*** The Official Elite: Dangerous Thread ***

[Flukester]

Can someone explain a few things to me....

I've been running the odd mission mainly courier when I see a good pay for it. Currently in a Cobra. It seems kill missions always seem to against people in wings and I get BBQd.

On Sunday I just got bored and flew a few systems out to middle of nowhere and just started killing people at mining sites, interdicting transports and even killed a few federal ships. In the end I flew back to a station, went in and was told I had 1min odd to get out... outside we waiting 3 military ships who then tried to BBQ me. I've BBQd a good dozen other players, picking on poor guys in sidewinders (does this make me a bad person ?!?!?)

I seem abit stuck with ED... how do you make big money, I don't want to trade, kill missions too hard against wings.

Transporters / Haulers I kill drop nothing at all... should they ?

One thing missing from ED seems to be the mechanisms to ransom someone. In eve online I could prevent someone's escape with a warp scrambler, then convo and negotiate transfer of money. Could make a good living

 

[dr_volki]

Can someone explain a few things to me....

I've been running the odd mission mainly courier when I see a good pay for it. Currently in a Cobra. It seems kill missions always seem to against people in wings and I get BBQd.

On Sunday I just got bored and flew a few systems out to middle of nowhere and just started killing people at mining sites, interdicting transports and even killed a few federal ships. In the end I flew back to a station, went in and was told I had 1min odd to get out... outside we waiting 3 military ships who then tried to BBQ me. I've BBQd a good dozen other players, picking on poor guys in sidewinders (does this make me a bad person ?!?!?)

I seem abit stuck with ED... how do you make big money, I don't want to trade, kill missions too hard against wings.

Transporters / Haulers I kill drop nothing at all... should they ?

One thing missing from ED seems to be the mechanisms to ransom someone. In eve online I could prevent someone's escape with a warp scrambler, then convo and negotiate transfer of money. Could make a good living

so you don't want to trade.
you're not good enough to kill people in wings.
only option left then is exploration

only joking

the thing I did to make credits was to either go to a resource extraction site and scan other ships for bounties or go to a warzone.

 

[Lowe]

You have to trade to make cash. I've been playing since release without trading or serious exploring. Pure combat. I managed to make about 30 million all in, but now I'm at the point where I'm realising that to make any serious cash I have to accept I'll need to trade. Tonight my Combat Courier will be traded in for an Asp and I'll be mostly hauling Palladium around so I can get my FDL and then get back to the combat rank grind.

 

[ttaskmaster]

It seems kill missions always seem to against people in wings and I get BBQd.

The high value ones, yes.
Look at the rank requirements - If it says something like Master then you'll need a hefty ship, decent weapons and some sharp pilot skillz to make this one. If it's more toward the Mostly Harmless level, then go for it.

On Sunday I just got bored and flew a few systems out to middle of nowhere and just started killing people at mining sites, interdicting transports and even killed a few federal ships.

If you check to see if they're Wanted first, you'll avoid the fines and bounties. Otherwise, you're just branding yourself a murderer and the galaxy will hate you.

In the end I flew back to a station, went in and was told I had 1min odd to get out...

Didn't request docking permission, or were hostile toward the faction that runs the station?

outside we waiting 3 military ships who then tried to BBQ me.

'Course they did - You're a criminal.

I've BBQd a good dozen other players, picking on poor guys in sidewinders (does this make me a bad person ?!?!?)

Wholeheartedly, YES.
If you're going to pick on little Sideys, you should at least have the decency to fly a similar ship. Otherwise, that's bordering on griefing... and there's always someone better with bigger guns than you.

I seem abit stuck with ED... how do you make big money, I don't want to trade, kill missions too hard against wings.

Up to about 5mil, hunting Wanted targets can pay well. I've made over a mil in one trip to a RES, lately.
You can also get decent cash hunting big targets at conflict zones.
Beyond that, a freighter with maxed cargo capacity and a decent trade route will net you more cash far quicker, but will be quite boring.

Transporters / Haulers I kill drop nothing at all... should they ?

Depends on whether they were carrying anything to begin with - I assume if you're going Pirate, you're smart enough to have a Cargo Scanner, so you don't end up jumping empty targets like a pleb, right...?
I also assume you just crack open their cargo hatch, or use limpets and don't just blow them to pieces in a BIG BALL OF FIRE, while somehow expecting their cargo to survive the BIG BALL OF FIRE too, right...?

One thing missing from ED seems to be the mechanisms to ransom someone.

If it's an NPC, tough. Use the method above.
If it's a player - Try talking to them.

In eve online I could prevent someone's escape with a warp scrambler, then convo and negotiate transfer of money. Could make a good living

That's Eve, not Elite.
If you had that scrambler, you could just hold a helpless target, demand payment and then just blow them up, terrorise them or whatever you want and there's nothing they and their single pulse laser could do about it. It unbalances the game and opens play up for griefing.

As is, you can Mass Lock a ship, to a certain extent, but it requires good piloting skills to maintain.

Elite isn't overly complicated, but you still have to think about what you're doing...

 

[Flukester]

haha thanks for the replys... I have a lot of learning to do, I hate being a noob in a game but we all gotta start somewhere.

I hope to interdict you all at some point

 

[Flukester]

oh god I feel such a idiot, I just found the joy of the docking computer...

 

[MissChief]

I've yet to be interdicted by another player but it's come to the point where if I get interdicted I usually submit, blow them to smithereens then continue on my merry way with a bit extra bounty to claim.

