Elite Dangerous FAQ: Difference between revisions

This FAQ is outdated so please update it. New pilots should check the [[Pilots Guide|'''Pilots Guide''']].

[[File:Elite-Dangerous-Banner-Official-Art.png|thumb|350px|Elite Dangerous banner]]

== What is Elite Dangerous? ==

'''''[[Elite Dangerous]]''''' is a massively multiplayer space epic and flight simulation game. It is the fourth in the legendary and Guinness world record making [[Elite series]]. It includes mass-multiplayer with a shared narrative and a 1:1 scale Milky Way galaxy as an integral part, while still allowing online single player. It's the first in the series that has [[Elite Dangerous FAQ#What are the expansions.3F|expanded]] with [[Elite Dangerous FAQ#Can I walk around the ship.2C planets and space stations.3F|walking around]] known as [[Space Legs|space legs]].

[[Elite series|Elite]] is the longest running space simulation series in history. It has over 30 years of heritage. This is verified by Guinness World Records.<ref name=":1">[https://twitter.com/gwr/status/611537566299463681?lang=en Twitter: Guinness World Records, 18 Jun 2015]</ref>

The subtitle "Dangerous" refers to the 3rd best [http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=f72c0f91b2#Badge%20of%20Honour Elite Rating] you could achieve during combat in the [[:Category:Elite series|Elite games.]] In the new game it has been [http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6279 expanded] to include more than combat. The origin of the series is ''[[Elite|Elite,]]'' the genre defining [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srlJVE50mCI&list=SP9E1E1F7AA6193498&index=1 open world sandbox, space adventure, trading and combat simulator] first released in ''1984''. It spawned two sequels ''[[Frontier: Elite II]]'' in ''[https://frontier.co.uk/games/older/frontier_elite_ii 1993]'' and ''[[Frontier: First Encounters]]'' (Elite III) in ''[https://frontier.co.uk/games/older/frontier_first_encounters 1995]'', which already attempted to simulate a realistic Milky Way [[galaxy]] with [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK-NMyDaPAg realistic star systems] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc9o_ldmlVs&t=72 seamless freeform interplanetary] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0_WewBEGew#t=53 atmospheric flight] and landing on moving planets, with [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0_WewBEGew&t=265 realistic orbits and day/night cycles]. The developers have gone to great lengths to map and electronically recreate the Milky Way to scale to make the game as realistic as possible.

The original [[Elite]] (1984) is a true classic and revolutionary at the time. It [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_%28video_game%29 inspired the creation of many space games], new game genres and [http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/134644/the_replay_interviews_gary_penn.php the creation of the "Grand Theft Auto (GTA)" series.]

Elite Dangerous is set in the same fictional universe called the [[Elite Universe]]. The [[Elite Dangerous|Elite Dangerous page]] on this wiki has more information.

Elite-1984-Official-Art-Restored.png|[[Elite|Elite]] - 1984|link=Elite

== What are official websites & fansites? ==

Please check the [[Fansites]] page for an elaborate overview of official websites and fansites.

*[http://store.steampowered.com/app/359320/Elite_Dangerous/ Elite Dangerous on Steam]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Dangerous Elite Dangerous on Wikipedia]

* An immersive, evolving [[galaxy]] with dynamic society, economy and stories, allowing pilots to join each other and together change the story of the Milky Way.

* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrrNlml4Ibk&t=120 Free-form play] allows everyone to choose their own path, becoming an angry [[pirate]], a spy, a peaceful [[trader]], an [[explorer]], a [[bounty hunter]], or a mix between these [[roles]].

* There are no classes or skill levels, strength is decided by ship equipment and player skill.

* More than 30 different and customizable [[ships]].

* Surface [[vehicles]] such as the [[Scarab]] to explore planets and moons.

* The vast 1:1 scale Milky Way [[galaxy]] is based on real scientific principles, scientific data, star catalogues and theories. It is created using a mix of procedural generation and artist direction.

** Around 400 billion star systems according to current scientific theories of star system formation with planets and moons that orbit and rotate.

** Groundbreaking in that it's based on a lot of hard science with all sorts of star surveys that are fixed and merged to for the first time in gaming history compose a very consistent model of the Milky Way galaxy and it's rich enough to plot the night sky.<ref name=":4">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOYhoFYIWmw YouTube: My other car's a Cobra MKIII - Nordic Game 2014]</ref>

** [http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/15od2s/i_am_david_braben_cocreator_of_elite_creator_of/c7qbhd8 Cosmic phenomena], all different kinds of [[stars]], [[Star Systems|star systems]], [[Black Holes|black holes]], detailed [[planets]], [[moons]], [[mountains]], [[canyons]], [[craters]], [[Planetary Ring Systems|planetary ring systems]], [[Star Rise|star rise]] etc.

** Specially handcrafted overrides for [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbPSjOSXpw4&t=165 160,000 known stars in the night sky] and planetary objects that we know and love. For example, our solar system [[Sol]] with [[Earth]], the [[Sol/Moon|Moon]] and [[Mars]]. There are systems with recently discovered planets such as [[Trappist-1]].

** [[:Category:Alien life|Alien life]] such as [[Fungal Life|fungal life]].

** 141 [[nebula]] in the Milky Way [[galaxy]].

** [[Star Cluster]]s with rich survey data opportunities.

** 32 other galaxies are visible from the Milky Way.

** Several sentient [[species]] in the [[galaxy]]. The most notable are [[Human]]s, [[Thargoids]] and [[Guardians]]. More species are yet to be discovered.

