Newbie Guide

Here's where a quality quick start guide might go.

Here are Chubba's top tips to success (the word 'top' is debatable on its effectiveness) as of 29-10-09 24-11-09 12-12-09 1/1/10 (UK date):

This quick start guide assumes that you know the BASICS (e.g. what a planet is, how to move/launch, how to attack things, how the action point system works). If you're not familier with these feel free to ask me (Chubbatubba) or any other player who looks big and impressive (I'd liken myself personally to more of a fine cheese than a person of stature though). Otherwise, they're not difficult to pick up and most just need a little quantity of that strange old thing: "Common sense."

First thing's first

• Visit the 'outfitter' on a planet and visit the 'engine' department. Choice 1: You can either go for a solar sail (which requires less effort to maintain, but lets you do less STUFF in each session) or an engine (**Chubba's choice**) which requires you to keep it stoked by collecting hydrogen at irregular intervals. However, you get a lot more done per session.
  
• If you buy an engine, you'll then also need a 'hydrogen harvestor' and an 'auto-refueller' which can be found through that 'outfitter' section, but this time under 'specials' (special equipment for special needs :D). You'll also see that there are a bunch of other harvestors on offer - you'll only need the hydrogen one for now.
  
• The amount of fuel left in your ship is shown on the left under 'Cargo' - once you run out, you can collect more by, on a space tile, clicking 'Hydrogen Gas' which is underneath 'Tile Resources.' You can collect other resources the same way, so long as you have the corresponding resource collector.

Step 2

• Decide what kind of career you'd like to adopt - There are currently 3 factions, 2 of which you can join ('The Shadow' (sounds gloomy) and 'Expeditious Anodyne' (sounds incredible... hint hint)). Neither is particularly different in what they can provide as of yet (apart from in terms of personality and player strength), so any will do. Joining a faction will give you more missions on the planets which the faction controls (so providing you with an avenue to earn more money). Even if you want to be a pirate (Aaar... Scurvy) it's good to join a faction at the beginning to give you a boost in terms of finance.

Killing things/missions

• Mission it up, mission it in - in other words go round the galaxy not killing stuff yet, but accepting space eel missions (and eel mother missions if you're feeling lush) until you've visited about 5 planets, then go kill some eels. This'll give you money, experience, and much merriness.
• Do NOT increase that little thing under 'Policy' called Distinction or Faction Rank - the missions get harder. Instead, stick with it on 0-4 until you can handle MASTER PIRATES. You'll soon be swimming in cash. Mmmmmm.

Ships

• Keep upgrading ships: My recommended combo is an Atlas (trading) and either a Raptor (for skilling) or Decimator (for pvp).

SERIOUS MONEY

• Missions are the way to get money in the first few weeks, but as soon as you have an Atlas (all the other freighters are pants in comparison) you can start making SERIOUS cash by buying and selling goods from planet to planet. When you visit the 'marketplace' on a planet, on the right column you should be able to see many negative numbers and many numbers in that same column with a plus in front of them. The plus numbers show how many of the adjacent commodity the planet produces per tick. The negative numbers show how much of the adjacent commodity the planet eats up per tick.
  

For example: An M class planet (like earth) produces a LOT of water per tick and also produces a load of food rations, some fresh food and a bit of luxury food. It eats up ALL other commodities.
The next column to look at is the one to the right of the on ewe've just looked at, which shows how much of each commodity the planet currently has in stock. Essentially, if that number is GREEN, then it's good to buy. If it's RED, then run away, it might want your children (i.e. don't buy it).
(to be continued in the not too distant future)

• Make sure you're part of an alliance or community before you build buildings - it's sensible to have it where it's useful. Don't bother with defense modules as of yet, because they SUCK (in a nice way :D).
  

Note: the two main alliances 'Heavens Wrath' and 'Echoing Decay' are in a little squabble at the time of writing (they're killing each other). If you decide to join one (and get many extensive benefits), once you're noob protection has run out after a couple of weeks (?) you may be targetted ;O. So if you're a right pacifist, it's good to stay neutral as of now.

• When finished for the day, click on a planet and log out - you can't just hover over it, you've got to click on the planet name (bottom left) to be docked.
• Other good kills in the first few weeks include (in order of difficulty): 'Bulgers' (green and oval with lots of suckers at the bottom - NOT to be mixed with cephalopods, which only have 5), 'Space eel mothers' (look like fat worms), 'Echinochloa' (look like patches of grass) and 'Sentry Drones' (Grey spheres with red spikes).

Voila. I hope you feel the last 5 minutes of your life were worth living.
Please don't kill me.