Dear Frontier Developments Team,
I am writing to share ideas for expanding the immersive potential of Elite Dangerous that align with the simulation-focused experience that has long been the heart of the game. With the successful introduction of on-foot exploration in Odyssey, I believe there is an exciting opportunity to take the next logical step: integrating ship interiors, deeper on-foot mechanics, and new narrative-driven gameplay elements such as stowaways and ship-boarding interactions.
As a player and fan, I've noticed how the galaxy in Elite Dangerous continues to evolve through large-scale narratives like the Thargoid War and Powerplay. However, there is untapped potential in bringing the player experience closer to the personal, on-board experience of piloting a ship. By making the interior of our ships explorable, and introducing features such as stowaways and boarding mechanics, the game could reach new heights of immersion, storytelling, and gameplay depth.
1. Explorable Ship Interiors: Enhancing Immersion
One of the strongest appeals of Elite Dangerous is the sense of realism in its space simulation. Allowing players to walk around inside their ships is not only a logical extension of this realism but also opens up opportunities for new gameplay. Whether it's interacting with ship systems by hand, repairing damage in emergencies, or preparing for battle, ship interiors would deepen the player’s connection to their vessel. Imagine the excitement of being able to walk through a fully customized interior, making the ship feel like a true home and tool in the vastness of space.
Other space sims, like Star Citizen, are already exploring this feature, and it’s clear that Elite Dangerous would benefit from a similar, but uniquely Elite, implementation. This would bring a new level of personalization to the player's journey, strengthening the connection to their ship beyond just flying it.
2. Stowaways and Boarding Mechanics: Dynamic, Emergent Gameplay
Introducing the possibility of discovering stowaways aboard your ship could open the door to a variety of new narrative possibilities. Each stowaway could bring with them unique stories and missions—whether they are escaping the law, running from criminal gangs, or simply looking for a new life in the stars. This would add depth to the on-foot gameplay by offering players moral decisions: should you help the stowaway, turn them in, or recruit them to your crew?
This could also expand into recruitment mechanics where players could gain new crewmembers with unique skills, making crew management a meaningful part of ship operations. Stowaways could lead to unexpected encounters, adding an element of unpredictability and making every journey through space more exciting.
Moreover, this concept could naturally evolve into broader piracy, mercenary, and bounty hunting activities. Imagine landing on another player’s ship to conduct a boarding operation, or defending your own ship from invaders. These mechanics would not only provide new tactical challenges but also enhance the gameplay loop, encouraging players to explore suit and weapon engineering in the same way they invest in ship customization.
3. Expanding On-foot Content: A New Layer of Gameplay
The on-foot experience introduced in Odyssey is a fantastic foundation, but it could be expanded further. Allowing players to conduct spacewalks, explore shipwrecks, or perform on-foot repairs in space would tie together the on-foot and in-ship experiences. By connecting these systems, the game could offer a more seamless and immersive simulation.
Additionally, the combination of ship boarding, stowaway encounters, and enhanced on-foot activities would create compelling reasons for players to engage with the suit and weapon engineering system, just as they do with their ships. This would diversify gameplay options and give players more reasons to engage in various professions, from bounty hunting to piracy.
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The Benefits for Frontier and the Playerbase
1. Increased Player Retention and Engagement: Introducing features like explorable ship interiors and narrative-driven stowaway mechanics would significantly boost player immersion and retention. By making the player's ship a central part of the gameplay experience—both in space and on foot—Elite Dangerous would stand out as a more personalized and dynamic experience.
2. Fulfilling Community Wishes: These ideas directly address long-standing community desires for more interaction with ship interiors and expanded on-foot mechanics. Implementing such features would demonstrate Frontier’s commitment to listening to and evolving with the player base.
3. A Natural Evolution for Elite Dangerous: The game has always excelled at offering large-scale galactic narratives, but these ideas represent a logical next step—bringing the experience closer to the individual player, making every mission more personal, and expanding the tactical and role-playing possibilities within the Elite universe.
Thank you for your consideration of these ideas. I truly believe they represent the future of Elite Dangerous—one that not only builds on the strong foundation you've created but also opens up exciting new possibilities for player engagement and emergent gameplay.
