Explorers Free Ticket Home?

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

Just a random thought that popped in my head!
With 2.1 allegedly making exploration more dangerous, I was wondering what would become of the explorers already out in the black, with no means of returning quickly (without suicide)?
I'm already returning home, with some 22,000ly to go, but knowing I may or may not make it back in time for 2.1, I outfitted my Python with half decent shields, and a good capacitor and thrusters to insure I can Brave Sir Robin, should I need to.
But what about the explorers that set out months or even years ago, and didn't prepare or any dangers before leaving?

It seems hardly fair(to me) that exporers that left long before the announcement of 2.1 should now be woefully unprepared for whatever FD are planning, and have months/years of data put at a much higher risk.

So should FD offer a single 'free ride' home to anyone who wishes it once 2.1 is released?

Discuss!

FYI, I would turn down the free ride, as I prepared for it in advance, as much as I could.

 

[satrycus]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what 'dangers' are coming with 2.1? I thought it was the mystery 2.4 update that many think will herald the arrival of the Thargoids (although I think it'll be something more to do with the 'Missing' and whatever the hell Halsey is raving about).

 

[Thetele]

Well beta start this week so you have probably 2-4 weeks time to get back. Last 2 betas have lasted for about a month.

 

[Zeeman]

So long as it's not a damned rabid FDL doggedly hanging on after every 38ly jump...


Z...

 

[Ian Skippy]

I dont think they're gonna ramp up the danger from zero to infinity overnight. I assume that for the coming months 'being alert and jumping away' would be enough for all.

 

[Deleted member 38366]

For all I know nothing is changing concerning Dangers to Explorers in V2.1...

PS.
I remember seeing similar "better prepare!" type of mysterious remarks about Exploration several Updates back. Result was the same : nothing to see here, move along...

 

[Robert Maynard]

Well beta start this week so you have probably 2-4 weeks time to get back. Last 2 betas have lasted for about a month.

In their latest trading update, Frontier said:

Elite: Dangerous

Frontier recently updated its customers that it anticipates releasing the Beta version of the next major expansion of Elite Dangerous Horizons, 'The Engineers' (which adds new 'loot and crafting' gameplay) during the week ending 8 May 2016. The final release date will be determined once feedback from Beta testing is received. Total unit sales of Eliteangerous franchise products now exceeds 1.5 million, in line with the Board's expectations given the point in the release cycle.

.... implying that the duration of the Beta is flexible and, to some extent, potentially affected by feedback. That said, Frontier have said that Engineers will land in their next financial year - which begins on 1st June.

 

[Random Task]

@Falcon Fly It's like crying wolf. Do it so many times and people stop listening. The when it actually happens? Oops.

 

[777Driver]

So exactly what kind of threat are they hinting at? Most explorers out there are flying without escorts, even a moderately shielded Asp or Anaconda is fairly weak.

Are people suggesting swapping that A7 scoop for a heavy A7 shield gen? What is a lone shielded explorer Asp or even Anaconda supposed to do if it stumbles across an Alien fleet? All I'd do is screenshot and high wake the heck outta there.

 

[Ian Skippy]

So exactly what kind of threat are they hinting at? Most explorers out there are flying without escorts, even a moderately shielded Asp or Anaconda is fairly weak.

Are people suggesting swapping that A7 scoop for a heavy A7 shield gen? What is a lone shielded explorer Asp or even Anaconda supposed to do if it stumbles across an Alien fleet? All I'd do is screenshot and high wake the heck outta there.

Small alien scout ships should be doable in combat exlorer ships. Before I leave on a mission I always do a 15-min hires in my explorer ship, if you can do that you should be able to handle basic threats.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

So exactly what kind of threat are they hinting at? Most explorers out there are flying without escorts, even a moderately shielded Asp or Anaconda is fairly weak.

Are people suggesting swapping that A7 scoop for a heavy A7 shield gen? What is a lone shielded explorer Asp or even Anaconda supposed to do if it stumbles across an Alien fleet? All I'd do is screenshot and high wake the heck outta there.

"Take me to your leader!"
"Uhm ... ok."
<some time later>
"Honey, I'm home. I've brought some visitors."

 

[IceFire122]

"Honey, I'm home. I've brought some visitors."

"Honey, I'm home. I've brought some dinner."

 

[Lunchmoney]

That said, Frontier have said that Engineers will land in their next financial year - which begins on 1st June.

Financial year in the UK starts 1st April (which says a lot about British humour ), not 1st June.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

I have no idea what these 'dangers' are to explorers, I just figured I'd see what people thought of suddenly being stuck 65,000ly from Sol, and being chased around bg rabbit thargoids or something. Lol andwether FD should give you an 'opt out' and get you home, just once, if things are too hard for whatever reason.
Although, A month is plenty of time to get home if you can play for a few hours a week.

I can cover about 1300ly an hour if I sprint in my Python (23ly range). But it's exhausting/dull. Lol
Although if I was trying to outrun a thargoids/other alien fleet, it would keep me going. Lol

 

[Lunchmoney]

Although, A month is plenty of time to get home if you can play for a few hours a week.

Gotta to disagree with you there. I've been out for over a month, I only play for a few hours a week, there is no way I'd retrace my steps and get back in less time.

 

[Zeta Legion]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what 'dangers' are coming with 2.1? I thought it was the mystery 2.4 update that many think will herald the arrival of the Thargoids (although I think it'll be something more to do with the 'Missing' and whatever the hell Halsey is raving about).

I really don't think the artifacts and whatever Halsey encountered have much if anything to do with Thargoids. I'm sure they're coming at some point but they likely aren't the only alien race out there with space ships.

Also I doubt that aliens are coming at least until the end of the season, if not the next expansion launch (or first patch of). FD seems to play a very slow game with the GalNet stories.

 

[ethelred]

My explorer Hauler (with 86% hull) is about 17.5k out and I'm trying to get as soon as possible.

28ly range but no shields. Will add a bit of excitement coming in!

(would never take the auto trip home)

 

[Jmanis]

Almost every online game I've played, you plan in anticipation of patches.

Risk vs reward. If you plan a huge exposition under current circumstances and don't plan a contingency of things suddenly getting hot because of a patch change, well, that's yours to wear imo.

Exploration is about finding strange new things. Assume all you like that taking a unarmed, unshielded ship 22000ly+ is 100% safe. I took a fully armed courier that far, never fired a single angry shot, and don't regret a minute of it.

 

[Alex Brentnall]

Out there in my Anaconda. Will not be returning even if offered, I've been planning this trip for a long while now and I'm already 137 days in... Not that I'm counting (I am)

 

[Scoopy Doopy]

Out there in my Anaconda. Will not be returning even if offered, I've been planning this trip for a long while now and I'm already 137 days in... Not that I'm counting (I am)

I doubt I'll make it back before release but I will spend a few hours in beta looking for any changes I need to make to my blind panic return strategy in order to get home safely.