Firstly, I must apologise for not updating for so long. I have been finding it difficult to find time to write. It is not a pastime encouraged by those I live with. As soon as I pick up my laptop to write I am assaulted by a slew of tuts and disparaging complaints. So I write when I can, it now eats into my Elite time in the early hours of the morning when everyone else is in bed. Hopefully the next part of the Fuel Rat Diaries will be ready towards the beginning of next week, as will the next two Rush Fleet ships for the 12th album.
I’ve never taken part in a Community Goal before. No particular reason for it, it just never occurred to me to sign up to any. I was always way too focused on something else to be distracted by them. This one, however, piqued my interest. I’d heard of the previous Colonia Bridge projects offering a 6a double engineered FSD and I really wanted one, but the target was reached, and the goal discontinued before I could get a chance to join in. The expansion of my Rush Fleet means that the less engineering I have to do the better. The offer of not only a 6a FSD, but both a 5a and a 4a too, all double engineered, was far too tempting to pass up! When the project began once more last Thursday, I finally had a chance to get involved. What’s more, my Imperial Cutter, the Big Money, was ready to begin hauling.
I decided to just go for it and play in open. A big risk. Gankers are always flocking to delivery systems eager to create mayhem and misery. The loss of a cutter full of cargo would be a bitter pill to swallow. I’ve nothing against gankers personally. Not any more. I used to loathe them but have come to realise they’re part of the game and create more danger and excitement than there would be otherwise. I’m glad they’re there and if I’m not in the mood to risk a gank then I’ll just hide in solo mode briefly. It’s no big deal. I usually don’t want to be disturbed by anyone, even friendly players when I use solo. Most of the time I can be found in open. It feels more dynamic. Less of a game, more of an experience. I would be playing on my PS account too, so much less chance of being ganked anyway. I called up the Big Money from storage, plotted a route to Macdonald Settlement in the Alcor system, and launched from Oleskiw City.
Suffice to say, I really enjoyed myself. I only hauled for a couple of hours and still managed to get myself into the top 75% of contributors. It was really, really rewarding being a small part of a much bigger community drive – a feeling I wasn’t prepared for. I was making about 18 million per trip too but the best thing was, even on PS, even at the quietest time of the day (around 05.00-08.00 OST) I managed to meet someone. As I was making what was to be my next to last drop I flew in through the slot only to see another Imperial Cutter lifting off from her pad. It’s almost unheard of to see an NPC cutter so it had to be another player and a quick glance at my scanner told me I was right – an empty square. We said hello to each other and became friends and bumped into each other a couple of times more until it was time for me to log off for the day. Now, this happens in all MMO’s but somehow, in Elite, it’s different.
Cut to two days later. I decide to continue contributing to the Goal. I’ve just returned from a small LRR (Long Range Rescue – in this case about 3000ly) and before I start I check the CG status board. I’m still in the top 75% but for how long? So I continue hauling those thermal cooling units, making around 19 million credits per trip. On my second return to MacDonald’s Settlement I found the space around her full of Cutters and Type 9’s all of whom are happily chatting to each other as they dock. I decide to turn on my docking computer and watch as everyone jostles for space to fly through the slot. The Blue Danube kicks in, and I’m treated to the beautiful balletic movements of several massive ships dancing around as they fly in and out of the station. It was such an enthralling moment. Plus, not only did I reach the top 50% but achieved Trader Elite too! Add to this that I’m also spending time with the Fuel Rats on their Ratchat IRC channel via my laptop, generally messing around and having a fun time (you’d be amazed at the shenanigans Rats can get up to on a lowly IRC channel).
So it comes to the final day of the effort. I can’t contribute any further. The noise on twitter is almost deafening as the community nears its goal. I’m desperate to be part of the final push but I am far too busy IRL. My time is not my own, unless I steal time from sleep. Either I loose sleep or I loose sanity. I’d rather loose sleep. The goal is reached. There is a cacophony of celebration on twitter. My heart bleeds to be a part of it. The following morning I get up at 05.00 to check my contribution – it’s still top 50%! I cheer up somewhat, I was part of it. I helped everyone reach the goal. I head back home to Oleskiw City, purchase the next two ships for the Fleet and outfit them ready for engineering. Then I hear the creak from upstairs and realise my time is already over, and the servers will be down soon anyway.
But there will always be tomorrow morning! I live for tomorrow morning!
So you can see – Elite Dangerous is more than just a game for me. Far more. It is an escape. It is my social life. It allows me to achieve things as a team. It staves off the black dog that forever nips at my heels. No other game or pastime comes close to doing this for me. And I don’t think I am alone.
Elite Dangerous RUSH FLEET 