I just picked up NMS on Autumn Sale. Give me your best spoiler-free noob advice!
Do the Community Expeditions. They only come around once in a while, and there should be one currently active for a little while longer. You get good stuff with them, and this one in particular is especially good, imo.
Just create a new save. They are set up so that you will get upgrades and inventory slots as you go. When you’re done, you can then roll it into a normal save with everything you collected and unlocked. Great way to jumpstart the game and get cool loot!
Thank you! I started a ‘normal’ game last night but I’ll look into starting a Community Expedition soon.
Awesome. Don’t wait too long or feel intimidated. Despite the name, you can play them entirely solo, and they’re great introductions to the mechanics of the game. You don’t need to “get used to” the game beforehand; just jump right into one!
Also, there’s only two weeks left, and it might take you the full two weeks to get through it, since you’re new. Worth it, though! Also, feel free to contact me if you need help.
Despite the name, you can play them entirely solo
Huh, TIL - I’ve played NMS on and off for years, but never tried the community expeditions as I just prefer solo gaming. Will need to check them out!
Yeah! Don’t skip out. There’s always free stuff that’s often very cool and unique.
ETA: and I do recommend turning on the setting so you can see user bases (which can show up even if you turn off multiplayer). People who start early will often make helpful bases to boost players along.
Thanks, will check it out!
FYI, you don’t need to set up a new save for the expeditions if you’ve started a Normal save and want to keep that one going. Just join the expedition at the anomaly and you can switch in and out of it as much as you want.
Ah ok, I haven’t gotten to the anomaly yet.
The anomaly becomes available once you reach the ability to travel to another system. After that, while in space, press down on the D-pad and left until you see the entry to call it. It’ll then spawn in front of you. Its basically a multi-player hub (I like to go gaze at other people’s cool ships, but with access to upgrades and a portal, as well as a station to join an expedition.
The game’s purpose is the journey - not the destination.
If OP takes one thing from the comments, it should be this right here
I completely agree. I’m not looking for a way to min/max or fast track the game, just wondering if there are little tips that people wish they had known the first time they played. I’m really looking forward to uncovering all the game has to offer bit by bit.
You learn 1 word from every npc you meet at space stations. So take the time from your very 1st space station to talk to everyone.
Thank you!
Have fun!!! Welcome to the Anomaly, traveler.
Tip: you can pick up an exosuit inventory upgrade at every unique space station (the upper left next to the exosuit tech merchant). They will increase in cost as you get them, but having inventory space is a must. Then, focus on upgrading your multi tool.
Thank you!
In addition to the slot at the space station, I’d you summon the anomaly there is a second inventory slot there. You can get a new one from the anomaly in every system, warp in, summon anomaly, but inventory slot.
You cannot 100% the game no matter how hard you try. And anything you miss will still be there, somewhere. So you might as well enjoy the parts you enjoy, and don’t worry about the parts you don’t. There’s no wrong way to play.
Following the main story plot (see your quest logs) will help you unlock stuff. So probably do that first, but don’t rush. :)
Thank you! I started a ‘normal’ game last night and am planning to follow the main story plot.
At some point you will be given a choice to receive a huge freighter, basically a mobile base, or materials. Don’t take the freighter the first time. If you wait until the second time they offer you one, it’ll be higher in quality than the first one.
Don’t take the freighter the first time. If you wait until the second time they offer you one, it’ll be higher in quality than the first one.
It may be higher quality. On one of my saves my first freighter was an S Class.
Thank you!
Read the recipes and ingredients notes.
Pick up the gravitino balls
Thank you!
FYI you will get the attention of sentinels of you pick up naturally occurring gravatino balls.
You’re limited to 12 active ships and 6 active multitools. But, there are mechanisms to store more so don’t feel like you have to trash one that you like because you found something better.
Spoiler
Ships can archived on the freighter from the fleet management terminal. Remove cargo first!
Multitools can be archived on the weapon rack which is a base decoration unlocked at the construction terminal on the Anomaly.
Explore the galaxy. (some of) The procedurally-generated worlds are amazingly beautiful. You can make pets with fauna by feeding them and eventually they will bond with you.
That’s what I hear! Looking forward to getting out there. I managed to complete the repairs to my ship but had to stop there for the night.
Fuck around for a while til you get bored. Probs more fun with friends and all doing stuff together.
Yeah I have some friends who play so I’m looking forward to seeing how that integrates with the game.
It’s not a particularly challenging game unless you choose to make it so. But by default it’s mostly just hanging out and exploring. You don’t need to min/max, you don’t even need advice. You will learn everything you need to know, and anything you learn late, won’t have been a big deal to not know for a while.
Putting stuff in your tech slots gain small bonuses if things of the same type are touching. And purple slots gain bigger bonuses. There are best possible ways to arrange all that stuff, but you’ll be fine if you put stuff in the worst possible order too. It’s all gravy. Play around with it, see if you can make bigger numbers by placing things in different places, but no need to obsess with it. Unless you crank the game up to maximum difficulty, you will be strong enough with no bonuses.
Making money and nanites ends up being incredibly easy, and really the only barriers are knowledge. You actually probably are better off not knowing the easiest ways, the game is more fun when you don’t have infinite money and resources yet. Slowly learn them over time on your own.
If you think you might get to a point where the game will feel “too” easy, make sure to start the game with custom difficulty and with the ability to alter difficulty choices later. So at any moment you can decide to change something to be less boring. Or the other way, if something is too tedious or hard, you can always turn that specific aspect to a different setting too.
Edit: If it’s an option for you, the game plays and runs great in VR now too. A few bugs here and there still, but very playable.
Thank you! VR is not an option for me, but maybe someday. I don’t intend to min/max, I’m just looking for little tips/pointers that people wish they knew when they started. Appreciate your thoughts.
Just have fun, you can change how dangerous it is in the settings on the fly. It takes a while to get the right mindset for how the game works.
