[Closed] Elite Dangerous

It does annoy me a lot that you can only land on certain planets - Frontier was far better in this respect.

Got to say, I bought it on PS4 and gave up after about 3 hours when I got really bored! But, decided to give it another go and keep at it - I'm hooked now!

Currently running a Cobra MK3 and have been exploring, trading and transporting goods/people mainly, but last night I built up a small and cheap fighter to go and get some bounties - really fun but takes a while to find a suitable mark. From reading above Nav Beacons are the place to go?

Dropping into an un-explored system and being faced with a white dwarf star was very impressive, and my highlight so far.

I'm interested to go to the centre of the galaxy, so long term would like to either up the FS drive on the cobra (can get 20 whatevers distance if I buy a 1.5 million unit drive) , or find a ship that can do much bigger jumps.

From reading above Nav Beacons are the place to go?

There's conflict areas too but I kept getting wiped there.

Oooh yeah I flew back into a system last night to find a white dwarf, was too busy watching it and nearly fried my ship.

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If you want to explore then either a Diamondback Explorer or Asp Explorer is best bet, with the right build you can easily get 25 to 30 LY jump range from an Asp Explorer. Especially if you D Rate most componentsand stick with the basic Lightweight Bulkheads.

For equipment, E is basic, D is light, C is average, B is better but heavy, A is best.
Going all A is not necessarily a good idea. You have to balance the power and weight to get what you want. So for an Exlplorer, D Rating as much as you can get away with usually means more range.

With some of the engineered options and a really slimmed down build I'm told you can get upto 50LY range. I'd not feel safe as that's the lightest hull, all D-Rated and engineered kit, bare minimum Optional Components and no weapons\utility or shields.

Access to Horizons gives you Engineer contacts where you can modify the ship components. First engineer is usually Todd "The Blaster" McQuinn who can modify cannons.

It's a bit of a grind but you can do some good mods that really overpower your ship. If you get into Thargoid exploration then you need some of the engineered bits to get anti-corrosive cargo bays as Thargoid materials eat through a normal ship.

Nav Beacons are the best place when starting out, when you can handle yourself then Resource Extraction Sites are the real place to go. Start off with the Low ones as they will have System Security patrolling to help out. If you can wing up with a friend or two even better. Hazardous ones are usually more fun but anything less than a Python with a decent hull and you might find you're gettign blown up a lot unless you go with friends.

Python was the big jump in survivability for me, 5 hardpoints and good armour\shielding was a huge jump above anything else I'd flown.

The Vulture is supposed to be a good ship for combat but I've never tried it.

The bigger ships also mean bigger cost so an Asp Explorer 5A Frame Shift Drive is just over 5 million, a 6A Frame Shift Drive for an Anaconda is something like 16 million.

Must admit I found it a bit dull at first but there's loads to do if you just go look. It seems empty as the game isn't handed to you on a plate.

It's summer so I've not been on as much but I play as CMDR Apedemek on PC if you get stuck.

o7 Commanders.

Only a couple hours on it last night (actual mountain biking - with friends! - and much needed sleep got in the way), 1t of cargo (all the had in stock) is enough to get in at the base level for CG but it takes a moment to register, presumably 1 bounty is same, think I handed in my bounty and immediately checked and hadn't hit the 100% mark yet, checked again last night and I was in.

How the hell did you get up to 75%? Think you got lucky, I've hit a couple of big ships and about 10 smaller ones but most of them didn't count for the CG, got cash but not going anywhere in CG rankings.

Tried Haz res and Low RES round rakapila 3 last night, more traffic in haz res but no enforcers to back you up so no chance of me taking out the big ships, stuck to low res. [url= https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/241871-Finding-Hazardous-Resource-Extraction-Sites-Haz-RES ]List of RES locations[/url]

Upgraded my cobra a little and got plenty of insurance costs, wait for the payout from CG later to start some trading, maybe head for leesti and the old systems. Pre kids when I had time to spare I'd have probably enjoyed just mooching around the universe and searching for parts, more pressed for time now so I can see me googling station parts lists and heading straight there or grinding for cash. Really should try to resist that tho 🙄

Great tips thanks.

I'm a console boy these days.

