Credits and XP are essential for progression. Here's how to maximize your gains and become rich and powerful in the Settled Systems.
Credits:
- Sell Survey Data: Fully surveying a planet (100% flora, fauna, resources) yields valuable survey data that can be sold for a high price, especially to Vladimir Sall.
- Mission Boards: Regularly complete missions from mission boards (Bounty Hunting, Delivery, Combat) for a steady income.
- Loot Everything: Pick up all valuable items from defeated enemies and containers. Prioritize items with a high 'value per weight' ratio.
- Contraband: Smuggling contraband (illegal items) can be very lucrative, but requires shielded cargo and a 'Scan Jammer' to avoid detection. Sell at Trade Authority kiosks in systems without UC/Freestar presence (e.g., The Key).
- Outpost Production: Set up outposts to extract valuable resources and then craft them into higher-value manufactured components for sale.
XP:
- Complete Quests: Main quests, faction quests, and companion quests offer the most significant XP rewards.
- Exploration & Discovery: Discovering new locations, planets, and systems grants XP.
- Surveying: Completing planetary surveys provides substantial XP.
- Crafting & Research: Every time you craft an item or complete a research project, you gain XP.
- Combat: Defeating enemies grants XP, with higher-level enemies yielding more.
- XP Boosts: Certain consumables or companion perks can temporarily boost XP gain.