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Fans ofElite: Dangerouscan enjoy a different take on space exploration as the game lets them explore a 1:1 scale replica of the Milky Way Galaxy set in the distant future. With humanity now equipped with various technologies and FTL (faster-than-light) capabilities, gamers and players ofElite: Dangerousenjoy a persistent universe with player-driven lore, where exploring the whole galaxy is perhaps everyone’s goal.
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However, of all destinations in the Milky Way Galaxy, it’s perhapsColoniathat is a milestone destination for most players in the game. Located close to the galaxy’s center, Colonia is one of the toughest star systems to reach, especially for regular players. However, for gamers who know how to plan things, Colonia may just be much easier to reach.
Know What To Expect
Hardcore explorers ofElite: Dangeroushave declared Colonia as one of the many intended destinations of their journey, especially since this was previously the most remote inhabited system for a time. In turn, reachingthe Colonia systemis a milestone alongside the likes of reaching the galactic center (Sagittarius A*), the most distant reachable Milky Way Galaxy (Oevasy SG-Y d0), and even the fabled Beagle Point.
However, aside from the achievement of having reached Colonia “the hard way,” there are also certain reasons why a trek to Colonia would be worth the while on a technical level. Upon arrival in the Colonia System in the Colonia Region, here are some notable points of interest players should know:
Use A Recommended Ship
While players ofElite: Dangeroushave the luxury of exploring space in any kind of ship the game offers, the strenuous conditions of a trip to Colonia mean gamers need the right type of ship to support them. Ideally, players want a ship with the highest jump speed and the cheapest upgrades. Likewise, given the travel demanding a lot of supercruising, the player’s ship of choice must have decent handling in these situations. In turn, here are some recommendedElite: Dangerousshipsthat one should consider for their Colonia journey:
Prepare The Right Gear
Players who want to enjoy theirElite: Dangerousgameplay should plan for their Colonia expedition as they plan for other journeys. Due to the prolonged nature of a Colonia trip, it helps players already have the tools they need before starting their journey - especially since it can be a bummer to return to restock supplies or choose another set of ships and modules. Here are some items players should prepare:
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Map According To White Dwarf Scoops
Given how rare fueling stations are around halfway point to Colonia, traditional exploration inElite: Dangerouscan prove futile for explorers to use. Instead, players may want to rely onFSD Superchargingto facilitate further jumps. At its core, FSD Supercharging involves going into supercruise and flying close to awhite star, with its high-energy jets being able toboost jump range by 50% (1.5x)via fuel scooping, utilizing a ship’s Fuel Scoop and Frame Shift Drive.
It’s precisely due to fuel scooping that AFMUs are essential to one’s Colonia adventure. Each session of FSD Supercharging will reduce the efficiency of a Frame Shift Drive by ~1%, where having it at 80% or below can make a fuel scoop damage or even destroy the Frame Shift Drive completely. Having AFMUs can ensure the integrity of the FSDs and avoid unnecessary instances of being stranded in space.
Use The Neutron Highway For Jumps
Another method of traveling much faster to Colonia from any system inElite: Dangerousgameplay would be utilizing theNeutron Highway. This community-organized route prioritized and optimized FSD Supercharging via the jet streams ofneutron starsand not just white dwarfs. The Highway becomes extremely useful the closer to the galactic center players are, as more neutron stars become present in these locations. Jumping via neutron stars is also more efficient, providing a300% (4x) bonus to a ship’s total jump range, regardless if players use amedium-sizedElite: Dangerousship.
Players can access theNeutron Routerto create a viable route between their present location and Colonia, although they can also filter their navigator to prioritize neutron stars. When using the Neutron Highway manually, it’s advisable not to create a route based on how “short” the journey to Colonia becomes. Rather, it’s more efficient to create a Neutron Route based on how many jumps players can save than other conventional pathways.
Call Fuel Rats When Stranded
The trip to Colonia can be long and arduous for anyElite: Dangerousplayer, and one should anticipate any situation to cover all bases for such an extended trip. One such precaution is having a contingency plan in an emergency, such as a destroyed FSD or running out of fuel in asmallElite: Dangerousship. In these situations, theFuel Ratscan come to the rescue.
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Anticipate Gankers En Route
Due to how isolated the Colonia route could get, it’s not uncommon for Colonia travelers to be the target of gankers who want todestroy the player’s ship and scavenge it for parts. In turn, it helps players to equip their ships with the necessary primary defenses to fend off gankers and other threats that they may discover in their journey.
Given the nature of these risks inElite: Dangerousgameplay, Colonia travelers should periodically make stops in safe spots as often as possible should they feel an area can be potentially dangerous or devoid of outposts. Getting the right protection is also advisable for players who plan on meeting Engineers in Colonia for upgrades.
Board A Fleet, Join Teams
Instead of going on the trip to Colonia alone, joining teams or boardinga large-classElite: Dangerousfleetcan make one’sElite: Dangerousexperience more interesting. For instance, players can head to ther/FCOC (Fleet Carrier Owners Club) subredditto check out routes from a particular bubble to Colonia and back. Most of these trips are free, although the sub encourages Tritium donations.
Likewise, players who are already part of a guild may plan expeditions with their friends to Colonia. This joint journey may take days of planning and many hours of execution, but this does exemplify the community-based exploration element that the game encourages alongside its multiplayer approach to lore-building.
Elite: Dangerouswas released in 2014 and is currently available on the PC, Xbox One, and PS4
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