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A look into the shape of the new universe

The Vast Frontier

In our last blog, we spoke at length about the effort that is going into the creation of Frontier’s universe – the science behind its initial conditions, and the influence of the Trinary over it.  

With the advent of Phase V, the universe has been expanded, unlocking even greater possibilities of exploration. This iteration of the Frontier holds a staggering 22,223 stars, each with their own collection of planets, moons, asteroid belts, and megastructures. All told, the new map is 22,370% larger than the map in Phase IV. The sheer size of the universe introduces new challenges in navigating its vast expanse. While the map contains a great many stars in close proximity to each other, the systems in these forks will need infrastructure to reach – infrastructure that will have to come from its inhabitants.  

While the scope of the galaxy is substantial, it’s good to remember that Frontier’s universe – and what lives in it - will likely act as soft pressure against too much expansion, indirectly pushing players to group and organize to survive on the Frontier. Just like access to fresh water has restricted the growth of humanity on Earth, access to crude matter to produce fuel and other resources used to develop weapons and infrastructure will almost certainly be a major focal point for colonists who wish to strike out into the Frontier to make their claim. 

It is intriguing to speculate about how rich crude matter deposits, sites of feral hives or asteroid belts rich in resources, will impact travel, trading routes and major trade hubs. With a growing population different goals and ambitions will emerge. Will there be small settlements or big megacities as their inhabitants try and tame the unforgiving Frontier? 

frontiermap

Smaller settlements might act as jumping off points for groups of players eager to dive deeper into the Frontier in search of wealth and power. Some intrepid pilots may desire to strike out on their own, but due to EVE Frontier’s fuel mechanics you will only ever be able to travel as far as your fuel takes you, so journeys far into the cosmos will require careful planning and resource conservation. It will not be a simple matter to hop in a ship and jet across the whole of space in an afternoon – routes must be planned, dangers avoided, and fuel either carried along with you or gathered along the way. 

However, there is no assurance of settlements being a permanent fixture, due to infrastructure requirements, the chaotic nature of crude matter and the shifting and uncertain distribution of resources. The construction capacity of its population will come from its resourcefulness in exploiting resources and traversing vast distances. Some might as a result turn to a migratory lifestyle, turning their settlements into ambulatory cities in space, closely following sources of wealth and energy to maintain their systems and defenses. Groups unwilling to adapt to an ever-changing ecosystem might see their settlements run their course, inevitably wither and die.  

Interactions between settlements and various groups will in addition bring an entirely new dimension to this experience. Imagine a community of players chasing a source of rare ore used in the construction of devastating weapons, only to find that – upon reaching their destination and preparing to set up encampment – another group has reached it first. Do those groups occupy that space peacefully? Do they engage in diplomatic talks? Do they attempt to subtly undermine each other? Do they spill blood? Geography means something on the Frontier; two groups put in close proximity to each other, each with competing interests and finite resources, bound by a handful (or even a single) chokepoint, will need to make decisions. Only time will tell if those decisions are peaceful, or violent. 

The Frontier is cold and unrelenting, but offers opportunities for bold trailblazers, fierce conquerors, curious explorers and ruthless traders. The only certainty one can expect on the Frontier is that every settlement established, resource gathered, or victory claimed - will come at a cost. 

The Vast Frontier

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