"Why do I suck" Thread - Any tips for new players?

[hyperzeal]

I, like many of you, have stumbled upon this nifty game!
Can anyone chip in to post some general tips for new players?
Thanks~

[Godshand13]

Sure,

Familiarize yourself with the game's systems. Make sure to know what your ship's (class) strengths are. Keep moving and changing direction. Know your items and abilities, and use them.

I followed the story up until it ended and did a few side missions. Since I got done with that I have been exploring and touching everything...

[Kobey]

Crafting and upgrading is easily overlooked to start. Once yo have a cargo pod you can craft new items 'R' when cursor over an empty spot. Also 'R' to improve any LOOTED item, again must mouse over said item.

[Project KV-31]

Just like the first one, I did horrible till I changed the controls to match Star Wars: Squadrons. I ended up combining the roll with the left/right strafe, which allowed me to easily pull barrel-rolls to dodge everything. I have the full button mapping config in an image in the discussions tab on the first game. You will have to fiddle with what you want the other controls to be in this one as there's more buttons. I ended up making Y strafe up and A strafe down + made left trigger headlights and left bumper change view (left bumper hold for free look)

Button Layout (for the first game): https://imgur.com/gallery/wmGTNah

[Kage Goomba]

If i had to give some tips for newbies....

1: EXPLORE - go roam...look at every nook and cranny..its a loot and shoot game...rogue like thinking...got all the time in the world.
2: When your dealing with outlaws/threats - be craft/sneaky - use every advantage and power up you got - if started like me? That EMP, Booster are very powerful tools that can save you. Secondary Weapons/Mods are very handy.
3: Don't fly in straight lines - always be moving. I'll be flying forward/left/up or any number of combinations - should keep you mostly out of harms way.

[Pappy]

Use the right weapon for the job. Weapons do both energy and kinetic damage. Energy does no damage to armor, kinetic does no damage to shields. Learn to recognize when an enemy has a shield and use your strongest energy weapon to remove it quickly. Once the shield is removed, then switch to your strongest kinetic weapon to remove their armor. Once their shield and armor have been removed then use whatever weapon does the most combined energy and kinetic damage to destroy the hull. Sounds complicated at first but you get used to it over time. Using a beam weapon simplifies it because they do the same amount of energy and kinetic damage neither of which will be as much as you can do with the right weapon but means you don't have to swap weapons as much and they tend to be easier to aim.

Don't forget to use your secondary weapons. Don't "save" them for when you need them, you can always head to a base and restock them, so might as well use them liberally but don't abuse them either, they complement your primary weapons, not replace them. Make sure you are locking onto to enemies when using homing rockets.

Don't forget to use your consumables. A damage booster when multiple enemies are in range, nanobots after the fight if your hull took damage, etc.

Don't forget to use your ultimate when it's charged. Again don't wait for the perfect time to use it use it when it's up so you get used to using it. As you get more comfortable using it you'll know when and where to use it.

Try to avoid engaging multiple groups of enemies. Pick out the closest group and try to flank them a bit while avoiding the other groups of enemies and get just the one group to engage you. Take down the first group and then rinse and repeat. Be careful to avoid running into other groups of enemies while you are fighting one group.

Don't forget to avoid enemy fire while returning fire. Typically as long as you keep moving around you will make it harder for them to hit you which is the key. There are a number of methods to use but again just keep moving will do the trick whether that's moving side to side, up and down, moving toward your enemy or away, boosting etc. All of these things make it harder for them to hit you. You can avoid even homing rockets by boosting and moving.

Those are the basics. Once you have these things down you can move onto more advanced techniques.

[Kithsakhai]

I found engaging enemies with railguns is key mid game when for some reason the weapon damage/shields that you have vs what they have/do to you seems a bit off for some reason. Once you can upgrade to it, either use a Scout with railguns and play sneaky sniper (its really fun) or brawler gunship with repeaters (laser for shields, gatling for armor, and gauss for dealing with destroyers)

never engage a huuuge swarm by yourself, always either pick them off, or pull only a couple at a time - i.e. never go diving headlong into a fight with lots of red dots.

the hull repair on damage ability, coupled with the upgrade that restores shields and armor as well is a HUGE boon for brawler. for sniper spec, the teleport that flips you around is actually REALLY useful - take a few potshots, turn around and teleport and you're ready to shoot again - fully charged railguns can either 1 shot or strip all the shields/armor off anything not an elite or destroyer given comparable level of the item.


Upgrade the item quality. item level as well as quality adds more damage/stats to things, not just the fancy bonuses. even if it means buying items in shops to break down into parts to upgrade your gear - its worth it. I have a fully superior'ed out gunship atm and it is fantastic.

