Right, let's have a thread to speculate about the Beginner Systems. Where will they be, how will they work?
Note that we've already got a thread to talk about ganking in Newbie Space, please don't make this a copy of that one.
Here's I think the sum total of what we know so far:
I've started looking at potential locations. The way things currently work, new players cannot encounter other players (i.e. a soft solo mode) until they make their first hyperjump. It would make the most sense then if the Beginner Systems are accessible directly from the starting location. As I see it there are three possibilities:
Note that we've already got a thread to talk about ganking in Newbie Space, please don't make this a copy of that one.
Here's I think the sum total of what we know so far:
Beginners' Zone
A new collection of systems has been added for newly-created Commanders, and can only be accessed by pilots until they earn their first Combat, Trade or Exploration rank. In addition, the authorities here will provide simpler missions that even the smallest of Sidewinders can complete.
Across the galaxy, new Commanders will also have a reduced rebuy until they gain their first Combat, Trade or Exploration rank, a step in the path towards greatness!
These are previously unpopulated systems which have been altered and repopulated for the purpose of the Beginner Zone.
I've started looking at potential locations. The way things currently work, new players cannot encounter other players (i.e. a soft solo mode) until they make their first hyperjump. It would make the most sense then if the Beginner Systems are accessible directly from the starting location. As I see it there are three possibilities:
- The default Horizons start is Baker Prospect in Asellus Primus. However, there are no uninhabited systems within a single jump (7.8 ly for a fully fuelled starting Sidewinder) of Asellus Primus, and only a couple within two jumps.
- The alternate default start is labeled "random Federal system" but I checked a half-dozen "starting from scratch" streams and it's always Levthick Dock in LHS 3447. This is part of a small cluster of closely-packed stars, and there are eight-ish uninhabited systems within one jump of there. However, as you might expect for the densely-settled center of the bubble, those systems are uninhabited because there's not much there. I found a grand total of two systems with planets among those uninhabited systems, and just a single landable body. Still, no reason they couldn't add some stations there, or even hack some new planets into the currently empty systems.
- Maybe they add a new starting location, in which case all bets are off, although I'm curious to know where folks think that might be.