Star Citizen Beginner Guide

Overview

This comprehensive Star Citizen new player guide covers starting your journey in the Stanton system, choosing a starter ship, navigating basic gameplay mechanics, equipping your character, learning ship controls, and preparing for missions, including an introduction to the advanced Pyro system.

Getting Started in Star Citizen

• Begin your adventure in the Stanton system, usually at New Babbage, for optimal starting amenities.
• Use a referral code during account creation for bonus starting currency (5,000 UEC).
• Starter package recommendations: Drake Cutter (good character, low combat), Crusader Intrepid (best interior, weak shields), or Avenger Titan (best cargo and combat capabilities).
• Star Citizen ship cost does not directly correlate to overall power; skill plays a key role.

Character Creation and Initial Setup

• After launching, select the Persistent Universe (PU) and create or customize your character.
• The in-game tutorial provides useful rewards (armor, 45,000 aUEC), but is incomplete—this guide supplements missing details.
• Familiarize yourself with the mobiGlas device for apps like health, comms, contracts, maps, journal, assets, reputation, wallet, and ship management.

Essential Survival and Equipment

• Manage food and hydration to avoid negative effects and possible death.
• Equip your helmet before leaving safe areas; oxygen is not guaranteed everywhere.
• Shop at Kelto for essentials: backpack, pistol with magazines, medpens, multi-tool and tractor beam, and food/drinks.
• Understand local vs. personal inventory for organizing and equipping items.

Medical and Safety Procedures

• Hospitals and clinics in major cities and stations allow respawn setting and injury treatment.
• Purchase the MedGun for healing, though it's initially expensive and complex for beginners.

Navigating Cities and Spaceports

• Use the transit system to reach the spaceport, then ASOP terminals to retrieve and store ships.
• Your personal hangar saves items and vehicles for future sessions.
• The initial tutorial ship (Pisces C8) is temporary; you'll soon use your selected starter ship.

Ship Controls and Flight Basics

• Learn ship HUD elements: status, heading, altitude, gear, shields, throttle, radar, and countermeasures.
• Use MFDs (multi-function displays) for ship status, power management, and flight configuration.
• Master basic flight (takeoff, landing gear, cruise/afterburner, navigation modes) and Quantum Drive for system travel.

Missions and Making Money

• Mission types: delivery, hauling, salvage, investigation, search, mercenary, research, bounty hunting, and cargo trading.
• Early recommendations: focus on delivery or simple hauling missions to practice flying and earn income.
• Use tractor beam for cargo handling and understand how to load/unload your ship.

Reputation and Progression

• Completing missions builds reputation with companies and factions, unlocking more/better contracts.
• Negative actions (e.g., attacking staff) can damage rep and restrict opportunities.

Insurance, Respawn, and Recovery

• Ships lost in action can be reclaimed via insurance with minimal penalty/cost for starter ships.
• Set respawn at medical clinics upon arrival at new stations for safety.

Advanced System: Jumping to Pyro

• The Pyro system is dangerous and intended for experienced players.
• Navigate to Pyro via jump points, requiring refueling and careful navigation through environmental hazards.
• Faction alignment in Pyro impacts safe access to locations; be strategic with mission choices.

Tips, Recommendations, and Next Steps

• Seek ships that accelerate money-making (e.g., Argo Raft, Prospector, Vulture).
• Explore various gameplay loops—combat, hauling, mining, salvaging—to find what you enjoy.
• Join communities for support and guidance as you learn.
• Practice safe navigation, preparation, and always be ready for potential setbacks or loss.

Action Items

• TBD – Player: Use referral code when creating your RSI account.
• TBD – Player: Purchase essentials (backpack, pistol, medpens, multi-tool, food) at Kelto.
• TBD – Player: Equip gear using the local inventory kiosk.
• TBD – Player: Complete the in-game tutorial for rewards and orientation.
• Upon arrival – Player: Set medical clinic respawn point at each new station.
• Ongoing – Player: Focus on recommended beginner missions for practice and income.
• TBD – Player: Consider ship upgrades based on preferred gameplay loop.

Recommendations / Advice

• Start at New Babbage for the best amenities and safest introduction.
• Choose Avenger Titan for balanced cargo and combat capability if possible.
• Regularly set your spawn point and manage supplies for survival.
• Take it slow with advanced systems like Pyro until you have experience and sufficient resources.

Questions / Follow-Ups

• Explore other guides or community resources as new questions arise.
• Consider reaching out to the Armco community or similar groups for in-game support.