Saving for a Cutter, possibly Annaconda suggestions?

[Stealthie]

Since 2.3, an average sightseeing tour for me is only worth 1M, in places where it used to be 4-7M. And 1M exploration data seems a little high to me, too. I'm more seeing 2x1.2M an hour for average sightseeing tours now.

I dunno.

I got a 5c passenger cabin fitted into my AspS at Wrangell Dock, in Ross 584, last night and immediately picked up a ~500Ly passenger mission which paid Cr3.7m (without making any efforts to ally myself with factions there, although I've been around Sol for a while so I might have had some rep in the region).
Maybe it's the result of spending time exploring but I tend to scan every star I visit, as well as any stars/planets that are within range of the jump point.
At the end of the mission I flogged the data for Cr1.5m.

Took my Orca to the same place immediately afterwards (until that point I was using it to haul cargo), fitted cabins into it, took on 3 similar missions and earned a total of Cr10m from them.

It might be possible to earn more by doing high-value cargo runs in something like a Python but then you've got all the hassle of attracting pirates and bandits, which you don't seem to get with regular tourism runs.

 

[JetsonRING]

Whatever you choose to do, however you choose to go about earning those credits, fit an advanced discovery scanner and HONK every system you pass through. Exploration payouts have apparently been buffed, I picked up over a million last night in incidental system scan data. There is one system close to the bubble paying out over 4 million credits. For scanning a single system.

 

[Iskariot]

So, as of now I'm rockin a kitted out Vulture. However, I am at about the 22 Mil mark and once I hit about 30-40 mil, I'm going to buy a Clipper, so I can more easily farm merits/ interdict/ bounty hunt more confidently...especially, when facing Fed Dropships/ Gunships, and dual wings. However, I might not even bother, if that's not the best way to earn $$.

Ultimately, my goal is either the Annaconda, or the Cutter...but how to get there? I did the math, and at my current rate of farming, which, per, 2 hours of gameplay, is, roughly about 2-4 Mil in high res zones(more, on the weekends), It's going to take me about 40-50 days. There's got to be a more feasible way to earn $$ Starting out, res zones are the shiz. However, I cannot help, but feel, my efforts should be elsewhere as I head into Clipper/ Python class ships.

Pro tip:

Do not fixate on the Anaconda or Cutter.
Take your time and have fun while slowly getting there.

The Clipper is an experience in itself and so are other ships you might buy while closing in on the big guns.

Do not underestimate the upgrade costs of ships. I only recently bought A rated engines for my Cutter for example. That is 6 months after I bought the ship itself. I love having a ship with low spec modules and then slowly earning money to upgrade it piece by piece.

I bought my beloved Anaconda 18 months after I started playing the game when it was officially released.
I took my time, did not fixate on the ship itself and therefore did not grind myself to death or burn out.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

So, as of now I'm rockin a kitted out Vulture. However, I am at about the 22 Mil mark and once I hit about 30-40 mil, I'm going to buy a Clipper, so I can more easily farm merits/ interdict/ bounty hunt more confidently...especially, when facing Fed Dropships/ Gunships, and dual wings. However, I might not even bother, if that's not the best way to earn $$.

Ultimately, my goal is either the Annaconda, or the Cutter...but how to get there? I did the math, and at my current rate of farming, which, per, 2 hours of gameplay, is, roughly about 2-4 Mil in high res zones(more, on the weekends), It's going to take me about 40-50 days. There's got to be a more feasible way to earn $$ Starting out, res zones are the shiz. However, I cannot help, but feel, my efforts should be elsewhere as I head into Clipper/ Python class ships.

Skip the Clipper, and aim for a Python.
Apart from speed, it's better in every way. Does cost quite a bit more though. 120,000,000cr for a good setup.
For an Anaconda, you'll need closer to 300,000,000cr for a good setup.
And never sell the Python. It's incredibly useful for outpost missions, as well as being awesome.

If you're just purely bounty hunting, i suggest taking a KWS, and finding a system where you can cash in multiple factions at once.
I used to use a system called Pemoeri.
It's a Empire controlled system, with Federation presence, with Alliance space just 7ly away.
It has terrible outfitting at its only port, Al-Din Landing, but it's also just 3ls from the high Res.
Theres a haz Res elsewhere in the system.
(But it's 1800ls from the entry point)

You can go there, or find your own version.
You can easily rake in loads of additional bounties by using the KWS. Probably around 5-6mil an hour? It's been a while since a flew a vulture in combat. It might be slower now.

Otherwise, if it's your thing, try outfitting a ship for passenger missions. They can pay well, and if you've been bounty hunting in the same spot, you'll have good rep with atleast one faction. Other missions can pay well too, and once you get a half decent Python, you can do the larger cargo missions.

