Good for you. Now go back and try it again in a stock Cobra or a Viper and if it's still too easy try it in an Eagle or a Sidewinder. The game is scale able like that.
It's a bit like exploration. You get cocky because you've never come across one of those nasty evil hot blue things that fry you down to your skiddies before you can swear at it and then one day you hit one. I mean who put that thing there? Stupid game I'm logging off. One day you'll come across a skilled and aggressive NPC and they are out there and you'll say that it's too difficult, he killed me or he nearly killed me. Stupid game I'm logging off.
And you still won't trade in that shiny Vulture I'll bet.
You mean you haven't learnt the trick to safe exploring is to zero your thrust after the jump count down has begun!?
One of the recommended set ups for exploring the galaxy in an Asp is no weapons and no shields, and this seems to be good enough to cross the galaxy and back.
The biggest impediment to reaching some systems is jump range and as that is a fixed value it lies beyond any skill margin.
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It's nice to have a sandbox, I can set myself challenges all day long, and frequently have to because it seems an area games designers have abdicated responsibility for.
Their balance point for those that have more time to play the game isn't to put the good stuff on a skill curve but to put it on a time requirement. Everyone, and I mean everyone can own an Anaconda you just have to have varying degrees of patience.
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I'd liken it to the crafting (and many of the other skills) in Skyrim. You could go from the lowest rating to the highest by doing the same low level activity (in this case churning out fur bracers by the cart load).
Apparently Skyrim was a fantastic game much beloved by its fan base, but lets be honest the core mechanics were horrendous and broken beyond the point of belief.
But, it was a pretty game to spend an hour or so picking flowers in, and that's the sort of same experience Elite: Dangerous is giving me as a solo player.
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I would like some depth to my experience, unfortunately I'm not finding it. There's a complexity issue when first encountering something but after that step... nothing

Extra Credits covered it a long time ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVL4st0blGU
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Unfortunately, like most internet discussion, I think this has entered the circular phase.
Forumite 1: 'I like Elite: Dangerous is okay at the beginning but I'd like to see more personal challenges to overcome in the long game.'
Forumite 2: 'Game fine go play something else.'
Forumite 1: 'But it could be a much deeper richer experience where your progression actually signifies an improvement in ability.'
Forumite 2: 'Game fine go play something else.'
Forumite 1: 'But think of the sense of personal accomplishment when you return from a harrowing exploration to the outer rim, pushing the limits of you ship and flying skill, rather than just testing your patience.'
Forumite 2: 'Game fine go play something else.'