However, you may wish to take the helm yourself to avoid particularly nasty threats, such as radiation fields or powerful mines. While in Go-to or Dock mode, your ship can autonomously navigate around hazards such as asteroids and suns.Even if you lose formation, you still get automatically bumped to the head of the line. If there is a long line to use a Jump Gate, select a member of the group currently using it and enter formation with them.Don't head for a base, though those tend to turn hostile if you defy the police, and unlike Trade Lanes they have the power to deny you landing permission. Even if you run out of time and they attack, everything will still be forgotten as soon as you're out of sight.
It is possible for a mission target to spawn inside a deadly hazard, such as a minefield or the corona of a sun.You will just be annihilated if not, no matter what equipment or ship you have. If ever you fancy a Titan, Sabre or just want to explore the Omicron Systems or Tau 37, be friends with the Corsairs and the Outcasts.
It may be better to find and camp a base full of someone everyone hates, like Xenos or Corsairs slower, but safer. If you take a mission to kill a faction's enemies, but got the mission from a third faction who are also their enemies, you'll actually end up worse off than before. When you take a mission to affect your reputation, know that who you took it from is much more important that who you're killing.This goes double if you find two or more routes that look like they might converge. If you find a patrol route leading into deep space and follow it, chances are it'll lead you to at least one of the two. Your map's Show Patrol Routes feature is invaluable for finding Jump Holes or outlaw bases.If you find a useful trick that isn't on the list, please add it. This page is a compendium of useful tricks and hints.