OK, so I'm doing well with Awakenings. Running around after elusive signals. Just on my way to the latest when I see a fight between a few bandits and a freighter. At the freighter's request, I assist.

Called aboard and the Admiral offers to sell me the freighter. It's more than I have so I accept. Anyway, the Admiral accepts my offer and I now own a freigher, with crew and I haven't a clue what to do next.

Really loving this game so far.

Congrats, but wait until you see one of the big freighters show up... :P

That's a really awesome moment in the game, congrats!

A whole time later I learned you can summon the freighter when pirates attack you and the freighter will assist in taking down the pirates

While the fireworks ensueing near a (properly 'armed') freighter can be quite impressive, it's just that: Fireworks with less than miniscule damage. Still, I find the thought of my freighter crew trying to defend themselves and me quite immersive.

'Aid' comes from (Combat) Frigates. More specifically, a single Frigate will send out drones (which remarkably resemble System Authority Ships) to your aid. Again, they will do miniscule damage, and there's a good chance you're told, that the enemy ships were defeated, while they strill very much kick you around.

And god forbid you accidentially hit one of your aides :o)

If it wasn't for the bugs, needless shortcommings, endless exact-same and (since NEXT) rewardless repetition, I'd still enjoy running into the occassional freighter battle.

Anyway, congrats to you, Surfinjo, for saving and ultimately getting handed a freighter :)

@TerriblePurpose

Shush -- don't you hint to yet another bug (feature ?) in the most recent incarnation of NMS ... :o)

I too got my first freighter! Like you, I have no idea what to do haha.

It happened before that I got the distress call but I always fled from the scene. I finally got brave and defeated the pirates, now I have this gigantic beast in space.

Now to figure out what to do with it :D

I never considered trying to avoid the first encounter(s). I always accepted getting into the fight, but refused the first free offer, since I mainly wasn't into the looks of the freighter offered as a (free) reward -- knowing, that if I refused, the next one would still come for free.

Nice find :)

I'll certainly try what you did on my next fresh save.

Edit:

What to do with it ? For one, your freighters Hyperdrive is capable of jumping to any system within the reach of tis drives. No restrictions. Rare resources located in Star Systems you'd need specialized Hyperdrive updates for reaching are now within reach quite effortlessly.

Also, now you can go and buy Frigates to send out on Expeditions, or _finally_ have a Combat-type Frigate defend you. Yes, for the first time ever, in 2.12 I had a Combat Frigates' drones obliterate attackers. Literally. I was about to be attacked, one of my Combat Frigates notified me, that it would send help ... and poof ... all attackers were gone.

Your freighter provides a garage for all your ships at once. Also, you now have a moveable base with storage and space to build stuff inside. Despite the nerfs they got and all the old and new bugs I run into, I still am a freighter person in this game. I just like the thought of being able to call in my movebale 'safe space' whenver I want. IOW: Nothing better than being able to call in the Cavalry :)

Everybody should have a space caravan! :)

Visit Goginized Space somewhere down the road if you feel lonely with your crew some day. There's still some place for caravanning. ;)

Nice! I'm traveling right now and suffering from withdrawal. Will be back on Friday, greet hubby and go freighting - hopefully for him in that order ^_^

When I first got offered a freighter for free I thought it was a bug, and declined ...
It still feels like a cheat mod. Well, let's just pretend the freighter was the reward for finishing an elaborate quest line.

Yeah I learned a lot since then, and actually went back to my old manual save just so that I could decline. The second time around I was offered an A class capital freighter with 32+4 slots.

Now to find frigates beyond the crappy one that came with the ship and go on missions. Loving this game :D

Edit: figured out how to take a picture of my beauty: https://imgur.com/PNJuAUF