To get a quick start in Starfield, players should focus on completing the initial main questline, looting everything, and exploring nearby planets for resources and side quests.
So, you’ve just jumped into the vast universe of Starfield and feel a bit overwhelmed? Don’t worry, many players experience that same feeling when they first start. This Starfield quick start guide for players is here to help you navigate those first few hours effectively.
We will provide practical tips to help you gain some ground, so you spend less time figuring things out. Following these easy tips will surely give you a smooth experience, and allow you to enjoy the game better.
Starfield Quick Start Guide for Players
Welcome to the vast expanse of Starfield! This amazing game throws you into a universe brimming with planets to explore, ships to fly, and adventures to have. But where do you begin? Don’t worry, this guide is here to help you get off to a great start. We’ll break down the essential parts of the game, making sure you feel comfortable and confident as you take your first steps among the stars. Let’s jump right in!
Character Creation: Your Interstellar Identity
Before you can explore the cosmos, you need to create your spacefaring self. This process is more than just picking a face; it affects how you’ll play the game. Here’s what you need to consider:
Backgrounds: Your Past Life
Your background in Starfield isn’t just flavor text; it gives you three starting skills. These skills give you a head start in certain areas and can make the early game easier. Choosing a background that aligns with how you want to play is very important. Here are a few examples:
- Diplomat: If you enjoy talking your way out of trouble, this background gives you skills in Persuasion, Commerce, and Scavenging.
- Combat Medic: Want to be a space doctor who can also fight? This background gives you skills in Medicine, Pistol Certification, and Lasers.
- Bounty Hunter: If you want a life of action and danger, you get skills in Piloting, Targeting Control Systems, and Pistol Certification.
- Explorer: Perfect for those who crave exploring uncharted territory, this background provides skills in Surveying, Geology, and Piloting.
Traits: Your Unique Perks
Traits are like special characteristics that give you advantages and disadvantages. You can pick up to three. Choose wisely, as they can greatly affect your playthrough. Here are some examples:
- Introvert: When adventuring alone you have more endurance, but you have less when traveling with a companion.
- Extrovert: You have more endurance when traveling with a companion, but less when adventuring alone.
- Spaced: You are more healthy and have better health in space, but less on any planet.
- Dream Home: You get a house but have a large mortgage with weekly payments.
Think carefully about which traits match your play style. Some traits are better suited for certain playstyles, while some can make the game more challenging or interesting.
Customization: Your Appearance
This is where you make your character look how you want them to. You can change their face, hair, and body type. While this doesn’t affect how you play, it’s important for personalizing your experience and making your character feel like your own creation.
The Starting Quest: Into the Unknown
After creating your character, you’re thrown into the main story. This first part of the game is important for getting you comfortable with the basic mechanics and learning about the world of Starfield. You’ll be doing things like:
- Talking to people: Characters will give you quests and clues about what is happening in the universe.
- Fighting enemies: You’ll learn how to use weapons and fight in space and on planets.
- Gathering resources: You’ll find materials that you can use for crafting and upgrading equipment.
- Exploring locations: There is so much to see and so many things to find, make sure to check all the locations to see all.
The first questline is also a great place to practice movement, combat, and resource management, so take your time and explore everything.
Understanding Your Ship: Your Home in the Stars
Your ship is more than just a way to get around; it’s your base of operations. You will learn how to use its different parts and make sure you are making improvements to its parts in order to explore the universe more effectively. Here’s what you should know:
Piloting Basics: How to Fly
The game will teach you the basics of flying your ship. You’ll learn how to accelerate, decelerate, boost, and engage in space combat. Piloting skills are vital for escaping tricky situations and traveling efficiently between planets.
Ship Customization: Making It Your Own
You can upgrade and customize your ship. This includes adding new weapons, shields, engines, and cargo space. You can also change its appearance. As you progress, you’ll want to invest in ship improvements to survive in the more dangerous parts of the universe and transport all of your loot.
The Ship’s Systems: Powering Your Adventure
Your ship has systems that need power: weapons, shields, engines, and grav drive for jumping between systems. Manage these power systems effectively to maximize your ship’s performance. For example, if you know a combat is coming, focus on weapons and shields; if you need to get away quickly, then focus on engines.
Exploring Planets: Discoveries Await
Starfield has many planets to explore, each with its own unique environment and challenges. When you land on a new planet, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
Scanning for Resources: Finding What You Need
Use your scanner to locate resources, plants, and animals. You will need to use the resources to craft various items that are very important throughout the game, and also the animals can give some special resources. Scanning is also important for gathering data about the world around you.
Surveying Planets: Completing Your Data
Scanning specific flora and fauna will complete your planet surveys. Completing these surveys will provide you with special resources and other cool items. This will allow you to gain more experience points.
