Starting Notes -- Progen Privateer

This chronicle covers a Progen Privateer from first start to near OL 20. The first half occurs mostly in Mars Gamma sector and the remainder in nearby Progen spaces.

Begun January 2017. Please add your tips and observations to this page.

In the Beginning ...

Following the ideas in the New Player Tutorial/Guide, immediately on first entering the system, I toured Mars Gamma. To my surprise, there were not enough navs, moons, and other bodies to gain the 10000 Explore XP needed to immediately gain one level -- so I popped briefly through the gate to Mars, leveled up, and docked at Mars station. (There might be dangerous mobs in Mars and I have only and exactly newbie equipment, so I didn't fool around.)

Turned off the annoying notices that other players are logging on or off by typing the slash command "/hidelogins". Also added Market and Out of Character to the chat channels I watch.

Mars Gamma sector can only be entered by Progen Privateers -- all others are prohibited entry. It has two exits, one to Mars and the second to Altair III where many of our other skills will be acquired. Mars Gamma is our exclusive shortcut from our race's working areas to the Sol star system. {The long way around is far too dangerous for someone just starting in EnB.}

This means that if you manage to beg, plead, or make self obnoxious enough to get some free better quality items from other players, you have to go dock at Mars/Altair stations to make the exchange (or trade in space) [or, if from one of your own other 'toons, use the net-7.org "Account Vault" feature.] {Ok, that's an exaggeration -- many players in EnB are very generous to new people just starting out ... and level two gear isn't very valuable anyway.}

I immediately equipped two Prototype level 1 Plasma beams(s), a slightly better level 1 engine, and one level 2 shield, discarding the starting ones I was given. I put a level 2 reactor and two level 2 devices [impact and energy resistance] (Tower and Heater, respectively) in my vault for later.

Then I went back to Mars Gamma to begin my skill training. And to do all the missions I could find in my newbie sector [as recommended in the above mentioned Tutorial/Guide].

* Note: The map most frequently used by players can be found online at EnBMaps (this opens in your web browser, NOT ingame) -- management of the emulator takes no responsibility for the content or correctness this map. We do not know when this map was last updated, other than it was before the summer 2016 and later patches. New content introduced since that time includes the V'rix invasion and conquest of Pr12t4r35m M4ns 1r21 (Pl1n2t Pr3m5s) and the Sulami Pirate appearance (and everything after those).

First Surprise ...

Arriving at Arx Bursa station in Mars Gamma, I note the welcoming legend {top center of screen} -- "New Privateers report to Imperator Brook on Maindeck A."

Since I'm all but totally new, I go find Imperator Brook ...

Imperator Brook -- first conversation

Brook won't talk to me, says to go see the civilians for work. Pretty brusque with the brush off, too.

Mathis Alexander -- first conversation

I've forgotten his exact words and they amount to "maybe I'll have something for you later."

Chronos Christopher -- first conversation

He's a dittohead -- "maybe I'll have something for you later."

Getting Started -- sorta

Think! Think! what could I be doing wrong??

Who knows. More importantly, who cares?? I'm Progen, I know what to do when in doubt -- forget the paperpushers and go KILL stuff!

Fortunately {or maybe by intelligent design?} right outside the station I find CL 0 Critters. CL 0 critters are red ok but not aggressive. Turns out they won't shoot until after you've shot them first. And with my scrounged Prototype lvl 1 Plasma beams, they rarely survive the first shot.

ok, some thirty odd critters later (and scooping the loot so I can sell it for some sorely needed credits) I'm up to CL 2 and OL 3. Time to go see if the powers that be in Arx Bursa still won't talk to me. {What's my alternative? To mewl like a baby in the New Players channel and ask for help? Progen don't ask for help -- we go kill stuff and see if that makes a difference.}

two more skill points? Great! I equip my level 2 reactor and level 2 "Tower" (impact resist) device. Now to go talk ...

