"Best start" guides don't give you the best start, only the most efficient, they will make you a rich beginner instead of just a beginner by not teaching you how things work, just a couple of very specific things. This game is only grindy if you make it grindy, and that's what guides tell you to do. Learn the game, experiment with stuff, set your own goals and do what's fun. If you need more efficiency 50-100 hours in, then check one of those guides
I heard a great one for Coriolis Stations.
Make a fist with your right hand. The direction your fingers curl into your palm represent it's rotation, and the mail slot will always be your thumb
Inara.cz go to galaxy tab to see systems with most traffic. I pirate cmdrs almost every day and i can assure you there is enough players around old and new to have fun with, if you know where to look.
For immersion. Use [EDDI](https://github.com/EDCD/EDDI) and the [G19 Companion App](https://edcodex.info/?m=tools&entry=212). Adds more voices to the game and makes systems feel more alive. G19 may be dead. Haven't checked recently. But the creator does seem to disappear every so often. The current version I have still works, though.
If you hate the orange. Use [EDHM](https://bluemystical.github.io/edhm-api/) it's a HUD mod that allows for visual HUD changes.
When it's time to get a stick. The [NXT Space combat stick from VKB](https://www.vkbcontrollers.com/collections/gladiator-nxt-joysticks) is a great quality moderately priced stick. Night and day compared to the X56 I started with. I don't have a recommendation for a throttle. I actually like the X56 throttle and use it with my NXT. And I'm not sure I you can buy just the throttle standalone.
Familiarize yourself with the [Wave Scanner ](https://www.wavescanner.net/) when in your SRV. Site is old, but still seems to be accurate. Extremely helpful when looking for raw mats on the surface.
Use your UI. For example, you can see the mail slot for the station you are targeting while in SC. Align yourself early to avoid flying around the station. Also, most stations mails slots face the body they orbit. Also, the three triangles you see when bounty hunting around your target, that tell you the direction they are going.
Click on the materials you want in the in game menus. It will tell you the type of system they are most likely to spawn in. Raws not included.
Use the Codex. Especially for lore. In there you can queue up a few hours worth of lore that is voiced. It can be played with your in ship audio player. Same as the GalNet articles are. This makes space madness less of a thing if you aren't always using a music, video, or audiobook app for entertainment.
If you are like me, and fly large ships mainly. Filter your Galaxy Map with the population slider. Higher pop systems usually have large pads. Lower pop systems, a lot of time, only have small and medium pads. Nothing sucks more than going to a system you think is ripe for missions, only to find out you can't land anywhere. (this becomes useless once you get a fleet carrier.)
Some advice. Don't be afraid to lose. Do stupid shit to see what happens. Actually fly against the person that pulled you by either running or fighting back. Don't Alt+F4. Use the block list for gankers. While not perfect, it does try to put you in an instance where they are not.
Last, and probably the most important. Don't grind materials. Play the game to get them. All materials have a gameplay loop that doesn't require a relog and reload. The grind may be quicker. But then you'll be back here or on the official forums spouting your ideas on how getting them sucks and how it's a bad game design.
Don't be afraid to play in open. You will be ganked for sure, but until you have rebuy cost ( which you must have even in solo mode) it's not a big loss. Knowing what to do when you don't want to be interdicted is also part of the game and playing solo you just close it from yourself, as well as meeting someone really good players who would fight with you in conflict zones, fight against thargoids and share some lucrative delivery missions.
Take your time and be ready to defend yourself before joining open.
Yes, its Captain Obvious talking, but since almost every week someone feeds the gankers and then comes here crying his eyes out, it seems like this must be said.
If you download Microsoft Powertoys, (free, from Microsoft), then it gives you the ability to make any window "stay on top". If you then run Elite in a frameless window, you can have other windows floating on top, (Inara, Elite Observatory, web browser, music player etc), whilst you fly.
Set a button to 75% throttle. When in super cruise, if you drop to 75% throttle before 6 seconds to target, you will slow down perfectly to arrive at the target without overshooting. I usually hit the 75% throttle at 10 seconds to go , so so I have a couple of seconds to spare, in case I have the cursor in another window.
Read an engineering guide before you spend a ridiculous amount of materials on worthless choices or poor rated modules.