** 57 [[Galactic Regions]], 9 major galactic arms and the [[Galactic Plane]].

** [[Constellation|Constellations]] can be seen from [[Sol]].

* [[Flight Model]] of Elite Dangerous has Newtonian physics with a fly-by-wire layer applied over the top to make the combat feel visceral and seat-of-the-pants, rather than Frontier's jousting at huge distances. Newtonian space combat (ships will continue to move unless intervened but without orbital mechanics)

* Freeform (manual yaw/pitch/roll) interplanetary flight allows to fly freely through star systems in realistic scale to get to a destination. Players can choose to travel wherever they want, including vista points to see [[Earth]] rise on the moon, the sun appearing behind [[Mars]], or they could choose to explore the vast expanse of space and discover new points of interest in star systems.

* A shared narrative which is influenced by players on all different platforms. This occurs with community events like [[Salomé]], [[Community Goals|community goals]] and [[Powerplay]] activities. All of the meta data for the galaxy is shared between players. It's not traditional storytelling, rather an interactive, overarching narrative. Players have influenced and changed the course of events. The story unfolds in real time, in which players decide the outcomes and can be the stars. The latest information on in-game events and stories are reported on [[GalNet]]. See the [[Elite Dangerous Timeline]] for a chronological list of events.

Elite-Dangerous-Milky-Way-Galaxy.png|Milky Way galaxy in Elite

Terrestrial_planet_brown_dwarf.png|Terrestrial planet and a brown dwarf

Gas_Giant_SRV_ASP.jpg|Gas Giant SRV and Asp

The scope of Elite Dangerous is huge. It has [[Elite Dangerous FAQ#What are the expansions.3F|expanded]] with ambitious features such as [[Atmospheric Landings]] and [[Elite Dangerous FAQ#Can I walk around the ship.2C planets and space stations.3F|on-foot and out-of-ship activities]] also known as [[Space Legs]]. This includes FPS combat, walking around planets and stations, and including entering vehicles and visiting settlements on 1:1 scale populated living planets, [[Elite Dangerous FAQ#Will I be able to hire crew for my ship.3F|multi-player crew]] and [[Elite Dangerous FAQ#Can I own and control capital ships.3F|player executive controlled capital ships]].

== What are good videos of ED? ==

Here are some carefully selected fan made videos that show various aspects of the game:<gallery hideaddbutton="true">

File:Elite Dangerous - The Galaxy

File:Elite Dangerous - The Journey Itself 2

  [http://www.elitedangerous.com Elite Dangerous] has been released on:

*Apple Mac OS X on 12 May 2015. - [[Elite Dangerous|Core]] (won't be playable as of the [[Beyond]] Q4 update)

*Sony PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro on 27 June 2017.<ref>[https://blog.us.playstation.com/2017/05/16/elite-dangerous-touches-down-on-ps4-june-27/ PlayStation.Blog: Elite: Dangerous Touches Down on PS4 June 27]</ref> - [[Elite Dangerous|Core]] + [[Horizons]] + [[Beyond]]

*Xbox One X with 4k resolution support on 7 November 2017.<ref>[http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-06-13-elite-dangerous-will-get-4k-patch-for-xbox-one-x-launch Eurogamer: Elite Dangerous will get 4K patch for Xbox One X launch]</ref> - [[Elite Dangerous|Core]] + [[Horizons]] + [[Beyond]]

Since November 29, 2022, Console editions of Elite dangers have been relegated to a "Legacy" version of the game. This Galaxy is separate from ongoing development, since the supported console platforms were unable to handle the upgraded engine used for the [[Odyssey]] DLC.<ref>[https://www.elitedangerous.com/news/odyssey-console-development-update Elite Dangerous: Odyssey Console Development Update]</ref>

== What are the System Requirements? ==

The base game [[Elite Dangerous]] includes the [[Elite Dangerous: Horizons|Horizons]] expansion and the [[Elite Dangerous: Beyond|Beyond]] updates. The [[Elite Dangerous: Odyssey|Odyssey]] expansion is required to unlock [[On Foot|on foot]] content such as first person [[Explorer|exploration]], [[combat]], [[Exobiologist|exobiology]], [[mercenary]], tenuous [[Atmospheric Landing|atmospheric landing]], [[operations]], [[System Colonisation|system colonisation]] and newer [[ships]].

Elite Dangerous is a buy-to-play game which means you can play it indefinitely after a one-time purchase. There is no subscription fee.

The full version of Elite Dangerous + [[Elite Dangerous: Odyssey|ED: Odyssey]] are available for Windows PC via [http://store.steampowered.com/app/359320/ Steam], [https://store.epicgames.com/p/elite-dangerous Epic Games Store], [https://store.frontier.co.uk/en-US Frontier Store], and [https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/pcvr/elite-dangerous/988773191157765/ Meta Store]. Xbox One and PlayStation 4 have the legacy version which excludes the Odyssey expansion. Development for Xbox One and PS4 consoles ended on 10 March 2022.<ref name=":12">[https://starwalk.space/en/news/the-milky-way-galaxy Milky Way Galaxy: Facts, Location & How to See It From Earth] - Starwalk - 30 June 2026</ref> However, they are still purchaseable in the [https://store.playstation.com/en-au/product/EP2377-CUSA05308_00-EDBASEGAME000000 Playstation Store] and the [https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/elite-dangerous/bvcdd2hk8qlq Xbox Store].

