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Space Depot
System Colonisation is an upcoming, brand-new feature for ED: Odyssey. Claim star systems with player-led, free-form expansion in the galaxy.[1] The Bubble is no longer static.[1] Colonisation can be done by a solo commander, group or faction.[2] A beta version will be playable in early 2025.[3]
Claim[]
Colonisation ship
The player must find an unpopulated system within 10 light years.[4] You can scan a star system in advance to see the number of slots that are available for construction.[3] Some systems will be more valuable for construction.[3] The player must purchase a claim with credits from a Colonisation Contact (CC).[4] The CC is a member of a faction in a populated system in The Bubble.[4] A Colonisation Beacon must be deployed in that system within 24 hours.[4] If this is not done within the time limit then the claim is revoked.[4] A primary starport can be selected and placed in a pre-determined location.[4]
Then a Colonisation Ship (CS) arrives in the system.[4] It is bigger than a Drake-Class Carrier.[2] The player must deliver a list of items to the CS which depends on the starport type.[4] It is a hub to work on in the system.[2] Logistics is key to build a starport by transporting materials into the system.[5] The starport will appear in partial construction and be finished after the weekly server tick.[4] If it's not done within the time limit then all progress is lost.[4] The station under construction will appear as an abandoned starport with inactive vendors and services.[6]
Once the primary starport is built, the colonisation beacon becomes a nav beacon.[4] A new Colonisation Contact will appear in the completed starport.[3] You'll have the option to claim and colonize another system by contacting the Colonisation Contact.[4] You can own more than 1 star system.[3] You could build basic systems and daisy chain your way towards your favorite system. You can make it your home as the main system.[2]
Construct[]
The player who completed the primary starport becomes the System Architect.[4][2] The architect has direct influence in placing existing assets, starports, planet ports, settlements and other facilities.[5] There's a plethora of tools to work with. The architect has a certain number of actions to deploy construction sites and locations.[3]
Space facilities[]
The system map shows all potential locations for a space facility. You can select the location and choose a facility to be deployed. Deliver goods and once that's finished the facility will be deployed.[3] There are multiple tiers for space facilities.[3] The big spaceports such as the Ocellus take a lot of effort.[3] A supporting economy with small and mid-tier facilities are needed to unlock the large-tier facilities.[3] The available space facilities are from ED: Horizons.[3]
Surface facilities[]
You can fly around on a planet and choose a custom location to build a facility.[3] Rotate and place buildings on a planet with a holographic view.[4] The available slots for additional development are predetermined by the system.[4] After choosing a building there will be a ground-based construction site.[4] Deliver all the goods then the surface facility will appear.[4][3] The available surface facilities are from Odyssey and Horizons.[3] Some buildings give population buffs.[3]
Economy[]
All facilities are interlinked with the system economy.[3] The facility types that you place will dictate the economy in that system.[2] Mining facilities means the local economy will be a mining economy.[3] Same for agriculture etc.[3] This determines the goods for construction and economic output such as high-tech or agribusiness.[5][4] The economic progression requires smaller locations first to support large locations.[4] The ports bring in population and economic drive.[3] An anarchy system has reduced security.[3]
Factions[]
SC is seamlessly connected with Powerplay 2 and the Background Simulation.[4] Unpopulated systems are unaligned. A newly colonized system only has the faction from which the colonisation claim was purchased.[4] So if you buy a claim from a preferred faction then it will be brought over to your system.[3] If a Powerplay faction conquers the system then the architect will remain in control of the system development and resources.[4] Your faction would lose influence in the system. Anyone can enter the system.[3]
While colonising a system you can push your chosen Power into that system. Expand your Power's influence and create new systems, civilizations for a Power. Each system has an associated value. Every system is unique to some extend which will be represented in system colonisation. This can influence your system of choice.[2] Built-up systems can influence the political state of the game based on the facilities.[5]
Expansion[]
Expanding The Bubble with colonies can have a galaxy wide effect. For example new trade routes for traders, new hubs for explorers that you can use as a home base before going into deep space.[2] By having mini-Bubbles with various economies you can haul goods faster to build new colonies.[4] Long-range colonization in deep space means going back to the Core Systems for goods is a long trip.[3]
Features[]
A list of features:
- A player-driven way to expand the Bubble and colonise new systems[7]
- Players can colonise unpopulated systems within a certain distance of populated systems[7]
- After colonising a system, they can build a starport[7]
- After the starport is built, players can expand within the system: build new assets such as settlements, outposts etc. which dictates the economy of the system.[7]
- Players can claim multiple systems, but one at a time. The primary starport must be built before a player can colonise another system.[7]
Development[]
Since 2019, there was speculation about the new feature such as Base Building. System Colonisation was unveiled during the Frontier Unlocked #10 livestream on 30 October 2024.[7][2] Frontier's Arthur Tolmie said in Frontier Unlocked #1 (January 2024) that this new feature will be released "this year".[8] It was delayed to early 2025.[3] A beta version will be playable and functional in early 2025.[3] Frontier will make balance adjustments while gathering data and feedback from players.[3]
Videos[]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 System Colonisation - Elite Dangerous, Facebook Page - 30 October 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Frontier Unlocked #10 - Twitch - 30 October 2024
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 Elite Dangerous | Frontier Unlocked Highlight | System Colonisation - YouTube - 27 Nov 2024
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 New Colonisation Mechanic First Look - DPPS - 27 November 3310
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Elite Dangerous will let players colonize the Milky Way in 2025 - Polygon - 31 Oct 2024
- ↑ ELITE DANGEROUS - Colonization In-Depth Look - Commander Exorcist - YouTube - 27 Nov 2024
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 New Colonisation Mechanic First Look - DPSS - Elite Dangerous Squadron - 30 October 2024
- ↑ Frontier Unlocked #1 - 31 Jan 2024 - Twitch