Elysium Colony

[Erimus Kamzel]

The Elysium Colony - A Community Goal Proposal to Frontier Developments

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Frontier have shown their willingness to incorporate player events, and have them mould the way the galaxy around us evolves by our actions.

The prime example is the fantastic Colonia initiative, which from humble beginnings is now becoming a fully fledged island of humanity that in time may have its own political power system.


Another opportunity has arisen, and although it is not on the scale of Colonia, it is just as intriguing.


M67, also known as the Cancri Cluster or Elysium by the exploration community, is a unique place in our galaxy. Its unique in so far that only neutron charged and highly specialized engineered starships can reach it... and there is no way home once you enter the cluster. This makes it a special place.

Travellers go there out of curiosity, knowing full well the only way they can return is via the insurance screen. In a roleplayed sense this is the closest "life choice" in the world of Elite that we commanders have that is akin to our forefathers choice - those who chose to go forth in Generation ships, knowing they would never return to humanities cradle. They too chose a one way trip out into the depths.

Last week 350 intrepid pioneers did likewise. They set out to chart M67, all knowing that once the jump into the cluster was made, there was no coming back (from a roleplay perspective).

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On behalf of DSE we ask Frontier to embrace this piece of community created content and weave it into the ED timeline narrative.

"FD Please consider a community goal that allows a new outer colony to be born in Elysium. An outpost, or a station, cut off from humanity, but there nevertheless. It doesn't matter that those who make the trip can only come back via the insurance screen - the Distant Stars Expedition is testimony to the fact that curiosity outweighs credit balances in a lot of players minds.

A human colony just 3,000 Light Years from Sol, yet so difficult to reach due to the logistics involved, the engineering commitment required via 55 LY range FSDs, and navigational prowess needed to traverse the Cancri Climb, would really add another layer of mystique and challenge to this evolving gameworld.

It would also open the door to future ideas and content that one day may see a viable link established between the Core Worlds and Elysium (via new tech, or undiscovered routes). Gameplay that allows those intrepid pioneers a way back, and new explorers to have another 'location with character' to visit.

The views from M67 of the Galaxy below are worth the trip alone!"

This event has already spawned a wealth of YouTube, Reddit, forum, and player blog content. As well as radio and magazine interviews conducted by Dr Kaii. It has captured the imagination of Elite players and non-Elite players, who are following its progress regardless.

DSE on YouTube
Polygon Interview
Reddit

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A Community Goal? Yay ot Nay?

To the community...

Please vote if you would like to petition FD to make the Elysium Colony idea come to life via a community goal.

The community goal could be similar to how the Colonia Connection outpost came into being - players shipping essential materials out to a frontier system in preparation of transferring it up into our neighboring cluster, M67.

Colonies being born out of community driven goals and events are far more organic than them being introduced without any backstory that players feel attached to. Colonia is a shining example of how laying the foundations for colonies comes from player actions.. DSE is a great opportunity to see a second island of humanity become established beyond human borders, purely player driven, with a helping hand from FD.


If you like the idea of an officially sanctioned Colony or human outpost in Elysium, but would like to see it established some other way than a community goal, please share your ideas here.

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Update :

A list of ideas submitted to this thread...

• Elysium becomes a penal colony.
• Capital Ships could be used to transport players to and from the colony.
• Multicrew could be used to transport those wishing for passage to the cluster but don't have a ship themselves capable of making it there.
• An alternative to a cluster colony is to instead build a scientific outpost at Point Decision (the last neutron before the jump into Elysium).
• An idea to ferry players to and from Point Decision and AH Cancri could be via a jumpable star port (like Jaques), that makes the jump once per week.
• An engineer based in AH Cancri that can provide you with one-off 250 LY superjump provided you supply him with the items he requests (this allows players to return home).
• No colony in Elysium - leave it as a galactic nature reserve.
• A tourism beacon at the Elysium Rest basecamp where the DSE fleet was scuppered.

 

[newman1702]

Loving the idea of a one-way colonization trip, akin to some plans on one-way Mars trips. Opens up a lot of story possibilities for later if FDev later decide to "connect" this cluster to the rest of the galaxy in some way. Maybe using alien tech?

 

[GregMalcolm]

Elysium could be used as a prisoner colony. You know you've screwed up when you get exiled from the whole galaxy...

 

[newman1702]

Elysium could be used as a prisoner colony. You know you've screwed up when you get exiled from the whole galaxy...

+1 for space Australia

 

[Major Klutz]

Capitol ships could easily make the trip and return. I assume that mobile stations like Jaques could make a jump that far also.

The trouble is that from a practical standpoint it would be highly problematic for frontier to put a station of any kind up there.
If they did, anyone who docked there would be permanently stranded in an area containing only 219 stars. Imagine the support tickets that would generate.
The only other option would be to improve jump drive tech to make bi directional travel possible, which would be game changing in many ways and would remove what is special about the area now.

