QUICK STARTER MANUAL

V1.03
 HEALTH WARNINGS PRODUCT CARE

Important Health Warning: Photosensitive Seizures Handle the game disc with care to prevent scratches or dirt on either
side of the disc. Do not bend the disc or enlarge the centre hole.
A very small percentage of people may experience a seizure when Clean the disc with a soft cloth, such as lens cleaning cloth. Wipe lightly,
exposed to certain visual images, including flashing lights or patterns that moving in a radial pattern outward from the center hole towards the
may appear in video games. edge. Never clean the disc with paint thinner, benzene, or other harsh
chemicals.
Even people who have no history of seizures or epilepsy may have an
undiagnosed condition that can cause these “photosensitive epileptic Do not write or attach labels to either side of the disc.
seizures” while watching video games.
Store the disc in the original case after playing. Do not store the disc in a
These seizures may have a variety of symptoms, including lightheadedness, hot or humid location.
altered vision, eye or face twitching, jerking or shaking of arms or legs,
disorientation, confusion, or momentary loss of awareness. Seizures may The Elite: Dangerous game disk contains software for use on a personal
also cause loss of consciousness or convulsions that can lead to injury computer. Please do not play the disc on an ordinary CD player, as this
from falling down or striking nearby objects. may damage the headphones or speakers.

Immediately stop playing and consult a doctor if you experience any of The game disc may not be used for rental business.
these symptoms. Parents should watch for or ask their children about
the above symptoms, as children and teenagers are more likely than Unauthorised copying of this manual is prohibited.
adults to experience these seizures. The risk of photosensitive epileptic
seizures may be reduced by taking the following precautions: Unathorised copying and reverse engineering of this software is
prohibited.
• Sit farther from the screen
• Use a smaller screen
• Play in a well-lit room
• Do not play when you are drowsy or fatigued.

If you or any of your relatives have a history of seizures or epilepsy, consult

a doctor before playing.

Elite © 1984 David Braben & Ian Bell

Elite: Dangerous © 1984 - 2015 Frontier Developments plc.
All rights reserved.

Elite © 1984 David Braben & Ian Bell. Frontier © 1993 David Braben, Frontier: First Encounters © 1995 David Braben

2 3
 INSTALLATION WARRANTY

Frontier Developments guarantees to the original purchaser of this

MINIMUM HARDWARE SPECIFICATION
computer software product that the DVD disc supplied with this product
shall not show any defect in material and workmanship or default during
Please ensure your computer meets or exceeds the minimum
normal usage for a period of 90 days from the invoiced date of purchase.
requirements below:
This warranty is limited to the original DVD supplied by Frontier and is
• Direct X 11
not applicable to normal wear and tear or defect that has arisen through
• Quad Core CPU ( 4 x 2Ghz is a reasonable minimum)
abuse, mistreatment or neglect.
• 4 GB System RAM (more is always better)
• DX 10 hardware GPU with 1GB video ram
Faulty products should be returned using the standard returns procedure
• Nvidia GTX 260
outlined at the point of purchase on the Elite: Dangerous store:
• ATI 4870HD
• Internet connection
https://store.elitedangerous.com/cancellations-returns/
Supported Operating Systems:
Where a game key is required to access the game online it is the
• Windows 7
responsibility of the original purchaser to keep the game key secure.
• Windows 8
Lost, stolen or damaged keys cannot be replaced.
Close all other applications before beginning the installation process.
Insert the game disc into your DVD drive. If Autoplay is enabled, the nvidia support
installer should automatically load. When the installer has loaded click
“Install” to begin installation.
Elite: Dangerous takes advantage of NVIDIA’s excellent GPUs to deliver
If Autoplay is disabled, on your DVD drive double click a rich detailed visual experience with astonishing graphical clarity and
“EliteDangerousLauncherSetupDX.exe” to launch the installer. performance allowing gamers to play Elite: Dangerous exactly the way it’s
meant to be played.

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 WELCOME CONTEnTS
Health Issues 2
ELITE: DANGEROUS Product Care 3
Installation 4
Thank you for purchasing Elite: Dangerous! We hope you enjoy the many Warranty 5
adventures that await you in the game’s ever-evolving galaxy. Nvidia Support 5
WELCOME 6
Whether you’re looking to engage in deadly ship-to-ship combat, discover
majestic space-vistas, make your fortune trading, or just experience life COCKPIT INTERFACE 8-9
as a starship pilot, Elite: Dangerous lets you blaze your own trail. Comms Panel 10
Info Panel 10
This quick reference guide will help you get started, but Elite: Dangerous Signature Bar 10
is a big game, with lots of interesting features and systems. To get the Fuel Gauges 10
most out of your experience, we strongly recommend that you take time Characteristic Indicators 10-11
to watch the tutorial videos. Power Distributor 11
Ship Schematic 11
You can access them by clicking on the “Training” button on the launcher, Hull Integrity 12
or by visiting www.elitedangerous.com Speed Indicator 12
Scanner 12-13
For further reading, you can access the manual for Elite: Dangerous by Sensor Scale 13
visiting www.elitedangerous.com Internal Heat Level 13
Nav-Compass 14
Your ship is fueled and ready for launch. Target Schematic 14
Target Hull Integrity 14
Good luck, Commander! Target Information Panel 14

FOCUS MODE 15
Ship Panel 16
Target Panel 17
Comms Panel 18
PROCEDURES 19
Targeting and Scanning 19
Weapons and Fire Groups 20
Travelling 20
Example Journey Sequence 21
Supercruise 22
Galaxy Map 23
System Map 23
Crime 24
PILOT TRAINING 25
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 COCKPIT INTERFACE

8 9
 COCKPIT INTERFACE

1. Comms Panel When the cargo scoop indicator is lit your ship has deployed its cargo
scoop – your ship’s top speed will be limited as a safety precaution.
Communications from other vessels and structures will be displayed When you are wanted by the authorities in your current location a
here. You can use the comms panel to send messages and initiate a “wanted” indicator will appear here.
comms-link with other players.
6. Power Distributor
2. iNFO PANEL
This graphic represents the currently available amount of energy in your
Notification messages about the status of your ship, other vessels and
ship’s capacitors, and the ratio at which power is distributed to them
criminal activity will be displayed here.
from the vessel’s power plant. This is represented by a number of “pips”
underneath each bar. The more pips a bar has, the more quickly it is
3. Signature BAR refilled.
There are three ‘capacitors’ within the power distribution system, and
This graphic represents how visible your ship is to other vessels in the you can choose which sub-systems to prioritise:
vicinity. The more agitated the image is, the greater the distance your
SYS: This displays how much energy is available to recharge shields and
ship will appear on the sensors of other vessels.
power defensive modules. In addition, the more pips assigned, the more
resistant shields are to attack.
4. FUEL GAUGES ENG: This displays how much energy is available to initiate emergency
thrust (boost). In addition, the more pips assigned, the more manoeuvrable
Your fuel supplies are displayed here. Your ships fuel is stored in two and fast the ship becomes.
reservoirs. The segmented bar represents fuel capacity in your ship’s WEP: This displays how much energy is available to cool weapon systems.
main tank. This fuel is used to perform hyperspace jumps.
7. Ship Schematic
5. Characteristic Indicators
This graphic displays a schematic of your ship. When your ship is attacked
These three indicators provide immediate feedback for common ship
an attack marker will briefly display indicating the location of the hit.
statuses.
When the mass lock indicator is lit your ship is close to a stellar body or
Your ship’s current shield strength is represented by three concentric
large structure – you will not be able to engage super cruise or perform
rings encircling the schematic. As shields weaken, the rings fade away.
a hyperspace jump until you travel further away from the source of the
mass lock.
When shields strength is reduced to zero, your shields dissipate and
must reform after a brief delay. The concentric rings change to display a
When the landing gear indicator is lit your ship has deployed landing gear
– your ship’s top speed will be limited as a safety precaution. timer bar that fills up as your shields reform.

