what is the best way to make money now

[Siegfried]

in the early game?

[eMYNOCK]

missions, salvage (not wrecks), boarding... not necessary in that order.

for automated salvage (still not wrecks) you may want to complete the PHQ far enough to be able to access your personal safe.

[Siegfried]

Originally posted by eMYNOCK:

missions, salvage, boarding... not necessary in that order.

is mining still bad?

[eMYNOCK]

depends were you intend to mine... terran space is as resource hungry as it always was... all other systems have a "normal" resource demand.

[Oddible]

Mining never was bad. As far as passive income goes it is essential. By ONLY mining and not building industry, you can fully tip the scale in favor of one faction or another. Just supply them with raw materials and you're a kingmaker.

[Oddible]

Early early game picking up drops after a battle is bar none the best money maker. Go find fights and hold down your O key!

[Ydyp]

Pick the start where you already start with a station and a bunch of money in the bank ;)
Then get a freighter and assign it to the station as trader, as well as some mining ships to help boost that passive income.

As for active income it depends on what you like to do, if you like combat then go for the boarding option and build out your fleet or just sell the captured ships. If you like being ordered around and pointed to a destination do the missions.

Or another option is doing manual trades if you just like trucking in space, don't underestimate the profit you can make from this as well.

[Timmy Vortex]

Nvidium mining in my universe is still very profitable. Two hauls and the ship is already paid for in a M miner.

[Duke Flapjack]

Also don't forget about the free ships scattered around.

[Doctor Kaboom]

1. Ensure you are at 0 rep with anything that isn't a pirate, Xenon, or Big K. Failure to do this will result in scavenger minions getting yeeted by deployed laser towers. 2. Buy 2-4 cheap S ships with a pilot. 3. Use repeat order behavior to make them pick up drops at reliable battle zones that don't involve Xenon (ANT vs HOP, etc.), then drop wares at HQ (requires HQ plot + Boso lab unlocked.). 4. Twiddle thumbs, then collect your 100 SETA parts and spacefly eggs, turn into buckets of money. 5. Profitsss!

[Cuddle_Rat]

spacefly eggs, always with the spacefly eggs