How to target a contact? Complete nubby asking

[Vireys]

Hi just got the game and im loving it! Even bought a cheap controller to get in the zone with it :D

My problem is this:

I got a mission that i need to find "Mr cant remember name" from a system. I managed to navigate to the system and i managed even find my target on the contacts list, but here it gets tricky.

How can i select him as a target from the contact list? So i could have an arrow on mu HUD to show wich way i should fly to get close to him for gentle negotiations?

If i select him from contact list i get no arrow indicator to where he is and if i jump out of taht super speed mode i end up in empty space and all contacts show as empty.

So i would be super delighted if someone could please explain how to target some ship from contact list and how to fly next to it, thanks.

[Dark Thoughts]

If it's an assassination mission then you need a frameshift drive interdictor to pull him out of supercruise.

As a newbie you're most likely going to die though.

[funkynutz]

To select him as a target simply highlight his name in the contacts list and press space/fire. He'll be the target on your LADAR with < > brackets around him. As Hateme says, you'll need the FSD Interdictor to pull him out of supercruise (unless you get really lucky and he decides to pull you out).

Or you could follow him around until he drops out of his own accord, then if you're locked on to him your targetting computer will auto lock on to his wake and you use that as a destination to drop out of supercruise (slow down and wait for the safe to disengage message). If you get it right and drop out close enough you'll have him on your contacts list again..

As a newbie you might want to consider teaming up with someone to help you take down your target.

[Vireys]

Thanks you wery much on detailed and clear instructions.

It was just a random mission from the starter station. I have no idea what "quests" are easy enough. i tried to pick the one with smalles credit reward and i was thinking less creds means less danger :).

Thanks again for responses ill get back to hunting him !

[Vireys]

What should total noob do for credits to start out the game?

[funkynutz]

You've got a number of options. Personally I find the discrete cargo smuggling missions to be easy and pay well, good for earning rucks of cash in short time (I'm currently doing smuggling runs for anywhere between 50,000Cr and 950,000Cr).

Once you've done a few for a faction they'll start paying you more for smaller cargo runs. Just try not to get scanned, you'll end up with a fine/bounty to pay off which will usually take a small percentage of whatever you're trying to earn.

Then once you've upgraded to say a viper/cobra and spent some money upgrading them you should be ready to start playing around with bounty hunting.

Other than that, you could try trading (pretty pointless with a small ship as it'll take ages to make anywhere near enough credits. Standard cargo runs (they don't pay as well as smuggling runs, but they still pay better than just trading to begin with). Mining (again better with bigger ships). Bounty hunting in the sidewinder will be difficult to begin with, unless you can get a few players into a wing and then you all share in the cash earned.

CQC will get you some credits for use in the main game, but once again early on the payouts will be quite small until you've levelled up a bit. CQC is good fun if you want a fight but don't want to loose your ship/credits...

[Vireys]

Thanks again for help Mr Funky :).

I think i see smuggling as a lucrative choise too, maybe ill dip in t that!

[funkynutz]

No worries :)