Hands On: Mandalay (Elite Dangerous)

17 Oct 3310: Simulated data on the new Zorgon Peterson explorer, the Mandalay, suggests that it can equal the Exploraconda in jump range - and it's better than the Anaconda in every other way. And we have a suggestion of the political changes that might be coming to the Galaxy very soon!
Note: I'm afraid that entering and exiting the ship still uses the blue teleportation tube. But you can walk uo the steps to the airlock door!

[@kofeyh]

Good to see new ships in a game that is 10+ years old. Also amusing to see the same old arguments of a similar vintage. I will always be happier when Frontier offers compelling options, vs neutered outcomes. This ship ticks the box for a long-legged bubble runner, with some guns and good internals - and can carry enough 'gubbins' for a good time out in the black and be able to get to the more sparse regions. Would more range have been nice? Yes. Yes it would. But rivalling Anaconda is probably as good as it's ever gonna get to be fair. The sky is falling commentary over a new ship addition, is just as hilarious as it was 10 years ago. I am amazed people have the stamina to keep the arguments going.. More options, more choices for players for more play styles is good.

[@Datan0de]

Haven't you heard? The game is in maintenance mode and on its last legs, and has been for the last 10 years! I swear, the doomsayers must have a fetish for being completely wrong ALL the time.

[@dpittman42]

Can't wait to pick up the Mandalay.

[@ToCoSo]

Oooh love all the powerplay sneak peeks!! Great work as always guys!!!

[@Paajtor]

@2:33 the heads-down display only blocks the view, if you haven't set that view to "do nothing", in the options. Use a hotkey instead, and the display will only show up, if you want it to, regardless of where your viewing.

[@CptJistuce]

Yeah. Cool as the auto-popup subpanels are, I disabled them for being just super-distracting in VR.

[@Tamburello_1994]

Get in there! Galnet!

[@Datan0de]

Next week is going to be raucous! We should celebrate with some kind of really, really big fireworks display... Now if only we could find something gigantic to blow up spectacularly over the weekend or early next week to ring in all the cool new changes in the galaxy... Something really titanic...

[@thebozo-m4j]

dude.... benson is gonna be so pissed.....

[@grandreefer]

People don't set their pop up menus to "do nothing" when toggling headlock? The viewport is perfect as long as you don't need the menus to pop up when just looking around the cockpit. Edit: I suppose I didn't realize how many people do take different sides on this argument. With that being said it is still important that you do what you feel works best for you. Know your options, listening to opinions and suggestions, but at the end of the day DO YOU!

[@daltonferguson7846]

I had no idea you could do that

[@57thorns]

No, but I will look up that option now.

[@grandreefer]

@@daltonferguson7846 awesome. It's in the settings of ship controls>mode switches>look at "insert panel name" options.

[@grandreefer]

@@57thorns Nice. Two people I helped. I've done something today. Lol. O7

[@Bobbyfreakii]

Ayo TF. Switching that RN

[@57thorns]

Three month before I get the Mandalay then, but it will be nice to have the Type-8.

[@johnmassengale9186]

FYI the T8 is awesome. Took it out in the black and back. SRV and watched to paint go to nothing. Enjoy when you get it. 😉👍🥃

[@Syrrani]

Aislings Virtual troops in the simulation are probabbly still in training mode with an order of like "Deal with the pesky power shoppers, we are runing low on shields"

[@FlyingMonkeyDeathGod]

Nah, it's part of the salespitch.

[@joshuahunt3032]

3:37 “Asiling Duval’s carrier group treats unpledged commanders as hostile, unlike the others.” Geez, remind me not to get anywhere near Asiling’s carrier when I’m looking for somewhere random to sell exploration data, because that would just end in tears.

[@leokeatonn]

Oh dear lord Christmas is here early!!! This may be the best ship I've ever seen.

[@AlgoFodder]

That silhouette.. you've really brought out its inner birdie!

[@the_rat_run]

I'll have the Mandy as soon as the servers come back up, then armed, armoured and heading out soon after. PP 2.0 has no appeal for me, but I do hope those interested in it are not disappointed...

