This thread is for all of us who decided (foolishly!) to jump straight into a new Egosoft game on release date. Questions, helpful tips, suggestions and general pirate activities should follow.
First question: how exactly do I dock into a station and actually enter it on foot, rather than evac out on my spacesuit?
EDIT: I think I will add here a list of HowTos for reference. I will keep it updated.
How to dock
See riesje’s post.
How to drop Cargo
Go to the ship information screen, find the cargo you want to drop, say for example it shows as 3/10, what you need to do is click on the 3 and it will allow you to edit the number. If you want to drop 1 of the three, type 2 and it will mark 1 for dropping and then you click the Drop button.
How to board a ship in space
Say you managed to get another ship’s captain to abandon their ship. In order to claim it, you need to get out of your chair (Shift+D), go the the panel behind you and select your spacesuit to do an evac walk. Approach the abandoned ship and click Shift+2 to enter scan mode. Approach the red buzzing blob (you will notice it) and once at very close proximity, a few seconds later the ship will be owned by you.
If the ship is M or larger, you must have at least one Marine in your own ship. Whilst still in your own ship. select the abandoned ship, right click, select “Claim”. This will shoot a pod with a marine who will board the ship. If the pod keeps circling around, select the pod and command it to dock to the abandoned ship via the menus. Once the marine is docked, get out of your chair, get into your spacesuit and approach the ship. Shift+D to dock and enter. It’s yours.
How to sell a ship remotely
Open the map.
Go to the Property Owned tab and select the ship you want to sell. (You can right click and select Information, but not necessary).
Now on the map, find a Shipyard or a Wharf. Right click on it and select “Sell Ship At”. Confirm and it’s sold.
Note that the game seems very particular with left and right clicks and having something selected before right clicking on something else.
How to buy a ship remotely
Open the map, find a Shipyard or a Wharf, right click and select “Buy Ship”.
Disable mines style missions
There is a mission type that has variations of “ship is stuck around mines, please disable mines”. All you have to do is approach the mines carefully and shoot them all.
How to hire personnel for your ships
Either dock to a wharf/shipyard/equipment dock and use the upgrade menu to buy Marines and service Crew or talk to any NPCs walking around stations.
Easy money collecting crystals
If you look around carefully in an asteroid field, you will often see some flashing small lights on some of the asteroids. If you approach, you will see they are crystals (of various colors - purple, yellow, white…). If you shoot them with your ship weapon and collect them (press O), they are worth quite a bit. You can easily make a million in an hour or less. Sell them at the traders that are in most stations (get out of your ship and walk towards an office like building with a big shopping cart flashing sign).
