Reasons for starting a colony for a solo player?

[ждун]

@Solo players: what are your reasons to start your own colonies?
Just because its new and exciting or are there any practical reasons?

[wolf]

Well, I mostly play solo (9/10 sessions) and though I never felt the need to purchase a fleet carrier, I really have this dream or urge to build my own planetary town/port. And to do this I need to get myself a solar system, build an init space station and do all these preps tho they're not really important to me.

For my part, the goal is to have my own little 'town' on a planet, ultimately settling down and wait for vegetation and more bio to come into the game: Oceans, lakes, hunting animals, go fishing, driving an off-road SRV out in the swamps and see all kinds of wonders nature has to offer (might be a long wait but hey).

I've always enjoyed the idea that one could -someday- play Elite as a primarily planetary simulation with the vast space above, where you don't have to be up there in your ship. You CAN but you don't have to.

Of course this is a long term vision that I have - this and ship interiors :)
But there is also a "because its new", just to play with new game content and features

Edit:
I colonized my first system solo spending 26 ingame hrs. (building one outpost station).
That's about 3 days RL work/school, so absolutely reasonable with a 4 weeks deadline.
I used a T9 with 752t cargo space and no shields but a FSD booster (4H) + ship mods.

[Harriet]

More content I can do in between all the other content

[RUGGER]

The desire to organize a self-sufficient economy, as much as possible with gaming tools

[hsaurma]

You will never get the Materials in 27 d, only if you play at least 10h /d, if you play alone.

[Kobs]

I started one just to see if I could finish on time loll
In any case I'll end up with more credits than I started with so ....

EDIT: After only one day at it I got 27% done half the CMM's are in so it looks like I'll be ok loll

[ждун]

I didn't jump on the hype yet because I don't see good reason other then being bored. I mean I have some use from the fleet carrier. Because I can move it around. Now with a base somewhere what am I gonna do with it? Its like a fleet carrier that you can't move.

[wolf]

If you have a vision for your system (which I don't) then you can plan the economy, plan which factories/bases you want to setup. Is it a mining system, or a tourism/service system etc?

I can imagine its fun to plan your system, right down to crime and population, and then watch it unfold while actively manipulating the system's economy via the types of stations/ports (which are in fact 'factories' in Elite).

Edit:
I've got a vision for the game but not really for my system... I need more tinkering and also read what others do. Maybe copy some ideas one day :)

[Harriet]

Originally posted by ждун:

I didn't jump on the hype yet because I don't see good reason other then being bored. I mean I have some use from the fleet carrier. Because I can move it around. Now with a base somewhere what am I gonna do with it? Its like a fleet carrier that you can't move.

A fleet carrier is far more useful - can store goods, can move, etc.

A permanent base is more of an ego trip, but it's a nice goal.

[wolf]

Make sure to remember that we're talking a system, not a base
A system with a (future) economy, population, BGS factions, crime, war and politics.

It is so much more than just a 'static base' - friendly reminder :)


Edit:
To me its just a 'static base' but that's not how the average player thinks I'm sure:
Most players probably have a vision for their system, a plan, at least an idea

[Agony_Aunt]

Originally posted by hsaurma:

You will never get the Materials in 27 d, only if you play at least 10h /d, if you play alone.

You need about 25 round trips to build an outpost in a Type 9 or Cutter.

Its doable in one decently long play session or a few days at a more relaxed rate.

Personally, i'd use my Fleet Carrier. Find stations that with stuff that i need, then go to the system with everything to do it quickly, back and forth between FC and target.

So, if you preload the FC with everything for an outpost, before even making a claim, you could easily do it in a single session, even as a casual player.

[Freyar]

This system I'm working on is a test to learn the system and understand it better. Once I have some experience with it, I want to claim a pocket of systems because I want them.

[ждун]

Originally posted by wolf:

Make sure to remember that we're talking a system, not a base
A system with a (future) economy, polulation, BGS factions, crime, war and politics.

I agree. But I'm struggling developing such vision. For now its narrowing down for having a landing pad somewhere in space with my name on it. Any better tips or ideas?

[wolf]

Power play for one. That's a roleplay way into colonisation:

If you're pledged to a power/super power, this could go into your plans. That way you're not just doing it for yourself but also 'for the Empire' or whatever power: Pick your system from a station that has a ruling faction pledged to your power or super power, turning yourself into a pawn in the bigger chess game of politics in Elite.

[76561199535677220]

Originally posted by ждун:

Originally posted by wolf:

Make sure to remember that we're talking a system, not a base
A system with a (future) economy, polulation, BGS factions, crime, war and politics.

I agree. But I'm struggling developing such vision. For now its narrowing down for having a landing pad somewhere in space with my name on it. Any better tips or ideas?

I made sure I bought a beacon from an Anarchy station, so the faction in control is anarchy.

I also get my squadron-aligned minor faction in the system. Some large PMFs have suddenly found themselves in 70-100 new systems.

I heard earlier that 12,000 systems are currently under construction. The bubble only had 20k for the past 10 years.

[Agony_Aunt]

Originally posted by Martin Magnus:

Originally posted by ждун:

I agree. But I'm struggling developing such vision. For now its narrowing down for having a landing pad somewhere in space with my name on it. Any better tips or ideas?

I made sure I bought a beacon from an Anarchy station, so the faction in control is anarchy.

I also get my squadron-aligned minor faction in the system. Some large PMFs have suddenly found themselves in 70-100 new systems.

I heard earlier that 12,000 systems are currently under construction. The bubble only had 20k for the past 10 years.

Cool idea on the anarchy thing in theory, but anarchy systems are loved by players to raid and mess things up with the BGS because they can commit crimes without a problem.

As for the 12000 number, that's quite amazing. I'm holding off until post-beta. Its not like there is a need to rush, the galaxy isn't going to run out of space any time soon ;)

I'm really waiting to see if FD increase the distance limit.