Elite: Dangerous - updates!

[HavlokUK]

Here’s an update for whoever is interested:

I made 4 (or 5?) trips to the icy ring and this was enough to top off FEI PAW’s Tritium tanks.

That’ll do for pootling around the bubble but we’re going to need a lot more before heading out into the black. 10,000 tonnes should do it, giving us a range of about 40,000 light years. That way FEI PAW will be able to get back to civilisation from anywhere in this half of the galaxy.

I’ve been averaging around 75 - 100 tonnes per hour, so that should only take … 100 HOURS! I enjoy mining but that sounds more like work than fun, so we’ll scrap that idea.

Plan B then: Buy the Tritium. At 50,000 credits per tonne that would cost … 500,000,000 credits! Well, that will put FEI PAW perilously close to bankruptcy so we’ll need to drum up some operating cash first.

Hence, the current plan: A supply run to Rackham’s Peak - an exclusive bar / restaurant situated in a small outpost in HIP 58832, a system with a spectacular view of the galaxy from above the disk and only accessible to capital class vessels like fleet carriers. We’ll need about 4,000 tonnes of Tritium to get there and back so I stocked up this afternoon at a station next to this rather pretty Mars like world:

Liquor sells for over 70,000 credits per tonne at Rackham’s Peak and is available for just 450 credits or less in the bubble. So the plan is to ship 15,000 tonnes of liquor in one go, providing revenue of up to a BILLION credits! (I think I’m overusing that emoji).

So tomorrow I am going to move FEI PAW near to a station with a large supply of liquor and I will place a buy order at 10,000 credits per tonne. Whoever wants to can make some easy money stocking up FEI PAW’s cargo holds. Once full, FEI PAW will travel up to Rackham’s Peak where she will sell the liquor at 60,000 credits per tonne, so whoever want’s to tag along can then make some more easy money emptying her cargo holds and selling to the outpost at a profit. The only difficulty is that there are only medium landing pads at Rackham’s Peak so don’t bring any large ships (or at least remember to bring a medium ship as well).

I will post here whenever I move FEI PAW in case anyone here want’s to join in. We probably won’t make it up to Rackham’s Peak until next week some time.

Anyway, o7 commanders

[HavlokUK]

Some interesting speculation:

Elite Dangerous: Update 14 - What it May Mean for the Bubble in the Year Ahead

[HavlokUK]

Quick update:

Due to Frontiers bizarre choice of commodity trading mechanism I am only able to buy/sell liquor for a maximum of about 8500 credits per tonne. So there is pretty much no way to make a profit getting players to stock and empty FEI PAW’s holds on this trip. So I’ve just filled her up with liquor myself and will unload her at Rackham’s Peak too. It’s going to take quite a bit of time to unload 15,000 tonnes with just a python!

So, FEI PAW will be departing to Rackham’s Peak on Monday around 11am or so and will arrive probably on Tuesday afternoon. If anyone would like to come along then please feel free, but you must be on board by Monday morning or be left behind. The view from up there is worth a look, IMHO.

FEI PAW will remain there until she’s unloaded, which may take a week or two depending on how busy I am with work, then head back to somewhere in the bubble.

o7 commanders

[HavlokUK]

It’s been a busy week or so on the decks of FEI PAW. Here’s a quick catch-up:

FEI PAW departed on time last Monday and the crew quickly got into a routine. Jump → 5 minute cooldown → 15 minute countdown → jump. After about 12 hours we arrived in HD104495 with 2 hops left to Rackham’s Peak. However, when trying to plot the next jump I was confronted with this:

There were no slots available at the next system and we were stuck. I figured there must be some congestion so I waited for space to become available. After 3 days I consulted the all-knowing Google and found out that a group of console CMDR’s were apparently blockading the route in protest at Frontier’s handling of Odyssey. After the kids were in bed that evening I logged in to start the trek back to the bubble - I would just need a new plan. It was lucky that I checked the galaxy map before starting back as the blockade had ended and the path through was clear!

FEI PAW made it to Rackham’s Peak the next day (I left some time for carrier operators stuck at the peak to realise they could move and make some space).

I started unloading the 15,000 tonnes of liquor stored in the hold. The largest pad available is a medium pad so the largest cargo ship that can dock there is a Python. So, 15,000 tonnes in batches of 272 tonnes = 56 trips! This took a few days but the view kept it from getting too boring. I’m not sure if it’s the difference between PS4 and PC or Horizons and Odyssey, but the view of the galaxy is much higher fidelity than I remember from the last time I came up here.

I also had a look around the outpost on foot and found this fun little observation window overlooking a couple of the small landing pads. It was rather pleasant to watch the ships come and go.

Mission accomplished - time for a last look at that view as the departure timer counts down. I may pop back up this way again but not for a while, I think.

That’s all for now. FEI PAW is currently heading back down towards Lave and will probably arrive tomorrow or Wednesday. o7 guys.

