Starfield Beginner’s Guide: 10 Tips for New Players

by Fernando Diaz / Articles, Starfield / 10 Sep 2023

Ready to dig deep into the celestial playground that is Starfield? Look no further!! This guide will spill the tea on everything you gotta know before you buckle up and blast off.

The Help Menu is the Real MVP

Starting off, the help menu in Starfield ain’t just your typical ‘help I’m stuck’ feature. Nah, it’s like having the ultimate space encyclopedia at your fingertips. Think of it as your go-to space Google. Feeling lost? Hit that menu, then the data menu, and once again to get the systems menu. Scroll down and BAM! Every answer you could ever need.

Watch That Bag! Inventory Hacks 101

Man, nothing’s worse than getting all weighed down while trying to explore new planets. You see that ‘mass limit’ thingy? Stay below it. If you exceed, you’re basically burning through your oxygen faster. Pro tip: Use your ship’s cargo to dump extra junk you find along the way. Crafting stations and vendors can still pull from your ship, so it’s all good.

Oh, and if you need to offload some stuff ASAP, your space buddy (aka companion) can carry a few things. Got too much stuff? There’s a ‘weightlifting’ skill (yep, it’s actually called that) to increase what you can carry.

Warp Speed: Mastering Fast Travel

Navigating the star map? There are three views: planet, system, and galaxy. Learn ’em love ’em… Want to cut your travel time?? Just hit ‘set course’ from the data menu. If a grav jump is available, you can leap between star systems or planet orbits without even touching your ship. When on a planet, use your scanner to peep points of interest and warp to ’em.

Skillin’ It: Level Up Like a Pro

Every little thing you do gets you XP. Stack enough XP, and you level up, granting you a skill point. These skills have ranks, and to unlock a new rank, you gotta beat the previous rank’s challenge. Some dope early skills include:

Boost Pack Training: For that sweet planet traversal action.

Lock Picking: To get into all the juicy locked areas.

Stealth Perk: So you can be sneaky AF.

Targeting Control Systems: Essential if you’re about that ship combat life.

Companions Ain’t Just Backpacks

Your space pals are more than just extra inventory space. These companions can totally vibe with you based on your decisions. Keep them happy, and they’ll have your back in battles. Plus, you can deck them out in sick gear by trading with them. Lose one? Just assign them to your ship, and they’ll be chilling there when you get back.

Planet Scanning: More Than Pretty Views

When you’re hovering over a planet, hit that left bumper to scan it. This shows you resources and vital info about the planet. Once you land, survey the planet, checking out flora, fauna, and resources. The more you scan, the more deets you’ll get. Some planets even have special landmarks revealing unique traits…

Deal with Those Space Bruises

Ever been hit by a space worm or took a nasty fall? Yeah, you’ll pick up some gnarly status afflictions. These can range from minor ouchies to major “I-need-a-doc-now” moments. The trick is matching your affliction’s icon with the aid item that can treat it.

Contraband: It Ain’t Just for Smugglers

During your travels, you’ll find items marked with a yellow icon. These are Contraband. While stolen stuff is cool as long as you ain’t caught, Contraband is a no-go unless you’re looking to play the smuggling game. Want to sell them? Look for traders or the peeps from Crimson Fleet.

Dodge those Bounties

Do something naughty, and you might end up with a bounty on your head. Not keen on being hunted? Hit up a self-service bounty terminal – they’re in most space bars – and clear your name.

Research is Key

Look, I know research might sound boring, but trust, in Starfield it’s lit. You’ve got categories like pharmacology, food, and weaponry. Unlock crafting recipes, get resources, and trust me, use those aid items before hitting the research terminal – they can reduce your resource requirements…

Fernando Diaz

Fernando is doing what he always did, sharing his honest opinions about games whenever he can. The difference is now he is writing and not talking about it.
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