Note: this thread is based on how gameplay elements from Elite Dangerous: Horizons works, and does not necessarily reflect the behaviour of Horizons: Legacy or Elite Dangerous: Odyssey. Not because I have anything against Odyssey but because I don't own it so i've never seen how its handled in that.
---
I've never stopped to think it, but I got myself thinking how Anonymous Access works in-universe? From what we (Or I guess I, this probably isn't on a lot of people's minds) know:
1. It appears to be initiated by a commander, not the station. Station contacts clearly state this, paraphrasing they often say things like 'You have enabled anonymous protocols, disable to use the station's facilities'
2. It is evident that it is frowned upon and allowed begrudingly, as the same controlling faction contact also states that access to nearly all facilities is restricted to commanders accessing anonymously
3. Yet it is not illegal, and a widely supported station feature. As long as you can get past the patrolling ships and dock, there is no full on denial of station access such as the ability to dock and contact the law enforcement of the station. If stations didn't have to support these protocols, I am certain they wouldn't. Some kind of higher authority, perhaps such as the mysterious pilots' federation appears to mandate that these protocols be available to all commanders
4. It appears to grant some kind of amnesty, as you can have a price on your head for your utter destruction, yet when revealing yourself to the authority presence on the station's contacts, you can surrender peacefully. Additionally, you can enter a station with a bounty, land, access the station with anonymous protocols, and then leave without consequences (As long as you aren't scanned!). This leads me to conclude that anonymous access either legally grants you protection from (lethal) prosecution while docked, or obscures absolutely all information about you to the station's controller, including where you are accessing the station from, what pad you are on, what your ship is, who you are, etc.
5. The entire protection from being killed appears to be loosely enforced - The station will fire on you alongside the system authority vessels if they catch you with a warrant. System authorities gives you no amnesty to land in the station if you approach and get detected. Again, this leads me to believe that stations don't necessarily WANT to allow criminals to stay in their station in safety.
6. (In horizons) you genuinely don't seem to leave your ship if these protocols are respected. The only other way I can think of anonymous access fitting in while also saying you leave your ship "its just off-screen" (Again, horizons only I know) would be to imagine that you go and meet the station contacts with your blackout ship helmet on.
What do you think? am I reading too much into this, or do you find the anonymous access mechanic as intriguing as I do from a lore perspective?
---
I've never stopped to think it, but I got myself thinking how Anonymous Access works in-universe? From what we (Or I guess I, this probably isn't on a lot of people's minds) know:
1. It appears to be initiated by a commander, not the station. Station contacts clearly state this, paraphrasing they often say things like 'You have enabled anonymous protocols, disable to use the station's facilities'
2. It is evident that it is frowned upon and allowed begrudingly, as the same controlling faction contact also states that access to nearly all facilities is restricted to commanders accessing anonymously
3. Yet it is not illegal, and a widely supported station feature. As long as you can get past the patrolling ships and dock, there is no full on denial of station access such as the ability to dock and contact the law enforcement of the station. If stations didn't have to support these protocols, I am certain they wouldn't. Some kind of higher authority, perhaps such as the mysterious pilots' federation appears to mandate that these protocols be available to all commanders
4. It appears to grant some kind of amnesty, as you can have a price on your head for your utter destruction, yet when revealing yourself to the authority presence on the station's contacts, you can surrender peacefully. Additionally, you can enter a station with a bounty, land, access the station with anonymous protocols, and then leave without consequences (As long as you aren't scanned!). This leads me to conclude that anonymous access either legally grants you protection from (lethal) prosecution while docked, or obscures absolutely all information about you to the station's controller, including where you are accessing the station from, what pad you are on, what your ship is, who you are, etc.
5. The entire protection from being killed appears to be loosely enforced - The station will fire on you alongside the system authority vessels if they catch you with a warrant. System authorities gives you no amnesty to land in the station if you approach and get detected. Again, this leads me to believe that stations don't necessarily WANT to allow criminals to stay in their station in safety.
6. (In horizons) you genuinely don't seem to leave your ship if these protocols are respected. The only other way I can think of anonymous access fitting in while also saying you leave your ship "its just off-screen" (Again, horizons only I know) would be to imagine that you go and meet the station contacts with your blackout ship helmet on.
What do you think? am I reading too much into this, or do you find the anonymous access mechanic as intriguing as I do from a lore perspective?
Last edited:
