Short answer
For most new players, Area18 is the best starting point. Important equipment, personal weapons and armor are comparatively compact, and the space port is connected to the city center via a direct shuttle connection. New Babbage is the best alternative if you care about ground vehicles, ship components or mining equipment.
My recommendation: Area18
Area18 offers beginners the most balanced combination of simple orientation, personal equipment and fast access to the space port. The city is not superior in every single category, but causes relatively little unnecessary ways in the first hours of play.
In Zone 1 you will find Cuban Blast, where you will find personal weapons, armor, undersuits and other equipment for first missions. Adira Falls Apartments are also nearby, where new players can start their first stay.
Via the central ArcCorp Plaza you can reach more shops and the hospital. In Zone 2 you will find Dumper and Astro Armada as ship dealer. You will call your own ship at Riker Memorial Spaceport, which is connected to the center by regular shuttles.
Ship rental is also offered in Area18. However, the specific selection can change with updates. Therefore, it is more important for you to reach equipment, space port and central services without complex city structure.
What makes a good starting point?
The most beautiful place is not automatically the easiest place to start. For new players, practical factors are crucial.
Equipment
How fast do you find undersuit, helmet, armor, personal weapons, medicine and food?
How to get to the port of space
How many trains or shuttles do you need to use before you can retrieve your ship at ASOP-Terminal?
Ship hire
Can you try other ships without having to buy them permanently? The specific rental offer can change between updates.
Orientation
Are Habs, shops, hospital, transit and space port easily distinguishable from each other?
Own interests
Mining, ground vehicles, ship components or the desired atmosphere can make a different starting point personally more attractive for you.
The four starting places in comparison
Best Allround Choice
Area18: the best all-round choice
Area18 is especially handy if you want to assemble your first equipment without a long search. Cubby Blast combines personal weapons and armor in one place. CenterMass, Dumpers Depot, Astro Armada, Hospital and other services complement the offer.
The space port is connected to the city center via city flight shuttles. Thus, the typical first route consists essentially of Hab, central city area, shuttle and Riker Memorial Spaceport.
Suitable for
- most beginners
- First FPS and delivery missions
- Players who prefer short and understandable paths
- quick access to armor and personal weapons
Less suitable for
- Players who immediately want to try out ground vehicles on a freely accessible landscape
Best alternative
New Babbage: strong for technology and ground vehicles
New Babbage is a very good alternative. CenterMass offers personal and naval weapons, Omega Pro sells ship components and at Shubin you can find mining equipment. Accesses for ground vehicles are available directly at the space port as well as at the commons.
The Metroloop network connects space port, commons, Expo Center and Aspire Grand. The city is well organized, but distributes important places across a larger area than Area18.
Suitable for
- Ground vehicles
- Mining equipment
- Ship components
- Players who want to explore MicroTech and its surroundings
Less suitable for
- Players looking for personal weapons and full armor as compact as possible in a single store
With restrictions
Lorville: central, but not the easiest choice
Lorville offers armor, flying suits and mining equipment at Tammany and Sons. On the Teasa Spaceport there is a ship's showroom, rental provider and ASOP-Terminals.
The city, however, has five main lines in the public transit system. This makes Lorville versatile, but can require more orientation during the first hours of play. Moreover, the combination of personal armament and armor is less compact than at Cubby Blast in Area18.
Suitable for
- Players who prefer Hurston as their starting point
- Armor and mining equipment
- Access to ship showroom and rental offer
Less suitable for
- the simplest possible first way
- complete personal combat equipment at a single central location
Beautiful, but more demanding
Orison: impressive but more complex
Orison is visually one of the most impressive locations in Stanton. Shops, hospital, ship exhibition and ship rental are available.
The city consists of multiple platforms connected via different Skyway shuttle lines. For new players, this means additional orientation between Cloudview, Providence, Spaceport and other areas.
Suitable for
- Players who care about the atmosphere
- Interest in Crusader Industries
- Players who want to explore a larger platform city
Less suitable for
- the shortest and clearest first start
- Players who want to avoid transit systems as much as possible
Compare start locations directly
| Start location | Equipment | Ship hire | Orientation | Special Strength | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area18 | Weapons and armor compact at Cubby Blast; additional ship and component shops | Available | comparably compact | Simple all-round entry | Very good |
| New Babbage | Weapons, ship components and mining equipment; Armor less compact bundled | Available | well structured, but larger paths | Technology, mining and ground vehicles | Very good |
| Lorville | Armor, suits and mining equipment | Available | several transit lines | Ship Showroom and location on Hurston | Good with restrictions |
| Orison | several shops on different platforms | Available | multiple platforms and shuttle lines | Atmosphere and Crusader offer | Rather for later |
Which starting point suits you?
You want the simplest general introduction?
Choose Area18.
You want to try ground vehicles, mining and marine technology?
Choose New Babbage.
You want to use Hurston as a central starting point?
Lorville can fit you, but requires more orientation.
Above all, you want to experience an impressive environment?
Orison is worth seeing, but not the easiest first choice.
Your first steps in Area18
If you select Area18, you don't have to buy any equipment immediately. For the first orientation, a simple procedure is enough.
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I left and noticed signs
Leave your belongings and orient yourself to the clues to ArcCorp Plaza, Cityflight Transit and Riker Memorial Spaceport.
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Buy only necessary equipment
At Cubby Blast, you will find personal weapons and armor. At the beginning, just buy what you really need for your planned activity.
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Remember Hospital and Central Plaza
Embrace the location of the hospital and the central transit area. This orientation helps you with later return routes.
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Take Shuttle to Riker Memorial Spaceport
Follow the signs to the Cityflight Transit and drive to the space port.
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Retrieve ship at ASOP-Terminal
At the space port you will call your ship at the ASOP-Terminal and then search the displayed hangar. Beginner guide for the first steps.
Frequently asked questions about the choice of the starting point
Is Area18 always the best starting point?
No. Area18 is the best general recommendation because important equipment and the way to the space port are comparatively easy to access. If you are particularly interested in ground vehicles, mining equipment or the environment of MicroTech, New Babbage can fit you better.
Can I rent ships at all take-off locations?
Ship rentals are offered at Area18, New Babbage, Lorville and Orison. What ships are available and how high the rental prices are, can change with updates.
Which starting point is best suited for ground vehicles?
New Babbage is particularly convenient for this purpose. Garages are located directly at the space port, and the commons also have access to the planet's surface and vehicles.
Why is Lorville not recommended as the best choice?
Lorville offers important services, armor and ship rental. However, the public transit system has several lines, and personal armament and armor are not as compactly bundled in one place as in Area18.
Why is Orison more difficult for beginners?
Orison distributes its urban areas across multiple platforms connected by different shuttle lines. This is impressive but requires more orientation than the more compact structure of Area18.
Do I have to choose the most beautiful place?
No. For the first hours of play short distances, equipment and an understandable connection to the space port are usually more important. You can visit other places at any time later.
Sources and timeliness
The recommendation is based on the currently documented shops, services and transit systems of the four large Stanton landing zones. Shop inventory, rental offers and individual paths can change during the Alpha with updates.