-snip-
Thanks, I'm on my second successful play through now! First one got corrupted sadly, but this one I took an exploration approach and the game really opened up for me. I found a system with like 6 derelict probes, a derelict exploration ship, and hella debris fields that gave me a number of gamma cores, supplies, and fuel for the trip home. Lit.
I'm focusing on a more carrier-centric doctrine now. I was operating two condors + 2 wolfs and that pretty much could take around 6 frigates or light destroyers. I changed to a similar light carrier from a mod and managed to get an all drone strike force, cutting down on the crew replenishment.
@Fewah,
There seems to be only really be two Meta paths. Option one is exploration, going on long range missions to run sensors on stuff and salvaging all the advanced equipment you can. Option two is bounty hunting, running a fast as fuck fleet and luring valuable targets into the crosshairs of the big boys, or alternatively killing them yourself (and still salvaging the good stuff.) Once you have some money you can change over, or if you have a big enough fleet take a commission I suppose. Surveying planets is dodgy at best, as there's a good chance the supply cost outweighs the data level, once you have the surveying equipment hullmod, this gets a lot better--I generally stick to surveying tiny worlds or moons for the low personnel costs.