Don't just jump to the nearest system automatically. Use your scanners to see what's available around you. Over time you'll learn to read the probable dangers of the worlds listed. Early on, focus on what's available. Common resources aren't worth much, to you or anyone else. Uncommon and Rare resources are more efficient for repair, and valuable.

Before taking a gate check the radiation level of the next nebular by hovering over it and checking the right top description: You don't want to end up in a high radiation nebular.

This might be useful:

Originally posted by Seneschal:

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In terms of difficulty, a lot of the game becomes much easier once you've picked up a few techniques and gotten used to some of the mechanics. Checking planets on the Galaxy Map for instance to work out where is likely to be best to jump next, especially in terms of the types of worlds and what they've got in terms of Rare and Uncommon resoureces, which are both worth more and more efficient for repairs.

Likewise in systems, if a planet says extreme gravity or similar, that means it's probably not the best place for an efficient fuel pickup. Sometimes you may have no choice but to risk a mission on a high risk planet. However, you have to pick your battles.

Mining isn't the focus of the game, just a way of staying self-sufficient. The aliens have plenty of work and opportunities, but you have to find them. For instance, all of them have a repeating quest that you can take on if you can get a foot in the door, such as delivering parcels for the Glukkt.

Sometimes you will get aliens showing up and offering you quests. Don't rely on that though, and don't expect them to have crunched any numbers to see if you can survive it. Usually, you're expendable to them. But there's no shame in agreeing to take on a bounty hunting mission, see the guy, and go 'haha, no', if you're clearly out of your league.

When you DO mine, common materials are only intended for energency patches. Look for better quality materials to get things done or for trading. In general, it's more efficient to trade and buy repair kits and the like than to use resources directly for repair.

Time rewinding in Explorer Mode is intended to save you from being blown up in a fight or similar. Keeping the ship and crew in once piece is a long-term objective, and if you're repeatedly blowing up due to a situation you're in, it's probably best to call it.

Don't worry about getting to Earth for a while. Focus on trying to learn something new each run. Try asking aliens for work. Insult them, see what happens. It's easy to think of roguelike games as punishing, but you can also think of them as liberating - whatever happens happens and it doesn't have to be a big deal. If you piss someone off, someone else will be happy about it. If it leads to a boom, that's one more bit of information for your next run.

Early in the game, consider taking Miriam. Her Distress Beacon is VERY useful.

And of course, we do recommend a controller for playing the game, especially the Lander sections. Plenty of folks are playing with m&k, but we all favour Xbox controllers.

My tip: You will die.
Treat it as a learning experience.
Every bit of knowledge you collect will be helpful later, so do not hesitate to experiment! This game can and will surprise you ;)

extra tip: Don't be afraid to fight. Your basic configuration can do surprising damage if you keep at it and use your boost to evade (right-click in weapons mode).

I played it on friends beta account and this game is insanely hard. You will die. There is no way you can make it to earth.

Several beta testers have made it to Earth. It's not impossible.

So one thing I can't figure out is how to jump to the next cluster. I arrive at the gate, dock, pay... and then? Somehow I just can't figure out what to do.

You fly into the middle of the Gate - the big collection of rings by the gatestation.

Hint: Don't try to leave solar system borders. And don't move towards the border while heating you jump drive. Instadeath.

Tried to jump to the next solar system and died because (1) the hint about system borders appeared few seconds before I jumped (2) jump progress was dropped to zero and (3) my movement vector and speed gave me no chance to "thrust" back and game killed me. Just killed wihtin a few seconds.
Seriously? Even sol and planet collisions are less harmful than that.

If one of the crew dies, is there any way to rescue them and revive them?

Afraid not. No Lazarus Of The Week Awards, to quote the wonderful SF Debris.

So if you want a full crew, do you recommend restarting?

No, keep playing. Try and get the most out of every run. Learn as much as you can. Knowledge is power.

Originally posted by Seneschal:

Don't just jump to the nearest system automatically. Use your scanners to see what's available around you. Over time you'll learn to read the probable dangers of the worlds listed. Early on, focus on what's available. Common resources aren't worth much, to you or anyone else. Uncommon and Rare resources are more efficient for repair, and valuable.

This is great advice! Remember this! This is great advice for people who are looking to earn their own money.

Great advice so far, but I did scroll and I may repeat (I'm sorry if I repeated what someone already said).

What I learned so far:

Patience is great for fuel consumption, you don't need to hold the thrust button.

Follow your gut:
I say this because some players would like to be space pirates or what have you, others would prefer the explorer's life. (I prefer the former). So if an alien species (Which is not impossible but not probable) asks you to do something, follow what you feel like doing, don't just simply acquiesce.

Orange circle; after you highlight system in galaxy map; is how far your ship can jump.

To collect emergency fuel just stay in orbit within red circle around star. (Please note: As the game states, this will INJURE/DAMAGE your crew and ship, so this is as a last resort.)

Make sure you check the Gravity and Convection before entering a planet.

Use Gravity Wells to "Sail" through systems:
Accelerate (But watch your trajectory) to take advantage of gravity wells and minimize fuel consumtion.

Be ready to know what to eject and what to keep:
Common vs rare, etc. It also depends on location and personal circumstance.

Planetary owners don't like it when you harvest their resources.

Any reason why you have to guess or test which side your weapons will fire?