Surviving Open in Elite Dangerous: A Beginner's Guide to Defending Against Attackers/Gankers

In this guide from EDTutorials by Exigeous we look at the best ways for a beginner to survive in open in Elite Dangerous. Elite Dangerous can be, well, dangerous and as such you'll need to defend yourself from attackers and gankers - this guide will show you that surviving open in Elite Dangerous isn't impossible at all.
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▶️Frontier's Statement Combat Logging IS an Exploit
/ official_clarification...
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:31 Setting Expectations
01:02 The Most Dangerous Places in the Galaxy
01:54 Determining Friend from Foe
02:17 How to Deal with an Interdiction
02:51 How to Escape Once you Drop
04:08 What is Combat Logging & Menu Logging
04:24 Proper Outfitting for Open
05:29 How to Report Crimes
05:53 PvP Piracy
06:50 What are Detention Centers
07:42 What is Mobius PvE
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[@Exigeous]

Please see Frontier's statement on Combat Logging (lost due to the Forum update - mirrored on Reddit here: www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/448rl8/official_clarification_on_combat_logging_from/)

[@brucejohnson1264]

Last time I checked, the only punishment they impose is banning to solo mode for a few days, and even that is exceedingly rare.

[@davidgessin-mccully3919]

They need to get rid of griefers and gankers or people will never play in open. Having to tell people to stay clear of the starting area cause high level morons hunt noobs is asinine. Watching videos of gankers trolling outside stations and engineers is sickening and when you post videos of trolling them it just gives them infamy and more reason to keep doing it. They need to be banned you’re talking about a group of people who tried taking down the cancer kids space station just because the mechanic is there to wreck it that’s complete bullshit and frontier just sits back and allows it to happen while they worry about things like FPS combat and space legs🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

[@zeph6182]

@@brucejohnson1264 that’s so dumb though, literally just make it so that your ship persists for a minute if you log in combat, and require you to wait 30 seconds before logging out in space. Ship rebuys are pretty cheap, combat is super infrequent, running is easy, and on top of all of that you can literally just play solo no problem. There’s no reason you should be able to log in the middle of combat and keep your ship.

[@dreyone6156]

@@zeph6182 While I agree, this may prove difficult to implement due to the p2p nature of netcode.

[@Bean41]

They should introduce a “signal cloner” so combat ships can pretend to be cargo or mineing ships. This would make piracy much more interesting as your risking interdicting a elite combat conda and add another dimension to bounty hunting.

[@brucejohnson9673]

This is an awesome idea.... Somebody tell Frontier.

[@wasauchimmer1109]

Q-ships. Combat vessels disguising as traders just to lure in unsuspecting pirates/marauders. That's an actual real world concept I've found missing in about every open multiplayer game of that venue.

[@kyberghost3607]

I want this so badly! It'll be hilarious seeing griefers try to kill what they think is a beginner trader, but is actually an elite Federal Corvette!

[@asat72]

it could also be the other way round as well, so a cargo/mining ship could pretend to be a highly decked out combat ship.

[@k3v1n73]

@@asat72 but they has t be balancing or bounty hunting/piracy will be far more dangerous and will pay even less. maybe the module is heavy, nees an high op. slot or/and eats a lot of energy

[@KRDecade2009]

My first day in elite dangerous started it with someone in a imperial cutter interdicting me. At the time I had no idea he was an actual person and not a npc so in chat he asked if I knew how to chat so I shook my sidewinder from left to right then he taught me how to. Who ever you were thanks

[@nathangarrett4771]

Worse Than You that’s so wholesome lol

[@nathangarrett4771]

I’m buying a cutter today and I’m going to do that sometime

Haha wow. I was intedicted twice by a human role-playing pirate. Awesome.

[@jamespike5161]

If I ever get myself a top-rated big ship I’m gonna interdict some random newbie just to freak them out, say hello, and then try to help them out.

[@Brandlin]

I'm an explorer. I play in solo only. This is for ONE reason. Let me explain.... If you are flying around the bubble, trading, doing missions, bounty hunting or any of the other activities ED encourages, and you get interdicted and killed then what do you lose? 5% of your ship value and your cargo - that is it. True you might end up in a station a few LYs away. Every other asset in the game is protected by game mechanics - engineered modules, data, mats... everything on your ship is kept safe and returned to you on re-buy. - Simply put being ganked can ruin your DAY, but you shrug it off learn and move on. Now imagine you're in a stripped down explorer with no weapons, thousands of light years outside of the bubble. If you get destroyed there you lose ALL the gathered cartographic data you have onboard - and that can be weeks or months worth! often many tens or hundreds of millions. You also lose your location as the nearest station might be thosuands of LYs away. Data and Location are the two most valuable assets to an explorer and they are the ONLY two assets in the game that are NOT protected. - Simply put, being ganked can ruin your WEEK, MONTH or even YEAR. It is true that the likelihood of being attacked in deep space is very very small. But it DOES happen - especially in popular tourist sites. And it has happened to me. I lost 3 months worth of exploration data - perhaps as much as a third to a half a billion credits, simply because i went into open at a popular site thousands of light years from the bubble to capture some screen shots with a fellow explorer and got ganked by a CMDR who was sat at the arrival point attacking dolphins, orcas, belugas, asps and diamondbacks because "they were losers and needed to learn to 'git gud.'". All he was risking was 5% of his ship value - and it hardly a isk of a straight fight. In fact i suspect that rather than fly home he would probably suicide to be returned to the closest station and pay the rebuy anyway. What everyone else there was losing was around 200 jumps worth of cartographic data and maybe 10-100m credits in missions, plus the rebuy, plus being sent thousand of light years away on respawn. This means that in elite you have less consequential loss if you deliberately play PvP as the aggressor than you do if you are an explorer minding your own business. There is no other mechanism in the game where the loss to one player can be so substantial. Add into all of this the fact that on PC you get better HD images in solo than open and ask yourself why you aren't surprised so many explorers play in solo. 3 options to fix this... 1. Protect cartographic data and location on destruction in the same way that EVRY OTHER ASSSET is. Explorers would be happy to recognise the galaxy is dangerous and would shrug off the loss in the same way as other players. 2. On destruction players lose engineered modules, mats and data in the same way cartographic data is lost. Also run the insurance like real insurance. You make a no fault claim, it pays out. You were deliberately say in a combat zone or were operating illegally and interdicting and killing others - no insurance pay out! This would make the risk/reward balance VERY different and make players consider their actions and the consequential loss. 3. Leave it like it is and stop complaining many people don't fly in open. :-) o7

[@Exigeous]

Didn't have time for the novel - if you're an explorer can't argue - but maybe given Iridium Wing a call as they do explorer protection, used them after my trip to Sag A* with $50M in data and had them escort me in all the way in open. Didn't see a soul and the role play and added risk was a blast. But I just think of it as a video game.

[@Brandlin]

CMDR Exigeous Hi exigeous - thanks for the reply. Enjoy your videos. My comment was aimed more at those that continue the 'git gud' mantra and treat those that fly in open as some form of lesser species, rather than yourself. My point is that the losses simply aren't the same and if all players were subject to that kind of loss then behaviour would be different - and i suspect a hell of a lot of players would quit. I'm aware of iridum wing. But honestly that's a lot of hassle to simply get similar protection of assets as combat pilots already get in all modes. the roleplaying and getting help can be fun but its easier to just play in solo. o7 :-)

[@Exigeous]

Again can't blame you - and while I strongly think things like community goals (the word community pretty much implies open) and power play should absolutely be open only (with CGs getting a buff due to the added risk) but given we have solo/PG now it'd be impossible to remove them due to play styles. That said if we were open only the risk would be far LESS, not greater as there would be so many additional targets that you'd be an even smaller needle in the haystack. I will agree for explorers you're taking a lot of additional risk proportionally than others, where traders should outfit for defense as (in open, especially at a CG) there is real potential they will get interdicted an explorer can't afford that given 99% of the time they won't see another soul. That said for me who pretty much only plays in open Iridium Wing was a good option so I could still role play - and it was really easy to setup and schedule, didn't have to break my gameplay time/loop at all.

[@Brandlin]

CMDR Exigeous I think I broadly agree about open being used for CGS and powerplay makes sense as those tend to be player vs player activities (each player working for a specific faction/group). I am a believer that you get a better range of community behaviours when acting outside of social norms has a greater risk and higher consequential loss. There is too much of a safety net in elite IMHO ... I'd be happy to put all my assets on the line in open if the same was true for everyone. Fly safe and keep the camera running o7.

[@Brandlin]

@@PjotrBittsky In open on PC the graphics settings are higher than in open. Many explorers who take screenshots of great locations therefore use solo rather than open for those shots. Which makes taking shots with other commanders in them limited to Open or PG.

