Horizons Progressed a bit in the game, where to go from here to have fun?

[Murenius]

Dear all,

just started the game about 3 weeks ago. The last Elite game I played was Elite II back in the 90s. I like it pretty much so far and guess I will continue playing it.

I'm a bit unsure about how to continue from where I am now, I got the feeling that at the moment I am only doing baby steps. I will describe a bit what I did. I ran missions until I could pay a Viper Mk IV, then used this to run missions and a bit of bounty hunting until I could pay for a Vulture which now has an acceptable outfitting (not full A stuff, though, still too expensive).

I tried doing massacre missions, which goes well in low intensity conflict zones, but seems to be very time consuming for the rewards I get. I tried mission running, but it seems to way too few credits (like 50k per delivery in 15 ly distance) for the time effort to someday be able to buy e.g. 5A thrusters for 5.x millions. I also tried bounty hunting in res extraction sites, but I seem to get shot too much as soon as the wanteds are a wing and not single ships.

I am generally a more combat oriented player, but at this point I would not mind doing something a tad more tedious like trading/hauling, if I can progress a bit faster. I didn't do it so far since I was afraid of putting my money into cargo and then get interdicted/shot down.

So, any suggestions what I should or could do to progress a bit faster and keep having fun with the game?

Thanks a lot in advance,
Murenius

 

[metatheurgist]

Go to a HAZ RES or lower if that's more your comfort level and kill large ships. Or stack skimmer missions.

 

[goemon]

- mission payment depends on mission rank, which you can choose, and reputation with minor factions you can gain. pick a system to work at, cash in bounties, run missions from there - and you'll gain access to high-paying missions soon. for a combat oriented player, a home system with high- and haz res is a good place!

- if you want to haul, and you can finance a t6, but don't want to be interdicted too often, you can either trade rares, or do state depending trade (medicines to war systems for exampel). boom systems are nearby always a good place to trade at, for rares or high value goods!

 

[Murenius]

Thanks a lot for the help so far. I've got some questions on that:

Bearing in mind that I am still kind of a newbie, for those skimmer missions, do I have to drive a srv myself? Or can I do this from my ship? Would I need specific weapons for this?

@goemon: what exactly do you mean with I can choose the mission rank? By deciding where I improve my reputation or can I indeed change this and haven't seen it so far? I have to admit that the game is not very keen on teaching what can be done, it's easy to miss things.

 

[rootsrat]

Dear all,

just started the game about 3 weeks ago. The last Elite game I played was Elite II back in the 90s. I like it pretty much so far and guess I will continue playing it.

I'm a bit unsure about how to continue from where I am now, I got the feeling that at the moment I am only doing baby steps. I will describe a bit what I did. I ran missions until I could pay a Viper Mk IV, then used this to run missions and a bit of bounty hunting until I could pay for a Vulture which now has an acceptable outfitting (not full A stuff, though, still too expensive).

I tried doing massacre missions, which goes well in low intensity conflict zones, but seems to be very time consuming for the rewards I get. I tried mission running, but it seems to way too few credits (like 50k per delivery in 15 ly distance) for the time effort to someday be able to buy e.g. 5A thrusters for 5.x millions. I also tried bounty hunting in res extraction sites, but I seem to get shot too much as soon as the wanteds are a wing and not single ships.

I am generally a more combat oriented player, but at this point I would not mind doing something a tad more tedious like trading/hauling, if I can progress a bit faster. I didn't do it so far since I was afraid of putting my money into cargo and then get interdicted/shot down.

So, any suggestions what I should or could do to progress a bit faster and keep having fun with the game?

Thanks a lot in advance,
Murenius

A few tips:

1) Search for systems with HIGH security rating (info on the system map). This will make police response much faster and they will help you kill wanted ships. This speeds up the process

2) Stay in 1 system and build up reputation with as many factions as possible. The better the rep, the more profitable missions will be available.

3) If you do'y mind hauling, filter the galaxy map by State and tick BOOM. Boom state makes the hauling mission pauyouts bigger!

4) Spend some time flying around all the stations/bases in the system and stack some hauling missions, also stack some import goods missions (goods you need to bring back), then go and do the deliveries and on your way back buy the stuff for the import missions.

This is a nice way to explore the populated space, as you get to visit lots of different system (sightseeing!) and earn fair amount of money without resorting to boring grind (A to B, B to A, rinse repeat). There are more efficient ways of making money, but I found this one the most balanced in terms of profit vs grind.

 

[goemon]

@goemon: what exactly do you mean with I can choose the mission rank? By deciding where I improve my reputation or can I indeed change this and haven't seen it so far? I have to admit that the game is not very keen on teaching what can be done, it's easy to miss things.

you can pick any mission of any rank, if you have the reputation.

warning (in red will say): this mission exceeds your current ranking. higher ranked missions pay better, but npcs of higher ranks will be send against you - more risk, more reward.

