It pains me to say it but...

Here's a few ideas off the top of my head:

  • Get involved with a player group. Working together to achieve a goal with other people makes the game a lot more fun.

  • Get into PvP. It's a whole different cup of tea compared to PvE, but it's a lot more interesting, challenging, and (personally) rewarding.

  • Try not grinding. Just pick a few missions that seem interesting and go do them. This helps to create variety in what you're doing, and even though it's not the best in terms of credits/hour, it feels less grindy.

  • Get into ship racing.

  • Putz around in some signal sources. There's some new scenarios that came along with Horizons.

  • Get into Powerplay. I know a lot of people hate it, but if you get involved, follow the power subreddits, and hang out in their chats, there's actually a decent amount of strategy and large-scale teamwork that goes into being a successful power.

  • Go shoot some stuff in CQC for a while. CQC is really fun and well made, it just needs more players (and a better matchmaking system).

  • Role play as something. I know this sounds dumb, but, as an example, maybe you could pick a system and declare yourself the sheriff. Arbitrarily enforce whatever rules you like.

  • Go on a ganking spree. Become a minor celebrity as all the forum dads post endless threads with video evidence of what a sociopath you are for blowing up a video game space ship.

  • Try being a pirate. Pick a system with lots of trader traffic, and lie in wait. Interdict CMDRs (and NPCs too, I guess) and demand some cargo under threat of death. Make sure you're recording this so you can report all the combat loggers you're sure to encounter.

  • Mentor a nub. Find someone new and take them under your wing, show them the ropes, and help them make their first few millions.

  • Become a Fuel Rat. Every now and then you'll get assigned to go rescue a stranded, out of fuel CMDR, and everyone will love you.

  • Go participate in CGs. They're not always the best in terms of payout, but they're typically major hubs of player activity. Have fun, contribute to a larger goal, meet interesting new people, and then shoot them.

  • Buy an Orca. No, I'm not kidding. Pack it full of HRPs and surprise people with your porpoiseful love-touch.

  • If you're really that bored with it, I'd suggest just not playing until 2.1 releases. Loot, crafting, and an overhauled mission system are coming along with it, which should hopefully make things a bit more interesting. I'm especially hoping the new mission system is really good.

/r/EliteDangerous Thread