Elite: Dangerous PvE - Mobius

I just got started with ED a couple of weeks ago. I've done most but not all of the combat tutorials. I came across PvE in the ED forums and it struck me as a fit for what I want.

I have a few questions:

1 - On the PvE server how are other humans distinguished from NPCs?
2 - I'll be starting from scratch - any suggestions on where to go first?
3 - I assume that I should start out with trading?
4 - I had read a suggestion on the ED forums to sell the pulse lasers in the beginning to free up weight since they won;t be required for trading?

Thanks!

Hi Crackerjack, where's my pen?

I can help you with identifying NPC's from Human players:

On the scanner NPC's are solid, Human players are hollowed out. Square unless their weapons are deployed, in which case triangle.

Also NPC's just have a character name. Human players have the prefix CMMDR before their name.

Unless there's a radical change when Elite comes out on the 16th of December, to get that first ship I'd say trading is the only way to go. You may of course be a demon dogfighter and be able to get some serious dosh doing bounties, but I doubt that per minute there is anything more productive in the early days.

Some have struck it rich mining, but it seems too hit and miss for me.

Even when I'm able to afford a Cobra with some serious equipment, I'll keep a Hauler with a decent FSD and 22T capacity to make sure that I'll be able to make some quick profits.

I saw a thread on Reddit from some bloke who made 'millions' exploring, but there doesn't seem to be many vids on YouTube backing this claim.

Courier and haulage missions are a good way to get started, especially if you can pick up a few courier jobs to the same system as they do not take up cargo space. Eranin to usually has a few propaganda drop jobs.

I started off doing haulage and courier missions, after a short while I got enough credits for a ZP Hauler (70k). Get the ZP Hauler as soon as you can and upgrade the cargo racks, maybe replace the basic discovery scanner with a cargo rack as well.

For getting a good start to the game the definite rule is more cargo = more profit potential.

All good advice, and it works. Exactly what I did when I started playing. It didn't take long to get the Hauler and after that a bit of grinding will get you a Viper, although keeping the Hauler for a little longer will get you a Cobra Mk III. You can outfit the cobra with some great weapons and install more cargo racks.

Ditto with all of the above.
A good basic starting out trading route , which I do ... is to go to an Extraction system ... but minerals... take them to a Refinery system & sell . Buy metal from there ... go to a Rich High tech system and sell. Buy machinery ... back to Refinery system ... sell .. buy explosives ... back to Extraction . Repeat .
A few runs like that you will get a good bank of credits , then just expand.
Plus ... take any missions that you can within that route, and drop them off.
I basically go to Morgor - extraction, ... then Dahan - Refinery ... then Alleus Primus - High tech

If im staing the obvious ... my apols

If you want to know some good trade routes check out the Trade thread in the Member's Only section.

Try a little bit of smuggling from the bulletin boards, it can be easy to dodge fines. When you come out of super cruise, put all power to your engines and hit your boosters. Once within 7.5km request docking keeping you speed up and get ready to go into silent running (default key is Delete). If you start to get scanned hit silent running and keep going to the station. And slow right down once you're past the blue forcefield, drop your landing gear to slow down quicker inside, and land. Very easy way to earn a fast cr with a little a bit of excitement thrown in.

Starting from scratch will be difficult. My advice would be to stick to the more central systems where there should be a decent police presence. That way you can build up by trading and courier missions without the constant fear of getting pirated. That said you have to balance the risk versus the reward. There may be more money to be made further out but it will be more hazardous.