Minimum PC Requirements for Elite Dangerous<ref name=":0">[https://store.steampowered.com/app/359320/Elite_Dangerous/ Elite Dangerous - Steam - 17 June 2024]</ref>

* OS *: Windows 8/10 64-bit

* Graphics: Nvidia GTX 470/AMD R7 240

* Storage: 25 GB available space

* VR Support: SteamVR. Keyboard or gamepad required

Recommended PC Requirements for Elite Dangerous<ref name=":0" />

* OS *: Windows 8/10 64-bit

* Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K Quad Core CPU or better / AMD FX 4350 Quad Core CPU or better

* Memory: 8 GB RAM

* Graphics: Nvidia GTX 770 / AMD Radeon R9 280X

* Network: Broadband Internet connection

Recommended PC Requirements for [[Elite Dangerous: Odyssey|ED: Odyssey]]<ref>[https://store.steampowered.com/app/1336350/Elite_Dangerous_Odyssey/ ED: Odyssey on Steam - 17 June 2024]</ref>

* * Starting January 1st, 2024, the Steam Client will only support Windows 10 and later versions.

Yes according to an [http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7295 interview with a graphics programmer] dated August-29-2013.

''My specialism for this project has mostly been full-scene things, like updating our lighting model to a [https://www.marmoset.co/toolbag/learn/pbr-theory “physically based”] system. ''

And [http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=ee05d74c71#6 according to the executive producer.]

''Short answer: yes it does.<br />Elite Dangerous adopted a [https://www.marmoset.co/toolbag/learn/pbr-theory physically-based rendering (PBR)] model right from the start - we want it to look as good as possible under a variety of lighting conditions (and space certainly gives you that!). We expect the visual quality of Elite Dangerous will continue to improve as we progress through development. <br />It's worth mentioning though that PBR isn't a one-size-fits-all solution as much as it's the start of a discussion that could probably occupy someone for their entire career - kind of like the way "High Dynamic Range" was quickly adopted by everyone years ago but people are still arguing over the fine details!''

Corbra_earthlike.jpg

</gallery>

== Does ED have positional damage? ==

Yes, the modules all have a position in or on the ship, and some calculations are done based on your armour to decide if there's any penetration at all (which gets more likely as your armour gets beaten up), then how far it's likely to penetrate and which modules are along the path of that penetration and might take damage (there's several more subtle rules, but that's the broad strokes).

Damage is also [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUJSSB00ZTg&t=356 visually represented].

== How do we travel the vast galactic distances? ==

There are [http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=cfcdbae60e#The%20Need%20for%20Speed two modes of super luminal (faster than light) travel] to cover those vast 1:1 scale distances.

#'''[[Supercruise]]''', formerly known as frame shifting, is used for '''freeform (manual pitch/yaw/roll) '''travel within star systems. The maximum speed varies based on proximity to celestial bodies, up to '''2001 times the speed of light (2001C)''' that rarely gets reached, to be able handle [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_exoplanet_extremes#Orbit_characteristics the most extreme spatial distances.] It consumes a small amount of [[fuel]] and you can also see other ships that are '''super-cruising''' within a star system from a long distance away visually and with long range sensors and also do [http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showpost.php?p=441493&postcount=2 combat manoeuvring] to perform [[interdiction]]s.

== How do players meet in the galaxy? ==

You can use the [[Galaxy Map]] to navigate through the Milky Way galaxy. The [[System Map]] displays a system's layout and information. Most of the action will take place within the human populated core systems of the major [[factions]]. This region is known as The Bubble. It's where [[powers]] compete for influence, resources, territory and control. [[Powerplay]] is an ongoing battle for interstellar conquest and control in the galaxy.

Due to the way interstellar hyperspace travel works, the game will ensure that you will get grouped with other ships near the star with the largest mass during hyperspace exit. You will also be able to find other ships that are super-cruising within a star system from a long distance away visually and with long range sensors. There will also be ways to follow each other's hyperspace trail.

[[Multicrew]] is a feature introduced in 2.3. Multicrew adds the ability to join a seat of another commander's [[Ships|ship]] or let others join your ship, which can be done by being in a [[Teams|Team]]. You can only have up to 3 people in a ship which has enough seats. A crew of 3 people in a Multicrew set-up performs similarly to a Team of 3 ships.

Players won't be able to just take off and disappear into uncharted areas of the galaxy without a huge amount of preparation and logistical equipment, and even when they do start doing that, [http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6561 a big reason for exploring] is to find rich systems with lots of resources, so you can make more money by trading or selling information about the location of the resources, which leads them back to the core systems yet again. And if new interesting places with rich resources are found, then one of the major factions may claim the system leading to it becoming part of the core and space stations being built in those systems. But of course, you can also just go sightseeing.

Having such a large quantity of star systems permits the game to have many major discoveries and many more minor ones, enough for hundreds of thousands of players to experience the opportunity of unique finds without the feeling of tripping over the Ark of the Covenant every two minutes.

Corvette-Multicrew.jpg|Multicrew in a Corvette

== Is there a dynamic economy? ==

Yes, Elite: Dangerous involves a dynamic [[Background Simulation]], reflecting the evolution of the known galaxy with ever changing power and system influence of factions in response to player behaviour. Every station has its own demands and supply that dynamically change.