 

[Mengy]

I’ll be honest, I voted no. I’ll give my reasons here:

1. I’d rather see Frontier use their resources adding things to the game that the playerbase can make use of, and an isolated colony up there which no one can ever return from, while intriquing, seems useless from a game play point of view.
2. Truthfully I like the idea of the cluster remaining untarnished by mankind, isolated and undisturbed, forever unobtainable to civilization spreading into it.

NOW, if we ever get the means to return from the cluster back to Decision Point, then my feelings change completely as I’d love to see a science outpost blossom up there! But for as long as it’s isolated I’d rather it remain natural and void of mankind’s influence. But that’s just my opinion.

 

[Erimus Kamzel]

I’ll be honest, I voted no. I’ll give my reasons here:

1. I’d rather see Frontier use their resources adding things to the game that the playerbase can make use of, and an isolated colony up there which no one can ever return from, while intriquing, seems useless from a game play point of view.
2. Truthfully I like the idea of the cluster remaining untarnished by mankind, isolated and undisturbed, forever unobtainable to civilization spreading into it.

NOW, if we ever get the means to return from the cluster back to Decision Point, then my feelings change completely as I’d love to see a science outpost blossom up there! But for as long as it’s isolated I’d rather it remain natural and void of mankind’s influence. But that’s just my opinion.

Fair points. [up]

I think the idea of the colony would be for it to be first 'cut off' from humanity, with a narrative over time that tries to establish a link to the lost pioneers.

So instead of getting it all in one go (i.e. a way there AND back), there's sufficient time for a story to emerge about what happened to those who make the final neutron jump. A bit of legend and mystique.

Some time off in the future, when FD have time to commit to it, a narrative could spring up on GalNet about an endeavor to reestablish a link to the lost colony (maybe via another CG).


Stretching it out leaves room for stories, articles, and events to evolve.

 

[Whitmann]

Vote for no here. Simply because it seems rather exclusive. I'm not ever going to have a ship capable of the range necessary, and neither are most people. It whiffs a little bit of (ahem) elitism. I prefer things which are inclusive.

Besides, I'd rather see FDev's golden wand waved in the direction of Colonia and the still-woeful outfitting/shipyards out there, not a slightly vainglorious project involving relatively very few players.

 

[Major Klutz]

For any player stranded in that tiny space of stars, the game would get old and boring very quickly. (IMO) Honestly, I'm getting bored there already.
If there was a station you could dock at, you'd be stranded and you would either have to open a ticket to get back to the galaxy or delete your character and start over from scratch.
Not very practical from the Dev's point of view.

Some small surface installations like scientific outposts to add flavor would be OK, but nothing you could actually dock at.

 

[Erimus Kamzel]

Vote for no here. Simply because it seems rather exclusive. I'm not ever going to have a ship capable of the range necessary, and neither are most people. It whiffs a little bit of (ahem) elitism. I prefer things which are inclusive.

Besides, I'd rather see FDev's golden wand waved in the direction of Colonia and the still-woeful outfitting/shipyards out there, not a slightly vainglorious project involving relatively very few players.

I'm sure multicrew will solve the issue of not having a ship of your own able to make it. If you want to see the cluster, charter an engineered ship to take you there as a passenger or crewmate, then buy a ship of your own to explore it once you reach the outpost.

One of the main reasons for a colony and outpost in such a unique and hard to reach place, is because is encourages emergent gameplay.

 

[Whitmann]

I'm still happy muddling along trying to help Colonia be better, tbh. Honestly, good luck to anyone wanting this, but it does seem a little niche in the way that Colonia isn't - or at least shouldn't be. I've no desire to cut myself off from humanity. It seems rather better in 3303 than, well, you know when.

/mytwocents

 

[schrimpanzer]

Wee oo wee! I'd love this.

 

[marx]

Voted for no as well. From a game design perspective, adding a place in the galaxy from which players couldn't get out of would be a bad idea, because you know there would be people who'd dock(!) there not knowing they can't return, and then they'd complain that they were trapped. Of course, they could lose their ship and take the free Sidewinder to their starting system, but even losing credits on selling their old ship would sit bad with people.

Of course, if there were a way back, then the point of this isolated colony would be mostly lost.

Also, FD have limited resources, and I'd rather they spent them on Colonia.

 

[Vent]

Sorry Erimus, but I am going to vote 'No' here.

Would it be interesting? Yes.
Would it be worth the effort? Probably in the long run.
Should they do it now? Most definitely not.

There are too many other things I would rather see FDev spend their time on at their own leisure. The forums and Reddits are already full of feature requests of all shapes and sizes. The aftermath of the exploration CG between the Federation and the Children of Raxxla has been a mess. The ancient ruins mission is half-bugged. Colonia is only in its infancy, provides ample opportunities for colonists, but still has many problems that FDev is still struggling with (BGS and growth). There are countless small to medium sized things that need fixing and improving.

All in all, if I would analyse this using MoSCoW, this would have been a "Could have" with a gazillion "Should haves" still on the list.

