Star Citizen Guide, Tips & Tricks for Beginners & Returning Players in 2024

Star Citizen is undergoing significant updates that will impact both new and veteran players.

The game introduces changes to mission locations, star maps, UI, and flight models. These adjustments aim to enhance gameplay and bring a refreshed experience to the community.

Players will notice changes in the control scheme, including switched keys for crouch and prone, which may require some adjustment.

The new character customizer offers better control over character appearance, allowing players to save and export their designs.

Other updates include an improved star map, a revamped interaction system, and features aimed at ensuring smoother gameplay and server stability.

Key Takeaways

  • Significant updates to missions, star map, and UI.
  • New control schemes and character customization options introduced.
  • Enhanced server stability and improved interaction system.

Game Package Selection and Setup

Picking the Best Game Package

For new players, it’s smart to start with the most affordable game package available, which costs $45. This basic package is sufficient because you can share in-game money and gameplay resources, rent and purchase ships within the game, and join other people’s crews.

As you progress, acquiring the ship you want won’t be difficult, especially if you’re part of an organization (org). Generally, pricier packages have slightly superior ships with extra cargo space, but the basic one is enough to get started.

System Essentials and SSD Advice

To ensure smooth gameplay, installing the game on an SSD is highly recommended. An SSD helps in reducing loading times and improves overall game performance.

Additionally, having at least 16 GB of RAM is crucial. This amount of memory ensures that the game runs smoothly and can handle its complex environments and detailed graphics.

Referral Code Randomizer Utilization

If you don’t already have an account, using the referral code randomizer can be beneficial.

By accessing the referral code randomizer from the video description, you can use a supporter’s code. This often grants extra starting money, possibly a free ship, or another signup bonus. This small step can positively impact your initial game experience.

Character Customization and Management

New Character Builder Features

The latest update introduces a revamped character builder that offers more control over your character’s appearance.

Users can now save and export character designs. This ensures that players can maintain a consistent look for their avatars throughout updates.

Additionally, multiple avatars can be created and stored in the game folder.

Saving and Exporting Characters

Players have the ability to save their customized characters. These saved designs can be exported and reused.

This new feature guarantees that from now until the game’s release, players can rely on the same character design, updating as needed. This method keeps all your character designs organized within the user folder in the game directory.

Understanding the Control Scheme

Overview of Key Bindings

Key bindings in Star Citizen allow players to interact with the game efficiently.

ActionKey Combination
Remove/Put on HelmetLeft Alt + H / Right Alt + H
Ammo RepackingLeft Alt + 1
CrouchC
ProneZ
Cruise ControlControl + C
Decouple ShipC
Open Inner Thought MenuLeft Alt + F

These are just a few examples. To find more, players should explore the key bindings menu in the game.

Using the In-Game Tutorial and Control Tips

The in-game tutorial and control tips provide valuable guidance.

Control tips appear on the side of the screen during gameplay and offer context-specific key bindings. The in-game tutorial takes players through essential mechanics and controls, ensuring a better grasp of the game’s systems.

Important Key Bindings for Gameplay

Certain key bindings are critical for smooth gameplay:

  • Helmet Management: Use Left Alt + H to store and Right Alt + H to carry your helmet. This is crucial for maintaining health as you need to eat and drink in the game.
  • Ammo Management: Left Alt + 1 for ammo repacking helps manage your inventory by discarding empty magazines.
  • Movement: Control for crouch and Z for prone. Note that these key bindings have been switched, which may confuse returning players.
  • Flight Controls: Control + C for cruise control and C for decoupling your ship. These help manage flight mechanics, especially during low-flying maneuvers.

Interaction System and UI

Helmet Management

To manage helmet usage in Star Citizen, players can use keybindings to make the process smoother. Pressing Left Alt + H will store the helmet, while Right Alt + H allows one to carry it.

This function is particularly useful because the game requires players to eat and drink occasionally. The augmented reality system kicks in once the helmet is removed, making it easy to notice when it’s off.

Expanded Interactions with the Inner Thought Menu

By pressing Left Alt + F while moving around, players can bring up the Inner Thought Menu.

This feature enhances interaction capabilities within the game. From here, players can change and reset keybindings and add favorites to the menu.

It allows for various interactions with the surroundings, thereby enriching the gameplay experience.

Additionally, players can use Left Alt + 1 for the ammo repacking feature, which saves space by discarding empty magazines.

Customizing Default Item Actions

In Star Citizen, each interactable item comes with a default keybinding prompt. A single tap will complete the default action.

To see more options, players can hold the F key when a couple of dots appear by the prompt.

Customizing these default actions is possible; for example, if someone prefers to store ammo or loot rather than just pick it up, they can hold the F button and middle-click on the desired action.

Players can also disable the initial control prompt in the menu to remove the F key icon from interactable objects.

Defining Preferences and UI Visibility

Players have significant control over the game’s settings through the menu.