Elite: Dangerous features a complex background simulation which drives a dynamic system of ever changing power and influence. Struggles between minor factions are commonplace throughout the galaxy and are led by the actions of player commanders both inadvertently and intentionally through the mission system and other activities. Many players enjoy actively supporting a chosen faction indefinitely; helping to win their battles, defending territory and expanding the faction's operations into nearby star systems - ultimately building a small empire in their chosen sector of space. Playing the game this way offers an almost strategic, board game like experience and it can be immensely satisfying when your goals and objectives are met. Player actions can turn a small faction into an interstellar operation. It is important to note that while altering the local politics of a star system ​can be done by a lone commander, it will be far easier in groups of people all working towards a common goal, particularly as the faction grows. Where there is unity, there is victory. <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180712182956/http://8thdragonsquadron.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/BGS-Guide.pdf Background Simulation Guide v1.3], through archive.org</ref>

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uKD1ap5hsI Faction Warfare: How the Galaxy will Evolve Over Time - Dev Diary]

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFECllA71qc Dynamic Economy: Trading - Dev Diary]

*[http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=ee05d74c71#1 Newsletter about Trading and Economy]

* [[Background Simulation]]

*[[Factions]]  

Trade Routes in Elite Dangerous

Elite Dangerous Trading Dev Diary

Elite Dangerous Dev Diary 2- How the Galaxy will Evolve Over Time

Orbis_Station_Traffic.jpg|Orbis station and traffic

Coriolis Station 001.jpg|Coriolis station

</gallery>

*[[Missions]]

* [[Scenario Missions]]

*[[Roleplaying]]

*[[Passenger Carrier]]

*[[Ranks]]

That said there are extensive ratings and reputation systems that affect how NPCs and players perceive you, even going so far as taking [http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6279 ship appearance (age/damage)] into consideration.

There is also an extensive customization option for the [[ships]]. You can change your character's appearance at any time with the [[Holo-Me]].

*[[Bounty Hunter]]

*[[:Category:Characters|Characters]]

*[[Missions]]

*[[Multicrew]]

*[[Pirate]]

*[[Teams]]

<gallery hideaddbutton="true">

File:Elite_Dangerous_How_To_Make_Money_Smuggling_The_Hauler

</gallery>

<gallery hideaddbutton="true">

File:Metal Asteroids Viper Mk III.jpg|Metal Asteroids and Viper Mk III

File:Type 9 mining.jpg|Type 9 Heavy mining

File:Mining-duo.jpg|Mining duo

</gallery>

== Is ED groundbreaking? ==

Yes, it's groundbreaking in that the galaxy is based on a lot of hard science with all sorts of star surveys that are fixed and merged to, for the first time in gaming history, compose a very consistent model of the Milky Way galaxy and it's rich enough to plot the night sky.<ref name=":4" /> It's also one of the first major titles to offer full [[Virtual Reality|virtual reality]] support with an exceptionally immersive experience in an all-encompassing universe, and every player on every platform affects the same shared galaxy with an interactive overarching narrative via the [[Background Simulation|background simulation]].

== Does ED have a storyline? ==

'''No'''. Elite Dangerous features a shared narrative which is influenced by players on all different platforms. This occurs with community events like [[Salomé]], [[Community Goals|community goals]] and [[Powerplay]] activities. All of the meta data for the galaxy is shared between players. It's not traditional storytelling, rather an interactive, overarching narrative. Players have influenced and changed the course of events. The story unfolds in real time, in which players decide the outcomes and can be the stars. The latest information on in-game events and stories are reported on [[GalNet]]. See the [[Elite Dangerous Timeline]] for a chronological list of events.

While the original ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_(video_game) Elite]'' and ''[https://frontier.co.uk/games/older/frontier_elite_ii Frontier: Elite 2]'' didn't have an in-game story, the 3rd '''Elite '''game, ''[https://frontier.co.uk/games/older/frontier_first_encounters Frontier: First Encounters]'' did have an in-game storyline centered around the [[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#Will there be alien lifeforms.3F|Thargoids alien encounter]] that you could follow if you chose to do so. The story wasn't explicitly told with traditional cut-scenes, but unfolded from a first person perspective with the help of news events and corresponding missions. ''Elite: Dangerous'' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5lFiOzUDmc&t=422 continues with that style of storytelling] and is set 45 years after the events of ''[https://frontier.co.uk/games/older/frontier_first_encounters Frontier: First Encounters]'', in the year 3300 and the [[Thargoids]] will make a return. It features more [http://www.pcgamer.com/previews/elite-dangerous/ dynamic events], available [http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6370 from '''newsfeeds''' within the game] or [https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet outside], based on both [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ue87r4zPcE&t=419 developer injected], [http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=8021 dynamic procedural stories] , player-caused events and [[missions]].

The game will also have '''[[Fiction|more than 13 official book tie-ins]]''' to tell different stories about '''Elite''' universe, with lots of places, events and people referenced in the game.

* [[Ranks]] with the [[Pilots Federation]], [[Federal Navy]] and [[Imperial Navy]]

*NPCs (non-playable characters)

In addition to this the '''Elite '''universe does have an extensive background history which is covered in many different sources, like In the official novellas - '''The Dark Wheel''' from '''Elite''', '''Stories of Life on the Frontier Life On The Frontier'''  and '''The Gazetteer''' from '''Frontier: Elite 2''', and '''Further Stories of Life on the Frontier''' from '''Frontier: First Encounters''' which can all be found in the following links [http://www.lotf.co.uk/] [http://frontierastro.co.uk/Gazetteer/intro.html] [http://www.lotf.co.uk/fe2_gazetteer.html] .