CMDR Cosmic Spacehead

 

[CMDR Harada]

PAX missions. If you're allied, you can make a good 5-10 million an hour doing quick runs in an engineered AspX. You can make more if the missions stack right. Long range pays well too. As mentioned, if you can get a few in the right direction, 100 million for a run is not out of the question. Plus selling your exploration data when you get back. I found it more profitable to stay 'in bubble' and do quick runs for 5 million. I can do two an hour, versus the 80 million one that will take me 20-30 hours going to SagA and back.

I have to stress this tho : If you REALLY want a Cutter, then money and imperial rank for the hull is only part of it. Then you need the cash to outfit and engineer it, assuming you can find the modules ( or have access to Jameson and the 10% discount ). You're looking at around 450 million. 300 million for a cheaper trade Cutter. Combat, probably along the lines of 600 million +. I don't know, I use mine for trading. I'd say use it for trading and pay for upgrades that way, but you make more doing PAX.

You can go cheaper in a 'Conda, although you'll sacrifice speed and cargo by going that route.

 

[Iskariot]

Skip the Clipper, and aim for a Python.

I disagree.
I think the Clipper is worth experiencing.
It is a ship that learns you new things about weapon placement for example.
It also is a very cool ship to fly.

And never sell the Python. It's incredibly useful for outpost missions, as well as being awesome.

I completely agree.
The Python is a unique ship with unique advantages. In it's particular niche it has no competitor at the moment.

 

[evanevery]

Pro tip:

Do not fixate on the Anaconda or Cutter.
Take your time and have fun while slowly getting there.

The Clipper is an experience in itself and so are other ships you might buy while closing in on the big guns.

Do not underestimate the upgrade costs of ships. I only recently bought A rated engines for my Cutter for example. That is 6 months after I bought the ship itself. I love having a ship with low spec modules and then slowly earning money to upgrade it piece by piece.

I bought my beloved Anaconda 18 months after I started playing the game when it was officially released.
I took my time, did not fixate on the ship itself and therefore did not grind myself to death or burn out.

...and there it is!

More Pro Tip: Play the game the way YOU want!


Why is it that everyone on these forums wants to tell YOU how YOU should play the game? The OP asked a very specific question. Why not just give THEM your best recommendation to meet THEIR goal?

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

I disagree.
I think the Clipper is worth experiencing.
It is a ship that learns you new things about weapon placement for example.
It also is a cool ship to fly.

I agree, it's worth finding out why it's such a terrible ship. Lol

Joking aside, it is worth trying out, i personally hated everything about it. But I'm glad i tried it. I just waited until i had spare money to throw at it before getting one.

I think it's a bit of a Marmite ship.

Plus, the Python gets to land on medium pads, which is a boon for missing running.

I totally forgot about the Asp. That's a good ship really. Again, i personally didn't enjoy flying it. Sold mine ages ago.

And of course, if it's pure combat, the FDL is right up there as the best combat ship ever.
It's cheaper to outfit than a Python, but it's very limited in what it can do.
Once again, i don't enjoy mine as much as i used too, probably due to me wanting to do different things all the time. But I do still own one... It's currently dumped near Maia though, collecting dust. Lol

 

[Staarlord]

As of 2.3, I'm finding passenger sightseeing tours don't pay as well (but they're still good when Allied and in a good system: but now it's 1M standard, 4M great, instead of 4M standard, 9M great, 20M exceptional) and missions generally pay significantly less well (particularly, transport missions don't seem to be top tier money-making anymore).

Sightseeing tours are still one of the best options, but look out for planetary scans. Few days back I took three, two for 1.8M each and one for 2.8M. Different locations, but they didn't take long at all: 40 minutes at most for more than 7M. Quince may still be an ideal place for this, and if so you'll also breeze through Empire rank.

I also made a total of about 54M in conflict zones in a few hours. Just 4M from bonds: the rest were three stacked massacre missions, all offered at the same place at the same time (no relogging). Got very lucky there, but it's worth keeping an eye out for good opportunities like this.

Awesome! I'm doing this tonight...or tomorrow(depends on when I can afford the Clipper+insurance). I was watching a Youtube vid, just moment ago, mentioning the passenger missions at Quince, but wasn't sure if it was nerfed/ valid by now.

 

[NecasekO]

Whatever you choose to do, however you choose to go about earning those credits, fit an advanced discovery scanner and HONK every system you pass through. Exploration payouts have apparently been buffed, I picked up over a million last night in incidental system scan data. There is one system close to the bubble paying out over 4 million credits. For scanning a single system.

Yes, scan data is actually worth quite a bit since 2.3. If you also fit a detailed surface scanner, you get around 30 k for each high metal content planet and up to 600 k for water worlds and terrestrial planets you scan. It's perfectly possible to earn over a million for scanning a single system these days, so it makes a very good additional income you earn while doing other things.

