General Fleet Carriers: From Mobile Depots to True Command Centers

[Samoth Infernus]

Hey Commanders and the Frontier Developments Team,

The Trailblazer update has brought something incredible to Elite: Dangerous—colony building. It adds a whole new layer of depth to the game, but let’s be honest, setting up a colony is a massive undertaking, especially for solo players. That’s where an upgrade to Fleet Carriers could make all the difference.

What if Fleet Carriers could have NPC crew members? Just like in other games, such as Euro Truck Simulator (where you can hire AI drivers) or World of Warcraft (with AI companions), Fleet Carrier owners could recruit NPC pilots to help with logistics. These NPCs could either have their own ships or start without one—players could provide them with a ship, or they could work for a cut of fuel and maintenance costs. Their job? Running supply runs between the Fleet Carrier and the colony structures, and handling logistics so players can focus on the bigger picture.

This wouldn’t just make colony building more manageable for solo players—it would also breathe more life into the universe. Over time, these NPCs could improve, become more efficient, and maybe even take on more advanced roles in future updates.

Fleet Carriers already serve as trade hubs and exploration waypoints, but they have the potential to be so much more. Imagine them as fully functional mobile bases with a crew that actually works for you, making your carrier feel like a true command center rather than just a glorified storage unit.

Before you attack me for sharing my ideas, please remember that I am just a player who wants to see my favorite game in better places.
Thank you.

 

[metatheurgist]

Or...NPCs could just skip the middleman and do the entire Colonisation themselves? What do they need you for?

 

[Tifu]

I would rather they specialise the FC into the following rather throwing every functionality into one vehicle.

Freighter megaships - mobile warehouses, minimally armed, limited docking space

Explorer megaships - longer jump range, more explorer services, armed for self defense

Command center megaships - armed to the teeth, largest amount of docking space, SLF fighters (just like PP's stronghold carriers)

And of course NPC crews for all three

 

[aRJay]

Before you attack me for sharing my ideas, please remember that I am just a player who wants to see my favorite game in better places.
Thank you.

Remember that those attacking your ideas also want to see their favourite game in better places however they don't think that where you want to take this game is a better place.

I don't think being able to order NPCs around to help us play the game is a good idea.

 

[KRISXR]

I like your idea. I like that it's an optional type idea as well. It maybe difficult to have the npc's behave properly when leaving systems, finding and docking to get the materials, returning, maybe getting interdicted on the way back, and getting burned up. I suppose you could set their routes to a specific port and what to buy. They would also need access to either your FC bank or your Cmdrs credit account. It does sound like a fun mechanic. And maybe only have them active when the Cmdr is in game.

I like Tifus' re-imagining of the FC as well. Those ideas also sound like a blast.

 

[Greasetrap42]

If this was a civilization building game I think its a great idea.

But its not. And the idea would open up the door to "why can't NPCs do everything else for me too?". Its just a way to setup tasks to be done while the player is AFK or offline. And then why bother play the game? There isn't enough content in ED to replace the existing core activities with AFK task lists. Once the task lists are setup... what now? When the tasks are complete...what now? Games that allow this have a purpose behind the automated farming/building/whatever. It takes the player somewhere... wherase with ED it gives the player nothing else to do.