Top 5 Mistakes New Players Make in Elite Dangerous

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[fantasticodds]

The fuel rats have an amazing response time. I ran out of fuel once and they were there to get me to the next station within 15 minutes. Truly a beast of a group and the community is lucky to have them

[iskenuz]

Biggest mistake I see new players make is thinking that you want to A-rate every module every time. A-through-E isn't a continuum of how effective a module is, but instead a set of design specifications.

A: The highest performing version, but also typically the most energy/power hungry, generally the 2nd heaviest. They're also fragile.
B: Generally the heaviest module, but also the most durable. Thinking you'd never want a heavier module? Weight can be very useful in combat, since it lets you literally smash the other guy to bits. Armor tanks also tend to take a lot of module damage, so B-class can be pretty useful if you're expecting your shield to go down.
C: Middle of the road. Why would you ever want middle of the road? Ask yourself if you really want to spend ten times as much to have the absolute best limpet controller.
D: Lightest module class. People use D rated stuff a lot on exploration ships, or as secondary modules on combat ships, because it saves those pounds.
E: The lowest power draw. E stands for *efficiency*, E-rated modules are useful if you need functionality but you're running a tight power budget.

[HrabCOrp]

*The most memorable thing of my first day (21st Nov) in Elite...*

My Sidewinder: * runs out of fuel in the middle of Access Corridor *
Station: "Loitering is a crime punishable by death" * opens fire *

[alistairmacrae]

The biggest mistake you can make is picking this game up thinking you’ll have enough time to play it :P

[Jag____]

I just bought the game, but i am extremely overwhelmed. I am having a blast though playing it, coolest game i have ever played.

[leviathanskiss]

You are absolutely right. New players for some reason just want to get everything best of, asap. Rushing to get the Elite wings is not the answer. I was just the same when I started. I wanted an Anaconda asap and I learnt the hard way, my Anaconda got blown up because I thought I was an awesome combat Pilot. How wrong I was. Elite taught me how crap I was at combat and not having the rebuy, how stupid.
The truth is and it's something I've been trying to get across to new inpatient players very recently, is that Elite is not a shooter but a life in space simulator but with pirates ect.
Enjoy Elite as a life in space, take your time to become Elite and then the game will come to you and you'll learn what ships are right with what type of build.

This video is absolutely spot on for most new players and embarrassing memories for some of us who have made these easy mistakes but I've never run out of fuel, Ever in 36yrs of playing Elite. Thing is, how many players can be honest with themselves and admit they need to learn patience? I know I did back in 1984.

I just want to share with new players what I'm still learning 36yrs after I first played Elite... I'm still learning the game. I went out exploring about 48hrs ago and in a quiet corner, I've found an opal, diamond and painite full system with absolutely no pirates. Problem is, I'm easily a good 7hrs away from the bubble and I need to construct a decent all round long distance, good sized mining ship with the cargo space for limpets as well as the market goods that will pay for a few nuts and bolts towards my carrier. The ship needs to be manouverable enough to get through the sticky parts, or Gankers n pirates of the bubble.
So, Python looks the way forward. After all, I use a weapon less Python for moving goods from system to system with no issues.
A pirate wants to interdict me, "No problem" the Python says, "We can easily get out of interdictions."
I want to run 260tonnes of goods and still be able to jump. "That's absolutely fine, fill me up tight" the Python instructs.

The Python is an amazing medium sized ship and it can land anywhere. My haulage Python actually holds 280tonnes of Cargo. That's more than the Type 7 and is the most cargo space for any medium sized ship.
If your not doing any combat, the Python is my recommendation because it has the power, boost and manouverability to out run any ship and my Python has no weapons, just speed and a tiny Shield. I've not been caught out yet because my Python is having fun and laughs at interdictions. I'm not even on quarter boost during an interdiction in my Python.
Have faith in your capabilities and faith in the Python, strip the Python of any weapons and down size the shields. Having faith in yourself and the Python will reward you as long as your not doing anycombat. My build is about faith and trust in yourself and the Python. A team that will eventually and easily earn you 79 million Cr per hour. (I'm ally status, proved myself and now I get all the best paid haulage jobs. 72 pieces of Gold, run to another station in the same system = 8'000.000Cr. 10 minute job! But I've still room for more cargo to the same station... Your getting the picture.)

Rushing Elite isn't really the way to play Elite.
Elite is not a shooter but for those willing to learn patience, Elite can be and is a fantastic combat, pirate life simulator.
Elite is a fantastic game for players who know how to walk before they can run. Most of us veteran players have all been through that cycle of impatientness. It's funny giving experience wisdom because, I was told to slow down when I first started.

Though long winded, I just want to help because I'm very passionate about Elite and I just want players to get the best from Elite because it's not a 5 minute shooter and Elite can be extremely frustrating which is why these videos are very important. I didn't have these videos in 1984. It was trail and error when I was 12.

These video creator's are an absolute God send. Can't praise them enough.
This video creator IS 1 to watch and learn from. You can trust this content.

[mclaine]

Mh, my recommendation to new players is: Enjoy the the time as a newbie, all is so exciting in the beginning, don´t rush to the next bigger ship. Take your time of this adventure, because this time will never came back and it is the best time! Today i have Billions of credits and multiple full engineered ships, but when i remember back to the day, i proud buyed my first cobra with an E Rated Fuel Scoop and flied scared to maia, i smile! :)

[kevinl.]

