Elite: Dangerous

fretmeister

So far I've only played in "Open"

Are their any advantages to playing in "Solo" - and how does that affect Open.

If I move between places in Solo - where will I be in Open?

ta

digitalscream

fretmeister said:

So far I've only played in "Open"

Are their any advantages to playing in "Solo" - and how does that affect Open.

If I move between places in Solo - where will I be in Open?

ta

Yep, you end up in the same place if you log out and switch modes. At the moment, the advantage of being in Solo is that you don't get accosted by other players.

In 2.1, I believe they're changing it so that either faction/reputation changes or PowerPlay effects (or possibly both) are magnified in Open, to better reflect the additional risk.

I only play in Open, unless I'm RES farming (rarely these days) and there are lots of other CMDRs around to squabble with over kills. Kill-stealing really winds me up.

fretmeister

The only people who have killed me so far have been humans. So I might try a bit of solo to build the money up

Axe_meister

I always play in open, but I must be hanging around in the wrong bars I rarely see a human and then it's only I'm a star port.
Even hanging around Lave there is nothing going on.

digitalscream

fretmeister said:

The only people who have killed me so far have been humans. So I might try a bit of solo to build the money up

You can also join the EDC and get in their private group (another game mode):

https://www.facebook.com/groups/elitedangerouscommunity/

No PvP allowed - only solo and cooperative PvE.

Axe_meister said:

I always play in open, but I must be hanging around in the wrong bars I rarely see a human and then it's only I'm a star port.
Even hanging around Lave there is nothing going on.

If you're after PvP, then Nanomam and Kamadhenu are good spots, as well as anywhere there's a CG going on.

fretmeister

I am a member of the EDC on facebook. Signed up last week.

How do I join the group in game?

digitalscream

Can't remember - ask on the FB group, and someone will be along to tell you pretty quickly. Failing that, you can always join Mobius (which is the other main PvE group).

I believe you just go to "Friends and private groups" from the main menu, search for it by name, and request access.

fretmeister

Thanks to the handsome digitalscream I now have a Viper Mk4.

After I've equipped it properly I can start a bit of basic bounty hunting.

If I want about 10T of cargo space, what would you good CMDRs pick for weapons & shields & scanners etc?

digitalscream

I'd probably go for something like this to begin with:

http://coriolis.io/outfit/viper_mk_iv/04C4B4B2D3B3D4C1b1b24240m04460329272768.Iw1-kA==.Aw18gjMlA===

...with a view to getting something like this once you've built up your cash reserves:

http://coriolis.io/outfit/viper_mk_iv/24A4A4A2A3A3A4C0s0s24240m04450329272766.Iw1-kA==.Aw18gjMlA===

For comparison, here's my combat-spec Vulture:

http://coriolis.io/outfit/vulture/24A5A4A3A5A4C3C1d0u00000604B22b272566.AwRj4yVI.AwgsIyQRjI==?bn=Fast-shield Vulture

Not cheap, but if that's something you wanted to aim for then it wouldn't be too difficult; get the hang of combat, and you can easily be pulling in 2mil per hour in RES sites, with either of those Viper builds. With its class 3 weapons, the Vulture has a lot more firepower than the Viper in the real-world, even though the DPS figures are similar. It's also much more agile and sturdy...you just have to watch out for the inevitable cracked canopy.

fretmeister

On the "cheap" version of the Viper4 would you assign all the weapons to a single group and use them all at the same time? Or use the lasers first against shields and then the guns against the hull?

digitalscream

fretmeister said:

On the "cheap" version of the Viper4 would you assign all the weapons to a single group and use them all at the same time? Or use the lasers first against shields and then the guns against the hull?

Lasers first against shields, definitely.

fretmeister

Lovely! ta.

Axe_meister

fretmeister;1078311" said:

On the "cheap" version of the Viper4 would you assign all the weapons to a single group and use them all at the same time? Or use the lasers first against shields and then the guns against the hull?

That is what I do but end up firing both once shields are down. I still use gimbled lasers. Currently I have one gimbled canon and one turreted so I can still inflict some damage even if my target is out of sight.
My Viper Mk IV pretty much has A3/A4 for everything now

fretmeister

I've been loading my Viper 4 with the goodest stuff the station had but there's not much in stock.

4E power plant

4E Thrusters

4D Frameshift

3B Power Distributor

3E Sensors

3C Shields

3E Hull reinforce

2D " "

Pair of gimbal 1G Pulse lasers (There was an option for a more powerful fixed)

Pair of 1G ginbal multi cannons

0D KWS

I haven't fitted a shield booster yet as they only had the cheapest showing. Not sure it was worth it?

I've still got 900K in the bank so hopefully I've got enough welly to try a bit of low level bounty hunting and take some more bulletin board missions while I learn to fly the Viper. 

Nomad

fretmeister said:

I've still got 900K in the bank so hopefully I've got enough welly to try a bit of low level bounty hunting and take some more bulletin board missions while I learn to fly the Viper. 

What's the rebuy cost?

fretmeister

About 45K

So I can die about 20 times...

digitalscream

Upgrade your thrusters ASAP, so you can run from a fight that's too much. Run if your hull gets to 60% - for now, you only need to get 3km away and you're out of range.

Next step...upgrade your FSD to improve your jump range. Then, if you still get into fights you can't run from, you can just jump to another system to escape (this avoids the mass-lock).

fretmeister

I'll see if they've got new stock later.

If not, I'll take a wander somewhere and see what's at another station.

digitalscream

fretmeister said:

I'll see if they've got new stock later.

If not, I'll take a wander somewhere and see what's at another station.

Stock rarely changes at stations - only when there's a change in the economical status of the controlling faction (eg boom/bust/etc). Your best bet for thrusters and FSD (and weapons) is to find a high-population high-tech system nearby. Any high-tech system with a population of a few million ought to do it.

fretmeister

ah!

Thank you.

So much to learn!