Noob Question About Free Freighter

[UncreativelyNamed]

I'm a new player, and I played a few "throwaway" saves just to get the hang of the game before committing to a "real" save. In one of my throwaways, I accepted the first free freighter offered, just to see how freighters work, etc. All good. Then I read that you shouldn't accept the first freighter because you get a better free one later on if you don't.

Well, I'm in my first "real" save now, and I rejected the first freighter. Problem is, I haven't been offered another free one since the first one. I've done several pirate battles, but no communication with the captain after the battle, and when I go aboard the freighter, I can only buy it.

Am I doing something wrong? Did I read wrong? I have the means to buy a freighter when I want one, so that's not a problem, but I thought you could get a better free one?

[Krash Megiddo]

The battles trigger after 3 hours of play and 5 warps (both conditions must be met). They can be delayed due to a few circumstances:

-If you warp with your freighter, it will not trigger
-If you warp into an uncharted system, it will not trigger
-if you warp into a system with a black hole, it will not trigger
-if you warp into a system with an Atlas station, it will not trigger

https://www.reddit.com/r/NoMansSkyTheGame/comments/n4deb9/is_there_a_way_to_trigger_freighter_battles/

[Geldric™]

It's all based on RNG.... so if you passed up an "A" class, "just because" it was the first one, well, yup you miffed.

Your comment about reading that you "get a better one", while sometimes can be true, due to RNG, it can take quite awhile to "get a better one".

Money (units) is soooo easy to make in the current game, lot's of advice (even 2 months old) is now obsolete/inaccurate.

I ALWAYS take my first freighter (just as much chance it's a "B" or "A" as it is a "C" class)... because then I can trade it for the one I WANT and not the one that is "given" to me. To me I can use the Freighter, even the lowest, crappy "C" class and make it work in the early game and just trade up to the style I want (which usually is NOT those huge/gaudy Star Wars Empire style ones)

Regarding the battles... it's something like every 5 jumps vs 3 hours game time and I too have "rescued" the freighter without being offered the freighter. (Edit: confirmed by @Krash in above post)

[Krash Megiddo]

Also might be this:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/275850/discussions/0/1681441347872459418/

If you don't leave the first offer properly, then no more free freighter?

[UncreativelyNamed]

Originally posted by Krash Megiddo:

The battles trigger after 3 hours of play and 5 warps (both conditions must be met). They can be delayed due to a few circumstances:

Yeah, I've had plenty trigger; I've just never had an offer for a free freighter after the first one.

Originally posted by Geldric:

It's all based on RNG.... so if you passed up an "A" class, "just because" it was the first one, well, yup you miffed.

Your comment about reading that you "get a better one", while sometimes can be true, due to RNG, it can take quite awhile to "get a better one".

Yeah, I probably shouldn't have used the term "better." What I really meant was "one that comes with more storage." I don't care about the class or even the aesthetics. What I'm most interested in is the storage capacity, because what I like to do most in the game is just explore planets (on foot) and gather/hoard stuff. The free freighter I got in my throwaway save was I think an A class, but it only had 19 storage slots, which as I understand it is the minimum. Yes, I know you can also build the storage rooms, too, but I want that AND lots of storage slots on the freighter itself ASAP. Because, as I said, hoarder. :)

But, if it's just an RNG thing and you aren't actually guaranteed a "better" ship after the first one, then yeah, in the future I'll just take the first one I get, and for this save I'll just keep on warping until I find one that suits me. Because, yeah, money isn't a problem for me. Because hoarder. :)

Thank you both for the info!

[Krash Megiddo]

The first free freighter is always a system freighter. Forever after that its either the Dreadnought or Venator class capital freighter. Yes those should start out with more inventory then any system freighter.

You may have missed your chance for a free freighter on this save, which isn't a big deal since you can afford it and credits are easy.

[Geldric™]

When you find your new Freighter and want to upgrade and you WANT to bring your existing Freighter base over to the NEW Freighter.... Leave 1 piece of Ferrite Dust(1) behind in your old Freighter during the Compare/transfer screen. This will prompt the game to ask you to confirm and then ask if you want to bring your existing base to the NEW freighter...

