. Again, this is up to you based on how well you think you can do.
Do not take any unnecessary risks! If you are overwhelmed, get out of there. If you are randomly attacked by the police (which does happen even though you don't have a bounty) make a quick jump and come back.
If you get to about 50% health get out of there, go to a station and repair! If you die you lose your bounty vouchers and you don't want to lose that progress.
I hope this helps some people starting out. I have found bounty hunting to be a good way to start out and get a decent upgrade pretty quick which can then open the way for other forms of making money. If you need help send me a message or reply to this thread and I'll do my best to answer any questions you have.
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