[@azuredragonofnether5433]

3:33 Those ships be like: "We're searching for recruits! Also, you're unpledged, so we must kill you. Just following orders."

[@alezandercorben4122]

My new BGS ship that will replace my ASP Explorer.

[@Vismotrix-m]

Gonna love this ship, looks like the milanno

[@MichaelCWBell]

Out of all the new craft in 3310 the Mandalay will be my pick (exploration is the purist’s view in ED). Together with a new Powerplay system, Tuesday October 22nd will be an Elite day.

[@ilkercanay7980]

Looking forward to explore distant star systems with this new toy!

[@Gabriel.Glacial]

So damn excited for the Manda

[@KingArthurFleck]

The Mandalay looks great in flight but shit on the ground. I'll take 2, please

[@lightwoven5326]

Looking forward to up armouring it, whilst maintaining the speed, might be more like, as said, an up market Imperial Courier.

[@guhak]

As a primarily mining focused player who is also cheap, I’m torn. LYR space presumably remains the best for 15% discounts and my “home” base(s) are there already, so logically I should pledge to him to avoid getting annoyed by the power NPCs all the time. But, exploration rewards are basically beyond power crept and not even worth considering as money mid to late game. Mining profits with the new alliance person meanwhile seems pretty nice, but since the alliance gives zero rep gated content, it’s not really worth pledging to an alliance person until you’ve already maxed imperial and federation rep. Also, because of how large the differentials are in base profit, pranav is just the most efficient bonus by far, +50% on exobiology where your base payout is already around 100m per first discovery stratum and your expected per-trip profit could be in the billions range, is just so much stronger than +50% to mining… wonder what the other powers will look like. Quite the dilemma now

[@Mittzys]

Those new power portraits are looking a bit rough haha

[@bbbenj]

Thanks.

[@alexzk3]

I have 81 on Any with all possible scanners, plasma gun to dump fuel and +8t of the fuel. With SLF instead it will be 78.5. Also it has 3x AMFU, 64t cargo to easy refuel carrier, limpets to repair and collect stuff, 2 SRVs and so on. I can't see how Mandalay will have it all.

[@Maxtomator]

I think the same, The most anoying part of elite dangerous is getting from A to B, and in the streams they said, it gave the jumpaconda a run for its money. They did not deliver, they matched The Range of the Jumpaconda and made it more nimble. I am disappointed.

[@Dzarafata]

@@Maxtomator Anaconda can be a pain to land and maneuver though. Mandalay is more efficient with SC boost too. I think having Mandalay just better in every way (in terms of explo at least) wouldn't be that interesting. I think it's generally comparable to anaconda but different people with different needs may choose different one, which is great. I prefer ASPx and DBX to anaconda and I will surely use Mandalay instead of it.

[@alexzk3]

@@Dzarafata I feel any other ship as pain to maneuver. Anaconda is the best fit to be controlled from keyboard. Other ships are too much sensitive. Landing & SC - it's not important. I spend couple days to find 3rd sample sometimes. So extra 15 mins in SC cannot be even compared with this. Same for landing - it's part of the game, I have no schedule.

[@tenryuta]

so i stared at the door 3 feet from the hangar... it needs to be extended to the first set of lights before the open floor glass.

[@Spike553]

Update pushed to the 28th of Oct.

[@SgtMajor82]

I'd like to have seen your build on this :-)

[@dapple33]

To rebalance the game, new optional internal modules should be added. Options, such as advanced thermal management system, and either Guardian or thargoid inspired mass inhibitor could boost performance at the expense of slot size, needed rare meterials for manufacturing, and being very power hungry. Further, they should make these optional components/systems available only at the engineers.

[@HunteR3453]

Whoever decided to give 91.7 Light Years jump to a Medium Ship with Efficient SCO... that one said: "Lets make 50% of our current ships obsolete, that'll be fine"

[@NietoKT]

It's not 91.7, more like 88±1 Seeing Digest's stripped down version, I don't think it's possible to get over 90 ly (but I won't be angry if I'm wrong tbh)

[@the_rat_run]

Don't think it will do 90-odd LY when equipped with good shields, armour and enough firepower to take down an exploraconda in a couple of volleys.

