toblix

Elite: Dangerous (Kickstarter)

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No, there was already functionality in the game for that before Powerplay. There are system wars being started all the time that are caused, at least in part, by boosting factions via missions. My original HQ system used to be Empire back near launch, but it's independent now.

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From my initial powerplay testing, I can see a nearly passive way of building rank while doing a large rare good trade route if you have the cargo space; simply collect powerplay intel cannisters from potential new target systems that have rare goods to trade. When you fill up with cannisters, drop them off at the home system (ideally, make the home system part of your rare trade circuit route). I'm thinking about getting a Lakon Type 7 or 9 to eventually do that. You do get paid every week once you start climbing the ranks, making it a good supplemental income and you will get access to the specialist equipment associated with the power.

 

The fastest way to get rank is to actively undermine other powers by going to their systems and interdicting/destroying their power-associated ships (15 merits a kill), but you will build bounties on your head that way that will have to be paid off. Not recommended for the penniless or commanders that want to stay in good terms with the entire galaxy. Although if you do it in an anarchy system, the damage may just be limited to the target's associated superpower. I need to try and undermine the pirate faction and see if that comes without any loss of reputation (it might be a net gain).

 

Anyone know of an anarchy system controlled by the pirate-associated power? Perfect test site.

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From my initial powerplay testing, I can see a nearly passive way of building rank while doing a large rare good trade route if you have the cargo space; simply collect powerplay intel cannisters from potential new target systems that have rare goods to trade. When you fill up with cannisters, drop them off at the home system (ideally, make the home system part of your rare trade circuit route). I'm thinking about getting a Lakon Type 7 or 9 to eventually do that. You do get paid every week once you start climbing the ranks, making it a good supplemental income and you will get access to the specialist equipment associated with the power.

 

The fastest way to get rank is to actively undermine other powers by going to their systems and interdicting/destroying their power-associated ships (15 merits a kill), but you will build bounties on your head that way that will have to be paid off. Not recommended for the penniless or commanders that want to stay in good terms with the entire galaxy. Although if you do it in an anarchy system, the damage may just be limited to the target's associated superpower. I need to try and undermine the pirate faction and see if that comes without any loss of reputation (it might be a net gain).

 

Anyone know of an anarchy system controlled by the pirate-associated power? Perfect test site.

Ooh I like that plan... Rid the skies of pirate filth!

My current internet connection is way slower than I'm used to... Solo only for me at the moment!

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From mining reddit it looks like blowing up Archon Delaine's Kumo crew (pirate faction) may get bounties on your head but only in the systems controlled by him. Still, may be the fastest way to merit point victory. And if he gets eliminated the no-fly zone you're exposed to is small.

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No, there was already functionality in the game for that before Powerplay. There are system wars being started all the time that are caused, at least in part, by boosting factions via missions. My original HQ system used to be Empire back near launch, but it's independent now.

 

No it isn't. Those aren't quest lines. In other words, if I'm a dude who just likes flying a spaceship and finding the best prices for things and don't look at the job board, that affects me 0% except if commodity prices change. It could all happen and I would potentially never be aware of it. That system is explicitly opt-in, as are all the gameplay systems in Elite except being interdicted. I'm, spitballing here, talking about having done something and then you get a message from an NPC or when you go to the job board there's a different subsection with something specific that's a new chain or type of things to do that reflects an actual mission or haul you did. I played for hours before I realized I had gone from being near Federation systems to Empire systems or whatever.

 

I am trying to tread carefully here, as I'm probably dangerously close to "this isn't that game" territory or the dreaded "you don't like what this game is". I feel like it could be and isn't, and I thought powerplay would push some options in that direction and just feels like it's another thing to haul around but this time it's to a specific place.

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Let me say to start out with that I agree that Elite is lacking in a lot of content. I didn't play it for a long chunk of time because of boredom and have only just gotten back in due to a new joystick. But, your last post didn't ask for quest lines, Elite already has what you asked for in that particular two line post.

 

 

...I was already doing station missions, that would start having ramifications on system politics that would open up even more options and quests for me and maybe even start to build some story. That doesn't seem like what it is, though?

