Hi commanders,
If you missed tonight's content reveal livestream or just wanted a recap of all the content discussed, read the notes below from designers Steve Kirby, Sandro Sammarco and Game Director Laurence Oldham.
Please note this is part two of three livestreams, for more details click here.
If you missed part one, check it out here.
Remember that all of these changes will be featured in the beta and could be subject to change.
PLANETARY IMPROVEMENTS
We have overhauled the surface material system for the rocky, high metal content and metal rich planets. We have pushed the system to get a lot more out of it, but this is just the first step towards further major planetary system improvements. The contrast and variation across and between bodies is much improved.
We also hope that these planetary visual improvements (with more surface level improvements coming later in the year) will also bring a new vibrancy to the Elite Dangerous galaxy, encouraging wanderlust explorers to discover far systems and planets.
The colouration of the surfaces now more clearly telegraphs the chemical makeup and volcanic activity of the worlds. In addition, binary rocky/metallic planets more accurately simulate having similar colourations from shared formation materials where appropriate.
We have a range of colourations for:
See the visual improvements for yourself here: https://youtu.be/cGZ4GfR09uo?t=532
THE CHIEFTAIN - [LLMSSS]
The Alliance Chieftain is a medium-sized ship that has been designed not only to dish out punishment, but to avoid it. Manufactured by Lakon Spaceways, the Chieftain is more manoeuvrable than ships of similar size and weight, and its combat profile means it can more than hold its own in a fight. The ship also boasts three internal military compartments, allowing the pilot to equip a shield cell bank, hull reinforcements and module reinforcements.
Important note: as there are no Alliance ranks, you will not need a specific rank to unlock this ship.
Get a closer look at the Chieftain and see it in action on the stream here: https://youtu.be/cGZ4GfR09uo?t=749
Brief Chieftain outfitting can be seen here: https://youtu.be/cGZ4GfR09uo?t=1815
TECH BROKER
Technology Brokers are dealers in new and rare technologies and items. These contacts appear in various stations across known human space and can generally be found in highly populated systems with a high security level. Visit tech brokers to see what items they currently have available and complete set requests to unlock these items by handing in the required commodities and materials. The addition of Technology Brokers allows pilots to acquire new items based on their personal narrative giving even more ways to play elite your way.
For more details about the new Tech Broker, check here: https://youtu.be/cGZ4GfR09uo?t=1956
TRADE DATA CHANGES
We are making changes to the commodities markets and the galaxy map to allow players to find profitable trades more easily in-game.
In the game at the moment, by default the galactic average column shows the average price of the commodity or rough profits from various stations where you have purchased the trade data from.
How trade data works in Beyond Chapter One:
Using the galaxy map for trade data:
Trending trade route data
We have also updated the trade data routes in the galaxy map to now show trending trade routes used by commanders and commercial pilots. Using these filters can, alongside the various commodity filters, help commanders get a clear view of who is trading what and where in the systems near to you.
Ultimately, we hope these new tools will make it easier for players to find the best trades, while also encourage them to explore and visit multiple systems to unlock new markets and potential profits.
For a full recap on trade data changes, watch the stream here: https://youtu.be/cGZ4GfR09uo?t=2258
MEGASHIP INTERACTIONS
Another change coming to this chapter of Beyond is the additional gameplay interactions that will be available at the various megaships found across the galaxy. As well as the simple data links and NPC ship scenarios we have added a new flow for scanning these and (in later Beyond updates) other large space objects.
Initiating Interactions:
Discover all of the new ways to interact with megaships in the beta, details here: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...angerous-Beyond-Chapter-One-Beta-Announcement
One thing to note is that all current interactions are considered illegal, tying in with the changes to Crime and Punishment. These interactions provide criminal pilots new gameplay options as well as giving lawful players new locations to find wanted pilots.
In addition to the aforementioned interactions, we have tweaked the scenarios around the megaships to include a greater variety of criminal and lawful pilots, as well as crime responders such as police ships which we feel will add a bit more spice to these locations.
We have plans to add other interaction types and locations in later updates, so there will be more to come in this area.
