THE FORMIDINE RIFT MYSTERY (Part 4)

[[VR] optimal_909]

<Unlocks bunker door and steps outside>

Hi folks, as always I appreciate all the comments both positive and negative. I have to say that a being portrayed as an all seeing conspiratorial mastermind with godlike powers over instancing and player groups (though not in this thread I hasten to add) wasn't one outcome I'd come up with. The conspiracy theories are, despite the entertainment value, exactly that.

I set out to build a compelling mystery, write a book that players could influence and not be driven by my own plot-line (hard work for me as I'm a planner by default). I choose open mode because I thought it was the most inclusive option. Perhaps I could have had a 'Rifters' or 'Lore Mode' private group, but it would have been infiltrated and something similar might have happened. That and the additional admin would have been impossible.

The outcome wasn't predetermined, though I had weighted some aspects in order to level the playing field between protagonist and antagonist. Technical limitations are precisely that, there was little I could do about them. Salomé got within six jumps of the destination and died on her feet. Tsu, Yuri and Raan made it, they succeeded. Congratulations to them - they worked hard for that result. Her death at the hands of a player of considerable notoriety wouldn't have been my choice to be honest, but my brief was to write the story of Elite Dangerous, not to enforce my will on the game.

You all took part in this story, you even found those logs before I was ready, so kudos to you. That will be a fun little segue in the book.

Many of you have written in with notes of support. That has meant a lot, so thank you. My goal was only ever to provide 'content'. If you enjoyed it - great. If you didn't like it - I have seen the criticism and will note it and improve in future. If you didn't care, well, that's fine too.

This was my event and thus the responsibility is mine.

I'd like to thank you for your contributions. I like the idea of getting a Rifters decal in the game. If that can be arranged, I hope some of you wear it with pride. You all had a hand in this mystery and the way it unfolded.

Thanks once again.

Cheers,

Drew.

I think it is fair to assume that the vast majority enjoyed the event even though many of us were always a bit behind in the hide-and-seek.

I also think the efforts gone into manufacturing the „scripted event” theory in pockets of this forum is simply sad – but we could see it coming as some said while Salomé was still on the run that „FDev rigged the event, her ship is indestructible!”.

So all I can say is that I hope you and FDev won’t be discouraged to continue sewing the story and the in-game world together through events of similar sort.

 

[Jorki Rasalas]

What happened?

It's was Terminator meets Driving Miss Daisy.

Everyone knows the 10,000 hours rule. No amount of preparation and strategy and tactics is going to beat the 2000-5000 hours of pvp opponents experience except winging Salome with pvp players with 2500 hours at least of pvp experience under their belts. Even if the 4th guy had 10000 hours experience he can hardly protect three celebrity bricks.

A very British shambles where rank and celebrity outstip sense and sensibility.
Do you really want to go into battle with Liz and Phil leading the charge?

That's what happened!

Liz & Phil? A better bet than Don & Mel methinks.

 

[Taimaru]

<Unlocks bunker door and steps outside>

...

Cheers,

Drew.

Thanks Drew,

I have enjoyed the Formidine Rift mystery and despite the outcome (I wanted Salomé to survive), I had fun during the event on Saturday. I really enjoyed reading Reclamation and I look forward to reading Premonition when it comes out. [up]

~ CMDR Taimaru

 

[Jorki Rasalas]

Salome would be our leader, obviously

Cute, but a little stiff. At least now she refrains from long tedious speeches (& anti-Brit/anti-Canonn ranting). Think I'd vote for her!

 

[Archon Valec]

I was under the impression there already was a Rifters groupm called "The Formidine Rifters"

https://inara.cz/wing/1053

NAME: Formidine Rifters
ALLEGIANCE: Independent
POWER: Independent
FLYING IN: open play
PLATFORMS: both
WING COMMANDER: Armoredmeat

MEMBERS: 26
SHIPS: 93

AVERAGE COMBAT RANK: Expert
AVERAGE TRADE RANK: Broker
AVERAGE EXPLORATION RANK: Ranger

IN COALITION WITH:
Canonn
Guardians of Harmony
[ALA] Agentes Libres de Aisling

 

[Toffmeister]

First order of business, someone at FDev has to hide the link for the faction application form somewhere deep in space and in passing give clues to where it is on galnet without ever hinting that they are clues.

Also, I think our leader should be ostensibly missing. He put up a sign that says back in 10 but has never returned. There is fierce debate between Rifter's as to whether or not this was meant as 10 mins or 10 decades, or perhaps one crazy theory that suggest he meant the 10th thargoid invasion because "you know, the future". Clues are forthcoming but not really.

Where's that brandy?