 

Quests do have ramifications on system politics, you can change the faction in command, push stations to other factions, and eventually flip the whole system. More options do open up for you, your standing with a faction increases which gives you access to more missions, and if the faction holding the station changes there will be more missions available for that faction. There is (admittedly minor) story building, in that the larger conflicts are documented in the Galnet news posts, and developers occasionally changing the galaxy due to player actions.

 

Now if you want to argue those things aren't very well done, I'd agree, but there is functionality in the game for what you asked for already.

 

Edit: Also, these systems do effect you some, even if you don't directly participate, due to the control bonuses that each power gives you. The can cause things like more/less pirates, decrease in outfitting or commodity costs, legalization or banning of certain contraband, and closure of Black Markets. Mostly minor stuff, but a savy trader could eek out an improved profit margin with 10% less cost for some items.

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No it isn't. Those aren't quest lines. In other words, if I'm a dude who just likes flying a spaceship and finding the best prices for things and don't look at the job board, that affects me 0% except if commodity prices change. It could all happen and I would potentially never be aware of it. That system is explicitly opt-in, as are all the gameplay systems in Elite except being interdicted. I'm, spitballing here, talking about having done something and then you get a message from an NPC or when you go to the job board there's a different subsection with something specific that's a new chain or type of things to do that reflects an actual mission or haul you did. I played for hours before I realized I had gone from being near Federation systems to Empire systems or whatever.

I am trying to tread carefully here, as I'm probably dangerously close to "this isn't that game" territory or the dreaded "you don't like what this game is". I feel like it could be and isn't, and I thought powerplay would push some options in that direction and just feels like it's another thing to haul around but this time it's to a specific place.

There is a proposal that was made to the design discussion forum, and now resides in the public archive, that I think is more what you want. It specifies different tiers of NPCs, with Tier 1 being long term fixtures such as heads of state, Tier 2 being persistent NPCs that you interact with, and Tier 3 being randomly generated for a single journey. Tier 2 NPCS could be named contacts such as black market dealers that are specific to a given player, or could be promoted from Tier 3 after an encounter or bulletin board mission. Adding these Tier 2 NPCs would add the kind of personal continuity you're after I think.

There's a LOT of stuff in the DDF that has not yet been implemented, and the development of wings, community goals and Powerplay was hidden from the DDF. These persistent NPCs are likely to be in progress, and I reckon we'll see them around the same time as passenger missions; ideas for these were also discussed with the DDF, and are not simply cargo transport of people, but could involve passengers making requests mid journey, being intercepted by police, potential hijackings etc.. We can only hope that they come out eventually, and are not abandoned, but I believe that they will.

I've mothballed my python for a while, and have gone back to an asp, which carries just under half the stuff, but has twice the jump range when fully loaded. This is so I can delve a bit more into Powerplay, where (for my power at least) a lot of time is spent hurtling between far flung systems.

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I was wondering "what's next after bug fixes and balance adjustments to Powerplay". From previous elite games:

 

1) Planetary landings (expansion-level addition)

2) Passengers and ships (I want to smuggle fugitives and slaves out to other systems, etc)

3) Thargoids/aliens (obviously coming out in stages)

4) I still haven't pursued high faction in the superpowers so I'm not sure if there's additional content there, or additional content once you achieve high PIlot's Federation rank. If not, there should be.

 

I would love the Tier 1/2/3 NPC quest lines/familiar contacts to add flavor, if they have enough depth to avoid the Freelancer "here comes the same conversation for the 1000th time" issue. Although in that case you were treated to FMV cut scenes of the same lines and the wait time irritated more than usual. It would be interesting if the occasional mission let you pursue scripted alternative resolutions to the original agreements to add variety to the current missions. I'd also like to see missions that are themed to the type of system/government type as well.

 

>>I would LOVE to see mission chains with reward bonuses to factions/powerplay/money/modules become available ala powerplay/limited time discounts/limited time cargo selling bonuses/black market bonuses/eligibility for more mission chains, etc. It would give you something to work for and likely take you around known space.

 

I've seen the "get out, walk around, get into FPS-style gun fights!" interviews with Baraben and I know that that stuff is years in the future. Piloting the ships need to be super fun first.

 

Wookiee, can you provide any insight as to what the inner circle is targeting next?

 

PS: Is it just me or is everyone else getting constant "wedding ship celebration!" chatter in supercruise?