== Is there ship management and avionics? ==

Yes, see the following links:

*[[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#Does .22Elite: Dangerous.22 have positional damage.3F|Ship Damage]]

*[[Shield Generator]], [[Shield Cell Bank|Shield Cell Banks]]

*[[Ship Canopy]]

*[[Miner]]

* [[Fuel]]

File:EAGLE_CANYON_RUN_-_FLIGHT_ASSIST_OFF

File:Elite_Dangerous_-_Flight_Assist_Tutorial_%26_Bonus_Anaconda_Killing

== Can I hire ship crew? ==

Yes, as with previous Elite games you will be able to [http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Elite:_Dangerous_FAQ?file=Anaconda_Bridge.png hire NPC crews] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j77gOdFFFyo&t=661 player crews] for the [http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=b3760cf65e#2 larger multi-crew ships] in future updates.

You can hire NPC crew who can pilot your ship and ship launched fighters [http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=14580 hire teammates and escorts], but you [[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#Will I be able to build an empire and own space stations and fleets.3F|won't be able to own them]]. They take a percentage of your profits as payment for their services. Their loyalty will depend on their morality and faction connections, so they will be able to betray you, or simply refuse to engage in certain criminal acts. You can hire other players to join your [[Teams|Team]].

Yes, just like the previous two Elite games you will be able to '''seamlessly freeform (manual pitch/yaw/roll)''' enter and '''fly through entire 1:1 scale planets.''' [http://www.stuff.tv/sg/raspberry-pi/david-braben-talks-kickstarter-raspberry-pi-and-elite-dangerous/feature Populated planets] with [[Atmospheric Landings]] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM0Gcl7iUM8&t=101 living cities] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM0Gcl7iUM8&t=101 wildlife] enabling extra-vehicular activities will be added with major updates and [[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#What are the expansions.3F|expansions]].

The [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM0Gcl7iUM8&t=35 '''scope''' for '''Elite''' is '''huge'''], so a sensible strategy is used to add to the game in stages.

:Keep in mind that the game has been '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM0Gcl7iUM8&t=151 well planned and designed from the start]''' with all these features in mind (it is '''not '''an afterthought) and Frontier Developments already has the technology for this.

*[[Development Plans|Development Plan]]

File:Viper-MkIII-Atmosphere-Concept-Art.png

== Will landing and docking be seamless? ==

'''Yes''', just like in all the previous ''Elite'' games you are able to [[docking|manually dock with space stations seamlessly]]. Future [[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#What are the expansions.3F|expansions]] will also add the possibility to seamlessly freeform<span style="line-height:21px;"><span style="line-height:21px;"> </span>[[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#Will it be possible to manually land on planets.3F|land on planets]]. </span><span style="line-height:21px;">Landing and docking will be doable either using auto pilot, or manually.</span>

*[[Docking]]

*[[Planetary Landings]]

*[[Atmospheric Landings]]

*[[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#Can I still back .22Elite: Dangerous.22 development in exchange of game.2Faddons.2Fdlcs.3F|Development Plan]]

== Can I walk inside ships, planets and stations? ==

The expansion ''[[Elite Dangerous: Odyssey]]'' added [[On Foot]] functionality, the ability for players to disembark from their [[ships]] and explore planetary surfaces, [[Settlement#Odyssey Settlements|settlements]], and [[station]] [[Concourse]]s.

It has always been a core vision of [[David Braben]] that the player is a person in a real futuristic setting, not just a ship. In 2016, Braben confirmed that [[Frontier Developments]] was working on walking about features: "Yes. We have ongoing work on planets, including atmospheres, planetary life, walking about and lots of other very exciting things for the future."<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/4l4f3c/ask_him_anything_david_braben_cocreator_of_elite/d3k7yei/ reddit: Ask Him Anything: David Braben, co-creator of Elite, co-founder of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, and Frontier's head honcho]</ref>

Some additional extra-vehicular activity features envisioned by Frontier Developments in 2014 for future game expansions include [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6WmsnwNq98&t=363 walking around] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiTRJpvbmhU ship cockpit interiors], [http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=ac1081437f&e=0439f6773e#launch%20and%20beyond boarding] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM0Gcl7iUM8&t=233 stealing other ships] with [http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=f703580f39#2 Zero-G FPS combat], [http://www.edge-online.com/features/frontier-developments-elite-dangerous-the-rebirth-of-a-legend/ conducting space walks to repair ships], and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5lFiOzUDmc&t=383 walk on entire 1:1] scale [http://www.stuff.tv/sg/raspberry-pi/david-braben-talks-kickstarter-raspberry-pi-and-elite-dangerous/feature populated planets] with [http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5659 NPCs] in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM0Gcl7iUM8&t=101 living cities and forests, and hunting wildlife] such as [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3bVeRpvctQ&t=892 "dinosaurs"]. As of 2022, these features are not confirmed to be development and have not been announced for any planned updates or expansions.

