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Updated: 11/21/2021
First things first: read the manual! It helps you a lot. If you don't have one
for whatever reason then usually it's piracy so no help for you, sorry. I mean,
After loading for first time you should do some trading runs to understand how
the game works, how you deal with encountering enemies, how you can cope with
the 3D
Once you get the hang of it, run goods between safe planets such as the
Corporate States. This will build up some capital. You can potentially do that
for hours.
Getting Started
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
* When the game loads you will see a rotating space ship, The Cobra MK III.
* Use the status screen to see information important during the game. You do
not have to take notes about this as you can always access it again later.
* Open the galaxy map. Each dot is a solar system. Move the cursor around to
read info about the planets. The large cross is your current position. The
* The other chart shows your close-by surroundings in detail. You can also move
the smaller cross around and get details like on the solar map. You can also
see how far away the selected system is from the your location.
* You need to use these charts to plot hyperspace jumps once you are ready to
First Trades
^^^^^^^^^^^^
* A trading place will have a list of goods available, showing how much they
cost and how many are available. You can switch to your inventory to see your
cargo inventory. You only start with some credits and hyperspace fuel so you
* Select how many you want to buy, totally 20 tons at the start of the game and
* I recommmend you always keep 30 credits on hand because being broke doesn't
* Upgrading your ship is important too, spending spare cash on it as you go.
Always refill fuel first then go for missiles etc. More on that later.
Space Exploration
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
* As you exit the space space you will see a circle that is your compass and
your position to the station. The objects like the space station will change
* If you see other ships at this point they are other traders as this area is
safe. If you shoot at them they'll turn aggro so let's not do that! They
could also speed away but that still does not benefit you in any way. Also
keep in mind that the space station might shoot at you if you turn rogue
nearby.
* Never, ever try to land on a planet. That's not possible. It's all about
space travel only. If you get too low to a planet's surface you will crash.
* The last thing to do is learn docking. Do this with the space station at the
beginning after departing, turn aroud and dock again. Better learn this now
than after spending a lot of time moving around only to find that you keep
Hyperjumping
^^^^^^^^^^^^
* As long as you have enough fuel you can hyperjump to any planet in range.
Make sure you have enough money or fuel to continue after arrival.
* You will not land directly at the planet and you still need to get closer. Do
not fly close to any sun you see in the solar system as the heat will kill
you.
* The compass is still set on the planet you selected so you can fly closer.
* The system will pick up the space station signal when you get close enough.
* Not every system is friendly! Some may be corporate, friendly, and others
of Democracy or Confederacy are still friendly unless attacked but some like
anarchy or feudal are definitely going to attack you. There is also a chance
* Approach the space station to dock. The space station dock always faces the
nearby planet.
* Always approach slowly! You may slowly bump into the station and get away
* Now that we have successfully hyperjumped to a new system and docked you can
start trading again. Refuel and get some extra stuff as you have money for.
Space Combat
^^^^^^^^^^^^
* Your main weapon is the laser. It will destroy most things. You have a heat
gauge for this and it it gets too high you have to wait for it to cool down.
* You can switch your view from Front, Back, Left and Right to get a better
view or aim. When you start the game you do not have any lasers anywhere but
the front but you can buy upgrades to facilitate it and it's very useful.
* Your ship comes with a shield, front and back. They will take damage and can
be recharged from the energy banks. If your ship's energy is depleted you
* If your shied's are down the damage will directly reduce the energy levels of
your ship. The computer will let you know the damage taken and remaining
* Enemy ships have lasers and missiles too. This is why you don't want to be a
sitting target in space fights. Only big ships tend to have missiles and when
they are fired your computed will let you know. You can either use the ECM to
to shoot it with your laser which is not easy either. Missiles will do huge
Trading
^^^^^^^
* The core of the game is trading as you will need to earn money, ugprade
* Not every planet has the same stocks. An agricultural planet has food. An
industrial planet has high-tech good but needs food, and reversely the
* Trade items and the plaecs you can buy it, making sure they do not overcharge
you.
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PRICE /CR
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* Trading this is illegal so you are taking a risk to get attacked by some
governments
Ship Upgrades
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
* Obviously you must be docked at a space station to upgrade your ship and only
* Every station has fuel else you could easily get stuck somewhere.
* You can buy up to 4 missiles and every station has them for sale.
* You can extend the cargo bay to 35 tons. Very useful if you are just doing
* Tech Level 8 allows for an extra energy unit which is HIGHLY recommended.
* ECM is available at tech 2 and allows for destroying any missiles on screen,
including yours. Other ships, usually traders, also have this protection. You
* Laser guns (Pulse Lasers) are available at Tech 3. You can fit them at other
* Beam Lasers are even stronger than the pulse laser but will overheat quicker.
Only available at Level 4. If you upgrade from a Pulse Laser you will get the
money for the Pulse Laser back in exchange, think of it like a trade in.
* Some version of Elite have additional lasers, and the Mining Laser is used
for quickly destroying asteroids so you can scoop up the materials.
* Fuel Scoops will allow for collecting hyperspace fuel when flying close to a
sun at high speed - something that is risky but you get "free" fuel out of
it. It also allows for picking up items from wrecks, usually done by pirates.
* Escape Capsules allows for an extra ship if yours gets destroyed, like an
extra life - so that the game isn't as cruel for killing you instantly
(although there is always saving the game frequently). You do not get the
cargo back when the ship was lost and that escape capsule is used up.
* Level 7 allows buying an energy bomb. You can only carry one and it destroys
all small ships with some exceptions, asteroids and missiles. Does not work
on space stations.
* At tech 9 you can buy a docking computer. This makes docking a lot easier
and should really be at lower tech because it's super convenient for new
gamers. On some versions where you would need to pay docking credits this is
* The top tech to buy is a Galactic Hyperdrive. When you use it it will be gone
and you find yourself in another galaxy and a random system in it. As the
game has eight galaxies you will cycle through them all and the eight jump
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Missile All 25
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Misc
^^^^
* You do not need to play the game as a trader. You can become a pirate! Arrgh.
* Firearm trade is very lucrative but dangerous. You can choose to go this
route and you will make lots of money at high risk. Find anarchy systems that
want to buy weapons and be prepared to fight off pirates constantly, or
police raids.
* Because being a pirate causes you to be effectively banned from nice space
station governments you need to rely on fuel scooping instead. It also means
* Bounty Hunting is the most elite gangster mode in the game. By destroying
pirates that prey on trade convoys you can earn big bucks but these pirates
* By destroying a known bounty your ship will automatically take care of the
* Bounty hunters will also chase you if you decided to be a pirate or trade
illegal goods, Mr. Notorious! You will find them disguised as trade ships in
* Asteroid mining requires a special Mining Laser. Shoot the asteroids with it
and scoop up the materials afterwards, often resulting in fuel scoops. You
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