[@michalvalta5231]

When you use mines, it's not because you expect him to be dumb and fly into them. I mean, if he is dumb, good for you. But if he isn't, he will have to avoid them. Which will force him to turn - that means he is not aiming at you. And it slows him down a little bit, so you take more reduced DMG because of the damage falloff. Mines are not meant to defeat the attacker, only to complicate his effort. And they are quite good at that. Shockmines are even better because they knock him around a bit. But that's a powerplay module IIRC... Which doesn't make it hard to get, you just have to wait 4 weeks. :-/

[@Suitret]

Being shot upon without saying a word and with no reason at around 2000 ly from the bubble, while full of exploration data, trying to land at a guardian structure, left a deep scar on open mode for me. Those hours spent on the game just vanished like dust. Not even NPCS act like some griefers. So my opinion is, exploration and open mode are incompatible for me. As for the rest, sure, go open mode, especially on CG.

[@Exigeous]

I gotta admit that's pretty fucking rough for sure - I do explore in open as the odds on this happening are incredibly low but still, doesn't make it any more fun when it does happen. Ugh. At least 2000ly isn't that far out and that much time lost as it's happened once at Sag A - sadly those stories are what people hear so they never give it a try which I think is a shame. That said I wouldn't try to talk an explorer into open as you do gain little for the extra risk - which is why I focused on trade and "short range" exploration ships (ie bubble travel, etc)

[@Suitret]

CMDR Exigeous I am currently midway through Colonia... just the thought of some weird stuff happening, I won't lie, I will LMAO first and then probably get around a couple months out of Elite Dangerous. 😆😆

[@Exigeous]

To be clear play your way, that's the best thing about Elite. I make no judgments on how people play, so long as they aren't cheating (hacking, combat logging, etc). I just want to help people understand the game better so they can make their own decisions about what they want to do.

[@Suitret]

CMDR Exigeous thanks for your insights. Appreciated.

[@weediestbroom]

Same, I got killed out near ceos, no cargo just a 100 credit fine cz an NPC hit ME (!) On the way out the last station.... Got killed by a griefer and sent to a detention center out past Robigo... with no fuel scoop...

[@Kubold]

The video gives you false hope that you can escape a griefing-engineered ship in a t7. No, they will literally one shot you with insanely overpowered experimental g5 weapons while ramming you with a Clipper. Cutter - yeah, with that you can run away.

[@Exigeous]

No, this video explains to you how these mechanics work so you understand how to deal with a situation. It's up to the player to understand Elite is a video game and you can't, and shouldn't, win every encounter - you are going to be destroyed at some point.

[@michalvalta5231]

So, you are saying it should be possible to outrun every attacker? Obviously, you don't stand a chance. When someone has fully outfitted combat ship that's made for combat and you fly a slow box with weak shields... What do you want? To be faster than the combat ship? Have more damage? Be so tanky he simply can't kill you unless you decide to stay and let him? Make friends and do wing trade missions together. Or just have a friend escort you for small cut from the profit. Although you will meet "griefers" (most of them are just pirates, but whatever) very rarely, so the escort is gonna be bored most of the time. But if you want to complain about trading in elite being boring... Yeah. It's super boring. So... Don't do it if you don't like it. There is no reason to do it, you can play combat, you can play exploration. Trading is the least fun aspect of the game with the least depth and the greates chance of getting screwed. Even mining has more depth now. :D

[@Ziplock9000]

It also expects you to engineer your entire ship around it too.

[@TheTaquitoProject]

You can if you anti-grief engineer your type 7

[@dreyone6156]

Wrong

[@Zelisius]

Not sure if you mentioned it already, but sometimes you'll find griefers around engineer systems and at whatever new lore hotspot and new gold Rush location(s) that's been discovered.

[@Exigeous]

Yep, those are great points as no, I didn't mention that. Pinned.

[@short_kenobi]

People say that Deciat is really bad when it comes to ganking, but somehow, when I went there on open, it was completely deserted! Guess I just got lucky.

[@paavobergmann4920]

@@short_kenobi Yes, you did. I got shot twice on final approach to Farseer Inc, when my landing gear was already deployed....Since then I tend to engineer in Solo.

[@TeaMollie11]

Just found that out the hard way

[@thekaliman3336]

Had a griefer ruin my flow once. I was sick and trying to relax with some standard cargo missions. Needless to say I was very pissed cause as I mentioned I was ill and tried to get my mind off of my tremendous headache. I spent 2 hours of stalking him with my sidewinder, constantly pulling him out of supercruise then going silent and repeat. Playing mindgames in the chat and blew his cover by nonstop announcing to other players in open chat that he was there. I followed him to the station and harrassed there by crashing into him until he called me a psycho and left. I went to sleep with a big smile on my face.

[@Exigeous]

Hmm, so two wrongs make a right and you stooped to his level?

[@thekaliman3336]

@@Exigeous fight fire with fire. He had it coming.

[@Exigeous]

It's your game so you do you but I don't get complaining about a griefer (and maybe you aren't) but then acting worse than him - yet somehow that makes you "better" or what you did "okay"? Maybe you're not saying that - but in my book it's far better to just ignore a bully than to turn into one yourself.

[@thekaliman3336]

@@Exigeous sweet Jesus! I'm providing a way to deal with griefers that is efficient and actually fun. Sorry it doesn't complie with modern video game moral code of rolling over and let griefers grief. System authorities actually wanted to hire me for this you know? But I said "naaah I'm too cool for you guys! Not gonna help in killing pilots for loitering. That sucks!" So I left. The galaxy is not all black and white you know?

[@Exigeous]

Wow, uh maybe calm down there my friend. If you want to grief someone yourself go right ahead, I don't judge people playing a game so long as they aren't cheating (ie combat logging, exploiting, etc). As for my moral code you realize this is a game, right? And again like I said if you wanna be a griefer yourself go right ahead, I have zero problem with that - I just find it rather hypocritical when people complain of that behavior but then turn around and do the exact same thing. Again you do you and if you're enjoying yourself then great, it's a game, we play for fun so excellent.

[@vanderaj]

After being griefed in a CG in my Type 9, I now utterly refuse to play open. I gave up playing for a month or so. It wasn't the rebuy, it was the pointlessness of it. They didn't ask for cargo, they didn't say a word. There's no enjoyment when you die 10 seconds after submitting to interdiction. So now I play solo and I'm exploring. I don't think I will ever play open again. Although I hear you that there are only a few griefers compared to other Commanders, the griefers absolutely ruin it for me, and it's one of the reasons I think in the end, open will be a PvP, smuggling, and piracy only mode, and folks trading or exploring or mining or BGS'ing will not play that mode anymore. This will make it a lesser experience for everyone, and I think it ruins a community aspect of the game. Griefing should be nerfed to be a far greater penalty than it is at the moment; it's just too easy to just grief newbies with no downside to them, and I know of at least a few of my friends who gave up Elite entirely because they didn't make it 20 ly from starting before having to start over. Griefers will slowly kill this game if they aren't nerfed.

[@Exigeous]

Obviously your game so your choice but I sure think it's a shame that you would let someone else "win" and change your behavior rather than outfit properly and use proper techniques to try to survive an attack. I trade in a Type 9 with fully engineered hull and shields and in something like 30 gank attempts I've died once. Personally I'm not going to let someone else change the way I play or effect my fun, period. Again your game so you do you but this sure seems like letting the griefers win to me - sorry but there's nothing to "nerf" here at all.

[@randomgaming6436]

@@uignireddngfiurdsgfiurdse What he's saying is: IDC what mode you play, just enjoy what you like. He wasn't telling you to stay in open, he just said 'don't let the grievers win'.

[@SA80TAGE]

@@randomgaming6436 griefers _can't_ win if they never even see you, I get my satisfaction either way, but they only get theirs if they kill me. Besides, I prefer solo out in the void, coming across other players just breaks the immersion of being a deep space explorer.

[@RAFA-kb2te]

Well at the start I was killed in my FdL by an npc griefer. No rebuy so guess. Then I started over joined moebious went to colonia and learnt to fight and make friends. after that I went open 100 % of my time with experience and money to do whatever I like in this game, just have fun in your own way.

[@mike-0451]

@@Exigeous You actually win by not playing the fucking game. They don't want you to stop playing open, they want to kill you over and over again. By not playing, you remove the possibility of them being able to kill you, which makes them extremely angry. That is how you win.

[@angiegamez8600]

The only actual experience I ever had with another player in open was when ship launched fighters were released i picked up a Keelback and was going around resource sites, one time i get interdicted and immediately destroyed by a full pvp Vulture. Every other encounter with another CMDR was merely seeing them in system before they jump out or dock, i have only played in solo ever since because there is ZERO gain from playing in open and you're just asking to be griefed.

[@dreyone6156]

Wrong

[@Dunbar0740]

There's less attention from NPCs in open. Also, prices in stations are better.

[@bunker1213]

So to enjoy Open the best strategy is to stay away from areas where there are many commanders and a lot of the content takes place? And you still wondered why a rather large group of players avoid open? And then I have to adapt my builds to be able to run from those other players? I still prefer to just adapt my builds to the current play style, not compromise about builds to be able to run away. This sounds broken to me. Maybe you should have focused more on what's good in Open.

[@Exigeous]

Well damn, seems you completely and 100% missed the point and would rather grind your axe. That's fine, feel free to play where you'd like - but if you would like to join the rest of us in open the whole point was to give you the knowledge you need so you can feel safer. I say "feel" as not only is this a game but the chances of getting attacked by another commander are exceedingly low. Damn me for providing as much information on the topic as possible, right? Ugh.

