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« on: August 03, 2018, 01:49:21 AM »
You mentioned you're roleplaying a merchant? You really should look into the Shepard-class drone tender that others have mentioned earlier. It serves as both a cheap little freighter, as well as one of the cheapest fighter screens in the game. Early pirates have very inefficient shields or lack them entirely, so the low-but-consistent damage inflicted by Shepard drones will really begin to add up over time. If nothing else, they will tie up enemy ships preventing them from flanking you.
I always go with the Wayfarer start as well, as I really like the trade approach, but I always try an score myself a Lasher-class frigate as soon as I can. (The Wolf is more lethal as a player ship, but I find that the Lasher is more forgiving) For it's cost/CR it's an utter beast of a vessel, and makes an excellent starting flagship. Once you get a feel for combat, a player-piloted Lasher + two or three Shepards to screen out the opposition will allow you to easily put down any pirate group capable of catching your frigate fleet. Drams fit well as fuel carriers; they're fast and cheap. Avoid the Brawler, it's a fleet fighter designed to escort destroyers, not chase frigates.
Also, I know it's been mentioned before, but seriously, AVOID COMMISSIONS. Taking a commission is literally declaring war on anyone at war with your chosen faction. This makes you free game for everything from basic frigate patrols right on up to planetary defense fleets, regardless of your fleet's size or composition. Only take a commission when you want to dance with the big boys.
If push comes to shove and you really can't figure out how to survive without constant save scumming, look at some Let's Plays on YouTube. (Most are modded, but the basic principles about how to manage you fleet strategically still translate to unmodded well.) Nemonaemo usually has one or more for each current version, and he almost never reloads his saves. FallenShogun has a few too, and while he often struggles, he too manages to survive and even thrive. That may give you some ideas about what you need to change that you haven't been able to communicate to us, or we haven't picked up on/understood.