Best option. I have to say this mod is definetly not new player friendly. Multiplayer NPCs WAY TOO MUCH dmg, even in normal systems and not the new added ones.
On SP, I do suggest you use a savefile editor to change your credit volume. The settings on how much you have to grind between missions is increased way too much. Also, if you buy one of the new added ships, your player value just smashes down and doesn't stay the way before you did buy the ship. Was grindling like 20 missions, had 4k credits left to new level, did buy new ship and had to grind 700k again. What a joke.
Another point: Be careful with when you buy new tractor beams and scanners. I did buy the best ones, wanted to buy a new ship and they are just gone and you have your shitty basic ones in the new ship. No clue how it is on MP, since it just annoys me how to make credits, there. Also, there is no option to start neutral to everyone (besides nomads).
So overall, best option for you is to go on SP, create a game and then use a savefile editor and get you 1 billion credits, go on settings, use godmode and then go to where you like.
Beginer in mod yes? No need to use any cheats to get monney where is fun in that? You have multiple ways to do that simplest one is by selling pods at prison stations. You dont just buy ship you need to transfer your good stuff to new ship before hit buy button. MP or SP is all obout grind resources and get best ship that suites you and adequate equipement. If you like story you could just speed run thry vanilla part by buying one of the new powerfull ships and heavy equipement. I did manage once to did this before mission 3 vanilla i get Redemption and best equipement in Sirius i could buy that was near end game stuff and the sence of power was incredible. Use wiki from this site for maps,ships and the rest of stuff to inform obout all and you r good to go! Chears