Returning player needs some advice!

Here is the general advice I give to new pilots in my neck of the woods. I hope this may be of help to you.

~~

Elite has significant time, credit, and reputation gating. This is partly because it is a virtual world meant to be played indefinitely. It was also the fault of poor design in game mechanics and related balance problems. Recent updates to exploration have helped to some degree with the credit gating.

If you are hardcore, you could get through the gating with grind. If you are new you are hopelessly behind others without grind. And if you are a casual player, you have little hope catching up.

So please consider the following points of advice.
  • The learning curve is steep. Be patient with yourself. And (re)do all your training missions!
  • Frontier has finally established a relatively protected zone for new pilots to start in Elite Dangerous. This was necessary to address the griefing a.k.a. “seal clubbing” of new players. This was not legitimate pvp, but exploitation by the morally immature and sociopaths. If you are coming back to the game and are outside the bubble then you can’t get back in. If you are in that bubble you’ll be able to leave but not return. When you do leave never log into the Open server until you are well outside the starter bubble. A few jumps away the density of griefers will decline.
  • If you want to play alone, stay in the Solo server. If you want to pvp with others, log into the Open server. If you want to pve with others join the private server Mobius, the largest private group in Elite.
  • Establish a single base of operations located near necessary resources and stations. Big population systems are obvious choices (e.g., Earth). Use third party tools to identify others.
  • Rank up with all the factions you can in system, and in other systems that trade with your system. As you rank up with those factions, your reputation improves. As that improves, you get better missions. With better missions you get more credits, reputation, and loot!
  • Start mining as soon as you can. Recently nerfed, it still provides a solid credit making opportunity. Significantly, mining can be done in small and medium ships, and quickly allows you to upgrade your vessel. Seek out a Cobra, then AspX, then Python or Krait for maximum efficiency and payout.
  • Use the Road to Riches for exploration. This is a route of hundreds of high-value systems to scan that will quickly earn you reputation and credits.
  • Focus on working up to the best second tier ships you can. These do virtually everything that the third tier ships do. For example, focus on working up to an AspX (for exploration), a Krait Phantom (for smuggling), a Python or Krait (for medium trading and mining), a T-9 (for large trading), and an FDL or Mamba (for combat). This does not mean you’ll never get a third tier ship (i.e., Anaconda, Cutter, or Corvette), but unless you focus on credits from the get-go, it will take a very long time.
  • Engineer your ships and modules. Engineering in Elite is a form of crafting that allows you to make vast improvements in ship functionality.
  • Avoid Open pvp in the early game. Combat is an expensive time and credit sink even for the hard-core. If you do pvp as a casual player, be prepared to see your credit reserves dwindle rapidly. If you do want to pvp most of your time, choose your ships wisely (e.g., FDL, Mamba). You may also want to avoid Open during Community Goal events. These are magnets for griefers.
  • Join a squadron or create one with friends. There is strength and wisdom in numbers, and they will help you thrive. A few of the better organizations I’m familiar with include:
* Mobius, a player group of the self-same private server, located in the Azrael system.​
* AEDC is found in Wolf 406.​
* UAF is located in Konduwa.​
* Independent Defense Agency is located in Varam.​
  • Strike while the iron is hot and grab credit and reputation making opportunities whenever they arise. Frontier has a bad habit of instituting credit making ‘metas’ then nerfing them into the ground. In the past examples include rare-trading, smuggling, long-distance transport, skimmer missions, combat zones, passenger missions, and core mining.
  • Do not grind until your eyes bleed, but do look for ways to be efficient with your time. For instance, choose multiple missions from different factions to the same system, ferry the most rewarding passengers, or trade the highest profit goods. Use third party tools to identify these opportunities. Note that if you accept multiple missions, multiple npc enemies may be sent against you leading to chain interdictions and the like. In this case switch from a trade to combat ship, dispose of the assassins sent to kill you, and loot their wrecks for engineering materials. ;)
  • Frontier left out the informational and social tools needed in Elite. So third parties developed a wealth of tools you cannot do without. Visit Elite Dangerous Codex for a comprehensive list of all the amazing tools out there. Of special note is Elite Dangerous Database, Elite Trade Net, ED Tools, ED MarketConnector, INARA, Coriolis, EDBearing, and WaveScanner. So too search for tutorials on the web and youtube, and for informational discussions on the official forums and reddit.
  • Finally, there is no endgame to win and no single storyline to follow. Elite is a virtual world in space (a cosmos) that fuses gaming with simulation. You won't find tight narrative mission arcs guiding you to a conclusion, even though there are ongoing missions and environments that line up with Elite’s original lore. Elite is meant to be lived. So take your time and enjoy elite as a virtual home.
Good speed.