 

[Harry Stone]

Hey Murenius
I'm just gonna copy/paste a mini guide I wrote for another new player about a week ago who found it very useful it does require a bit of hauling but I actually found this part to be a very enjoyable way to get to the next stage where o could get an ASP and do Robigo smuggling missions. It's quite a long read but it works

So here it is

I just bought an anaconda after amassing a fortune of about 300mil creds.
It is a wonderful exploration ship and I've got it up to 51Ly jump range with the help of level 4 engineer. (1 more to go).
I highly recommend this ship it is not overrated it is the absolute most secure ship one could wish for on long range exploration missions and will keep you safe and sound for months on end.

To get there I recommend the following:

Sell your viper for now and purchase either a T6 or an Asp explorer. If you can't afford the Asp go for T6.

Once you have done this do some rares trading. How?

1) go to Ethgreze Bloch station, buy Ethgreze tea buds
2)go to Zeessze Nicolier hangar buy Ant grub glue
3)go to Altair solo orbiter buy Altair skin
4)go to Leesti George Lucas buy Leesti evil juice and Azure milk
5)go to Diso Ma shifnal port buy Diso Ma Corn
6)go to Neritus Toll ring buy Neritus berries
7)go to Aerial Andrade legacy buy Eden Apples
8) go to Wuthielo Ku buy Wuthielo Ku Froth
*Note* whilst at Wuthielo Ku sell Ethgreze tea buds, sell grub glue sell Altair skin and evil juice sell azure milk and the corn. *note sell the following as well once you have them:* Tauri Chimes, live Hecate sea worms and ochoeng chillies
9) go to Coquim Hirayama installation buy Coquim spongiform victuals
10) go to Utgaroar fort klarix and buy Utgaroar millennial eggs *note* sell these eggs at George Lucas for maximum gain
11) go to 39 Tauri, Porta for Tauri chimes sell them as above at Wuthielo Ku
12) go to Hecate RJH 1972 for live Hecate sea worms sell at W Ku
13)go to Ochoeng Rodenberry gateway for ochoeng chillies *Note* whilst here sell Neritus berries, spongiform victuals and Eden apples for max profit (sell chillies at W Ku)
14) go back to Ethgreze and be sure to SELL Wuthielo Ku froth.
Repeat

PLEASE NOTE: because rares come in such small quantities you do this run keeping everything in your hold and sell it all at once at the above mentioned stations, don't think you have to go, buy, and come back for each separate item haha

In a fully kitted out T6 with Max jump range and max cargo (no weapons no shield) this should get you around 2 mil an hour. Play the first runs in solo mode before going to open for extra thrills (bear in mind you could lose everything in open if you get hit before W Ku)

This is also a wonderful way to explore the bubble at your own pace

After you get tired of this, upgrade to asp fitted for max range no shield no weapons but add a heat sink.

Then go to Robigo

Do smuggling missions until you are tired or you are allied or both. Now you should be making 10-20 mil an hour.

Once you get tired go fit out a python for combat. If you can't afford a python go fit out a Vulture for combat.

Go do Hi Res farming or CG or bounty hunting until tired. Doing this should net you about 1 mil an hour. But hey explosions. Yay. Also it upgrades your combat rank for better missions going forward.

Go back to rares and Robigo.

Before you know it you have money for an anaconda.

Once you have a Conda fit it out with level 4 or 5 power plant. Tiny shield no weapons but MAX cargo go to sothis. Do the missions until you have a comfortable *insurance cushion* of 100 mil *on top of your Conda* (trust me on this) then fit it out for exploring and max jump range with at least two SRVS no weapons and head into the black for the most amazing gaming experience ever (seriously) exploring if done properly is absolutely stunning. (Pro - tip: don't explore for creds or fame. Do it for beauty and awe.

I really hope this helps.
Do let us know if it does help and I hope to see you around Jaques soon enough CMDR.

 

[CMDR MERANGO]

Dear all,

just started the game about 3 weeks ago. The last Elite game I played was Elite II back in the 90s. I like it pretty much so far and guess I will continue playing it.

I'm a bit unsure about how to continue from where I am now, I got the feeling that at the moment I am only doing baby steps. I will describe a bit what I did. I ran missions until I could pay a Viper Mk IV, then used this to run missions and a bit of bounty hunting until I could pay for a Vulture which now has an acceptable outfitting (not full A stuff, though, still too expensive).

I tried doing massacre missions, which goes well in low intensity conflict zones, but seems to be very time consuming for the rewards I get. I tried mission running, but it seems to way too few credits (like 50k per delivery in 15 ly distance) for the time effort to someday be able to buy e.g. 5A thrusters for 5.x millions. I also tried bounty hunting in res extraction sites, but I seem to get shot too much as soon as the wanteds are a wing and not single ships.

