Just what is that diplomacy?

[poryg]

redartrats if you want, maybe this could help you.
startradersrpg.proboards.com/thread/12367/easy-fighter-character-build-guide

I know it crushes all the fun in exploring it yourself... But I have 98% survivability using this on Crazy, 95% on Insane... And about 15% on Impossible. Once I entered the Elite version, I have more trouble surviving the impossible odds due to being constantly low in fuel and money than I had in free version... The reason is because the trade embargoes don't have that much of an impact on free, because there are always places to refuel thanks to the fact that it's just the top level sector

[Cory Trese]

There is definitely a viable strategy to staying in the upper sector in Elite, but you'll make less money.

[poryg]

Money doesn't really mean too much to me. I just want to survive through the beginnings. Once my captain reaches 30 tactics, I focus on money more, building a financial reserve. Once I have enough money, I then buy a new ship.

[redartrats]

poryg   In fact, that was exactly the guide that I went to after having countless captains die horribly on Crazy.   Basically the idea is to suck up to faction politics, surrender to everyone (except those that will try to kill you anyway), until you have enough skills / cash to start taking advantage of solar/spy wars.

As for trying to stay in the upper left section of the quadrant, I'm undecided about that.  In the earliest levels, it's pretty clear that staying there is the safest... but OTOH if you happen to find a high-paying contract that leads you elsewhere, sometimes it might just be worth the risk to grasp the opportunity.  Generally, I find it pretty profitable to go from upper left to lower right and back. Both sections have a lot of faction worlds for refuelling, repairs, contracts, etc., and there is a nice green route (after a few red sectors south of Cadar Pavonis) that basically connects the two sections.  I have found that even at relatively low levels your captain can safely make it down to the lower right and back without running into too many dangerous things, if you stick to this diagonal route.

Of course, this route is not so nice if you don't have a good standing with Rychart, or if Rychart is under embargo. But still, there are a couple of nice indy worlds nearby, just 1 or 2 red sectors away from the main path, where you can refuel without needing to stop at a Rychart planet.  And even when politics go haywire and all 6 factions are under embargo, there's still Traneldor B, my favorite indy planet, and a pretty major one too, sitting right in the middle of the squabbling faction worlds. (In fact, I first learned about how useful Traneldor B is when playing an indy pirate on Demanding -- he had negative rep with all factions but basically used Traneldor B as his refuelling base, or as an emergency source of income (via blockading), and just preys on ships in the nearby faction worlds. He managed to survive for quite a long time just doing this.  Playing a completely indy pirate captain really helps you appreciate and learn where good indy worlds are. )

Going to the upper right or lower left of the Quadrant is much more risky at low levels because there are only a few refuelling stops and lots of red sectors.

[poryg]

Jun 28, 2016 18:21:43 GMT -5 redartrats said:

poryg   In fact, that was exactly the guide that I went to after having countless captains die horribly on Crazy.   Basically the idea is to suck up to faction politics, surrender to everyone (except those that will try to kill you anyway), until you have enough skills / cash to start taking advantage of solar/spy wars.

As for trying to stay in the upper left section of the quadrant, I'm undecided about that.  In the earliest levels, it's pretty clear that staying there is the safest... but OTOH if you happen to find a high-paying contract that leads you elsewhere, sometimes it might just be worth the risk to grasp the opportunity.  Generally, I find it pretty profitable to go from upper left to lower right and back. Both sections have a lot of faction worlds for refuelling, repairs, contracts, etc., and there is a nice green route (after a few red sectors south of Cadar Pavonis) that basically connects the two sections.  I have found that even at relatively low levels your captain can safely make it down to the lower right and back without running into too many dangerous things, if you stick to this diagonal route.

Of course, this route is not so nice if you don't have a good standing with Rychart, or if Rychart is under embargo. But still, there are a couple of nice indy worlds nearby, just 1 or 2 red sectors away from the main path, where you can refuel without needing to stop at a Rychart planet.  And even when politics go haywire and all 6 factions are under embargo, there's still Traneldor B, my favorite indy planet, and a pretty major one too, sitting right in the middle of the squabbling faction worlds. (In fact, I first learned about how useful Traneldor B is when playing an indy pirate on Demanding -- he had negative rep with all factions but basically used Traneldor B as his refuelling base, or as an emergency source of income (via blockading), and just preys on ships in the nearby faction worlds. He managed to survive for quite a long time just doing this.  Playing a completely indy pirate captain really helps you appreciate and learn where good indy worlds are. )

Going to the upper right or lower left of the Quadrant is much more risky at low levels because there are only a few refuelling stops and lots of red sectors.

As long as you don't take trade contracts, it's alright to go through entire Quadrant

[redartrats]

Perhaps... but IME a lvl 2 captain better just stick with the diagonal route instead of going off into the middle of nowhere like Steel Song territory in the SW or Javat outposts in the NE. Obviously, once your captain is more established it doesn't matter where you go.