Starting out and advancing as a fighter pilot

[ErikNM]

I've found some guides and videos on basic dogfighting, and have learned all the basics through experience, which has enabled me to complete the single player scenarios. What I'm most interested in now is a more comprehensive guide (or likely advice, as a guide might not have been written yet) on how to best start out and advance as a fighter pilot. These are some of the questions I have:

- Which of the combat quest types are doable and worthwhile as a beginner pilot in a Sidewinder?

- Is it advisable to prioritize saving money for an Eagle (+ insurance), or do you recommend getting any particular weapons or modules for the Sidewinder first, in order to be able to tackle more profitable combat quests?

- What is the best course of action to learn more advanced combat maneuvers, aside from independent trial and error? Are there any particular YouTube channels you would recommend?

Doing numerous hours of 'trade grinding' doesn't appeal to me at all, so I'm, hoping to get started doing combat missions as quickly as possible. In the longer term I'd like to play as a bounty hunter, but I figure that probably isn't feasible until I at least have an upgraded Eagle.

Thanks for your time and any advice you might provide!

 

[ste]

If you completed the sp missions then you are probably already better than most of the players you'll meet.

The true pros will probably know how to use FF off. I dont.

The full game it would probably be better to slowly build up the sidewinder so you can protect yourself as soon as possible before moving on to a new ship. But with the beta and the lack of trouble you can get yourself into without looking for it you could just go straight to eagle, always have insurance to cover yourself once you upgrade from sidewinder as you will be back to the sidewinder if you die.

There is no replacement for practice.

The eagle isnt too different from a sidewinder really, a cobra or probably viper might be better.

In the beta I'm afraid to say you are probably better off just trading as a cash source as most of the other stuff isnt finished and missions are just place holder.

 

[Ryder35]

I would skip the Eagle and go straight for the viper. To start with hone your skills on the federal distress signal (head to erainin 2 and you will see it). Pick a side (Eranin is easiest) by choosing a faction on the right panel and collect the combat bonds.

Once comfortable with that head to the nav beacons near the stars and attack ships with bounties. If you want some slightly higher risk quick credits head to the anarchy systems and investigate the Unidentified signal sources. Some will have gold to scoop (just run when any pirates arrive). Don't spend any credits upgrading the sidewinder, if you die choose the free ship option. Once you have about 150k credits get the viper and 2 class 2 pulse lasers. Upgrade the weapons as you have the cash but always leave about 50k cr as a float. Get a kill warrant scanner when you have the cash for extra money on bounties.

 

[Adam Lusardi]

Currently I'm "playing" the Beta scenarios to adjust to the rift. Its either rift or they have got a lot easier. Example 3 not 4 fighters, Lacon not Conda. Not been in combat in beta Erinin so maybe all got easier just watch out.

 

[Jackie Silver]

If you fancy a fight you could do worse go to LP 98 and check out the Resource Extraction Site at Anahit's rings - there's a variety of usually not-very-tough pirate scum in there who'll attack you, and you can beat up the mining ships to prompt them to drop their cargo. I find the Resource sites good practice; you have to keep on your toes dodging asteroids, watching out for other players and making sure you don't get too many bad guys on you at the same time. They're not very lucrative, though, although you can usually sell recovered cans for a few hundred credits a pop. Don't bother scooping Bauxite.

 

[OlFart]

- Which of the combat quest types are doable and worthwhile as a beginner pilot in a Sidewinder?

Eranin 2, Federation Distress Signal. Pretty simple to rack up kill after kill. 350cr voucher per kill so it's not exactly a gold mine, but as a combat pilot, ou won't earn any more anywhere else. Fighting is currently a much underpaid profession. A Sidewinder, packing 2 loaned pulse lasers, can easily deal with this, though it take s a bit of time to blow things up. (If you join the Eranin side, the fed fighters are weak and die quickly, but they are suicidal and like to kamikaze you. If you join the Fed side, everything becomes much easier and safer - but slower, as you now need to puncture sidewinders instead of fighters, using nothing but basic pule lasers...)

I would avoid bulletin board missions (unless you like to beta test) as they are severely underpaid, and the rare few that do pay a little require you to find your target... which you may be unable to do despite spending hours just popping in and out of USS after USS. Mission system is currently very primitive and not very agreeable.

- Is it advisable to prioritize saving money for an Eagle (+ insurance), or do you recommend getting any particular weapons or modules for the Sidewinder first, in order to be able to tackle more profitable combat quests?

I wouldn't advice the eagle at all. While it's delightful to fly, it has a horrendously low jump range, so you will be confined to a really small section of space -possibly even locked inside a single system- depending on where you buy it. You may find yourself unable to even get the equipment you want for it, since you can't jump to the places that sell the gear. The ship is a delight to fly, but from a complete game play perspective - the Eagle is hopelessly broken. I owned an Eagle for... about 30 minutes. It's that bad.

I can honestly say that the only small ship worth the effort for combat is the Viper. It's less agile than the eagle, but the top speed is phenomenal, and the weapon hardpoints are quite dreamy. The ship has a tendency to cook, so you will probably end up with a low-heat load out. I used to favor double C2 burst lasers and double C3 gimbal multi cannons. The jump range is still crap, but it's at least enough to get the ship equipped from the systems around Eranin, and fully kitted it can actually jump between Eranin and I Bootis - which the Eagle can't (at least not without selling all the weapons to save weight and then, what's the point?)

 

[forger]

currently combat is even more grinding than trade, but well, if you like it.

there are 3 places where to earn combat money and i switch between them as after 30 minutes of pointless sidewinder killings who stand no chance alone or in groups (FD) i start to miss my lakon 9 where i didn't have to kill things:
- in any anarchy system at Nav Beacon (require Kill Warrant scanner). Scan every ship and if they have bounty kill them. Keep 1 tonne of whatever crap in your cargo hold so wanna be pirates will attack you. Ships vary a lot from side, cobra, viper to anaconda. Bounty varies from 50 cr to couple thousands easily, middle probably is around 800 per kill, but if you get lucky there are some ships with very high bounties.
- Federal Distress Signal (very close to Eranin 2 planet, just fly to Eranin 2 and couple Ls from the planet you will have 2 new conflict zones, high intensity and this one-low intensity), choose sides and kill Federal Fighters(as Eranin) or Sidewinders(as Federation), this is easiest place. 350 cr per kill.
- High Intensity Conflict Zone(same place near Eranin 2) - side, cobra, ff, lakon type 9, condas here. 350 cr per kill.

so take your pick