How the hell did you get up to 75%? Think you got lucky,

I did. The federation were taking out a wanted guy I helped finish him off and got a 200k bounty.

It was easy getting in the cargo haul one, shifted about 30t and jumped straight into 75%

I've found this site very useful for checking stocks.

http://inara.cz/galaxy/

Useful Elite Related Sites:

http://inara.cz/

Useful community site for keeping track of wings and player facttions if you get into that side of things.

https://eddb.io/

Good for Trade and working out where stuff is when you need to look for a particular trade item or ship upgrade.

https://coriolis.edcd.io/

Ship build tester.

I did. The federation were taking out a wanted guy I helped finish him off and got a 200k bounty.

sounds like the trading CGs are less contended if 30T gets you a decent rank, will bear that in mind for future - and check stock before I set off on a shopping trip 🙂

I really want to get into this game, I have it installed and everything, I just can't seem to get over the initial confusion/understanding/learning phase - it's simply too complicated for me these days.

I meant lucky it was a CG target rather than normal bounty, seen a few comments saying most of their bounties dont seem to count. kudos on getting such a high bounty either way

Well that too.

I've 5 kills on bounties 3 count for the challenge.

I really want to get into this game, I have it installed and everything, I just can't seem to get over the initial confusion/understanding/learning phase - it's simply too complicated for me these days.

A lot of time playing Eve helped with me but follow the tutorials and watch YouTube videos and it takes no time at all.

plyphon do the training and watch a couple vids, personally after spending a lot of time playing X3TC I rebound the keys to more match that setup, mouse x axis to yaw not roll, roll set to Q and E, WASD set to up left down right thrust, throttle on mouse 4&5 and works in 25% increments, for landing have a separate set of keys for forward back left right thrust (currently use /789 on keypad) and use W and S for up & down - but docking comp will do it way quicker so buy when u get the chance, will probably refine further once I get my play style sorted, [url= https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/31mzbg/mouse_and_keyboard_keybinding_advice/ ]some suggestions here[/url].

I'd say it's worth persevering with it, but it's Elite, I knew there was no way [i][b]I[/b][/i] wouldn't get sucked in and lose hours of sleep to it, one of the reasons I held off buying for a while (plus cost and not wanting to be a beta tester, as all release date game buyers seem to be nowadays)

Great tips above, thanks all.

I'm resisting those websites, on games like this I think they can kill the enjoyment a bit. I want to learn it all for myself.

I got confused about bounties counting towards the CG too, then I realised it's only for people wanted in that particular system, so not all of them will count.

If you go exploring and get wiped out, do you keep your discoveries, or are they lost with the ship?

I've done away with the docking computer now, can do it faster myself, although I've almost taken myself out once - on PS4 the boost button the same as the landing gear sub-menu button... I pressed it too fast!

"why's that ass-hat boosting his ship directly into the control tower???" 🙄

I really want to get into this game, I have it installed and everything, I just can't seem to get over the initial confusion/understanding/learning phase - it's simply too complicated for me these days.

Same here, but...

I rebound the keys to more match that setup, mouse x axis to yaw not roll, roll set to Q and E, WASD set to up left down right thrust, throttle on mouse 4&5

... unfortunately I don't have any of those things on my Xbox.

... unfortunately I don't have any of those things on my Xbox.

Also read earlier that roll+pitch speed > yaw speed, so may switch back in future, we'll see

I bought a 'HOTAS' controller yesterday for the PS4, I think I prefer it over the controller but i haven't got completely used to it. Controlling speed is much easier. Also the auto landing thing is a god send, i woke my wife up late the other day when i pressed the wrong button landing and shot into the side of the space station. Apparently i shouldn't shout 'oh for ****s sake!" at the top of my voice late at night...oops.

I've been doing mostly back and forth cargo transports, usually make a few 100k in a couple of hours. I've pretty much fully upgraded my Sidewinder, and i think i'll start saving for a bigger ship. I'll probably go for a combination of fighter / transporter.

Then i'll start doing some bounty missions once I've pimped it out.

One thing though...is it me or does anyone else get disconnects all the time?

I've ordered the HOTAS too, not here yet though...

If you go exploring and get wiped out, do you keep your discoveries, or are they lost with the ship?

