There are a couple of commanders that would like to come with me on my fleet carrier to visit the four Dynasty settlements and the surrounding area. They want to bring their own ships etc and be able to communicate with each other. Now, I am new to the FC and this would be a maiden voyage for her. Could anyone explain how to do this and what would be needed on ship to enable this. Do they need to be friends, group, wing or squadron etc. and do I need shipyard or outfitting? I can't seem to find any links to cover this subject.
FC with other Commanders?
- Thread starter quilvein
- Start date
An FC is like a mobile station. As long as you let them dock on it you can take them anywhere...especially if you are starting some sort of mining operation. 
As for COMs, well, however way you like.
As for COMs, well, however way you like.
Hmm... if they only want to bring one ship each you definitely don't need a shipyard. Being friends or squadron depends on the settings for landing clearance of your carrier, e.g. friends only... To communicate you don't need anything special but being in a wing might ease that. Plus praying to the instancing gods of course... 
In the Fleet Carrier Management UI, select "Settings" near the bottom and set your Docking Access appropriately:
All - anyone can dock
Friends Only - Only Friends can dock (I suggest using this, it requires that the commanders are in your friends list)
Squadron Only - Only Squadron members can dock
Squadron and Friends - Only Squadron member and Friends can dock
None - Nobody can dock
You will also need to set "Notorious Commander Access" to "Allowed" if the commanders in question have, or plan on getting, notoriety.
Additionally, you can also allow your Pioneer Supplies to sell E-Breeches to them by setting the appropriate option there.
You might find this useful as well: https://elite-dangerous.fandom.com/wiki/Drake-Class_Carrier#Management
All - anyone can dock
Friends Only - Only Friends can dock (I suggest using this, it requires that the commanders are in your friends list)
Squadron Only - Only Squadron members can dock
Squadron and Friends - Only Squadron member and Friends can dock
None - Nobody can dock
You will also need to set "Notorious Commander Access" to "Allowed" if the commanders in question have, or plan on getting, notoriety.
Additionally, you can also allow your Pioneer Supplies to sell E-Breeches to them by setting the appropriate option there.
You might find this useful as well: https://elite-dangerous.fandom.com/wiki/Drake-Class_Carrier#Management
Last edited:
No, no need for you to be friends or in the same squadron - however, you can set docking permission based on your friends list or squadron or all or none.
If you dont want to open your FC for all (why wouldnt you, unless you want to setup some sell orders that only your guests can access -- for example you want to sell tritium so they can refuel your carrier when you are not online - but this is really a niche case)
You dont need shipyard or outfitting if they only bring a single ship each and they dont plan to change builds during expedition - but you definitely need refuel repair and armoury for maintenance.
And you also need UC and VIsta Genomics so you and them can sell exploration data and exobiology
You may also want the Bar Concourse for a friendlier on-foot social area
However, if they want to bring multiple ships (an explorer and a miner for example or a small ship for exobio) - you definitely need the shipyard, and if you want them to be able to swap a module here and there, you also need outfitting
Regarding Comms. You have two options.
In game - There is a built in voice chat capability - it works pretty well but some may experience setup issues - See the Social Panel (Up or "2"). This might require that you be friends with them in game.
External - Your choice of voice comms apps like Discord, MS Teams, Google Meet(?), etc...
In game - There is a built in voice chat capability - it works pretty well but some may experience setup issues - See the Social Panel (Up or "2"). This might require that you be friends with them in game.
External - Your choice of voice comms apps like Discord, MS Teams, Google Meet(?), etc...
Is there a way to tell if anyone is onboard?
Weirdly no, ingame. Wouldn't it be great if you could walk up to your FC admin and ask? That'd actually be like a real game then.
Yeah I've often thought the captains seat panel should give you a lot more options to see details about your carrier, it seems the ideal use for such a panel.
Could someone explain this please.
I have checked the page about my FC on Inara and it shows me as having 28 ships on board which is about right, it also shows that there is no shipyard or outfitting which is correct.
So why is it showing another Commander on board with 19 ships?
I don’t particularly mind them being there, at their own risk, but will be a little upset if they have used up all of the escape pods or got the ships there through some hack.
I have checked the page about my FC on Inara and it shows me as having 28 ships on board which is about right, it also shows that there is no shipyard or outfitting which is correct.
So why is it showing another Commander on board with 19 ships?
I don’t particularly mind them being there, at their own risk, but will be a little upset if they have used up all of the escape pods or got the ships there through some hack.
Last edited:
Many thanks commander, been with Inara since 2016 and that is new to me. I bow to your knowledge, o7.
Agreed. Fleet Carriers could certainly do with a good polish imho. You have just paid around 5.6 BILLION credits and you get a seat on the bridge and a crummy office, nothing else. You even have to go back to your ship(s) to bed down. You can sell first class cabins so why don't you get one after spending 5.6 BILLION credits?...lol
You know you can go way, way back to games like the Deus Ex series and drinks machines were full and you could have a drink in a bar, even get a little tipsy, even energy bars were available in machines...
Unfortunately that relies on each Cmdr reporting to Inara, and that reporting being up to date, since the information is gleaned from THEIR profile, rather than anything to do with your carrier.
So, if a Cmdr leaves the carrier and then logs off before Inara gets updated then they would show as still being aboard.
No worries, once upon a time, not that long ago really, it was new to me too...
Oh, yes, that's true of course.
Move your FC to Beagle Point!
Running EDMC in the background may help surely as it updates Inara everytime you dock and you can also click on its Update tab anytime. As long as you remember that is!