For a recap on megaship interactions, check the stream here: https://youtu.be/cGZ4GfR09uo?t=3427
If you missed tonight's content reveal livestream or just wanted a recap of all the content discussed, read the notes below from designers Steve Kirby, Sandro Sammarco and Game Director Laurence Oldham.
Please note this is part two of three livestreams, for more details click here.
If you missed part one, check it out here.
Remember that all of these changes will be featured in the beta and could be subject to change.
PLANETARY IMPROVEMENTS
We have overhauled the surface material system for the rocky, high metal content and metal rich planets. We have pushed the system to get a lot more out of it, but this is just the first step towards further major planetary system improvements. The contrast and variation across and between bodies is much improved.
We also hope that these planetary visual improvements (with more surface level improvements coming later in the year) will also bring a new vibrancy to the Elite Dangerous galaxy, encouraging wanderlust explorers to discover far systems and planets.
The colouration of the surfaces now more clearly telegraphs the chemical makeup and volcanic activity of the worlds. In addition, binary rocky/metallic planets more accurately simulate having similar colourations from shared formation materials where appropriate.
We have a range of colourations for:
| Rocky | High Metal | Metal Rich |
| No Volcanism | No Volcanism | No Volcanism |
| Low Volcanism | Low Volcanism | Low Volcanism |
| Mid to High Volcanism | Mid to High Volcanism | Mid to High Volcanism |
See the visual improvements for yourself here: https://youtu.be/cGZ4GfR09uo?t=532
THE CHIEFTAIN - [LLMSSS]
The Alliance Chieftain is a medium-sized ship that has been designed not only to dish out punishment, but to avoid it. Manufactured by Lakon Spaceways, the Chieftain is more manoeuvrable than ships of similar size and weight, and its combat profile means it can more than hold its own in a fight. The ship also boasts three internal military compartments, allowing the pilot to equip a shield cell bank, hull reinforcements and module reinforcements.
Important note: as there are no Alliance ranks, you will not need a specific rank to unlock this ship.
Get a closer look at the Chieftain and see it in action on the stream here: https://youtu.be/cGZ4GfR09uo?t=749
Brief Chieftain outfitting can be seen here: https://youtu.be/cGZ4GfR09uo?t=1815
TECH BROKER
Technology Brokers are dealers in new and rare technologies and items. These contacts appear in various stations across known human space and can generally be found in highly populated systems with a high security level. Visit tech brokers to see what items they currently have available and complete set requests to unlock these items by handing in the required commodities and materials. The addition of Technology Brokers allows pilots to acquire new items based on their personal narrative giving even more ways to play elite your way.
For more details about the new Tech Broker, check here: https://youtu.be/cGZ4GfR09uo?t=1956
TRADE DATA CHANGES
We are making changes to the commodities markets and the galaxy map to allow players to find profitable trades more easily in-game.
In the game at the moment, by default the galactic average column shows the average price of the commodity or rough profits from various stations where you have purchased the trade data from.
How trade data works in Beyond Chapter One:
- Commanders will be able to select the trade data column header to enter the trade data overlay.
- From there, you can select specific markets by typing in the system name or finding the system using the galaxy map.
Important note: only systems you have docked in or scanned the 'Nav Beacon' at will display a result when entered, so the more systems you visit in the greater the amount of trade data you will have to use when looking for a potential profit.
- Once a system is selected, as long as you have the trade data, a tab will appear.
- Using this you can select which market in the system you want to display the trade data for.
- You can now select whether you want to show export profits (the money you would make when exporting to the system) or input profits (the money you would make from importing goods from the system to your current market).
- Once the parameters have been chosen, you can hit the OK button to display the data for the selected market on the commodity market screen allowing you to see what profits you could make on any commodities.
Important note: profit given is accurate at the time of being displayed and can fluctuate when travelling to the chosen market.
- The commodities market interface has also had a makeover with more information about potential markets displayed in the right hand panel. Supply and demand is now shown as pips instead of high (now 3 pips), medium (now 2 pips) and low (now 1 pip).
