Elite Dangerous | System Colonisation Beta Details & Feedback

[regdc]

Greetings Commanders,

With the launch of our Trailblazers update we will be bringing System Colonisation to Elite Dangerous! The launch of System Colonisation will be as a live Beta for the feature, allowing us to review data and make adjustments over time. This is a significant update to Elite Dangerous and whilst we are very happy with the feature we do understand that some fine tuning may be required initially.

Though this is a Beta it will be on the live version of the game and any actions/progress made will NOT be wiped unless a significant issue is identified. Here is a brief explanation of how the Beta works:

What the System Colonisation Beta is

• Feature complete
• All actions/resource payments made are final and will not be refunded
• A period where we can monitor data and make balancing adjustments

What the System Colonisation Beta is not

• A work in progress
• There will be no progress wipes
• There will be no resource refunds

The aim of the Beta is to gather data and feedback specifically focused on resource balancing. We are happy with the System Colonisation feature itself and whilst we are always happy for you to share your feedback the aim of this Beta is aimed firmly at resource balancing and not changes to the feature itself.

To help us in our balancing we will be using this thread for you to share your feedback on the following areas:

• Amount of resources required
• Amount of time/distance taken to complete tasks

As always you are welcome to share additional feedback on the forums or to raise an issues you encounter on our Issue Tracker.

Hi FD,

Here is some feedback and questions that I still have.......

I have been playing ED since Alpha and Colonisation is a feature I have been waiting a very long time for.

So far, I really like Trailblazers and how it will change the game.

The interface has worked well for so far and I have had no issues, other than the same ones every has in terms of the Pause and the user interface being a little bit misleading at times, in terms of the information it was displaying.

The quantities needed to build a station seem reasonable to me, given that space stations and settlements are very big.

The initial time limit of 4 weeks is fine, and certainly doable as a solo player if you just stick to building an initial Outpost. Mine took me about 4 days of concentrated hauling.

Having a Fleet Carrier certainly helped, but it also doubles up the amount of trips if you try and get everything on the carrier before you start delivering.

The ability to park your FC right next to large refinery really made shifting tons of goods easier.

Finding a suitable claim was not that easy as all the systems near Minerva, where I was doing the CG were taken very quickly.

Eventually, I did find a modest red-brick semi of a system not far from the edge of the bubble, with planets and moons and a few slots to play with, that I was able to claim.

I am a solo player so I like the fact that once the starter outpost is built, one can take ones time building the others.

I do agree with others that the 15 LY limit is too short.

At the very beginning of Trailblazers, I jumped my carrier to Sothis thinking I would start searching for a claim there, only to find that Sothis does not have a Colonisatioon Contact, and then I got stuck there because of the FC Time Slot feature. I did not then realise that just trying again and again would eventually work, so I flew back to Minerva and then started looking which cost valuable time.

It is a bit ironic that Sothis and associated human systems are not considered part of the bubble, but some systems in the Pleiades are!!

It is quite confusing on how to build the specific economy that you would like.

How do we build Refinery economies?

Also, when does the initial outpost get an Exploration contact and Outfitting?

Also, what are the Surface Hubs?? Are they the old pre-Odyssey surface settlements that just provided sites for missions and nothing else?

Why cannot players land at them and interact with them in the same manner as settlements and planetary ports?

This also applies to installations and non-Landable Megaships, why cannot they be docked with and interacted with?

I would be really pleased if FD could add landing rights to these types of bases and ships!!

Overall, I am very pleased with Trailblazers, there is something quite satisfying in seeing your hard work come to fruition on the maps.

It was quite interesting walking through your new darkened station, although I am not sure where all the voices were coming from!

Now I have to get back to hauling some Steel!!

 

[CMDR X]

...
This also applies to installations and non-Landable Megaships, why cannot they be docked with and interacted with?
...

Can't land on our installations?? Lol. Thanks for the heads up..

 

[SCHROTTUS]

Greetings Commanders,

With the launch of our Trailblazers update we will be bringing System Colonisation to Elite Dangerous! The launch of System Colonisation will be as a live Beta for the feature, allowing us to review data and make adjustments over time. This is a significant update to Elite Dangerous and whilst we are very happy with the feature we do understand that some fine tuning may be required initially.

