OFFICIAL Elite: Dangerous

[Champ]

Either ship can put up a good fight if they are equipped right. And I'm gonna look that that link

 

[TheMailMan78]

Cant believe you did all that in a week. Apparently I'm living my life wrong.

 

[Kursah]

Cant believe you did all that in a week. Apparently I'm living my life wrong.

Don't feel bad...dude's done more in a week than I have accomplished since beta! I just started playing a little bit again though...after months on hiatus. But regardless...clearly I need to exploit passenger runs more! That seems to be where the big earnings are...me and my measly earnings from combat, bounty hunting and conflict zones is pocket change in comparison!

 

[TheMailMan78]

Don't feel bad...dude's done more in a week than I have accomplished since beta! I just started playing a little bit again though...after months on hiatus. But regardless...clearly I need to exploit passenger runs more! That seems to be where the big earnings are...me and my measly earnings from combat, bounty hunting and conflict zones is pocket change in comparison!

I've been trying to do those but none of the missions are ever open. The second I get one I'm gonna make some bank.

 

[lyndonguitar]

I've been trying to do those but none of the missions are ever open. The second I get one I'm gonna make some bank.

I find Quince pretty lucrative for passenger missions. in the station near New America(Jeffries High), go there with the biggest ship you have, fill it with cabins (you can buy cabins there) remove the shields and replace with cabins as well if you can land easily. Put a 4t cargo rack so you can complete missions that gives you 4t of random commodities(just eject it once you receive it)

Take only 'sightseeing adventure missions' that leads you to two places in the system, but you only need to visit the closest one(the one near new america), and it is very close around 10LS only I think. once you complete the closest one, every mission will be marked as complete and you can return to the station

You also need to learn how to suicide dive into the hangar bay without taking damage(especially if you don't have shields) because the police will scan you frequently and many of the passengers will be criminals

300k-1.5m per cabin(depending on rank/reputation) per mission. and in a python i can stack 8 missions per run. close to 3-6m per run on average.

Once you get high enough reputation there's a rare occurrence that the mission board will be filled with 10+ Civil War Surface Scan missions, with around 300k-2m each. you can accept them all as long as you don't leave the mission board. once you leave it you can no longer accept those(as the limit is supposed to be 3 only)

The planet they want you to scan is just 1000ls away and you only need to scan one time for them to complete, if you want to be more efficient, jump out and in because it is close to the main star. and self destruct once you complete the scan(might break your immersion though)

Do not do it too much though as you might burn out on this repetitive tasks. Quince is pretty far though around 300ly from the closest relevant system, so be prepared when you go there, it's a couple of jumps away if you forget something.

 

[TheMailMan78]

I find Quince pretty lucrative for passenger missions. in the station near New America(Jeffries High), go there with the biggest ship you have, fill it with cabins (you can buy cabins there) remove the shields and replace with cabins as well if you can land easily. Put a 4t cargo rack so you can complete missions that gives you 4t of random commodities(just eject it once you receive it)

Take only 'sightseeing adventure missions' that leads you to two places in the system, but you only need to visit the closest one(the one near new america), and it is very close around 10LS only I think. once you complete the closest one, every mission will be marked as complete and you can return to the station

You also need to learn how to suicide dive into the hangar bay without taking damage(especially if you don't have shields) because the police will scan you frequently and many of the passengers will be criminals

300k-1.5m per cabin(depending on rank/reputation) per mission. and in a python i can stack 8 missions per run. close to 3-6m per run on average.

Once you get high enough reputation there's a rare occurrence that the mission board will be filled with 10+ Civil War Surface Scan missions, with around 300k-2m each. you can accept them all as long as you don't leave the mission board. once you leave it you can no longer accept those(as the limit is supposed to be 3 only)

The planet they want you to scan is just 1000ls away and you only need to scan one time for them to complete, if you want to be more efficient, jump out and in because it is close to the main star. and self destruct once you complete the scan(might break your immersion though)

Do not do it too much though as you might burn out on this repetitive tasks. Quince is pretty far though around 300ly from the closest relevant system, so be prepared when you go there, it's a couple of jumps away if you forget something.

You're thinking to far into what I said. You know what helped? Buying a cabin. Now I can do these runs. Who knew?!