Waste Disposal mission

Imperator Brook and Mathis Alexander still won't talk to me. Chronos Christopher teases me into accepting a mission -- to haul Radioactive Waste to the Waste Disposal station. {go ahead, try the various responses possible -- you're either going to do his mission or have no mission to do. period. so do his mission despite what you've heard about Radioactive Waste.}

The only hangup to the mission is that the drones at the waste disposal station start shooting at me as soon as they get oriented. With my level 2 shield, this isn't very dangerous, so I whack a few and loot them (just to be Progen about getting shot at) and then warp off to report that I finished the mission.

Christopher gives me 2,000 credits and 3,000 Trade XP ... and then tells me to go see Imperator Brook next.

The Cleaner (mission)

Imperator Brook deigns to give me a mission -- to clean up five level 0 critters from the immediate area around the station. Since I've already done this, it's pretty simple. I do dump all my accumulated loot in the Bazaar for credits -- and get a Trade level from the xp gained.

Upon returning successfully, Brook pays me 2500 credits and I get 200 Collegia Traders faction gain. {big whoop in sarcastic tone -- this is a reward for hard work?}

More importantly, Imperator Brook also gives me an Executioner's Finger projectile weapon and the skill to use it. This is more like it -- increases my range to 2.9k. So I run to the weapons dealer in the Bazaar and buy ammo for the thing.

*Now I'm OL 4 and go talk to the civilian npcs about their Build Weapons skill and Negotiate skill. No dice -- I get the brush off from both. Again}

What to do? What to do?

There really isn't any choice for a Progen -- when in doubt, go KILL stuff and see if that makes a difference. So I warp off to Nav 1 where I remember seeing more critters. And I kill some. And retreat, slowly, killing all the while, when six of 'em gang up on me. These level 1 and 2 critters (Wild Critters and Insane Critters, respectively) are aggressive ... when they wander within about 4.5k of me or I move within that of them, they come shooting. Fortunately, they only have short range weapons and are no match for my level 2 shield if I'm not being a knucklehead about attacking all the time.

Fairly quickly, it falls into a rhythm and after some minutes work, my combat skill levels up to 3 and OL to 5. So I finish scooping my loot [for later sale], kill a few critters that didn't want me to leave, and head back to Arx Bursa to see if I can now learn more skills.

Good news, the loot includes a second Executioner's Finger projectile launcher. That'll help -- with two of them I can hit twice as hard at longer range and maybe keep the critters from shooting me as often.

More Missions and More Skills

Which to try for first? Build Weapons or Negotiate? To a Progen, that's a simple choice -- we love weapons more than money. If I go kill stuff, I can get money. But if I have more money, can I more effectively kill stuff? ah, not necessarily (and certainly not at low levels).

Chronos Christopher -- again

To my surprise, there's really not much of a mission to do in order to be taught to Build Weapons.

Just analyze ammo -- specifically the same Executioner's Blades I use in my PLs, and build "some".

Since I'm using a lot of them, and have two PLs, I build two stacks.

Christopher gives me 1500 Trade xp. {Might have been some credits, too -- but I ignored them now that I can get beaucoup credits selling loot from mobs I've whacked.}

Mathis Alexander talks!

Maybe it's because I'm now OL 5 or 6 {did I just level up with trade xp? forgot}, or maybe he's had a change of heart {as if!} but Mathis Alexander gives me a mission: "An Offer You Can't Refuse".

It's pretty simple, take a letter to Mario Iannon {he's the trade goods vendor in Arx Magister's Bazaar in Mars sector}, get him to agree to the terms, and bring back the signed contract.

Sure, he's going to resist, but be yourself -- Progen -- and don't let him refuse. Sometimes, a little applied violence does wonders.

Alexander is so pleased when I get back that he gives me 500 Trade xp, 2000 credits, and 200 Collegia faction standing.

I also officially get the Negotiate skill -- but just being Progen seems to be about all there is to it.

What I Tried Next

Just because I could, while I was at Mars anyway, I looked up Zieg in the main lobby and asked him to teach me the Missile Weapons skill. Yes, he gave me the skill, and the Missile Weapon Training mission to prove that I'm capable with them.

On the way back to Mars Gamma, I stop by the Missile Trial firing range. Ugh! those drones are CL 6 and I'm CL 3 -- maybe, on the rare occasion, discretion is the better part of bullheadedness -- I put off completing this mission until I've leveled up to at least equal {well, more actually -- there's no shame in finding an advantage to take with you to a fight. It's a fight!}

Somewhere in there, I had a brain cell spark. {I know. Progen? Brain cell spark? a rare occurrence, I assure you.}

I've an unallocated skill point. So I use it to upgrade my Build Weapons skill to level two. then I disassemble for the pattern and rebuild my two Executioner's Finger PLs. I get 188 percent results, which reduces their firing delay from 2.1 seconds to 1.4 seconds, thus producing 50% more dps (while my reactor holds up).

Good show, mate! So I go out and kill more critters. and more waste disposal drones.

After a few rounds of this, and using my new player made 200% quality ammo (which gives a further 25% boost in dps), I add two combat levels and two trade levels from the accumulated loot -- now I'm up to CL 5 and OL 10.

Getting Ahead Now

Hey! I'm eligible for my first hull upgrade! Let's go see Imperator Brook and get it.

Imperator Brook -- again

No. Imperator Brook doesn't think I'm ready yet. He gives me a mission instead -- "The Missing Transport"

Wanting him to grant my hull upgrade, I decide to humor him and do the thing. So I fly off to the gate where the transport was last seen and dump the data from all passages. [Who knew that such data even existed, eh?] The transport drifted east -- drifted? It wasn't under power? What happened to the crew? Did they all disappear?

Oh, well -- such speculations aside, I warp as near due east as I can guess from our crude instrumentation. And run smack into an uncharted gravity well. Shades of the Sulami Pirates and their Grav Well!!

<whew!> It isn't them at all. I'm not dead. In fact, there's no one here at all. So I hurry off (or as hurrying as my can't warp ship can go in the grav well) back to Imperator Brook to report.

Brook gives me 1000 credits, 1000 Trade xp, and 200 Collegia faction standing.

Now maybe he'll grant my hull upgrade, eh?

{Hint: If the mission doesn't advance when you discover the grav well, fly directly through the object in the center that is generating it. Stop with your ship partly within it and the mission will advance.}

Imperator Brook for my hull upgrade

Ah, no. Imperator Brook still won't grant my hull upgrade. Instead he gives me another mission: Destroy the Swarm, along with a cockamamie story about how the Critters destroyed the prior station in these parts.

I kinda doubt the story, but the man has me -- he's sitting on permission for my hull upgrade. So I'm off to eliminate ten Suicidal Critters.

Turns out that Suicidal Critters are CL 3 and, when massed together, cause a Swarm of critters that overwhelm everything in their path. Kinda reminds me of the Earthside army ants-- remember that story?

*Hint: warp out beyond Nav 1 until you can't see any Critters in the rear view. Then stop and free warp toward Nav Mars 1 (northwest for the directionally needy). Stop when you see red and move under reaction drive toward (7, -43, 0). This lets you come up on the Suicidal Critters without having masses of Insane and Wild Critters [see above) trying to kick you in the back. Who says that we Progen can't think?

For this feat, Imperator Brook gives me 100 Collegia faction standing, 10,000 credits, 20,000 Trade xp, 15,000 Explore xp, and 10,000 Combat xp. Hey! Finally!! A reward almost worthy of a Progen

Now for my hull upgrade ...

And at Long Last ...

I decide to complete the Missile Trial mission -- could have used the longer 4.9k range of missiles on that last job I did for Impie Brooks.

Immediately on undocking to go to Mars, the message light flashes --- probably HIH (His Imperatorial Highness) Brooks wants me. Don't know what he wants me for because in true Progen style, I close the window without responding.

I decide to dock up anyway, to sell my loot. In the loot, I notice two Executioner's Hand -- level 2 PLs. Running to the Examination station, I quickly get the recipe from the first one and disassemble the second. Then i disassemble and rebuild the underlying Executioner's Finger to 190%. After buying the level two component needed in the Bazaar, I build two level 2 Executioner's Hand to 170 percent quality and equip them. This lowers my firing delay to 0.9 seconds, a further 36pc dps improvement. After building more ammo, I'm ready ...

I'm up to CL 6 now ... let's maybe go see about whacking those missile drones in Mars sector.

