How do you manage to get all that scrap?

[pretorian]

I've started to play on normal after a few sessions on easy. Been checking out a few videos and I seriously can't understand how everyobody gets enough scrap for upgrading shileds, engine, weapons and even drone systems plus getting both teleporters and cloak. I get to S6 or 7 with the Torus and have only 2 shields and perhaps two drones and 2 cheap weapons and nothing else, cause I can't afford it. Everyone else seem to be able to buy both weapons, augmentation, teleport and cloak. How?

I explore every litte system I can and don't jump to the exit until I absolutely have to. I don't waste scrap on weapons I won't use. I've even stopped repairing to save scrap and still I can't afford to stay with in the power curve. How on earth is it done?

[New Moon On Monday]

One tip is to know your sectors. Each sector has different kinds of enemies you routinely see; choose advantageous matchups and avoid bad matchups. Also know which sectors give you free stuff. For example, taking an Engi crew member into Engi sectors gives you lots of free loot Events. Pirate sectors seem to have more slaver ships if you are looking for crew.

[Abe]

Originally posted by New Moon On Monday:

One tip is to know your sectors. Each sector has different kinds of enemies you routinely see; choose advantageous matchups and avoid bad matchups. Also know which sectors give you free stuff. For example, taking an Engi crew member into Engi sectors gives you lots of free loot Events. Pirate sectors seem to have more slaver ships if you are looking for crew.

And for the love of the FSM, dont go to a Mantis secor if you have primaraily engi.

[Tealtyr]

Also, for boarding ships, abandoned sectors are a mixed deal.
On one hand, you might get some lanius boarders.
On the other, you might get boarded by some lanius.

[Cacodus]

Originally posted by spaghetti-sensei:

Also, for boarding ships, abandoned sectors are a mixed deal.
On one hand, you might get some lanius boarders.
On the other, you might get boarded by some lanius.

Meh, I prefer not going to those sectors. They seem to have a lot of the new content stuff, and either a Mind Control or Hacking system, but usually not both. But that mind control seems to screw me over a lot. And for some reason, whenever I run into Lanius ships, they seem to have cloak as well.

[Sam Look]

Not taking damage is the best way to end up with loads of scrap, if it ends up costing you 30 - 40 scrap to repair every time you visit a store you will never accumulate very fast. Also if you can grab the scrap recovery arm in the first sector or two it will equate to several hundred extra scrap by the end of the game. But yeah the less you get hit the more you will end up with really.

[Psykechan]

Explore as much of each sector that you can. Take as many nebula jumps that you can. Be warned, ion storms can suck.

Never repair hull to full. Only repair to 20-25 hull points so if you get a hull repair event it isn't wasted.

Don't buy missiles and drones unless you absolutely need them. Don't buy fuel if you have over 15.

Don't rely exclusively on missiles and drones to win the fight.

Reactor upgrades are useful but sometimes not required. Let your crew hold their breath for moments so that you can power something that's needed.

Live off of the land. The Native Americans used every part of the buffalo. You should use every part of the hull missile that you just got last jump. What I mean is that you shouldn't buy every weapon just because you like it. I'm looking at you, glaive beam and vulcan fans.

Scrap recovery arms should always be purchased. Repair arms should never be purchased.

You only need enough firepower to destroy the ships that you are currently encountering. Anything more is overkill.

Scrap spent on defense means less scrap spent on repairs. Find a way to defend yourself from everything that you may encounter. Running away and taking bribes are both valid defenses too.

[pretorian]

Originally posted by boybland:

Not taking damage is the best way to end up with loads of scrap, if it ends up costing you 30 - 40 scrap to repair every time you visit a store you will never accumulate very fast. Also if you can grab the scrap recovery arm in the first sector or two it will equate to several hundred extra scrap by the end of the game. But yeah the less you get hit the more you will end up with really.

Not taking damage can be very hard as enemy loadouts can be very fickle. I've often early run into ships equiped with both burst lasers and missiles. With your dodge not up to snuff yet, not taking damage can be a serious challenge.

Like now I just got obliterated by a ship with burst lasers, 2 missiles and a mantis boarding party. Didn't even get a chance to jump before I was destroyed. I can't understand how you are supposed to survive a fight like that.

[gambit]

Once you get going it is really hard to lose on normal.
Even with random ships, random sectors and random systems added/bought at stores.

As mentioned always buy scrap recovery arms.
Upgrade your shields immediately to level 2. Level 3 is needed by sector 3, must in sector 4.
Engines level 3, same as shields level 3.
Don't ever buy weapons or augmentations at shops(except scrap recovery arms,weapon pre-igniter & vulcan), unless in special combinations.
Learn to play with what you get.
With time you will learn how strong enemies are in which sector.
So you will know when & what weapons to buy at shops for that rare time you get no weapon/drop rewards.
Accept surrenders only in like first 2 sectors if they give a lot of resources. Most of time it is better to destory ship and get more scrap.
In really bad runs you should get over 1800 scrap, on average over 2000, and on good runs over 2200 scrap.

[Swordmouse]

Originally posted by boybland:

Not taking damage is the best way to end up with loads of scrap, if it ends up costing you 30 - 40 scrap to repair every time you visit a store you will never accumulate very fast. Also if you can grab the scrap recovery arm in the first sector or two it will equate to several hundred extra scrap by the end of the game. But yeah the less you get hit the more you will end up with really.

