Once your character is created to your liking, it’s finally time to get into the game. First you pick a server. Usually you can just select Best and don’t need to worry about it any further.
Right after that, the next prompt appears: choose your starting location!
That means which place in the universe should be your home location and where your items will be stored. If you want to change locations later, you’ll also have to pack all your stuff into your ship and move. And hope you don’t crash or get robbed along the way, because then all your nice things would be gone.
After every new patch, you’ll be asked for your starting location again. That’s handy, since it lets you change your choice at any time. All the items you’ve collected up to that point and scattered around the universe are transferred to the newly chosen planet.
You can choose from various places, all located on different planets or space stations. They differ in their transport options, the range of shops, the missions on offer and above all in their look and atmosphere.
Spawn point
You start your adventure in your personal hangar. Of course you could roll out your ship right away and take off immediately. But it’s worth taking a detour into the city of your choice first.
There you can invest your starting credit in the basic gear you need. Armor, weapons with extra magazines, a bit of food and a few of the usual tools will make your life easier. That way you’re prepared if your first mission turns out a bit tougher. Without supplies, you can quickly end up facing a whole group of enemies with hardly any ammo on you.
Star systems
There are currently three star systems in Star Citizen: Stanton, Pyro and Nyx.
Stanton
Stanton is the core system and the right choice for new players. There are laws here, and someone who enforces them: anyone who misbehaves gets a CrimeStat and has to deal with security. There are also armistice zones in and around the stations and cities. PvP is possible here too and does happen, but it’s the exception, not the rule.
On top of that, Stanton is manageable. You can comfortably jump from one corner of the system to the other and back with practically any ship, without having to stop to refuel along the way.
Pyro
Pyro is the exact opposite. There are no laws here and nobody who would enforce them. Anyone who attacks you doesn’t have to expect any consequences whatsoever, and that goes both ways.
Accordingly, the system is tailored to players looking for PvP. There are lots of places designed for ground combat and clashes between players. On top of that, Pyro is much bigger than Stanton, so the distances are longer.
It’s not for getting started. But once you’ve found your feet and like the idea of risk, much better loot is waiting for you here.
Nyx
Nyx is still at the very beginning of its development. There are no planets there yet, but there are two asteroid belts with stations scattered around them.
The big catch: the destinations are very far apart. So you spend a lot of time in quantum travel between the individual locations. A trip there is worth it to take a look, but right now Nyx isn’t suitable as a home system.
There are starting locations in all three systems. So you can also start directly in Pyro or Nyx. For getting started, though, I recommend Stanton, which is why I only cover the locations there below.
Stanton in detail
There are four possible starting locations in the Stanton system, spread across four different planets. Each of these planets is controlled by its own megacorporation, whose influence you can clearly feel everywhere.
In Star Citizen, you get around either in your spaceship or on foot. In the big cities, though, you can’t do without public transport. Depending on the location, trains or flying shuttles take you from one district to another, for example from the spaceport to the shopping districts or to the commodity exchange.
Hurston - Lorville
Hurston is the innermost planet of the system and is controlled by the megacorporation of the same name. Smog, factories and the noise of industry shape the picture. That’s why Lorville, Hurston’s capital, has a uniquely dystopian and dark atmosphere with lots of character.
Thanks to its central location, you can quickly reach everything in the Stanton system from here.
The shopping options for weapons and armor are very limited here, but Lorville has the best ship dealer in the system right in the departure hall of the spaceport. That also has the advantage that no matter where you’re coming from, you don’t need the transport system to look at the ships in the showroom and spend your hard-earned credits.
Crusader - Orison
If you choose Orison as your starting location, you begin your adventure in what’s probably one of the most beautiful places in the entire Stanton system. The city floats high above the clouds of the gas giant Crusader, carried by huge platforms and with a breathtaking view of the endless seas of clouds, especially at sunrise and sunset.
Orison is very friendly and bright. You take a shuttle between the stations and visit the different districts. Among them there’s also a ship dealer, even if it isn’t as well stocked as the one in Lorville.
The planet is very large and has a thick atmosphere, which can make takeoff and landing take a bit longer.
Close to Crusader there’s also the space station Grim HEX, which is mainly used by pirates. If you’d rather not get too close to them, you might want to pick a different starting point after all. That said, I’ve only very rarely run into pirates.
MicroTech - New Babbage
New Babbage is the capital of the beautiful, cold planet microTech, which is almost completely covered in snow and ice.
In the city, a stylish high-tech environment awaits you with glass facades, glowing holograms and busy plazas. Outside, snowstorms often rage, but inside there’s a clean, orderly atmosphere. People work out and party in bars and on dance floors.
You travel between the districts by express train to shop or visit the sights. Unfortunately, this location doesn’t have a ship dealer, so you’ll have to head to another planet if you want to expand your fleet.
Besides the spaceport, there’s also a spawn point for vehicles here. That lets you explore the planet on the ground too, if you have a vehicle in your hangar.
In the AeroView hangar, your starting point, a bright and open environment awaits you. Here you get the chance to look at your ship up close and in every detail.
In my opinion, landing works best here. The landing pads are easy to see, as long as the weather plays along and no snowstorm blocks the view.
ArcCorp - Area 18
ArcCorp is a city planet, completely built up with industrial and residential complexes. The city is modern and full of neon lights, screens and people.
The city’s layout is very pragmatic. Just one shuttle stop from the spaceport you’ll find shops for weapons, armor and ship components, as well as the TDD commodity exchange, where you can sell your goods. Astro Armada also sells you a few spaceships.
The planet lies somewhat on the edge of the star system, but the jump point to Pyro is close by. That’s an advantage if you plan to travel between the systems a lot.
Summary
My personal favorite right now is New Babbage. The city simply looks beautiful: modern architecture, high-tech elements and clean streets offer a fascinating contrast to the breathtaking nature outside the glass windows. Snow-covered mountains and green forests make for an incomparable backdrop. If you prefer calm, picturesque starting conditions, New Babbage is a real highlight.
Lorville on Hurston, on the other hand, feels massive and industrial. The city is surrounded by huge factory complexes, and steel girders, smokestacks and industrial halls shape the cityscape. Here you start in a heavily commercial environment that feels much rougher and less friendly. Perfect for everyone who wants to explore gloomy, dystopian city life.
On Orison, the focus is on open space and elegance. The city floats above a gas planet with a breathtaking view across the atmosphere. Starting here gives you a calm, futuristic experience: bright pastel colors, modern architecture and generous open spaces make Orison an ideal place to enjoy the beauty of the Star Citizen universe.
Most beginners, however, consider Area18 the best choice for getting started. Everything here is compact and easy to reach. The city’s layout is logical and quick to understand, so new players find their way around easily too. If you want to start right in the middle of urban life, this is the place for you.