Explorer

[Daniel_Feenix]

i don't think i can use freelancer i.d. cos it's restricted to not use gunboats. So i'll go for GMG if i use the kusari explorer, but the freelancer if i go for the spatial, thanks for the tips.:)

Freelancers are able to fly Gunboat class ships, see below.

Pilot carrying this ID is a lawful Freelancer who works for him/herself, unwilling to join any of the Sirius factions. Freelancer ID grants its owner right to participate in lawful missions and military operations, fulfil lawful and unlawful bounty contracts, escort traders, hunt pirates and terrorists. Freelancer ID owner is not allowed to pirate and openly join unlawful forces.

Allowed ships: Fighters, Freighters, Transports, Gunboats

Carrying unmounted IDs in your ship, as well as not equipping an ID, is a serious crime.

So you don't have to get a Gas Miners Guild ID to fly a Kusari Explorer.

any thoughts on how to make money as an explorer (enough to keep me in the air at least) or will i just have to have a trader character also?

While you could trade in a Kusari Explorer (which has a cargo capacity of 430) with a Freelancer ID, I'd recommend creating a trader to fund your characters.