1961

Groups in the traditional sense like you’re referring to are called Player Wings and they won’t be in the game until ‘soon’ after release.

“Group” in Elite terms is if you are in Open, Solo, or Private Group play. If you are in a Private Group, you will only ever encounter other players of that group in-game. You will also be able to voice chat with each other.

If you are Solo, you will never encounter another player, although you are still playing in the same dynamic galaxy. Open is more like traditional MMO play where you can run into random strangers.

1962

Thanks Kevin. So if I understand correctly, if you want to avoid any PvP you should be in Solo or Private Group?

1963

Pre-ordered it tonight, and somethings downloading now. Elite (BBC B - disk version) was the first game that sucked me in for multi-hour sessions late into the night.

1964

Pretty much this, yeah.

Also, @Kelan, if you bought in at the right level before 22 November, you can play the full game now, if not, you can play starting Tuesday.

1965

That’s interesting to know. Dumb question: do you have one character in all 3 game types is everything separate? Do belongings/progress/whatever transfer from one mode to another?

1966

Yes, everything transfers, in theory anyway. Right now there’s a bit of a problem with missions disappearing on BBs when you switch modes, but that might be a server problem.

1967

Yeah, subsequent fetch-and-carry missions were completable. I assume the server reboot somehow bugged the rebel transmissions one. Just annoying because it had been the most interesting/challenging and lucrative mission, and the game wouldn’t let me turn it in. :(

1968

Docked in the Yakabugai system right now, and I’ve gotta’ say they’ve polished this game to a high sheen. Everything just feels right. Transitions from supercruise are much smoother. Space is beautiful and dark. The planets look great. There’s all kinds of new touches with the sound effects. Menus feel crisp. Everything feels fully refined from the last time I played three or so weeks ago.

Was orbiting a gorgeous planet in supercruise earlier and just dreaming of being able to land on it ala Elite Frontier.

1969

Yep, you got it.

1970

I just streamed for four hours, and I am exhausted, but FUCK what a game.

1971

You know, a lot of this stuff might not matter to some people (or may actively dislike it), but I love that every aspect of this game has player skill and some depth involved with it to a degree. I am so much faster now at my supercruise approaches and docking, just basic things like that. I was coming in on a station a little hot but instead of dropping the throttle and doing the “Circle of Shame” around the destination, I was able to arc around and used the nearby planet’s gravity well as a way to “air break” and bleed off a bunch of speed, dropping me out of supercruise at just the right spot. In a typical game, you wouldn’t even have any of this supercruise stuff. Just pull up a map, click on a button, and you fast travel there.

Then I go out mining for the first time. This is a basic game system that would typically just be holding down the trigger on an asteroid until your cargo is full, then repeat. Instead, there’s a big exploration component to it. I’m also paying attention to the revolution of the asteroids, after I got clocked by a protruding hunk of 'roid as I was scrambling to scoop up the minerals I mined. Woops. Even lining up the minerals for the cargo scoop had a bit of player skill involved with it (especially as I’m trying to avoid getting smashed by the asteroid again), instead of just having everything tractor beamed in automatically.

I’m sure a lot of people are put off by this kind of stuff and maybe find it tedious, but I love it.

1972

BTW, if people want to play with others generally but don’t want PvP, and aren’t flying with their friends, the Mobius private group is up to over 1300 players the last time I checked.
Also important: even if you and in-game friends are in different modes, you can still chat with them (most of the time).

1973

I prefer to think of it as Space Handbrake Turn. I look much cooler that way.

1974

Believe it or not, I am now playing the game on my laptop using the free wifi at Singapore Airport. No port forwarding, no hassles, straight in. Makes me sick. ;)

Of course I only have my mouse here, so this might be a challenge…

1975

Try using the touchpad mouse only ;-)

1976

I just have the combat tutorial, so here’s a noob question: I see in the options you can have a different stick config when landing. How does the game know you are in landing mode? When you put your landing gear down? When you get close to the landing pad?

1977

Pretty sure it’s the landing gear position.

1978

Ah really? I thought it was when the landing targeting system appeared on the dash, just as you’re getting close. That’s the one time I would actually want to switch to a different set of controls, hadn’t set it up yet.

1979

Yea its dropping the gear. I think its a truly thoughtful bit of game design that.

It’s all over the ED forae that trading is FUBAR at the moment, but bounty hunting is working juuuust fine :D

Spent most of yesterday trying to dig out of the hole I got in when some police fucker scanned me and my hold full of scooped goodies some pirate slob pooped out in his death throes.

I’m trying to grind the alliance to friendly or even higher, but its tough going. especially with those bacon-ass bastards scanning me down when im trying to make a little something on the side.

I have traded the eagle for a fully tricked out viper. The guns on it are rather basic because I havent found any better ones and dont have much money to spend and the thing lacks power for better ones. Still. She moves well, is light enough and has power galore to keep pewpewing all night long. Also class C shields be strong yo!

1980

In that case I should get around to changing the landing setup; that’ll teach me really quickly to put my gear up when I leave the pad!

[edit] I now have 7,200 CR! Can I buy a new ship yet? checks Oh…