Resources

Coriolis (ship outfitter), https://coriolis.io/

ED Codex, http://edcodex.info/

Elite Dangerous Database (essential tool), https://eddb.io/

ED Tools (for pristine mining, rare commodity trading, etc.), http://edtools.ddns.net/res.php

ED Market Connector (careful not to enable location logging), http://edcodex.info/?m=tools&entry=150

ED Wiki, http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Elite_Dangerous_Wiki

INARA (news and data aggregator), https://inara.cz/intro/

MadProphet’s Guide to Core Mining, https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteMiners/comments/a6ls9t Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteMiners/comments/a6ls9t/cmdr_madprophets_guide_to_core_mining/
.

Main Frontier forum, https://forums.frontier.co.uk/forumdisplay.php/30-Dangerous-Discussion

Main Elite Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/?ref=search_subreddits

Road to Riches, https://www.alpha-orbital.com/pathfinder

Down to Earth Astronomy, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg3QI9rHzPgvR7KTKSCtPHg

Obsidian Ant, https://www.youtube.com/user/ObsidianAnt

The Yamiks, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo6p2NdDfoUvH2Iw3O3ipPg
 
Here is the general advice I give to new pilots in my neck of the woods. I hope this may be of help to you.

~~

Elite has significant time, credit, and reputation gating. This is partly because it is a virtual world meant to be played indefinitely. It was also the fault of poor design in game mechanics and related balance problems. Recent updates to exploration have helped to some degree with the credit gating.

If you are hardcore, you could get through the gating with grind. If you are new you are hopelessly behind others without grind. And if you are a casual player, you have little hope catching up.

So please consider the following points of advice.
  • The learning curve is steep. Be patient with yourself. And (re)do all your training missions!
  • Frontier has finally established a relatively protected zone for new pilots to start in Elite Dangerous. This was necessary to address the griefing a.k.a. “seal clubbing” of new players. This was not legitimate pvp, but exploitation by the morally immature and sociopaths. If you are coming back to the game and are outside the bubble then you can’t get back in. If you are in that bubble you’ll be able to leave but not return. When you do leave never log into the Open server until you are well outside the starter bubble. A few jumps away the density of griefers will decline.
  • If you want to play alone, stay in the Solo server. If you want to pvp with others, log into the Open server. If you want to pve with others join the private server Mobius, the largest private group in Elite.
  • Establish a single base of operations located near necessary resources and stations. Big population systems are obvious choices (e.g., Earth). Use third party tools to identify others.
  • Rank up with all the factions you can in system, and in other systems that trade with your system. As you rank up with those factions, your reputation improves. As that improves, you get better missions. With better missions you get more credits, reputation, and loot!
  • Start mining as soon as you can. Recently nerfed, it still provides a solid credit making opportunity. Significantly, mining can be done in small and medium ships, and quickly allows you to upgrade your vessel. Seek out a Cobra, then AspX, then Python or Krait for maximum efficiency and payout.
  • Use the Road to Riches for exploration. This is a route of hundreds of high-value systems to scan that will quickly earn you reputation and credits.
  • Focus on working up to the best second tier ships you can. These do virtually everything that the third tier ships do. For example, focus on working up to an AspX (for exploration), a Krait Phantom (for smuggling), a Python or Krait (for medium trading and mining), a T-9 (for large trading), and an FDL or Mamba (for combat). This does not mean you’ll never get a third tier ship (i.e., Anaconda, Cutter, or Corvette), but unless you focus on credits from the get-go, it will take a very long time.
  • Engineer your ships and modules. Engineering in Elite is a form of crafting that allows you to make vast improvements in ship functionality.
  • Avoid Open pvp in the early game. Combat is an expensive time and credit sink even for the hard-core. If you do pvp as a casual player, be prepared to see your credit reserves dwindle rapidly. If you do want to pvp most of your time, choose your ships wisely (e.g., FDL, Mamba). You may also want to avoid Open during Community Goal events. These are magnets for griefers.
  • Join a squadron or create one with friends. There is strength and wisdom in numbers, and they will help you thrive. A few of the better organizations I’m familiar with include:
* Mobius, a player group of the self-same private server, located in the Azrael system.​
* AEDC is found in Wolf 406.​
* UAF is located in Konduwa.​
* Independent Defense Agency is located in Varam.​

