Creating Your Character and Choosing a Home

New Player Guide

Creating Your Character and Choosing a Home

Once you have a starter package, it is time to actually enter Star Citizen.

This is where the game stops being a website full of tempting ships and becomes a confusing, beautiful, slightly unstable space life simulator.

Before you can wake up in the ‘verse, you will need to:

  • Enter the Persistent Universe
  • Create your character
  • Choose whether to play the tutorial
  • Pick your starting system
  • Choose your primary residence

Some of these choices are cosmetic. Some matter a lot more.

Your haircut is temporary.

Your home location, at least for the current major patch, is not.

Persistent Universe vs Arena Commander

When you first reach the main menu, you will usually see a few options.

The main one you want is the Persistent Universe.

This is the shared online universe where you can fly ships, run missions, visit cities, meet other players, join events, haul cargo, get lost, explode, and make poor decisions with friends.

You may also see Arena Commander.

Arena Commander is more of a separate game mode used for practice, combat, racing, testing ships, and jumping into quicker activities without dealing with the full universe.

For this guide, we are focusing on the Persistent Universe.

That is the main Star Citizen experience.

That is where your actual journey begins.

Creating Your Character

Before you spawn, you will create your character.

You can choose a base body type and then customise your appearance.

Depending on the current version of the game, you may be able to adjust things like:

  • Face shape
  • Skin tone
  • Hair
  • Facial hair
  • Scars
  • Tattoos
  • Eyes
  • Other facial details

You can spend ages here if you want.

You can also hit randomise until your character looks acceptable, cursed, heroic, or like someone who has already spent six months living on vending machine burritos.

Both approaches are valid.

Should You Spend Ages Customising?

You can, but you do not need to.

Your character appearance can usually be changed again later, and Star Citizen patches can sometimes reset character appearance anyway.

If this is your first time playing, do not get stuck here for an hour unless you genuinely enjoy character creation.

Make someone you like well enough, save the appearance if the option is available, and move on.

The real character development happens when you accidentally fall down a hangar elevator shaft.

Should You Play the Tutorial?

Star Citizen has had tutorial systems at different times, but they are not always reliable.

Sometimes the tutorial is helpful.

Sometimes it is outdated.

Sometimes it breaks in a way that makes a brand-new player think they are the problem, when actually the game is just being the game.

If the tutorial is working well in the current patch, it may be worth trying.

But if it feels broken, confusing, or out of date, do not panic.

You can skip it and follow this guide instead.

A community guide, a patient friend, or a SCANZ member in Discord will often do a much better job than a half-functioning tutorial marker floating somewhere inside a wall.

Choosing Your Starting System

After character creation, you will choose where your character starts.

This is one of the first important decisions you will make.

Depending on the current patch, you may see several systems available, such as:

  • Stanton
  • Pyro
  • Nyx

For a brand-new player, the safest recommendation is simple:

Start in Stanton.

Why Stanton Is Best for New Players

Stanton is the best place to learn the basics.

It has:

  • Major cities
  • Space stations
  • Shops
  • Hospitals
  • Beginner contracts
  • Cargo routes
  • Bounty missions
  • Bunker missions
  • Security presence
  • More predictable infrastructure

That does not mean Stanton is perfectly safe.

You can still run into pirates, PvP, bugs, crime stat problems, bad landings, hostile NPCs, and the occasional player doing something deeply weird.

But Stanton has enough structure that new players can learn the game without immediately being thrown into the harshest parts of the ‘verse.

If you are new, Stanton gives you the best chance of understanding what is going on before everything starts going sideways.

And it will go sideways.

But ideally not in the first five minutes.

What About Pyro?

Pyro is dangerous, lawless, and much less forgiving.

That is part of the appeal.

It is a great place for adventure, chaos, danger, and stories that begin with “this was probably a bad idea.”

But for a new player, Pyro can be rough.

You may have to deal with:

  • Less security
  • More player danger
  • Longer travel distances
  • Harsher conditions
  • More risk around popular locations
  • Fewer beginner-friendly safety nets

Pyro is absolutely worth visiting later.

But it is not where most new players should begin.

Learn how to fly, land, refuel, repair, gear up, complete missions, and recover from death first.

Then go to Pyro and make questionable decisions with confidence.

What About Nyx?