 

[Tosan James]

I really like my clipper, but the python is much more usable for anything you want to do. It is a bit slow at maneuvering, but engineered with dirty drive tuning at level three and level 5 increased range FSD the ship is one of the best in the game. I also have an Anaconda, but I always end up back in a medium sized ship, and the Python is always my go to ship.

 

[evanevery]

Since you are considering a Cutter, you will need rank. If you don't already have rank, I would grind for rank FIRST as you will get a little money along the way. Once you have rank, then grind for the rest of the money you need want to complete your goal. (I only use "grind" as a general term - not an assessment of the process. I actually enjoy "grinding" for something as long as I can see some sort of progress...)

Anyway, the best place I have found (at least pre 2.3) to grind for Imperial Rank was doing missions between Wu Guinagi and HIP 10716. These systems are a bit away from the center of the bubble but that also means most of their missions are between themselves. There are only 5 stations involved (three in Wu Guinagi and two in HIP 10716). Don't forget the planetary station in HIP 10716 as sometimes it has good paying missions just to the orbiting station right above it! Anyway, run all the data missions you can find in and between both systems. This will rank you up in the Imperial Navy pretty quick. It will also rep you up with the local factions so you get more and better paying missions. Take a few cargo missions as well if you want to make a few credits along the way. However, data missions will give you more Imperial Rank and you absolutely can not get a Cutter without Rank! So get Rank First, then work on your money. Getting a Cutter hull is pretty expensive proposition all by itself - but it will take close to 1 Billion Credits to fully A-Rate the boat!

So then, if you're up for it, once you reach the rank of Duke, you're qualified to purchase a Cutter. But you might not have all the funds you need. Why not run up and start doing a similar loop between Niu Hsing/Col 285 YF-M CR8-8 to work on FED rank while you top off your funds for the Imperial Cutter. (I know that just sound wrong!) That way, by the time you have enough credits to buy the Cutter, you may even have ALSO earned enough FED Rank to qualify to buy a Corvette if that becomes a goal in your future! I posted some detail on the FED Ranking thing here: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...u-guys-do-it?p=5397204&viewfull=1#post5397204

Thats the way I did it anyway. I left my Python (Cargo) in Wu Guinagi and I parked my Courier (Data) in Niu Hsing and I just built me a "space taxi" to jump back and forth as each system pair went hot/cold. That way, I could quickly get to where the action is if my local gig cooled down - and I had a ship waiting for me when I got there! The space taxi was optimized for jump range (no shields hardpoints etc) and just used to get back and forth between these two systems as they are on opposite sides of the bubble. Multiple ships, multiple systems, fiddling with a space taxi in between, sort of a mini-game in itself! ...all while techically "grinding" for something. ...and remember, the "first rule of Space Taxi" is you NEVER carry cargo or data! I think you know what the second rule is...

Ranking up in both Navies simultaneously, two different systems, taxiing back and forth as things go hot/cold. If you focus on only one thing/system at a time you might get sidelined if stuff goes into lockdown. Keep your options open. Find stuff YOU enjoy but keep more than one option open as any one thing is likely going to go temporarily offline as the BGS changes... I did BOTH a fully A-Rated Cutter and a fully A-Rated Corvette in "only" a couple of months this way. Best thing was I was repped and working two different systems at the same time so it was pretty uncommon for both of them to lockdown simultaneously. (I kept two different uniforms in my taxi)

Data/Cargo missions unfortunately don't pay as well as they used to, but you still need Rank in any case - so you might as well earn a few creds while you are at it!

 

[Staarlord]

I agree, it's worth finding out why it's such a terrible ship. Lol

Joking aside, it is worth trying out, i personally hated everything about it. But I'm glad i tried it. I just waited until i had spare money to throw at it before getting one.

I think it's a bit of a Marmite ship.

Plus, the Python gets to land on medium pads, which is a boon for missing running.

I totally forgot about the Asp. That's a good ship really. Again, i personally didn't enjoy flying it. Sold mine ages ago.

And of course, if it's pure combat, the FDL is right up there as the best combat ship ever.
It's cheaper to outfit than a Python, but it's very limited in what it can do.
Once again, i don't enjoy mine as much as i used too, probably due to me wanting to do different things all the time. But I do still own one... It's currently dumped near Maia though, collecting dust. Lol

My end goal, is, the Cutter.
I suppose the Clipper's worth depended on what update the game was running. I've heard it's been nerfed since release...but that was back when I couldn't afford the ship at my then skill level anyway(211,000,000?).

I've decided I'm going to buy the Clipper, but not so much for weapon placement, but for exploration/ passenger running. It won't even have guns, at first --possibly no shields, too(increased cargo cap). I'll haul, and haul, until I make some bank. Use it for hauling fortifying data, for merits, and first chance I get...buy the Cutter...somewhere after my first billion made.

