Elite: Dangerous Update #78

Hello, Commander,

Welcome to Elite: Dangerous Newsletter #78.

This week, we're releasing Powerplay. The Elite: Dangerous servers will be down when you receive this, so keep an eye on our Twitter and we'll let you know when the servers come back to life, bringing Powerplay with them.

It's the second of today's big launches. Today the new EliteDangerous.com goes live and we'd like you to come visit. We have more details below, along with a David Braben Q&A, updates on our upcoming events and something new in our store this weekend.

As always, you can hear the latest news and updates directly from the development team on our Forums, Twitter, Facebook and right here in the newsletter every week, and we're always eager to hear your feedback. Have a great weekend!

Contents This Week

• Community Site Launch
• David Braben Q&A
• Peek Of The Week
• Events
• New In Store
• Comms Chatter
• GalNet

New Community Site Launches

We're thrilled to announce the launch of the all-new EliteDangerous.com and our accompanying Community site at Community.EliteDangerous.com.

On the Community site you can expect to see developer interviews, exclusive previews, blogs, livestreams and the latest news on Elite: Dangerous in coming weeks and months, and it will be your number one destination for everything we're doing at E3 in the week starting June 15.

Everyone knows Frontier likes to involve the community in our beta processes, so the Community site right now is just the beginning of what the page will grow to become. This is our beta, and like all betas, we're asking for your help. Mail us and let us know what you want to see on the page. We'll be adding features and functionality in coming weeks,

Thanks, as always, for all the amazing videos, screens, fan fiction and insanely creative stuff you've created from the game. The site wouldn't be possible without it.

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David Braben Q&A

This week Frontier founder and CEO David Braben took to the forums to answer community questions about Elite Dangerous. You can read all his answers here, and some of the highlights below.

Asked by Longasc
Q – There is this 10% module sale penalty elephant in the room, it's a huuuge thread and matter of debate on the forum. What does David Braben think about it?
A – There are a few different things here. We should probably have had something in for this at the start, but we need to do something. We understand some of the complaints - particularly about swapping ship load-outs. I also think we should have discussed it beforehand - but given how many things there are in Powerplay, we simply didn't call it out.

This is a bone of contention amongst our designers - and we will do something in the future. There should be a cost to this - but that is for another day. So some news - we will be reversing this change shortly (or 'soonTM' as Michael B would say...), so to be clear this aspect will be as it was before in the public release. This is a beta after all, and we want the best experience for everyone.

Asked by Agrar Therenus
Q – Can we have people floating about in space suits around the station doing repairs, for a greater sense of scale?
A – How long do you think they'd last before someone shot them...!

Asked by FuzzySpider
Q – Sandro said in an interview that Powerplay would give people the chance to feel like they were part of a team, but the current rewards structure of Powerplay actually pits team members against each other as ferociously as it does against the opposition. Will you look at making adjustments to the faction reward structure going forward to allow all faction members to have at least something from their efforts to aid their faction, as it would add a lot of immersive quality to Powerplay.
A – We are taking comments like this very seriously. There are arguments either way, but the intention is that you are part of a team, so there is a change coming that should fix this...

Asked by CivGalnet
Q – Hello David! I know you're announcing a new game at E3 which I am excited to see, but will there be any Elite news there?
A – Yes, there will be Elite news too.

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Newsletter Peek Of The Week

The ten Powers you'll meet in Elite: Dangerous – Powerplay at launch. See the Powerplay trailer now.

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Elite: Dangerous Events Update

We're just over a week away from E3 where we'll be talking about Elite: Dangerous and revealing Frontier's new game, but that's not where this year's events end.

Today we're happy to announce Elite: Dangerous will appear on the showfloor at PAX Prime in Seattle, USA from August 28-31. Come meet the team if you're in town for one of the biggest gaming events in the world.

And of course, we'll be on the public showfloor at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany from August 5-9.

Today we're beginning our search for player Ambassadors to join us. Ambassadors are essential at events like Gamescom, bringing local knowledge and amazing skills to the table and helping us show off Elite: Dangerous to players all around the world.