  • Strike while the iron is hot and grab credit and reputation making opportunities whenever they arise. Frontier has a bad habit of instituting credit making ‘metas’ then nerfing them into the ground. In the past examples include rare-trading, smuggling, long-distance transport, skimmer missions, combat zones, passenger missions, and core mining.
  • Do not grind until your eyes bleed, but do look for ways to be efficient with your time. For instance, choose multiple missions from different factions to the same system, ferry the most rewarding passengers, or trade the highest profit goods. Use third party tools to identify these opportunities. Note that if you accept multiple missions, multiple npc enemies may be sent against you leading to chain interdictions and the like. In this case switch from a trade to combat ship, dispose of the assassins sent to kill you, and loot their wrecks for engineering materials. ;)
  • Frontier left out the informational and social tools needed in Elite. So third parties developed a wealth of tools you cannot do without. Visit Elite Dangerous Codex for a comprehensive list of all the amazing tools out there. Of special note is Elite Dangerous Database, Elite Trade Net, ED Tools, ED MarketConnector, INARA, Coriolis, EDBearing, and WaveScanner. So too search for tutorials on the web and youtube, and for informational discussions on the official forums and reddit.
  • Finally, there is no endgame to win and no single storyline to follow. Elite is a virtual world in space (a cosmos) that fuses gaming with simulation. You won't find tight narrative mission arcs guiding you to a conclusion, even though there are ongoing missions and environments that line up with Elite’s original lore. Elite is meant to be lived. So take your time and enjoy elite as a virtual home.
Good speed.

Resources

Coriolis (ship outfitter), https://coriolis.io/

ED Codex, http://edcodex.info/

Elite Dangerous Database (essential tool), https://eddb.io/

ED Tools (for pristine mining, rare commodity trading, etc.), http://edtools.ddns.net/res.php

ED Market Connector (careful not to enable location logging), http://edcodex.info/?m=tools&entry=150

ED Wiki, http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Elite_Dangerous_Wiki

INARA (news and data aggregator), https://inara.cz/intro/

MadProphet’s Guide to Core Mining, https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteMiners/comments/a6ls9t Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteMiners/comments/a6ls9t/cmdr_madprophets_guide_to_core_mining/
.

Main Frontier forum, https://forums.frontier.co.uk/forumdisplay.php/30-Dangerous-Discussion

Main Elite Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/?ref=search_subreddits

Road to Riches, https://www.alpha-orbital.com/pathfinder

Down to Earth Astronomy, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg3QI9rHzPgvR7KTKSCtPHg

Obsidian Ant, https://www.youtube.com/user/ObsidianAnt

The Yamiks, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo6p2NdDfoUvH2Iw3O3ipPg
That's a really nice summary, thanks for spending time on it.
 
I feel you lack imagination if you can't come up with a circumstance where it's ok to buy ARX.

yeah i mean if there were C1 seismic charges in the ARX store...

giphy.gif
 
Thanks hugely for the detailed advice, Delilah. As someone coming back after about 18 months because I bought a VR headset and was curious as to how it looked on the game, I've been sucked right back in.