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM0Gcl7iUM8&t=35 Elite: Dangerous - Development Plan video]

*[[Development Plans]]

*[http://www.lotf.co.uk/creature_on_altair.html The Fiercest Creature on Altair - An example of big-game hunting dinosaur-like wildlife in prior Elite lore]

== How big are planets and star systems? ==

''Elite: Dangerous'' has a vast [http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/the-video-game-that-maps-the-galaxy scientifically accurate] '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j77gOdFFFyo&t=1064 1:1 scale]''', seamless [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTBvpd3_Vqk&t=155 Milky Way galaxy], based on [http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=76df98203b#StellarForge scientific first principles]  current scientific data and theories. Stars and planets are [http://youtu.be/ygTgA_Y-m2Q?t=2m19s accurately positioned] relative to your view. Just like the last two Elite games the [http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=89b597852e#7 planets and stars are on a '''1:1 scale''' realistically sized with vast distances between them.] The detail in ''Elite'' ranges from the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGf9OPot8Sc&t=160 macroscopic to microscopic] scale.

*[http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/the-video-game-that-maps-the-galaxy The Video Game That Maps the Galaxy : The New Yorker]

== Do planets rotate and orbit around stars? ==

Yes, just like in the last two Elite games, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv0Tj-UGOtY&t=440 Frontier: Elite 2] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0_WewBEGew&t=265 Frontier: First Encounters (Elite 3)], planets and moons [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j77gOdFFFyo&t=1064 orbits and rotates in 1:1 scale real-time] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEVutbSqBI0&t=477 tilt will affect their seasons.] Full orbital periods are noticeable in-game.

Earth-3302-Elite-Dangerous.png|Earth in the year 3302 in Elite Dangerous

== Can I create my own character? ==

Yes, the player can customize their [[commander]] via the [[Holo-Me]] interface, introduced in ''[[Elite Dangerous: Horizons]]''. The player's outfit, physical features, and gender can be changed using Holo-Me at any time.

<gallery hideaddbutton="true">

Holo-Me-character-male-2.png|Holo-Me character

Holo-Me_Character_female_1.jpg|Holo-Me character close-up

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6z5OK8J5pg&t=580 Alien life is common in ''Elite Dangerous'', but sentient alien life is rare.]

There are many [[species]] and sub-species of non-sentient alien life that can be encountered both in space and on terrestrial worlds. These lifeforms are typically analogous to plants, fungi, or micro-organisms. Note that some of these species can only be seen [[On Foot]], which requires owning ''[[Elite Dangerous: Odyssey]]''. A number of non-sentient species are also indirectly present in the game in the form of certain [[List of Rare Commodities|Rare Commodities]] that can be [[Trader|traded]] at ports.

The only known sentient species are [[human]]s, [[Thargoid]]s, and [[Guardian]]s. Currently, only Thargoid ships and other biomechanical constructs can be encountered, and these are often hostile. The Guardians went extinct millions of years ago, but their ruins and relics can still be found across the galaxy.

== <span style="line-height:21px;">How many ships are flyable?</span> ==

<span style="line-height:21px;">There are [[ships|36 flyable ships and 6 flyable ship launched fighters]], and there are plans for more ships with major updates. Both new, modified, and improved models from the </span><span style="line-height:21px;"><span style="line-height:21px;">[[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#What is .22Elite: Dangerous.22.3F|previous Elite games]]</span>.</span>

Federal-Dropship-Planetary-Ring.jpg|Federal Dropship

Imperial-Courier_zpschq7esel.jpg|Imperial Courier

== Can I own multiple ships? ==

Yes, there is no limit to the amount of ships you can own, but you can only fly one at a time.

*[[Ships]]

*[[Shipyard]]

Players can purchase a [[Drake-Class Carrier|Fleet Carrier]], a [[Capital Ship]] with [[Landing Pad]]s to accommodate smaller ships. Fleet Carriers cannot be piloted directly by the player, but can be jumped almost anywhere in the galaxy provided they are supplied with [[Tritium]] fuel. Players can also install a variety of optional services for other players to use. Owning a Fleet Carrier requires being able to pay a weekly upkeep fee of [[credits]], otherwise the vessel will be decommissioned. Fleet Carriers can be customized with different [[Livery|paintjobs and layouts]].

Other large-scale ships exist, such as [[Megaship]]s, [[Farragut-Class Battle Cruiser]]s, and [[Majestic-Class Interdictor]]s, but these are restricted to NPC ownership. In the launch livestream for ''Elite Dangerous: Horizons'' update 2.3, a viewer asked "any chance of playing capital ships in the future?", David Braben answered: "it's on the list, but a long way down it, because there's a lot of gameplay to make it work. The issue is what we call the difference between direct control and executive control. Where rather than flying by the seat of your pants you're giving orders to a giant ship. Because you can't expect it to change course very rapidly and that sort of thing. So it's certainly a long-term possibility, but it's long-term."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McJgSVJQGG8 YouTube: 2.3 - The Commanders Release]</ref>

Gnosis-Megaship.jpg|The Gnosis megaship of The Canonn

Farragut-Battle-Cruiser-Surface.png|Farragut Battle Cruiser

== Can I build an empire, own stations and fleets? ==

You will be able to own [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6tahRbkaq8&t=1283 small inflatable asteroid stations] as [https://gallery.mailchimp.com/dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e/images/stationtypes.jpg depicted here] as part of an update, but you can't fully own large stations, build empires or own fleets, since that '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-bEn2aLJ7U&t=64 would change the nature of the game.]''' However, David Braben stated that they will add this type of functionality to some degree in the future.

Question: "Will it be possible to own a fleet of ships, staffed by NPCs and given orders to follow so that they trade or scout or mine ore etc?" David Braben answered: "With time we will add this sort of functionality to some degree, but we don't want it to be the be all, end all of the game."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-bEn2aLJ7U YouTube: Elite: Dangerous Progress Diary #3]</ref>

The third expansion [[Elite Dangerous: Beyond]] planned to add [[Fleet Carrier|Fleet Carriers]] in Q4 2018, but this feature has been delayed to a future update. Fleet Carriers will be very large capital ships that will serve as mobile bases. They will be purchasable by [[Squadrons]], which are like player-managed guilds.