[@lighterinthestorm]

CMDR Exigeous It is a game design flaw. Not the player's fault. Why should somebody waste time trying to convert their ship into something more surviving and by doing so sacrifice the cargo space and jump range when they can simply play solo? Your whole whu play Open reasoning defeated right there. Not to mention the primitive instancing of this game which doesn't allow much tactical or strategic creativity besides some clever manouvering, silent running and exploiting the shit out of jump instancing. Besides mines there are no other tools to use, there are no fsd inhibitors, no repair drones, no combat drones that could be taking up the cargo space and deployed anytime and discarded as soon as the target destination is reached. Let's be honest- combat in Elite is nothing more than pinnata shooting most of the time, which is why most players avoid it

[@giantatom]

Lighter In The Storm i dunno, i always play open and was only attacked once by a guy memeing in an orca

[@flipflopken2579]

@@giantatom I was attacked 3-4 times in one day, that was when I knew solo was for me at least till I get further into the game

[@ksweeney1977]

Newish player and love the videos Exigeous, Open is great for PvP but it can be costly if you don't remember to switch back to private or solo when board switching as some CMDR's in open are very unforgiving. CMDR Rivertide was hanging round in Robigo last night and destroyed my unarmed 'Conda while running passenger missions with no cargo, had no chance and with no weapons to max jump range couldnt even return fire, he had the front to salute and say good fight after costing me 20mil in rebuy and missions that i was just about to hand in. Checked out his videos after and he's always complaining about people that combat log, if he's attacking unarmed ships with no cargo it's no surprise people log out.

[@Exigeous]

The big difference is attacking a ship is NOT an exploit and against the rules and combat logging IS, period. Like many he does this to make a point to the community and Frontier. Not saying it's fun to get blown up but one is cheating and one isn't.

[@ksweeney1977]

CMDR Exigeous wouldn't think of logging myself as I used to play games like Entropia Universe where you were still vulnerable for 60seconds and would log back in to a dead avatar, I tried to run as I was only 6ls from the station but didn't have a chance, important lesson learnt...

[@Exigeous]

Oh I so wish Elite had a mechanic like that as it would put a stop to so much of the logging and go such a long way to help the griefing too - a big part of it comes from the frustration of people just cheating so you should just kill them as quickly as you can before they can. But I digress as the debate rages on...

[@iycephoenixx4249]

I guess the point here is have some decency. I can understand picking weak targets because that's how pirates act IRL, but I would suggest they mix it up, not do it all the time. Be a little more considerate

[@vortex05]

@@iycephoenixx4249 Doesn't compute generally those griefers are there for a epeen booster. Basically it's these same players that are just going to make open a barren wasteland. The only time I've had good interactions in open was when I was meeting up with a friend in the newb systems. The newbs generally are just excited by all the oooohh shiney. Once you get further on it's pretty much just griefers. I wish the reality of elite was more like a vibrant bubble where people actually type in comms and have nice banter but that doesn't happen I guess we need something to pull us together like a thargoid attack or something.

[@rbarnes4076]

Open ED strikes me a lot like Eve online... a game once described as "being a little girl locked in a park at night with child molesters". I've played Eve enough to know that it isn't my kinda game. I play to chill, not to be stressed by gankers and folks looking to commit piracy. For those that enjoy that, more power.. I don't hate Eve players nor open ED players. Play they way it works for you.. just don't try to sell the rest of us on something that doesn't fit what we want.

[@Ziplock9000]

Using your analogy: If the little girl stays near police stations and well lit areas she'll be fine instead of going down dark back streets. Eve is not slaughterhouse everywhere.

[@danielstokker]

@@Ziplock9000 eve in cancer online shut up

[@StellariumSound]

Cheers for the info, but the "fun" of getting pirated isn't exactly a strong pull away from solo.

[@Exigeous]

That's because you haven't been pirated by someone like myself or say ThreeOfNine - we are role playing pirates, I promise if you stop and chat with us you'll have a laugh and a good time for sure.

[@HopTzop]

@CMDR Exigeous Now it all makes sense why you try to convince people to play open. You have no more targets since most people that play open have engineered ships.

[@dreyone6156]

@@HopTzop I dont think that's why Exigious is trying to convince people to play in open

[@swordlauncher9217]

@@HopTzop it is not the fun alone yknow

[@sethadkins546]

@@dreyone6156 It's a joke

[@keejinjohanson]

Not gonna lie, one of my favorite things to do is bait interdictions, flip around, and light them up with Packhounds.

[@PudgeFree]

I’d totally be for pvp pirates. That seems fun. But being blown up when doing passenger missions repeatedly while minding your own business just isn’t fun. My ships are rarely outfitted for anything but max cargo capacity or max jump range. Not interested in sacrificing that just to try to be prepared to run away from pvp.

[@Exigeous]

"Not interested in sacrificing that just to try to be prepared to run away from pvp." So you've chosen to fly in a dangerous system in open with a defenseless ship, right? Would you expect the risk to go up dramatically when you've chosen to not mitigate that risk? Not saying getting blown up is fun, etc. - but when you're making big credits already, so loss is much lower, why wouldn't you properly outfit to deal with that risk if you're choosing open? Especially when in passenger missions range doesn't matter since they are so short range (assuming you're doing Parutis/Medb, etc.)

[@Augustborne]

CMDR Exigeous dude seriously? I know this comment is old but stop being so god damn inflammatory. This is a grind-ridden game and as much as I love it, we have to realize its flaws. You reprimand this player for trying to maximize their profits while forgoing defenses, granted this is a logical conclusion, yet you forget that any rational player would obviously aim to maximize profit as credits practically limit your gameplay experience and without them you miss out on new content such as certain ships, fighters, modules, etc. I prefer to play open, yet with over 150 hours in the game I have yet to fully experience many of the new ships due to credit limitations, and as an aspiring commander I’d like prefer to secure my potential credits by completing missions/handing in exploration data in solo. I understand your position as I prefer to come across real people during gameplay and I truly enjoy the good interactions with them, but please stop dismissing genuine criticism of elite’s open play when it comes to exploration/credit earning.

[@aazelion5189]

dasawesome121 if you need credits do mining, far more profitable

[@danielstokker]

@@aazelion5189 not everybody wants to hang infront of rocks for hours on end and mining is terrible for money not one time you cant get a consistant amount from a site combat missions pay out more and faster 5 to 7 million for killing 1 pirate that is only at threat level 4 massacre and spec ops missions for 40 to 50 million were you only have to kill about 30 ships and not grom some hard to f8nd place either im at the moonstation galileo in sol

[@philipfahy9658]

@@Augustborne You defeated your own argument here. You just play in solo to grind credits. So where's the issue? If you don't build for defense in open, of course you get blown up, you deserve to. Perhaps if NPCs were a bit more aggressive about hunting down traders than people wouldn't have this argument in the first place because they would understand how obviously important it is to have defenses for valuable cargo.

[@Tytolus]

The one time I got ganked in Open was when I approached an Engineering Site on a planet in my completely unarmed Krait Phantom. It was a one-shot-kill by a member of the Smiling Dog Crew. After this completely senseless death without losing anything but rebuy I forgot the sense of playing open while there are so many friendly private groups where ganking equals being banned. Fair enough, the roleplay pirating isn't taking place there, but at least you're not completely alone.

[@SargonOfAmerish]

Frontier is almost worse than Rockstar when it comes to handling Griefing and THAT is saying something.

[@johntempleton3560]

@Jake absolutely you can compare the two. in fact, ED griefing is worse since you have to spend time to recoup the credits lost from your destroyed ship. i have about 100 hours in but have spent about 8-9 hours paying for ship rebuys from griefers

[@lasko24]

@Jake how did you get spawn camped in gta the way I dealt with want to be greifers in gta was to lock them into never ending combat killing them as many times as I can since many players care about their k/d ratio and once they feel that is getting ruined they no longer want to deal with me and try to move on but I would keep going after them until they quit the session

[@lasko24]

@Jake Oh so one of those hide in the air players dealt with those types which shooting down helicopters wasn't a problem for me since. I always had rockets and I even shot some down with just a pistol by getting them to fly low and shooting the player through the window. It was the players in the jets that annoyed me .Since trying to lock them with heat seeker rockets was a pain because it took so long. And they would fly out of range causing the lock to break so. I would once again try to shoot the player in the cockpit which is much harder to do than the helicopter. Or use a dumbfire rocket launcher wait until they come in low to try and shoot me.Then once close enough shoot the rocket and lots of times. They would end up crashing even if they avoided the rocket. Because they are flying so low when they try to dodge the rocket they don't have time to readjust and hit the ground where I blow them up.

[@dreyone6156]

This is a really helpful guide, but there is a few things I think you forgot to mention: Regarding mobius and private groups: although the likelihood of getting ganked in one of these groups is probably significantly lower than in open play, that risk still exists, as there are some players who go to great lengths to infiltrate private groups and gank unsuspecting players in them. There is also apparently a rare bug where you can instance with other players even when you are in solo mode. I have never witnessed this bug myself (and probably never will since I never play in solo anyway), but I've heard about it from multiple experienced players.

