Re: Productivity and Time Management

PaxtonNewt

PaxtonNewt
Hi CMDRs

I was hoping to ask for some advice on how to make better use of my time in ED.

A three hour session is the max perhaps twice a week and depending on whether the children are here or away I can have a possible 5.

Does anyone have a set routine in game that they find most productive or is the game so full of distractions that it's difficult to achieve the goal you set out at the start.
 

Vasco Sapien

Vasco Sapien
Productive - this is a word that people use when they work. Its a professional buzz word for getting them most out of your working day.

ED is a game. So relax, dont rush and concerns like productivity should be avoided.

Because the moment you feel the need to rush, or be more Productive, ED stops being a game and becomes work.

My 2 cents.
 

Speedcuffs

Speedcuffs
Really depends on what you want to achieve.
I set myself small goals, while bearing in mind the most efficient way is quite often boring (for me).
 

Jaggid Edje

Jaggid Edje
Here's my routine:
1. Login
2. Decide what I feel like doing.
3. Pick appropriate ship from fleet.
4. Go do it

I have many goals on my todo list, but ultimately I mainly just decide what I feel like doing first and only then decide which of my goals can also be a part of that.

Examples:
  • If I need manufactured engineering materials and feel like trading I might throw a collector limpet controller in the size 1 slot of my Cutter, get some limpets, and choose to fight any anaconda npc's that they send against me from the missions; looting their remains.
  • About a week ago one of my main goals was engineer unlocks and the only one left (outside of Colonia) that I didn't have unlocked was Lori Jameson. I was diligently working on my combat rank for her and someone pointed out it would be faster to just fly to Colonia to get the engineers there who have the same blueprints. I agreed...but each day that I logged in, what I wanted to do was CZ's...so I ended up just staying local and doing CZ's. I unlocked Lori about 4 days later. Productivity/efficiency be damned. I felt like fighting, not spending days doing nothing but jumping.

Sometimes my decision of "what I feel like doing" is a direct goal, other times it's not...and that's okay too. I try to be efficient in games only insofar as I will work efficiently within the framework of what I feel like doing. As soon as efficiency or productivity becomes more important than anything else...the game stops being as much fun, at least for me.

It helps for me that the thing I like best in ED is flying my ships....so most of what one needs to do in the game allows me to do that. SRV stuff I don't like so much, but fortunately it is mostly not required for anything other than gathering raw materials and, thanks to @Aashenfox it appears I only will have to do that for a few hours every few months.
 
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Maymo

Maymo
This would have made an interesting discussion at one time, back when CMDRs were poor and had to work for credits.

Different trade routes and the current profitable systems could be discussed, or at least hinted at.

That of course depends if your perception of productivity = credits. (In before I get trolled)

Miss those days.

Anyway. My idea of a productive time in ED is when I can achieve multiple objectives by doing one activity. For example...

Bounty Hunting.
• Credits ✅
• Combat Rank✅
• Materials✅
• Data✅
• Local Reputation✅

But productivity in this game is in the eye of the beholder.

There’s chaps jumping about on the other side of the galaxy who aren’t being what I would call productive......but they’re all having a great time doing what they do.

Right this moment I’m hunting rather aimlessly for Raxxla. Started at Shinrarta, home of the Dark Wheel and i’m heading UP until I run out of stars...

...because why the hell not. 😊
 
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Schmack

Schmack
Jaggid Edje said:
Here's my routine:
1. Login
2. Decide what I feel like doing.
3. Pick appropriate ship from fleet.
4. Go do it
Click to expand...
5. Realize some basic requirement or mechanic is broken
6. Port nearby
7. Check mission board
8. See only things you aren't interested in
9. Log out

This is what I have found quite often when I try to "wing" it. So I found a system that offers a wide variety of activities. If one is broken or somehow nerfed to hell, I can try another. If that one dries out, still another. Try to stay between some engineering sites so you can do that as well when the mood strikes you. Don't be afraid to abandon all of it for a long voyage out to something else.
 

DragonIV

DragonIV
I tend to stick to one role for a few days / week at a time. Weekday activities are generally only trade or quick bounty hunting jaunts. Weekends are for mining, exploration, or field trips (to an engineer base, harvesting mats from special locs, or perhaps unlocking some tech).

