Where you choose to put down roots can say a lot about who you are or who you intend to be. On a first come, first served basis you’ve nominated a galactic region in which to base a Fleet Carrier as part of FleetComm’s Deep Space Support Array (D.S.S.A.) initiative. You and your fellow commander’s divide the region up between yourselves and you set about the task of searching for that system. The particular system that ticks all the boxes (or at least most of the boxes) as the place you will moor up your pride and joy, to pay forward the gift of exploration for those who are yet to embrace the wonders of the void. Defining what those boxes look like, represent and how they relate to each other is not as trivial a task as some may think. Here is what’s important to me and why.
Guiding Principles
There are reportedly over 400 billion systems in the Milky Way galaxy, which are distributed across 42 regions with significantly varying degrees of density. Having volunteered your services for a particular region, the task of surveying and identifying the system with the ‘it’ factor begins. To be clear this is my process for finding the system to which to deploy and does not reflect the rules, views and opinions of the FleetComm D.S.S.A. admin team.
Essential
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Proximity to Other D.S.S.A. Fleet Carriers
Unless limited by some peculiar shape, density or accessibility restriction of the given region, there should be a minimum of 5,000 LYs between your carrier and it's neighbours. -
Accessibility
The minimum ship jump range to access the system should not exceed 50 LY. -
Distinguishing System Features
This aspect is more subjective than most in this list but is here to capture the rarity of the system configuration. For example, systems with a single class M star and 10 icy rocks hurtling around it are distinctly lacking in the distinguishing feature category. Far from an exhaustive list of characteristics, here are some examples of system features that would tick this particular box:
- Multiple stars (including binary, trinary systems)
- Non-sequences stars (Neutron and Black Holes)
- Less frequent star types (Wolf-Rayet as an example)
- Stars of significant size or mass
- Large number of stellar bodies ( > 75 )
- High gravity planet
(Note systems can have as few as one of these example features. This is not an exercise in locating a mythical system that has all of these attributes) -
Landable Planets
The Fleet Carrier should not be the only thing in the system on which pilots can land. Being on the ground offers a different vantage point to the system and offers opportunities to observe planet or star rises across the horizon. Without landable planets, some of the other characteristics in this list would simply not be accessible. While it is arguable that this list could just call out surface sites and therefore imply landable planets, this subset of stellar bodies deserves its own rightful recognition on this list purely for the experience of roaming around the surface. -
Surface Sites
Consisting of either geological or biological (or even better both), this is one of those characteristics that requires landable planets. These sites provide the opportunity for scientific research as well as material gathering
Preferred
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Outstanding Natural Beauty
Voted most subjective item on this list, outstanding natural beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. Whether it's planetary terrain, the position of other planets in the sky, the sharp shadows created from the brightest of stars or the amazing canvas of the galaxy itself. Pick something that will be memorable to those other Commanders visiting your carrier. -
Multiple Stars
More stars to light up the prized possession that is your Fleet Carrier. More fuel scooping opportunities. Just more really. -
Ringed Gas Giants
Apart from being visually stunning, especially when rings transition into the shadow of a gas giant, these colossus planets often yield the bonus of resources to be mined. -
Green System
Look for Jumponium ingredients within the system to add travelers along their way by restocking those materials required to extend jump range:
- Basic FSD injection (+25% range): Carbon, Vanadium, Germanium
- Standard FSD injection (+50% range): Carbon, Vanadium, Germanium, Cadmium, Niobium
- Premium FSD injection (+100% range): Carbon, Germanium, Arsenic, Niobium, Yttrium, Polonium
Optional
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Canyons
Landable planets strike again.
Perfect for small and not so small ship racing. -
Mountains
Landable planets strike again.
Perfect for SRV endurance racing with the bonus of amazing vistas at the summit. -
Notable Stellar Phenomenon
Noted -
Small Moons
Landable planets strike again.
Perfect for SRV racing events and circumnavigation challenges.