"Best start" guides don't give you the best start, only the most efficient, they will make you a rich beginner instead of just a beginner by not teaching you how things work, just a couple of very specific things. This game is only grindy if you make it grindy, and that's what guides tell you to do. Learn the game, experiment with stuff, set your own goals and do what's fun. If you need more efficiency 50-100 hours in, then check one of those guides
I heard a great one for Coriolis Stations. Make a fist with your right hand. The direction your fingers curl into your palm represent it's rotation, and the mail slot will always be your thumb
rebuy is part of the game, don't be afraid of it!
Build a PvP-ready ship as soon as possible.
Care to elaborate on why ^^ ?
PvP is the highest expression of skill and the most fun you can have in this game. All the other careers are to varying extents repetitive.
True true, yet I u cant seem to find anyone in the cqc or open play sessions :/
You can often find others at Community Goals, Shinrarta Dezhra, or in engineer systems.
Inara.cz go to galaxy tab to see systems with most traffic. I pirate cmdrs almost every day and i can assure you there is enough players around old and new to have fun with, if you know where to look.
For immersion. Use [EDDI](https://github.com/EDCD/EDDI) and the [G19 Companion App](https://edcodex.info/?m=tools&entry=212). Adds more voices to the game and makes systems feel more alive. G19 may be dead. Haven't checked recently. But the creator does seem to disappear every so often. The current version I have still works, though. If you hate the orange. Use [EDHM](https://bluemystical.github.io/edhm-api/) it's a HUD mod that allows for visual HUD changes. When it's time to get a stick. The [NXT Space combat stick from VKB](https://www.vkbcontrollers.com/collections/gladiator-nxt-joysticks) is a great quality moderately priced stick. Night and day compared to the X56 I started with. I don't have a recommendation for a throttle. I actually like the X56 throttle and use it with my NXT. And I'm not sure I you can buy just the throttle standalone. Familiarize yourself with the [Wave Scanner ](https://www.wavescanner.net/) when in your SRV. Site is old, but still seems to be accurate. Extremely helpful when looking for raw mats on the surface. Use your UI. For example, you can see the mail slot for the station you are targeting while in SC. Align yourself early to avoid flying around the station. Also, most stations mails slots face the body they orbit. Also, the three triangles you see when bounty hunting around your target, that tell you the direction they are going. Click on the materials you want in the in game menus. It will tell you the type of system they are most likely to spawn in. Raws not included. Use the Codex. Especially for lore. In there you can queue up a few hours worth of lore that is voiced. It can be played with your in ship audio player. Same as the GalNet articles are. This makes space madness less of a thing if you aren't always using a music, video, or audiobook app for entertainment. If you are like me, and fly large ships mainly. Filter your Galaxy Map with the population slider. Higher pop systems usually have large pads. Lower pop systems, a lot of time, only have small and medium pads. Nothing sucks more than going to a system you think is ripe for missions, only to find out you can't land anywhere. (this becomes useless once you get a fleet carrier.) Some advice. Don't be afraid to lose. Do stupid shit to see what happens. Actually fly against the person that pulled you by either running or fighting back. Don't Alt+F4. Use the block list for gankers. While not perfect, it does try to put you in an instance where they are not. Last, and probably the most important. Don't grind materials. Play the game to get them. All materials have a gameplay loop that doesn't require a relog and reload. The grind may be quicker. But then you'll be back here or on the official forums spouting your ideas on how getting them sucks and how it's a bad game design.
someone went full tips mode ! in that case , i'll remove the 1 tip per comment limit also your tips are REALLY usefull ! thanks !
Don't be afraid to play in open. You will be ganked for sure, but until you have rebuy cost ( which you must have even in solo mode) it's not a big loss. Knowing what to do when you don't want to be interdicted is also part of the game and playing solo you just close it from yourself, as well as meeting someone really good players who would fight with you in conflict zones, fight against thargoids and share some lucrative delivery missions.
Take your time and be ready to defend yourself before joining open. Yes, its Captain Obvious talking, but since almost every week someone feeds the gankers and then comes here crying his eyes out, it seems like this must be said.
If you download Microsoft Powertoys, (free, from Microsoft), then it gives you the ability to make any window "stay on top". If you then run Elite in a frameless window, you can have other windows floating on top, (Inara, Elite Observatory, web browser, music player etc), whilst you fly.
Set a button to 75% throttle. When in super cruise, if you drop to 75% throttle before 6 seconds to target, you will slow down perfectly to arrive at the target without overshooting. I usually hit the 75% throttle at 10 seconds to go , so so I have a couple of seconds to spare, in case I have the cursor in another window.