Yep, if you end up sucking vacuum then you lose bounties and exploration data. Hand it in when you can.

The websites are useful for data, if you get asked for an obscure item by a passenger to make them happy then a quick look up on EDDB saves the hassle of trying to work out what system and station nearby has an Emergency Tent or something.

The Ship Builder is good for working out how much you need to save to get a ship that will work. The Shipyard versions are basic models. Top tip is to work out what your trade in is and how much extra you need to make the new ship flyable. I can buy an Anaconda now but if I did it would be a pig to fly with next to no jump range so I need about 60 million above purchase price to kit it out.

Those sites are useful tools to take the tedium out of some bits rather than giving spoilers. EDDB certainly is the market utility that is missing from the game as it's not easy to see up to date trade data.

One thing though...is it me or does anyone else get disconnects all the time?

Some days are worse than others, it's been stable for a while now but I suspect the recent Alien stuff and PS4 launch may have stretched a server or two.

For anyone starting, the rewards start to scale with ship, so when you see a data mission in your Sidewinder for £60,000 and wonder how the hell you'll get to £150 million or so for an Anaconda - the rewards do go up as you upgrade, more cargo space is more cash. Reputation helps too, if you stick with a system then do missions for the faction that owns the system and the more reputation you build, the better the missions.

Black Box missions can be good for starters as they only occasionally get interdicted and you only usually need 4 tonne of cargo room. It's usually fly to target system, scan Nav Beacon, go to revealed destination, pick up the cargo from the wreckage, fly back and collect cash.

I've pretty much fully upgraded my Sidewinder, and i think i'll start saving for a bigger ship. I'll probably go for a combination of fighter / transporter.

Adder, sounds liek a creaky old transit and isn't bad until you can afford a Cobra. Keelback later on can take a Ship Launched Fighter Bay which makes it pretty formidable.

If you can wing up with a friend or two even better

How does that work in a vast universe? Do you all start new characters from the same point, or from a selection of options, or is it a case of sucking it up and flying a long way?

One thing though...is it me or does anyone else get disconnects all the time?

Nah, that's a PS4-only feature (-:

TBH, if it's only just been released then the servers will probably be getting a hammering. It was ever thus with launch titles.

I've been doing mostly back and forth cargo transports, usually make a few 100k in a couple of hours. I've pretty much fully upgraded my Sidewinder, and i think i'll start saving for a bigger ship. I'll probably go for a combination of fighter / transporter.

I bought a Cobra every early on and worked on kitting it out for transport and minining, it carry 36t which can earn me around 75-100k per run which can take less than 30 mins.

My rep is building up now too so Allan23 says I'm now getting bigger rewards.

Who mentioned HOTAS? Hovering over one on Amazon now you gits.

Yeah the disconnects have stopped so I guess they're done a server fix.

How does that work in a vast universe? Do you all start new characters from the same point, or from a selection of options, or is it a case of sucking it up and flying a long way?

Depends on the friends, most of the poeple I know hang around the main populated bubble so are not far off to jump in and help. We've got a player faction with a few systems under our control so if friends are playing then they're not too far away.

If someone is on a Community Goal or other long distance trip it's harder to manage.

Right, so there's one main 'hub' then?

Yeah, I've assumed it'll get sorted out one they add a few servers and patch it a little. I play in what is probably the busiest time (late evening) so kind of expected.

I've accepted it as a feature of new online game.

Thrustmaster HOTAS X is a good one and not too expensive.

Not sure how long it will last but it's done some hours over last winter.

I bought a Thrustmaster HOTAS 4.

Don't accidentally order anything with that name from Lovehoney.

I've only used it for a couple of hours last night so not enough time to give it a proper review. It seems to work fine once you've got used to where all the buttons are.

Right, so there's one main 'hub' then?

Sort of, there's the main populated bubble which is still big, but can be traveled sort of quickly.

If you're looking at Colonia or SagitariusA regions then someone won't be quick getting back from there as it's thousands of LY away.

Thrustmaster HOTAS X is a good one and not too expensive.

And (finally) for Team Green:

https://twitter.com/tmthrustmaster/status/875023805525225472

Just done my first illegal passenger mission, I shold have really read about how to boost through the mail slot before you get scanned instead of turning on my autopilot so I could eat my my lunch. 😆

Apparently i shouldn't shout 'oh for **** sake!" at the top of my voice late at night...oops.

