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

[CHokKA]

I recently purchased a HOTAS setup for some other games, tempted to get into this as I'm told it works well with it.

I'm mainly looking to play solo and do some dogfighting against AI and a bit of exploration, I'm not a huge sim type guy I just wanted to have fun with a bit of added immersion, I'll be running it on an ultrawide.

Judging from the above few posts that's viable and should make for a good time? I've come across games in the past with similar options, but they were incredibly sparse/lacking content with solo/offline type modes.

You can literally do whatever you want in Elite. That's what makes it so great, along with the fact that the world is so utterly vast and beautiful. Some of the planets with the associated backdrops are utterly jaw dropping.

You can trade goods from one system to another, you can go out and mine in an asteroid belt, you can bounty hunt or do missions where you're sent to kill pirates, you can jump through space exploring the vast reaches on your own or with friends, you can even pick up passengers and then take them to another location. And then there's the Thargoids, who have just recently obliterated Sol and all space stations within, but have been finally beaten back with the defeat of their last Titan mothership that we know about. They can still be found in the far reaches of space but for now, they're quiet. But I'm absolutely positive that something is brewing and in the New Year there's going to be some major developments.

Now is an amazing time to pick the game up and give it a go, especially given how stupidly low the price is on Steam.

 

[Gray2233]

You can literally do whatever you want in Elite. That's what makes it so great, along with the fact that the world is so utterly vast and beautiful. Some of the planets with the associated backdrops are utterly jaw dropping.

You can trade goods from one system to another, you can go out and mine in an asteroid belt, you can bounty hunt or do missions where you're sent to kill pirates, you can jump through space exploring the vast reaches on your own or with friends, you can even pick up passengers and then take them to another location. And then there's the Thargoids, who have just recently obliterated Sol and all space stations within, but have been finally beaten back with the defeat of their last Titan mothership that we know about. They can still be found in the far reaches of space but for now, they're quiet. But I'm absolutely positive that something is brewing and in the New Year there's going to be some major developments.

Now is an amazing time to pick the game up and give it a go, especially given how stupidly low the price is on Steam.

Sounds like a blast! Thanks for the run down bud, I've got it downloading as a result.

 

[GBRusty]

As a by the way, it does have a bit of learning slope but if you've ever flown flight simulators (it's not as complicated as those) you'll be fine.
Just do all the tutorials and never fly without insurance.

What HOTAS did you get?

 

[darkgen]

Got back in to this now I have the MQ3 and I'm reminded how much I really did enjoy the game. Bought a Dolphin and started doing some passenger-related stuff and inadvertently chose a wanted passenger as my first mission! Scanned on take-off and then all hell broke loose as soon as I existed the station but managed to supercruise/hyperspace away. Fortunately managed to steam through the destination station prior to being scanned and paid off the fines.

I'm having a hell of a time trying to remember all the controller button shortcuts but enjoying getting back in to it. I just wished they stuck with the VR stuff and improved upon it and realised atmospheric planets!

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Works very nicely with my HOTAS setup. Not going to get into it quite yet, but I’ll keep it in my library for when I tire of Stalker and MSFS.

 

[CHokKA]

Sounds like a blast! Thanks for the run down bud, I've got it downloading as a result.

It's amazing tbh. Give me a shout ingame if you need any help, my name ingame is CHokKA. I don't know everything about the game but I've been playing for long enough to know a few things here and there

 

[Gray2233]

It's amazing tbh. Give me a shout ingame if you need any help, my name ingame is CHokKA. I don't know everything about the game but I've been playing for long enough to know a few things here and there

Cheers mate, will do once I finally get the time to settle in for a session.

 

[Gray2233]

As a by the way, it does have a bit of learning slope but if you've ever flown flight simulators (it's not as complicated as those) you'll be fine.
Just do all the tutorials and never fly without insurance.

What HOTAS did you get?

Nothing too special as I'm dipping my toe at the moment, I went for the newest Thrustmaster T16000M iteration, with hall effect tech baked into it. I asked a couple of friends into sims and was told it's a good entry level stick if but prone to certain issues, but a legitimately good throttle that would be worth keeping if I decided to upgrade the stick etc down the line. I'm hoping the hall sensors stave off some of the more commonly reported problems, fingers crossed.

 

[Noxia]

Nothing too special as I'm dipping my toe at the moment, I went for the newest Thrustmaster T16000M iteration, with hall effect tech baked into it. I asked a couple of friends into sims and was told it's a good entry level stick if but prone to certain issues, but a legitimately good throttle that would be worth keeping if I decided to upgrade the stick etc down the line. I'm hoping the hall sensors stave off some of the more commonly reported problems, fingers crossed.