Pretty much this. You're going to upgrade your ship anyway: you might as well (as a rule) invest in the systems that will prevent you from taking damage sooner rather than later, otherwise you're just going to end up flushing scrap down the space toilet when it could've been used to improve your ship.

It seems obvious, but it bears repeating. Maybe you're saving scrap in the hopes of finding a good merchant when your shields/engine is insufficient for the sector. Maybe you're being stingy with your missiles/drones and left the enemy's weapons system operational and let yourself take damage when it was avoidable etc etc. Of course it's a judgement call on your part when you should save vs. upgrade, but just keep the general principle in mind.

Originally posted by gambit:

Learn to play with what you get.

Also a good point. Looking out for winning combinations is well and good, but constantly swapping out weapons and augmentations can get expensive quick. Also don't worry about getting 8 crew members ASAP - while it might be a good idea to pick up one or two early on to man your systems/act as guards/a boarding party, you'll likely find a few along the way for free as well. So buy what you need, but also don't pay for what you don't have to.

[pretorian]

I'm doing all those thing already. Didn't buy a SINGLE weapon or augmentation (didn't find any scrap or drone recovery arms) and I still didn't have enough to match up against my enemies. Died in S3 against burst lasers and dual missiles, all while I had trouble even penetrating his shield.

I don't understand how it's "hard to lose at normal", I really don't cause I sure have no problem, despite upgrading my defensive systems (shields and engines) before anything else.

And they say the Torus is the "best and easiest" ship. I find it the hardest. Never seem to be able to keep enemy systems down no matter how much I alter and micromanage my ion shots. They mostly miss anyway and a single combat drone won't do anything against even one shield layer.

[David]

Force every ship to surrender then kill their crew if they don't offer an item, board and kill crew every ship from a special event as the rewards are higher, go to lanius sectors if you can't board as the scrap from destroying is higher, never buy anything except scrap recovery arms and fuel, never repair, esp. past 20 hull and use only events or hull repair drones to repair your ship, starting from sector 1, hit as many beacons as possible and always fight backwards to the exit through 2 rebel elites minimum (taking no-minimal damage) unless it's really not possible to hit more than 1 extra beacon. Sell augments and anything you find that you won't use before your slots fill up- always take the highest scrap reward possible from every event- if you could've gained scrap or increased your chances of gaining scrap taking a blue option with a system you didn't upgrade you lost out on scrap- win every battle- visit the secret crystal sector as late as possible- dance around the rebel flagship to collect extra scrap. Pray to the scrap gods.

^ if you want to maximise scrap gain. (not necessarily the best idea- I buy weapons and augs when I find good ones)

If you battled less than 5 rebel elites I can almost guarantee that you missed out on "free" scrap since the expected gain from visiting 2+ extra beacons always outweighs the repair costs if you're prepared for fighting/fleeing from rebel elites.

I've been to sector 6-7 with only 2 shields and starting weapons too- a good portion of the total scrap you gain comes from S6-8- on my Engi B run I didn't pick up good weapons until the end of S7. You can't judge what a ship will have in S8 by what it has in S6.

With your dodge not up to snuff yet, not taking damage can be a serious challenge.

There's only two things I really rely on to save me from damage. Hacking & Cloaking. Heavy firepower if I can get it.

Like now I just got obliterated by a ship with burst lasers, 2 missiles and a mantis boarding party. Didn't even get a chance to jump before I was destroyed. I can't understand how you are supposed to survive a fight like that.

with a screenshot of your and their ship maybe there's a way- that doesn't sound very dangerous to me but then again I don't know what your ship had or what condition it was in- the FTL drives recharge really quickly too, unless you have no pilot/ing/engines at all.

[slappy_d0]

Never pay for repairs unless you absolutly have to!

[pretorian]

Originally posted by Dragondave17:

If you battled less than 5 rebel elites I can almost guarantee that you missed out on "free" scrap since the expected gain from visiting 2+ extra beacons always outweighs the repair costs if you're prepared for fighting/fleeing from rebel elites.

Have tried this and more often than not, they blow out my ship before my FTL drive charges. It's quite likely that at least one of the two systems that power the FTL gets hit and I can't repair it fast enough.

I've been to sector 6-7 with only 2 shields and starting weapons too- a good portion of the total scrap you gain comes from S6-8- on my Engi B run I didn't pick up good weapons until the end of S7. You can't judge what a ship will have in S8 by what it has in S6.

I've done this as well, and I hardly stand a chance then. Most of my shots miss and we get into a standoff where he slowly tears my hull while I can't get through his shields.

with a screenshot of your and their ship maybe there's a way- that doesn't sound very dangerous to me but then again I don't know what your ship had or what condition it was in- the FTL drives recharge really quickly too, unless you have no pilot/ing/engines at all.

How is that not dangerous with two missile hits per "round" plus burst lasers and two mantises raging through my ship? At least one of the missiles hit each time. And my crew didn't stand a chance.

[Psykechan]

Originally posted by Dragondave17:

never repair, esp. past 20 hull and use only events or hull repair drones to repair your ship, starting from sector 1, hit as many beacons as possible and always fight backwards to the exit through 2 rebel elites minimum

ASBs are serious business, especially when you don't want to repair your ship.

[hrothgar_kain]

it's not really that far. You can get pretty beefed up on normal but the key is, don't spread out too much, you can easily max out shields and weapons by sector 6-7 at which point you're in a really good position