 

[lyndonguitar]

just sayin for others also its a good way to make money if you really need a huge amount of it

 

[Kursah]

I had 12 mil in the bank so I spent a chunk, bought a Dolphin and specced it out for a 4C storage, several cabins, mid-grade FSD, mid-grade thrusters, no shields. I took my "commuting" Cobra MkIII... set for 22Ly jumps, 2 small lasers for weak defense, shields and shield boosting so if I do get interdicted I can run...a large fuel scoop. I made the 500LY journey from where I was in federation space to Jeffries High in Quince in about 40 minutes or so.

I gotta say that was the smoothest jump experience I've ever had in Elite Dangerous and I've been playing on and off since alpha stages. No bugs, glitches or issues so far. Made me happy. The flight model still feels great even with mouse + KB. Though now that I have my Steam controller working so well with Asseto Corsa and Project Cars, I'm thinking I need to get it working for Elite. Though I own Elite from FDev, not thru Steam so I'll have to do the work-around methods. For now KB + Mouse works damn good...immediately comfortable and familiar...not having to relearn what does. Much less of a struggle than when I would return to using my HOTAS system...though for immersion and fine tune flight controls...that CH kit was second to none.

I will add that the very first thing I did returning to Elite was get my ass handed to me in my spec'd out Vulture. I went into a hi CZ, chose to support the federation against some pirates. I was doing pretty good. I have all pulse lasers, plenty of power, shield boost...but I pissed off to 'conda's and they lit me up. Being used to my swiss-army knife Cobra MkIII, I thought I could stick out and recharge...and outrun them. Boy was I wrong. Got blown up pretty quick...no chance of escape once I finally did. Talk about mis-reading the situation and getting cocky! Granted 6 months ago or however long ago when I was last playing regularly enough I would've been able to take those jokers on. That or maybe the AI has improved a lot more since I last played than I realize.

Regardless, the ol' Vulture is parked at a station near said CZ until I build up my funds.

Operation exploit Quince will get started...as soon as I build up some cred with the empire in this area. I have done a couple of runs for the pirates...so far earned an easy mill from Miller Station on the other end of Quince rather quickly. But I want to get into the big jobs, get an Orca or something...and get my A|B running on. I haven't grinded like this since the trading I did in gamma and shortly after release. I traded so much and ended up with mostly mediocre returns...I burned out on it. Trading was never really my thing...so I imagine people hauling will do the same. But regardless I wants some serious moneys as I have decided after selling my original Sidey and Freagle that I was not selling anymore of my ships. Keeping them all so I can use them whenever the hell I want.

As some folks know, *cough* @AsRock *cough* , I usually play solo. Haven't tried much for MP on Elite...usually my availability is sparse and sporatic. Sadly if I'm seen as logged on for an extended period of time, it's because I minimized it or had a "Honey Do" list assault on my freedom. But it feels good to be back into this mess of a game, and seems that I may have picked a right time avoiding many of the 2.3 bugs.

 

[lyndonguitar]

Nicee, goodluck in your Quince runs! I earn close to 40-50m per hour, but since it's a boring job~ferrying passengers from Jeffries High to New America which is very close to each other, I tend to get lost in other things while doing it(responsibilities, youtube, reddit, here, etc), so the numbers go down.

My plan is reach the billion mark (I'm already 700m) and then kit an anaconda for exploration missions (probably to Colonia) with three cabins to bring-in passengers along the way. They go for around 50m each so I'll probably get 150m + exploration data when I get back. I have plenty of mats left for grade 5 FSDs so i should be able to roll a pretty high FSD increase(my highest was on the AspX which is 49.7% out of 50% + more fuel used per jump, surprisingly got it in second try lol). Engineering board exams coming in three months and I won't have much time to play so I'll probably do the colonia trip in about a month of playing.

Then after that Colonia trip I'll probably go back to the bubble and kit an Imperial Cutter(surprisingly I have built my rank up in the Empire doing just Quince runs lol) to replace my Python and get ready for 2.4, hopefully an update bringing thargoids and fighting them.

I also really want to do mining but I'll hold it on for a while until they do an update that makes it really worthwhile

Another thing I wanna do is kit out a fighter ship(like an X-Wing) and fight the thargoids and pretend that I'm the best fighter pilot in the galaxy

 

[Kursah]

I've been waiting soooo long for Thargoids to come back into the fray.

Sounds like you have a pretty solid plan! I like it and plan similar..except I want to have a boat load of cash, all my current ships kitted out, an anaconda kitted out, a cutter, a federal dropship, and whatever else suits my fancy.