Return to Mars

that dratted message light starts flashing again as soon as I undock. It's gotta be HIH Brooks again. Why can't the man get it through his thick head that I'm busy and will attend to his little problem later? {He's an old Progen, that's why ... the skull thickens as Progen age.}

Getting Ready

Looking ahead, I see that Missile Weapon skill level 2 requires CL 7 and I'm only CL 6 yet. So I stop near Nav Mars 2 and whack some Nazari Haji (CL 2) until I run out of ammo.

Thinking quickly, I equip the Zieg's Apprentice missile launcher I was given and load in the Zieg's 'sploders missiles.

I resume firing, but one launcher isn't enough to keep up with the spawn rate of the Nazari, so I abandon this idea and warp back to station to make more ammo for my PLs.

After finishing up CL 7 by whacking the same Nazari, I warp to the Gate to Mars and go through.

Somewhere along the way, my brain catches up to reality ... one missile launcher wasn't enough to quickly kill even a CL 2 opponent. What's going to happen with CL 6 drones? Even with the 25pc dps boost from Missile Weapon level 2 skill, I'm going to be badly outclassed.

Ah, ha! Solution! part a. two missile launchers for double the hitting power. part b. can I get or build two better quality, faster firing missile launchers?

Off to the Bazaar in Mars to answer my needs ...

Looking for Advantage

This is what the net-7.org database is good at. I can rebuild my Zieg's Apprentice ML, probably to about 190pc quality. NnooOOO!! They're unique and can not be manufactured. Nor can I have two of them. The ammo can't be manufactured either {you can only buy it in Mars} so the dps is stuck at 1.83 plus skill buffs (which will be the same for any ML I equip, so can be ignored for comparative analysis). That's terrible! My Executioner's Hand PLs, at 170pc, are probably getting about 5.5 dps before similar skill bonuses.

Mars only sells one level 2 ML, the Ram Alpha. Consulting the database, I'll probably get about 4.3 dps from this, using 170% built by myself quality and 200% built by myself Ram Explosive Missiles. That's better, but not as good as my PLs. Still, this fight will be at long range -- if they can start shooting while my shorter range PLs can not, I'll be in trouble.

A guy I've chatted with in New Players channel {I suspect he's a recruiter for a guild, but don't want to ask outright.} offers me a pair of 105pc Prototype M 2 missile launchers and ammo samples. Using 200pc ammo built by me, I figure these might get 5 dps. Whoops. These are NOT going to work because the components to build the ammo aren't sold in Mars and without a steady supply, they're too risky.

So the Ram Alpha MLs it is.

I only get 163pc on the missile launchers. Inferior, store bought, 100pc parts is why I didn't get better. I do get 200pc on the ammo, like always. {All ammo and components made by players will come out as 200% quality. This is NOT true of devices, engines, reactors, shields, or weapons of any kind. Getting 200% quality for them requires a lot of manufacturing experience.}

the feared CL 6 missile drones turn out to be non aggressive and have only 63 total hit points. They're no challenge for my pair of Ram Alpha MLs, which blow them up reliably with each two missile salvo from my 'F' key.

Zieg gives me 3624 credits when I report back plus 1000 Explore xp and 1000 Trade xp.

I'm up to OL 16 and still don't have my level 10 hull upgrade ... Guess I'd better go see Imperator Brook.

The Prodigal Returns

Just before I dock at Arx Bursa in Mars Gamma, I stop to read the message that's been flashing for my attention these past twenty minutes.

It's the Supply Officer at Arx Bursa wanting someone to make Rifle ammunition. Since the net-7.org database tells me that's level 5 stuff and my Build Weapons skill is only level 2, I decline his request and dock up to get my hull upgrade.

Seeing Imperator Brook -- hopefully for the last time

Ah, no. HIH Brook wants me to go looking for his missing freighter. It's another dang mission: The Missing Transport 2/4.

I'm to start out by scanning the artificial grav well I found earlier. {Hrummph! Guess my verbal report wasn't good enough for this guy, he wants scanned data.}

Scan of the grav generator at center of grav well detected the derelict freighter and I'm instructed to go scan it. They want me to hurry, as if that's even possible while in a grav well.

The Freighter is surrounded by a bunch of Red Dragon Drone CL 1, but they aren't aggressive. I scan it and warp off via the Waste Disposal station to inform HIH Brook of what I've found.