I am generally a more combat oriented player, but at this point I would not mind doing something a tad more tedious like trading/hauling, if I can progress a bit faster. I didn't do it so far since I was afraid of putting my money into cargo and then get interdicted/shot down.

So, any suggestions what I should or could do to progress a bit faster and keep having fun with the game?

Thanks a lot in advance,
Murenius

If you want to make some fast credits, use the below link and haul some rares.

https://github.com/tomgidden/elite-dangerous-tools/blob/gh-pages/Rares-Circuit-1.pdf

Good luck and have fun.

CMIV

 

[Murenius]

Thanks a lot for the great input so far, I will definitely try some of these things immediately when I come home from work. I'm not sure I am clear about how to do everything, but I'll just try it and get back here in case I have more questions.

My main obstacle will probably that I am far away from either of the trade routes you guys suggested. I will probably farm enough money for either a T6 or an ASP, then build a jump ship and do the cumbersome way to the trade routes and buy the hauling ship over there.

 

[RhymeRhyme]

Nowhere

 

[BigPappa]

Sounds like you have reached the same point that most do... accomplished most, if not all, of your original goals that you set out for yourself... it's a good feeling however leaves you kind of wondering what to do.

You can find other activities to do, or you can find "other people" and make new friends... That is where the content will never end in the Elite universe... no matter how many shiny things FD puts into the game, at some point it won't seem so shiny after a while. Finding a "purpose", a reason to keep doing what you do is what will drive you... Then you can take your skills and the experienced you've gained to help and learn with other like-minded commanders...

In a nutshell... find a good player group that matches your playing style.

 

[metatheurgist]

Bearing in mind that I am still kind of a newbie, for those skimmer missions, do I have to drive a srv myself? Or can I do this from my ship? Would I need specific weapons for this?

It's best done from an SRV. You do have to drive, but the SRV has everything you need. While you're there, learn about SRV scanner signals and pick up some materials when searching for skimmers.

 

[Schlack]

After a while you might feel that the game gets a bit same. It is but no more so that a shooter or other game. Giving purpose to your actions is quite rewarding. Support a Faction via the background sim - each of your actions has a BGS effect. Join a group!

 

[Cmdr Chaos]

I'd buy a ton of Gold, KWS, a fuel scoop and fly around, take in the sights, become a nomad for a while... The fun just comes to you then

(I did this for a week when I got the "what do I do now?" blues)... Inspiration comes in explosions, who'd a thought it

 

[Mercury7]

I hit that point a few days ago. I have a well-equipped Asp Explorer which I'm using for trading, and I've decided to work towards credits for a Vulture so I can do combat. Whilst I'm at it, I'm working a certain group of systems to increase rep in the area, which is starting to help now, too. I was making about 2.5 M CR/hr last night.

 

[Codger]

It's an interesting game, ED, because you have to set your own goals. The game gives you none, at all, and doesn't help you much. But that is the beauty of it. You are free. No one cares what you do, except you.

Rares trading was a very fun part of my game, back when I was doing those. It's a good recommendation. You will learn a lot about how things work, too, doing that (I still remember my first attempt at fuel scooping ). Every now and then I go do a rares run, just for the nostalgia of it.

As for getting bored, it doesn't really happen much to me, because I always set goals for myself. The goals can be anything -- a ship I want -- a particular Engineer upgrade -- an amount of cash -- a new rank -- becoming allied with a particular faction -- and on and on. I seem to enjoy the non-combat things the most, but I do sometimes go for combat. I've been fussing around in conflict zones recently. It's new for me, which is nice. It's amazing I can find new things after over 1000 hours, but there's just so much to the game.

ED doesn't move quickly, though, and I think that people who try to get things "done" too fast miss out on much of the fun. The slow steady progress to a goal keeps me interested.

Of course just because I have goals doesn't mean I have to work on them all the time either. There's room for just fussing around. Zip down to an interesting planet, explore a bit, see what materials I can pick up, steal some canisters and run from the pirates, poke around a planetary base, take some cool screenshots, fly through a canyon as fast as possible...you have a space ship! Enjoy it!

You sound like the kind of person who will find his way. And it will be your way, and no one else's.

Fly safe, commander!

 

[Murenius]

Thanks for the additional ideas and comments. I started with rare trading now and it is fun for me since it gives me reliably quite some money gain, so I can upgrade my Vulture with the weapons I want in a matter of hours. Also I can aim at getting better ships.

What I take from most posts here is that I will most likely have the most fun if I keep switching around play styles. I enjoy hauling, but the more I do it the more I think "Oh, it will be fun to do some bounty hunting or assassination missions once you farmed your new weapons".

Thanks a lot, again