Starfield Best Choices To Make At The Start

Starfield Best Choices to Make at the Start

Okay, space explorers! You’ve just jumped into the vast universe of Starfield, and it’s a pretty big place. It can feel a little overwhelming at first, with so much to do and so many choices to make. Don’t worry, we’re here to guide you through some of the most important decisions you’ll face right at the beginning. Making smart picks early can make a huge difference in how fun and smooth your journey through the stars will be. This guide will focus on key areas where you can set yourself up for success, from character creation to your initial missions.

Choosing Your Background: Setting the Stage for Your Journey

Your background in Starfield isn’t just a pretty story. It gives you three starting skills, and these skills can help you a lot early in the game. Some backgrounds are better suited for different playstyles, so it’s a good idea to think about how you want to play. Let’s look at some of the backgrounds and what they offer:

Best Backgrounds for Different Playstyles

Let’s go through some popular backgrounds and why they might be a good fit for you:

• Combat Focused: If you want to be a tough space warrior from the start, consider backgrounds like Bounty Hunter. It starts with Piloting, Targeting Control System, and Fitness skills, perfect for getting into fights and winning them. The Soldier background, with its starting skills of Fitness, Ballistics, and Boost Pack Training, is another great choice for players who are eager to jump into action.
• Diplomacy & Exploration: Prefer talking your way out of trouble, or are you more interested in understanding the universe than blasting it? The Diplomat background, with its Persuasion, Commerce, and Wellness skills, is tailored for players who enjoy negotiations and exploration through non-violent means. Explorer is another interesting choice because it gives you Astrodynamics, Surveying, and Lasers skills. This combination really helps you travel and gather resources more efficiently.
• Crafting & Resource Management: Some players enjoy building and managing resources and items. The Cyber Runner background grants you Stealth, Security, and Theft skills, which allows for more flexibility in resource acquisition and character progression. The Industrialist background with its skills of Persuasion, Security, and Research, focuses on resourcefulness and creation.
• The Jack-of-all-Trades Approach: Not sure what you want to specialize in yet? The Long Hauler background with its Piloting, Weight Lifting, and Geology skills is a great all-around choice. You’ll be able to explore, fly your ship well, and carry more goodies along the way. Professor is another choice, with its skills of Astrodynamics, Geology, and Research, which give you a good mix of travel and understanding the environment.

Consider Your Personal Preference

Don’t only pick a background based on what is considered “best”. Choose the one that best fits what you want to do in the game. Do you want to be a sneaky space thief, a brave captain of a ship, or a master builder? Your background helps you step into the boots of that character from day one. A balanced approach, where you take background skills into consideration alongside what seems fun, is often the best strategy. The game allows for character progression in many directions, so having starting skills tailored to your plan can make all the difference. Also, don’t worry too much if you’re not completely sure— you can always improve other skills later on in your journey.

Understanding Skills: Investing Wisely from the Start

Skills are how you improve your character in Starfield. You get skill points as you level up, and using them well is vital, especially at the beginning. Here are the key skill areas to think about:

Essential Early-Game Skills

These skills will help make your time in Starfield much easier from the get-go:

• Persuasion: Being able to talk your way out of fights or getting better deals can make many situations in the game a lot easier. This skill also allows for unique quest outcomes and dialogue opportunities, which can be really rewarding. Having the Persuasion skill upgraded lets you talk your way through difficult conversations and potentially get more out of your interactions.
• Security: Locked doors and containers often hide precious loot, and improving the Security skill gives you the ability to access them. Security will let you explore locked areas more freely, which will give you better gear, weapons, and resources.
• Boost Pack Training: This skill is one that’s almost essential for quicker travel and navigating tricky environments. The boost pack helps you get around, reach high places, and move quickly in combat. Having this skill upgraded early makes a huge difference in overall movement and engagement during action.
• Piloting: If you love to explore the stars, a higher Piloting skill allows you to fly better and unlock access to better ship parts. Piloting is crucial for ship customization, traveling to new places, and avoiding dangers during space travel.
• Weight Lifting: Being able to carry more items is always beneficial. You’ll quickly collect lots of resources and loot, and the ability to carry more without being encumbered makes everything much easier.

Strategic Skill Investment

Don’t just pour all your skill points into one area. Be strategic and think about what you want to do. For example:

• If you plan on doing lots of exploring and surveying, invest in skills like Surveying, Astrodynamics, and Geology.
• If you prefer fighting, focus on Ballistics, Lasers, and Fitness.
• For more stealthy playstyles, Stealth and Theft skills are extremely helpful.

Look at the descriptions of the skills carefully before making a choice. Also, try to pick skills that go along well with the background you chose. For example, if you picked the Cyber Runner background, working on skills like Security and Theft could be a great idea. Remember, a balanced approach to skill upgrades at the start can enhance your overall play experience by giving you more opportunities and flexibility.

Initial Missions: Navigating Early Quests Wisely

Your first few missions can set the tone for the entire game. It’s good to be thoughtful in how you approach these early quests and what you choose to prioritize. Here’s how to make the most of them:

Priority on Main Storyline

While it might be tempting to veer off and explore the vast universe, focusing on the main quest in the beginning can be beneficial. It guides you through essential game mechanics and systems. Completing early story missions lets you meet important characters and gets you into the core game plot. The main quest helps introduce you to crucial concepts like ship combat, crafting, base-building and resource management. This early familiarity with the mechanics will make everything much easier in the long run. Also, sticking with the main missions for the beginning will help to get you better gear and rewards that make exploration and side quests more fun.

