GETTING AHEAD IN THE GEMINI SECTOR
         How to Become Rich and Respected in Privateer
                         by Jeff James
     Unlike its predecessors in the Wing Commander universe,  (which rewarded player with fast reflexes) Privateer gives  gamers a chance to exercise their gray matter as well as  their hand-eye coordination. From lugging cargo across the  far reaches of the galaxy to battling enigmatic alien  vessels, Privateer requires the player to simultaneously  fill the shoes of an interplanetary tradesman and a  mercenary starship captain for hire.
                                     First Things First [NEXT]

       Due to the multifaceted nature of Privateer, getting off
  to a good start is essential. The game begins with the  player at the Achilles mining base in the Troy star system,  possessing a meager allotment of funds and a dilapidated  space vessel. The first goal is to upgrade your ship as  quickly as possible: Gemini sector is a very dangerous  place. After the your ship has been upgraded to a reasonable  level, you should start saving money toward the purchase of  a new ship which will be suitable for missions outside of  the docile Troy system. While no strategy is ever perfect, I  found the following system to work well. 
                                           Step-by-Step [NEXT]

       Once the game begins, you should immediately go to the
  ship dealer and sell the following items off your ship:  laser cannon, missile launcher (w/missiles) and plasteel  armor. After those items are sold, buy tungsten armor, an  afterburner, a torpedo launcher (w/10 torpedoes) and 1 Meson  Blaster. With your remaining currency, go to the Achilles  commodity exchange and buy as much iron and tungsten as  possible. Exit the commodity exchange and access the mission  computer, located in the center of the base. Select a single  mission, preferably a "defend base" mission at either  Achilles or Helen.
                                      Onward and Upward [NEXT]

       After accepting a mission, save your game. Once the game
  is saved, launch your craft and complete the mission granted  by the mission computer. Once the mission is complete, fly  to Helen with your cargo of iron and tungsten. Sell the  cargo in the commodity exchange and use the profits to buy  as much grain as your ship can carry. Then go to the ship  dealer and buy another Meson Blaster, giving you a total of  2. The dual Meson Blasters and torpedo launcher provide  enough firepower to overcome most foes in the Troy system,  while the tungsten armor provides a measure of protection  beyond the stock plasteel variety.
                                    Afterburners "R" Us [NEXT]