Hello Captain Broadwing !
I'm a new player too; I joined the game in January 2018 and I really enjoy it.
The freedom is breathtaking in Core Exiles. You really can do and become whatever you choose in this game: fighter, explorer, pirate, freight hauler, merchant prince, etc. You are given a ship and several galaxies of opportunity, and the rest is up to you and your choices.
After you learn the basic principles (level 5+) by playing the beginner's missions, you might want to consider joining a guild. Guild's have resources and mentors that can help you advance in the game more quickly and have more fun.
I joined the Aesir guild, and I am quite pleased with it: there are 10%+ bonuses on credits and experience, plenty of mentoring if you ask, plenty of written materials to study, a loan program to buy a better ship, and no one pushing you to give them money or services just for joining. You can join and do nothing else and collect the 10%+ bonuses on credits and experience. But, it's more enjoyable to participate and help others. Contact a player by the name of Locknload for more information.
Right now, in honor of the Olympics and Special Olympics, there is an Olympic Competition in the Core Exiles game. You can read more about it here:
viewtopic.php?f=32&t=2652&p=15232 It's fun, and you can participate in three ways.
-- Beacons: These are awarded or discovered through playing the game. You can turn these in to Olympic Centers for credits and experience points. You choose which country to support from a list of of 34 countries. (Viva Romania!) All the countries have the same value for credits and experience points, but it's fun for people to support a country of their choice.
-- Flags: These are awarded or discovered through playing the game. Collect a set of 1 each for the 34 countries on the list, and then turn them in at an Olympic Center for several prizes. Extra flags can be traded among players or traded in at Festive Centers. Festive Centers are scattered throughout several star systems (for example: Descartes system, planet Daphine, town of Rama). Collect "Festive Points" from various competitions and from the daily opportunity to promote the game for 200 extra fuel points (see
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=694) Festive points can be used to acquire all sorts of useful things, like premium membership or repair kits for your starship (hint, hint). You can turn in extra flags for 10 Festive Points each at the Festive Centers.
-- Olympic Tokens: These are awarded or discovered through playing the game. If you can accumulate 50 of them, send a private message to Coops (the administrator) and he will give you an upgrade.
Enjoy the game.
John Carter Barsoom