Tips and Tricks for X4: Foundations – Starting the Economy Primer

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Economy Primer

X4 is a simulation economy where goods are able to have a supply chain starting with the raw materials. These raw materials are refined, mined, and then shipped to the next station which requires the refined products. This process continues until you reach the final product.

Ships are the primary economic engine of X4 and where most of the supplies end up. Ships are constantly being built because X4 does not have an environment that is safe. There are wars between factions, and battles against galactic threats such as Xenon and Kha’ak. There are pirates that attack ships, and there are police who attack pirates.

Shipyards and Wharfs are the two major producers of capital ships. The primary focus of any trade-based playthrough will be on these ship builders and their production chains.

Getting Started

Let’s begin!

The first task is to locate the Shipyard and Wharf we’d like to supply. This is very easy on Young Gun because they have already identified for us.

If they’re not yet identified, then you’ll have to find them. You can do this by asking an ally vessel nearby to guide you to the closest Wharf / Shipyard, or by searching for their spawning locations as they are fixed at the start of the game. If the Wharf / Shipyard is destroyed the AI will rebuild it, but may rebuild it in any sector that they control or an ally if they’ve lost many sectors.

My first task for Young Gun is to get rid of my beginning Nav Beacons. I’ll also purchase an Trading Computer Extension and hire an extra pilot.

I’m now going to identify the stations that are in my areas. I’m planning to do a long-range scan them and then fly over them to find out the type of station they are. I’m also planning to set up a resource probe in areas I pass through that contain resources. This is all in order to create an information network that is strong and will be used in the following steps.

I will be looking for easy tasks to perform while I do my initial information gathering. This will allow me to get the starting credits for my first ships.

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