Things I think I've learned, but might have got completely the wrong end of the stick about:

1) My tank of a combat Python is definitely obsolete. It was proving risky before I left, because as much as the big guns could shred most PvE for ages, when things went wrong they would go wrong FAST since stuff like Corrosive became popular with the AI. Plus I wasn't finding it any more effective at earning money when a rebuy was 5MCr than less than half that. Time to think about turning it into a Miner and wonder where I parked my Vulture if I really must shoot things.

2) Exploration is now completely different, doesn't yet make any sense to me, but actually pays well now, and my A-rated Asp Explorer is pretty much still The Business unless I ever figure out grinding to a good level of Engineering on it. Figuring out these two mysteries are the priority, then. Which is nice, because MY GOODNESS the thing looks stunning in VR.

3) Despite having about 100MCr in the bank (and more if I tear down that Python) it's not yet time to go buying any more ships.
 
Here is the general advice I give to new pilots in my neck of the woods. I hope this may be of help to you.

~~

Elite has significant time, credit, and reputation gating. This is partly because it is a virtual world meant to be played indefinitely. It was also the fault of poor design in game mechanics and related balance problems. Recent updates to exploration have helped to some degree with the credit gating.

If you are hardcore, you could get through the gating with grind. If you are new you are hopelessly behind others without grind. And if you are a casual player, you have little hope catching up.

So please consider the following points of advice.
  • The learning curve is steep. Be patient with yourself. And (re)do all your training missions!
  • Frontier has finally established a relatively protected zone for new pilots to start in Elite Dangerous. This was necessary to address the griefing a.k.a. “seal clubbing” of new players. This was not legitimate pvp, but exploitation by the morally immature and sociopaths. If you are coming back to the game and are outside the bubble then you can’t get back in. If you are in that bubble you’ll be able to leave but not return. When you do leave never log into the Open server until you are well outside the starter bubble. A few jumps away the density of griefers will decline.
  • If you want to play alone, stay in the Solo server. If you want to pvp with others, log into the Open server. If you want to pve with others join the private server Mobius, the largest private group in Elite.
  • Establish a single base of operations located near necessary resources and stations. Big population systems are obvious choices (e.g., Earth). Use third party tools to identify others.
  • Rank up with all the factions you can in system, and in other systems that trade with your system. As you rank up with those factions, your reputation improves. As that improves, you get better missions. With better missions you get more credits, reputation, and loot!
  • Start mining as soon as you can. Recently nerfed, it still provides a solid credit making opportunity. Significantly, mining can be done in small and medium ships, and quickly allows you to upgrade your vessel. Seek out a Cobra, then AspX, then Python or Krait for maximum efficiency and payout.
  • Use the Road to Riches for exploration. This is a route of hundreds of high-value systems to scan that will quickly earn you reputation and credits.
  • Focus on working up to the best second tier ships you can. These do virtually everything that the third tier ships do. For example, focus on working up to an AspX (for exploration), a Krait Phantom (for smuggling), a Python or Krait (for medium trading and mining), a T-9 (for large trading), and an FDL or Mamba (for combat). This does not mean you’ll never get a third tier ship (i.e., Anaconda, Cutter, or Corvette), but unless you focus on credits from the get-go, it will take a very long time.
  • Engineer your ships and modules. Engineering in Elite is a form of crafting that allows you to make vast improvements in ship functionality.
  • Avoid Open pvp in the early game. Combat is an expensive time and credit sink even for the hard-core. If you do pvp as a casual player, be prepared to see your credit reserves dwindle rapidly. If you do want to pvp most of your time, choose your ships wisely (e.g., FDL, Mamba). You may also want to avoid Open during Community Goal events. These are magnets for griefers.
  • Join a squadron or create one with friends. There is strength and wisdom in numbers, and they will help you thrive. A few of the better organizations I’m familiar with include:
* Mobius, a player group of the self-same private server, located in the Azrael system.​
* AEDC is found in Wolf 406.​
* UAF is located in Konduwa.​
* Independent Defense Agency is located in Varam.​