 

Edit: Common suggestions on the forums - https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=83366

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No, ranking up with super powers doesn't get you significantly different missions. Not only that, but with the new donation missions out there, it's stupid easy. I went from Master to Baron with the empire (Master -> Squire -> Knight -> Lord -> Baron) in about 4 hours trying to get my Achenar permit.

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Wookiee, can you provide any insight as to what the inner circle is targeting next?

 

PS: Is it just me or is everyone else getting constant "wedding ship celebration!" chatter in supercruise?

 

Edit: Common suggestions on the forums - https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=]

Frontier stopped discussing gameplay ideas with the DDF when the alphas started, with the exception of a few minor topics here and there. As far as I know, no-one outside of Frontier knows anything.

However, they have said that they will have news about ED at E3, probably at the PC Gaming presentation

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Well, have my Diamondback Explorer equipped and I'm ready to go on my first deep explore dives (At least 1000ly). Any suggestions for target location? I want to save a SagA* trip for later. Probably go for a test run to the Pleiades cluster if nothing better comes to mind.

 

Edit: Deep in the black now. Visited Antares, went 120 galactic up, then headed spinward towards the Sagittarius arm until <20% of primary suns were discovered. Now scanning virgin star fields looking for an Earth-like.

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Woah!

ED launched in early access on XBox One today on the Xbox One Game Preview service for a special price of $30.99. I think this is the debut for this service.

Xbox one also has exclusive first access to the newly announced CQC mode, which is coming to PC and Mac later this year.

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I was thrilled on Saturday to find a system with an Ammonia-based life rocky planet (with rings) and a potential terraforming planet. I'll post the picture later.

 

Since it's rumored that the Thargoids (aliens) will be living on Ammonia based planets, who knows if this may be important later.

 

Taking screenshots of the system view whenever I find a terraforming candidate. So far my record is 3 terraforming-suitable planets in one system. Still hunting for an Earth-like.

 

I've been using the Galaxy map to vet multi-star systems before jumping and only had one jump where it might have been dangerous (the primary having a companion star in close binary orbit).

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So there's been quite a lot of stuff going on in ED, even in my absence :P!

 

---There was Lavecon, where Frontier introduced the Imperial Eagle variant, and revealed that there was a 10 year plan for development, with no aspect of the game regarded as finished. There's a thread  on the forums here: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=165775

 

---The PC version now has the advanced controller option, which I've been having fun with; this allows mapping to multiple buttons, so for me X + down on d-pad lowers  cargo bay,  B + down engages FSD, and Y +down targets nearest hostile. As a result, I can do a heck of a lot more with the pad, making keyboard only necessary for typing!

 

 --- FD have archived a Twitch stream that shows of some of the ships, weapons, and maps from CQC championships

http://www.twitch.tv/elitedangerous/v/7695514

 

I had trouble viewing it on my phone and ipad, but it was fine on my desktop.  They don't show any opponents, but tour two maps in a Condor and an Eagle.

 

I was originally skeptical about CQC, but then someone reminded me that it will be fairly similar to alpha 2.0, where we first got multiplayer, and that was very fun. Here are some highlights from the video

 

-- Can use Condor, Eagle, and SIdewinder ships, start in Condor. Condors are super agile, SIdewinders are (relative) tanks, while Eagles are damage dealers; mixed teams tend to do better than teams with the same ship

 

-- CQC has team deathmatch, capture the flag, and free for all modes, with a decent number of maps. They show off two of the maps available when it hits the xbox preview program, more will come later

 

-- There are some extra weapons that were in alpha / beta but removed from the main game such as the overcharge laser that does more damage, but generates more heat too, making it possible to badly overheat

 

-- there are arena powerups for speed. shields, stealth and damage (possibly more)

 

-- PC and Mac will get CQC as soon as possible after the final release on Xbox

 

-- Up to 4 v 4, where you and your mates can stay together

 

-- can play together even if thousands of lightyears apart in game

 

-- Could be a good intro to new players who build up skills in a consequence free environment, then go out into the big bad universe in one of the ships they should already be used to

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There's been a bit more news in the run up to Games-com. The next update will include 3 new flyable ships, the Condor in CQC, the Imperial Eagle, and this Federal Assault Ship

a4313c8b-19ab-4e62-beff-f1fb760805f3.jpg.