[@yMagnus]

A fully stripped single jump build is ~91.5ly, a bit more if you min-max your fuel for each jump probably, but that wouldn't be a really good exploration build if you want shields, srv or not use all your fuel every jump.

[@fixitman2174]

There are many things the Mandalay won't be optimal for, some not even close. 50% is quite the exaggeration. Consider individual preference, and it's very close to 0%.

[@HunteR3453]

@@fixitman2174 Do you really think DBX users, use that ship because of personal preference? arround 70% of ppl use them because is the best jumping shoebox in the galaxy... and Mandalay is about to extremely powercreep her...

[@Rigel_Chiokis]

First of all, I've never used my Anaconda for exploration; it's my mining vessel. Secondly, as an explorer (my #1 way of playing this game) it's not about how fast can I get there, it's about getting there. The only place I know of where I absolutely need more than a 35 LY jump capability is The Abyss. My Asp Explorer can jump about 60 LY so it can cross The Abyss easily. I will get the Mandalay because it's a sleek looking ship with SCO. I put an SCO into my Asp Explorer, but it's a difficult ship to fly when I boost with SCO. Does the Mandaly jump further than the Anaconda? Who cares! The next system I want to explore is only 5 LY years away!

[@Rigel_Chiokis]

@ShrimpFarmerFromUranus I have the Type-8 and it makes using SCO reasonable. Unlike my AspX that I fitted with SCO; it flies like it's inside a blender when I boost to SCO.

[@Jedislayer19]

Oh, it's beautiful. Mandalay, my beloved... where have you been hiding?

[@padremo]

Not sure I'll be giving up my dbx for the Mandalay (I'll buy it anyway to suport fdev), but the dbx is easier to land from other videos I've seen

[@christophercox4437]

No VR in the whole game means no more money.

[@raymarshall6721]

What? VR still runs perfectly normal in ships and SRVs. There is just no VR while on foot as elite isn't a VR game, just supports it in vehicles

[@La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo-Cipher]

this ship is so sexy

[@grandreefer]

@@La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo-Cipher Agreed. Can't wait to fly one myself.

[@Datan0de]

No, no. This video was about the Mandalay, not the Cobra Mk III. #CobraIsLove

[@Censor-Target]

Exploraconda 4 evar!

[@kelalatir]

There is an option to not have the heads-up display pop up when you look down in the cockpit. I disabled it for when I'm flying my Asp Explorer. It is very handy when looking for exobiology out the window.

[@tenryuta]

is gutamaya the next medium, or a cheaper ship carrier(medium-large) with 500-5000t and no optional slots(panther mini/panther clipper respectively)? i need to know for brainstorming reasons.

[@_asd2769]

Yay of power creep

[@azuredragonofnether5433]

I am too reluctant to replace my Krait Phantom with the Mandalay.

[@grandreefer]

​@@azuredragonofnether5433 Same at first but the Mandalay looks so good and jumps so much further I don't feel as bad about it anymore. Heck, just that cockpit alone with the bubble cockpit says the Phantom is getting mothballed to me.

[@joshuahunt3032]

Porque no los dos? I don’t have that many ships, so my plan is to keep my Phantom and my Dolphin as backup exploration ships (mostly if I somehow get bored of the Mandalay temporarily)

[@grandreefer]

@@joshuahunt3032 building ships are so much easier these days. If you take just a small amount of time to see the new material and engineering setup and you should be building ships like crazy.

[@joshuahunt3032]

@@grandreefer Indeed. I’m a bit low on materials from having recently engineered another ship, and yet I don’t find the prospect of engineering upgraded components to slide into the mandalay daunting.

[@grandreefer]

@@joshuahunt3032 I have all kinds of tips and tricks and you really sound like someone I would like to work with. If you feel up to it you should add me in game "DR Grandreefer". I know with your mindset and the new content coming we could benefit from each other going further. Or I'm just some crazy random dude you'll never talk to again lol. I hope it's the latter. O7

[@TheHighlander71]

With all the previews and sneak peeks, I haven't really heard if it is still required that you're pledged to a power for a couple of weeks before you have access to their perks. Do you have any idea how that works in powerplay 2.0?