For example, why would you pilot space ships yourself, when the most efficient way to make money and progress in a game is to sit back in an office and hand out commands? It's also problematic from a lore and immersion standpoint, since the game is [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6z5OK8J5pg&list=PL7glm5rbPHKway8jUwKEw6MeWjC4voHD4 simulating realistic societies, social structures] and time scales, so building an empire would involve a lot of resources and politics that only big nations can afford and would stretch over months or years, even building a large space station can take a month or more.

That said, you will be able to hire NPC teammates and escorts and give them simple commands, but [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-bEn2aLJ7U&t=64 you won't be able to own] or [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz5aeV-G7DE#t=474 remote control them directly.]

*[[Development Plans]]

Because ''[http://elite.frontier.co.uk Elite: Dangerous]'' is set in a [[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#How big will planets and star systems.C2.A0be.3F|realistic galaxy]] where there is no anti-[[gravity]] or gravity generators. Atmospheric capable ships are engineered to be symmetrical and aerodynamically streamlined, therefore they carry their '''weapons inboard within a bay''' to be able to believably skim, enter and freeform (manual pitch/yaw/roll) fly through planet atmospheres at [http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130202135126/elite-dangerous/images/b/bd/Wallpaper12.jpg hypersonic speeds.] Many ships are based on the iconic wireframe designs of the original [[Elite]].

:The '''[[ships]]''' in ''Elite: Dangerous'' have '''airlocks, '''proper mass distribution with no off-centre main thrusters and [http://elite-dangerous.wikia.com/wiki/Viper_Mk_II?file=Viper_Mk_II_02.png separate tessellated cargo holds.]

:However, just like the [http://www.frontierastro.co.uk/Ships/ships.html ships in the previous Elite games], there will be a lot of [[Ships|variety in designs]] with [http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=a4bd777a7f#4 each manufacturer having its own unique style], which can customized into [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NSMMTfwTOU&t=203 numerous configurations.]

<gallery hideaddbutton="true">

Aside from standard [[ships]], players can also directly control [[Surface Recon Vehicle]]s (SRVs) and [[Ship-Launched Fighters]] (SLFs), both of which were added in ''Elite Dangerous: Horizons''.

== Can I make Cinematic Videos? ==

Yes, the [[Camera suite|Camera Suite]] is a fully functional third-person camera suite. It lets players take sophisticated screenshots, make cinematic videos and fly ships in third person. It succeeds the old Debug Camera and is part of update 2.3 The Commanders. In the revamped version you can move around much quicker and further away from your ship. There's a UI legend of shortcuts which can be hidden, and it features a zoom slider. You can lock the camera to your ship and are able to control the ship in a third-person perspective. The camera can ignore rotation so it has the same orientation.

== How do I play Elite Dangerous? ==

Please check the [[Pilots Guide]] on this wiki. It is designed to help a new or experienced pilot get the most out of their [[ships]].

It is also recommended that new pilots check out the following guides:

*[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7glm5rbPHKxnltQU1SLxdqQrENIXJGUr Elite: Dangerous Pilot Training Tutorials]

There is an [http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showpost.php?p=123326 inherent flaw] with the premise of close combat space flight, leading to endless turreting and circle-strafing especially in PVP multiplayer, due to the lack of terrain features in mid space, compound that with the fact that ''Elite'' also features lightspeed pulse and beam lasers making this issue even more apparent. A fly-by-wire layer is applied on top of the Newtonian physics and it limits the yaw speed.

''Elite: Dangerous'' deals with this by limiting the yaw rate and enforce an optimum corner speed by way of [[:File:Cobra.jpg|thruster placement]] and limits in the flight control computer, forcing to roll and then pitch to get the most efficient turn rate (less efficient, but most comfortable for a human pilot), in addition there is a [[wikipedia:G-LOC|G-LOC]] system, a preliminary version can be seen [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQGRKuOtrPg here.]

'''Yes''', the [[Flight Model|flight model]] of Elite Dangerous has Newtonian physics with a fly-by-wire layer applied over the top to make the combat feel visceral and seat-of-the-pants, rather than [[Frontier: Elite II|Frontier]]'s jousting at huge distances.

While this time the forces are fed to a [[wikipedia:Rigid_body_dynamics|proper rigid body,]] (so rotation is properly taken into account) instead of a simple point mass (where only linear dynamics matters), the fly-by-wire system (flight control computer) in ''Elite: Dangerous'' constrains the ship's angular and linear velocity relative to a common reference frame during regular local flight, to induce [[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#Why is yaw so slow.3F|interesting tactical dogfights at close range]] and this [[Flight Assist|flight assist]] can be partially disabled [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZBKC56vhUo to be able to skid more freely]. Also unlike the last two Elite games, only the [[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#How will we travel those vast distances in such a huge galaxy.3F|Super-Cruise mode]] (Work In Progress) takes planet interaction into account (subject to change).