- When you select a commodity, a confirmation overlay will open, allowing you to select how many of the item you want to buy or sell and then you'll be able to confirm the trade
Using the galaxy map for trade data:
- You can use the same interface to access and use the galaxy map to select a target market. This is also available straight from the galaxy map tab in the left cockpit panel.
- With the galaxy map open you can use some new configuration options to display trade data, find trades and select a market to compare with your current location.
- New options are stored in the Map option under 'Map View Configuration.'
- There is a new entry in this drop down called 'By Commodity'.
- This will open up the new commodity search options
- You will be able to select the commodity type and commodity that you are interested in.
- If you already have a commodity in your ships inventory it will be highlighted with an icon, allowing you to see at a glance what you have onboard.
- With a commodity chosen the galaxy map will display trade heat map icons within a 40 light year radius of your current position to indicate star systems that import or export that commodity.
Important note: you can search for and look at trade data for systems further than 40ly, it’s just that the heat map has a set range so the icons will only show up within that range of your current location.
- A Blue Diamond is a system that imports the item and Green Triangle is a system that exports the item.
- Under the commodity selection on the left hand panel are also three new filters allowing you to set the icons to show:
- Best import and export prices- Import prices only- Export prices only - With the By Commodity map mode selected, you can move your cursor over a system and select it.
As mentioned before, if you have previously docked in the system or scanned the 'Nav Beacon' there then an expanded overlay will display trade data. But for systems that you have not visited, a message will be displayed telling you that the system's data is unavailable and how you can unlock it.
- When you select a system, you will be able to scroll through each market in the system and see the per unit price of your chosen commodity on the system selection overlay. This will allow you to quickly work out the best locations to trade at (based on price).
- Below 'import/export price' there is a new selection of filters. Using these filters you can find the best location with the best price to suit your ship and cargo.
These filters are as are:
- Landing pad size – This allows you to see what landing pad sizes are available at the Starport.- Planetary Market - This allows you to show or hide markets that are on a planets- Distance from star – This allows you to filter between market a short, medium or long range from the main system star. - We have also added another new button on the system selection overlay: mark market for comparison. This allows you to show the trade data from your selected commodity market to the commodity market at your current location (instead of displaying the galactic average.)
Trending trade route data
We have also updated the trade data routes in the galaxy map to now show trending trade routes used by commanders and commercial pilots. Using these filters can, alongside the various commodity filters, help commanders get a clear view of who is trading what and where in the systems near to you.
Ultimately, we hope these new tools will make it easier for players to find the best trades, while also encourage them to explore and visit multiple systems to unlock new markets and potential profits.
For a full recap on trade data changes, watch the stream here: https://youtu.be/cGZ4GfR09uo?t=2258
MEGASHIP INTERACTIONS
Another change coming to this chapter of Beyond is the additional gameplay interactions that will be available at the various megaships found across the galaxy. As well as the simple data links and NPC ship scenarios we have added a new flow for scanning these and (in later Beyond updates) other large space objects.
Initiating Interactions:
- Megaships will now need to be scanned with the data scanner before any of the interaction objects become interactive.
- Doing so will release a scan pulse which highlights all interaction objects attached to the ship.
- Interaction objects are added to the ships contacts panel and can now be targeted and interrogated to discover how to interact with them.
- Some of interactions will utilise limpets of various types to allow you to activate, deactivate, damage, hack or simply operate an item. While others can be shot or scanned to interact.
Discover all of the new ways to interact with megaships in the beta, details here: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...angerous-Beyond-Chapter-One-Beta-Announcement
One thing to note is that all current interactions are considered illegal, tying in with the changes to Crime and Punishment. These interactions provide criminal pilots new gameplay options as well as giving lawful players new locations to find wanted pilots.
In addition to the aforementioned interactions, we have tweaked the scenarios around the megaships to include a greater variety of criminal and lawful pilots, as well as crime responders such as police ships which we feel will add a bit more spice to these locations.
We have plans to add other interaction types and locations in later updates, so there will be more to come in this area.
For a recap on megaship interactions, check the stream here: https://youtu.be/cGZ4GfR09uo?t=3427
