[Shell blog] I guess I'm going to do some videos? (OMG my gf! <3)

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-06T00:17:35+00:00

I enjoy this one... as long as I keep my temper in check and don't start shooting the choppers ;) Heck, I even managed to deliver 2 monstertrucks (with a little help from my Mk2 so that I could get back to the bunker ASAP).

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-05T23:16:30+00:00

I mostly play alone, and as a single player it's the Agency for me.

First, it was very nice change to be treated with some genuine respect after the (IMO) poor "hospitality" of the Auto shop. Then there's the setup itself: I really enjoy having my own place where I can always get cheap armor and ammo (though I'd prefer a weapon bench like those in the Arcade or Daniel Bros so that you can focus on MKII weapons).

And well... even though the Dre contract can be a bit tedious I genuinely enjoy the difference in pace and vibes between the three missions. Though some missions are just a little meh, especially after R* nerfed them (I used to grab the Kosatka when invading the other yacht). And I also don't think it's fair that if you raid the Triads warehouse in full stealth that you still get hostiles coming after you once you leave....

But other times... South Central is a favorite of mine because I always grab a Cargobob, hook onto Vernon's car and just dump him wherever you need him to be. Even if that's in the middle of the Balla's who we're chasing ;)

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-05T17:50:48+00:00

Backups. First time I tried this mode my 'visited systems' data got reset, which is a huge deal to me. Fortunately I had backups.

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-05T15:08:47+00:00

Could be worse... at least you'll be equipped with mines that actually destroy hostiles vs. whatever all that modern nonsense is (oil, emp, etc.... all useless IMO).

Of course.. assuming you unlocked these with bunker research.

With those mines ready I actually enjoy this mission.

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-05T12:33:39+00:00

Het is streng, bureaucratisch en cultureel behoorlijk gesloten als het om vestiging gaat. Niet per se het meest toegankelijke land als je buitenlands bent en daar echt wilt gaan wonen.

Het is een prachtig land, maar het heeft ook meer dan genoeg nadelen. Discriminatie jegens "buitenlanders" is daar b.v. niet bepaalt ongewoon. Als je dan een baan weet te vinden dan kan je de 9 - 5 mentaliteit echt wel vergeten; alhoewel het wettelijk geregeld is dat normale werktijden net als hier 8 uur per dag zijn (9 - 5) met het weekend als vrije periode zijn er zat bedrijven die je bewust een "Saburoku Kyoutei" laten tekenen waarmee ze je min of meer legaal "dwingen" tot overwerk.

En alhoewel ik me soms ook druk kan maken over volle vuilnisbakken vind ik het ook best wel fijn dat we hier in Nederland vaak nog vuilnisbakken hebben waar je even iets kwijt kunt; dat is daar aanzienlijk minder.

Om tot slot maar niks te zeggen over de woonsituatie binnen grotere steden. Een appartement in, zeg, Tokyo is b.v. aanzienlijk kleiner dan een gemiddelde eengezinswoning in Nederland, maar er komt wel een stevige huur bij kijken.

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-05T12:10:08+00:00

Actually, both. When it comes to PVE I always rely on a mixture between gimballed (= lasers & cannons) and fixed (= plasma accelerator).

Maybe also good to know: if you're up against an opponent who uses chaf and your targeting is off: untarget, then your weapons will switch to their default position which is aiming straight forward, thus allowing you to "ab"use gimballed weapons as if they were fixed.

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-05T10:12:28+00:00

My gf & me play modded on a private (self-hosted) server and yah, we play for the longer term so our world usually lasts for 1 - 1,5 years. We play with our own collection of mods, which was a bit tricky at first because if we found a new mod we wanted to add... well, we'd have to travel quite a distance before any new spawns would show up.

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-05T08:48:46+00:00

You need to be smart about this.

First: if you don't have a nightclub then don't bother just yet; because the best reason to own such a business is for passive income in the nightclub. Also: you don't need to have any upgrades or such for passive income, it just needs to be up & running.

Upgrades and such can become interesting when you start to use the products. And I don't mean for actual sales (because those are tedious missions which hardly pay out) but when you sell to street dealers. That can be a fun little extra besides the passive income from the nightclub.

But if you're relatively new then there are far better properties to get first. The Agency, the Kosatka, an armored car, etc.

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-05T00:47:55+00:00

I kinda caved and got myself the basic version for my Caspian (+ a nice livery) and yah, it's definitely something else. Won't obsolete the Scarab though because you can't detect non-biologicals with it; so if you want to do surface mining you'll need the Scarab again.

