Really damn close to giving up...

[Zylark]

I'd just hold off with the pew-pew stuff until having some good upgrades and a nice pile of cash. Run missions, go down to surface bases (low and med security with +++ rating) and scan the Core-Terminal access points for a quick 600k - each. Run a few long range smuggling missions. In short, get to know the game before trying to go head first into the most dangerous and most in need of training aspect of the game, combat.

Better yet, join a group. Ask a lot of questions, get answers. most groups are happy to take on beginners and help them navigate what is a game that can be bewildering until you get the hang of it.

 

[V'larr]

I'd just hold off with the pew-pew stuff until having some good upgrades and a nice pile of cash. Run missions, go down to surface bases (low and med security with +++ rating) and scan the Core-Terminal access points for a quick 600k - each. Run a few long range smuggling missions. In short, get to know the game before trying to go head first into the most dangerous and most in need of training aspect of the game, combat.

Better yet, join a group. Ask a lot of questions, get answers. most groups are happy to take on beginners and help them navigate what is a game that can be bewildering until you get the hang of it.

First you recommend he does base assault missions, then you recommend he gets to know the game before faffing about?

Dude....

 

[CMDR Aengus]

Combat log if it gets too hard. Npcs cheat too. So it's all good.

 

[Crash1099]

Alright, here's the deal. I bought No Man's Sky and was completely disgusted with the lack of difficulty, no multiplayer, etc. Heard about ED, thought I'd give it a try. Was immensely impressed by what a total improvement it was over NMS. Here's my problem. In NMS I could easily blast away any enemy fighter even with the starter ship. I tried that here, got immediately blasted apart. "Fair enough" I thought; "I'm a total noob in a ship, that's more or less what I was expected."

But now I'm about 25-30 hours in- I've read up on what ships are built to fight, trade, etc, did the "fly from station to station to grind up a few hundred thousand" bit, saved up, bought a Viper Mk III (that the internet tells me is one of the better fighters), get the hang of the whole "flight assist off" thing, deck out the fighter with a bunch of scary looking guns... and I'm still getting totally clobbered. Took an assassin mission rated "Harmless" with a 40k payout- get clobbered. Take a "hunt down and kill 2 ships from an enemy faction"... get clobbered. Try switching out my fixed lasers for the weaker gimballed in case its my aim... clobbered even harder.

What the ? At what point does the game allow me to start playing the shooting part? I don't mind (and frankly, kinda like) the hauling and exploration bits, and I certainly respect a game that doesn't just hand you the keys to the best ship in the game, but this is just ridiculous. What am I doing wrong? I don't want to give up yet- I just don't know how much longer I can go having every fight turn into a total blowout.

If you like combat go to a res site and stick with the cops till you learn more. Manage the pips also.

 

[JacoTheBad]

Stock ships are like twinkies with nerf guns.... Gotta get those low grade parts upgraded before you can really survive very long in a fight.

The combat can take a bit to learn how to do effectively. Training in low-high RES sites is a good way to go, and after you have upgraded your ship, you would be amazed at the extra power you hold.

Combat logging teaches you nothing about how to survive, and ultimately the game will be soooo much more enjoyable if you can survive without logging. It's more then doable, and a lot more satisfying; especially if you enjoy a challenge, because you should continue to find yourself learning more for quite sometime to come.

 

[[VR] DDM_Reaper20]

Don't give up, CMDR. I distinctly remember my first fights. Got such a reaming I couldn't walk in a straight line.

Matter of fact, I got so scared I started doing other missions, then watched videos, browsed these forums (the folks here are life saviours!)... And now I am somewhat better, I.e. I only die when I get over-confident. I don't like fixed weapons, though--can't hit with them to save my life, heh, heh. Obviously MY fault. (S      s)

If I can do it, you can do that--in a fraction of the time.

 

[Cmdr Cheese Wedge]

The best thing I can offer if you're into combat is find yourself a high security extraction system the ones with resource extraction sites, start off slowly with Low RES's, plenty of security vessels to help you out if you get stuck and then progress onto Standard RES then if you're really feeling plucky Hazardous RES.

Combat Zones are a no-go for your combat skill set, you will die guaranteed.

Nav Beacons are a great place for pew pew as well and they're pretty much in every populated system.

Walk before you run Padawan.

 

[Globusdiablo]

...What am I doing wrong? I don't want to give up yet- I just don't know how much longer I can go having every fight turn into a total blowout.

Welcome aboard Commander. You're not doing anything wrong. But 30 hours in this game is like dipping your pinky in the ocean...

A few key things come to mind:

1. Pip management is important. But leave it in default setting if it's too much to begin with
3. Spaceships can fly backwards and "strafe" up/down/left/right. Use it. Preferably while in the "blue zone".
5. If you're constantly flying forwards in "a straight line" chasing your target, you will find yourself at a disadvantage unless you're seriously stronger than your target.