 

[CMDR EfilOne]

I voted yes, because I think this galaxy really would gain from player-generated content. But in my mind, the idea of a station, or even an outpost, within the cluster is a bit "too much".

For example I'd rather think placing one in the vicinity of the Cancri Climb would rather make much more sense.
A little scientific outpost, orbiting a landable with a planetary scientific outpost would do a nice duo, for the following reasons :

- Roleplay-wise : Fits with the idea you mentionned Erimus ("a narrative could spring up on GalNet about an endeavor to reestablish a link to the lost colony."), as those types of outposts/settlements are holding the perfect tools : Radiotelescope, Radars, Long-Range Comms towers ... Moreover, the outpost could hold Galnet articles detailing the contact tryouts with the lost colony, while the settlment could hold data points, in the like of what we have with the Rift/Conflux/Gap bases, which would further a bit more previously mentionned Galnet articles, speaking about what the teams out there would be trying to put in place to renew contact, with crunchy little clues and details that would refer to the expedition we're in right now.

- Practically-wise : The place would then be reachable to a wider audience, as well as supporting the created storyline --> The last outpost where a refuel can be achieved before engaging into the unknown, CGs where material/data supplies would be asked to help the outpost sustain itself, maintain their scientific equipments, and help them run advanced surveys (this is pure Roleplay here) in the direction of Elysium. That could even be used to help bring in new machanics FDev would want to put in place. Even, create a link with the Probes Sirius launched a few months back (from which we never heard anything new from, by the way), and widen the possibilities even more !

o7

 

[cooly_hat]

I voted with YES, because I think the idea as such is worth to be followed up, as long as we get created a way back into the bubble. I don't like the idea of being isolated for the rest of my life. We can maybe use a gatekeeper process implemented, so that we can decide who to include or exclude (like for other systems already in place) from this new bubble via private group access. Just my view...

 

[dukrous]

I voted no for two simple reasons:
1) It's suicide. Anyone who docks within the cluster is effectively stuck in the cluster unless they suicidewinder.
2) It will create more support tickets for people who went to this cluster and thought since there was a base there might be a way back.

It's a laudable idea to place a station near, but I would rather see a station placed at Decision which would serve as the natural stopping point and respawning point for anyone going into the Cluster. This would allow refuel, repair, and even Universal Cartographics up to Decision to be sold so that you don't lose too much when you take the only known path back to the greater galaxy.

 

[Erimus Kamzel]

Elysium could be used as a prisoner colony. You know you've screwed up when you get exiled from the whole galaxy...

I love this idea.

So maybe not a colony for players, but from a roleplay perspective, the ultimate penal colony marked on the ingame galactic map.

The Point Decision neutron being the point of no return where all criminals are sent, then fired off into the cluster!

A bit like the prison colony in Escape from New York.... "there is only one rule: once you go in, you don't come out".

It would only work for npcs though


@CMDR EfilOne Pretty much my sentiments too. Its about incorporating community content and building it into the narrative. A scientific array in the Cancri Climb, something players can visit and return from, would be just as awesome. The point being its another piece of game content that has an actual story behind it and a historical context from actual in game events to draw from.

I guess we're coming at this more from a roleplay point of view more than a practical one.

 

[Maro-Val]

Yes to the Colony, and i like the idea mentioned it to be a prison colony. Other ideas also appeal to me. Like others said, a ship or a station big enough could make the jump needed. Maybe good time for a functional generation ship to be found? Maybe a neutron star is somewhere in that cluster waiting to be found somehow?

Best idea i can come up with atm:

Along with the Colony, it would be nice to see a timed script, lets say weekly (every Thursday ofc), for an fsd powered station like Jaques to transfer ships back and forth (or only back) to or from the Colony like a ferry. I dont think it would take much of the devs time to make it happen, and it would help others to visit the Colony.

P.S. Maybe a new engineer could be situated there in the future?

 

[Straha Yeagar]

I voted no for two simple reasons:
1) It's suicide. Anyone who docks within the cluster is effectively stuck in the cluster unless they suicidewinder.
2) It will create more support tickets for people who went to this cluster and thought since there was a base there might be a way back.

It's a laudable idea to place a station near, but I would rather see a station placed at Decision which would serve as the natural stopping point and respawning point for anyone going into the Cluster. This would allow refuel, repair, and even Universal Cartographics up to Decision to be sold so that you don't lose too much when you take the only known path back to the greater galaxy.

Not that I am one to really care too much about personal whining, but then there would also be the requisite, and inevitable wailing and gnashing of teeth about how this should be accessible to everyone, shouldn't have to grind and sell babies to engineers just to fall victim to the RNG, and all that blah blah blah crap. I mean come on, there are people still whining under the misguided notion that the game somehow forces them to fly 300,000ls to stations and we need instatravel...frankly, I couldn't care less about peoples feelings on things like that, but this would be nothing more than a lightning rod for those types.