Item types... even within one item "type" or class, there are multiple variations... some have more range, do more damage, or fire faster, or more efficiently on energy.. pay attention to these, as it does really change how you use them.,.. for example, marksman executioners instead of having a rough range of 550m, are now 880m and are also more accurate (the shotgun spread is tighter) so you can use them as cannons instead of shotguns effectively.

[trsone]

First thing you do is die. You're outnumbered and outgunned,...so die. Your ship is slower than molasses in the winter,...so die. If by some chance you defeat the first group of 3 outlaws,...you will die after the next 5 outlaws. If you get past the next 5 outlaws,...3 more will come along and out fly and out gun you,...so die. You have no instructions for building anything,...so die. It's a lot like Everspace 1,....you die over and over and over again. Die on the same mission 10 times and quit in frustration and come back tomorrow and die some more. Pretty simple game really. Just die. I have a feeling I'm probably playing on "EASY" mode too. Hah! "Playing",....I meant "DYING" on "EASY" mode. Happy dying.

[Kobey]

Another clone...I am eternally dammed.

[Pappy]

Originally posted by trsone:

First thing you do is die.

It does have a learning curve and yes one of the first things you will learn is how to die. Doesn't take that long though to learn how not to do that if you take the time to actually learn a few things about the game. ES had a great little tutorial, but I think it may have been added in the expansion. Let's hope they can get that into the full release. Early Access you will have to take some lumps.

[Friends with Benedicts]

Change the controls to your liking. I personally think rotating a ship belongs to Q & E, but opinions may differ.

Abuse the inertia dampeners system. ID are there to prevent your inertia from swinging your ship around. It is mostly useful for indoors exploring, but may be abused both inside combat and for travelling inside a system.
When fighting, you could never strafe sideways with the same speed you're propelled when boosting. With ID off, I can boost my ship in one direction, turn around and shoot the chasing enemy, while maintaining course. After a while, you'll be able to not only do that, but change your direction (and also learn to check which direction you're actually going).

Retreating is great, specially if you're dying too much. Hit n Run are great tactics when provided the ideal scenario (which is fighting along meteors).

Remember to use all your devices! Most people that didn't played the first title aren't aware of how game changing they are. Although they do not impact fights AS MUCH as the first title, they're still a must. Have nanobots for healing, damage boosters to maximize the efficiency of an attack opening, and so on. These devices will mold how you play, and they should be used according to your build.

The game has some exploration elements. I love them, even tho some feel lacking rn. It's a good break from all the constant fighting.

Rockets are extremely powerful, even for facing small enemies. Firing 30 rockets and manage to hit 4 is already a win for me. They do insane amounts of damage and you can have over 200 of them depending on your drop. All explosives are game changers, learn to use them properly. Waste them a lot as you can restock them for minimal fee on space stations.

You have an inventory... This is the tip. You literally can store weapons and explosives in order to use them later, when opportunity arises. I usually leave a space station with 4 explosives, usually 1 mine, 1 homing, 2 rockets, and 5 guns. I can simply pause the game and change it if situation requires. I kinda see that as an exploit, but right now it is as it is and I can't help myself but exploiting it.

[@xaker89]

I've never even had a half hull damage on my 30hrs playtime. There is tons of op guns and ships with insane passive/ultimate bonuses, almost unlimited buff to damage, crazy electrical aoe damage, insane range on scout ship, etc. I dunno how you can die, only if you will stay still and do nothing :)

[Kobey]

I just beat my first Rare - High Risk area. That was no cake walk. And staying still at 3.5km with a Rail Gun totally works ;)

My Hull is pushing 1,000% mind you...that does seem a tad OP.

[Kage Goomba]

Originally posted by Kobey:

I just beat my first Rare - High Risk area. That was no cake walk. And staying still at 3.5km with a Rail Gun totally works ;)

My Hull is pushing 1,000% mind you...that does seem a tad OP.

All hail the mighty rail gun......for it is awesome.
And its not that OP.....drawbacks are a bit nasty if your not careful lol.

[phytogenic]

Inertial dampeners off and boosting I can burn swarms with auto cannon/beams, use the push device, or rail gun cheese with energized boost and ID off, the enemy will never touch you, a lot of the above comments are very good too, but so far I want them to make combat harder this is way too easy.
like too see enemy AI that can use same tricks like strafe and devices, but I am taking my time lvl 12 and still in first system, so no clue if it gets more difficult. fighting a destroyer was simple too, after i figured out some mechanics

[Kobey]

Pair it with a Prototype Gauss Cannon (hello 30% damage to higher level enemies) and anything that gets too close gets slaughtered.