New pilot, struggling to get started.

[l3oRoN_KiLL3r]

Hey everyone. I am new to X3. I have started playing Albion Prelude, as a bankrupt assassin. I know it is supposed to pose a challenge, and new players are urged to stay away from this character start. But I soon realised that I can make a good amount of money by claiming Boron ships, after the pilot ejects. And then regain rep from Argon by killing Paranid in Argon space. I have been making the money but I can't seem to find any good weapons for my new ships I am getting. Pirate Harriers are just raping me. I am still flying the Mamba. Any suggestions would be greatly apreciated. Thanks in advance! [/b]

[Ripskar]

The Mamba is one of the better fighters in the game;
If the pirates drop any you can fit Plasma Burst Generators (PBG).
There's also Mass Drivers (MD) or Energy Bolt Chainguns (EBC).

If you're having trouble with fighters Thunderbolts and Wasps are good missiles.

If you've got the Bonus Pack installed a good upgrade is the Mk1 Turbo from Split Equipment Docks which can help get you out of trouble.

A Docking Computer is also a good means of escape; [when you're you're under 5km from a friendly station hit autodock to instantly remove yourself.]

There's also Fighter Drones if you need something to act as a distraction.

The Mamba Raider and Mamba Vanguard make improvements to the basic design.
I'd practice making close passes on Asteroids and Space Stations at speed to get you used to how the ship handles and what you can do with her.

[l3oRoN_KiLL3r]

The Mamba does seem like a good fighter, compared to the other fighters i have flown. Just having trouble keeping up with the faster ships, in dogfights.

So missiles will help take down the faster ships.

You have any suggestions on what other fighters I should put in a wing to fly with my Mamba. I am still in Argon space so i am kinda limited on the fighters I can purchase for now. I think really all there is in Argon space are Discoverers.

Also, what is the difference between Discoverer L, and Discoverer S, and so on? Again, thanks for the help!

[Ripskar]

That really comes into play with larger ships.
S = fitted with 1 MJ shield and IRE
M = fitted with some 5 MJ shields and PAC
L = fitted with full 25 MJ shields and HEPT

If you're in Argon Space try finding a sector called Legend's Home and look for the OTAS Shipyard.
Map
The Solano makes a good cheap unit.

Discos are cannon fodder.

[Lone Jedi]

Attacking major races and making a living capturing their ships may not be a good idea to start the game. You will have hard time trading and even finishing certain plots, if you care of course.

Otas Venti is an amazing solo fighter, both offensively and defensively. With 10 frontal guns that can mount Energy Bolt Chain Guns, a back turret, speed of 195 m/s, & 4 X 25mj shields, there are few fighters in game that have better performance.

[l3oRoN_KiLL3r]

Very nice, dude. Solano looks like it could own some fighters. My Mamba, a few Solanos, and a bunch of missiles. Got it. Time to go kill some Pirates.

Fly safe, Ripskar. o7

[l3oRoN_KiLL3r]

@Lone Jedi - I'm not too worried about story missions, and so on. I know that the Argon don't care for the Paranid. But they don't fly too many ships in argon space. That I have seen, anyways. But there are a bunch of Boron ships. It is proving to be quite lucrative for me, in the beginning.

Also Killing the Paranid in Argon space is boosting my rep with the Argon. Allowing me to buy better equipment, and what not.

[TTD]

Note that Boron and Argon are firends.
Boron and Split are enemies.

[l3oRoN_KiLL3r]

I noticed that, TTD. That's why I am killing Paranid, in Argon space to restore Argon relations.

[Honved]

It's probably a lot quicker and less damaging to relations to take a bunch of Defend Station missions (those red circles above some stations should be about 1/3 "Defend Station", 1/3 "patrol", and 1/3 "Assassinate" missions), rather than attack another race's ships without a valid excuse. That way, you'll be fighting pirates, Yaki, and occasional Xenon and Kha'ak, not Commonwealth ships.

[l3oRoN_KiLL3r]

Noted. Bankrupt Assassin character start, starts you off as an enemy of Paranid and Boron. So saying I am attacking them without a valid reason, isn't really true. Besides, waging guerilla war against main races adds some spice to the game.

[Tohron]

I find that a good way to get started is to head over to the war sectors and pick up dropped missiles and other crates(you can see info about a dropped item, including market value, by clicking it and hitting 'u'), then sell them over at the Omicron Lyrae equipment dock. Problem for you is, those are on the other end of a Xenon sector. One option is to boost Teladi rep by taking defend station missions from Teladi, activating SETA, and waiting for the hostile pilot to crash into the station - do this until you can buy a Kestral at Ianimus Zura, sell your HEPTs if you have to to afford it, then max all tunings and head over to Circle of Labor and start picking stuff up.

If you need a map, this one is quite good: http://roguey.co.uk/x3ap/sectors/

[Ripskar]

Other ships you may be interested in are the OTAS Zephyrus and the Yaki Chokaro.
These will give you somewhere to operate from and can help store any extra kit you collect.

[l3oRoN_KiLL3r]

Thanks for the pointers everyone.

Now if I can make it to a weapons factory. Pirates keep spawning at the Aladna Hill South Gate, as I come from Heart of Light. Loaded my game about 4 times now.

[Ripskar]

Light of Heart should have a Colossus patrolling whilst there's a Boreas in Aladna Hill. If you can reach them the pirates should cease to be a problem.