Starfield: A Guide to Character Creation, Starship Acquisition, and Using the Scanner
Want to know more about Starfield? After so long in development, and with the arrival of the Starfield beta, Bethesda Game Studios’ highly anticipated space-based sci-fi RPG marks the studio’s first single-player epic RPG in eight years, and Starfield is generating significant hype in the wake of the ongoing success of Skyrim.
Now that you’ve had a chance to play the Starfield beta and get a taste of what’s in store, there’s no better time to get to know the ins and outs of Bethesda’s latest Open-world game. Starfield features a vast and immersive world filled with captivating sights, sounds, and stories. With the Starfield release date on the horizon, we’re sure that you’re eager to embark on your maiden voyage into the depths of Starfield’s world, but we’re here to help you make the most of it.
How to Use the Starfield Scanner
Starfield introduces a scanner feature that goes beyond resource scanning. Resource scanning allows you to identify nearby planets and moons that may yield valuable resources and can be upgraded to highlight interactive objects. The advanced scanner, however, goes further, distinguishing between nameless NPCs and named NPCs who may offer quests or important information.
To get the most out of the scanner, we recommend upgrading it as early as possible. This allows you to pick up on quests and conversations that you might otherwise miss. It also helps track enemies and enhances your targeting capabilities.
How to See Your Character in Starfield
Starfield provides third-person camera options and a setting to hide your helmet when in settlements, so you can see and customize your character’s appearance. While you can engage in altruistic actions in Starfield, you also have the opportunity to steal ships from morally questionable factions without repercussions.
While the ability to steal ships adds an exciting gameplay element and can provide financial benefits or expand your fleet, it’s not alone in offering morally gray choices. You can also remove traits you assign during character creation, allowing you to adjust your character’s traits as you see fit. The process is relatively straightforward, so don’t worry about being locked into any choices. We’ve got further details on how to remove Starfield traits further down this guide.
How to Persuade NPCs in Starfield
Starfield introduces a persuasion system that allows you to attempt to persuade NPCs in your favor. Successfully persuading NPCs opens up dialogue options and offers a layer of noncombat depth and enhances the role-playing experience.
Certain situations will prompt a persuasion icon, and these may be used to try to convince an NPC in your favor. There are some circumstances in which you’re unable to exit a conversation, which means you’re unable to try again to persuade them in your favor. However, in less dramatic scenes or side quests, you can exit a conversation and return later to retry failed persuasion attempts.
Making time to listen to NPC conversations will unlock multiple quest paths and provide valuable information, both in settlements and while exploring the vast cosmos.
How to Gather Resources in Starfield
Starfield is a game about collecting resources, but you’ll need to be selective in what you gather due to the limited carrying capacity in Starfield. You’ll need to decide whether to gather all the resources in one location or spread yourself thin to cover more ground.
You can assign Starfield traits during character creation, which can have significant impacts on your gameplay. We encourage you to experiment and have fun with them, but if you find that a particular trait is causing you discomfort or is unhelpful, you can remove it. The process is relatively straightforward, so we’ve got a guide on how to remove Starfield traits.
How to Steal Ships in Starfield
Certain ships in Starfield can be stolen without moral consequences. These ships primarily belong to groups like Eclipse mercenaries, Crimson Fleet personnel, and spacer scum. Boarding and clearing out these ships allows you to claim them as your own or sell them for a substantial profit.
One such ship can be found near New Atlantis, which means you may be able to acquire a second starship early on. If you’re wary about boarding these ships, you can always clear out the enemy outside and then sneak on board, as the crew won’t know you’re there.
How to Change Starfield Controls
Starfield allows you to change the keybindings, which is particularly helpful if you want to assign camera movement to a mouse. You can also change the setting for how the mouse works with the UI, whether it operates on a flat plane or floats above the screen.