We take care of our Ambassadors with meals, accommodation, drinks, a great time and free entry to the show. And all Ambassadors receive the exclusive Elite: Dangerous Ambassador medal.

To be considered for an ambassador role you must be over 18, free on the dates above, familiar with the game, based in Germany or one of its neighbouring countries, able to travel to Cologne and willing to have a really good time. If you speak German, that's a huge bonus, but isn't essential. We're after enthusiasm and knowledge of the game above all.

To apply, mail us with your name, date of birth, address and 100 words on why we should pick you as an Elite: Dangerous Ambassador for Gamescom, and we'll get in touch if you make the shortlist.

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New In Store: Tactical Pack

When Powerplay goes live we'll be launching an all-new pack of Paint Jobs. The Tactical Pack is loaded with steely grays, deep blues and dark greens to give your favourite ships a hard-edged look that's perfect for the galaxy's pirate hunters or would-be Powerplayers going undercover behind enemy lines.

Hit the Elite: Dangerous store this weekend to pick up some appropriate warpaint, and set about conquering the galaxy.

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Comms Chatter

Lee Hutchinson’s work on Fangs continues with issue 8 ‘Home, Home on the Fence’.

SpyTec13 put together this handy collection of Vectorized power and faction logos for anyone looking to make some fan art of their own.

And finally, to celebrate reaching 1,000 followers on Twitch, Time of Chaos is holding a streaming event on June 7 from 4PM BST to 7PM BST. Join him on the stream for destruction derbies, races and prize giveaways.

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After a series of skirmishes between independent pilots and pirates, as well as the drawn out battle against the Sobek Boys, 78 Ursae Majoris was facing a security threat in the run-up to Federal President Jasmina Halsey’s planned visit. News of the catastrophic accident that is believed to have consumed Starship One and taken the President’s life, has been spreading through the galaxy, but 78 Ursae Majoris has now been secured.

Members of Congress from across the Federation have made their way to Mars today, in response to Shadow President Hudson's call for a Vote of No Confidence against the current administration. For months now, the Shadow President has been involved in an intense lobbying campaign against President Halsey and her administration. The Shadow President has pointed to the loss of dozens of member states to the Alliance, a rampant increase in crime rates, and a defanged Federal Navy as some of the more devastating effects of Jasmina's time in office.

The Federal Navy has today released its official report into the disappearance of Starship One. As expected, the 600,000 word document provides a detailed analysis of the inner workings of Starship One. The report confirms that the abnormal energy signature detected by Guardian Wing Alpha, immediately prior to Starship One’s last known jump, was almost certainly caused by mechanical failure. The report includes an in depth comparison with the failure of the Highliner Antares and concludes there were remarkable similarities in the unusual failure mode, and it is still unclear why the automatic shutdown systems did not operate (most of which were not present on the Antares). The failure began with a power surge in the central power plant – something not especially unusual in a high capacity hydrogen reactor – causing several other core systems to overload.

The results are in and Zachary Hudson is the overwhelming choice for the new President of the Federation. A record number of attendees appeared in Congress on Mars to take part in yesterday's Vote of No Confidence against the Liberal Administration, with almost every member of Congress appearing in person to cast their vote.

Who is Archon Delaine? Villain, murderer, madman. Titles with which Archon Delaine, the self-styled Pirate King, are all too familiar. Thirty seven years ago, Archon Delaine rose to prominence after brutally beating the Kumo Crew’s previous leader to death with his bare hands. Thus, at the tender age of 15, Archon assumed the role of Pirate Lord and began to cut a bloody swathe across the Pegasi sector. So far, Archon Delaine has only been active in the Pegasi sector, but some reports have begun to surface of Kumo Crew members beginning to move out of the sector.

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That’s it for Newsletter #78. As always, if there's anything in particular that you’d like to hear more about, or if you'd like to ask a question, then please contact us at elite-newsletter@frontier.co.uk.

Click for the latest Game Manual, Quickstart Guide and Pilot Training Videos. Visit our Support team here and read all our previous newsletters here.

Until next time, fly safe and Right On, Commander.

The Frontier Team