There will be new longer distance missions, transporting stuff for tens or hundreds of light years, legal salvage missions, and longer term massacre missions with higher kill counts.

There will be an extra level of intensity for resource extraction sites, and nav beacons will be a lot more dangerous if security has been compromised.

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I finally gave up floating around Achenar waiting for an Imperial Courier to show up (I still have no idea where they all went) and flew out to a place with less of a discount that actually had stock. It's been a pretty sweet explorer so far. I haven't had a chance to put it through combat yet.

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CQC has been released on the Xbone preview programme; I don't have it, but anyone who does can join in now :)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zRFfKiIyrw

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FUCK YEAH!

 

Elite: Dangrerous Horizons announced at Gamescom!! This is a series of expansions starting with the first stage of Planetary Landings this year

 

First stage of planetary landings has airless worlds, with starports, crashed ships, hidden bases, mineral deposits and more. You can explore by ship or by rover (which is very small and hard for ships to lock onto). Go in quiet or guns blazing.

 

Full announcement here: https://community.elitedangerous.com/node/247

 

People can preorder from the store, and lifetime expansion pass is available again for a while.

 

Oh yeah, people who join the expansion in the first year will get access to Cobra Mk 4 

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Oh. Oh man. Welp *gooses engine from 4500ly away to start back home, need credits for that Mark IV*

 

Also, claiming "Elite: No Man's Sky" expansion as the hip title.

FUCK YEAH!

 

Elite: Dangrerous Horizons announced at Gamescom!! This is a series of expansions starting with the first stage of Planetary Landings this year

 

First stage of planetary landings has airless worlds, with starports, crashed ships, hidden bases, mineral deposits and more. You can explore by ship or by rover (which is very small and hard for ships to lock onto). Go in quiet or guns blazing.

 

Full announcement here: https://community.elitedangerous.com/node/247

 

People can preorder from the store, and lifetime expansion pass is available again for a while.

 

Oh yeah, people who join the expansion in the first year will get access to Cobra Mk 4 

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It seems like it's going to cost lots of money.

 

I'm glad I let nostalgia rule the day a year ago and got the expansion pass then. Still, compared to Star Citizen, this is a drop in the bucket.

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Hmm, 40 pounds eh? I dunno...

If it helps, that 40 pounds is for a year of updates, rather than just planetary landings. The base game covers this year's content (Core release, community goals, wings, powerplay, CQC, and one other release TBA). However, the game will be updated for people without the expansion, to keep the universes the same. Anyone who buys Horizons new will also get access to this year's stuff. You could wait a whole year before buying and still get access to the Cobra Mk IV

 

FD streamed a Q&A earlier this afternoon, probably will be archived on Twitch, but here are the highlights that I can remember

 

-- There are different types of buggy with various degrees of specialisation; every ship can fit the Scarab shown in the video, but not every ship can fit every buggy

 

-- Gravity varies hugely between planets, and this will affect both the buggy and ships; as the ship slows down, the more a new flight model kicks in, with smaller ships handling gravity better

 

-- buggies have thrusters on each wheel, to enable jumps, but also to thrust down so that they can stick to low gravity worlds without floating off

 

-- you will have to buy a docking module and a buggy in order to use one

 

-- we will be able to land on planets throughout the galaxy, although some will be restricted for reasons that will become clear later on 

 

-- a new enemy type will be controlling drones from within a tower/bunker thingy; rather than killing the drones, it may be better to kill the controller

 

-- Another update for the new season will involve loot and crafting

 

-- The Cobra Mk IV has some improvements over the Mk III, such as better weapon placement and an extra hardpoint, but will also have compromises so that the game is not unbalanced. Access to the Mk IV does not mean that you automatically get one; you still need to buy one in game. This Friday's peek of the week will show the Mk IV. They don't yet know if Mk III skins will be shared with Mk IV

 

One of the avantages to giving FD a truly silly amount of money in the Kickstarter is that I get free expansions for life. The lifetime pass is back on sale for considerably more than before,so there would have to be many years' worth of content to be worth it now. Having said that, FD have said they have plays for 10 years.

 

 

EDIT: Ars Technica has the 1.5 update tentatively called Ships, which brings the total ship count to 30

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Wookiee, if I bought the expansion pass before launch, did that include this new expansion or just the wings/powerplay/ships patches?

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