Newcomer / Intro Returning PC Player

[RhinoNeil]

I am going to be returning to Elite after quite a few years.
When I last played, Thargoids were just a few vague rumours and when you entered a new System you just 'honked' to discover all the planets.
I have Odyssey but never played it and not really interested in it though will give it a go sometime.

So my question is, apart from the obvious of getting all my key bindings back and learn the basics of flying/combat again, what should I look to be doing to catch up and get back 'up to speed'?

I can watch videos and read lore as well as visit places in Elite but what do I need to concentrate on first and what can wait?
Is anti-Thargoid gear essential for everyone now or can I avoid it for the moment as long as I cut and run?
Do I need to urgently grind gear for Odyssey or can that be left a while?

Thanks for any suggestions (and before anybody states it, yes I do have my Hutton Orbital mug)

 

[nemolomen]

I am going to be returning to Elite after quite a few years.
When I last played, Thargoids were just a few vague rumours and when you entered a new System you just 'honked' to discover all the planets.
I have Odyssey but never played it and not really interested in it though will give it a go sometime.

Odyssey is great but not everyone likes it.

So my question is, apart from the obvious of getting all my key bindings back and learn the basics of flying/combat again, what should I look to be doing to catch up and get back 'up to speed'?

I can watch videos and read lore as well as visit places in Elite but what do I need to concentrate on first and what can wait?

Check out the "Azimuth Saga" on the forums (post by Bruce G.) Then load up Odyssey and log into one of the modes to see the culmintation cut scene video which has left us where we are currently. Then fly a fast (as in thrusters, not FSD, but both would probably be good) ship to HIP 22460 and get the experience of that environment...when you see a Thargoid, RUN!!!!...then you'll be up to speed story wise...

Is anti-Thargoid gear essential for everyone now or can I avoid it for the moment as long as I cut and run?

One can run, no need to gear up, just have a fast moving ship so you can get away...

Do I need to urgently grind gear for Odyssey or can that be left a while?

I've been playing Odyssey since release and I haven't upgraded/engineered anything. I regularly play High ground CZs. Your mileage may vary...

Thanks for any suggestions (and before anybody states it, yes I do have my Hutton Orbital mug)

But did you get your free anaconda?

 

[Fnord Velkor]

You might find it useful to watch this weeks "Frameshift Live" either live at 16:00 BST in the YouTube* or watch it on-demand when they get around to uploading it.

"This week’s livestream brings us back to our regular format with all of your community news to kick off the show with, followed by a well-known developer guest, much loved. Begins with a ‘D’ and ends in…’erin’, taking Bruce and Sally through a little Guardian history class and some insight into the peculiar happenings as a result of the HIP 22460 afte[R]math" [ sorry, that typo just annoyed me too much, I had to "correct" it]

* https://www.youtube.com/elitedangerous


P.S. You can see the cut-scene @nemolomen mentions on the YouTube if you want:

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0MFmREngXM

 

[Codger]

Just jump in and start doing whatever takes your interest. There's no need to "catch up", each person has their own way of playing.

Some of your memories (like the way the "honk" used to reveal the entire system) will be wrong now, and you'll have to learn the new ways. You'll run into those as you go.

 

[aRJay]

I am going to be returning to Elite after quite a few years.
When I last played, Thargoids were just a few vague rumours and when you entered a new System you just 'honked' to discover all the planets.

In most of the Bubble Thargoids are not much more of a feature than they used to be, where you do encounter them they will be a more significant issue especially in one system.

The whole “honking“ a system thing has changed significantly with some modules removed from the game and others repurposed.

I have Odyssey but never played it and not really interested in it though will give it a go sometime.

So my question is, apart from the obvious of getting all my key bindings back and learn the basics of flying/combat again, what should I look to be doing to catch up and get back 'up to speed'?

After using the tutorials and training to reestablish your bindings as there have been a lot of changes I would suggest doing the things you enjoyed before in your favourite ships and find out what’s new as you go along.

I can watch videos and read lore as well as visit places in Elite but what do I need to concentrate on first and what can wait?
Is anti-Thargoid gear essential for everyone now or can I avoid it for the moment as long as I cut and run?

No everything is still optional.

Do I need to urgently grind gear for Odyssey or can that be left a while?

The joy with Odyssey gear is that you can buy it from one of the shops you find in the Stations and Bases, even better news is that following the Thursday stock refresh you can find different bits of gear partially engineered up to level 3 of 5 which is quite enough for casual play.

Thanks for any suggestions (and before anybody states it, yes I do have my Hutton Orbital mug)

Now there is an event on involving those where they are trying to deliver a Hutton Mug to every Port or Station in the game before early next year.

 

[Ashnak]

Is anti-Thargoid gear essential for everyone now or can I avoid it for the moment as long as I cut and run?

Not even necessary to run (for now), as the Thargoids still are limited to a few systems at the south of the Bubble and in the Pleiades.

 

[RhinoNeil]

Thanks for all the comments, much appreciated.
Most of my fleet were hauliers or explorers so building/fitting a fast ship and going to HIP 22460 seems a good way to start.

 

[Frankymole]

Is anti-Thargoid gear essential for everyone now or can I avoid it for the moment as long as I cut and run?

You need never meet a Thargoid if you don't want to. The Guardian FSD boosters are well worth unlocking though (and require just a few Guardian "sentinels" to pew-pew in your SRV, no Thargoids).

As to grinding Odyssey gear, no rush. It's something to do when other activities are exhausted.