The advice about big ships and medium ships is spot on. My medium ships have made me more credits than my big ships have.

[ChankkSaotome]

On exploration, but this may be applicable to more than just new players:

"More jump range" is a line a lot of us old explorers use and new people pick up on it not realizing that back in the day we had maximums of 35ly and we're probably just trying to get from Point A to Point B across 20, 30, 40, 000ly. 35 is still a perfectly capable range for an explorer ship (as long as you're not heading out to the rim and sparse star density) and that shorter range is gonna find you stuff most vets pass over and miss on even the most common distance routes across the galaxy.

A shorter note: Going below -500y or above 500y can find you stuff that a lot of people haven't touched even within 2000ly of the bubble. Get off the plane and hit those uncharted waters CMDRs.

[st_cuthbert]

One simple mistake when doing a bit of mining in your new ship: play in SOLOMODE. There are griefers out there and when your financial situation is dicy I do not recommend flying around with a Type 9 filled to the brim with Void Opals (which takes iterally hours of irl time) only to have a griefer blow you up.

[ondrejsimek]

I have a friend who got it for free and I need to remind him constantly that the sun hurts.

[GrayScoutEpsilon]

Astro exemplifies why the ED community is so awesome.

[DarthJynx]

I made a huge mistake of making a long range trip without checking if there were stations along the way. I ran out of fuel and I looked up what to do. I found this video, looked up fuel rats and they were so helpful.

It was such a cool experience seeing the system they had, in order to help the community. It’s really cool that there are players that dedicate their time to helping out the community.

[crossxfire]

The first mistake every new player makes: Let me figure this game out on my own...

[AnteSocial]

Always Be Fueling Or Gonna Kill Myself - the mnemonic I use for fuel scooping.

Top video again, Astro.

[horphalamph]

Honestly, my biggest mistake that I've made consistently is picking up jobs above my, and my ship's pay grade. For example, those horrendous assassination missions.

[andrewbailey]

This comment section has given me some hope for the Elite community! I've seen a fair few comments saying to take things slowly and discover the ropes for yourself when you start out. Don't just jump straight into the big ships.
A big mistake to make is googling "how to make money fast in Elite." It takes all fun out of the experience of discovery and intrigue, and turns the game into a grind. Then when you buy your massive ship, it's an anticlimax.
Don't consider the big ships to be the endgame! There's nothing a big ship can do that a small ship can't also do. Earning billions of credits is not fulfilling compared to discovering the universe, getting some genuine scares when outrunning pirates in a less than capable ship, accidentally crashing into stations, etc.
Enjoy starting out, and above all, don't rush!!!

[killawdog]

Not watching Down to Earth Astronomy videos is the most grievous mistake any Elite Dangerous player could make ! Thank you for all the amazing and great content.

[ssPeto]

New player here with 100hours more or less. I have purchased ships in this order.

1. Sidewinder (well--not purchased...)
2. Cobra--used mainly for training and added FSD scanner for when Farseer needs that info for upgrades.
3. Asp Explorer--was cargo but turned into miner now after I bought...
4. Python--currently cargo hauler but will probably become a miner for more cargo capacity
5. Diamondback Explorer--Currently being fitted out as an Explorer. Has a 50ly jump range and after Farseer FSD enigineering and Guardian Frame Shift Booster are done, this will be my exploration vessel. Using mainly D rated modules to save weight except with obvious A rated for power and FSD etc...
6. Fer-de-Lance--because I wanted a strictly combat vessel.

Many videos and a couple personal recommendations were to save up and go immediately for a Large ship. I'm glad I haven't done that as it has been a blast playing with many ship types to learn what I like best about them. In fact, I'm in no hurry to scale up to large vessels although I am working my Empire rep up quickly so I have some nice options there in the near future. I really like choices and ships that are dedicated to a specific task. It means I can jump into a ready-to-go ship for whatever my mood dictates.

Elite Dangerous has so many options that grinding immediately for the "Biggest and Best" just doesn't make sense to me. Experimenting with different classes and builds has been very satisfying and Fun! I'm still not sure where I will finally establish my final home base (most standard/obvious choices are clogged up by fleet carriers atm) so moving all my ships will eventually cost me some credits. However, considering the amount of complaining I have read about Frontier nerfing meaningful credit earning, my experience says if I want to get it I can. And seriously--what was the rate of credit earning when the game was new? My bet is it was much slower paced in that regard. As a new player I really don't want to to feel that things are handed to me for little effort.

Finally-- a HUGE Thank You to channels like this that help me get through the tremendous learning curve in this game. Without channels like Down to Earth Astronomy (and others) I'd probably still be humping 6 tons of cargo in my Sidewinder. :)

[Datande]

Two bits of advice to newbies:
1 - Disregard what D2EA said about multirole ships being bad at everything. A solidly built multirole can handle all but a few scenarios (PVP, Thargoid fighting) with ease. Particularly for new players who haven't yet amassed the credits and materials to build a large fleet, having a single, dependable ship will get you there. I have upwards of 30 ships, and my go-to ship for day to day use is still a Python.

2 - The first ship you buy should be a Cobra Mk III. It's absurdly underpriced for what it can do, and it's a dream to fly. I spent most of my first year playing Elite using nothing but a Cobra, and while it does have some limitations (the cockpit canopy is notoriously fragile), there's a reason why it's referred to as the Jesus Ship. It's basically the Python's little brother, and I still take mine out from time to time because it's just so *fun*.