Nyx is another system you may see available depending on the current patch.

It has a very different feel from Stanton and Pyro, with locations such as Levski giving it a distinct identity.

Nyx can be interesting, atmospheric, and worth exploring, but it is not usually the simplest place for a first session.

For new players, the question is not:

“Which system is coolest?”

The question is:

“Which system gives me the best chance of learning the game?”

That answer is usually Stanton.

Start there.

Explore later.

Choosing Your Primary Residence

Once you choose a system, you will need to select a primary residence.

This is your starting home location for the current major patch.

Your primary residence determines where you first wake up, where your starting items are located, and where your persistent home hangar is based.

This matters because Star Citizen is very location-based.

Items are not magically available everywhere. If your gear is stored at one city, it may not be available at another unless you move it.

Your home is your first anchor point.

Choose somewhere practical.

Is Your Home Location Permanent?

Not forever.

But it usually lasts for the current major patch.

That means you should treat the decision as semi-permanent.

You can still:

  • Travel anywhere
  • Land at other stations
  • Store ships elsewhere
  • Move items around
  • Set your respawn at a different medical clinic
  • Operate from another station once you know what you are doing

But your primary residence remains your main home location for that patch.

So do not choose it completely at random.

Unless chaos is your brand.

In which case, honestly, respect.

Stanton Starting Cities

If you start in Stanton, you will usually choose from several major cities.

Each has a different feel, layout, and level of beginner friendliness.

The main options are:

  • Area18
  • New Babbage
  • Lorville
  • Orison

All of them are usable.

Some are just easier to recommend for a first start than others.

Area18

Area18 is located on ArcCorp, a planet covered in cityscape.

It has a dense, futuristic urban feel and gives you access to useful shops, transit, a hospital, weapons, armour, and a major spaceport.

Good for:

  • New players who want practical city access
  • Buying starter gear
  • Learning city navigation
  • Accessing shops quickly
  • Getting into early missions around ArcCorp

Pros

  • Strong shop access
  • Good gear availability
  • Clear city hub once you learn the layout
  • Good starting point for beginner activities
  • Feels very “big city sci-fi”

Cons

  • Can feel confusing at first
  • Lots of transit and walking
  • Urban layout may be overwhelming for brand-new players

SCANZ take

Area18 is a strong starting choice.

It has everything you need, and once you learn the tram route between the spaceport and plaza, it becomes fairly manageable.

If you like the city vibe, Area18 is a very solid home.

New Babbage

New Babbage is located on microTech.

It is clean, modern, snowy, and one of the most visually impressive starting cities.

It is popular with many players because it feels open, polished, and easier to understand than some other cities.

Good for:

  • New players who want a cleaner city layout
  • Players who like a modern sci-fi feel
  • Screenshots
  • General starting gameplay
  • Access to useful facilities

Pros

  • Beautiful location
  • Clean visual design
  • Popular starting city
  • Good facilities
  • Easier to vibe with than some heavier industrial cities

Cons

  • Can be further from some areas of Stanton
  • Still requires transit
  • Snow and atmosphere can make some travel feel slower

SCANZ take

New Babbage is one of the most beginner-friendly choices if you want somewhere that feels modern, impressive, and relatively easy to understand.

Also, it looks fantastic.

Which does not make you better at landing, but it does make crashing more cinematic.

Lorville

Lorville is located on Hurston.

It has a heavy industrial atmosphere, with corporate dystopia energy turned up high enough that you can practically taste the worker exploitation.

It is not as pretty as New Babbage or Orison, but it is practical and centrally located within Stanton.

Good for:

  • Practical players
  • Central Stanton access
  • Industrial atmosphere
  • Players who do not mind a grittier city

Pros

  • Useful location
  • Strong industrial feel
  • Good access to parts of Stanton
  • Practical home base
  • Distinct atmosphere

Cons

  • Can feel bleak
  • City navigation may be annoying at first
  • Not the prettiest starting experience

SCANZ take

Lorville is practical, but not glamorous.

If you want a central-ish starting point and do not mind the grim industrial mood, it works well.

If you want your first steps in Star Citizen to feel beautiful and inspiring, maybe pick somewhere that does not look like a workplace safety violation with a skyline.

Orison

Orison is located above Crusader, a gas giant.

It is one of the most beautiful cities in the game, floating among clouds on massive platforms.