Though this is a Beta it will be on the live version of the game and any actions/progress made will NOT be wiped unless a significant issue is identified. Here is a brief explanation of how the Beta works:

What the System Colonisation Beta is

• Feature complete
• All actions/resource payments made are final and will not be refunded
• A period where we can monitor data and make balancing adjustments

What the System Colonisation Beta is not

• A work in progress
• There will be no progress wipes
• There will be no resource refunds

The aim of the Beta is to gather data and feedback specifically focused on resource balancing. We are happy with the System Colonisation feature itself and whilst we are always happy for you to share your feedback the aim of this Beta is aimed firmly at resource balancing and not changes to the feature itself.

To help us in our balancing we will be using this thread for you to share your feedback on the following areas:

• Amount of resources required
• Amount of time/distance taken to complete tasks

As always you are welcome to share additional feedback on the forums or to raise an issues you encounter on our Issue Tracker.

Moin.
Habe den „Bericht“ gelesen und nicht alles verstanden, aber ich habe einige Fragen:
Ich wollte im Frontier Support schreiben, aber es ging nicht ,warum?
Das hat mich dazu bewogen, hier zu fragen, obwohl es hier nicht hingehört.
In welchem Forum sollte ich nachvollgende und weitere Fragen stellen?
Ich habe einige Probleme im Koloniesystem und obwohl ich „Bauvorhaben“die zu für zwar geplanten habe im nachhinein nicht gelöscht obwohl noch keine Baustoffe geliefert wurden. Wenn doch geht geht würde ich gerne wissen wie. Ich würde gerne andere Bauten dort platzieren.
Es wird auch im Baubildschirm nicht angezeigt, um welche Stationsart es sich handelt.
Vielen Dank schon mal im Voraus für Infos und Hilfe.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Schrottus

Hi.
I read the "report" and didn't understand everything, but I have a few questions:
I wanted to write to Frontier Support, but it didn't work. Why?
That prompted me to ask here, even though it doesn't belong here.
In which forum should I ask follow-up and further questions?
I have a few problems in the colony system and although I have planned "construction projects" for it, I haven't deleted them afterwards even though no building materials have been delivered. If it works, I would like to know how. I would like to place other buildings there.
The construction screen also doesn't show what type of station it is.
Thank you in advance for any information and help.
Kind regards,
Schrottus

Please post in English only unless posting in one of the language specific sub-forums. Thanks.

 

[CMDR Aphrodyte]

Was trying to think of a way to throttle expansion without having to fix it for exploitation. Why not have the expansion cooldown be a direct correlation to the number of planetary bodies in the system you claim. Simply make it 1 day for every 2 planetary bodies in the system you claim? I.E. claiming a 28 body system has a 14 day cooldown to claim another. This would balance out the wealthy players and groups from poaching all the good systems over solo players. The issue I have is All the ringed systems have been poached by exploiters or large player groups. This is after scanning over 200 systems I have found 2 but neither can yet be claimed. I am effectively being punished for not having massive resources and carriers. If you want to speed expand, you are stuck claiming low body systems.

 

[SCHROTTUS]

Ich habe versucht, mir eine Möglichkeit auszudenken, die Erweiterung zu drosseln, ohne sie für die Ausbeutung reparieren zu müssen. Warum stellen Sie keine Abkühlungsphase für die Expansion in direktem Zusammenhang mit der Anzahl der Planetenkörper in dem System, das Sie beanspruchen, dar? Machen Sie sie einfach 1 Tag für je 2 Planetenkörper in dem System, das Sie beanspruchen? D. h., wenn Sie ein System mit 28 Körpern beanspruchen, haben Sie eine Abkühlungsphase von 14 Tagen, um ein weiteres zu beanspruchen. Dies würde ausgleichen, dass reiche Spieler und Gruppen alle guten Systeme gegenüber Einzelspielern abwerben. Mein Problem ist, dass alle Ringsysteme von Ausbeutern oder großen Spielergruppen abgeworben wurden. Nachdem ich über 200 Systeme gescannt habe, habe ich 2, aber keines kann noch gefunden werden. Ich werde praktisch dafür bestraft, dass ich nicht über massive Ressourcen und Träger verfüge. Wenn Sie die Expansion beschleunigen wollen, müssen Sie auf Systeme mit wenigen Körpern zurückgreifen.

Moin
Das meine ich nicht. Ich habe schon 3 Stationen gebaut und bin bei der Vierten. Was ich meinte ist, dass ich schon andere Stationen „vorgeplant“ habe, aber diese nicht mehr haben wollte und stattdessen andere Stationstypen bauen wollten und daher die „vorgeplanten“ die ich noch nicht begonnen habe zu löschen.

MMit freundlichen Grüßen
Schrottus

 

[GreenCrusher44]

Hi FD,

Here is some feedback and questions that I still have.......

