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Frontier News
Recap Frontier Expo 2017
The first ever Frontier Expo 2017 was held last Saturday, October 7th!
I spent 5 days recovering from my 41h without sleep followed by an acute respiratory upper infection and almost 40°C of fever, I had an excellent week… however I had time to provide you with as much details as possible on my Twitter, Discord but also a full summary via a previous article: Frontier Expo 2017. You will find there all the information tackled during the event about Elite: Dangerous.
First Teaser video we can see: the Thargoid scout, the Type 10 Defender, the Cobra MkII from the previous Thargoid invasion, an INRA base and the Mycoid virus, a station on high-alert, the new design of the Thargoids heart as well as the arrival of the warmongers Thargoids Klaxians in red and black.
Then we learned that the Lakon Chieftain and Krait of the Alliance (yes!) will make their appearances as well as a host of new ships.
- The Krait – would be a fighter, dimensions 62m long by 62m wide. Manufactured by the new contract binding the Alliance to Lakon Spaceways, it could be a medium-sized fighter similar to a Cobra MkIII, not very fast and nimble but heavily protected and armed with possibly 2 to 3 utility modules. It could have two Class 3 weapons as well as one fighter bay and a total of 3 people in Multicrew.
- The Chieftain – would be a fighter, dimensions 126m long by 103m wide. Manufactured by Lakon Spaceways, it could be a heavy fighter of large size, nimble and powerful. It could have four Class 3 weapons and up to nine utility modules.
GalNet will also have its audio version, only in English: GalNet Audio. We will be able to listen to the news while flying our ship.
No more beige planets in 2018, Frontier will punch this long lasting issue by improving the visual in space and on the surfaces thanks to various colours improvement and globally reworked light effects. In addition to these, the Scatter Rocks technology would allow the destruction of elements on surfaces like rocks, boulders, stalagmites… in order to make the environment feel more real + ambiance effects like the dust and fog.
Right below, you will find the video presenting some of the content we will find in Elite Dangerous: Beyond – 3304. Three paths will be developped: core game enhancements, new narratives as well as new features. Read everything I have compiled about the Frontier Expo 2017 and Elite: Dangerous. There will be much more to discover, this is only a teaser for the year to come.
Also, do not miss the article 2.4 The Return – Science as I updated the new modules list and Thargoids markings. We are currently in 2.4.03 and the Thargoids continue to adapt to our new equipments.
If you are curious, here are the paintjob, bobbleheads and suit’s skin we received for attending the Frontier Expo!
Developers and Community
A dedicated space to Devs’ messages from the forums and social Medias.
~ 
Recent communications ~
- [Beyond] Beyond is different to a season. It is a series of updates for ED and Horizons players which is focusing on core enhancements, continued narrative and new features that compliment them. Beyond isn’t 3.0. And 3.0 isn’t a thing because we haven’t announced or discussed what the model of updates will be beyond Beyond. – Source / Source – Brett C and Dale Emasiri, Community Manager
- [Lifetime pass] In addition to all the content talked about at Frontier Expo, we also have some pretty cool things in the works which will be available to purchase. We’re not ready to talk about them just yet so we can’t give you any details but rest assured that the lifetime expansion pass owners will be looked after and will be getting their hands on premium content as part of their lifetime expansion pass before the end of 2018 and the Beyond series of updates. – Source – Zac Antonaci, Head of Communications
- I also wanted to point out that FDev is currently looking for a Concept Artist specialized in the creation of vehicles and weapons. Every idea begins with a concept. They might be actively working on new features? New SRVs and future hardpoints or guns for our pilots? – Source
~ Community ~
- Luxury Tour
In a little more than a week, this Sunday October 22nd, the pretty Saud Krüger ships will leave the bubble for an exploration tour of almost 70,000 light years! Are you ready to join the line of the most majestic ships in the galaxy? Two months of action, events, explorations and encounters with other space explorers – Details - Distant Worlds 2
It’s back! The most known expedition will make its return for the fourth quarter of 2018 and it is expected to last between 4 to 6 months. Whether you’re exploring, repairing, Fuel Ratting, Rock Ratting, Pathfinding, mapping, everything finishing in -ing: DW2 needs you! You’ll have a lot of events, group jumps, researches, mapping and specialized pilots to prepare a new, unforgettable expedition for the community. – Details
INRA – Intergalactic Naval Reserve Arm
Thanks to the efforts of dozens of mainly French players, an INRA base has been discovered on the surface! Congratulations to Wing Atlantis, the OSIRIS Science Group, Children of Raxxla & EfilOne, the Remlok Industries participants and a few other motivated players for this incredible and thrilling adventure on an important part of the Elite’s history.