Outposts: Your Home Away From Home
You can build outposts on planets. These are your bases where you can store resources, craft items, and even hire crew members to manage. They are very important in the later stages of the game.
Combat: Engaging in Battles
You’re going to be in fights, both in space and on planets. Here’s what to expect from combat in Starfield:
Weapon Types: Choosing Your Arsenal
Starfield features various types of weapons like pistols, rifles, shotguns, and melee weapons. Each has its own unique stats and effective range. Make sure to experiment and find what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to switch weapons to find the ones that you prefer and are good at using.
Combat Skills: Improving Your Prowess
As you play, you will improve your skills in combat. You can use points to improve your skills in various weapons and types of fighting. These improvements make you stronger and more efficient in fights.
Space Combat: Dogfights in the Void
Space combat is different from planet combat. You use your ship’s weapons and systems to fight enemy ships. Maneuvering, power management, and weapon selection are key to success. Learning how to manage those three elements effectively will ensure your survival in space.
Inventory Management: Keeping Things Organized
With so much to collect, it is easy to get overwhelmed. You must manage your resources correctly to keep your character in top condition. Make sure that you are properly inventory managing for a smooth gameplay:
Weight Limits: Carrying Capacity
You can only carry so much before you become overloaded. Try not to collect everything as you may have issues with moving around because of too much weight. Manage the weight properly to make it easier to travel and explore.
Storing Your Items: Safe Keeping
You can use your ship’s cargo hold to store items. You can also store items at your outposts. It’s wise to move excess weight into these storage options, so you can continue looting.
Item Organization: Finding What You Need
Learn how to filter and sort your inventory to make it easy to find what you are looking for. Having an organized inventory is very important, as you don’t want to be scrolling for minutes just to find a specific resource that you need.
Skill System: Developing Your Abilities
Starfield has a large skill system that allows you to improve your character’s abilities. Here’s what to expect from skill progression:
Skill Categories: Different Fields
Skills are broken into categories like Physical, Social, Combat, Science, and Tech. Improving skills in each category will allow you to grow in different areas of the game. Focus on skills that fit your chosen playstyle and preferences.
Skill Challenges: Improving Your Abilities
Some skills have specific challenges that you need to complete to improve the skill level. Completing the challenges is the only way to improve and grow in the skills. Make sure you are paying attention to what the game requires for the challenge so that you can keep increasing your skill level.
Skill Points: Investing in Your Growth
You earn skill points by gaining experience levels. Use them to improve your character, making you stronger and more versatile. Use the skill points to ensure that you are improving your chosen skills that fit your play style.
Factions and Story: Your Choices Matter
As you play, you will encounter different factions and stories, each with unique goals. Here’s what you should know:
Factions: Choosing Your Allies
Different groups in Starfield will vie for your attention, each with its own perks and responsibilities. Depending on your choices and actions, you can change your relationships with the factions. Your decisions will have consequences and impact how the story unfolds, making your adventure personal to you.
Main Story: The Heart of the Adventure
The main story will take you across the universe. Pay attention to the characters, locations, and lore to fully experience everything the game has to offer. The main story will also improve your experience as it will increase your level and give you valuable resources.
Side Quests: Exploring the Universe
Don’t forget about the side quests. There are various side quests throughout the galaxy that add more depth to the game. Side quests will allow you to explore various locations that you wouldn’t otherwise explore and earn valuable resources as well.
Tips and Tricks for New Players:
Here are some important tips to help you play the game like a pro.
- Save often: This will help you avoid losing progress if something unexpected happens or you are unhappy with a choice that you made.
- Explore everything: Don’t be afraid to veer off the beaten path and see all that Starfield has to offer.
- Talk to everyone: They may give you tips, resources, or a new quest.
- Craft and modify: Use resources to build useful items, and upgrade your gear to be stronger.
- Experiment: Try out different weapons, skills, and ship builds to find what you like and what works well for you.
- Use companions: Companions will help you fight and carry more items, and sometimes they have special abilities.
By keeping these tips in mind, you will find Starfield to be a rewarding and an enjoyable experience.
Starfield is a huge game with so much to explore and experience. Starting your adventure with a good base can make it an even better and smooth experience. Take your time, explore everything, and most of all have fun exploring the vast universe of Starfield!
Starfield Guide: 15 Things You NEED To Do First
Final Thoughts
Prioritize exploration, complete early quests to gain crucial skills, and manage your inventory effectively. Don’t forget to upgrade your gear, especially your spacesuit, for survival. These early game choices drastically affect your experience.
Focus on understanding the shipbuilding system and utilize outposts for resource gathering. This prepares you for later challenges. Efficient resource management is key. The Starfield quick start guide for players should lead you to prioritize essential skills first.