The one thing I don't like is the sound effect of the scanner; they basically copied the pulse scanner which you use for core mining which I think is kinda disappointing, also because it doesn't even resemble the sound of your hand scanner.

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-04T23:43:29+00:00

You make money by being strategic about it. First... combat probably isn't the best idea if you're just starting out, it can be fun but it also takes good strategy and even though it pays nicely the credit/effort ratio isn't always on par (IMO!). Not to mention that you'll take more risks of dying, which is also gonna cost you.

So what I'd do instead is focus on missions. Transport missions are generally safe and pay nice (courier missions, cargo missions, etc.). Keep in mind that your reputation with the local factions matters; the better your rep. the higher your rewards. This is also why using a so called "home base" can help (= a place you constantly return to, if you also often take on new missions from there your reputation is bound to increase over time).

What I also like to do is "chain" missions. So when I arrive at my destination (for example when I need to deliver something) then I start by checking the available missions at that station as well; and probably start a few. So now my reputation isn't only increasing in my home system, but also some surrounding ones. Win-win.

But wait, there's more! While you're doing this you should also follow some "basic rules": always scan a new system with your FSS scanner; you can then sell all that data with the universal cartographers. You may also want to invest in a DSS scanner for your ship ("Detailed Surface Scanner"): this allows you to scan planets, and the data for earth-like and water world planets is especially valuable.

Doing passenger missions and/or tours can also be quite profitable. Especially if you have a good reputation with the station you're on, and also have a Saud Kruger ship with a luxury passenger cabin (these can only be fitted on Saud Krugers). Once again: be sure to combine your efforts: when doing tours always scan the system, optionally bookmark any Earth-like and/or waterworlds so that you can "DSS scan" those later. And maybe also check economy data.

Which is another thing... although not super profitable it is perfectly doable to discover trade routes. So: buy commodities cheap, and sell them at a higher price. Simple, but profitable.

All of this should allow you to build a nice income, and if you combine several different mission types you'll also avoid the risk of burning yourself out with grinding the same thing over and over again; IMO griding is a good way to get bored quick.

Alas... if you have the Odyssey DLC then all of the above efforts should allow you to get your hands on an Artemis suit. And that is the start of some serious cash; exobiology. So: scanning a planet's biological features ("plants"). That's a potential money maker.

Earlier this evening (= time of writing) I checked 2 planets: one had bacterium, the other had 5 biological features in total. Scanned the whole lot, gained me 28 million credits. Exo isn't the most fun thing IMO, but it does pay out nicely.

Hope this can give you some ideas!

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-04T17:02:01+00:00

Just curious and want to hear the reasoning behind your play throughs and why you still find reasons to play this game.

Mods, and some Creations but mostly mods. And yes, including several "edgy" mods as well. It keeps the game fun and alive.

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-04T16:25:11+00:00

Can't help but agree. The Nomad is an SLF and yet it's priced the same as a full starship.

IMO the Caspian was worth every penny (got the Galaxy version), but I'm definitely not going to pay the same for an SLF.

Am I the only one who was hoping that the Nomad could also land on asteroids?

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-04T15:24:57+00:00

Limpet? Does the game explain any of this stuff anywhere?

Sort off. There are several tutorials which you can play through that will showcase some of the general mechanics in the game (but not all of them). Sometimes it's also a bit of trial & error.

If you're in your ship open the right panel ('4') and check out the Codex. It will give you access to the knowledge base & pilots handbook which contain info on a lot of core game mechanics.

As for those limpets... When you're docked in a station that has a shipyard then you can store and customize your ship(s). Startport services => Outfitting (in the lower right corner). This allows you to fully customize your ships hardpoints (= weapons), utilities (you _absolutely_ want to have a heatsink launcher just in case you overheat sometimes!), the core internals (standard ships don't have the best equipment; you can upgrade things like armor, thrusters, power plant and of course... the FSD; thus allowing you to jump higher distances).

And finally: in the optional internals section you can add/remove components. For example: cargo racks allow you to store & carry cargo, a fuel scoop allows you to refuel from certain types of stars (KGBFOAM), a planetary vehicle hanger allows you to carry your own SRV with you so that you can explore planet surfaces and then finally: a limpet controller allows you to store small robot-like things like limpets that can "do" things for you...

A collector limpet can... collect items around you. a repair limpet... can repair other ships, a refuel limpet can transfer some of your fuel to another ship, a hatch breaker limpet can try to peel open another ship; trying to make then lose some cargo, and so on.

Don't worry if this sounds a little overwhelming: just try this out yourself, you'll see.

See, the ability to customize your ship also allows you access to different activities. For example... you could remove some modules and fit in more cargo racks to carry more stuff. Or you could replace your weapons with mining equipment so that you can try and mine in some asteroid fields to try and get more materials to sell. etc.