As above I made a million credits at a RES last night, only only left as my multi-cannons were out of ammo!

 

[ttaskmaster]

haha thanks for the replys... I have a lot of learning to do, I hate being a noob in a game but we all gotta start somewhere.

No worries - Ask away.
Better to know, than just blast away, as your now likely-tattered reputation will attest.

oh god I feel such a idiot, I just found the joy of the docking computer...

You'll soon get bored, start practicing and be docking at full throttle like the rest of us!

As above I made a million credits at a RES last night, only only left as my multi-cannons were out of ammo!

Great feeling, innit!!!
I don't often get enough high-value targets at my RESes before I run out, but occasionally I hit above 600,000 Cr. Average is about 350K.

I can't wait to unleash my Python on them (fnar fnar) - It's taking ages to get the weaponry funds and there's only so much trading I can do...!

 

[Trig]

Wheres the best place for ranking up on Empire?

 

[IvanDobskey]

I now have a fully kitted out vulture and I'm making a reasonable living bounty hunting but feeling I need to start trading large amounts to start making big bucks. Wondering which ship to go to next? Want something that can still be capable in a fight. Maybe an asp?

 

[Linwig]

Asp with a class 5 shield would still give you about 90 cargo, or if you have the money and serf rank and above with Empire go for the Clipper for sure.

 

[Mercutio]

No worries - Ask away.
Better to know, than just blast away, as your now likely-tattered reputation will attest.


You'll soon get bored, start practicing and be docking at full throttle like the rest of us!


Great feeling, innit!!!
I don't often get enough high-value targets at my RESes before I run out, but occasionally I hit above 600,000 Cr. Average is about 350K.

I can't wait to unleash my Python on them (fnar fnar) - It's taking ages to get the weaponry funds and there's only so much trading I can do...!

Does the docking computer still play the Blue Danube?

 

[Trig]

Clipper is my next target, I'm sat on 3 mill at the mo and have probably another 1.5 mill tied into my Cobra atm, just need to rank up, sat just outside the Empire home system running smuggling missions at the mo to keep my ticking over..

 

[melchy]

Does the docking computer still play the Blue Danube?

Yes it does

 

[Trig]

I might have to get one just for that lone...

I do prefer some of the newer tracks though, some of them remind me of Joel Goldsmith..

 

[MissChief]

Disappointed last night. Only made 750k from the RES but easily made that up with some dodgy courier deals and a request for Gold which I picked up cheaply at another station.

A lot of the system authority ships show green now so I take it I'm allied or favoured with them now?

 

[ttaskmaster]

Wheres the best place for ranking up on Empire?

A system run by the Empire.
Mostly it's just doing missions for local factions aligned to the Empire (will have the little logo in the right UI listing). Once you're doing well, you'll start getting invites and permits for new systems, as well as Empire officers offering you Rank Up missions.

Wondering which ship to go to next? Want something that can still be capable in a fight. Maybe an asp?

Asps are OK... But for serious trading, save up and get a freighter as well.
The Type 6 can carry 108T if you strip it down. Likewise, the Type 7 carries 232T and a Python can move up to 292T.

A lot of the system authority ships show green now so I take it I'm allied or favoured with them now?

Allied, yup... or at least friendly enough.

 

[Flukester]

Disappointed last night. Only made 750k from the RES but easily made that up with some dodgy courier deals and a request for Gold which I picked up cheaply at another station.

A lot of the system authority ships show green now so I take it I'm allied or favoured with them now?

Can I ask making money from a RES.... do you just turn up and start shooting ?, assuming the miners have bounty's ?

 

[ttaskmaster]

Can I ask making money from a RES.... do you just turn up and start shooting ?, assuming the miners have bounty's ?

NOOOOOOOOOO!
NONONONONONONONNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Turn up, fly to the marker and target whatever ships show up on your radar/contacts list. Turn to face each ship in turn, then WAIT!!!

After a few moments of keeping teh target roughly in front of you, your left side of the forward display will pop up with a holo-image of the ship and the status of its shields. To the left of that will be the NPC's name, rank, ship type, which faction they belong to and... the keyword - Either they will be Clean, in which case you leave them well alone at all times, or they will have WANTED in red text... Those latter ones you can shoot!!

Shooting someone who is NOT Wanted, or whose status you have not yet ascertained (even if they do later turn out to be Wanted) is illegal and will earn an immediate bounty on your head. Nearby cops and others will then turn to shoot the crap out of you.

So... find out if they're Wanted first.
Use the other info mentioned to decide if their ship is easy, or if their rank/ship type is likely to kick your butt.
For example, a Mostly Harmless pilot in a Sidewinder should be a doddle. A Master in a Vulture will be a challenge. An Elite in a Python or Anaconda will thrash you in moments...

Try and work with any local law enforcement, as merely scoring a few hits to the target's hull will be enough to earn you the bounty payout even if you don't get the killshot in. Plus you and five cops teaming up on one target makes for easy money. Best is when they drop several Anaconda cops in!!

 

[Zefan]

The way the wanted system works doesn't really make sense.

I understand that ships theoretically report crimes against them to local law enforcement. Why then, does a wanted ship report a crime against it before a scan is complete, but not when was has been completed? Or does it report it, but the local enforcement are somehow aware that you have or haven't scanned? The answer seems to be "because it's a game", but I don't see why being able to shoot someone that's wanted before you've scanned would make any difference to the game. It would just be a matter of taking a chance, something the game could do with more, not less of.