Sincerely,
Jason Butler
I am writing to share ideas for expanding the immersive potential of Elite Dangerous that align with the simulation-focused experience that has long been the heart of the game. With the successful introduction of on-foot exploration in Odyssey, I believe there is an exciting opportunity to take the next logical step: integrating ship interiors, deeper on-foot mechanics, and new narrative-driven gameplay elements such as stowaways and ship-boarding interactions.
As a player and fan, I've noticed how the galaxy in Elite Dangerous continues to evolve through large-scale narratives like the Thargoid War and Powerplay. However, there is untapped potential in bringing the player experience closer to the personal, on-board experience of piloting a ship. By making the interior of our ships explorable, and introducing features such as stowaways and boarding mechanics, the game could reach new heights of immersion, storytelling, and gameplay depth.
1. Explorable Ship Interiors: Enhancing Immersion
One of the strongest appeals of Elite Dangerous is the sense of realism in its space simulation. Allowing players to walk around inside their ships is not only a logical extension of this realism but also opens up opportunities for new gameplay. Whether it's interacting with ship systems by hand, repairing damage in emergencies, or preparing for battle, ship interiors would deepen the player’s connection to their vessel. Imagine the excitement of being able to walk through a fully customized interior, making the ship feel like a true home and tool in the vastness of space.
Other space sims, like Star Citizen, are already exploring this feature, and it’s clear that Elite Dangerous would benefit from a similar, but uniquely Elite, implementation. This would bring a new level of personalization to the player's journey, strengthening the connection to their ship beyond just flying it.
2. Stowaways and Boarding Mechanics: Dynamic, Emergent Gameplay
Introducing the possibility of discovering stowaways aboard your ship could open the door to a variety of new narrative possibilities. Each stowaway could bring with them unique stories and missions—whether they are escaping the law, running from criminal gangs, or simply looking for a new life in the stars. This would add depth to the on-foot gameplay by offering players moral decisions: should you help the stowaway, turn them in, or recruit them to your crew?
This could also expand into recruitment mechanics where players could gain new crewmembers with unique skills, making crew management a meaningful part of ship operations. Stowaways could lead to unexpected encounters, adding an element of unpredictability and making every journey through space more exciting.
Moreover, this concept could naturally evolve into broader piracy, mercenary, and bounty hunting activities. Imagine landing on another player’s ship to conduct a boarding operation, or defending your own ship from invaders. These mechanics would not only provide new tactical challenges but also enhance the gameplay loop, encouraging players to explore suit and weapon engineering in the same way they invest in ship customization.
3. Expanding On-foot Content: A New Layer of Gameplay
The on-foot experience introduced in Odyssey is a fantastic foundation, but it could be expanded further. Allowing players to conduct spacewalks, explore shipwrecks, or perform on-foot repairs in space would tie together the on-foot and in-ship experiences. By connecting these systems, the game could offer a more seamless and immersive simulation.
Additionally, the combination of ship boarding, stowaway encounters, and enhanced on-foot activities would create compelling reasons for players to engage with the suit and weapon engineering system, just as they do with their ships. This would diversify gameplay options and give players more reasons to engage in various professions, from bounty hunting to piracy.
---
The Benefits for Frontier and the Playerbase
1. Increased Player Retention and Engagement: Introducing features like explorable ship interiors and narrative-driven stowaway mechanics would significantly boost player immersion and retention. By making the player's ship a central part of the gameplay experience—both in space and on foot—Elite Dangerous would stand out as a more personalized and dynamic experience.
2. Fulfilling Community Wishes: These ideas directly address long-standing community desires for more interaction with ship interiors and expanded on-foot mechanics. Implementing such features would demonstrate Frontier’s commitment to listening to and evolving with the player base.
3. A Natural Evolution for Elite Dangerous: The game has always excelled at offering large-scale galactic narratives, but these ideas represent a logical next step—bringing the experience closer to the individual player, making every mission more personal, and expanding the tactical and role-playing possibilities within the Elite universe.
Thank you for your consideration of these ideas. I truly believe they represent the future of Elite Dangerous—one that not only builds on the strong foundation you've created but also opens up exciting new possibilities for player engagement and emergent gameplay.
Sincerely,
Jason Butler