This first base is located in the Hermitage system, planet 4A, Hollis Gateway at coordinates: -53.7 // 157.6. It contains interesting data as well as an abandoned base and large reservoirs apparently filled with the Mycoid virus developed in order to repel the Thargoids during the previous invasion.
In the last missions that were proposed in Frontier: First Encounters (Silver Quest), it was about New Rossyth, supposed to be located near Alioth or Alioth. There is little chance that we find New Rossyth ingame today, however, we went to Alioth and its vicinity to do some research, without success. Anyway, we think that this area deserve to be digged more deeply.
During the FX17 conference, when Galnet Audio was mentioned, a video was shown to illustrate the feature. At the very beginning of this broadcast, a news appears on the Galnet’s UI, mentioning the attack of a military outpost at Epsilon Indi by the Thargoids. We conducted research at Epsilon Indi without finding anything. However, that does not mean that nothing is there. Perhaps it would be worthwhile for other commanders to go there to conduct this research.
A fan fiction, Pritchard On The Frontier, inspired by Frontier: First Encounter relying on the Argent Quest mission arc evokes the creation of the mycoid virus by INRA through the story of Maximilian Weaver. Perhaps it contains clues that could be useful in this research. These elements, however, must be taken with caution because they are not in the official lore, and if systems are mentioned, they will certainly have changed names if they are currently ingame.
Another source of information that may be useful is John Harper’s And Here The Wheel.
This novel is part of the official lore, Drew Wagar said. The story told by this novel is perhaps the most recent mention of INRA that we had.
Powerplay and Lore
Powerplay is an ongoing battle for interstellar conquest and control. Players can choose a Power, help guide their strategy, and take on special objectives to advance their shared cause. Player choices and actions have a direct and visible impact on the balance of galactic power.
Edmund Mahon +1
Felicia Winters +1
Arissa Lavigny-Duval -2
Zachary Hudson +1
Aisling Duval -1
Li Yong-Rui +1
Zemina Torval -1
Pranav Antal +2
Denton Patreus -1
Yuri Grom +1
Archon Delaine -2
Cycle 123. Currently cycle 124.
◘ 11 october – In the wake of reports that the Federation has withdrawn from the Pleiades Nebula, authorities in the region have confirmed that the Empire has followed suit. The development, predicted by many, appears to signal the end of the Federal-Imperial cold war. The inter-superpower conflict began with the deployment of a Federal fleet to the Merope system, shortly followed by the positioning of several Majestic-class Interdictors. It was evident to observers that these manoeuvres were intended to control the region’s meta-alloys. A number of proxy conflicts took place over the following months, but it quickly became clear that the superpowers were locked in a stalemate, with neither side willing to either up the ante or withdraw.
As the conflict wore on, public opinion was perhaps best expressed by The Imperial Herald’s political correspondent Daxton Sung, who noted that:
“Neither the Empire nor the Federation has demonstrated it can prevent the other from extracting meta-alloys, which is supposedly what this conflict is all about. Frankly, the situation is farcical.”
The catalyst for the Federal withdrawal appears to have been the rising Thargoid threat, coupled with creation of the tri-superpower organisation Aegis. Neither the Empire nor the Federation has commented on the withdrawal of its fleets.
◘ 11 october – A number of media feeds in the core systems have reported the discovery of an abandoned planetary outpost in the Hermitage system. The reports, together with images captured by independent pilots, indicate that the outpost was controlled by the Intergalactic Naval Reserve Arm (INRA), a joint Federal-Imperial initiative established in the 3100s.
Very little is known about the INRA, but reports from the time assert that it was established to address Thargoid incursions into human space, and that it developed a chemical weapon designed to target Thargoid technology. Reports that the site contains logs describing INRA research are currently being corroborated.
In the meantime, fresh reports from the Pleiades have yielded further insights into the Thargoids’ tactics. An Aegis spokesperson summarised the latest intelligence:
“Our initial encounters with the Thargoids indicated a certain lack of strategic awareness on their part, but they have clearly been watching, and learning. The latest reports indicate that they’re already operating more tactically, suggesting that their earlier lack of insight was due to unfamiliarity with our ships and weapons. As noted before, we clearly are dealing with a highly responsive enemy, and we underestimate them at our peril.”
