Things to do in the sandbox that arent obvious right away

[Asteroidz]

So lets say i want to focus on combat. What are the options offered to me? This isnt a troll bait post, as im really trying to like this game, because i like flying around. But its only been 4 days and i find i already have a lack of motivation to explore because i feel (maybe wrongly, hence this post) theres not much else i can do. Like ok cool 400 billion stars, all with something called "resource extraction site" in rings somewhere. I mean wheres the incentive to change systems besides oh neat, a new layout for a solar system! which would get old fast for me if theres nothing else involved.

So my options as a combat player would be:

- Grind RES, Nav sites or USSs for BH money. Do they vary according to the systems youre in?

- Interdicting (i havent done it, but i would hope theres money/cargo involved as potential reward)

- Community goals

- Move to open play eventually and try to get player bounties

I think thats all i know about the game.

I wish there was more options (maybe there are?) like:

- Almost blowing up a miner and asking for money.

- Blowing up trade ships so that the commodities they are carrying rise in prices so my buddy can profit from trading.

- Some added Pirate sites popping like creature nests in Star wars galaxies: When you kill the base, its gone. It might reappear somewhere else with stronger pirates because yougot them angry , or a new faction of pirate can spawn again now that youve obliterated their rivals.

- More weaponry and utility variation: Which would encourage exploration through combat, since i can find a rare weapon somewhere that does a little more damage than the standard one (maybe with a Rigger-type NPC or special vendor)

Im also wondering if the prices for ships are static? Like i can never explore and find for example, a big production plant Where say, a vulture will be 500k less than the average galaxy price?

Hopefully theres a bit more than what i listed, because i like piloting ships, but i wouldnt want to get burned on it before more stuff is added. Id just shelve it for 6 months while they update it.

 

[Asteroidz]

So nobody wants to try to convince me theres more to the game at this point than this? XD

 

[Defector]

Well, you oughta be playing in open, for one. You'll immediately find more things to do.
But, here's a list.
1. do missions to rank up in either Empire, Federation or Alliance
2. In open, pirate other players
3. In open, Hunt player bounties
4. In open, Wing up with others and do Strong Signal Sources
5. Join one of the myriad groups doing things in the universe: races, demo derbies, protection, pirates, trading
6. Try to get to the center of the galaxy and back. (this should take you quite a while)
7. Just fly around in open. I find that things to do find ME when i'm in open. Pirates, traders, people wanting help, making new friends, and just seeing what all people are doing. Elite is really about making your own fun and getting yourself involved in what's going on.

 

[Greyhawk]

Get to two million credits using only a sidewinder.
Try to fly into the superstructure of a coriolis station. Seen a vid of this so its possible.
Go into a RES in a Hauler and see how well you do.
Roleplay in Open.
Attempt to land using only reverse thrust.
Analyse Unknown Artefacts with millions of pounds worth of sound analysis equipment.
Use the default camera to make some machinima - see link in stickies for competition.
Get to top 5% in CGs then get to top 5% in CG's in Open.
Play Iron Man. Clear save when killed.
Hunt the top 5 bounties in Open.
Seek out new worlds and new civilizations - to boldy go.
Buy an Anaconda.
Make a you tube vid channel on the ins and outs of various ships.

 

[Pete]

- Grind RES, Nav sites or USSs for BH money. Do they vary according to the systems youre in?

Sometimes - there are some very special items you can only find in certain systems in certain convoys - see the Unidentified Artifact for example.

- Interdicting (i havent done it, but i would hope theres money/cargo involved as potential reward)

Sure, when you interdict, your target can drop cargo if you shoot them up (or challenge them as a player) and you can pick up a big bounty if your target is wanted of course.

- Almost blowing up a miner and asking for money.

Yes - play open, and target a player - you can't ask for money, but you can ask for cargo. If you shoot an NPC miner, then they might drop cargo too.

- Blowing up trade ships so that the commodities they are carrying rise in prices so my buddy can profit from trading.

No, this doesn't work, but prices are driven by player action, so if you interdict and kill a player trader so they can't trade at a station, then that station won't degrade the prices.

- Some added Pirate sites popping like creature nests in Star wars galaxies: When you kill the base, its gone. It might reappear somewhere else with stronger pirates because yougot them angry , or a new faction of pirate can spawn again now that youve obliterated their rivals.

Yeah - this doesn't happen unfortunately, but you can influence local factions by doing missions for them, so shifting the balance of powers in systems. You can even flip systems between major alliances so Federation to Empire etc.

- More weaponry and utility variation: Which would encourage exploration through combat, since i can find a rare weapon somewhere that does a little more damage than the standard one (maybe with a Rigger-type NPC or special vendor)

There were some "overpower" and "low heat" weapon variants in the Beta and Gamma but they've vanished since then. There is word on the street that further weapon variation is coming.

Im also wondering if the prices for ships are static? Like i can never explore and find for example, a big production plant Where say, a vulture will be 500k less than the average galaxy price?

Sometimes stations have special sales on ships, these are usually based around community goals. Once you reach Elite status in any category then you will have access to the Founders World, and they carry all ships at a 10% discount.


-- Pete.

 

[vitriol]

So nobody wants to try to convince me theres more to the game at this point than this? XD

There are many things to do so long as you don't mind making little to no money doing them. Some players are fine doing this. You can make up neat self-imposed challenges as Greyhawk outlines above.

If your motivation is in seeing and playing new content, or new profitable activities, you should come back when Powerplay hits.

 

[Greyhawk]

I'm thinking of a pet project when I get from saggy A. Fly a sidey in open just to see how many times I get interdicted. Then I will RP a drunk Russian, because in space no one can hear you stereotyping...