And the clues only start showing when you are allied to all three powers. Let's not make it too easy.

 

[L.S Algir]

Thanks for your input.

I'm assuming this is confirmation that the Rift mystery is now fully completed.

[...]

Thanks very much, otherwise.

Indeed , I think this mystery is done too. But as Drew said "To make an end, is to make a beginning." ; this mystery ending opens now a new era of investigation. We have proof of the conpiration , we have guessing of why , we have to find out who is behind the veil and how to anticipate what is to come.

Shall we find an helping answer from the Guardians , from others mega ships in Conflux and Gap , or from engineers or secret societies ?
What will we do with the superpowers ? continue to support them , being loyal as they might have thought for the sake of humanity by acting like that , or deny them once and for all to seize our fate ourselves ? but with which plan . They might still be usefull after all.

I propose we end this thread and open a new one with a new title ( I don't know : The "what is to come" mystery thread , or the " humanity next move " thread ....)

and by the way , fly safe all o7 !!

 

[Han_Zen]

<Unlocks bunker door and steps outside>

Hi folks, as always I appreciate all the comments both positive and negative. I have to say that a being portrayed as an all seeing conspiratorial mastermind with godlike powers over instancing and player groups (though not in this thread I hasten to add) wasn't one outcome I'd come up with. The conspiracy theories are, despite the entertainment value, exactly that.

I set out to build a compelling mystery, write a book that players could influence and not be driven by my own plot-line (hard work for me as I'm a planner by default). I choose open mode because I thought it was the most inclusive option. Perhaps I could have had a 'Rifters' or 'Lore Mode' private group, but it would have been infiltrated and something similar might have happened. That and the additional admin would have been impossible.

The outcome wasn't predetermined, though I had weighted some aspects in order to level the playing field between protagonist and antagonist. Technical limitations are precisely that, there was little I could do about them. Salomé got within six jumps of the destination and died on her feet. Tsu, Yuri and Raan made it, they succeeded. Congratulations to them - they worked hard for that result. Her death at the hands of a player of considerable notoriety wouldn't have been my choice to be honest, but my brief was to write the story of Elite Dangerous, not to enforce my will on the game.

You all took part in this story, you even found those logs before I was ready, so kudos to you. That will be a fun little segue in the book.

Many of you have written in with notes of support. That has meant a lot, so thank you. My goal was only ever to provide 'content'. If you enjoyed it - great. If you didn't like it - I have seen the criticism and will note it and improve in future. If you didn't care, well, that's fine too.

This was my event and thus the responsibility is mine.

I'd like to thank you for your contributions. I like the idea of getting a Rifters decal in the game. If that can be arranged, I hope some of you wear it with pride. You all had a hand in this mystery and the way it unfolded.

Thanks once again.

Cheers,

Drew.

Thanks Drew,

Personally I think the hole event was great fun. I have never seen the galaxy so alive, before.

I was a bit late for the show, so I took of from Epsilon Eridani and went more or less straight for Salomè(only VIP I had in friend list).
I caught up her in Anumclaw. The system was packed with commanders. Many of them, known to be able to engineer a combat ship. The feeling was uneasy. Even though I had ignored the recommendation to come unarmed, none of them interdicted me.

I tried to spot Salome, but could not see her. She was however in the local contacts list, so I sent her a 'I HONK for clones' message.

A few minutes later she was gone. The messages of her death ticked in on local chat and on the forum. The Anumclaw system was vibrating with anger and frustration. Alexander the Grape, called out a 100 million bounty on Harry Potter. Most commanders resignated and sent RIP messages. It was time to get the Pax Vobiscum out of Dodge, before the blood lust started to spread.

I went to Teorge to check the listening posts. I had been tracking Raan's progress with Clavian's marker. I knew he had arrived safely.
I managed to scan the posts without any trouble and set course for Merope. I wanted to see if I could find an 'Alien attack' distress call USS(only seen on XBox, at that time).

Had no luck, but I logged of with a good feeling for the entire show.

Next morning on the UA thread, I see that a commander had found an Alien USS in Maia and made a video. It was of course found by bloody Harry Potter.

 

[Jorki Rasalas]

Sorry dude but this thread right here is more of a mess than cannon thread right now.

Also very rarely seen rogue cmdrs posting file dip in BOTH threads, and it justly being dealt with by players and Moderators swiftly. No-one in this game likes it so don't try and tarnish cannon because you're salty.

Not biased, follow both closely, but you're wrong plain and simple.

o7

Edit:

Cannon and Rift, I think, are focused on pretty much the same thing right now, and that's Pleiades / col 70 / thargoid / aliens so there's little point being salty at them.