[@chazzbrasiel6704]

I started playing on release day, (12/16/14) and I gave up on Open after about two weeks and never looked back. It's strictly Mobius or Solo for me. I didn't need other players in the previous incarnations of the game, and I don't need them now. I disagree about PVP pirates. I don't give a s#@# about their little role-playing Johnny Depp in 34th century fantasy. I'm not here to be anyone's game content and anyone who tries it I WILL do the combat log thing and I hope it ruins their experience. With all that said, thanks for the vid, it was quite informative. :)

[@jidgeanimations6866]

Scott Manley: Fly Safe. This channel: Fly dangerously. Hmmmmmm

[@M43L57R0M]

Fly with measured and moderated risk.

[@patrickfelsher154]

Han Solo: Fly casual.

[@MacVerick]

Me: Fly Saferously

[@mwbgaming28]

On the subject of pirate roleplay, I was flying a type 9 full of platinum out of the ring when I was dropped out of SC by a human pirate in a python, he wanted 8T of cargo in exchange for my life Instead I offered him 10% of what was in the hold if he kept the NPC pirates busy while I mined the rings for the day, I got protection and he got an assload of money from bounties and his cut of the loot 2 years later we still fly together in combat zones, hazres, and do assassination missions in ships that are engineered to levels of absurdity I never thought possible

[@Malakise]

I just started playing Elite Dangerous in the last week or two, only in open, and these tips are going to help me a ton. Thank you! Also I feel a little bad now, as a Commander Interdicted me the other night; not really knowing what was going on and annoyed that I had been waylaid for no reason I started to open fire and they only barely made it out alive. In retrospect it may have been one of those RP Pirate players and I'm sad I probably unknowingly took advantage of them while they were typing out their RP demands.

[@Mkragnes]

I've been playing this game for about a week, and have been watching so many of your videos. I watched this earlier today, and as I just bought my Enhanced thrusters from Farseer, I was interdicted while going to a station. I realized it was a player so I submitted. They instantly lit me up and I had no weapons mounted, so I followed the guide; popped chaff, sped up, and hit silent running when my shields popped. Silent Running along with my new found turbo speed on my Imperial Courier made the pirate useless, as I regained control of my ship, and high waked out. Thank you for all of these videos!

[@happyspaceinvader508]

"... many enjoyable interactions..." Such as? I mean, apart from these "role playing PvP pirates" you mentioned. Currently, it seems the cons of Open mode still heavily outweigh the pros.

[@Exigeous]

Winging up with friends, seeing other commanders in a real breathing galaxy, adding additional risk since it's a game, fighting with others in resource extraction sites and conflict zones, meeting with East India for trading, getting help from Fuel Rats........

[@happyspaceinvader508]

CMDR Exigeous That first one could be a potential draw. But my Venn diagram of friends, friends that play video games and friends that play Elite Dangerous probably looks very different to yours. 🙂

[@Exigeous]

Maybe that's because you don't play in open? I played for almost 2 years before starting my channel and had over 400 friends at that point - as I'd just friend everyone I saw to start getting to know people. Hard to do that in solo isn't it?

[@happyspaceinvader508]

CMDR Exigeous Sorry, by “friends”, I’m talking about people I have actually met in real life. I’m not into making friends with strangers I encounter on the Internet.

[@happyspaceinvader508]

CMDR Exigeous My main point is: solo mode allows a more chilled style of gameplay for those with limited spare time to play games, who prefer to avoid combat and particularly the risk of an expensive combat loss.

[@draleharnett1843]

Thank you. I wish I had guides like yours when I was a young commander. You are growing this game.

[@Exigeous]

You're most welcome, I am trying to. I'm very happy to be able to help others learn the game I love so much, if it wasn't for several commanders taking me under their wings early on I wouldn't have been able to learn it myself - so this is my payback.

[@carloschaparro07]

Nah, I'm been trying to play open and make friends just to get killed. No thanks. I'll continue to play solo... and friendless...

[@Yeebok]

I have 1050 hours and have only ever played in Open. I've never been attacked by another CMDR, PvP Pirate or otherwise. The only other CMDR outside my squadron that has touched my ship is a Fuel Rat.

[@DanTKD87]

@@Yeebok you're either lying or extremely lucky. My first visit back to the bubble after months away exploring I got blown up immediately

[@GokouZWAR]

I have about 300 hours in open I’ve never been attacked by another player except once when I was doing power play missions in an enemy system. I was wanted and so he was trying to collect my bounty clearly. It was quite self imposed so I don’t blame him for attacking me at all. All the rest of the time even when doing the same missions I’ve never been bothered. Most of the time with a wanted bounty my bet is most of the pirates will leave you alone because you’re now the bigger fish and they want easy kills. Sometimes turning and fighting is your best defense, but obviously not if you’re in an explorer. Probably the simple fact you are in the explorer is what attracted the pirate in the first place and when he scans you and finds no weapons and small shields, it put the target on yourself. Chaff and silent running will help some. But just being smart outside the bubble will save you some headache. Remember logging from the menu isn’t an exploit as long as you wait the timer out. If the guy cries, let him. They can see you didn’t network disconnect and no ban will take place, and you’ll have no worries.

[@selorkiith4461]

@@GokouZWAR I have about 3-4 Hours in Open... literally EVERY "Interaction" but ONE with an actual player was a Ganker One-Shotting me, was killed SO OFTEN that even after mining in solo I fell into having to take a Loan to get my ship back and only once it was an "RP Pirate" which still is a sucky thing... So there's a reason not to play in Open, haven't touched it since.

[@premiersoviet4852]

The first player (in that case players) that I met proceeded to destroy my Hauler in Deciat, I was defeated in less than ten seconds with no chance of high waking. It wasn’t a big deal for me as I had 60,000,000 cr at the time and I went to Deciat with intent to be ganked, along other activities such as crashing into planets and overheating at the star, however returning from a massive voyage with millions of cr worth of exploration data only to be shredded by a wing of engineered ships is an experience I do not want to be on the receiving end of.

[@cmdrspongedoc9510]

You forgot to mention an important advice: "Never flee in a straight line" :-D If you fly in a straight line you are EZ target with, or without silent run.

[@Exigeous]

While that's definitely not "wrong" you're still never going to be evasive enough to escape in that manner, 99.9% of the time your attacker will be in a far faster and far more maneuverable ship. Again not saying you're wrong but for a noob you have so much to deal with anyway just focus on high waking as fast as possible.

[@DrunerKajin]

Too much busywork just to enjoy the "multiplayer" this game has to offer. I'll stick to solo and private. Thanks for the tutorial anyways, very informative and helpfull as aways!

[@exarkun4084]

Try mobius. A lot of cmdrs hate the idea of it but if you're looking to play with other cmdrs in a chill setting, that's your pg.

[@DrunerKajin]

yes I'm aware of the mobius pg(I'm in it acctually) thanks for the info anyways, much appreciated. Still, this tutorial from exegious will be very useful in the future I hope, as there will be player owned fleet carriers and squad mechanics. for now, at least, open play is quite devoid of any usefulness.

[@DrunerKajin]

*Heretic *sigh* Elite's game design seems flawed from the most basic principle does it not? is there any way to fix this solo,private and open discrepancy?

[@Jazod]

I like the friendly interactions in open play. Believe it or not, there is such a thing _gasp_

[@OGShively]

Dude, you play Bloodborne. I don't wanna' hear it.

[@SavageVR]

I am floored at how large the Elite Dangerous community is! I am playing it in VR to take a break from WoW (15yr WoW player) and this game has me hooked. The community seems to be older (around my age & up) so our interactions are very different. I like it! Then I get pointed to all of these great content creators!

[@nickpolice2902]

Thank you for this! Im still fresh, and your videos have been a huge help getting acclimated to this sim. Now, story time. Jumped into Shinrarta for my first time yesterday. Was super pumped.. until I was immediately ganked. 4.5mil down the tubes on a mining Python. I play on ps4, and asked local if that happening is fairly consistent. I got a resounding "yes" from everybody, then sat and read the organization of other commanders specifically to gank people as they jump in. I'll be playing in solo until I dont care about being destroyed for no good reason ✌🚀🛰 o7

[@haluter]

Love these quickiy guides.