If you do not do this and transfer ALL your items over to the new Freighter, you are NOT asked to bring your existing base and the material for it will not be recovered/reclaimed

(1) Any item will do but whatever it is, it will be lost

[6Taylor4]

your freighter can be modified/expanded with slots to both tech and cargo, and upgrades will make any one a useful fleet base/wealth storage. It does have a really good warp range. However, an exotic S class star ship has an impressive maximum distance, and overall if you have one, it's easier to use it and call in the fleet whenever, it just appears, even if beyond its warp capability. It's easier than working from the bridge, in my experience. The really fast way to get around is of course portal addresses. A little wiki research will reveal numerous ones. In general, the wiki (s) provides a wealth of data, information, and background.
As for a FREE freighter, money is so easy to generate, don't worry about it, you'll be a billionaire in a while anyway, just focus on profits; then you'll be able to afford any freighter you want. Once that's done, and you've hired a fleet of support vessels, the missions from your flag officer generally generate 1-3 million in credits and items. Some take hours, some a day; if you haven't done that, the debrief reports alone are worth the experience.

[Chulivert]

I bought an A class early on, and now that I'm 80+ hours in, I haven't encountered any S class. I've upgraded my A-Class to a point getting an S-Class would be an insane time loss.

[Krash Megiddo]

Originally posted by Exangüe:

I bought an A class early on, and now that I'm 80+ hours in, I haven't encountered any S class. I've upgraded my A-Class to a point getting an S-Class would be an insane time loss.

I have A-class on 4 out of 11 active saves. I don't even notice the difference with A-class.

[6Taylor4]

Originally posted by Exangüe:

I bought an A class early on, and now that I'm 80+ hours in, I haven't encountered any S class. I've upgraded my A-Class to a point getting an S-Class would be an insane time loss.

Yes agreed, the work you put into your freighter is both profitable and pleasing, as you can now expand your onboard quarters to look amazing; you can open up huge rooms with no inner walls left, you can build outside the ship! you can build a room for every support position, you don't have to make a room and then add an assistant. It's my position that your upgraded A class is way more valuable than an empty S class at anytime. I've seen some really cool-looking freighters I wish I could trade for, but my clunky old boat can go almost 2000 lt.yrs. in range so I'm quite satisfied. In space, the entire fleet looks awesome. Good luck.

[The Cog (O.T.H.G.)]

Originally posted by Krash Megiddo:

Also might be this:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/275850/discussions/0/1681441347872459418/

If you don't leave the first offer properly, then no more free freighter?

Not true. I have passed on 3 or 4 freighters before finding an "S" class freighter. It's as they said, RNG. It takes time to get a good one though. When you have a choice to a system to warp to, look for conflict level 3 systems. But, if you do not have the conflict scanner on your ship, that isn't possible. If that is the case, then just keep warping, you will eventually find what you are after.

I have patience most of the time, I wait for an "A" or better to show up. this sometimes doesn't happen until after I have built a couple of ground bases though. Best advice, get a conflict scanner blueprint from the Anomaly, then look for conflict level 3 systems. They are a higher battle chance.

[Krash Megiddo]

That's why I asked the question. It used to be the case if you choked on your response to the freighter captain, it messed up future offers.

[The Cog (O.T.H.G.)]

Yeah, sorry, I was just trying to answer your question. I am bad at posting.

[Johnny in the Clouds]

Originally posted by Krash Megiddo:

The battles trigger after 3 hours of play and 5 warps (both conditions must be met). They can be delayed due to a few circumstances:

-If you warp with your freighter, it will not trigger
-If you warp into an uncharted system, it will not trigger
-if you warp into a system with a black hole, it will not trigger
-if you warp into a system with an Atlas station, it will not trigger

https://www.reddit.com/r/NoMansSkyTheGame/comments/n4deb9/is_there_a_way_to_trigger_freighter_battles/

Just for clarity that Reddit post is 2 yrs or more old. Some things may have changed since the freighter update to the game.

I agree though, 3 hours of play and usually a fifth warp to a system will encounter a freighter battle if freighters are present.

The advantage of holding off on the first freighter purchase, can help you find the style of freighter you need if you know which system the freighter you want spawns in. Otherwise getting the class of freighter in the style you want can often take some time, with repeat visits to the system or using save scumming methods to force the class you want. Is save scumming still possible with the restore point, I'm not sure, but probably.

Purchasing the first freighter in any class is no bad thing as the cost of the freighter is used in exchange for a new one. Buying the one with the most slots you can is probably more important than its class or style, for the first freighter. Freighters are everywhere and it takes little time to improve a freighter simply playing the game.

If you are searching for the S-Class freighters (or star ships) then choose 3 tier systems to visit (any colour) and with an economy scanner also look for affluent, wealthy, booming economy types for the most variety of trade goods and better quality vessels.