There has always been a lot of cross-over between Canonn & Rifters; several prominent Cmdrs (not me, I'm too quiet to be prominent!) have been/are members of both due to the similarities-a penchant for investigating mysteries, an independent, apolitical approach but happy to cooperate in common endeavours, a hatred of file dipper cheating and a 'get on and do' rather than a mud-slinging, name-calling attitude. We share clues found, cryptograms, ideas, hypotheses, methods and results and refrain from telling people that for the last two years they have been failures and not done things correctly. We are laid back, more (for the most part) interested in problem solving than PvP, and have a penchant for Lavian Brandy and biscuits. From my viewpoint the only distinguishing feature is that Canonn have a Council (couldn't tell you who's on it) & tend to be more fixated on biscuits, while Rifters are happy to be more independent and adventurous with Battenburg, Peanut Cookies, Death by Chocolate, and somebody even baked something of their own creation (I did ask for the recipe but never received it, clearly some aren't willing to share as much as others; but hands off my Brandy!!).

Recently both threads have seen levels of trollng, irracibility, nationalistic taunting, salt, ranting (and general lack of the good natured banter that characterise both), to the point where I am now making frequent use of the ignore button which is a shame. Let the problem solving and friendly banter continue!

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Do you still have that stylish jacket CD, you remember, the one where you get to hug yourself all day



Good choice, I think she's qualified now.



Award for the most sensible comment goes to, the man with tinfoil hat on. Oops I think going out to the black is getting to me



You got me with the booze and cigars, I'd vote for that one.

Why do you think Canonn are so keen on our own megaship? -we can set our own (24/7) opening times for the bar and not have anybody moan at us about the biscuit crumbs

EDIT: but if she's going to go to the Pleiades, then I fully anticipate she'll be among the first wave of casualties when Winter arrives; just hope she outlasts Palin!

- - - Updated - - -

NOT wanting the job is the only qualifying criterion, so.well volunteered.

Aka: Tag, you're it!

- - - Updated - - -



I'm liking the acronym

Too easily confused with some other disorganised band of (allegedly) terrorists.
I would suggest Rifters on Cake, Rifters on Coffee, or perhaps Rifters on Course.

EDIT: or possibly Rifters of Course, or Rifters off Course

 

[Frank]

If the plot doesn't thicken, add some more cornflour.

<Unlocks bunker door and steps outside>

...[appeal for sanity]...

Aye.. but that's exactly what an all seeing conspiratorial mastermind with godlike powers over instancing and player groups would say.

 

[Jorki Rasalas]

I just checked the first page of this entire thread - looking at the clues related to the mystery of the rift. One states:

'To give a little clue, you are not looking for a specific POI [point of interest] because:
A: That would be naff and dull (and over almost straightaway) B: This is a story you're taking part in, not a 'Find the red key and open the red door' quest."'
​

According to this, players were supposedly *not* looking for a point of interest. And yet, it appears that actually we were... The point of interest is SYREADIAE JX-F C0 and the ship named 'The Zurara'.

The clue was correct, in other ways - 'it's naff and dull'. While the writer and Frontier tried to make more out of it than a POI, ultimately it just ended up being exactly what the clue said it wouldn't be. It has taken around 3 years to get to this point - drip fed clues about the POI that the 'Rifters' were all searching for. And it resulted in the discovery of a few logs that reveal a hidden conspiracy.

I suppose I don't mind the story, but what I do mind is the fact that the area of the Fromidine Rift is supposed to be mysterious, dangerous - strange sightings and ships disappearing, etc. Yet, in all my time (and probably others experience) there has been nothing of special note about this area of the Rift. The least Frontier could have done was to include some strange phenomenons, sightings of UFOs [alien] , etc. There's nothing, currently, fearful or mysterious about the Rift - it's just another empty part of space with one POI - the The Zurara... [zZzZz] .

If you read the relevant post on this thread, in particular the posts by Drew, you would see that the mystery has always been the conspiracy plot behind the Zurara, not the shipwreck herself. Drew explained that his clues did not rule out poi as part of the search because that is what the game mechanics require. Only through finding the poi and reading/hearing the logs can the truth be revealed. And I think there is more to reveal.

Edit: ninjad by Drew et al. So maybe there isn't more to reveal. Perhaps this is the end of the Formidine Rift mystery. Must eat a biscuit and drink some brandy....
@StvAce- yes, the lack of those deployed beacons has been ling at me too!