10 11
 8. Hull Integrity

Your ship’s hull integrity is represented as a bar and a percentage value, The appearance and colour of a contact marker contains a flickering
displayed underneath the schematic. Your vessel will be destroyed if hull marker indicates that the contact has such a weak signature that it is not
integrity is reduced to zero. properly resolved. Unresolved contacts cannot be targeted, and there is
not yet any further information available. To resolve a contact, fly towards
Hull intergrity will not recharge, but needs to be repaired. it.
A square contact indicates that its weapon hard points are retracted,
9. Speed Indicator while a trianglular contact indicates that its weapon hard points are
deployed.
This graphic displays a number of details about your ship’s speed. The A hollow marker indicates that the contact is a human commander,
large segmented bar displays your current speed. a fellow member of the Pilots Federation, while a solid colour marker
indicates it is not. Large asteroids are shown as a simple outline.
Directly to the right is your throttle bar. The pin on this bar represents
your current throttle setting, and the size of the bar represents your • Hostile contacts are coloured red.
throttle range, based on the number of “pips” allotted to the ENG • Neutral contacts are coloured orange.
capacitor, the size of your ship and the power of your engines. • Allied contacts are coloured green.
• Contacts representing structures and anomalies are coloured white.
To the right of the speed bar is a “sweet spot” indicator shown in • A contact that flashes white signifies that it is currently attacking your
blue. When your ship’s speed is within this range it will have the best vessel.
manoeuvrability and smallest turning circle.
11. Sensor Scale
10. Scanner
This indicator represents the scale of the sensor disc. When the marker
This displays the volume of space around your ship, which is represented is to the far left, the scale of the sensor is at its smallest. When the
as the small triangle at the centre of the disc. marker is to the far right, the scale of the sensor is at its maximum. A
small sensor scale is useful when contacts are very close. A large sensor
The scanner detects contacts based on their heat signatures – the scale is useful when contacts are very far away.
stronger the signature, the further away it can be detected. Contacts
that your ship’s sensors have detected display as markers on the disc; a 12. Internal Heat Level
contact to your right will appear to the right of the disc above the triangle
representing your ship is in front of you, a contact in front will appear on This indicator displays your ship’s current internal heat as a vertical bar
the front part of the disc. A triangular area is shown on the disc in front and a percentage value. As your power plant consumes fuel to operate
of your ship – this indicates where contacts should be in view. If a contact ship systems it generates heat. Some ship functions, such as engaging
is above the disc then a line is dropped from the contact to the disc – the Frame Shift Drive, generate additional heat.
showing how high it is above the disc. Similarly if it is below the disc, a line
will go up to the disc. If your ship’s heat level rises above 100% your ship will be at risk suffering
damage and systems may shut down until the ship’s temperature is
reduced.

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 13. Nav-Compass focus mode

This instrument displays a targeted object’s position relative to your Your vessel has a Focus Mode that allows you to access more detailed
ship’s facing. The moving dot represents the object, the closer it is to the information from secondary cockpit panels. To access this mode:
centre of the circle, the closer it is to your ship’s facing. When the dot is
hollow, the object is behind your ship. Hold “UI Focus” (by default this command is bound to “LSHIFT” when
The Nav-compass appears under specific criteria, and points towards: using mouse and keyboard).
• A targeted hyperspace destination
• A targeted stellar body within a system When holding UI Focus you will note that your view pulls back slightly,
• An allotted docking bay pad signifying that you are now in Focus Mode.
• An escape vector when attempting to super cruise very
close to a stellar body or escape from the pull of an While in Focus Mode you can navigate to three panels:
interdiciton device.
SHIP PANEL:
Press “UI Panel Right” (by default bound to “D” when using mouse and
14. Target Schematic keyboard) while in Focus Mode, then release all controls.
This graphic displays a schematic of the structure or vessel you are
TARGET PANEL:
currently targeting. Where applicable the schematic will display any
Press “UI Panel Left” (by default bound to “A” when using mouse and
shields of the target as concentric rings, and their change state.
keyboard) while in Focus Mode, then release all controls.