  • Strike while the iron is hot and grab credit and reputation making opportunities whenever they arise. Frontier has a bad habit of instituting credit making ‘metas’ then nerfing them into the ground. In the past examples include rare-trading, smuggling, long-distance transport, skimmer missions, combat zones, passenger missions, and core mining.
  • Do not grind until your eyes bleed, but do look for ways to be efficient with your time. For instance, choose multiple missions from different factions to the same system, ferry the most rewarding passengers, or trade the highest profit goods. Use third party tools to identify these opportunities. Note that if you accept multiple missions, multiple npc enemies may be sent against you leading to chain interdictions and the like. In this case switch from a trade to combat ship, dispose of the assassins sent to kill you, and loot their wrecks for engineering materials. ;)
  • Frontier left out the informational and social tools needed in Elite. So third parties developed a wealth of tools you cannot do without. Visit Elite Dangerous Codex for a comprehensive list of all the amazing tools out there. Of special note is Elite Dangerous Database, Elite Trade Net, ED Tools, ED MarketConnector, INARA, Coriolis, EDBearing, and WaveScanner. So too search for tutorials on the web and youtube, and for informational discussions on the official forums and reddit.
  • Finally, there is no endgame to win and no single storyline to follow. Elite is a virtual world in space (a cosmos) that fuses gaming with simulation. You won't find tight narrative mission arcs guiding you to a conclusion, even though there are ongoing missions and environments that line up with Elite’s original lore. Elite is meant to be lived. So take your time and enjoy elite as a virtual home.
Good speed.

Resources

Coriolis (ship outfitter), https://coriolis.io/

ED Codex, http://edcodex.info/

Elite Dangerous Database (essential tool), https://eddb.io/

ED Tools (for pristine mining, rare commodity trading, etc.), http://edtools.ddns.net/res.php

ED Market Connector (careful not to enable location logging), http://edcodex.info/?m=tools&entry=150

ED Wiki, http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Elite_Dangerous_Wiki

INARA (news and data aggregator), https://inara.cz/intro/

MadProphet’s Guide to Core Mining, https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteMiners/comments/a6ls9t Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteMiners/comments/a6ls9t/cmdr_madprophets_guide_to_core_mining/
.

Main Frontier forum, https://forums.frontier.co.uk/forumdisplay.php/30-Dangerous-Discussion

Main Elite Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/?ref=search_subreddits

Road to Riches, https://www.alpha-orbital.com/pathfinder

Down to Earth Astronomy, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg3QI9rHzPgvR7KTKSCtPHg

Obsidian Ant, https://www.youtube.com/user/ObsidianAnt

The Yamiks, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo6p2NdDfoUvH2Iw3O3ipPg
I've been so impressed by this write-up that I've linked it from the web page of advice for new players I keep here:

I hope it won't soon disappear from here or get moved in a reshuffle. Since we've had a forum revamp I guess it will be OK for a while.
 
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Thanks hugely for the detailed advice, Delilah. As someone coming back after about 18 months because I bought a VR headset and was curious as to how it looked on the game, I've been sucked right back in.

Things I think I've learned, but might have got completely the wrong end of the stick about:

1) My tank of a combat Python is definitely obsolete. It was proving risky before I left, because as much as the big guns could shred most PvE for ages, when things went wrong they would go wrong FAST since stuff like Corrosive became popular with the AI. Plus I wasn't finding it any more effective at earning money when a rebuy was 5MCr than less than half that. Time to think about turning it into a Miner and wonder where I parked my Vulture if I really must shoot things.

2) Exploration is now completely different, doesn't yet make any sense to me, but actually pays well now, and my A-rated Asp Explorer is pretty much still The Business unless I ever figure out grinding to a good level of Engineering on it. Figuring out these two mysteries are the priority, then. Which is nice, because MY GOODNESS the thing looks stunning in VR.

3) Despite having about 100MCr in the bank (and more if I tear down that Python) it's not yet time to go buying any more ships.
In VR, you would likely very much enjoy the Guardian mini-game for obtaining the FD enhancement, offering up to 10 ly boost in addition to what you currently have (engineered or not) in any ship of your fleet. The views and atmosphere (even from a flat screen perspective) are quite something.
 
