Newcomer / Intro Group of Friends: What Can we do in Elite Dangerous?

[ZombieGandhi]

So, I've gotten together with a handful of friends, and we're looking to play Elite Dangerous together. It may be anywhere from three, to maybe six people. In my own single player experience with the game, I never did feel or find a great way to get hooked into the story (if there even is one). A thread of a story helps when picking a reason to do something, other than, "I need more credits."

Is there anything regarding story or game lore, that we as a group might undertake? Are there mysterious relics that need finding, so they may be researched? A particular faction somewhere in space who are "The Bads", which naturally need killing? I enjoy the game from the simulator aspect, and even simple thing like landing and departing a station are enjoyable to me, since it's a skill thing. If there's some story hooks that we can use for the overall reasoning of why we're exploring/fighting/trading, that would be fantastic.

In addition to the store/game lore question, the Horizon season seems like it adds some form of story elements; whether this is done via gear or what have you. Would it be suggested to pick up Horizons, for all of us, so we might each get the full potential from whatever impact we may have on the overall story?

Also, IS there a way we can impact the overall story? Are there things we can do in game, or would much of that happen via the forums?

Thanks any and all for your time in reading, and responding!

Fly safe o7

 

[Hell Razor5543]

Anything YOU do In the game could affect the game for others. For example, you could take part in a Community Goal, and help it get completed (or prevent completion), you could (if you know how to) join a major Faction and help them, or you might want to do what I do, and help new Players get a better start.

 

[goemon]

3-6 people sounds like the perfect size for wing gameplay. rob convoys, assault surface ports together, or own a combatzone.

for mysteries to solve, see this thread: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...Barnacles-other-mysteries-Thread-7-The-Canonn ... a lot of commanders are cooperating in there.

also good for a small group is, to back a minor faction and help it expanding. you can do it together and each for his own: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/193064-A-Guide-to-Minor-Factions-and-the-Background-Sim

and if you like that style of game, you can even register your own minor faction: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...inor-Factions-Submission-Form-and-Information .... but i recommend first giving that playstyle a try out!

 

[ZombieGandhi]

Thanks for the already quick replies! Gives me quite a few ideas of possible things we can do, that hold to a story/ideal. I like the idea of working for a smaller faction. I'm quite new to everything, and these forums, but is there a map somewhere, that lays out "owned" space (factions, etc) and "un-owned"? I come from an EVE Online background, so knowing where certain factions are, and the stories behind them, helps me feel more immersed in what I'm doing, and my goals.

Thanks again for taking the time to read and reply, when you could be flying in space.

 

[Hell Razor5543]

Thanks for the already quick replies! Gives me quite a few ideas of possible things we can do, that hold to a story/ideal. I like the idea of working for a smaller faction. I'm quite new to everything, and these forums, but is there a map somewhere, that lays out "owned" space (factions, etc) and "un-owned"? I come from an EVE Online background, so knowing where certain factions are, and the stories behind them, helps me feel more immersed in what I'm doing, and my goals.

Thanks again for taking the time to read and reply, when you could be flying in space.

When you open the Galaxy Map there is (somewhere) the option to show the areas that major Factions control. When you use it, it makes the 'Bubble' appear as several different coloured 'blobby' areas.

 

[goemon]

When you open the Galaxy Map there is (somewhere) the option to show the areas that major Factions control. When you use it, it makes the 'Bubble' appear as several different coloured 'blobby' areas.

those are two different options. a) in the normal galaxy map, you can show federal, alliance, imperial and independent systems. this applies to minor factions - and there is no option to show you player factions. b) in the powerplay map, you can let show you the bubbles of powers.

if you come from eve, i REALLY suggest to pick any npc minor faction in the outskirts to back, to learn the ropes. I can't point out all the differences, but there are major disappointments or surprises in ED, when you come from another game.

 

[ZombieGandhi]

You're all champs, thanks so much! It's given me a lot to work with, and I think our group is going to have a lot of fun.

I have one final, perhaps silly question, that I haven't found an answer to. Perhaps I've not looked too hard, but here goes: When undertaking a mission, is it possible to do so as a group, where the group gets a split of the profits? Or, are missions for singular pilots, reward wise?

 

[Hell Razor5543]

I believe (but I have not yet encountered them) that there are Wing missions.

 

[Don Alvarez]

You're all champs, thanks so much! It's given me a lot to work with, and I think our group is going to have a lot of fun.

I have one final, perhaps silly question, that I haven't found an answer to. Perhaps I've not looked too hard, but here goes: When undertaking a mission, is it possible to do so as a group, where the group gets a split of the profits? Or, are missions for singular pilots, reward wise?

I find when winged up, my wingmates and I seem to be looking at the same missions on the job board, so we pic up those we both want to do and go do them together.

Lots of good advice for you here so far, and this is where Elite's tagline really applies: to carve out your own story. With a half dozen people you have a nice base group to accomplish whatever you like, if you choose to support a minor faction you have a big enough group to manipulate the background simulator in a system with a population measured in millions, or you could just freelance around the bubble and decide to help a different faction every week. Are you traders after big credits? Mercs looking to help someone win a war? You want to smuggle Imperial Slaves for the pirate king, or mine the rings of Delkar looking for that big scoop? Elite gives you the platform, but you need to find your own purpose in it.