15. Target Hull Integrity COMMS PANEL:

Press “UI Panel Up” (by default bound to “W” when using mouse and
When you target a vessel that can be fully scanned, it’s hull integrity will keyboard) while in Focus Mode, then release all controls.
be displayed here as a bar and a percentage value.
When using a Focus Mode Panel, you will be presented with a series of
16. Target information panel tabbed screens. To move between tabbed screens, use “Next Panel Tab”
(by default bound to “E” when using mouse and keyboard) and “Previous
This multi-function panel displays various information depending on what Panel Tab” (by default bound to “Q” when using mouse and keyboard).
(if anything) you have targeted.
NOTHING TARGETED: Some screens feature a cursor. To control the cursor, use UI Panel Up,
Your current location name is displayed, along with the controlling faction UI Panel Down, UI Panel Left and UI Panel Right (these are bound to W,
(if one is present), its government type and the main commodity market A, S, D by default when using mouse and keyboard).
type present in the system.
To make a selection, use UI Panel Select (by default bound to “SPACE”
SOMETHING TARGETED: when using mouse and keyboard).
The structure/ship/Commander’s name is displayed, along with their
Pilot’s Federation combat rating and criminal status in this location. The To exit Focus Mode from any one of these panels, simply tap “UI Focus”.
location name and controlling faction are also displayed. If a subsystem
has been targeted, its structural integrity is also displayed here.

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 ship panel target panel

There are five tabbed screens on the ship panel: There are five tabbed screens on the target panel:

STATUS: Navigation: here you can view and target stellar bodies in the system,
Here you can view many personal statistics: your current credit balance, as well as nearby systems within hyperspace jump range. You can also
and value of your ship, your Pilot’s Federation ranks, major and minor reach the galaxy map and system map from this screen
faction reputations, outstanding fines and bounties in the system and
more. TRANSACTIONS:
here you can view all contracts you have accepted. You can select them
MODULES: to view further details. Any outstanding fines you have are also displayed
Here you can view all of the modules fitted in your ship. You can toggle here.
modules on/off and set their power draw priority. Modules with lower
power draw priority are turned off first in the event of power plant CONTACTS:
malfunctions that reduce output. Here you can see all contacts that your ship’s sensors have detected.
You can select a contact to target it. If you have scanned a ship, additional
FIRE GROUPS: details may also be present.
A fire group is a number of systems that trigger when one of the fire
buttons is pressed. For example you might want all of your lasers to fire If you select a starport or outpost, you will be presented with additional
on a single trigger, but your missiles to be on a different trigger. Here options, including the ability to request docking.
you can assign any modules with an active ability (including weapons
and scanners) to a fire group. You can assign as many modules as you SUB TARGETS
desire to a fire group’s primary or secondary fire button. You might have This screen is only available when you have selected a ship. Once you
a different fire group for different circumstances – eg one for combat, have scanned a ship, its subsystems are displayed here. You can select a
another for exploration. subsystem to target it specifically.

CARGO:
Here you can see any cargo that your ship is carrying. You can jettison
cargo by selecting it.

FUNCTIONS:
Your ship has many additional functions that you can access here.

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 comms panel procedures

Selecting the Comms panel displays all communications received and There are a number of procedures you will need to accustom yourself
summons a contacts list next to it: with in order to safely progress your career as a pilot.

