Time flies!
23 Jan 2021Atkinsoncharlie
They say time flies when you're enjoying yourself. Last entry I made was prior to traveling to Colonia and man a lot has happened since then.Im impatient, this is a fact, so when I set out to Colonia in my Python Furious Purpose it was with every intention of taking my time, seeing the sights, exploring and generally shuffling my way across the galaxy. Once I was under way I realized a few things.
1. I had not engineered my ship enough
2. Synthesis for limpets is important for long range travel
3. I'm impatient
4. Colonia is a very long way from the bubble
5. I'm impatient.......
I did not plan on taking the Neutron highway but after about 40 jumps I realized that it was too much of an undertaking so I started Neutron Star jumping. I had not done this before and I was petrified the first couple of times but I soon got the hang of it and started eating up the light years. I stopped from time to time to fuel scoop and I scanned this systems and any planets that looked interesting. Also, rather than parking my ship in space I preferred to find a planet that had something to offer, land surface mine and shut down for the night. I built up a lot of raw materials like this which served me well later on.
As I got closer to Colonia the stars cape changed dramatically. It became dense and had a beautiful blue hue to it. I got very excited and just could not wait to get to Jacques Station. The biggest concern I had was getting ganked before being able to sell all my cartographic data but my fears were unfounded. Gankers are few and far between (so far) in Colonia. I kind of assumed I would finally get my first elite rank once I turned in my cartographic data and I was massively disappointed when I didn't come close. I did make it to pioneer but that did not stop me from feeling I should have scanned a lot more and taken the time.
I decided that I would unlock any engineers that I could and get Furious purpose to a better place. In the process of doing this I needed to purchase a Viper Mk3 to do some rudimentary combat missions and collect some data that I needed. I had deliberately made sure my combat rank had stayed Harmless even though my exploration and trading rank did not reflect that as Frontier give you NPC advisories based on your combat rank so evading interdictions in an engineered Python when you're harmless is super easy. Im not ready to get into combat yet. Using the Viper and completing the necessary missions took my rank up to 99% mostly harmless which is where it still is as I write this.
So I got the engineers unlocked and then thought I would try my hand at mining. I fitted out Furious Purpose for mining and off I went.
I had not mined before really so blowing up asteroids took a little getting used to but soon enough I was mining Panite and bringing in 100 tins at a time and watched my wealth grow but frankly its a little monotonous after a while and I decided it was time for a change.
Here's where I realized I had made an error. When I was back in the bubble I had done a Guardian site and got the blueprint to get the Guardian FSD booster. But I only did it once... Doh! I should have got more blueprints as there is other useful stuff but zero Guardian sites anywhere near Colonia (as far as I could determine anyway). I was eyeing Beagle Point and thinking why not but I could not get the necessary upgrades to get Furious Purpose beyond about 45 unladen. Not enough. So I bought myself a little Diamonback Explorer which without engineering got to about 58LY unladen. Not enough modules but it was decent enough for me to get back out into the unknown. I decided that Sag A would be a more realistic destination than Beagle and so I set off.
Having some experience now with long distance travel I knew what I was in for so so the journey was easier and I followed the same strategy as the trip out to Colonia. When I needed to refuel, find a system, scan, planet scan, land and shut down. Sag A is awesome. It so mind bending seeing the giant black hold that reminds me of a lens, distorting everything around it. Glorious. I had sold my exploration data when I got to Sag A (still no Elite rank...) and was then faced with a few choices.... back to Colonia, on to Beagle or the Great Annihilator. I chose the latter having decided I wanted to return to Colonia. The Great Annihilator is simply breathtaking, so very well worth the trip. Not going to spoil it for you, go see yourself
After the Great Annihilator it was back to Colonia. I had scratched my exploration itch for the time being, now it was time to make some credits and some ore engineering.
The journey back was uneventful, more Neutron stars, more scanning and then Colonia. Still not enough for that elusive Elite rank. I was getting very impatient but hey, this is a game that you can just keep chipping away at and sooner or later you will get there.
I stored the DBX (Nervous Energy) and fired up Furious Purpose, already kitted out to mine and got to work. At that time I had around 500 Million and decided I wanted to double it as if I was serious about buying that Anaconda I wanted I need a lot of cash. After a couple of hours I figured out that Monazite was the way to go and that there was a system called Luchtaine where there was a planet with some high yielding hotspots and that Monazite could sell for up to 700,000 credits per unit. Result.
And that's what I have been doing for the last week or so. As I write Im 80 mil sort of my 1st billion credits and 75% done with Tycoon meaning that but the time I hot that billion I should hit my first Elite rank!!!
After that, my plan is to return to the bubble, scan everything on the way and hit Elite in Exploration by the time I get back to my home system of Brestla. Then I plan of getting some more Guardian blueprints, unlocking some more engineers, buying and kitting out my first Anaconda and then finally getting into combat. At that point I should be able to hold my own and maybe even do some Thargoid hunting!
So there it is, a rather long update but one that, if you made it all the way through, just highlights the depth of this wonderful game. A game I started playing on BBC Model B computer in the 80's and one that I so excited to pick up again recently.
I play on a PS4 and I know that, whilst its great, its not as good as PC and that's ok. This is simply the best game I have ever played and now the only one I will play. Im less excited about Odyssey than a lot of other people but I am curious about it just the same.
Hope you enjoyed reading my little story. There will be more to come.
o7 Commanders.