I have been playing ED since Alpha and Colonisation is a feature I have been waiting a very long time for.

So far, I really like Trailblazers and how it will change the game.

The interface has worked well for so far and I have had no issues, other than the same ones every has in terms of the Pause and the user interface being a little bit misleading at times, in terms of the information it was displaying.

The quantities needed to build a station seem reasonable to me, given that space stations and settlements are very big.

The initial time limit of 4 weeks is fine, and certainly doable as a solo player if you just stick to building an initial Outpost. Mine took me about 4 days of concentrated hauling.

Having a Fleet Carrier certainly helped, but it also doubles up the amount of trips if you try and get everything on the carrier before you start delivering.

The ability to park your FC right next to large refinery really made shifting tons of goods easier.

Finding a suitable claim was not that easy as all the systems near Minerva, where I was doing the CG were taken very quickly.

Eventually, I did find a modest red-brick semi of a system not far from the edge of the bubble, with planets and moons and a few slots to play with, that I was able to claim.

I am a solo player so I like the fact that once the starter outpost is built, one can take ones time building the others.

I do agree with others that the 15 LY limit is too short.

At the very beginning of Trailblazers, I jumped my carrier to Sothis thinking I would start searching for a claim there, only to find that Sothis does not have a Colonisatioon Contact, and then I got stuck there because of the FC Time Slot feature. I did not then realise that just trying again and again would eventually work, so I flew back to Minerva and then started looking which cost valuable time.

It is a bit ironic that Sothis and associated human systems are not considered part of the bubble, but some systems in the Pleiades are!!

It is quite confusing on how to build the specific economy that you would like.

How do we build Refinery economies?

Also, when does the initial outpost get an Exploration contact and Outfitting?

Also, what are the Surface Hubs?? Are they the old pre-Odyssey surface settlements that just provided sites for missions and nothing else?

Why cannot players land at them and interact with them in the same manner as settlements and planetary ports?

This also applies to installations and non-Landable Megaships, why cannot they be docked with and interacted with?

I would be really pleased if FD could add landing rights to these types of bases and ships!!

Overall, I am very pleased with Trailblazers, there is something quite satisfying in seeing your hard work come to fruition on the maps.

It was quite interesting walking through your new darkened station, although I am not sure where all the voices were coming from!

Now I have to get back to hauling some Steel!!

i was trying to simulating the refinery economy for somewhile now, kinda slow since my primary port was ocellus, if anything i wish the market data will be significant if things went right, but so far nothing going on, got my refinery and colony surface outpost built yesterday and gain refinery economy as secondary by now but nothing changes in the market, so far i assume i will need to wait another week to see if the market going to be updated, but currently im pushing my way to make refinery to be my primary and wish i could get an desireable data, for now im finishing the outpost above the moon and more refineries later, lets see how much i need to build to move it to be primary
if i got something to share ill sure do, but so far nothing about refinery stuffs yet 07

 

[Aratac]

Might have already been mentioned.
1) Is there any way to see what materials a surface facility still needs to be completed from space (like orbitals) or do we need to land at the facility to see it?
2) Is there anyway to tell what type an installation is, after its been built?
3) Is there anywhere that shows the total system security , tech, wealth, std of living total points?
Or do we need to setup more spreadsheets to monitor all the above?

 

[ME-tan]

Might have already been mentioned.
1) Is there any way to see what materials a surface facility still needs to be completed from space (like orbitals) or do we need to land at the facility to see it?
2) Is there anyway to tell what type an installation is, after its been built?
3) Is there anywhere that shows the total system security , tech, wealth, std of living total points?
Or do we need to setup more spreadsheets to monitor all the above?

1) Open up the system map and switch over to Architect view. When you click on the construction it'll list what resources it still needs. It's better than landing but still a pain in the neck.
2) Not without visiting it, no.
3) Also no from what I can tell.
Break out those spreadsheets.

 

[Aratac]

Ok got it thanks. Have to zoom in on the planet and then click the surface construction site to see the materials still needed.

