Anybody here remember that gem of a game called Freelancer?
I finally got my hands on a copy again, this time for keeps.
Last one I messed with was borrowed from a library.
A good tip in the beginning is to get a Rhino Freighter, then buy Basic Alloy in bulk at West Point Military Academy, and then sell it over at Baltimore Shipyard.
The buying price at West Point is around 40 credits, you'll be selling it at Baltimore for around 108 creds.
Farming Zephiel Turrets and Drail Blasters off of Rogues is also a good way to prepare for obtaining a Rhino, as they have 3 gunports, and 5 turretports.
The most you'll have to do to get Drail and Zephiel weapons is to just be Level 2, the Zephiels drop at Lv1, and Drails at Lv2. You'll only need 3 Drails, and 5 Zephiels, but if you can get even 3 Zephiels, you're set, as you can fill the remaining 2 slots with Starbeam turrets and not notice much difference.
EDIT: and for the die-hard Macross fan in all of us, I present
this. The Itano Circus Mod. Fighter-type ships get a major buff, and are a lot cooler to use. If I were to use this, I'd be a firm proponent of using the Patriot Light Fighter you can get on the first planet.