Elite Dangerous Catch-All

I finally had my first successful trade run. Learning new tricks to this game.

Only made 304 credit profit... Any suggestions guys on how to speed this up? Maybe combat? If so what system? Thanks for the tips!

Balthezor wrote:

I finally had my first successful trade run. Learning new tricks to this game.

Only made 304 credit profit... Any suggestions guys on how to speed this up? Maybe combat? If so what system? Thanks for the tips!

I'd recommend trading until you can afford a second laser. You want to go to Eranin and the Federal Distress signal for combat. Choose Eranin as the side - the Federal fighters are easier to kill. Watch out for any red (hollow) symbol or yellow until it turns green or red. Those are other players and you are easy meat. If you see one - just retract your hardpoints and hit supercruise (Default C). and get the hell out of dodge. You dont have to go far. Once you leave the area come back and choose the opposite side since you know the other player was on that side. You'll get 400-500 credits a kill. You have two options at that point - grind to 40+K and get an Eagle or install 2 gimballed hyperpulse lasers and grind to 100K for your Cobra. I recommend grinding to 100K so you can be a much more efficient trader, 32 cargo slots on Cobra vice 4 on Sidewinder and Eagle.

Finally got around to playing some multiplayer today. Spent a lot of time trading and not making much, and the spending forever coming out of supercruise. I'll probably back at square one if I can log in again.

Things I've learned:

Avoid going back to the starting station.

I can kill an NPC Cobra Mk3 with my starting Sidewinder, but the 100 credit bounty won't pay for the 500 credit repair costs.

Federal Distress Signal = money

I'm getting my supercruise approach down to an art now.

1. Face away from star and gun the throttle.
2. Once speed builds past 1c, turn to face destination, aiming a little to the right or left as the station is usually behind the planet.
3. Keep throttle maxed until within about 75ls then throttle back to the blue line. It should be right on the edge of the point where the cockpit starts shaking because I'm approaching too fast.
4. Turn slowly in towards the station, giving the planet a wide berth. Feather the throttle to keep it right on the cusp of "you're going too fast".
5. At 0.10ls you should be decelerating at just the right rate to have slowed down to 200kps by the time you're within 200km. The blue line on the throttle is my guide here.
6. Pray you don't get interdicted.

SpyNavy wrote:

If really invest in a joystick to fully enjoy the game. It supports a vast variety of joysticks. Dont forget to use your up/down /left /right thrusters while docking, especially landing. They also are fantastic in combat.

I manage OK in general flight, landing, docking etc. It's the combat I'm crap at. Probably just need to just practice (i.e. get beat up) more

Gonna pick up a T.Flight HOTAS stick/throttle I think, price isn't too ridiculous. Used to have a MS Sidewinder shaky stick, but it died - the rubber on the handle disintegrated into some kinda black sticky tar.

Goo wrote:
SpyNavy wrote:

If really invest in a joystick to fully enjoy the game. It supports a vast variety of joysticks. Dont forget to use your up/down /left /right thrusters while docking, especially landing. They also are fantastic in combat.

I manage OK in general flight, landing, docking etc. It's the combat I'm crap at. Probably just need to just practice (i.e. get beat up) more

Gonna pick up a T.Flight HOTAS stick/throttle I think, price isn't too ridiculous. Used to have a MS Sidewinder shaky stick, but it died - the rubber on the handle disintegrated into some kinda black sticky tar.

That's a decent stick. Gimballed lasers help if you need some aiming assist. Remember the blue area of the speedometer is where you are most maneuverable. Reverse thrust really helps, engage target in front of you and when he starts trying to turn around, reverse thrust and fight going backwards. The directional thrusters are handy as well, you can basically side strafe with rudder control.

Yeah, I was just getting a feel for my new controller and dipping into multiplayer for the first time to get a feel for hyperdrive and supercruise. Right now I do pretty much what Maq does, although a bit more conservatively. Of course, that takes me a bit longer, but I'm approaching his numbers as I get more experience.

Will players be able to build stations and factories in this like in X3? Thanks!

ZaneRockfist wrote:

Will players be able to build stations and factories in this like in X3? Thanks!

Not sure, but I havent delved into the design document. I know that has been discussed, but I dont know what Braben and crowd have planned.

I see.

SpyNavy wrote:
Balthezor wrote:

I finally had my first successful trade run. Learning new tricks to this game.

Only made 304 credit profit... Any suggestions guys on how to speed this up? Maybe combat? If so what system? Thanks for the tips!

I'd recommend trading until you can afford a second laser. You want to go to Eranin and the Federal Distress signal for combat. Choose Eranin as the side - the Federal fighters are easier to kill. Watch out for any red (hollow) symbol or yellow until it turns green or red. Those are other players and you are easy meat. If you see one - just retract your hardpoints and hit supercruise (Default C). and get the hell out of dodge. You dont have to go far. Once you leave the area come back and choose the opposite side since you know the other player was on that side. You'll get 400-500 credits a kill. You have two options at that point - grind to 40+K and get an Eagle or install 2 gimballed hyperpulse lasers and grind to 100K for your Cobra. I recommend grinding to 100K so you can be a much more efficient trader, 32 cargo slots on Cobra vice 4 on Sidewinder and Eagle.

The pulse laser for 2200 creds?

