And with Resource Extraction Sites make sure you start off with Low Intensity ones to begin with!
With any RES, don't pick a fight unless you know you can win. The good thing about them is that the pirates won't attack you unless you attack first, which gives you time between fights to recharge shields, etc.
In anything except a Hazardous RES, there will probably be local security ships. Enemy ships will aggro onto whoever attacks them first, so if you wait for local security to engage your target, they may never actually fire a shot at you depending on how quickly you're able to dispatch them. That's not a hard and fast rule, though, so don't go picking a fight with a Python, Clipper, or heaven forbid an Anaconda in your Sidewinder.. if they decide you're a threat, they'll vaporize your ship in a hot second. But that technique is how I handle enemy wings that I know I can't take myself (Anaconda with a pair of Federal Dropships, for example), I'll wait for the Feds to attack, and then I'll immediately engage the two wingmen and take them out of the picture one at a time (they're more interested in fighting the person attacking their leader), then focus my attention on the leader. If no local security is around, or you're in a Hazardous RES, then you'll have to be able to soak up three or four ships worth of damage while you take them out one at a time. This morning I took my FDL up against a Clipper and two Vultures without Fed help, and they managed to get me down to one ring of shields. But that's with Class-A shields and
six shield boosters. I rely heavily on those nigh-unbreakable shields, but when they go down, I've got to bug out
fast since I'm probably up against multiple baddies and I just lost my main advantage.
Right now, that's my main moneymaker, but I'm also doing it for the Community Goals for racking up bounty kills.
Bear in mind that, as a newcomer, you'll actually be doing the same thing us "late-game" players are doing, just on a smaller scale. Bounty hunting is bounty hunting, just always pick on someone your own size (or smaller). Trading is trading, start small and work you way up to a ship that can carry more cargo. Ditto for mining. About the only profession that has any real up-front investment is exploration, at least if you're going long distance. There's certain things you'll definitely want to have when you're too far away from human-occupied space to be able to do things like refuel or repair. Luckily, there's several different ships to choose from now instead of just the Asp Explorer (which I think is still generally considered the best all-rounder for exploration, but it's also the most expensive).
Remember we all started in a Sidewinder. Pick your path and go. I started in trading myself, now I do mostly combat and exploration. I'm actually looking for a change of pace right now, I'm thinking of taking my Asp on a short exploration trip outside the bubble to look for hot mining sites, and then buying a mining ship to see how it feels. And no, we're not all super-rich, either.. lol. Yes, I can buy a new ship pretty much any time I want now, but it'll be a
small ship. Probably buy a Type-6 (my third, I think) for mining, but if I like it, I'll have to save up for something much bigger to really make it profitable.
