How to start a Fleet?

[Xamurai]

I have some small aircaft but how to make a fleet?

When i add a low-level ship and then add some crew the game says in red "Fleet commander 2" (or 3) required.

I asume it means your fleet level. But how to start to get it up if i can't start a fleet?

[Paradox]

Mercenaries. Hire some (highlight them then "Hail Target"). Get your fleet points up.

You could also get a main ship with more fleet points, skill into Leadership for 10 points, start with Command perk for +2 points, or slot a crew with bonus to fleet points.

I believe the maximum possible number of fleet points is 129.
50 (from level)
20 (from Rising Sun ship)
10 (from Leadership skill)
44 (from Crew possible; 8 each staff, 12 first officer w/prodigy skill )
3 (from Scoundrel)
2 (from Command perk)

Though, you'll probably not hit that number, because it would require legendary+ crew (without going insane from wasting so much time or mods), but you could still get 120 pretty easily and that's enough for 3xZeus.

[MrPurple33]

Yes, Hire some Mercenaries- There is always a Mercenary Hideout in the Starting Sector
(and most other Sectors as well)- It doesn't take Long to get to 2 Fleet Command and then you can get a Shuttle for your Fleet and build from there- I usually keep 2 Mercs around at the start of a game until I get up to 6 Fleet Points, so I can just jump to getting 2 Yacht/Fighters with me

I'm also a Big Proponent of taking the "Fleet Command +2" Starting Perk, not only for
the quicker Fleet build up, but also once you reach Level 50, your Fleet Command will be
52 not 50, so you can get 40 points of Ships in a mix of Cruiser, Frigates and Corvettes, but then have 12 points for a 4 Fighter Wing of Yachts, instead of 9 (10) for just 3 Fighters and
a "wasted" point- But I'm also a bit OCD about Fleet Balance and Numbers in General

Also after you have Maxed your Fleet Ships to whatever your Fleet Points are-
50, 52, 57, 63, whatever it is, you can also Hire Mercs and get some extra Ships ABOVE your Total Fleet Points- Usually 3-4 Mercs depending on their Cost, and Bought and Crewed Fleet Ships are always better, but Late Game you can come across some Decent Level 48-52 Mercs and Hire them, usually just for a short period, to fight Tougher Ravager Bosses or to Attack an Enemy Faction's Station or Defend a Station from an Enemy Fleet

[Xamurai]

Yep it works Fleet commander boosted to level 2 after one big fight.

When entering a space station the mercs stay in the station. When they are in the station will my Space pilot stats improve? So i can level up both stats without hire & re-hire.?

[MrPurple33]

Usually any Parked Fleet Ships, either Crewed Ones or Mercs, and the Game will
consider you as "Flying Solo" and Increase your Space Pilot Knowledge

I often have the Opposite Desire, I Want to keep Increasing my Fleet Command, but
Fleet Ships get in the way when I'm Mining Asteroids, so I'll be Solo with my Fleet Parked,
be Mining, and an Enemy will Warp In and Attack, I kill them, and my Space Pilot goes up-
So if I'm Solo Mining and an Enemy Warps In, I Launch even just 1 or 2 Fleet Ships to come help- Even If I don't need the help, just a Single Fleet Member out on the Map will work towards Fleet Points, not Space Pilot

I say all that, as a proven example that If you have Fleet Ships and/or Mercs Parked at a Station, the Game SHOULD count you as being a Solo Space Pilot during that time- If you Look at the "Z" Command Fleet Panel at the Upper Right, and all your Ships are still Crewed, but "Faded Out" as being Parked, then you should be on Space Pilot Time- I'll sometimes on purpose Park my Fleet just so I can enjoy some Bad A ss Solo Fighting and take out Pirate/Marauder Hideouts by myself

But keep an Eye on if your Space Pilot Knowledge is Indeed Increasing during that- Very Rarely I HAVE noticed that not happening- If that happens, it MIGHT be the Mercs still counting as being "Out" as part of your Fleet, which means you'll either have to Save and Reload quickly to see if the Issue corrects itself, or sadly Dismiss those Mercs- Usually that doesn't happen anymore, and with Purchased and Crewed Fleet Ships, that should never be happening

Also keep in mind If you're say, Level 22 and you hang around a Level 6 Red Skull Sector
to try and build up some Space Pilot Points, the Meter will Barely Increase, you might visually believe it's not moving at all- But If you then go to a Level 22 Sector, your Space Pilot will
rise faster- An even Higher Sector, say you accidentally Warp into a Level 44 Sector Solo,
and you still do well and Kill a Lot of Enemies, and your Space Pilot Skill will rise MUCH faster- That's also why Killing a Boss Ravager, that's usually a Higher Level than you, and a Stronger Enemy, will Increase either your Space Pilot or Fleet Points more than other Enemies

Hope I keep Helping you Xamurai

[Xamurai]

Ok thx, well written. Its helping ;)