[@BrunoMoozika]

I've played Elite in open since I first started. Since it's a MMOG I thought it would only make sense to play in open. In this year I played I was ganked a few times, mostly in the beginning when I was flying my AspX and got killed in a few seconds. Was not very fun or fair, but I learned and now I haven't been killed for ages, even though I still get attacked in certain systems, the difference is they always fail now. I've played in open because I like the extra adrenaline and also because I want to be able to meet other cool cmdrs, it makes the game a bit more exciting. However my experience in this year wasn't very positive, as I've only met cmdrs in the most high-traffic areas, where all the gankers lurk, and those I met on my travels basically just do say "o7" in local and little else, while the ganking part is a VERY active part of open. I don't feel it's really worth playing in open, the risks outweigh the small benefits. Maybe if more people played in ope (non-gankers I mean) it would be much more fun, but as it is now I think I'll switch to solo from now on, and save myself the hassle to overfit my ships to protect them from gankers, loosing alot in cargo and jump range by doing so. I mostly hoped to meet "real" pirates, who would try to steal my cargo and only kill me if I tried to escape or I hit him first, but those are rare species nowadays, mostly you find sociopath killers who just want to to ruin your day to get their rush. Killing you as fast as possible and causing you the most possible pain is their goal, same as the suicide gankers in EVE Online. Difference is in EVE it's a lot harder to avoid getting killed (they will kill you regardless of what you have or do, if they really want to), while in Elite if you have a well fit ship and some experience, you can evade most gank attempts, if you play it right. Nothing I wasn't used to in EVE Online, but after years of playing I got tired of the high-sec suicide gankers, who would kill you even without any cargo, just to grief you or to destroy your expensive implants, even if they wouldn't get anything out of it (they would actually loose their ships as they are killed by the police in EVE). Elite isn't half as bad, but you can still loose alot, if you are coming from a long exploration trip, or just arriving to Colonia and get sent back. For me gankers are more "annoying" than anything else, and I have a hard time to justify to my brain why I play in open, when there's so little benefits from it. I'm still playing in open as we speak, but I think I'll switch to solo soon, and play in PG when I want to join my friends or squadies. Also, if you need pledge to a PP to get mods, it will make you a even bigger target for gankers, since many of them are affiliated to a PP. Anyway thanks for the video and tips, it will certainly help the new players who want to play in open.

[@mike-0451]

There is no shame in combat logging. You reserve the right to enjoy your time in Elite Dangerous without being harassed by other players.

[@Exigeous]

Uh, NO, bullshit, task kill combat logging IS CHEATING. PERIOD. You do realize this is a video game, right? And that no one has ever been injured by seeing a digital space ship blow up, right? And that you can play in solo or private group, right? So yeah, you don't get to make the rules - like everyone else you're not special and have to follow them just like the rest of us. Also way to miss the point - seems from your other comments you have some axe to grind about PvP so you can feel free to grind that somewhere else. If you want to learn how to play the game and follow it's rules, not mine, then I hope you'll actually watch the video and learn.

[@WatcherCCG]

@@Exigeous Apologies, I did NOT mean task manager bullshit. But you are right, sir. I came here to learn. I've removed that comment since it goes against the channel's message, and I really must apologize again. I don't hate PVP. Just people who attack others that can't fight back, and it's a topic I have strong opinions about, opinions I realize are not relevant to this channel. So I can only offer you my sincerest apologies and an assurance that one, I am indeed here to learn, and two, I will not stink up the comments again.

[@Monody512]

My main reason for not playing in Open: high-res screenshots.

[@Soldier4USA2005]

I could never be a pirate, let alone gank someone. I'm too much of a protector, due to life experiences and certain jobs/careers I've had. It's now just second nature to me. I do appreciate the RP aspect of pirates, though. it helps make the open play of ED seem real and fleshed out. Sadly, (as you already mentioned) the size, number of players, and instancing problems makes interactions with other players very few in number. I hope that changes.

[@rbarnes4076]

Like you, this is an impulse I'll never understand. I'm not a wolf, nor a sheep.. I'm a sheepdog.

[@user-pr4ur9kx6m]

Thank you so much for this video! As I was being interdicted I remembered this video and it absolutely saved me. I didn’t panic, submitted, popped chaffe, selected my target system and high wakes out of there. I also got attacked by a commander role playing a pirate and it was actually a ton of fun- we both role played it. I dropped a few tons of cargo and was on my way. One question, is there an easy way to select another system to jump to without wasting time going into the galaxy map? If I’m being attacked, ANY system will do. Thanks!! O7

[@ToddColstrom]

I had a bad experience early on in Open (insta-killed in my Adder in a CG system) and that soured me on open for a long while. But I did open for the Gnosis event and that was one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had in Elite (note I did go loaded for Thargoid hunting, so I was prepared for it).

[@aceofsocal]

Well done sir you convinced me to give open a shot logging in now salutes

[@mossaic13]

I glad i watched this before trying open. A dude just tried that suicidewinder on me at omega mining distant worlds 2 station. Thanks for your videos.

[@GMSpada]

My first time in Open in 3 years.. (accidentally) in Sothis..Came out at the WP.. BAM no shields.. then BAM.. exploded.. less than 10 seconds..

[@Exigeous]

Bummer that you choose to go into open in a rather dangerous system - I should have included (a few have commented) that known money making systems are also dangerous and good target systems for griefers. The good thing is you're making money there so fast you lose very little getting killed there. Hopefully now that you know how to handle yourself you'll give open another try and see how not-dangerous it really is.

[@fairnut6418]

This was such a surprise for me when you recommended to accept interdictions, I always fight and with no jokes win 9/10 interdictions, the only thing, that I win them when I’m 1 second from losing, this is very fun for real

[@inspirice9844]

There is an art to winning interdictions, quite fun actually.

[@dreyone6156]

npc and player interdictions are two totally different things

[@mikeyoung9810]

I'm not big into pvp but some of my best memories come from when I did take part in games with it. For me, the trick is to find a game that has pvp but is not just about pvp. Ultima Online (oh how I used to scream when I got ambushed and lost everything), Lord of the Rings Online (no risk of losing anything and it took place in a place just for pvp) and many others. Most pvp's aren't done very well and if you happen to start pvp for the first time in these kinds of games you might never give it another chance but if it's done right it might be the thing you think back about one day and remember the most. I just got elite a couple days ago and I'm still doing the tutorials and that's why I'm here, to see if I want to play in open eventually. Thanks.

[@1n5uff1c13n7]

I'm pretty new to the game and went ahead to take part in the current gold rush. I've jumped towards the station which has the high selling prices and got interdicted by a pirate. Didn't know how to react (not seen this video at that point in time) but he just wanted a bit of cargo to let me continue. Was a pretty neat experience! And he made like 4 million from the robbery as well

[@steveroberts6302]

I switched to open yesterday for the 1st time since I started 3 weeks ago. Less than 60 seconds later I was destroyed. Never again.

[@dreyone6156]

Switches to open without first learning how to survive in open Predictably gets destroyed Uses that as an excuse not to play in open again sounds about right. Man I wish they'd just remove solo and private groups so we could purge all these terrible players from the game community. Too many casuals attempting to play a hardcore space sim without even bothering to learn how to play first. I wouldn't mind you guys so much if you didn't constantly screech and complain about the game, put pressure on Fdev to fuck the game up for everyone else that actually knows how to play, and put stupid ass ideas in new players heads like the idea that you can't survive in open play without an engineered combat ship, etc.

[@holy8782]

​@@dreyone6156 It's pretty much a good reason to not want to go to open. I have a friend who spent an entire weak doing exploration just for some asshat to murder her before she could do anything right before the station. So yeah, I can understand the "screeching" that's an entire week of progress gone because someone that severely outclassed her decided it would be fun to fuck up what she dedicated a lot of time to. Sure, you *could* survive without an engineered combat ship, etc. But if someone wants to avoid open because of people killing them and they don't have a fighting chance, I don't blame them. A game is supposed to be fun. Fun to the griefer more than likely isn't fun for the person who just watched days, weeks, maybe even months of progress vanish right before their eyes.

[@byron_00]

Great recap of what most veterans already know. Now if FDev would just improve the chat system. I often seem to miss the opportunity to say hello before passing commanders leave the instance.

[@randomgaming6436]

The chat is about as good as it gets in such fkn massive games. If you want to say 'hi' to someone, its best to stay for more than 15 seconds in a system. CMDR Roger signing out O7

[@PudgeFree]

I only run in open when specifically looking for combat, or when exploring FAR from the bubble. Nobody looking for combat goes outside the bubble and it’d be cool to run into someone in the middle of nowhere. But as I get closer to the bubble I go back to mobius

[@danielstokker]

Exploring in open makes no sense

[@wasauchimmer1109]

Watching the video and reading the comments just reinforced my decision to stay away from open. Having to stay away from frequented sites to avoid griefers sort of defeats the purpose of open, but STILL having to optimize the build (expensive) and then maybe STILL getting wasted by a Sideganker... The time I could dedicate to play ED is much too short to deal with that kind of 💩

[@sethslaughter3814]

Thanks for the video, I've been playing as a trader in open for the last few months and haven't had any negative experiences yet.

[@Exigeous]

Wait, what? But everyone says you'll get killed instantly and everyone in open are all griefers, how can this be!!! ;-)

[@sethslaughter3814]

The first time I was attacked by a player they took the time to explain how I could defend myself better afterwords, to me pvp piracy isn't really any different to npc piracy.

[@Exigeous]

Well, except that we'll talk to you and, as you say, help you. Role playing pirates, and we do exist, just want to interact with you - we have no interest in destroying you and only will as a last resort.

