Restarting... without restarting.

[Layzanya]

I have half a thousand hours clocked in, rookie numbers, I know. I want to put my current game on pause, clean up my credits, go to Ay Indi, and get the new-player experience that I largely missed out on in my naïve beginnings due to being boosted by a well-intentioned friend that didn't want me to have the new game struggle that he saw as worthless, I want that struggle back. (I know it won't be the same experience.) (For those curious, he gave me a cobra, sent me to Borann and told me to mine LTD.)

My current idea is to sink all of my credits into an overbudgeted beluga, or two. Then I can take a sidewinder to Ay Indi and begin "anew".

Does anyone know a better way to go about this?

Edit:
(The idea with the previous message was to deter toxic elitists from just saying that, the time spent already was worthless because it isn't "the true experience" (I've met that response before) The idea is to keep my current progress, sorry you misunderstood.)
(Also, it appears that the consensus is a second account that I can do semi-regular wipes on, I appreciate the advice.)

 

[Lyvan Kitaen]

I did this by getting a second account, but I think that's a bit more of a hassle to do these days than it was a year or so ago.

 

[STRONTIUM DOG]

the above being the only way to accomplish your goal methinks...…………………….
wait for a steam cheap or FD direct deal is my advice and keep accounts separate ie different account set up
e mail address

 

[Terekhov]

You would not get the new player espience by doing a soft restart as you say. Your current account would have gained ranks, reputation with factions etc, possibly engineer unlocks (or at least fulfilled some of the requirements to unlock engineers). Other differences, are that you would not qualify to start in the new starter zone, and your existing experience (assuming that you have gained combat rank already) will have more able NPCs attacking you.

My advice would be to watch steam, pick up a second copy of ED during a sale (they have been happening regularly around 'holiday' - possibly Halloween for the next? These sales have offered ED with Horizons and a paint pack kit (the commanders edition) for 10 GBP (I'm assuming similar discounts in other currencies). How the new 'Rolling Horizons into base game' thing (later this month) affects these discounts, again is an unknown.

One other thing to consider, is that if your existing installation is not steam based, you'd also be managing second installed copy of ED (I don't know the details, myself, both of my own accounts are on Steam and share program files, bindings etc.

 

[Maymo]

I do a CMDR wipe frequently...

The 'struggle' that you're describing is something I really enjoy. Playing Elite from scratch once you understand how the game works is much more enjoyable than the confusion you endure as a new player. Goals that once took you days to complete can be achieved in just hours once you have the in-game knowledge...

I've often wished that ED had some sort of save slot system. But to be honest I don't think I'd ever bother loading up a CMDR I haven't used for several months anyway, it's disrupting to me mersion....

 

[Para Handy]

.............
Does anyone know a better way to go about this?

If you are going to say "Just restart, not like the boosted time is worth anything anyway!"
Get bent quietly, you elitist trash.

Ask for opinions then pre-emptively insult people. - way to go - however:

Restarting is fun, I do it often (iron-man mode) but the engineering-qualification can be off-putting.

As others have said, look for a Steam sale or HumbleBundle - Or if you want a non-Steam version you just need to buy the base game (£19.99) from FrontierStore direct as Horizons gets rolled-in in a few weeks anyway. https://www.frontierstore.net/games/elite-dangerous-cat/elite-dangerous.html

 

[MickyG1982]

Wow, first post and on my ignore list.

Must be a new record...

 

[Factabulous]

 

[Layzanya]

Micky,

The idea with the previous message was to deter toxic elitists from just saying that, the time spent already was worthless because it isn't "the true experience" (I've met that response before) The idea is to keep my current progress, sorry you misunderstood.

 

[Lyvan Kitaen]

You would not get the new player espience by doing a soft restart as you say. Your current account would have gained ranks, reputation with factions etc, possibly engineer unlocks (or at least fulfilled some of the requirements to unlock engineers). Other differences, are that you would not qualify to start in the new starter zone, and your existing experience (assuming that you have gained combat rank already) will have more able NPCs attacking you.

My advice would be to watch steam, pick up a second copy of ED during a sale (they have been happening regularly around 'holiday' - possibly Halloween for the next? These sales have offered ED with Horizons and a paint pack kit (the commanders edition) for 10 GBP (I'm assuming similar discounts in other currencies). How the new 'Rolling Horizons into base game' thing (later this month) affects these discounts, again is an unknown.

One other thing to consider, is that if your existing installation is not steam based, you'd also be managing second installed copy of ED (I don't know the details, myself, both of my own accounts are on Steam and share program files, bindings etc.

I have one account that I bought on Steam, and one that I bought direct from FDev. I only have one install of the game. Instead I just have a copy of the launcher that I use to launch one or the other from the steam account directory. I bought the FDev one about a year and a half ago before the game went Steam only. The Steam one I've had since 1995.