 

[Xenia_K]

Was there any update on increasing Insulting Membranes? Every station I go to has exactly 1 unit available. I only need 173 more to finish my station but at this rate, I won't be able to get them all in the 2 1/2 weeks remaining for me.

mate - since the update started on Feb 26xt I neither for Insulating Membranes nor for CMM had to camp a market.
How to find viable resources?
1. Search commodity at INARA Commodity-search and DO NOT go to the places shown, rather check the type and state (Sec,Pop) of the systems which offer the required goods.
2. goto "Search nearest", enter your current position, expand the advanced search options and enter the system specs you need for your desired mats.
3. take your exploring ship and checkout resulting list (preferrably those which hadn´t feedback in the last week)

during all of this (and subsequent loading/hauling/construction) switch off all Software reporting to INARA, otherwise your newfound source will be depleted by other Cdrs quite quickly.

have fun

 

[Ydiss]

Getting this repeatedly when trying to start a Coriolis (four truss). I have 3 tier 2s ready to go:

This is where I'm trying to place it (I tried slot 0 and 1):

Just for clarity:

Any ideas why this is failing? I don't want to start "testing out other options" because I really want it here and decisions are permanent, so I'd rather understand why it's failing first.

Thanks in advance.

 

[GrooWanderer]

View attachment 420126
This needs a repost \o/ so, consider it reposted

Where is that mission found? I'm not seeing it at some of the producing stations near me

 

[CMDR Aphrodyte]

Might have already been mentioned.
1) Is there any way to see what materials a surface facility still needs to be completed from space (like orbitals) or do we need to land at the facility to see it?
2) Is there anyway to tell what type an installation is, after its been built?
3) Is there anywhere that shows the total system security , tech, wealth, std of living total points?
Or do we need to setup more spreadsheets to monitor all the above?

ED Materials Helper now has a colonization tab to track your resources.

 

[aclout]

Thinking some more, it would be awesome if you could hire apex to haul goods for you.

Works just the same as normal apex, but its goods from a station, it takes time, and they charge a serious fee. You can only have one Apex hauler active at a time.

The more you haul, the more you wait, the longer the distance means the bigger the fee. And in a lot of cases it may be quicker just to haul the goods, especially using multiple commanders. But if you are a solo commander it would be a godsend.

 

[Frankymole]

How do you get a new-built station to sell more than hydrogen and biowaste?

 

[Frankymole]

I'm wondering whether I'll have to bite the bullet and build a Coriolis by myself.

Or a ground starport.

 

[Zador]

Two people already posted in this thread a page or two back that it did NOT happen for them. So either a bug or there are specific circumstances which cause the requirements to increase - possibly already having a tier 3 port in the system, or being architect for another system or two or who knows?

I have one colony with 2 coriolis, 7 space installations, 4 ground facilities, no tier 3 ports, so I have the 10 x bonus and my costs have not increased.

An update on this... I finally gave in to the temptation to build a ground port as I had 6 tier 3 construction points, and now I am seeing the increased costs as per Mechan's video.

So it looks like having a planetary port under construction at least does double the costs of other tier 3 ports and increases the cost of tier 2 ports, however it was not the 10x bonus on its own which triggered it.

 

[BDelacroix]

How do you get a new-built station to sell more than hydrogen and biowaste?

Let me know when you learn the answer.

 

[VR Morgan Grimes]

A little more feedback from me...

Now that we need to source a lot of different commodities for colonisation it highlights to me that there needs to be an overhaul of the in game systems for finding said commodities, I have been attempting to play without using Inara and it is shocking just how bad it is attempting to find a particular commodity using the in game tools, now I could very well be missing something here so feel free to offer tips but I will argue that if I couldn't find out how to do it in game then it's just backing up my point, and yes, I could simply use Inara but it's a massive faff when playing in VR to swap between the two and utterly ruins immersion.

I'll backup everybody else saying there needs to be an easier way of seeing the required commodities without needing to drop into the system map too, it's simply frustrating as it stands, a list in the missions tab would be good, and I do mean a list for each construction too not just the initial station, highlighting the required commodities on the market screen would be excellent, even better if it could somehow change to another colour when you have the required amount too.

The planetside placing of facilities in VR needs an option to lock the viewport as it's currently a bit awkward to place something when your head movement is shifting its position or did I miss an option in the controls setup?

Please can somebody take some time to check how all of the new interface screens work with UI UP/DOWN/LEFT/RIGHT/BACK controls, currently there are far too many instances where it either doesn't respond or the highlight simply vanishes to some option that isn't visible but clearly is being selected somehow, while we are at it the galaxy map could do with the same treatment.

I'm absolutely loving the update but actually trying to source commodities is far too frustrating as it stands without the use of external systems.

 

[Tifu]

So it looks like having a planetary port under construction at least does double the costs of other tier 3 ports and increases the cost of tier 2 ports, however it was not the 10x bonus on its own which triggered it.

So basically it's a brake on how many T2 or T3 constructions you can have in a system. It also limits how fast your system's population can expand after a certain point. We're tinkering with the workings of the in-system background simulation of how stations interact with the system's overall economy.