Newcomer / Intro Noob question alert.

[Rosenkranz]

What exactly is the difference between solo and open play?

I had originally thought that solo play was some sort of story line type thing that introduced you to the game and give you some kind of lore for why you find yourself in a Sidewinder in the first place. So this is how I started but, I found no story line of any sort. Not a dis, just an observation. (I've been playing MMOs now for going on 20 years, so I'll grant it is entirely possible i saw it explained and just missed it)

However, it seems like you can switch between solo and open play at will and progress (ships, money, rep, etc.) is persistent across both modes. I found this out while watching some youtubers doing this.

So, I've worked up into a cobra and started playing in open play mode. After almost a week, I've seen exactly one other player.

Does the bulk of the playing population play in solo mode or am I just in the back end of nowhere?

 

[azdour]

In solo you will never meet any other players.

You still get to be involved in the community goals because solo is also based on the same background simulation as open.

There is no traditional story - you make your own story by making you own way, your own decisions and deciding on if you want to join/help the factions. The result of the gameplay you get is your story.

As to seeing few players in open - it's a large galaxy Being able to see other players is partly determined by your location in the world and your line speed as I believe the instances the game creates uses that as the basis as to who appears with who. I've played for weeks before seeing another player. It was only when I started to do the community goals that I started to see others.

And yes you can switch between solo and open with the same commander data.

 

[Dommarraa]

Open has other humans. Solo does not. Everything else is a shared Galaxy, you can even flip between the two seamlessly.
Solo also uses significantly less bandwidth if you are stuck using mobile internet (*cough* or at work *cough*)

No idea of the proportion, but I think that Open has the biggest player base. Unless you are near a noob killing zone (Lave, Sol, Eravate, a Community Goal, Sagitarius A*) then seeing other people is pretty rare. Space isnt big, its BIG

 

[Evyl Minkey]

Both modes are the same. There is one galaxy, no story mode and anything you do impacts on the overall background scenario. The only difference is that in open you can see other players if they are in your area of space and your 'instance'.

As for not seeing anyone, space is big. There are heavily populated systems (populated by real humans). They might nit be safe but you could try Sol, Lave, Tanmark, Altair and the systems surrounding them. The tine of day might matter as well. I expect evenings in the UK and North America are probably best if you want to see other people.

 

[Rosenkranz]

Wow, thanks for the quick responses.

So, on to the next noob question - What is there to do in game that would involve players grouping up for a common goal?

I see trading. I see hunting. I see mining (though I haven't figured out how to do that with any skill yet)

But you can't build stuff and there doesn't seem to be any reason for a common defense. Maybe I'm mired in some ten years of playing EVE, so if you can help me see a bit more. My perception seems to be a bit stunted.

 

[azdour]

Wow, thanks for the quick responses.

So, on to the next noob question - What is there to do in game that would involve players grouping up for a common goal?

I see trading. I see hunting. I see mining (though I haven't figured out how to do that with any skill yet)

But you can't build stuff and there doesn't seem to be any reason for a common defense. Maybe I'm mired in some ten years of playing EVE, so if you can help me see a bit more. My perception seems to be a bit stunted.

You have the new wings function where in open and private groups you can form wings to trade, explore and bounty hunt with - all sharing a % of the money made or the glory of the first discovering of a new system and selling the data as a wing.

You can also get involved in the various faction civil wars that break out from time to time with you and your wing friends or just by yourself. If you playing as part of a faction you may want to get into the civil war to fight against the opposition if that's what you mean by 'common defence'?

You also have community goals that faction create where you can help build space stations, captial ships etc... - you need to keep and eye on the GalNew news as they should be visible there. Not sure if there are any community goals still running at the moment.

There are also private groups that have their own goals - like the First Expedition group whose goal I believe is to just ma out the galaxy.

The premise of this game (from the developers) has always been about the pilot and his ship and that's why players will probably never be able to build their own bases, ships or creating items through crafting.

You also seem to have missed out pirating and smuggler as a profession - and some players have taken it upon themselves to act like police or enforcers in certain systems to guard traders against those wanting to steal or destroy them.

 

[Pyrion]

Unlike eve, this game is not about big groups or corporations. Its a pilot and his/her ship, nothing more nothing less. There is no set goal, it's all sandbox for you to play in and make your own story. You can influence the galaxy in a lot of ways thru trading, missions, fighting and exploring. And like in a real world sand box, whenever it's no fun for you anymore, you just go away, hopefully returning later.

There are active NPC factions in elite and you can influence their behaviour and power, if that's your thing. But you can not make your own faction.

In short, Eve is a strategy game at its core while ED is an adventure game with the added benefit of a realistic space simulation.