Sensible. Some idiots go end-game equipment right away, think they don't want it, sell it, then buy it again a few months later.

 

[Gray2233]

Sensible. Some idiots go end-game equipment right away, think they don't want it, sell it, then buy it again a few months later.

I'm not opposed to adding to the set up down the line, but good god the pricing for some of the higher level stuff is unreal if you're on the fence/never tried it before.

I wont lie mind you, some of the replica sticks you can get are bloody gorgeous, I came across an F14 knock off by VKB that I immediately began drooling over while researching.

 

[CHokKA]

Cheers mate, will do once I finally get the time to settle in for a session.

No problem, I'm off work for the next few weeks so I'll be around for sure

Just to add, I've ended up picking up a HOSAS for myself for Christmas, two T16000's, and a HOTAS for my 11 year old son who's massively been getting into Elite now. Can't wait to give them a try after Christmas!

 

[Noxia]

I'm not opposed to adding to the set up down the line, but good god the pricing for some of the higher level stuff is unreal if you're on the fence/never tried it before.

I wont lie mind you, some of the replica sticks you can get are bloody gorgeous, I came across an F14 knock off by VKB that I immediately began drooling over while researching.

Yeah it is but you shouldn't ever need to buy stuff again as it would last years. On another note, I tried to map my ED bindings as close to the SC ones as possible because I found it hard switching between both games, really messes up your muscle memory.

PS: Just in case there was any doubt, I was referring to myself as the idiot

@CHokKA I've added you but not sure if I can actually message you if I play solo.

 

[Noxia]

Ran out of fuel and had to self destruct which was fine as I was in the free Sidewinder anyway and had no cargo. Does the game actually ever teach you about fuel scoops? I don't know when I am going waypoint to waypoint how to tell if any of the systems have a station I can refuel at. I am familiar with the fuel scoop KGBFOAM thingy but it would be nice to know how to use the map properly, so when I go to a new system and use the scanner, it might tell me there are x orbital bodies and I can see the planets on the system map, but would a station appear on there too by default if there was one?

Did it all in VR which was cool, just wish I could use my headset without the annoying wire but I never did manage to get the performance adequate when I briefly tried. The on-foot bit would be bearable if they got rid of the horrible grey box before the screen, like maybe just make it black for a start.

 

[CHokKA]

Yeah it is but you shouldn't ever need to buy stuff again as it would last years. On another note, I tried to map my ED bindings as close to the SC ones as possible because I found it hard switching between both games, really messes up your muscle memory.

PS: Just in case there was any doubt, I was referring to myself as the idiot

@CHokKA I've added you but not sure if I can actually message you if I play solo.

Yeah you should be able to even when in Solo as the game is always online.

I mostly play Private Group in my own group that I've had for years, for friends that have since left the game, but my son joins me in the group as well.

Also, some of the player-run private groups are great.

 

[CHokKA]

Ran out of fuel and had to self destruct which was fine as I was in the free Sidewinder anyway and had no cargo. Does the game actually ever teach you about fuel scoops? I don't know when I am going waypoint to waypoint how to tell if any of the systems have a station I can refuel at. I am familiar with the fuel scoop KGBFOAM thingy but it would be nice to know how to use the map properly, so when I go to a new system and use the scanner, it might tell me there are x orbital bodies and I can see the planets on the system map, but would a station appear on there too by default if there was one?

Oh dear, that's not good. You can always keep in mind that you can contact The Fuel Rats, they're a player-run organisation that will come and rescue you!

Home

The Fuel Rats are Elite: Dangerous's premier emergency refueling service. Fueling the galaxy, one ship at a time, since 3301.

fuelrats.com

Also, download EDDI and that will assist you when jumping as it'll let you know how much fuel you have left in your tank, and whether a scoopable star has been detected in the system you're about to jump to.

 

[Noxia]

Oh dear, that's not good. You can always keep in mind that you can contact The Fuel Rats, they're a player-run organisation that will come and rescue you!

Home

The Fuel Rats are Elite: Dangerous's premier emergency refueling service. Fueling the galaxy, one ship at a time, since 3301.

fuelrats.com

Cheers yeah I have read about them before but didn't feel it was worth my time or theirs for running out of fuel 6 jumps from Chamberlains Rest lol. No penalty for self destruct other than failing the mission I guess but that's because I'm too tired to play more so I'll run out of time.