I'm so happy they added a ship transport system...it really does make things nice. I like being able to quickly get somewhere in my commuter cobra. Though I need to get into Engineers, I never have once done anything for any of them...but I'd like improved weapons and FSD's...so I'll have to look into those.

 

[Champ]

Great. So there are two butt holes outside of hahn destroying everything they see. I can't fight them so I gotta wait until they leave. An assault and drop ship.

 

[bubbleawsome]

Great. So there are two butt holes outside of hahn destroying everything they see. I can't fight them so I gotta wait until they leave. An assault and drop ship.

If you want to stay in open that's fine, but you could jump to solo and move and then go back to open.

 

[R-T-B]

If you want to stay in open that's fine, but you could jump to solo and move and then go back to open.

Then you'll be tempted to do what I did, and go into solo forever and never come back.

My game is much more peaceful now.

 

[lyndonguitar]

I just lost all my arsenic.... I was doing Quince runs and the usual cargo discarding and i accidentally switched to 'materials' and the first thing there was arsenic...

on the bright side I have a reason to go land to planets again and explore

I'm on 1billion CR now, I should probably go back to the bubble and do something more interesting.

 

[Vayra86]

How's ED doing? Is it still super grindy if you want to do some upgrading? Has the content been fleshed out abit?

I couldn't keep playing it before they released the planets update.

 

[DannibusX]

What y'all using for controllers/interfaces for Elite?

I've got an XB1 and a Steam controller, but I'm thinking I might want to get a HOTAS set up at some point.

 

[lyndonguitar]

How's ED doing? Is it still super grindy if you want to do some upgrading? Has the content been fleshed out abit?

I couldn't keep playing it before they released the planets update.

Grinding is still in the game, but only if you want the fastest mil/hour and the best of ships. If you are doing what you like, most things are pretty lucrative now. Content has been fleshed out, and a lot of Quality of life updates has been added, this is all based on what I've read and seen as I'm a new player myself

What y'all using for controllers/interfaces for Elite?

I've got an XB1 and a Steam controller, but I'm thinking I might want to get a HOTAS set up at some point.

Xbox 360 Controller. honestly I tried using a keyboard mouse but I just can't get used to it, The mouse controller for Pitch/Yaw or Roll seems too sensitive for me despite tinkering with the settings and I always go back to my X360 controller, everything, especially landing is super easy.

 

[Kursah]

What y'all using for controllers/interfaces for Elite?

I've got an XB1 and a Steam controller, but I'm thinking I might want to get a HOTAS set up at some point.

Elite is still Elite, but they did add some things in 2.3 and really it has been the most stable Elite Dangerous experience I've had since Alpha. Not that the game is horridly unstable...but never a glitch in hyperspace, everything is smooth as silk, combat and flight mechanics are as fluid and excellent as ever.

Control-wise, I still use KB + Mouse anymore. Mostly because it is familiar, easier to resume, and I can use the same controls on my laptop and main gaming rig.

I have used several different configs and I'll rate them.

Logitech G15 rv2 + Logitech G502 (KB + Mouse Combo, what I use now) - ****

• Game works great with mouse + KB in my experience.
• Loss of immersion.
• Logitech software adds extra abilities if needed.
• Easy to use for game and multitasking.
• Mouse for yaw and pitch axis works amazingly well on my setups.
• I modify the controls a bit and use similar layouts for the G15 and G13.

Logitech Extreme 3D Pro USB Joystick - ***

• It's a cheap stick, gets the job done but needs more buttons or HAT switches IMHO.
• Throttle flap sucks.
• Twist rudder sucks...I bought that stick for that reason back in the Evochron Mercenary days.
• Gets the job done and does add to immersion of gaming as a pilot.

CH FighterStick Pro USB - *****

• For the pilot space sim, Elite Dangerous, the immersion this adds is excellent and legit.
• The best stick I've used, 1990's era design and thick plastic build means it is indestructible.
• Worked great with other devices, vastly programmable through CH software and scripting.
• Plenty of HAT switches and buttons...to the point you need to use the CH software to print a map of assigned controls.
• Can use profiles with CH software, but you can also just use the stick without the software and use in-game assignments.
• A lot of assignments easily forgotten and takes a while to learn assignments if removed from the keyboard.

Logitech G13 Gaming - *****

• Worked surprisingly well for Elite.
• Customizable with modes too.
• Thumb stick for lateral thrusters FTW. Worked great when in combination with the CH FighterStick.
• Immediately comfortable and familiar because it is half a keyboard.
• If I ever get another flight stick...that's what I'm using for a throttle.
• Was my favorite Left-handed option honestly...but it really works best with a flight stick...which is why it's collecting dust ATM.