[@BigPaws8185]

CMDR EXIGEOUS - Thank you for another wonderful video, please keep up the great work and great content. Back in the day (about 10 years ago) when I used to play EVE Online we used the saying, "if you can't afford to lose it, you can't afford to use it" is still very true today in E:D. If the wallet isn't greater than the insurance on one of my ships I don't fly that ship, I just make due without it. Unless going out into deep space on some crazy adventure to see what out in the deep.

[@Exigeous]

You're most welcome, thanks for the kind words. I like that saying, pretty much the longer version of "don't fly without a rebuy" isn't it??

[@BigPaws8185]

You're absolutely right, although I think I prefer your shorter version to my 'ancient' EVE version.

[@J-Sinclair]

Great stuff.

[@salemjenkins4930]

Thanks a lot for this guide, i was quite sceptical about playing open but this video made me change my mind, gonna try it out soon! Great content man!

[@honeybadger781]

i think solo should be replaced with a multiplayer no pvp mode

[@Exigeous]

So I suppose in this mode there would be no combat or risk at all then, right? So not so much a game but a flying around looking at things simulator? You realize you'll be attacked and killed by NPCs FAR FAR more often than players, right?

[@fishfighter2]

@@Exigeous true, but a npc will not gank you after running exploration sites and exploring the Galaxy simply for the lols. If I want to be ganked I will head back to EVE online.

[@OrdioSoul]

I don't think this is a bad idea as the biggest issue is most people play solo, in an erm MMO style space game! I think having a non PVP and more a co-op PVE style option would be great for those that want it and would keep player groups together longer. Though I'd much prefer them to find better ways to solve the problems. Using the security levels more effectively, disabling PVP at stations or in other areas that make sense. Having PVP restricted in ways that allowed players to avoid it more effecively and enage with it at their own will.. Maybe add incentives for people to travel to systems or even parts of systems with PVP enabled, like higher mission rewards or resources etc. The fact it's enabled anywhere, even noob home systems etc shows it's been implemented with little thought to the average gamer. @CMDR Exigeous loving your videos by the way. Just jumping back in after a while away, and they've really helped get me up to speed. Thanks for the content.

[@AdonisGaming93]

@@Exigeous so you're saying the game modes other than open are flying looking at things simulator? Because then open is also a flying and looking at things simulator with the occasional ganker....there's no difference between open and solo except for people attacking you....because it is so rare to ever see anyone. And if they are friendly most of the time it's a simple o7 and not actually doing any kind of co-op. For me personally the only real interaction I've had on open is getting ganked. Unless I personally plan to get together online with friends to do wing missions, no other players actually play a significant amount of time together. So there's really no good reason to play on open unless you have a combat ship. For all other tasks the cost-benefit to playing on open is not forth it.

[@wmhazim5030]

great suggestion. it is like those Ark game you have PVE more where you cant hurt other players but still can have fun interaction fighting the elements.

[@homonovo]

Yeah, ok then, having been put off open by the rebuy risk you’ve now convinced me to give it a go. Cheers!

[@baconsandwich1887]

Exigeous: "stop and roleplay with the pirates, it's fun" Me, playing in VR with the Rift S's notorious robot mic and no ability to see my keyboard: "No, I don't think I will."

[@rahpower1]

I can agree with the suggestions on the video, i play open primary. Maybe its my luck or time of day i play but it is rare i run into another player, and those i do are not aggressive or partaking in the same game play loop as i am. I also agree explorers primary income should be protected in some way such as an optional secure black box a pilot can buy for the ship that data can be uploaded to, it is safe against any mishaps and returned to you at the rebuy screen. The black box should have a storage limit though any additional data gained exceeding the box storage is simply not insured. or the box could be integrated into the ships sensors. bigger sensor = bigger data storage. This way it works similar to cargo space, if you lose one shipment of cargo it may sting and ruin your time for that moment but not days worth of gameplay.

[@talex001]

I go open about 10% of the time, I have yet to meet a "pirate" and most of the time I am attacked I am not even hauling anything - I would not mind if there was game play or if they attacked me when I am in a ship that can fight back but this don't happen and I do not play to be a cat toy. When I have been in open and not attacked it's not negative or positive as other than seeing the hollow boxes there is really nothing different - I have not been engaged in any way by other commanders so maybe I am missing something, I just see no compelling reason BUT I have thought that maybe if the goal is to get more open players FDEV could make missions pay 10-20% more in open so long as they don't decrease solo and private I would have no problems with that as it is more dangerous so I would think of it as "Combat pay".

[@dantetrend3215]

Super travail. 👍

[@cmdrjosky]

Thanks for the great video 😂 I plan on flying in open more often been in solo way to long in fact I'm looking at those dangerous systems ( edit LHS 20) to get the full experience. Just a note to any pirates my policy has been never submitting to interdictions, never dropping cargo, and low wake to super cruise to get to station that could change though 😀

[@Exigeous]

As a pirate I complete respect that position - that said I'll likely wind up killing you over it so you just have to decide if you want to role play for 2-4 tons of cargo or risk death for it. I completely understand "you can have my cargo when you pry it from my cold dead hands" just don't be mad when that's what happens :D

[@con_roxp]

For the last 2 days I've been fighting Thargoid Scouts in Kamadhenu. I got interdicted and attacked for no reason 2 times and 1 time a player dropped on my low wake signal, clearly saw me engaging the Scouts but decided to attack me regardless (without saying anything in chat). There was this 1 CMDR however who before interdicting me said, and I'm paraphrasing a bit : "Hello anti-thargoid CMDR, I'm a pro-active CMDR, let's dance" and attacked. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say that before interdicting me he checked my subsystems and after looking at my AX weapons and tons of hull and module reinforcements he realized that I was fighting Thargoids. Dying by role-playing, bounty hunting and power-play* is acceptable and part of the whole experience of the game. Dying for no reason other than to just scratch an itch, actually takes away a lot of the fun from the game. *When I say powerplay I mean someone interdicting me, scanning my cargo and if i'm carrying the stuff required to undermine or fortify a system I should be asked to drop it. Should I refuse then an attack is warranted. I do not think that blowing someone up just because he belongs to a different power is justified. Maybe that player was not actively engaging with powerplay at the moment. Maybe he came to your power's system for tourism (e.g. Sol) or to outfit his ship (e.g. Li Yong Rui). I don't care about the rebuy. I got plenty of money to afford a lot of rebuys. The problem is that it was extremely annoying. There I was minding my own business but nope, not allowed to do that apparently. It was such a waste of time, submitting and jumping to a few systems in order to make sure they won't follow me. And how can I forget about the wings of FDLs ganking you when you are departing from/ heading to an Engineer. /rant over

[@Exigeous]

Well remember - being a Thargoid ally is absolutely a role playing choice that some make. When the invasion first started I absolutely role played a Thargoid sympathizer. Attacking a combat ship in another combat ship is part of a combat game in my book - why do people "rant" about being killed by a player yet there are no rants about all the times you've been killed by Thargoids? Because a human chose that gameplay vs. a computer? Not saying getting destroyed is ever fun - but this is a game, and in all "combat" based video games getting destroyed is just part of the game, you're not going to win - and you shouldn't - every encounter. Thanks for sharing your thoughts though, I'm enjoying the discussion this is bringing.

[@cmdralgomatic8852]

Jesus, its a fkn multiplayer open world pvp game, they gave people spaceships with guns and said go kill each other, what do you expect will happen? If you are annoyed play space engine, no one will kill you there

[@con_roxp]

Like I said, dying for valid reasons is acceptable but dying because someone has an itchy trigger finger and just wants to see something go "boom" is not. The "/rant over" part wasn't entirely serious. I'm not actually salty, just annoyed because all the incidents happened in such a small time frame and they delayed me from what I wanted to do. @CMDR Algomatic They didn't say "go kill each other". If that were the case then there would be no C&P system, especially such a complicated one like the one we have now. What they said was "Here's the CQC on which we wasted so many resources on that would be better spent somewhere else. Now you can go kill each other to your hearts content without worrying about rebuys, bounties or notoriety". But to no one's surprise CQC is dead because the vast majority of the PvPers prefer ganking unarmed ships with their over-engineered ones, or even worse they go to the starting system and kill new players. They have to face such a challenge, am I right?

[@Exigeous]

While I'm not saying it's at all fun to just get blown up I am saying that is extremely, exceedingly rare so avoiding open due to that slight risk I think is a real shame. And as for them saying "go kill each other" actually they sorta do, have a look at the website for Elite where it states, very clearly, "or hunt other commanders". Combat, and death, is part of a combat game - you are right that they haven't wasted CQC, which is actually extremely fun and fantastic when you bring a group - you should join us at the end of one of my Tuesday night streams to have a go.

[@con_roxp]

I don't avoid open in general. In fact I prefer it and I even voted so on that poll you uploaded a few days ago. Space is vast and empty as it is and not seeing other players is a good way of getting space madness...even inside the Bubble. As for CQC I've played it a bit, it can be fun. Thanks for the invitation by the way, I'll see if I can do something about that.

[@gouldingsteve]

I played Eve Online for nearly a dozen years. Now l play Elite, exclusively in Solo, and l feel like I crawled my way outta Shawshank. I love the option to play at an extremely low risk, or at least an entirely NPC one. Still, excellent video.

