Newcomer / Intro Wandering aimlessly

[Hawkshield]

SO! As far as making money hauling stuff, very very small margins, I don't even think the profit on most of these barely cover the fuel. In a Sidewinder, that is. So I have been going to unknown systems and collecting info, bit of a stretch having to jump 20+ LY to sell the info (not much profit subtracting the occasional hull dent, heat from avoiding suns and fuel). AND I go ahead and check the bulletin boards, are the quantity on these purposely out of reach of the starter ship? I went through 8 stations in various systems and nearly all of them had a Quantity of 5 or 8, and the Sidewinder carries 4. Honestly if it wasn't for the selling of the Eagle I had I would be waaaaay bankrupt. I upgraded the Sidewinder to be a little tougher and better power (jump wise). I guess what I am getting to, making Credits the honest way is NOT rewarded very well for start ups. BUT if you want to kill, hunt, gank whatever, its a huge profit margin. Oh, and I love exploring, but the real exploring equipment is the most costly on the upgrade well near and over 500k, so not very conducive to exploration aspirations.
That aside, love the game so far. Am I looking at the wrong things or areas? Do I have to be a killer or a drug smuggler to make it? Not interested in that....

 

[Strychnine]

I was in the same ship (no pun intended) as you. I found a few "black box" missions and those pay very well, but your smuggling skills need to be up to snuff. I just kept going where the credits were and bought a hauler. Then I REALLY went out there and I've been mapping/ferrying cargo, smuggling like crazy. Now I'm in a Cobra with an okay load-out that will help me add claiming bounties to my job description. Don't go with the flow... Flow with the go, shoot straight, and stack your credits. While I'm wandering, I know that I'm going to flip out if/when I see Thargoids

 

[Grimghast]

Not at all. Sounds like you took off for parts unknown without being prepared. With the Sidewinder only carrying 4 tons stock, you aren't going to make huge profits. Think of it more as supplemental income. The starting systems will have more jobs suited to a smaller cargo hold. Look at the destinations for the available jobs, then check the galaxy map to see if any fall into a route.

I know several folks on here suggested selling the eagle for a quick 40k cash injection, but the ship is extremely versatile in the beginning. Especially if you are trying a little of everything. It is very fast, extremely manueverable, and comes with a few upgrades as is. You can swap out the d-scanner for a 4 ton cargo hold, bringing capacity to 6 and it has double the fuel capacity of the sidewinder. You can still explore systems without the scanner, just takes a little more work.

Target the unexplored planetary body, and face the nose of the ship toward it. After a few seconds, it will produce a scan. Selling these in depth scans also nets much larger profits.

After you have some pad in your bank account, you can start pressing further out. Try locating Sol in the map. Select plot route option. From common Federal start locations it is about a 65 ly journey with no jumps larger than 8.5. Well within the laden range of the eagle with 8 tons of fuel. You pass through several unexplored systems on the way, and also meet the 20ly criteria when you arrive. Gives you a taste of how the longer journeys work, and once you arrive in Sol you can make decent money with sorties, short hauls, and retrievals. Try Lugh 16. Precious metals are sold cheap at Jenner, then haul to Sol stations around earth to sell at profit.

Sorry so long. You have the right idea. Just gotta find a system that works for you and once you have the info and details, you'll be in a Viper or freighter before you know it.

 

[Suicidal Tendancies]

Also, remember that as you gain reputation with a particular faction(s) and become friendly with them at that space station, more missions will become available. And more missions can mean more profit!

 

[Mr. Bridger]

You've got the right idea. Trading can be a bit of a drag trying to find profitable stuff. I found the best way was to do the bulletin board missions requiring haulage, they are there. While you're at it look out for regular trading opportunities. High priced stuff is the best, for example superconducters can be found in hi tech manufacturing areas for as little as 6k and most non tech areas will give you 7k. Tea and coffee is always in high demand. If your bulletin board mission asks you to move 2 units and you have 2 empty, take a punt on something else to make a few bob. I never had a problem finding missions for 4 or under units, still get offered them now, just have to try different areas. Once a station trsts you a bit more you'll get more options too.

 

[Aardzol]

As above, trading/haulage missions are better and more profitable. I was making 1k credits per trade run but for the right missions, I can get 4k and that's just with the 4T that my sidewinder can carry.

 

[Araviel]

getting past the sidney without using violence can be a challenge.

after that i explored my local area i tend to sell my discovery scanner and replace it whit a 2 ton cargo bay.
this opens up a few more cargo run missions on the bulletin board as you can now haul 6 tons.
if you want to live dangerous you could throw out the shields to and replace that whit more cargo, but i would not recommend it unless you feel very secure as a pilot, the sidney has a paper hull and running whit out shields is risky.
after doing about 25 6ton cargo missions you will have enough to upgrade for a hauler and probably decent standing for more advanced missions if you have been running around the same area.

 

[rootsrat]

Pro tip - sell your Discovery Scanner and get another cargo rack in it's place. You'll have 6 cargo space and many more well payable missions will be available for you

 

[Whiterose]

Pro tip - sell your Discovery Scanner and get another cargo rack in it's place. You'll have 6 cargo space and many more well payable missions will be available for you

Exactly what I did, 6T capacity makes a 50% increase in profit straight away from 4T. If you are feeling brave swap out your shields for another 4T to get 10T capacity. Then when you have about 100K buy a Hauler to make some decent profit as it has a much bigger cargo hold.

 

[Hawkshield]

Thanks guys really appreciate it. I found my first well paid mission for 2 cargo Silver, I barely had enough and did small trade runs for 2 hours till I had enough to get it. On the way back I avoided 2 Interdiction, I get to my payout Mission destination, I am really good at docking thanks to my "stick" I get a close landing gate which is right up front, suddenly a large ship comes barreling in, slices me, I start ricocheting after he hit me bouncing, get it under control, I lose orientation suddenly the Loitering timer starts counting down I spaz hit the wrong button, BOOST and start ricocheting around all over again, start getting shot at by the station, BOOM, I'm done for, my ship, my cargo everything up in smoke. The mission stops in 5 hours, I lost over 27,000 potential. $*&%@# I am pretty angry about the whole thing, think I am going to lay off for a couple days. I wish to god there is something they can do about that loitering thing, thats ridiculous, should be Newbie 15 day timer or something till people get faster, I still hate the fact a bigger ship just knocked aside and screwed up my whole night.

 

[Araviel]

sorry to hear that hawkshield.
whenever things like that happens to me i try to think "ok thats why its called elite dangerous and not just elite 4)
i find that it helps my motivation allot and prevents me from throwing my keyboard out of the window.

eventually you learn to keep a cool head and not spazing out when things goes bad and you learn to take precautions.
i use to decent a little right after i get through the docking doors so that i don't get hit by ships that enters after me.

 

[InfiniteGremlins]

I feel ya. I just lost a Cobra because I tried to sneak in at the wrong angle and ended up stuck in the entrance. It's why I try to keep enough cash around to buy a replacement ship.

 

[Mr. Bridger]

Yep, unfortunately it happens, a bit tough when you're just about to make your first real credits. Stick with it.