CH ProThrottle USB - ****

• Tons of buttons and hat switches. Pro and con.
• Full HOTAS throttle, works well.
• Center feeling was pretty vague.
• Thumbstick was great for lateral thrusters.
• Requires practice and memory to combine all axis together...but the reward is so very much worth it immersion-wise.
• Perfect with a CH stick.
• Not as amazing as I'd hoped when buying it, but amazing enough that I really enjoyed it while I had it.
• As infinitely programmable as the CH sticks, through the same software, using unique or combined profiles.

Steam Controller - N/A

This is a work in progress...I really wanna get it sorted though. I don't own Elite through Steam but that shouldn't be a big deal and the Steam Controller gyros are great fun in Assetto Corsa and Project Cars for racing, I can only imagine in a flight game where I can use more than one axis on gyro.

Frankly I just haven't wanted to invest the time...now that I'm back into playing I just want to get in when I have time to play (not often). I should add I briefly tried the 360 controller...and wasn't happy with it at all so I haven't gone back...I may try it again and give it a more fairly timed assessment.



For my keyboard controls, I make a few changes...first and foremost is throttle control. I set W ans S to fore and aft thrust instead of setting throttle which works great in combination with how I set the throttle.
I use 1-5 keys to set throttle at various increments as follows:

• 1 - 0%
• 2- 25%
• 3 - 50%
• 4 - 75% (perfect for coming out of supercruise at speed approx 6 seconds from a target without overshooting it)
• 5 - 100%

Because I do that, I gotta change the menu access items as follows:

• F1 - Target Panel
• F2 - Systems Panel
• F3 - Role Panel
• F4 - Comms Panel

Frankly I think this seems a little more appropriate control-wise using a keyboard. for me it feels natural and I can immediately come back to it even after months. That is not something I could do with the CH HOTAS combo and all its switches and buttons. Was nice when I remembered everything...but all those times I boosted in a station...sigh...too many. LOL. Accidentally shooting sector police is always neat when you can't out run them too lol.

Use . to enter camera mode, , to enter free camera mode and / to change camera view.

Set Shield Cell to B.

Set Chaff to Z.

That's most of em iirc.

 

[Ahhzz]

Kursah always has such detailed responses, and I never have time to read them.... that's why I always have 3 or 4 TPU tabs on my browser, trying to find time to read his details

 

[lyndonguitar]

Awesome keyboard controls Kursah, I might just try it and maybe I could get the hang of using the keyboard+mouse.

Okay I tried some of your control scheme and also I tried some of mine from X-Series. I also removed the mouse widget because it messes up my control for some reason but there's no center dot. I'm finding a way to disable the mouse widget but keep the center dot

EDIT: I've been playing now for hours on keyboard and mouse, my longest since I started. I'm getting used to it, a little slow at first but I'm going there to that point where I can use it as fast as I use the x360 controller. imo Controller is more relaxing to use though.

EDIT2: reached 1 billion finally! Now I gotta stop making money for a while and do some ship building.

 

[lyndonguitar]

Bought an Anaconda and I tried to roll Grade 5 FSD..

lucky me

 

[Champ]

Guys, i just got a saitek x52 for $50 and i love it. It adds a new dimension of control. I've been used a xbox control for years but the physical stick is how this game is meant to be played. After i learn and get good with the stick, I'd beg a cmdr to pull me

 

[Ahhzz]

Guys, i just got a saitek x52 for $50 and i love it. It adds a new dimension of control. I've been used a xbox control for years but the physical stick is how this game is meant to be played. After i learn and get good with the stick, I'd beg a cmdr to pull me

Where'd you steal that??
I've got the thrustmaster, but with BDO, I honestly haven't jumped back in E: D, or SC, for long enough to acknowledge I don't remember any of the controls lol. But, with an X52 (and for $50!!), I think I'd manage the time!

 

[Champ]

At a local Trade-It amazingly. I don't know if every city has one, but majority of the time, they have no clue how valuable stuff is people bring in.

 

[R-T-B]

At a local Trade-It amazingly. I don't know if every city has one, but majority of the time, they have no clue how valuable stuff is people bring in.

Our local pawn shop is like that. They have pretty awesome buys on computers next to a set of $800 old school PowerPC G5's.