I shold have really read about how to boost through the mail slot before you get scanned

Not sure seems to be mixed reports about the silent running.

note you can trade all your ship upgraded parts first, and get your money back on them, and then trade your ship, if you're upgrading. just go to the outfitters and swap your high grade bits for cheap stuff. you don't get extra credit for hope hubs so take 'em off. 😀

Nice tip Del.

Over 9m Cr collected for taking part in the CG not bad considering barely took part.

I now own an ASP Explorer kitted out for combat, 400k if I lose it to replace it. 😮

So are the pc and console all on a single universe?

We should set up a STW faction/wing or whatever the right technical term is...

Maybe I'll give it another go - I would like to get into it. I have a limited tolerance for grinding these days, though. I don't mind progress systems but straight up grinding does my nut in.

I might fire it up this weekend.

nemesis - Member
So are the pc and console all on a single universe?

So are the pc and console all on a single universe?

We should set up a STW faction/wing or whatever the right technical term is...

Separate sadly, my understanding is it's licensing issues withthe console owners networks - but with the usual I am not an expert disclaimer 🙂
I guess it's more likely that XBox One owners could play in the same game world as PC players with the whole Windows 10\XBox crossover.

There's no in game formal way of having a Wing, the group of friends I play with set up a Wing on the Inara website so we know who is who.
There are Player Factions that you can setup and name and then they go into the game as the minor factions that run systems. You've no real control as they're played by the Background AI.

Maybe I'll give it another go - I would like to get into it. I have a limited tolerance for grinding these days, though. I don't mind progress systems but straight up grinding does my nut in.

I might fire it up this weekend.

One tip I was given is that there is no end game and the only grind is the one you create. There is enough variety in mission types that if you're repeatedly doing the same thing then you can break off and do something else.

The ships are only a rough progression as well, many long term players still fly Asps or other mid-level ships. You don't need to rush to Anaconda or Imperial Clipper and sit back as finished.

Pushed the button on an Anaconda last night and it's like steering an oil tanker. Sure when I kit it out with all 8 hardpoints and A rated internals as far as possible it will be devestating when something is stupid enough to fly infront. Many of the harpoints have odd placements, the Huge Multicannon I installed can only attack below the ship, if someone is agile enough to stay above and behind me they'll be relatively safe.

It's not quick to turn either and the rebuild cost with a D-Rated build is 8.9 Million so you can't afford to lose many battles 😯

Python was my favourite ship so far as an all rounder, will see how I get on with the Anaconda. Might trade it all back yet.

allan23 - Member
the Huge Multicannon I installed can only attack below the ship

Downside is on my build, its a ~35 million rebuy!

Downside is on my build, its a ~35 million rebuy!

Ouch - makes me feel better, rebuy pain is all relative 🙂

One of the people I fly with uses the Corvette and prefers it to the Anaconda he had. I've not got the Federal Rank or bank balance yet yet.

Talking of Federal Rank, I haven't seen any specific missions in ages. any idea if this has changed in one of the updates?

Talking of Federal Rank, I haven't seen any specific missions in ages. any idea if this has changed in one of the updates?

Don't know, they usually appear as a promotion mission as you hit 100% and the length of time between ranks is bigger the further up the ranks you go.

It could be just the normal slow down in experience gain.

I hit friendly with the federation yesterday but didn't play if after that to see any benefits yet.

It'll be Monday before I'm anywhere near it again.

Drac, that standing (friendly/allied etc) only gives you access to missions/more profitable missions. Its the Naval Rank that allows ship purchases.

I got 500k from my cg so now have an Eagle. Quake in fear! 🙂

Cheers Wildcard

I now own an ASP Explorer kitted out for combat

I hit friendly with the federation yesterday

Did some biowaste deliveries in a souped up cobra - where there muck (and a >200ly route) there's brass - and some slave trading in my type 6 dodging the fuzz in skogulumari. Stored my cobra for some bounty hunting later. Hoping for a >4M payout for trading CG this time (top25%), might scrape enough for my own asp soon. Then I'm going to visit some engineers, maybe dip into open play, try to get some imperial rep, haven't even looked at powerplay yet.