[@woodywang2911]

Enjoyed the information. Ive played solo since launch and no regrets at all. I bought the game to enjoy it like the original, by myself and solo allows that. If I want human contact, girefers and pirates I just go to work!..lol

[@Exigeous]

Your game so your call but the odds on you encountering a griefer are exceedingly low. Hell odds are you'll rarely even see another player save for one that wants to kill you.

[@michalvalta5231]

lol... Where do you work, McDonalds? :D

[@j.vinton4039]

Nothing but Open Play here, rarely do I get hostile player interdictions. I have encountered dozens of RPG pirates and you’re right, some of them dudes are a crack up. And if I have what they’re looking for I’m more than happy to give them some.

[@PeteLittle1970]

I finally get what the OP was meaning in this video.. since I posted below I decided to try Open play. I've seen a few human players in chat,but since I'm doing a huge circular exploration route through many systems without stations, I've yet to actually SEE ,let alone interact, with another player. I was expecting EvE online levels of annoyance but, in hindsight, it's actually not that bad and a lot more relaxed.

[@Exigeous]

Ah, thank you for completely getting the point. I think so many are "scared" of or "hide" in PG/solo because they read all these terrible things from people who cry the loudest - and it just doesn't happen, certainly when it does it's extremely rare.

[@viciouspen]

So I just gotta say as a person who just bought the game and is just now playing. the amount of stuff I as a brand new player who barely knows how to do anything, is struggling with just figuring out how to fly the ship, has to memorize what are to me complex things at this point just to have a chance of NOT being griefed is like......there is ZERO reason to play this on open if you're just starting out. Don't do it. and from what I've been told the punishments for griefing are MINOR

[@dreyone6156]

Wrong

[@asingularcheesepuff6383]

Here's a simple fix - if a player kills a lot of other players just to be a dick, have them marked as a "hot" target by security forces. Have highly engineered NPC ships chase them wherever they go, and tear them apart. Once they die, they're moved to a detainment center for an unskippable period of time (somewhere in the region of 30+ days). Their ship is locked down, they're unable to switch ships. Of course, this would only be applied to gankers. So, ignoring kills for bounties, kills for powerplay, piracy interdictions etc. By making security forces actually make the game world... y'know... secure, it'd be a lot more fun to play in open.

[@AlexStratoudakis]

I totaly agree with your idea. Have been saying something along those lines for a couple of years now.

[@yonghominale8884]

The only thing Open has that the other modes don't have are griefers. Outside of board hopping I have never had a good experience in Open. One other tip. If you do get killed by a griefer, immediately place him/her in your ban list so it's less likely that you will be in the same instance as the griefer.

[@Exigeous]

Well damn, another who absolutely doesn't get it. This couldn't be further from the truth as I have over 3000 hours, the vast majority of it in open, and virtually every time I play I have positive encounters in open. I'm curious, do you place every NPC that kills you on your ban list too? If you absolutely never engage in combat that's one thing but if not there is almost no reason to avoid open.

[@yonghominale8884]

Well lucky you. I have never had a positive experience in Open and I have over 2000+ hours. If I want to be with others I go on Mobius. BTW we wouldn't need a ban list if C&P actually worked.

[@Exigeous]

Sorry, I don't believe for a second you have 2000 hours in open without a single positive encounter. Total bullshit - maybe you spent 10 in open the ran to Mobius but 2000 hours in open without something positive is absurd. But hey you do you, I'd much rather have you somewhere like Mobius than in open combat logging. You're right about one thing though - C&P is an absolute broken joke of a system and is really what's absurd.

[@yonghominale8884]

I spent 2481 hours in mostly in solo and Mobius. The fact that I have never had a good experience in open after playing for more than a year should tell you something. Honestly you expect a new player to go through all this. No wonder many of them quit. There are builds out there than can kill an A rated Python/Krait in less than 5 seconds.

[@joshlujan3318]

Yeah I don't get it. I got around 200 hrs (all open) in and the real people I run into lately only bitch and complain about how bugged the game is right now. All the people I've run into are really cool and usually pass on trade data from big scores they've landed.

[@burgle66]

First of all, thanks as always for the awesome videos and all the honest hard work, CMDR. We appreciate you o7 I respect your perspective on the risks of Open play, and I agree that Open can be a lot more fun. The community YOU are always advocating for sounds amazing as always. However, as others have said: the lack of risk to combat pilots versus the incredibly substantial risk to explorers means that Open is simply never worth the risk. It doesn't matter how funny that one-out-of-ten-thousand "role playing pirate" is; I feel a sense of accomplishment after a month or two out in the black, and that can all be ruined in seconds by someone with nothing to lose. That makes the game either broken in this regard, or stupidly and unfairly designed. Given the egregious balance issues ED is riddled with, I'm going to chock it up to the latter and stay in Solo until improvements are made. Exploration is already dangerous enough for the unprepared or inattentive, it doesn't need a live-or-die coin flip at the end to feel like it's worth it.

[@dreyone6156]

As someone who explores only in open, I don't think exploring in open is dangerous at all. Frankly I think you'd have to be making some pretty major mistakes to get yourself ganked while exploring outside the bubble. There's almost no CMDRs out there. A little bit of situational awareness goes a long way in this game!

[@robertf863]

No thanks...a lot silly work to play open. I played open a few times and it just seemed like enabled crappy behavior. We have real world society for that.

[@The_Norse_Hunk]

Pretty good video dude

[@arnoeagleeyes]

Hi, thank you again for a great guide. Is there any chance of you doing a tutorial (or a series)of how to become a pvp pilot. How to get started, what you need to do / unlock to get a decent pvp ship and how to get practice and feedback? Thanks again. I'm always impressed with your in depth knowledge of the game ;-)

[@Exigeous]

Yep, that's already in the works as I'm working with several other combat PvP pilots to ensure it's very complete. So just hold out for a bit longer...

[@tryddle2044]

This is what I wanted, but never asked! Love your content!

[@stoney5137]

If I got to choose a lesson, this would have been it! Thanks!

[@Exigeous]

Glad you enjoyed and are getting the point rather than grinding an axe!

[@stoney5137]

Yeah, seems to be such a huge 3rd rail topic huh? Also, thank you for taking the time to separate Pirates from Griefers. Until there are better in game mechanics for PvP piracy, I really respect that group's dedication to the role play.

[@spamhere1123]

Open has exactly zero draws for me. It carries major risks, as you say, but the benefit is...player interaction?? Yuck. I don't like interacting with other players in the vast majority of games I play, even when the interaction is harmless, and Elite is no different. And of all games to want to _socialize_ in, why would I do that in the literally galaxy-sized deep space game where I can put actual thousands of light-years between me and any other person? Elite is the ideal game to me for that feeling of solitude, when I don't want to deal with anybody else. Sorry not sorry, gankers. I can't hear your complaints about why no one wants to be your victim in open through the vacuum of space.

[@tonywoodhouse]

Good video, I always play open, it's so much more fun :-)

[@Exigeous]

Couldn't agree more - how Elite is meant to be played isn't it? I don't get solo - playing a multiplayer game alone misses part of the point doesn't it?

[@paavobergmann4920]

I came to often use shield booster point defence mix, as point defence often saved my ass from missiles, and all other defense utilities are highly situational. One PD on the back, one on the belly, and there is hardly any uncovered angle.

[@arseburgers4208]

Submit to interdiction whilst at full opposite lock from escape trajectory (aim to go under your attacker), 4 pips engines, 2 shields, as soon as you drop in boost underneath your attacker and keep boosting till fs is charged, by that time they should have only just managed to have turned 180⁰ Only fails against the ships with fast roll / yaw.

[@pokepete3]

Thank you for this. I don't think I ever would have considered live play as I don't like getting ganked/griefed/ or otherwise bothers by some microcephallic who was abused as a child and now wants to take it out on the rest of us cause they won't go get help at Charter or some self help group...so, yeah. I think I'll give open play a shot now, thanks.

[@kentanakamura89]

I was once ganked during the Community Event against The League of Reparations or whatever. I was so excited that for once a community event was close by so I outfitted a Viper IV for combat..... Needless to say a Fer De Lance pilot sneaked up on me and started shooting. From there I learned a heavy flaw with the Viper IV since I was so use to the Viper III I thought it was an upgrade. Oh god I was so wrong. Trying to make a run for it sucked as well as I didn't know about jumping to another system nor did I have Shield Boosters at the time. I died the first time to him and about lost it but I lived by that golden rule of "NEVER FLY WITHOUT REBUY", the greatest tip of them all. So while I was pissed I wasn't as fumed as I thought he hoped I'd be. To this day I still fly opened and in VR and the guy actually gave me advice for Livestreaming with a VR Headset so I can actually see the chat. The problem is I don't think it shows up in videos after playing. Still though while I hated the fact I lost my ship it did show that I didn't know anything about actual combat with players..... And I sold the Viper IV for a Federal Assault Ship instead. Honestly IDK where he's at now. Probably still livestreaming and killing other players but hopefully on round three I'll have him for once in the bag :P

[@MarrsAttax]

Great advice here

[@Exigeous]

Thanks, it'll go a long way to keeping you safe that's for sure.