 

[Han_Zen]

You'll get no speculation from me until Apollodorus of Athens shows up and explains how all the Greek mythological shizzle points to Teorge

I explained that in thread three: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...ift-(Part-3)?p=4921292&viewfull=1#post4921292

 

[Toffmeister]

If you read the relevant post on this thread, in particular the posts by Drew, you would see that the mystery has always been the conspiracy plot behind the Zurara, not the shipwreck herself. Drew explained that his clues did not rule out poi as part of the search because that is what the game mechanics require. Only through finding the poi and reading/hearing the logs canthe truth be revealed. And I think there is more to reveal.

Good, because currently I feel like I've been allowed into the cinema just as the end credits roll on a whodunnit where the main chtr is killed before the big reveal, and there's no plans for a sequel.

Sorry for the salt, but only recently have I found out there was more to the game than the usual run-of-the mill stuff, and you lot were playing the real game. I was sort of hoping I could join you, if only as the guy who cleaned the cigar stubs out of the urinals and cleaned up all the spilt coffee in the canteen. (you could at least put your cups in the sink y'know).

 

[Wolf Starslayer]

Drew's argument seems to be it wasn't fixed because while he allowed the fox into the hen-house he had no idea it would eat his chickens doesn't seem very genuine; he facilitated it by allowing a known event-killer to fly shotgun.

 

[Harley Quinn]

Pretence and Pretenciousness...?

The sequel Jane Austin never wrote.

Serious case of insomnia. 4 in the morning here... should be sleeping.

I was

 

[Spenceuk99]

Liz & Phil? A better bet than Don & Mel methinks.

In his day, Phil was one of the Royal Navy's rising stars. If he'd have been in charge, SDC would all be in sidewinders by now.

 

[BluWolve]

Good, because currently I feel like I've been allowed into the cinema just as the end credits roll on a whodunnit where the main chtr is killed before the big reveal, and there's no plans for a sequel.

Sorry for the salt, but only recently have I found out there was more to the game than the usual run-of-the mill stuff, and you lot were playing the real game. I was sort of hoping I could join you, if only as the guy who cleaned the cigar stubs out of the urinals and cleaned up all the spilt coffee in the canteen. (you could at least put your cups in the sink y'know).

There is much more to figure out though. In the grand scheme of things in the ED galaxy, the conspiracy behind the Zurara and the Dynasty expeditions has only just been discovered. The plot is only getting thicker, and this is what I hoped the Formidine Rift mystery would be. Not the whole puzzle put together and done, rather just figuring out how two pieces of the puzzle fit. Now we have connected a few threads together but the tapestry is far from fully weaved. So many questions need answering, so many more clues to uncover and breadcrumbs to follow... There will be many more triumphs, even more dead ends.

One question that begs asking - We have this information now, what should we do with it? We have already seen time and time again how much influence we commanders have in the galaxy, what we choose to do next has the potential to change things dramatically.

I am torn myself, part of me feels someone needs to be held accountable and justice must be served. Another part just wants to stay out of it, look out for myself and just try to weather the inevitable storm. Either way the story is far from over, and I for one wouldn't want it any other way

Fly safe o7

 

[Harley Quinn]

....
One question that begs asking - We have this information now, what should we do with it?
....

Already on the record that I don't like secret groups and governments hiding the truth, manipulating things and deciding what's best for me.

But we only have an overview of their motivations and it is possible that their actions were necessary and proportionate.

I doubt it, but we do still need to find and assess the threat.

I'm sure there will be some of us who agree that what was done was necessary and would sign up. Others who will never agree with what they did and want justice. And others who will want to forget the past even if temporarily to deal with the threat. And yes a few who will welcome their alien overlords with open arms.

All I can judge at the moment is that there was/is a threat, and a group has used exactly the kind of tactics I hate to address it apparently for the good of humanity. I can't decide yet if my hatred of these tactics should be put aside in this case yet, as I don't have enough information.

Problem is, I don't know if that information exists in game yet to find.

 

[drew]

One question that begs asking - We have this information now, what should we do with it? We have already seen time and time again how much influence we commanders have in the galaxy, what we choose to do next has the potential to change things dramatically.

I am torn myself, part of me feels someone needs to be held accountable and justice must be served. Another part just wants to stay out of it, look out for myself and just try to weather the inevitable storm. Either way the story is far from over, and I for one wouldn't want it any other way

This is precisely where we are. The players must decide what, if anything, to do next.

Cheers,

Drew.

 

[Taimaru]

Drew's argument seems to be it wasn't fixed because while he allowed the fox into the hen-house he had no idea it would eat his chickens doesn't seem very genuine; he facilitated it by allowing a known event-killer to fly shotgun.

Drew didn't allow the fox into the hen-house, some of the community did. Right from the beginning Drew wasn't going to interfere with what the community decided to do.