◘ 12 october – Aegis has announced that the third phase of its campaign has received the enthusiastic support of the galactic community. Huge quantities of material were delivered to Vonarburg Co-operative over the past week, which will be used to develop new anti-Thargoid technologies.
As the campaign drew to a close, Aegis’s Head of Research, Professor Alba Tesreau, released the following statement:
“I would like to extend my gratitude to all those who supported this initiative. The materials you delivered are already on their way to our engineering contractor, and the resultant device should be available soon.”
◘ 13 october – Some of the galaxy’s leading Thargoid experts have been discussing the discovery of a new alien ship in the HIP 17125 system. Images of the crashed vessel reveal that it is structurally distinct from the Thargoid Interceptor, while sharing many superficial similarities. The ship has been classified as a ‘Thargoid Scout’ by the Pilots Federation for the purposes of identification and differentiation.
Discussing the discovery on the ‘Galaxy Now’ programme, Admiral Aden Tanner, Aegis’s chief military liaison, said:
“There are clear similarities between this ship and the Interceptor, both of which appear to be made from a quasi-organic material. It would be logical to extrapolate from the ship’s profile that it would be faster and perhaps more manoeuvrable than the Interceptor, but I’d be reluctant to speculate further.”
Speaking on the same programme, Professor Alba Tesreau, also of Aegis, commented:
“Recent analysis of the Thargoid shipwreck in the Pleiades Sector AB-W B2-4 system indicates that it is a little over 100 years old, despite being extremely similar, if not identical, to the currently active Thargoid Interceptor. This suggests that Thargoid ship design does not change particularly rapidly, and also that the shipwreck in HIP 17125 could be equally old.”
◘ 13 october – Aegis’s campaign to counter the rising Thargoid threat has entered its fourth phase. Once again, the tri-superpower organisation has secured financial support from a corporate partner, which has placed an open order for various commodities.
As the campaign began, The Federal Times spoke to Elvira Martuuk, one of many independent engineers contracted by Aegis, who is overseeing this stage of the campaign. Martuuk said:
“The Thargoids’ ability to disable our ships is one of their most formidable weapons. For the past few weeks I’ve been working on a device that I hope will protect human vessels from the Thargoids’ immobilising field.”
Community Goals
Community Goals allow the community to work together on an ongoing project within a system. Fight, trade, smuggle, explore and help the factions and super powers to achieve their goals. There is no good or bad CG, write your & Elite’s stories while earning credits!
◘ Fourth Aegis Initiative (Transport)
- Location: Cremona Prospect | Khun
- Objectives: Deliver Thargoid Cyclops Tissue Samples, Coltan and Beryllium
- Rewards: Credits and a new anti IEM-pulse Thargoid module
- Progress: 1/5
- Until: 19 october
- Description: The Khun Independent Governance has promised to reward pilots who deliver the designated items to the Khun system.
- Notes: BE CAREFUL, it’s an outpost.
◘ Remembrance Week (Transport)
- Location: Moore Terminal | Kauruk
- Objective: Deliver Ceremonial Heike Tea, Pantaa Prayer Sticks and Anduliga Fireworks
- Rewards: Credits
- Progress: 3/8
- Until: 19 october
- Description: Last year, a commemorative event was held for the late entrepreneur Walter Waldo in the Gyvatices system. Not only was the memorial a success, it became an event of collective remembrance, as pilots from across the galaxy convened to honour people and events of personal significance. Following the event’s popularity, the Labour Union of Kauruk has announced the first annual Remembrance Week. The event will give the public an opportunity to remember absent friends and departed loved ones. As preparations begin, the organisation has placed an open order for a range of commodities and materials, and has promised to reward pilots who deliver these commodities to Moore Terminal in the Kauruk system. A spokesperson for the organisation released the following statement: “Most of us have something we want to honour, celebrate, or remember. This event will give the galactic community a chance to do just that, in an atmosphere of mutual support. I believe this is something the galaxy needs – now more than ever.”
Pics of the week
Feel free to send your prettiest images and videos via Twitter, Discord or in the comments!
Divergents
Slightly forgotten as well, I wanted to highlight this picture of a Beluga destroyed by the Thargoids in the Pleiades. It is not only the Empire and the Federation that are therefore attacked…
Videos of the week
The Guardians Recap
For those who are wondering the effectiveness of the new Anti-Xeno Flak Remote Canon: it’s excellent against the Thargons, useless against the Interceptors – Rurikhan
Scott Manley and his Vlog about the Frontier Expo.
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