Here some quotes from the creator David Braben:

''"'''David Braben''' I think in many respects it's more comparable to Frontier in terms of the way the galaxy works, that sort of thing. But in terms of the way you fly it's much closer to Elite. We're going to have Newtonian physics. But the way that we apply the fly-by-wire layer over the top of makes the combat feel really visceral and seat-of-the-pants, rather than [as in Frontier] jousting at huge distances"''[http://www.pcgamesn.com/elite-dangerous-will-have-100-billion-star-systems-plus-thargoids-braben-reveals-whats-next]

''"'''David Braben''' Most of the ‘brutal realism’ of Frontier will continue. The real galaxy and so on. For the combat model we are doing more fly-by-wire than in Frontier, but this is to improve the feel of the game; the realism is still there. Don’t forget there was fly-by-wire in Frontier too."''[http://www.mmorpgitalia.it/2013/04/03/6509-elite-dangerous-david-braben-exclusive-interview/]

So there is a fly-by-wire system that keeps the ship within flight parameters, with a '''flight assist''' mode that is on by default, that helps you maintain your turns and dampen the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_momentum angular momentum] when rolling, pitching and yawing by automatically calculating the thruster forces needed to stabilize the ship and reduce the skidding.

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZBKC56vhUo You can turn '''flight assist''' off], so you will have have to manually adjust the thruster forces to control the skidding and counteract the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_momentum angular momentum], the fly-by-wire however will '''always''' be partially active to keep your [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TrvJoViw8w ship constrained within the specified limits.]

Cargo mass will also affect the manoeuvrability of your ship.

Yes the game allows for [[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#Will there be Newtonian physics.3F|full 6DOF motion.]]

'''Yes''', [[Elite Dangerous]] is an MMO, but with the important addition, that you can [http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6300 choose if you want to meet other players].

Players can choose between the following game modes: Solo (single player), Private Group (only with friends and invited people) or Open Play (multiplayer, play with everyone). In open play, you may encounter any other player who is also in Open, instancing and matching players occurs via a complex system. Players on different platforms cannot directly play with each other. However, every player on every platform affects the same shared galaxy, star systems, factions and the dynamic [[Background Simulation]].

The are '''no''' multi-player lobbies.

The server transparently creates free roaming sessions (instances) when meeting other players and [http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7494 NPCs] within that galaxy based on a perception bubble around you, that is defined by your scanner/visual range. That means that those [[wowwiki:Instance_limitations#Player_Limitations|instances are '''not''' a fixed location in space as in most other MMOs]], but they dynamically move around.

Because the game features very high speed twitch combat and very detailed damage models, this is the most reliable way to do it, also keep in mind there can be many sessions within a star system and those sessions can dynamically move around, also because this game uses a 1:1 scale Milky Way [[galaxy]], sessions will typically be spread out much further away (although most of the action will be within the core systems) and it wouldn't be immersion breaking as opposed to a space game in a smaller area.

*[[Elite: Dangerous FAQ#How are players going to meet each other in such a huge galaxy.3F|How are players going to meet each other in such a huge galaxy?]]

*[[Death]]

File:Elite_Dangerous_SW2_WP0_Mass_Jump_127_CMDRS

The other important aspect for the developers is that they can seed the galaxy with events, often these events will be triggered by player actions. With a living breathing galaxy players can discover new and interesting things long after they have started playing.

[[Livery|Cosmetic items]] and premium expansions such as ''[[Elite Dangerous: Odyssey]]'' are sold separately.

''Elite Dangerous'' is not pay-to-win. All ships, modules, ranks, permits, and credits must be earned in-game, and cannot be bought with real money.

All premium [[Livery]] items are entirely cosmetic and do not affect a player's performance in gameplay.

Thus far, ''Elite Dangerous'' has received two paid expansions:

*''[[Elite Dangerous: Horizons]]'' (2015)

*''[[Elite Dangerous: Odyssey]]'' (2021)

''Horizons'' also included the free content season ''[[Elite Dangerous: Beyond]]''.

On October 27, 2020, ''Horizons'' was converted into a free expansion and rolled into the base game, giving all players access to its content.

== What are the future development plans? ==

[[Elite Dangerous]] has a truly [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM0Gcl7iUM8&t=35 huge scope] and [[Frontier Developments|Frontier]] has ambitious development plans. During an interview at Lavecon 2015, Frontier stated to have a clear intention of a 10-year development plan. <ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/lavecon-news.165775/ Frontier Forums: Lavecon News?]</ref> This includes small free updates and paid major updates. Frontier uses an iterative approach which means gradually build upon features to expand and improve them. Check the [[Development Plans]] page for an overview of existing and planned updates and expansions.

Yes, Elite Dangerous is a groundbreaking title for [[Virtual Reality|virtual reality]] gaming, because its one of the first major titles to offer full VR support with an exceptionally immersive experience in an all-encompassing universe. It was the go to game for many VR headset demos before the devices were commercially available. From a technical standpoint, Elite Dangerous is one of the PC’s most high-end VR titles, pushing even very powerful PCs to their limit.

Elite Dangerous is designed from the ground up to support Virtual Reality and 4K Ultra HD display technology. It has Cutting-edge visual quality and performance enabled by Frontier's COBRA engine. It supports the latest displays at 4K resolution, and is built for the future with full 8K and 16K support. It's compatible with Oculus Rift, SteamVR and Vive headsets.<ref name=":5">[https://web.archive.org/web/20171023134733/https://www.elitedangerous.com/en/made-for-vr/ Elite Dangerous: Made for VR], through archive.org</ref>

== What does this error code mean? ==

A list of error codes and their meanings can be found on the [[error code]] page.

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[[Category:Guides]]

[[Category:Elite Dangerous]]