Trader to Fighter? - egosoft.com (2024)

Okay so reading through allot of posts I see most people here are attacking/fighting/boarding so when do you actually start to move from a trader after setting up some cash flow with a few sector traders?

I have a few sector traders, using one myself to do some jobs. That is it, no fighters or factories ect.

Factories 1st?
Get myself a fighter and start capping some ships, escort missions ect?
Then complexes/boarding parties?

I still enjoy doing the jobs but would like to move to fighters, to soon? Only have about 1.2mil in the bank

This is what X is all about...do what you feel. 1.2 million is probably enough to get yourself a nice fighter ship of some sort (M4 + weapons and shields), so if you're craving some action - go for it.

There's no right or wrong way to do it, but if you start running low on cash, you may want to invest in some money-making infrastructure to keep your wallet full while you get used to being an interstellar badass. Easy money makers in the early game are food fabs in high demand areas or weed/booze complexes.

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i would wait to have some more cash. not much more, approx 3 mils. UT's are slow earners if are just few. however it can't be "too soon" to start a fighter career, as some of us start right into it from beginning. missions are also invaluable part of making money, especially in start and medium phases. take one step at the time, try bit of everything and remember, there is no right way to play this game. some people are strict traders, some just fight but most of them are somewhere in the middle.

what you will need for now:
good fighter, M4 or M3 (solano is cheap and effective)
TM class ship - just buy one, every one will do (go for the cargo) to store capped ship and transport your fighters in.

Military Industry .:. Mobile Mining quick setup .:. Xenon Wars

well what I tend to do, is get a TS ship then start trading. Once I get enough money I get another ship and make into a UT. UT's bring a lot of money without the need of a lot of money. Once you get enough get a couple more UT's.

Stations do make money, but are very slow and costly. A large complex (8+ stations) will probably set back 20+ million) but only generate a little. Over a long time the complex will pay for itself but it will take awhile.

So with your 1.2m, I recommend making a TS (if you got one) into a UT. You can look around even in a M5 and do odd jobs. Sooner or later you will break away from trading and let UT's handle it.

with ut's never fit weapons, just max shields. The weapon will cause more problems.

Roguey's Site: X3TC, X3AP, X3FL, X4.

I never started trading.. The cash flow is too slow for my playstyle. (Playstyle, thats what its all about.. Find your own! ) I tend to lean towards the Assassination missions, because after my first plot as Terran Defender, my Fight Rank was high enough to rake in almost 600k/ baddie taken out.

So once i got enough money, and enough assets, boarding was the logical next step.. If you wish to start the (YARRR) Pirate-Way, I suggest you go through the Operation Final Fury plot. The reward is a great ship for killing weaponry with Ion-Distruptors, and your fight rank will increase to the point where you are raking in several Million per assassination mission.

Jawms wrote:I never started trading.. The cash flow is too slow for my playstyle. (Playstyle, thats what its all about.. Find your own! ) I tend to lean towards the Assassination missions, because after my first plot as Terran Defender, my Fight Rank was high enough to rake in almost 600k/ baddie taken out.

Agreed. I leave the trading to my AI fleet and earn spending money with missions.

TC unless otherwise specified. | Find me on Steam! | My X3TC Links | X and X Rebirth @ TVTropes

Jawms wrote:I never started trading.. The cash flow is too slow for my playstyle.

Many of us like building up money (although after awhile trading gets boring). However in some of the missions/paths, its crazy how much money you can build up. It can make things like trade seem unworthily.

Roguey's Site: X3TC, X3AP, X3FL, X4.

So your fighter rank will allow you to do harder/more reward missions? The current missions for assassinations are well not even worth it, are they linked to my fighter rank...higher rank,better missions? If so im just waiting for my other 4 ST's to be able to go UT and then I'll go the fight pilot route a little, M4 u say. (Solano).

Thanx guys.

I get my trading fleet up and running,then sit back to decide how to play the rest of the game.
Factories etc come on an as-need basis.

Battles when required,as I am primarily a trader/explorer/collector

Iam playing my current game from a arms dealer perspective, trading equipment mostly picked from the fights of others. Followed a split group into a xenon sector and picked up almost 12,000,000 worth of bits before having to jump out.

The early game khaak invasion is currently blowing the hell out of black hole sun, just waiting on the outskirts to pick up some goodies.

Trading doesn't have to be boring.