I tend to live and die by optimization, so I always work to maximize trade, missions, mining, bounty hunting, etc. That's a game in and of itself.
 

Darth CareBear

Darth CareBear
I have started playing again after perhaps 8 months away, i certainly have logged on in between but always notice that what ever i wanted to do would require 10 or 15 jumps from where i was or would take around 40min to call the ship i needed...and then I logged off. I also would never see more than 1 mate online.

From the 3 hours you have, discount 30min to 1 hour for travelling or setting yourself up for the activity or getting mates to connect, prepping in ED takes ridiculous time unfortunately.

Tip 1: With any updates/ content added, do not rush off to be a 1st adopter, as any future changes might need you to re-do it all. looks at all my older legacy engineered non-god-rolled modules still to re-engineer at the engineers if i want special FX So guardian tech, engineers or any new stuff leave it alone for about 8-12 months before you get stuck in for FD to indicate or make changes, this saves so much time and frustration as they make it easier or quicker to do. I still have not multi-crewed on my or someone else's ship ever, still not explored or moved more than 1k LY away from my starting system +/-1700hrs on record (non-steam) since end 2014, exploration is not ALL that yet for me and broken FSS confirms my decision to not do it yet.

Tip 2: Before i log on next time i try and decide what i would like to do and call over ships or move to that system the day or night before I log off.

Tip 3: I get easily distracted in-game by trying to research with 3rd party tools on a topic or component i need or what is needed for that blueprint at that time etc, do this when you are offline beforehand, so that actual game time is used for completing missions or entertainment.
 
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Krash

Krash
I have to be strategic with my time. I might have 5 hours per night, but its not uninterrupted time. So I pick activities that are not affected by frequent disruptions, which is mostly PvE stuff. My favorite activity, PvP, requires dedicated focus without risk of family distractions. 11pm - 12:30am. Heaven forbid we get hit with a burglar or a fire breaks out during that time :confused:
 

Krash

Krash
Jaggid Edje said:
WTH did he do, Pee, eat breakfast, and brush teeth all while in the shower?
Click to expand...
Its possible to shower in about 1 minute. Try it without hot water next time, you can hit the highlights in about 60 secs. It takes longer to shave and get dressed. Eat a breakfast bar on the commute.
 

PaxtonNewt

PaxtonNewt
Anlepanfu said:
Just forget it. Even if you will use exploits, it will take you months to get 2-3 ships "maxed".
And when you will max some ship, you will understand that there is just nothing to do with it.
Either you will like wasting time in fully non-productive manner, like gazing at gas giants in exploration, or ED will never give you anything but frustration and disappointment.
Click to expand...
I have never been frustrated in the game. I love doing all that I do. I just need discipline I guess.
 

Krash

Krash
Anlepanfu said:
Just forget it. Even if you will use exploits, it will take you months to get 2-3 ships "maxed".
And when you will max some ship, you will understand that there is just nothing to do with it.
Either you will like wasting time in fully non-productive manner, like gazing at gas giants in exploration, or ED will never give you anything but frustration and disappointment.
Click to expand...

This is nonsense. I have about 20 ships "maxed out". Exploration, cargo, mining, PvE, PvP. Some of the PvP ships might be considered redundant, but I have plenty to do with them. Never a dull moment.
 

Midian Cabal

Midian Cabal
PaxtonNewt said:
I have never been frustrated in the game. I love doing all that I do. I just need discipline I guess.
Click to expand...
Find yourself a clear goal, if you think you need one. Once when you find it, it'll be very easy to make a task list of single steps needed to reach it.
OTOH this isn't a peeing contest, there's no end-game and there's no finishing line.
It's a game and if it's not fun, you're doing something wrong.
If you think it'd be fun to circumvent the galaxy, then hop into that DBX and remember to post a postcard from time to time here. :)
 

Drelthar

Drelthar
The only time(s) I've ever gotten annoyed with Elite, is when I set goals, it doesn't seem to have been designed for that, it seems to have been designed to just wander about doing whatever you happen upon, and then unlocking/upgrading as you go along.
 
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