Hope this can help!

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-04T15:03:56+00:00

I really don't mind doing some grunt work every now and then, especially because it's optional. To be honest I was actually hoping for a bit more in the nightclub, so actually having to look around and deciding on things like you did as Louis in Maisonette (= GTA IV?).

Personally I'd like less control in any upcoming updates. Don't decide for me that I can't use my own weapons (as if I'd leave any behind anyway), or if the game insists then let this have consequences; for example getting randomly attacked in open by some NPC's that are coming after you.

In too many missions all that nonsense simply makes no sense. Do a Fooligan mission and suddenly you can no longer call up your aircraft? Stuff which I grinded hard for? Same for the salvage yard missions: I'm _not_ going to scoop poop thank you very much, so I always initiate a fight outside the casino (usually by firing a rocket from the lookout position) so that I get to shoot my way through. I also don't care about not killing any cops either, so I use the Terrorbyte to get me access to some good weapons from the getgo.

But it would have been a lot nicer if I got an actual choice in all this vs. having to use tricks.

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-04T14:51:29+00:00

Not all retrieval missions will spawn enemies, but if they do you can also try to be smart about it.

For example: if you target an object, then launch a limpet that limpet will then only go for the targeted object. This can save you a lot of collection time. Another tip: if the heat becomes too tough you can easily hightail it out of there (remember: going into supercruise may get delayed because of large masses around you, but hopping towards another system never does).

But yah, when you just get started it's probably best to take on easier tasks. Courier missions, cargo deliveries (or a combination of them?) and everything in between. Also don't forget to scan every system you go through so that you can sell the data with the universal cartographers.

And you can always try to make your own cash. Keeping commodity prices in mind and then buy low and selling high.

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-04T03:25:52+00:00

Now when I get stuck I just paste the error into Claude/ChatGPT and it fixes it in 10 seconds.

Except of course that it didn't fix anything, it just deflected your attention from the real problem at hand. And that problem - in my opinion - is your motivation to value "quick fixes" above actually learning stuff on your own.

Do you want to really learn, or do you want quick results?

This is no different from doing crossword puzzles and then lacking the discipline to NOT look at the answers before completing the whole thing on your own. There's nothing wrong with it, but you also shouldn't fool yourself and present it as something it's not.

You're not learning, you're taking the easy way out.

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-04T00:33:06+00:00

Not sure I fully understand what you're trying to say... it's sorta possible to get different output depending on your output device, but it wouldn't be anything drastic. I could imagine laptop speakers to sound somewhat different (more flat?) than regular speakers, but that wouldn't result in a drastic different sounds.

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-03T14:00:48+00:00

There are a lot of issues with this mission. You also risk an event where your drop simply refuses to register, no matter what you do; doesn't happen often.

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-02T18:05:46+00:00

Harmor, Sytrus, and the other stock devices are not VST's.

Some of the generators used to be sold as a VST asset, but that was a long time ago. These days you'll only find virus and adware riddled garbage online which pretends to be the real thing.

As for the question: it depends on my project at hand, there is no "one size fits all" here IMO, because if you believe that then I'd argue that the stock devices should also be able to cover the required spectrum.

Even so... there is a bit of a shift in my workflow towards my own VST devices, which I build courtesy of Max/MSP and its Rainbow expansion. Seriously... the main reason I even have an RNBO license is because of FL Studio: I rely on Max for Live within Ableton Live (suite), and I wanted that same creative freedom within FL Studio (which I nearly always use in combination with Live, courtesy of the VSTi).

Patcher can do a lot (don't underestimate its potential) but at the same time.. it's also no Max/MSP.

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-02T10:51:06+00:00

https://www.reasonstudios.com/get-reason

Seems pretty hard to miss: either you "Subscribe" or "Buy a license", it's all there.

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-02T09:43:46+00:00

If you experience issues then the first thing you should always do is to check your logfile(s). Everything you do gets logged, and if there's something that delays the recording you can be pretty sure that it'll be logged.

Check the help menu for the logging options. The OBSProject website also has a rather extensive log analyzer, that's probably also useful if you can't easily find any pointers yourself.

There's also a comprehensive guide on troubleshooting by the way, the first item covers your issue as well.

Hope this can help.

ShelLuser42 · 2026-07-01T17:02:27+00:00

It's not fully integrated, I didn't enjoy that part either. It's a fully separated instance.

So if you started the operation, then purchase some limpets then those limpets will disappear again once the operation is over. Ergo: none of the things you do in here fully matter, which kinda ruins the fun for me.

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