When does the Tutorial End?

[Able Archer]

I'm enjoying my return to NMS many years after release, but I'm kind of looking forward to the point where I'm not feeling like I have to continue with the guided tour (the storyline), without losing out on content. I've gotten a freighter, and I'm sort of wanting to do some freelancing for a while, make some money, get a new ship or two, etc.

When is it "safe" to put the story on pause, such that I've got access to the full experience? I think I'm at the point where I'm putting up the signal boosters to let Artemis triangulate my position. I have a freighter, I have a settlement, and I believe i also just finished the exocraft missions (I have an autonomous walker at this point).

Any advice greatly appreciated!

[wkitty42]

you can stop any time, really... come back to the story line(s) any time you like...

[tkwoods]

If you have a freighter you are through any meaningful content of the main story line.

There are other side quest like Rebel Star that I would suggest doing for the added content.

[Wile E Coyote, Super Genius]

I got up to the Anomaly part and went off on my own for over 150 hours before continuing for the glyphs. Then I went my own way again.

[SaD-82]

The whole tutorial-mission is called "The Awakening" (well, you could say that all of the main missions are some kind of tutorial, but the initial one is "The Awakening") - as soon as you don't see this name anymore in your mission protocol, it's over.
You can stop doing them anytime you like, though.

[Mr. Bufferlow]

From my viewpoint, the tutorial technically ends when you have finished at least one of the Exocraft Tech missions. This assumes you have already completed all the major tasks for the other Techs by that time. I usually delay the Apollo track until I have finalized what I want from the base tutorial. It is annoying to have him ask if you are ready any time you scan from space but it keeps the "play list" of missions shorter and less confusing.

If you hold off on the "protect the base" mission for the Armourer, that would be the end. I do normally save that one for the very end since the combat is pretty hard and becomes much easier if you have the AI Mech. You can rush getting the AI Mech assorted BPs if you want it earliest.

If you don't care about getting free stuff, you can ignore the missions once you have acquired the antimatter and hyperdrive BPs.

[shadowfang5000]

the first time you enter the anomaly is pretty much when the handholding stops.

[mbrowne999]

When you exit the first Galaxy.

[wkitty42]

Originally posted by mbrowne999:

When you exit the first Galaxy.

i think you mean the first star system... leaving the Euclid Galaxy comes later and you can have already stopped with the initial story tutorial stuff by then...

[mbrowne999]

Originally posted by wkitty42:

Originally posted by mbrowne999:

When you exit the first Galaxy.

i think you mean the first star system... leaving the Euclid Galaxy comes later and you can have already stopped with the initial story tutorial stuff by then...

I do not. There is no official "tutorial," people define it all differently.

[Felis_Exploria]

If you just want to explore and build a place to store stuff, then as soon as you first warp to a new system. If you want the base building missions that gives you blueprints and allows you build on a freighter you need to greet Apollo. He unlocks the construction terminal.

[Able Archer]

I really appreciate the responses to this. I knew I could just turn them off and skip for a while, but there's that little "nag" in the back of my head, "maybe there's something huge I'm missing if I stop now." Sounds like there is still a little stuff to learn, but I'll come back a little later for it.