Side Quests for Resources and Experience

Don’t forget to take the time to engage with some side quests. They are a great way to earn experience and resources. The side quests let you explore different parts of the map and learn more about the world of Starfield. These missions are often smaller and easier to finish, so they’re a good way to improve your levels while collecting precious items. Side quests can also reward you with unique weapons, armor, and crafting materials. Furthermore, these missions may help you discover hidden areas and characters that can open even more opportunities for questing and advancement.

Choosing Your Faction

Early in the game, you may get to interact with different factions. These can have big impacts on your story and game experience. Each faction has its own ideology and goals. Be sure to do some research before making a commitment to one. Aligning with the right faction can unlock new quests, companions, and benefits. Think about what you want out of the game. Are you interested in exploration and knowledge, or in the thrill of combat? This will help you decide which faction is best for your character. It’s not a permanent decision but a well-made choice early on can shape your initial game experience and offer access to a unique set of benefits.

Engaging with Environments

Make sure to interact with every environment fully. Don’t just rush through each place you encounter. Look everywhere for hidden items, terminals, and opportunities for interaction. Interacting fully with environments is how to find resources, hidden quests, or unique encounters that can help you advance in the game. Exploring will also help you understand the world of Starfield, its lore, and the history. The early exploration can give you a sense of place and make the world feel more alive and engaging. Plus, you’ll probably find some awesome things while you explore.

Ship Choices: Your Mobile Base

Your ship in Starfield is more than just transportation. It’s also your mobile base. Making good choices about your ship can make your game much easier:

Initial Ship Upgrades

You won’t have the best ship right away, but upgrades should be on your mind. Focus on upgrades that will help you early on. Here’s a few things to work on:

• Shielding: Improving your ship’s shields makes space combat much less scary. Upgraded shields help your survival when you meet enemy ships.
• Weapons: Better weapons allow you to deal more damage and take down enemies quickly. This is crucial for completing many combat-related missions.
• Cargo Space: Upgrading your ship’s cargo helps you carry more items. This will allow you to collect resources and not have to run back and forth to your storage.

Exploring Other Ships

As you play, you may have chances to get other ships. Think about what you want in your ship. Some ships are fast, and others are made for heavy combat. Be on the lookout for new ships, and figure out which one works for you. Choosing a ship that matches your desired playstyle makes the game more fun and more efficient.

Resource Management: Staying Well-Supplied

Managing your resources well is important from the start. Here’s how to do it:

Collecting Resources

Pick up everything you can. You never know when you’ll need certain items for crafting. Collect resources like iron, copper, and aluminum while exploring planets. These items will help you build weapons, armor, and other useful gear, so the more you gather, the more chances you have to improve equipment.

Using Workbenches

Use workbenches often to craft items. You can create weapons, armor, and healing items. Learning how to craft early on will help you keep supplied and ready for anything the game throws at you. With crafting, you can also modify items and get even better benefits from your equipment. Knowing what materials you need for each crafting recipe can make a big difference.

Selling Unneeded Items

You will also end up with many items you don’t need. Sell these at shops to gain credits. Use these credits to buy resources or things you need for your ship and character. Managing your inventory well will free up space and make your game progression smoother.

Character Customization: Making Your Own Mark

Starfield allows for a lot of character customization. While it’s not going to drastically alter your gameplay, creating a character you like is part of the fun.

Personalizing Appearance

Take some time to play around with the character creation tools. You can change your character’s face, hair, and body type. Building a character you like will help you be more invested in the game, as you’ll see this character throughout your journey. The detailed customization options let you express your personal creativity and make your character unique.

Choosing Your Pronouns

In Starfield, you get to choose your pronouns. This helps you create a character that fits you and your preferences. Choosing pronouns that suit you is a small but powerful aspect of inclusivity that lets you express yourself within the game and identify with your character on a personal level.

Companions: Your Allies in the Stars

You’ll meet several companions in the game who can join your team. Choosing the right ones will give you an edge.

Initial Companion Encounters

You’ll meet some companions early in the game during main story missions. Make sure to talk to everyone you meet to see if they’re available to join you. Companions can help you in combat and on your ship. They’ll help in resource collecting, combat situations and also have their own quests for you to complete. Having the right companions will make your travels in Starfield more fun, enjoyable and they bring a depth to your game experience.

Choosing the Right Companions

Different companions have different skills. Pick the ones who fit your playstyle best. If you’re stealthy, you might want a companion who is also sneaky. If you are a combat-focused player, you may pick one that is good in fighting. Some companions also have unique backgrounds and skillsets which can enhance your abilities during quests or exploration. Some companions might have a special affinity with a particular faction or planet which could also bring you new quests and stories. Pay attention to what they say and do, so that you can pick the companions that help you most effectively.

Long-Term Vision: Thinking Ahead

While it’s good to focus on the here and now, also think a bit about what you might want to do later in the game. Consider the following:

Specialization Plan

Decide what type of character you want to be long-term. Do you want to be a master ship pilot, a deadly combatant, or an expert explorer? This will give you an idea of what skills and abilities to work on.

Base Building Plans

Start thinking about where you might want to build a base. Having a well-placed base is very beneficial for crafting and resource management. Location, access to resources, and the surrounding environment are all things to consider while deciding on your base location. It can also be helpful to have your base near a fast travel point so that you can quickly travel back and forth to it.

Faction Affiliation

As discussed above, choosing a faction is important, but also consider the long term effects. Which faction fits your personal philosophy the best and what rewards, bonuses and questlines will that faction provide? Consider the impact your faction choice has on the overall story and your ability to further improve your character.

Starting Starfield can be a lot of fun if you plan well. The choices you make early on can make a big difference in the long run. So, take your time, explore carefully, and have fun making your mark on the universe. Remember that there is no one “perfect” way to play. The best choices for you are the ones that fit your style and help you enjoy the game. Happy travels through space!