It will be a swift kick in the balls, once they reduce the price by about half, upon introducing new ships LOL...like the Clipper.

Is it me or do the Large Ships, not seem so large? I think the sense of scale in this game is off putting. Ships should be larger and Orbital stations and their hangers should be bigger, and with bigger openings. They aren't quite convincing as being orbiting cities. As of right now, when I see a conda out there I just don't feel they are huge. We need Dreadnaught class ships in this game. I mean, ones capable of housing fleets of even Vipers, Cobras, and Couriers lol.

The area of ship design and the practicality in their design, as well as sense of scale, is what I love about Star Citizen. About the only time I get an idea of size, in ED, is when I see a camera of my person sitting in it lol. I own the Vanguard in SC. That's the best ship I've ever seen in a game...that and the Sabre(?). Anyway, I feel like when a Conda flies over me, they should feel like half-sized star destroyers...which is to say, huge. The Conda is about the equivalent to a large Brigantine/ Frigate class vessel, while a true Man O'war hasn't been released yet.

 

[evanevery]

My end goal, is, the Cutter.
I suppose the Clipper's worth depended on what update the game was running. I've heard it's been nerfed since release...but that was back when I couldn't afford the ship at my then skill level anyway(211,000,000?).

I've decided I'm going to buy the Clipper, but not so much for weapon placement, but for exploration/ passenger running. It won't even have guns, at first --possibly no shields, too(increased cargo cap). I'll haul, and haul, until I make some bank. Use it for hauling fortifying data, for merits, and first chance I get...buy the Cutter...somewhere after my first billion made.

It will be a swift kick in the balls, once they reduce the price by about half, upon introducing new ships LOL...like the Clipper.

Is it me or do the Large Ships, not seem so large? I think the sense of scale in this game is off putting. Ships should be larger and Orbital stations and their hangers should be bigger, and with bigger openings. They aren't quite convincing as being orbiting cities. As of right now, when I see a conda out there I just don't feel they are huge. We need Dreadnaught class ships in this game. I mean, ones capable of housing fleets of even Vipers, Cobras, and Couriers lol.

The area of ship design and the practicality in their design, as well as sense of scale, is what I love about Star Citizen. About the only time I get an idea of size, in ED, is when I see a camera of my person sitting in it lol. I own the Vanguard in SC. That's the best ship I've ever seen in a game...that and the Sabre(?). Anyway, I feel like when a Conda flies over me, they should feel like half-sized star destroyers...which is to say, huge. The Conda is about the equivalent to a Frigate class vessel, while a true Man O'war hasn't been released yet.

Try flying a Cutter and THEN tell me you don't think its "large" enough... Make no mistake though, its not my top earner. I even started a thread last week or so asking folks what they thought the best way to make money with a "large" ship was...

I like the variety the large ships offer but if I could only have one ship it definitely wouldn't be a Cutter or Vette or Anaconda!

BTW - I had a Clipper as well. Its a nice ship but (for me) it was REALLY in no man's land. Its a Large boat so you have all the landing restrictions but not really large ENOUGH to gain the cargo benefits that others offer. Your plan is not a bad one though as you can bank your earnings in intermediate ships and then just keep trading them in as you move up towards your chosen prize. At least you get the benefit of "flying your bank account" rather than just watch the numbers click over (VERY slowly since 2.3 I might add)...

 

[Iskariot]

...and there it is!

More Pro Tip: Play the game the way YOU want!


Why is it that everyone on these forums wants to tell YOU how YOU should play the game? The OP asked a very specific question.

Why is it that everyone

Not everyone, not you, because you are special.

It's a recommendation, not a commandment.
Do whatever you like.

Why not just give THEM your best recommendation to meet THEIR goal?

I'll do that:
Grind, grind, grind until you burn out and start complaining on the forums about grinding.

 

[evanevery]

Not everyone, not you, because you are special.

It's a recommendation, not a commandment.
Do whatever you like.



I'll do that:
Grind, grind, grind until you burn out and start complaining on the forums about grinding.

Ahhh! There's something refreshing!

 

[spacedyemeerkat]

So then, if you're up for it, once you reach the rank of Baron, you're qualified to purchase a Cutter.

Checking we're awake? Baron=clipper, duke=cutter

 

[evanevery]

Checking we're awake? Baron=clipper, duke=cutter

Yeah, Thanks! Its all just a blur now....

 

[BlackSpaceCowboy]

Buy a Dolphin, kit it for speed and jump range, then shuttle criminal masterminds. 2-5 million credits and only 1-2 jumps.

I need some credits. Where can I find these criminal masterminds missions?

 

[Aidan Brooder]

I need some credits. Where can I find these criminal masterminds missions?

You can find all the criminal masterminds right here in the forum.

Jokes aside, I don't know. I've found those mission anywhere where my reputation was cordial +.