noob questions, and observations

shoggothfodder · Post by **shoggothfodder** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:25 pm

Hello all.
I'm new to EM. I got it on steam and (after several hours of research) I'm enjoying it immensely. However, I do have some questions that I am sure have been asked over and over again, but believe me I have googled and googled and I just can't find satisfactory answers...

I know HOW to play the game, I feel like I have a pretty good handle on the controls and everything, and at any given moment I mostly know what I'm doing. The problem however, is that I'm not really making any progress, or at least my progress is painfully slow. After several hours of playing I've only been able to upgrade my frame to the second-worst one, and I only really get about 20k per mission, which I spend a good chunk on refilling. I can't really reliably survive many dogfights and the next main mission is an escort mission. I assume I need to beef up my ship, but how?

I don't mind investing time in this game if that's just how long it takes, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm missing something. I know how to mine and do the missions, it just seems the pay is too low. I guess my question is: Am I missing something or is this normal? Does it just take a LOT of repetitive work to be able to upgrade or is there something I can do to make money faster than mining and the contracts from stations?

Anyway, great game and I promise I looked for answers before posting, but every money-making tutorial I found was for late game. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:36 pm

Hello shoggothfodder, you will start out slow until you build up a stash of cash that will allow you to buy and sell higher end items which also can turn a larger profit. One way to make money is to jump onto MP and join other pilots in doing missions which lets you and them make money. You can also pick up tips from players there. Welcome to the forum and the Sim. Have fun and hope to see you in Multi-Player sometime.

Post by **Marvin** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:40 pm

The good news is that, eventually, you'll be complaining about having too much money and nothing to spend it on (which isn't true ... you just gotta know where to spend it and on what).

You might want to start by doing the quest. ("What quest?" you might ask.) If you've forgotten how to get started with the quest, open the Inventory Console (F3), click on the News Console button ... and then click on the "Last Quest Message" button at the bottom.

Other than that, upgrade your jumpdrive to at least a C3. Upgrade your cargo space to maximum (5 slots). Then find a good trade route and begin buying and selling high-priced items. It won't take long to acquire millions and millions of credits!

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 6:08 am

Hi and welcome.

There are also "hidden" crates out there with all kind of stuff in them that you can beam on board and sell at a station.
(Some locations available on my website)

There are several stations located right in the middle of a asteroid field. If you mine platinum here you will not
use much fuel at all. (Sapphire is one place that is safe).

I also suggest that you do the IMG quest. Pays you as well as teaches you the game.
You can do all IMG contracts in MP except the Race contract. (Must be done in SP).

You can also join MP and do contracts with more experienced pilots. They pay more if he/she takes the contract.
It is also much more fun to do stuff with others. Very friendly out there.

Once you have enough cash, trading is a good way to get tons of cash.

Hope this helps a bit.

Capt_Caveman · Post by **Capt_Caveman** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 12:27 pm

we all started out slow but you will find your progress will increase at an exponential rate. 1 2 4 8 16 32 64 128 256 etc...

Destro · Post by **Destro** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 5:25 pm

As a fellow relative newbie to Evochron, I can identify with your frustration, but I'll reaffirm what the vets here have already said - just keep at it. I started out as a miner; it's practically free money with little to no risk as long as you're mindful after the initial investment in good cargo capacity and a mining beam. It is, however, mind-numbingly boring, I admit (I wound up wedging a piece of a pencil between the keyboard and the desk drawer to hold down the B key while I went and did something else while my bays filled up with platinum and diamonds

). I also sold my starting weapons to get a little early cash - they weren't doing me any good, and if trouble ever reared up, I tied everything down and burned on outta Dodge.

The milk-run contracts are also another safe way to make money while you still have a ship that essentially amounts to a barge; still boring, but offers a little break from the tedium of mining.

Once I saved up a little scratch I started experimenting with the weapon loadouts and auxiliary systems. I don't wanna go into too much detail for many reasons, primarily because there doesn't seem to be one particular "best" loadout (a good thing, if you ask me). It will just depend on what tactics you find yourself using. Sapphire seems to be a bad place to really make money very fast outside of mining - you'll have to steel yourself and venture out to Olympus Prime or one of the other surrounding friendly sectors to find better pickings for contracts. I could be wrong, though - someone might know something I don't.

I also second doing the IMG quests - they helped familiarize me with the game mechanics as well as paying pretty well for a startup operation. Multiplayer servers are a gold mine of information and money if you make nice with someone nearby.

The bottom line here seems to be that there is really just one tip I can offer you - be patient. For me personally, a big part of the game's reward is the satisfaction of building your knowledge and financial base by just exploring and experimenting. If you ever see Destro online, holler at me. I prefer running about with other human beings - the game's much more enjoyable that way.

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 6:35 pm

LOL, love the pencil lock for mining.
You could try Alt B instead ;-)

LOL, thanks Marv. Hate typing on iphone!

[Edited on 2012-9-4 by SeeJay]

Post by **Marvin** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 6:53 pm

As SeeJay said (sort'a), use the Alt key in conjunction with the B key to lock the mining beam in the 'on' position. To disengage, just press B (by itself). As for the best place to mine, try Atlas ... stuff there is expensive, both for buying and selling. While its neighbor is fairly cheap ... which might give you an idea as to where you might want to do a bit of trading once you've outfitted your ship and built up your supply of credits.

Destro · Post by **Destro** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 7:51 pm

From post: 144324, Topic: tid=9761, author=SeeJay wrote:LOL, love the pencil lock for mining.
You could try Alt B instead ;-)

LOL, thanks Marv. Hate typing on iphone!

[Edited on 2012-9-4 by SeeJay]

*facepalm* D'oh...

Post by **Marvin** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 8:25 pm

From post: 144324, Topic: tid=9761, author=SeeJay wrote:LOL, thanks Marv. Hate typing on iphone!

I hope you weren't driving a car at the time. But I know the feeling.

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 8:36 pm

From post: 144332, Topic: tid=9761, author=Marvin wrote:
From post: 144324, Topic: tid=9761, author=SeeJay wrote:LOL, thanks Marv. Hate typing on iphone!
I hope you weren't driving a car at the time. But I know the feeling.

Nope I was not. Answering my wife and kids questions at
the same time as well. My fat fingers doesn't help either LOL!

(I never use the phone when I drive, even if it's legal in Sweden.
To many accidents happens that way!)

shoggothfodder · Post by **shoggothfodder** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 12:13 am

Holy crap, thanks for all the replies, guys. I've been pissed all day because I thought the mods wouldn't allow my post for some reason. Turns out I wasn't looking in the right forum. Derp.

Anyway, thanks so much for all your help. The trade routes thing sounds pretty interesting. Like I said I wasn't frustrated, I just felt like I was missing something I was supposed to be doing. I don't mind a slow burn at all, as long as it's supposed to be slow and it's not just something I'm screwing up.

Now I just gotta get a handle on using inertial mode in combat, which frames are which, where the hell I am...etc etc...

Post by **Marvin** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:49 am

You can sort out the frames by going to SeeJay's website (the link is in his sig) and checking the Performance Charts section.

Star King · Post by **Star King** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 3:42 pm

Go to Pearl and become an arms dealer by trading. I made billions in a week of continuous play. Mining is another way but slow.

Post by **Marvin** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 3:45 pm

But, if you go to Pearl, take SK with you to fend off the hundreds of enemy ships you're likely to meet.