Goner start?

[Snafu_X3]

Of course you can check when the seller is flying around but when he is in a station you can't check if the ship have shields or not and most of the sold ships in my game were directly in stations

Freight scanners are available to purchase even in Plot-locked docks (as it's a requirement for the Plot). Even without a FS installed, while docked you should be able to check the basic eqpt on landed ships available for sale using 'i' or 'u' (I forget which); this should show whether shields/guns are installed (but not necessarily show what type)

From this basic starting point, in general damaged ships sold while in dock (you can certainly check hull points prior to sale!) should come with minimal shield/wep installed (so 1x1MJ shield + 1x IR laser). Fortunately, IIRC AP (see sig) fixed the frustration of TC & previous versions randomly blowing up eqpt when the ship is sold in space, so what you scanned should be what you get Either way, buying damaged hulls & fixing them with a few minutes of repair laser can (as always) make quite a reasonable amount of cash if reselling or repurposing, & they can always be recycled in your PHQ for resources* BE AWARE that you'll still (currently) need the rep to buy those damaged hulls just as if you were buying them from a shipyard, so heading towards (eg) a 50% Snotra displaying its 'buy me' symbol right at the beginning of the game may well result in disappointment

*Or reverse-engineered (don't bother to fix them up if this is your intention unless you need their speed, in which case only repair to 90%), if for no other reason than to stop salesmen offering you their blueprints

Talking of buying ships in space, don't forget to pick up their pilots if possible! At minimum they'll pay you to ferry them to the nearest station (check freight|passenger|info to see where they want to go), which may be a significant chunk of their ship's sale price; at best they may have some decent skills you may wish to recruit for piloting autonomous Mk3 traders later.. so keep a convenient TP or other CLS-equipped ship handy to store them

[Midnightknight]

BE AWARE that you'll still (currently) need the rep to buy those damaged hulls just as if you were buying them from a shipyard, so heading towards (eg) a 50% Snotra displaying its 'buy me' symbol right at the beginning of the game may well result in disappointment

Yes lol had this a few times, a ship i wanted badly like an Athena or Snotra at really low discounted price only to tell you "No folk you need the rep" lol.

[dtpsprt]

Yeah and you can't know before you buy it and can't sell it after that, again lot of useful credits lost in the start.. I bought 2 to listen people telling to do this and none have any shield either (even got a M4 with no shield). Of course you can check when the seller is flying around but when he is in a station you can't check if the ship have shields or not and most of the sold ships in my game were directly in stations (except when they were selling M3s with full weapon but over the million, money you of course do not have).

What's the problem? This is easy peasy... the M5s and M4s sold close to 100K have shields and weapons, those sold below 50K do not...

That said, a bit of patience and searching will bag you an M3 which can take the 25MJ shields and you have 3 of them right? Sane way you can buy a TP and make a lot of money though missions...

[Nort The Fragrent]

I have given up with the Goner start, having spent a heck of a lot of time trying only to fined the so called peaceful start has combat attached as a road block. !!! Logic !!!

Am doing the Custom start now, 4,000,000 start up cash. With Blue prints, and 4 ships to play with.
This ought to be called the peaceful start, so much better. And as yet have not come across any need for combat.

I just love those who say “ easy peasy”. If it were ! There would be no need for a forum.

[Fulgrymm]

Nevertheless, you found a way to have fun on your terms, so I see this as an absolute win!

[dtpsprt]

I have given up with the Goner start, having spent a heck of a lot of time trying only to fined the so called peaceful start has combat attached as a road block. !!! Logic !!!

Am doing the Custom start now, 4,000,000 start up cash. With Blue prints, and 4 ships to play with.
This ought to be called the peaceful start, so much better. And as yet have not come across any need for combat.

I just love those who say “ easy peasy”. If it were ! There would be no need for a forum.

What can I say... some things are so obvious to some, just like some others are for others... I used the expression so that one might not get frightened to use the suggestion...