[@vehicleboi5598]

6:44 i was thinking that a really fast ship knocked you into the station but it was just fast forward lol

[@talex001]

The problem with Open play is lack of real punishment to the attacker - IRL you pretty much lose everything if you murder someone. If someone ganks a player their loses should be way more severe like 50% - 75% of their in game assets both credits and ships if they are caught withing a pretty long period between 10 and 40 hours of in game time, a player should be able to go on the lamb and hide in an obscure system though and after that period the "warrant" drops. It would also be interesting if those players wanted for murder in the game have a massive bounty put on their head and an APB is immediately put in Galnet so other commanders are aware and "Posse's" could be formed - something like Galnet's most wanted: Commander X is wanted for Murder, last seen in X system, authorities have placed a 250million credit bounty - bounty goes up with each crime committed. Lastly exploration data should not be forfeit when killed by another human player - that is a big mistake to leave that, more people would play in open if most of the risk was not on the victim - so maybe a zero rebuy if killed by a human player as well so all you risk is the cargo / missions. There could be interesting game play here - also it might not be a bad idea to have all credit earning stuff (missions, mining, exploring, combat etc) pay like 10% more in open to entice more players... all that said, instancing would have to fixed and smoothed out for open to really shine but these are some idea's to add more balance and some fun gameplay.

[@AlexStratoudakis]

Totaly agree! Would also nice to see specialized NPC security forces with engineered ships, sent after them in when in high-security systems. Forcing them to stay out of those systems and to mostly keep within anarchy ones. Also those that have fired upon unarmed vessels, or who have commited 'murder', to be denied transactions/docking etc in most systems due to their notoriety status. Murder, outside the realms of war - should be a last resort. Not the default go-to option just to have a laugh at someone else's expense. It breaks any sense of immersion & isn't how the real world works.

[@greenthunder1000]

I’ve never been robbed by a pirate roleplayer :( someone rob me pls

[@planexshifter]

Open is great- I was getting ganked by a Python and suddenly a Corvette drops in n just unloads on that poor Python.... Nice fellow, helping out the poor newbie in a hauler.

[@dreyone6156]

Open is indeed great for this and many other reasons! o7 cmdr!

[@fluffyone2012]

Am looking forward to open play. Been doing solo. Just figure out the controls. Mission also how the email work. A Advanced docking chip helps.

[@Slizzard73]

Yeah open sounds like a joke, why would I risk any amount of rebuy costs or exploration data. I'll stick to group mode with friends who I actually like. Not losers who grief.

[@Wyngs714]

Good video. Ive only been playing a couple of weeks and have been loving every minute. Its addicting lol. However, coming another game, a Wargaming title, I know all too well about the trolls, griefers and have no desire at this point to play open for the reasons touched on in the video. The forums in that title are even worse that in game chat, and I finally just lost interest and stopped playing. Anyway, Im still very new and learning, have no desire to have to deal with that as well for now. Maybe try it someday...........

[@FXWLL]

I barely meet other players in open and I only play in open (excluding board hopping). I did get chased coming from an engineer once, i jumped across several systems, dropping from s cruise on the 3rd and then s cruise and a jump. All in, took me 4 jumps to get rid of them. However thata been the most pvp excitement ive had in months

[@Cybeq]

I wish I had watched this before my first foray into open. I got ganked about 10 minutes into my first play session. Haven't been back since.

[@dreyone6156]

Well now you know how to survive in open, so hopefully you'll give it another try! Check out Rinzler's guide to trading in open, too. It's pretty helpful

[@gromanfreedan]

A few days ago one guy interdicted me in open play and asked me if my ship was combat or not. I replied that I just bought it and wanted to check it's capability in some bounty hunting at nav beacon. He kindly told me to fly safe and tell him when I'll be ready for PvP and then he jumped into supercruise. I guess I was lucky that day. But of course if I'll be doing some serious business far away from bubble I will prefer solo.

[@Sammie1053]

"stop and roleplay with the pirates, it's fun" is not the advice I was expecting but it is extremely wholesome

[@Pine0wlple]

I am a very new player on Xbox, very bad at combat too. Mostly prefer mining and traveling. Never did like online play because even the poorest skilled players can wreck me. But one night I just said fuck it and decided to jump on open. Played for a few hours, no contact. Until I was just mining away in my Hauler when another player zipped in! “Oh cool, a human!” My first thought. “Oh no, I’m defenseless!” My second thought. They flew up to mine my rock and ask if I had specific minerals. I ejected them because I didn’t need it and to save space. Then they left. “That was nice,” I said. :) Then a few more hours later I was searching for another mining spot, I was attacked and killed on sight by a different player. That same player then followed and killed me 3 more times in different systems. I then switch back to solo to recover financially. Haven’t entered open since. So my consensus: Open is good, until it isn’t... That may sound stupid, but I feel that the good does not outweigh the bad.

[@DanielGarcia-nh1ok]

Im a noob that has around 20hours, and the only cmdr, that interacted with me was very friendly. He gave me a little hit with his cutter and told me that he was on that system (eravate i think it was) to avoid griefers and npcs screw newbies experience. Also offered me some help with bounty hounting :D And in one station on ltt15574 we arrived a few ships at the same time in the same station and while we were outfitting we were chatting and saying (bad xd) jokes What i mean is that is very very rare to have an hostile player (except on a community goal planet, which ive never been), that a friendly player. Most people try to help instead of destroy, so dont worry to much ;)

[@kauhanen99]

that's why i don't play open, yeah of course i have credits enough, and i can easily make more but its boring as hell 😆😆😆😃😀🙋

[@CptFugu]

Daniel, you live a blessed life. I was interdicted 3 times in my first hour of gameplay. Don't trust anyone in open and only switch to open if you don't mind losing your ship and can take the economic loss. I frequently find 3 to 4 ship wings of billion-worth super-engineered ships roaming around looking for people to gank. My recommendation is that, if you go into open, opt for ship builds that are fast, such as the Cobra and Clipper. Otherwise you're just a ganking waiting to happen. Check out Mobius. You can have a good coop game without having to worry about people randomly attacking you.

[@michalvalta5231]

Yeah, but for most people, one bad experience is enough to give up. They meet 200 people, everything is fine. They get attacked once: "FRONTIER FIX DA OPEN PLAY! FAST!!! I HATE LOSING, FIX YER GAME!!!" :D

[@givejagersacogback7602]

I had your “how to unlock guardian fsd booster” video in the background with elite on while looking at a chrome page and when your intro played I thought 3 people dropped on my low wake and we’re going to kill me. It scared me, also what about the setup video you said you would put out in an earlier post?

[@Exigeous]

HA - that's great! By setup video do you mean intro to PvP combat or? Sorry, lost me... But great that it scared you!

[@givejagersacogback7602]

CMDR Exigeous no you made a post around a week ago that you were going to upload a video of you gaming setup

[@Exigeous]

Oh, yeah - sorry, got sidetracked on that one - but yeah, you know what I'll get to that one next as I've wanted to do it for a while now.

[@beatus72]

I play Elite dangerous since release and started in open mode. At one point I had my type 6 transport and found a nice profitable route, doing some triangle runs. One player interdicted me and I knew submitting would get me much faster back to fsd than fighting it. The type 6 can actually be quite a fast little ship and even the interdicing ship is tossed around and across by the interdiction, so I immediately dropped out of fsd, found the pirate on the radar and boosted in the opposite direction. Yes, he hit me a few times before I could jump out, but not enough to get through my shields. That was the first time, but that guy learned quickly. He inderticted me again in the same system the next time I came across, and took his time to type in chat, asking for cargo - but I was already boosting away. However, the next time he interdicted me, he almost got me. Must have recognised my name and tactics and didn't care for chatting, just straight went to shooting. He almost got me but again I escaped with a 4% hull and a heart rate of 200, I guess. That was the moment I decided to log out and play solo for a while. ^^

[@Kav_Games]

Been playing for awhile now. Dunno if I'm lucky. Never have I ever been attacked by another player. They've only ever been friendly and in-fact helped me out.

[@evasuser]

01:04 the most dangerous systems in the galaxy: starter systems in LHS 3447, Eravate and the systems within ~20 Ly. Community goal (Aranbarahun) systems are likely the most dangerous. Highly populated systems such as LHS 20 Shin Ronda Desura etc and the capital systems of the superpowers somewhat dangerous

[@dreyone6156]

Deciat is currently the most dangerous system as of 2021

[@kauhanen99]

good video my friend, open mode have so much risk, so much easier just play solo and private groups 😆😃😀🙋

[@Exigeous]

Thanks - but see, that's the thing - it really just doesn't. Sure, it has a bit more but it's exceedingly rare, few and very far between. I'd go so far as to say if you show me proof if you getting griefed in a system other than those I define as dangerous I'd give you $20 - as it just won't happen. Don't let that "fear" or the bullies win and push you out of what can be a very rewarding playing experience.

[@GokouZWAR]

The forum link to the log out exploit is no longer available. Is there another one that may still be up? If so please update. Thank you!