So much to do....

I've not played for almost a week so you're probably not far off now, I've not even started any CG this week. I might jump on in a bit to take the Asp for a run.

Got rescued by the fuel rats 😳

They're awesome 🙂

This week's CG is far from where I am. 😯

What's CG, out of interest?

Community goal - a group mission

I"ve had to upgrade my FSD so I could get about easier. There goes another 1.4m 😆

I take it everyone is playing on open play and not solo? Last time i delved into open play someone unkindly hunted me down and chased me for about an hour before destroying my ship, after that i only played on solo.

Cheers, Nemesis.

I play a mixture of open play and private group, I've not had issues yet but it's early days on the PS4 still.

Open play here and I'm pretty rubbish but haven't been picked on unfairly yet unless going to conflict zones.

I think this may push me over the edge of my puny 'must resist buying a PlayStation' stance; (plus GTA, obvs)... sounds ace

The only thing that has happened to me in open play is i had a missile lock on alert a few seconds before i jumped to the next system.

Open's not bad on PC, in a couple of years of play I've only had one or two idiots. Most people are decent enough. Bit like real life I suppose.

I really should have waited before my last ship upgrade. Not enough to kit it out to any kind of combat ready level and it's got to the stage where the rebuild costs are too risky to chance it.

Parked it up and doing passenger runs until I get enough for a few more upgrades.

Once you build a bit of cash up, it's nice to have a few spare ships in storage. At least that way you don't go all the way back to Sidewinder if you really mess things up.

So what should I kit my Eagle with? It's currently two beam lasers and a missile launcher but I found the missiles rather underwhelming and the beams tend to cook rather fast and are limited in their field of firing.

Also what other parts to fit?

I think this may push me over the edge of my puny 'must resist buying a PlayStation' stance; (plus GTA, obvs)... sounds ace

You could buy an Xbox, that satisfies all of your criteria. (-:

Missiles work best when the enemy shields have gone, I'm still learning about what beams to use.

For the Eagle I'd A-rate all the Core Stuff except Life Support, D-rate that for the weight advantage. Eagle is a bit of an eggshell, if the canopy cracks you're probably about to suck vacuum so life support is a bit redundant.

Weapons I'd go for Burst Lasers on smaller ships. Beams kick out a lot of heat and you don't get many Utility slots to fit a Heat Exchange Module. I usually go with Gimbled mounts as I'm useless with fixed aiming. Use lasers to get the shields down and multi-cannons to rip through the hull. There are a few opinions on what to do. I tend to stick the smaller weapons as lasers and the larger as multi-cannons. If there were three hardpoints I'd go for two burst lasers and one multi-cannon.
I'm not a turret fan except on larger ships where you can multicrew as the people who join can play as your turret gunner.

Single utility on the Eagle, probably Chaff Launcher.

Shield Generator, go for the biggest BiWeave. Slightly less powerful than a full A rated but less power drain and faster recharge. Stick a hull re-enforcement in the Military slot then adjust the rest of the optionals to suit power levels. After a Docking Computer there may not be a lot of room for anything other than cargo bays.

Oh and for hull, reinforced alloy is good. Military is better but may cripple your jump range due to weight. It costs almost as much as the whole ship as well.

The other two sacrifice either shields or hull strength for the other so reflective hulls are weaker physically but increase the effect of shields. Never found it worth the payoff.

Top stuff. Thanks 🙂

nearly had to call fuel rats myself lastnight on a long punt back over to CG, I want to cement my top 25% as it's upto >8M payout now Woohoo!

Had close run ins with the cops on my last 2 slave runs, scanned both times, 1st time I panicked hit silent running and accelerated almost into the station outer wall, 2nd time I calmly engaged silent, quickly entered station and then started to cook my ship as I forgot about silent running. Oops.

Cheers for the tips Allan23 think I'll setup my Cobra as per your suggestions and see if I can make a dent in the bounty CG.

I'm playing solo while I'm trading as I really don't want to lose a shipment of pricey slaves.

Has the interdiction mini game been toned down? I've always managed to escape, thought common advice was to submit then boost/jump away.

Reading this it seems like insanity compared to the older version.

