With the launch of Elite Dangerous tomorrow ( June 27th) I figured a lot of people may need some advice. So as I sit here sipping on some vodka and orange soda watching how I met your mother let me help you get started. Full disclosure, i have played the X box one version and will be playing the PS4 version.
First, big Rule number one, after you buy a new ship or upgrade your first ship called the Sidewinder, pay close attention to the ship rebuy cost. Rebuy is basically insurance. I’m pretty sure its equal to 5% of your ship total cost, which is a lot better than buying a new ship with upgrades. Last think you want to do is blow up a 20 million dollar ship by slamming into the mail slot of a station and having to restart from the beginning, and yes that has happened to people.
This next piece of advice sounds like common sense, but do the tutorial stuff before you start the game. The controls can be quite complicated and the game has one of the steepest learning curves I have ever encountered in a game.
Don’y be ashamed to check YouTube or google for help with making money, exploring or whatever it is you choose to do. The below video i from one of the bigger names within the Elite Dangerous community and has tons of advice to give a well as various videos about the lore within the game. The video is long but you may not need the whole thing.
While we are on the subject of figuring stuff out, when you first get your Sidewinder is the perfect time to experiment. Play with the boost, shoot random ship try landing on a planet or whatever. Until you start upgrading it the rebuy cost is actually free, so no harm no foul.
While money is important, some would say the most important, aspect of the game i tend to side with the idea that you should play the game however you choose. Whether its exploring, mining, killing random stuff whatever happens to tickle your fancy the money will come. Sure there are ways to make it come faster and its fine to do that as well. My personal plan i to kill ton of stuff until i can get a proper exploration ship, but that doesn’t make it right, simply makes it right for me.
My final tidbit of advice for all you fresh new commanders is simple. Have fun, help people where you can, and don’t be afraid to try new things. I thought for sure trading would be for me, turns out I like combat and exploring. As always thanks for joining me and may the gaming gods bring you glory.
Savior Gaming 