[apollon01]

I am subscribed to this thread to get reminded why I purchased ED a while ago. The screens are so atmospheric…

[Navynuke99]

So I’ve started getting controls and things set back up (never got the new Virpil mapped in game after the switch), and am seriously looking at building an AX Chieftain or Krait MII.

Out of curiosity, is trying to upgrade/ engineer suit and weapon stuff in SpaceLegs still as frustrating as it was during roll-out?

[Freak]

Apparently you can buy pre-engineered suits in random stations. I’ve read that they spawn Wednesday night. Not sure about that.
My girlfriend has found quite a few of them. Not Grade 5, but it’s an easy way to get a decent suit.

Your chances may be better on stations that are less frequently visited.

[HavlokUK]

I can confirm that (not the Wednesday part). I picked up a grade 3 Artemis suit the other day for exploration purposes. I think the trick is to check in every station you go to and eventually you’ll come across one.

I haven’t started engineering yet but as far as I can tell it’s still a grind. I’m not sure I will bother to engineer the suits.

EDIT: The one thing that I may seriously consider engineering wise is getting quiter footsteps. I’ve died a number of times now where I moved too soon and was heard by guards and subsequently scanned and shot. The distance they can hear you walking around from is quite large by default.

[HavlokUK]

Tonight is the LAST CHANCE for any console commanders to copy across to PC:

Elite is Split in Two | Massive Growth in Star Citizen | Hello Dave 271

[HavlokUK]

Also, it looks like there are Thargoids incoming:

28 Nov 3308: The No-Go Stargoid Deathzone (Elite Dangerous)

[Deacon211]

Is there any Thargoid hunting about? I was tempted to jump back in and save the Galaxy, but ATM I’m only running a Thargoid Scout (whatever those things were called) killer.

If I need the big Interceptor AX hunter, I won’t be able to hang with that crowd.

[Navynuke99]

I’ve been watching that with a good bit of interest; I’ve got a Challenger almost fully built to the AX guide specs for beginners, and once my last paper is done Wednesday night, I’m ready to get in there.

@Deacon211

Is there any Thargoid hunting about?

There’s about to be, I think.

[HavlokUK]

So I logged in this morning and was greeted by this (rather clunky) cutscene:

Elite Dangerous | Arrival

Also some slight spoilers here:

Elite Dangerous - MAELSTROMS, Huge New Clouds, New Missions

[HavlokUK]

I tried a bit of Thargoid defence yesterday and this clip (not of me, of course) goes some way to showing what we’re up against.

Elite Dangerous - Station Under Thargoid Attack

I got a number of scout kills but then lost three ships when a pair of Hydra’s turned up. I have to say that I haven’t bothered with Thargoid combat before but this was a lot of fun. I didn’t see value in poking the big alien with a stick before but when you have a station to defend it’s a lot more purposeful and very atmospheric!

[Navynuke99]

So question: do I just need to ditch my Guardian stuff at this point, or does it still work in some of the Thargoid-infested systems? Asking because if the Gauss cannons on my Chieften break, I’m rather screwed.

[Deacon211]

Yeah, this is my question as well.

I was grinding the scouts, with AX multi cannons. But if I need a full AX build, I’m kind if out of the fight for now?

Is there something for the “Sidewinder Hero” to do?

[HavlokUK]

@Navynuke99

do I just need to ditch my Guardian stuff

No. Most of the time they work as before. The only places where Guardian tech doesn’t work is inside the new Maelstroms or in HIP whatever-it-was where Salvation fired his big weapon.

@Deacon211

Is there something for the “Sidewinder Hero” to do?

Definitely! There are a lot of experienced and less experienced players in the three top systems that the AXI are focussing on to join up with. There are also a wide range of missions from the damaged and under attack stations that cover everything from combat to support roles. I believe there is also an effort to invstigate the new Orthrus variant.

I have chosen to use an AX multicannon build but primarily because I haven’t unlocked the Guardian stuff yet. There is scope for all players to join in I think

[Deacon211]

Excellent, I’ll need to blow the dust off
my MkII.

I’m curious. Is Thargoid combat still limited by the need for AX/Guardian weaponry?

Or has the wider war led to the elimination of those “gates”.

I’m just trying to figure out what ship to bring where, equipped with what so I don’t get Instasmeared?

[HavlokUK]

@Deacon211

Is Thargoid combat still limited by the need for AX/Guardian weaponry?

Short answer = yes. You will need either guardian or AX weaponry do deal any significant damage. The good news is that AX weaponry is available in many locations, including the new rescue megaships which are dotted around the bubble, and is not locked behind any kind of grind. I am using AX multicannons on my Krait and they appear to be pretty effective.

[HavlokUK]

Some more context:

Elite Dangerous - IS THAT ALL There Is?! - Update 14

Elite Dangerous: Community Swing into Action, Orthrus Understood, FDEV Livestream Revelations & More