Balthezor wrote:
SpyNavy wrote:
Balthezor wrote:

I finally had my first successful trade run. Learning new tricks to this game.

Only made 304 credit profit... Any suggestions guys on how to speed this up? Maybe combat? If so what system? Thanks for the tips!

I'd recommend trading until you can afford a second laser. You want to go to Eranin and the Federal Distress signal for combat. Choose Eranin as the side - the Federal fighters are easier to kill. Watch out for any red (hollow) symbol or yellow until it turns green or red. Those are other players and you are easy meat. If you see one - just retract your hardpoints and hit supercruise (Default C). and get the hell out of dodge. You dont have to go far. Once you leave the area come back and choose the opposite side since you know the other player was on that side. You'll get 400-500 credits a kill. You have two options at that point - grind to 40+K and get an Eagle or install 2 gimballed hyperpulse lasers and grind to 100K for your Cobra. I recommend grinding to 100K so you can be a much more efficient trader, 32 cargo slots on Cobra vice 4 on Sidewinder and Eagle.

The pulse laser for 2200 creds?

I went and got the gimballed pulses myself. Kill faster and easier. You can use the others. Same damage.

This is going to take forever to make that much credits. Doesn't help that I get killed and pretty much lose everything.

Also anyone else gets the bug where the starport graphically disappears? This killed me numerous times.

Disappearing starport is a known bug. If a relog doesn't fix it I go play something else.

Shame, really, because last time I had that problem there were half a dozen gold cannisters floating around waiting to be scavenged. You want to make money fast early in your career? Illegal salvage.

I really like the sounds in this game.

The CH stick and throttle are quite good, though I don't like the pedals. They're light-throw, very precise, and very durable. The basic design hasn't changed in probably fifteen years, other than converting to USB a number of years ago.

Maq wrote:

Disappearing starport is a known bug. If a relog doesn't fix it I go play something else.

Shame, really, because last time I had that problem there were half a dozen gold cannisters floating around waiting to be scavenged. You want to make money fast early in your career? Illegal salvage.

Where do you find these canisters sir? Sorry for all the noob questions.

Balthezor wrote:
Maq wrote:

Disappearing starport is a known bug. If a relog doesn't fix it I go play something else.

Shame, really, because last time I had that problem there were half a dozen gold cannisters floating around waiting to be scavenged. You want to make money fast early in your career? Illegal salvage.

Where do you find these canisters sir? Sorry for all the noob questions.

White radar contacts near some stations. Dropped after a ship goes boom. Check you contacts display for details.

Avoid ones too close to the station entrace.

Someone was parked in my spot. Accidentally hit the boost key. Lost 1000 credits about 20min of time... This game is tough!

Balthezor wrote:

Someone was parked in my spot. Accidentally hit the boost key. Lost 1000 credits about 20min of time... This game is tough!

Another common bug. You have to look at the ramp and make sure no one is there. If there is ask permission to dock again.

Made some progress with combat tonight out at the distress signal, enough to head home and buy a second laser and no repair bill.

Needed a different tactic, trading wasn't working so well. Every time I saved up some dough I'd do something stupid and blow it. Like boost thrusting into a space station wall and bouncing around like a Ping pong ball until BOOM

Edit - ipad double post of doom.

Important question: what's the tipple of choice while playing this game. I'm tending towards whiskey.

I'm a convert to Spynavy's 'farm the distress signal' mantra. Done OK out there tonight with my 2 lasers.

Can you mix a gimballed gun with a fixed laser? or have to be paired? Or yes but separate fire groups?

Went to the Federal Distress signal with my one laser. Scanned many targets before I finally found a Federal Fighter. Since it took me forever to find one, I assumed there weren't many around, so I lit it up, and was immediately beset upon by a horde of red triangles. Did not go well. Forgot I could supercruise out, but since I had no upgrades, I didn't lose anything.

Goo wrote:

I'm a convert to Spynavy's 'farm the distress signal' mantra. Done OK out there tonight with my 2 lasers.

Can you mix a gimballed gun with a fixed laser? or have to be paired? Or yes but separate fire groups?

I believe you can.

deftly wrote:

Went to the Federal Distress signal with my one laser. Scanned many targets before I finally found a Federal Fighter. Since it took me forever to find one, I assumed there weren't many around, so I lit it up, and was immediately beset upon by a horde of red triangles. Did not go well. Forgot I could supercruise out, but since I had no upgrades, I didn't lose anything.

That can happen if they are just sitting there drifting. Look for where lasers are fitting and get in on that. Also you can basically go to max speed and most times the federal fighters will lose interest.

Supercruised to a planet's ring. Emergency drop... Wow, the immersion factor is amazing.

SpyNavy wrote:

That can happen if they are just sitting there drifting. Look for where lasers are fitting and get in on that. Also you can basically go to max speed and most times the federal fighters will lose interest.

That's the thing, there was no shooting going on anywhere until I popped a fighter. I flew 20km between the two capital ships and back again, up, down, all around. It was odd. Didn't seem like a combat zone at all. Probably some odd bug, or maybe the federal side had gotten the upper hand and cleaned out the opposition? There were a few other players around as well, and they weren't doing any shooting either, so presumably they were neutral or aligned with fed.

Er, how does one make money at the Fed distress beacon?

edit: Oh I see, you have to select a faction and not just get gang stomped by everyone