Cheapskate Brook gives me 2000 credits, no xp, no faction gain.

ok ... NOW for my hull upgrade ...

no, No, NO!!

HIH Brook needs ME to take 'documents' {his report exonerating himself, I assume} to Zieg in Mars. No hull upgrade; do mission The Missing Transport 3/4 instead. {Note: there is no documents item in your hold -- this is normal for this mission.}

I haul a backup Radar Array from Zieg to Brook in Arx Bursa. {Again, there is no actual item in your hold.}

Brook gives me 2000 credits and 100 Collegia faction standing as reward. Maybe now I can have my hull upgrade?

Why ME? Lord of Battle, have I somehow offended Thee?

You've guessed it already -- Brook gave me ANOTHER mission: The Missing Transport 4/4.

However, he also gave me a new skill -- Recharge Shields. And a warning; Red Dragon fighters have been detected by the Radar array fairly far out protecting one of their freighters while they steal the cargo from our freighter.

Guess I'm to figure out how to work this skill and report back when I think I'm ready. Seeking advantage, I spend three skill points on upgrading Recharge Shields to level 3.

Oops. That's a mistake. At level 3, the skill way over charges my simple level 2 shield, so I reduce it's usage to level 1. Besides that's easier on my simple level 2 reactor.

I can't find any mobs in the area stronger than CL 3 and they're no problem without the new skill. So I sneak a peak at the Red Dragon fighters (CL 6) on guard duty. They have 212 hit points and hit me hard. I warp out just in time and hit the Shield Recharge -- it works fine and refills my shields quickly.

Build two more stacks of ammo and I'm on my way to Brook -- he says he has some plan. {I hope this plan doesn't involve me dying out there.}

The Plan ... and Actually Doing It

So, Brook says to destroy the Red Dragon freighter. The Backup Radar Array thinks it is near (40, 70, 0) +/- 10km.

Brook suggests a wingman, whom i do not have. So I ignore this for now.

Does he suggest some grand plan? No. He's Progen -- his 'plan' is that I should go out there and kill. That's it. Go and kill.

I warp off to Nav 4 and wait for reactor to recharge. Then I warp to the known location of the Destroyed Progen Freighter.

Brain flash! my Ram Alpha ml are longer range at 4.8k and will fire even if/when I'm running away. I pause along the way to re-arm with the ML.

The Red Dragon Freighter turns out to be CL 8 and quite near the hidden Nav Meeting Point.

It only takes two salvos from my mls to blow the thing up and I'm off warping to the Waste Station to escape the wrath of the RD fighters.

Didn't even need the new Recharge Shields skill, nor a wingman. Progens RULE!!

Brook gives me 3000 credits and an unknown standing boost with my own faction, probably one or two hundred, plus an Oraculum Primoris (level 1 scan boost device).

And Brook commands me to report to Proconsul Kerr in Arx Magister, Mars. {I sneak a peek at the actual orders; even though he didn't say so, Imperator Brook is recommending me for promotion!}

Further Adventures

Proconsul Kerr is a bit long-winded {ok, very long-winded} but I listen to all of his proclaiming and instructions.

I am to report to the Tiberius Shipyards in Primus for my hull upgrade {finally} and then to some researcher named Ioanna-J Deinon in Porvenir Mons, in Porvenir Mons Area for unspecified duty until released.

I decide that, on the way, I'll stop over in Altair III. There are several skills that I can get out there; I'm hoping that some of them will be useful for this unknown duty.

Plus, I've never been to Altair III despite it being the system our faction received in advance for our work, past, present, and future, supplying weapons and systems to the Centuriata warriors. So far, I can only Build Weapons, and low level ones at that. I need to Build Components, Reactors, and Shields as well if I am to serve this researcher with the skills only we among Progen can learn.

Proconsul Kerr did not say how I might evade the V'rix patrols in Primus to get my hull upgrade. Well, maybe folk along the way will know how to accomplish that.

And, given all the exploring I'll have to do just to get there, maybe I'll make OL 20 and be able to upgrade my Shields and Reactor before I test the V'rix.

C'iao.