[@sylekin]

Ive played barely at all, was really wanting to jump back in and spend a few 8 hr sessions familiarizing myself, should I wait until after tuesday?

[@jesterM60]

What jumpaconda is in this video? That mine jumps 89 LY

[@XENONEOMORPH1979]

when can you buy the Mandalay

[@NeonLightedDreams]

2:50 Are there actual locations in-game where there are carriers and/or megaships in close proximity to each other like this? Or is this like, dev-only stuff?

[@Sighman]

They're powerplay 2.0 carrier groups. Meant to be present in every stronghold system, I believe.

[@crimsonkaim]

How do you test the Mandalay right now? Or is it for content creators exclusively?

[@Unown_B]

ships that are wider than long looks so dumb

[@happisakshappiplace.6588]

All the other ships in Elite now redundant. (waits to be flamed..5...4...3...2...1...)

[@grandreefer]

It's just a jumper/light combat/maybe exo biology. Hardly takes the place of most ships. Mining, cargo trade, odyssey base hopping, most bgs and pp, etc, it just doesn't replace. I guess if all you do is jump but there's quite a bit more going on than just jumping.

[@CptJistuce]

Sidewinder's all you need. Everything else is an overpriced joke.

[@poseidon5003]

Where can I find this ship?

[@Sighman]

October 22nd

[@poseidon5003]

@@Sighman Ahh. I see now.

[@rampantrabbit5809]

@@Sighman have read somewhere its delayed ???

[@poseidon5003]

@@rampantrabbit5809 Is it ever. October 29 and no Mandalay.

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

Shame they didn't give the kickstarter donors the game they promised, then caved to noisy players in and let anyone get kickstarter perks. Frontier Developments will never get another penny from me.

[@Dushess]

0:19 see, VTOL engines is totally fake. Sad

[@robdfar]

Cannot stand that all these KZbinrs have got to fly the ship and have it now but then they delay it twice for everybody else

[@johnsmith-ro4kh]

Sorry but i was hoping this would be better than a Fleet carrier after i used either prem jumpodium or a neutron hwy. for me to traverse the universe but too hear it now is only equal or less it is back to my T7 Explorer at least that has a much better view in VR. and exploring. What a big let down the ship was ment for exploring is now a all round ship.

[@StraySword9k]

Meanwhile Odyssey is still running like trash and the client hangs and crashes all the time. Joke of a game.

[@slitheytoves]

Its supposed to be an explorer - but has more hard points than utility slots.... annoying

[@grandreefer]

@@slitheytoves you put a bunch of utilities on an explorer? I also think the hardpoints are just a small attempt to have light combat options open for the ship but even that is going to take away from it's jumping if you're really using this ship as an explorer. Anyone building it to jump should have most hardpoints and utilities clear. Maybe a heat sink and one small beam if they want to test certain things in the game that require shooting. Like the guardian key machine or the like.

[@Tamburello_1994]

😭 You'll be fine.

[@grandreefer]

@@Tamburello_1994 Im honestly less sure about it than you are. He's talking about an explorer but immediately talked about hardpoints and utilities. I want to see his explorer builds now. Lmao

[@Tamburello_1994]

@@grandreefer The OP post shows no creativity whatsoever and I'm not sure what the gripe is about -- except to gripe -- some folks are just miserable no matter. Hope they get it solved.

[@slitheytoves]

@@grandreefer I see i got a few replies .... I like to explore... jumprange is important but I like the idea of using multiple sensors - to me THAT is exploration.... (would like to see even more types of scanner equipment for ACTUAL exploration) much more creative than limiting yourself to a stripped down ship just to get a higher jumprange... pretty obvious some people only think that exploration equals how far you can jump... and by your arguments we shouldnt have any hardpoints or utilities at all if it would affect jumprange. Im not saying no hardpoints just the balance should be the other way for an explorer more utilities less hardpoints...