Don't give. E: D takes time to master. I haven't yet...

Fly safe

 

[Frank]

I think from the number of replies here that there are a lot of people willing to help. There were also a few offers to wing up. I'd advise you to take them. I remember many moons ago, before the great AI Upgrade of 2.1, a bunch of us went out in Sidewinders and we took down an Anaconda. They was stock Sidewinders mind you. The idea was that if we died practising winging up it wasn't going to be expensive. We must have tickled that Anaconda to death with our stock lasers.

I'd offer to wing up with you myself, but I'm several days away from the main bubble. If you can't find any of those offers on this thread to wing up, then go to the Galactic Academy and yell out for wingmates there...

https://community.elitedangerous.com/thegalacticacademy

 

[azacian]

Its the small things. You have a ton of good advice here, keep at it and if you feel rebuys is a pain use the sidewinder with free rebuys for training.

For me a small thing that changed a lot was remapping the keyboard since I play with mouse and key.
WASD for the normal speedkontrol etc but instead of having power management keys on arrows i set
F1 - Power to system
F2 - power to engine
F3 - Power to wep.
F4 - Default 2-2-2 pips evenly.

I can reach that during a fight easily so when taking fire 4 pips to shields,
when i need to turn and not taking fire hit default, den mash F2 Means 4 pips engine, 1 pip shield, 1 pip weap.
So when I have turned into target i have still had som trickle of power to weap.

Also mapped
F5 - Chaff
F6 - Heatsink
F7 - SCB (Shield booster)

so when I need a shield boos I either just mash F7 once and take some heat damage (if im not firing i Use this) but if Im firing
and adding heat from that also I hit F6 + F7 so I stop the heat from rising with heatsink while getting scb boost.

Its a deeper combat game then it first lets on. Add to that destruction of subsystems. I have fed corvette with more that 3000MJ in shields. I can loose them
in a couple of secs to a good CMDR with great aim for the shieldgen. Then, as someone stated. Its time to leave. moment.. target next system. High wake!

Dont give up mate, its a rewarding community.
Fly safe commanders.
/Aza

 

[Helfar]

I have been playing since the tail end of Alpha, did take an 18 mth break but even so, and am still rubbish. I think with Elite, it is a case of learning what the ship you are flying can and can't do. Yes there will be people who say they can take any ship with any other ship, but you will find each ship is very different.

just keep at it and follow some of the suggestions in this thread.

GL Commander

 

[Mungrul]

My main tip?

Since the patch, if you're playing alone, never take on a wing.

NPC weapon loadouts are incredible now (to the point I suspect they're bending the rules even more than people care to admit).
While you're focussed on one wing member, you can guarantee their buddies will be hammering you with plasma, missiles and rails. Under such pressure, even the best pilot will have to turn tail and run at some point.

So when browsing for targets on your lonesome, always keep an eye on wing status. Only initiate combat against single targets.

 

[Marcns007]

I said a Cobra would get you to a Vulture.

I did the Lave Brandy CG,

Stripped out Cobra, no weapons, chaff and long range tanks, A grade FSD, transported 8 tonnes to destination.
10 mil credits.

Alternatively max the Cobra it is a great all round ship.

 

[CMDR_Mogriax]

I said a Cobra would get you to a Vulture.

I did the Lave Brandy CG,

Stripped out Cobra, no weapons, chaff and long range tanks, A grade FSD, transported 8 tonnes to destination.
10 mil credits.

Alternatively max the Cobra it is a great all round ship.

Go join star citizen, right now it knocks the spots of elite dangerous in terms Of AI mechanics, sorry but im a elite supporter and they really shot themselves in the foot regarding npcs, least SC hasnt had a load of its too easy whiners for them to adjust the mechanics to the point of insane hardness, if you can handle poor netcode and easy to kill npcs then star citizen is your next port of call.

 

[Clicker]

I've been playing this game since beta and I still have not successfully been able to beat the training missions.

I've not been able to get the hang of FA off.

I can hold my own in PvE but will get annihilated in PvP.

I guess I'm just not good enough as a dogfighter.

Most of the suggestions above are valid and the reason I can hold my own is that I pretty much do what most of these good folk have suggested....hunt in NAV beacons and lower rated RES sites. Occasional for Ray into CZs...always gang up on the bigger, badder ships.

I'm still learning after 2 years. Still trying new things...like mining last week for the first time and getting my backside handed to me when I was attacked by 3 couriers all with missiles and rail guns.

The runaway tactic can be fun too...just fit some mine launchers! I've killed a couple of FDLs And FGS ships this way.

I'm still having fun after 2 years and I can honestly say there's still stuff in this game I'm yet to try.

Clicker