In VR, you would likely very much enjoy the Guardian mini-game for obtaining the FD enhancement, offering up to 10 ly boost in addition to what you currently have (engineered or not) in any ship of your fleet. The views and atmosphere (even from a flat screen perspective) are quite something.
^^^ very true!

Even the original Ram Tah mission, which sends you off to a bunch of Guardian worlds (and pays quite well - as well as filling up on a lot of data you will appreciate later) are excellent in VR...

Oh, and Thargoid sites too...brrrr... chilling :)
 
Thanks hugely for the detailed advice, Delilah. As someone coming back after about 18 months because I bought a VR headset and was curious as to how it looked on the game, I've been sucked right back in.

Things I think I've learned, but might have got completely the wrong end of the stick about:

1) My tank of a combat Python is definitely obsolete. It was proving risky before I left, because as much as the big guns could shred most PvE for ages, when things went wrong they would go wrong FAST since stuff like Corrosive became popular with the AI. Plus I wasn't finding it any more effective at earning money when a rebuy was 5MCr than less than half that. Time to think about turning it into a Miner and wonder where I parked my Vulture if I really must shoot things.

2) Exploration is now completely different, doesn't yet make any sense to me, but actually pays well now, and my A-rated Asp Explorer is pretty much still The Business unless I ever figure out grinding to a good level of Engineering on it. Figuring out these two mysteries are the priority, then. Which is nice, because MY GOODNESS the thing looks stunning in VR.

3) Despite having about 100MCr in the bank (and more if I tear down that Python) it's not yet time to go buying any more ships.

Hello, and welcome back! I hope you will enjoy Elite more the second time around. Really cool you are now in VR. I'm looking forward to getting into that myself. :)

Yes, while Pythons can be used in combat they are better ships for mining and medium trade. Definitely get back into the Vulture for fun.

If it is of any help, I stayed with slowly A-rated and engineered AspX, Python and Vulture until I had a billion. Then I replaced the Vulture with an A rated FDL and rebuilt that billion. After that I added a Krait for data mining and USS material collections, bought another Python and specialized them for mining and trade respectively, and spent some time with a Dolphin for passenger missions. I bought an Anaconda only after I had a couple of more billion (it costs close to that to trick out) and frankly I don't use it much. I find I like the more maneuverable ships. That said, if I were to do very long distance exploration, I'd take the Anaconda. So too for large trading. Only the Imperial Cutter is better in that respect, while a T-9 does just fine especially when engineered.

Your AspX is great for exploration, data missions, the gathering of materials, etc. A Krait Phantom with the Guardian Jump Drive module is good too. Comes down to how many internal slots you need. Down to Earth Astronomy is my favourite tutorial youtube for Elite Dangerous. Some great videos on exploration there.

Specialized ships helped me avoid the enourmous waste of time in Elite's outfitting screen. They also supported credit making while I followed the metas. The most recent core mining meta was the most fun, and I definitely still recommend it.

I limit my playtime to about an hour per days and several times week. That helps me shake off the grind.

Good speed and again, welcome back!
 
Hello, and welcome back! I hope you will enjoy Elite more the second time around. Really cool you are now in VR. I'm looking forward to getting into that myself. :)

Thanks! And thanks for the extra advice. Mind you, I've just seen (a) the Mamba has been created while I was away, and looks shockingly like the really cool ship from the end of this week's Picard, so that's my new priority. Think I've got enough cash for one, too.

Mind you, I didn't really stop the first time because I wasn't enjoying it - I just made a massive error with a very expensive Python build, quit the game and kind of didn't go back because I was scared to see what kind of mess was waiting for me. I'd racked up about 300 hours, so it's not like I didn't get my money's worth :)
 
The Mamba does look like a nice ship. I've yet to try it, but I'm hoping it fits well for you.

I have to relook at Picard's vessel. My first thought was Krait but then I didn't stop and go back for a frame by frame look. ;)

I'm going to miss number one as the plot moves forward. 🐕
 
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