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Elite Dangerous: Odyssey dev answers questions about settlements, engineers

Published: 13:29, 16 January 2021
Frontier Developments
Picture of a ship inside a hangar in Elite Dangerous
Elite Dangerous

Elite Dangerous: Odyssey has been delayed but as Frontier Developments promised, the team will spend the time polishing the game and shedding more light on the expansion.

Quite a few players wondered what happens to an outpost or settlement if they wipe everyone out, which is a bit concerning but hey - we're not judging. Especially knowing the highly anticipated expansion has been delayed , who are we to tell you how to drown your sorrows. 

Thankfully, Frontier Developments confirmed that you won't be creating ghost towns for the most part, as outposts send for reinforcements and settlements repopulate with time. 

It's best if you heard it straight from the horse's mouth, as the studio's forum post, which can be found below, clarified quite a few things related to Elite Dangerous: Odyssey.

Q: If I go to an outpost and wipe everyone out, do they all respawn eventually, or is that town now a ghost town?

Outposts will send for reinforcements that will become progressively tougher, however, these are not infinite. It would be possible to kill everyone and then loot the outpost, however, the consequences thereafter would be severe…

Q. You have said in one of the Dev Diaries that the people you encounter in stations and outposts are related to the faction in control. How will we get missions from other factions in the station?

There will also be mission boards on terminals available in ports and outposts that can support on-foot missions from all factions in the system. Mission Givers in ports and outposts can also be from a variety of factions.

Q. Do NPCs spawn only at these new Settlement Outposts or do they appear anywhere on a planet like those parked NPC ships that pop up in random places?

NPC’s will not spawn randomly in the ‘wilderness’, however, they may stumble across you at a place of interest.

Q. What permanent states can the new Settlement outposts have, like conquered or destroyed etc.

The states are as follows: Active, abandoned, war, damaged, Online, Online Damaged, Offline, Offline Damaged and Conflict Zone

Q: If I eliminate everyone in a Settlement, do they respawn or will it remain empty?

Settlements won't stay empty forever. They will repopulate over time.

Q: Will there be Engineers for your weapons and suits?

Yes, the original cast of engineers will remain, and they will be joined by a new group – all of whom you will be able to meet in person for the first time.

Frontier Developments Elite Dangerous: Odyssey Elite Dangerous: Odyssey

Q. Are there destructible items in bases e.g. exploding barrels that can be used for tactical purposes?

Yes, you’ll be able to take advantage of certain environmental elements for a tactical advantage. If you want to stand next to big red barrels feel free to…

Q. Can we hack weapon emplacements to turn them on defenders, or switch off station power to disable weapon emplacements?

Yes, you will be able to bring down settlement defences, allowing others to enter the combat zones in vehicles. Powering down a settlement will also allow you to access restricted areas.

Q: Within Odyssey, thinking of the open-air combat zones, what's to stop me from using an Orca, equipped with mines, to carpet bomb a settlement?

Settlement defences are quite potent, without shutting them off first you may find yourself suddenly without that ORCA...

Q: What's going to be able to stop an SLF with Shard cannons?

Outside of the settlement defences which we have already stated are not to be taken lightly – some handheld weapons can be very effective.

Gallery of promotional pictures for Elite: Dangerous by Frontier

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A man with an axe running through a forest in SCUM
Elite: Dangerous - Krait

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