It also has a reputation for being slower or heavier than other cities, depending on the patch and your PC.

Good for:

  • Players who value scenery
  • Crusader-based gameplay
  • Screenshots
  • A dramatic first impression

Pros

  • Stunning visuals
  • Unique floating city design
  • Strong atmosphere
  • Memorable first location

Cons

  • Can be slower to navigate
  • Can be heavier on performance
  • More spread out than some other cities
  • Not always the most practical beginner choice

SCANZ take

Orison is gorgeous.

It is also not always the easiest place to start.

If your PC handles it well and you love the look, go for it. But if you want the most practical first experience, Area18, New Babbage, or Lorville may be easier.

Beauty is powerful.

So is frame rate.

Best Starting Location for New Players

For most new players, we recommend:

  1. Stanton as your starting system
  2. Area18, New Babbage, or Lorville as your starting city
  3. Orison if you love the look and your PC handles it well
  4. Avoid Pyro as your first home unless you know exactly what you are signing up for

There is no single correct answer.

But there are easier answers.

If you are brand new and unsure, choose Stanton and pick one of the major cities that looks good to you.

You can always travel later.

Choosing a Region or Shard

After choosing your home, you may be asked to select a region or server/shard option.

You may see options such as:

  • Best
  • Australia
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • United States

The best choice depends on availability, server performance, and where you are playing from.

For Australian and New Zealand players, picking the closest available region is usually sensible, but sometimes another region may perform better depending on the current state of the servers.

If you are unsure, choose Best.

The game will attempt to place you somewhere suitable.

Sometimes it gets this right.

Sometimes it makes choices with the confidence of a drunk courier pilot.

If things feel terrible, you can always back out and try a different region later.

Before You Confirm

Before locking in your primary residence, check:

  • Are you in the system you want?
  • Did you choose Stanton if you are brand new?
  • Are you happy with the city?
  • Are you okay with this being your home for the current major patch?
  • Do you understand that your starting inventory and hangar will be based there?

Once confirmed, you usually cannot freely change your primary residence until the next reset or major patch.

So take a moment.

Not an hour.

Just a moment.

What Happens After You Confirm?

Once you confirm your home location, the game will load you into the Persistent Universe.

You will usually wake up in your personal hangar or starting area, depending on the current patch and location setup.

From there, you can begin learning the basics:

  • Looking around
  • Opening global chat
  • Using your MobiGlas
  • Accessing local inventory
  • Finding your ship terminal
  • Leaving the hangar
  • Heading into the city
  • Buying gear
  • Retrieving your ship

This is where the game really begins.

It may feel overwhelming at first, but do not worry.

The next guide will walk through what to do when you first spawn.

Common Mistakes

Starting in the Wrong System

If you are new, do not start in Pyro just because it sounds exciting.

It is exciting.

So is being chased through space with no idea how to refuel.

Start in Stanton.

Learn first.

Suffer later, with style.

Choosing Based Only on Looks

Orison is beautiful.

New Babbage is beautiful.

Area18 is cool.

Lorville is grimy and practical.

Looks matter, but your first home should also be useful.

Pick somewhere that helps you learn.

Forgetting Your Home Is Patch-Locked

Your primary residence usually lasts for the current major patch.

You can travel and operate elsewhere, but your home location remains your anchor.

Do not panic about it, but do not ignore it either.

Getting Stuck in Character Creation

Make a character and move on.

You can perfect your space cheekbones later.

There are ships to crash.

Assuming the Tutorial Is Always Reliable

If the tutorial works, great.

If it breaks, skip it and use this guide or ask SCANZ for help.

You are not failing the tutorial.

Sometimes the tutorial is failing you.

SCANZ Recommendation

For a brand-new player, the simplest setup is:

  • Start in Stanton
  • Choose Area18, New Babbage, or Lorville
  • Avoid starting in Pyro
  • Do not stress too much over character appearance
  • Skip the tutorial if it is not working properly
  • Ask in Discord if you get stuck

Your first home does not need to be perfect.

It just needs to be practical enough to help you get started.

Once you know how to fly, land, use stations, complete contracts, and recover from death, the whole ‘verse opens up.

For now, pick a sensible home and get ready to wake up.

Next Guide

Next: Your First Spawn: Hangars, Chat, and MobiGlas