Multicrew is feature in Elite Dangerous that allows players to serve as crew members on each others' ships, instantly transferring them to a secondary bridge position via drop-in, drop-out matchmaking. It is accessible via an option on the Comms panel, and automatically activates voice-chat when in use.
Only ships with 2 or 3 pilot seats are Multicrew-compatible. Players can control either the Helm (Piloting), Gunner (turreted weapons), or Fighter con (two ship launched fighters). NPC Fighter Pilots can be hired to perform roles that enhance a ship's ability.
Multicrew was introduced in the Elite Dangerous: Horizons The Commanders v2.3 update.[1]
Fundamentals
Lead Designer Sandro Sammarco explains: "Fundamentally, Multicrew is about having fun with friends, so we want to make sure there are as few barriers to enjoying this feature as possible, starting with the crew formation process. We want to make it as easy as possible to start having fun on a multicrew ship."[2]
As long as their ship has enough seats (different ships have different multicrew capabilities) a Commander can directly invite players, or can set their vessel to allow multicrew access. Commanders looking to play as crew can either accept direct invites, or activate a new “looking for ship” feature, which will automatically place them as crew on a suitable vessel with multicrew access allowed, making the process quick and painless.
When joining a crew, a Commander will exit their current vessel and transfer to the multicrew vessel, regardless of distance. They can also leave at any time (or be evicted by the ship’s owner) at which point they can return to their previous ship and location, making the whole affair a very friendly, drop in – drop out procedure.
Roles
The current multicrew roles available are Helm, Gunner, SRV, and Fighter Con.
Helm
The ship's owner always takes the role of helm, piloting the vessel and operating fixed and gimballed weaponry. They also control NPC Fighter Pilots. There can be up to two additional crewmembers, depending on the vessel, who can perform roles to enhance the ability of the ship. Players can also simply come along for the ride, with the pilot in a mentoring role. The helm also retains control over distribution of power, navigation, and synthesis.
Gunner
The gunner role allows a crewmember to take control of all turreted weapons on the ship. They do not need to jump between turret views though. Using a third person interface, they control a reticule that all turrets within their arc will automatically follow; giving them improved spatial awareness and easy control of all turreted weapons. They also have access to two “quick slot” fire buttons, in addition to normal fire groups, that they can customize with modules, allowing them more options for activating weapons and scanners.
Furthermore, the gunner has access to advanced sensor systems, allowing them three hundred and sixty degree tracking arcs. This lets them activate advanced scanners (such as the kill warrant scanner) and missile launchers in any direction.
Fighter Con
The fighter con role lets a crewmember launch and control a fighter, even if the helm has already launched a fighter using NPC crew. This allows multicrew ships to have two fighters active at a time. In addition, if the ship has enough fighters, both crewmembers can take on the fighter con role, meaning three human controlled ships can be flying at the same time.
Crewmembers can switch roles dynamically as they see fit. The ship owner is always the helmsman.
Additional Multicrew Benefits and Rules
Every crewmember also has access to a power distributor pip that they can assign dynamically. This is in addition to the standard pips that the helm controls. This extra power distribution allows the ship to operate more effectively, increasing its capabilities in combat.
Ship re-buy premiums are also reduced for each crewmember. Again, the purpose with this is to lower the bar to access and ease of use, especially when dealing with vessels that can cost a lot of credits.
All bounties and vouchers that the helmsman (ship owner) receives are duplicated for each crewmember, making multicrew a great way to have fun with friends without missing out on money-making opportunities.
However, as they share the benefits, so too do they share the punishments. Any crime that the ship suffers is applied to all crewmembers equally. But when a Commander leaves or ends a session, the crew will have the option of avoiding taking the crimes with them, but in doing so, will lose all credits earned. It will be their choice.
Mapping with Friends
In Multi-crew, anyone in the crew will have access to the Full System Scanner and the Detailed Surface Scanner (only the gunner is able to use this module). Whilst exploring in a wing, as long as you are in the same system as the wing, you will share the data you have discovered.[3]
Technology
Pilots use telepresence to appear in other people's ships as Holo-Me holograms.[4]
Ship Cockpit Seats
These are the available cockpit seats per ship. Multicrew requires ships with 2 or more seats.
| Ship | Seats | Multicrew | Fighter Capable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamondback Explorer | 1 | No | No |
| Diamondback Scout | 1 | No | No |
| Dolphin | 1 | No | No |
| Eagle MkII | 1 | No | No |
| Hauler | 1 | No | No |
| Imperial Courier | 1 | No | No |
| Imperial Eagle | 1 | No | No |
| Sidewinder MkI | 1 | No | No |
| Type-6 Transporter | 1 | No | No |
| Type-7 Transporter | 1 | No | No |
| Viper MkIII | 1 | No | No |
| Viper MkIV | 1 | No | No |
| Adder | 2 | Yes | No |
| Alliance Challenger | 2 | Yes | No |
| Alliance Chieftain | 2 | Yes | No |
| Asp Explorer | 2 | Yes | No |
| Asp Scout | 2 | Yes | No |
| Cobra MkIII | 2 | Yes | No |
| Cobra MkIV | 2 | Yes | No |
| Federal Assault Ship | 2 | Yes | No |
| Federal Dropship | 2 | Yes | No |
| Federal Gunship | 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Fer-de-Lance | 2 | Yes | No |
| Imperial Clipper | 2 | Yes | No |
| Keelback | 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Krait Phantom | 2 | Yes | No |
| Mamba | 2 | Yes | No |
| Orca | 2 | Yes | No |
| Python | 2 | Yes | No |
| Vulture | 2 | Yes | No |
| Alliance Crusader | 3 | Yes | Yes |
| Anaconda | 3 | Yes | Yes |
| Beluga Liner | 3 | Yes | Yes |
| Federal Corvette | 3 | Yes | Yes |
| Imperial Cutter | 3 | Yes | Yes |
| Krait MkII | 3 | Yes | Yes |
| Type-9 Heavy | 3 | Yes | Yes |
| Type-10 Defender | 3 | Yes | Yes |
Notes
- If your NPC crew member is piloting your mothership and you order an 'attack target' command on a wing mate then they will use a heal beam if it is equipped.
- Regeneration Sequence is an engineering experimental effect that you can apply to beams that will transfer their energy into regenerating a wing mate's shields. There's also Concordant Sequence that increases the regeneration rate of the target's shields.
Videos
Gallery
References
- ↑ https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/341916-2-3-The-Commanders-Changelog
- ↑ 2.3 Dev Update
- ↑ Content Recap: Beyond - Chapter Four Livestream - Exploration and the Codex
- ↑ https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/329563-Feedback-from-CMDR-creator-tool-(The-i-am-hologram-lore-explanation-and-its-placement-on-UI)?p=5155013&viewfull=1#post5155013