Many features, such as motion effects and camera shake induced by G-Forces, can be reduced or disabled entirely, enhancing the individual gaming experience.

It’s recommended to explore the settings menu to tailor the UI and interaction preferences to one’s liking. This customization ensures that the gameplay experience is as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Flight Model Adjustments

Automatic Precision Mode and Its Customization

Star Citizen’s latest update introduces an automatic precision mode, designed to cap speed at 30 meters per second when the landing gear is deployed.

This feature aims to assist pilots in making safe landings. While beneficial for most, some players may prefer to disable it to maintain higher landing speeds.

Customization allows players to toggle this feature on and off based on their preferences and flying styles.

Features of Cruise Control and Decoupling Mode

Two important features in this update are cruise control and the decoupling mode.

Cruise control can be activated using Control + C, allowing for steady, hands-free flight.

The decoupling function, triggered by pressing the C key, now includes gravity compensation that can also be adjusted to suit different flight dynamics.

These tools provide pilots with more control and flexibility during flight operations.

Star Map Enhancements

Waypoint Navigation and Local Mapping

The new star map introduces a feature allowing users to set waypoints and better navigate both the galaxy and individual locations, such as cities.

Users can place waypoints or press the ‘R’ key to direct navigation to a specific point.

If the destination is in another part of the city, the map provides guidance, including transit routes like trains to reach the endpoint.

Text Search Functionality

A significant improvement in the updated star map is the addition of text search.

This feature enables players to find mission locations by name and learn about specific areas quickly. It also provides information on available commodities at any location, aiding in efficient planning and navigation within the game.

Replication Layer and Server Crash Recovery

Understanding the Separated Simulation and Data

Star Citizen has reworked its system so that simulation and data now operate on separate layers.

This means that, when a server crashes, the game doesn’t kick players out completely. Instead, the replication layer remains intact, allowing a new server to take over and restore the game to almost the same state it was in before the crash.

Players will experience a brief pause, with an error message and frozen controls as the system recovers.

Benefits for Gameplay Stability

The separation of the replication layer from the simulation provides significant stability improvements for players.

Recovery from server crashes is now possible without losing progress. Previously, a crash would disrupt gameplay and cause players to lose their sessions, but now the game can restore the last known state, minimizing frustration.

This feature is especially helpful for cargo haulers, event organizers, and any players who want a more seamless experience.

Though the recovery process currently takes a few minutes, updates are expected to improve the speed and efficiency over time.

MobiGlas Updates and Usage

Overview for New Players

For those new to the game, MobiGlas is an essential tool.

It serves as the main interface for various functions such as accessing missions, managing assets, and communicating with other players.

Pressing the F1 key brings up the MobiGlas menu, where players can find:

  • Missions: Both legal and illegal missions can be found here.
  • Assets: Tracks all items and ships owned by the player.
  • Communications: Manages in-game contacts and messages.
  • Money Transfers: Handles currency exchanges between players.

Taking the time to explore this menu can make the gameplay experience smoother, as it centralizes most game functions in one place.

Introduction to the Health App

The Health App in MobiGlas is particularly useful for monitoring the player’s physical status.

It helps players:

  • Track Injuries: Detailed information on injuries and their severity.
  • Manage Health: Provides options for healing and medical treatment.

Using this app ensures that players can quickly address any health issues and continue their adventures without unnecessary interruptions.

Inventory and Asset Interaction

Managing inventory and interacting with assets in Star Citizen’s Alpha 3.23 involves several important techniques.

Players can store items in spacesuits, backpacks, and containers found in different locations, including space stations, cities, and ships.

Effective asset interaction and inventory management enhance gameplay and prevent loss of valuable items.

Key Bindings for Inventory

Left Alt + H: Store or remove helmet.

Left Alt + 1: Use ammo repacking feature to save space by discarding empty magazines.

Control: Crouch.

Z Key: Prone.

F Key: Bring up the inner thought menu for expanded interaction capabilities.

Players can utilize these key bindings to efficiently manage their gear and inventory during gameplay, ensuring they are always prepared for any situation.

Character Customization

The new character customizer allows players to save and export their characters, ensuring a consistent design throughout the game’s updates.

Multiple avatars can be created and stored in the game folder, providing flexibility and personalization.

Using the Mobi Glass

F1 Key: Access the Mobi Glass menu, where players can manage missions, check the status of their ships, handle money transfers, and monitor communications.

The Mobi Glass is a crucial tool for navigating the game’s numerous features and ensuring smooth gameplay.

Helmet Management

For a seamless experience, players should familiarize themselves with the UI elements indicating whether the helmet is on or off.

Eating and drinking require removing the helmet, and it’s easy to forget to put it back on.

The game’s augmented reality system will kick in when the helmet is off, making it obvious.

Players can improve their gameplay by understanding these crucial inventory and asset interaction mechanics, ensuring a more efficient and enjoyable experience in the vast universe of Star Citizen.