I loved Elite II and even played it a fair bit even recently with a code hack etc. But it was fairly 'simple' when it came to ships/choices. You had the Viper for quick stuff, Cobra Mk1 or 3 for kiling and a Imperial Courier for building up credits quickly carrying illegal goods between systems.

But this version seems insanely complex.

Where can i find the CG in this? currently residing in Everate, I've always had that as my base of operations except i found myself 40 jumps away even on the fasted route when i logged in last night, took a long time to return 🙁

Alright so this thread inspired me to pick it back up again,

I figured out how to navigate the universe, sort of - the galaxy map is still confusing me sometimes.

And I figured out how to kill things!! And got killed myself a few times.

I made about 200k blowing stuff up at a RES. I got blown up myself a few times too, so tonight I;m going to take it a bit more carefully and try and upgrade to that Eagle...

what's your range jolmes? I was in a type 6 last night, something like 29ly hop unladen, 19 laden, without cargo would have been 17 jumps, with a full load of cargo (the whole point of the trip) it was 27. I haven't tried it yet but possibly worth buying a hauler, remove unnecessary parts maxing out the drive and jumping there then paying to get your usual ship transferred.

Weeksy, there's a lot to it for sure, a slight worry is that forum chat suggests for ships bigger=better and everyone wants an anaconda asap, I'm hoping it's a bit more balanced than that. Played a lot of the X3 games and bigger ships packed a punch but were awful to fly and a well kitted out, well piloted smaller ship could run rings around them.

I'm in a cobra MKIV designed for combat not travel, unladen i think my jump range was only like 18ly maybe even less, not 100% on that though. I was 10 jumps away from the bounty hunting CG and the servers went offline, was running out of fuel as well so might be limping home...

I was going to jump on today for the CG missions, the servers are going down for a few hours for an update. 😥

For jump range make sure you have the right option checked in the galaxy map. The default is efficient, choosing speed reduces the number of jumps but increases fuel use.

I can be complex but there's no need to do everything at once. I still learn things a year or so in. Never done mining or a Community Goal.

Bigger ships aren't necessarily better, they're just different. I really liked the Python, just got the Anaconda and it's like steering a barge. First Nav Beacon to test combat and had a wing of Imperial Eagles running rings around me. Going to give the Anaconda a bit more time but I might be back in a Python before long.

Bit obsessive this game!

9 mil credits now, not sure what to buy. My Cobra mk 3 is doing ok, top level everything, and I'm using it for exploration with 22 ly jumps.

Also have a Type 6 Transporter, and an Eagle kitted out for a fight - I've won about 10 fights, and died twice.

It looks like a bigger ship would get me a little more jump range over the Cobra (thinking of an Asp Explorer), but as I'm primarily exploring to make credits, I don't mind more jumps/stops.

Only just figured out that I only have to use my discovery scanner once to net credits for discoveries, I was going and scanning every planet! I know I can get extra credits for surface scans, but it doesn't seem worth the time.

Went to the California nebula at the weekend, was a bit disappointed by the view at first, but then realised that you have to move quite far away from any stars for the background stars/nebula/galaxy's to really show up. Got some nice screenshots and found an outpost with some weird anthill type mounds next to it, with alien fungus growing on them!

Last night I found a system with 3 black holes. I read conflicting reports about flying into them, but though I would edge in and retreat if it looked bad. The warping of the stars as you get close really freaked me out, so I left! Didn't want to loose 60 odd jumps worth of discoveries, but have it bookmarked to return in the future.

How does owning multiple ships work? Do you have to fly back to whichever port you left them to change ships or can you just dock anywhere and you've got access to your hangar GTA-style (which would make more sense gameplay wise but less sense thematically)?

How does owning multiple ships work?

If you don't trade in when buying a new ship it stays in storage at that port.

You can now pay in game credits to transfer a ship to current location, takes a bit of time to arrive but that's often shorter than it would be flying back to pick it up.

I've got mine in a system I chose as home base.

Right, makes sense, ta. Does the game tell you where it is, or do you have to remember where you parked?

Is the same true of parts, do you have a "parts bin" of stuff you've bought but don't have installed?

It shows in a shipyard and on the galaxy map.

Yes parts bin works the same.

Right. So really you need a 'home base' rather than just randomly exploring?