Actually that's a good tip for the newer players, don't be in a rush to get in an expensive new ship and if you do, buy insurance!

 

[CHokKA]

Cheers yeah I have read about them before but didn't feel it was worth my time or theirs for running out of fuel 6 jumps from Chamberlains Rest lol. No penalty for self destruct other than failing the mission I guess but that's because I'm too tired to play more so I'll run out of time.

Actually that's a good tip for the newer players, don't be in a rush to get in an expensive new ship and if you do, buy insurance!

Just a quick one on insurance, you don't need to do anything for it other than make sure you have enough credits to cover the rebuy cost. It shows you this in your home panel on the right screen in your ship.

But genuinely, for any new players, there are ways that established players can assist in terms of making money early on in the game just to give you access to some of the better ships and equipment. But a lot of the time just a general helping hand with game tips etc is enough

 

[Bubo]

I don't know when I am going waypoint to waypoint how to tell if any of the systems have a station I can refuel at. I am familiar with the fuel scoop KGBFOAM thingy but it would be nice to know how to use the map properly, so when I go to a new system and use the scanner, it might tell me there are x orbital bodies and I can see the planets on the system map, but would a station appear on there too by default if there was one?

If you're plotting a route on the galaxy map then you'll know the line changes to a dotted line to show when you would run out of fuel, and if you are running without a fuel scoop you should be able to click on any star on the galaxy map and see if the system has a zero population or not. Any system with a non-zero population should have a space port of some kind. Size of population would give you a clue if it's just an outpost or an actual station, which is relevant if you're in a large ship pf course. Zero population systems won't have anything dockable ports.

 

[Noxia]

Just a quick one on insurance, you don't need to do anything for it other than make sure you have enough credits to cover the rebuy cost. It shows you this in your home panel on the right screen in your ship.

But genuinely, for any new players, there are ways that established players can assist in terms of making money early on in the game just to give you access to some of the better ships and equipment. But a lot of the time just a general helping hand with game tips etc is enough

Yes sorry that is what I meant, having enough money minimum for rebuy, tips I picked up early on lol. Though never actually got another ship as I had that Eagle freebie for whatever reason whenever I start. I don't look at YT guides like: "How to have the best start in ED 2024" etc, I prefer to figure stuff like that out as I go or I selectively look up a small part of my goal.

Rule#1 Never Fly without a Rebuy


@Bubo Extremely useful thanks! I did wonder if the myriad of stats when you look at a planet or system meant anything. I'm sure the composition of minerals has some effect that I don't need to worry about right now.


Had these bookmarked, posting in case it helps a fellow noob. Probably tells me how the map works too.... They are old though so some stuff will have changed.

An in-depth beginner’s guide to Elite: Dangerous

My in-depth, regularly-updated beginner’s guide to the core gameplay and concepts of Elite: Dangerous. Last revised 1 January 2021.

thecakeisaliegaming.wordpress.com

NEWP | Getting Started

The New Pilots Initiative (NEWP) is a training co-operative based in Meliae system providing support infrastructure for newly qualified pilots. Helping them to head out into the galaxy and develop into their chosen career, whether that be combat, exploration, mining or commerce. We do this by...

newp.io

Oh and the most important thing, I am flying with a nice purple myself: https://edcodex.info/?m=tools&entry=494


Oh remembered the free voice attack alternative: https://www.voicemacro.net/

 

[darkgen]

Ran out of fuel and had to self destruct which was fine as I was in the free Sidewinder anyway and had no cargo. Does the game actually ever teach you about fuel scoops? I don't know when I am going waypoint to waypoint how to tell if any of the systems have a station I can refuel at. I am familiar with the fuel scoop KGBFOAM thingy but it would be nice to know how to use the map properly, so when I go to a new system and use the scanner, it might tell me there are x orbital bodies and I can see the planets on the system map, but would a station appear on there too by default if there was one?

Did it all in VR which was cool, just wish I could use my headset without the annoying wire but I never did manage to get the performance adequate when I briefly tried. The on-foot bit would be bearable if they got rid of the horrible grey box before the screen, like maybe just make it black for a start.

Are you using a Meta Quest headset? I discovered the best performance with my MQ3 was via airlink and then launching ED direct from that instead of SteamVR (or Steam link). You can also tweak some stuff in the Oculus Diagnostic Tool to increase encoding which I think means it reduces the fresnel effect with the pancake lenses. I also used an ED profiler thing which changes the colour scheme which helps greatly with readability of text.