You can navigate to the comms panel to scroll through your comms Take the time to familiarize yourself with the following guidelines:
message history.
TARGETING AND SCANNING
You can navigate down to the comms chat box. Doing so enables the
keyboard for typing a message only. When you press “ENTER” the Your ship has a passive, 360 degree sensor that can detect ship and
message will be transmitted to whatever ship you have currently targeted. structure signatures, as described in the last section. However, this
passive scan will only reveal the basic ship type.
• You can quickly send a message to a targeted ship by pressing “Quick
comms” (by default bound to “ENTER” when using mouse and keyboard). To learn more about a contact, you will need to target it, either by
This will directly summon the comms chat box and enable the selecting it from the “Contacts” screen in the “Target Panel” or by turning
keyboard for typing. your ship to face the contact and using the “Target Ahead” command (by
default bound to “T” when using mouse and keyboard).
You can navigate to the contact list and select a contact you will be
presented with additional options if you have selected a human player: Targeting a ship or structure and looking at it allows your sensors to
perform a basic scan. The basic scan takes time to complete, during
• Request a comms chat which time you must keep facing the target.
• Refuse a comms chat
• Accept a comms chat As a basic scan completes, you will learn the following details:
• Report player • Ship/Commander Name
• Block player (this option prevents you receiving messages • Shield and Hull Strength
from the player and reduces the chance of meeting • Faction Membership (displayed on the “Contacts”
them during the game). screen in the “Target Panel”)
• Criminal Status in the current location.

It is very important to perform a basic scan before you attack! It is a

crime to attack without first ascertaining the criminal status of a target.

Note that your ship’s sensors rely on detecting the heat/EM signatures
of ships and structures, but these signatures are dynamic: a ship that
reduces its power draw by turning off modules, or rigs for silent running
(closing off external radiators) will have a reduced signature, forcing ships
to get closer before they can detect it, while a vessel that maxes out its
power plant will increase its signature and be visible from further away.

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 WEAPONS AND FIRE GROUPS EXAMPLE JOURNEY SEQUENCE

Your ship is fitted with a fire group system that is used for weapons, The following sequence should be used as a reference for a system-to-
advanced scanners and more. system journey:

Each fire group you create can have your ship’s primary and secondary 1. Exit from starport services and select “Launch”.
fire button (by default “Left Mouse Button” and “Right Mouse Button”
when using mouse and keyboard) activate a different set of weapons and 2. Fly clear of the starport/outpost’s mass-lock radius, retracting landing
modules. gear.

You can cycle between fire groups using the “Cycle Next Fire Group” 3. Use the Galaxy Map or the “Navigation” screen on the “Target Panel”
command (by default bound to “N” when using mouse and keyboard) to select a destination target.

4. Align your ship with the destination target using the nav compass and
Weapons, and some other modules, are fitted to retractable hard points
retract hard points.
on your ship. Before you can fire these modules, you will need to deploy
your ship’s hard points by using the “Deploy Hardpoints” command (by 5. Engage the Frame Shift Drive by using the “Enable Frame Shift Drive”
default bound to “U” when using mouse and keyboard). command (by default bound to “J” when using keyboard and mouse),
and throttle up to maximum speed.
Note that deploying hard points is seen as an aggressive activity by some
pilots, and will be shown on their scanners. They will also get a warning 6. Your ship will perform a hyperspace jump and you will arrive in the
message if they are nearby. You can retract your hard points by using the new system near its primary star, in super cruise.
“Deploy Hardpoints” a second time.
7. Use the System Map or “Navigation” screen on the “Target Panel” to
TRAVELlING select a destination target in the current system.
There are three elements to a journey: 8. Fly in super cruise towards the target and exit super cruise when
within safe drop-out range, within the safe speed limit and aligned to
• Standard Space Flight: you fly under standard drive power, undocking the destination.
from your current berth at the start and docking at your destination.
Weapons can only be deployed during normal space flight. 9. Fly towards the starport/outpost until you are within traffic control
distance (7KM).
• Hyperspace Jump: you charge up and activate your ship’s Frame Shift
Drive to make an almost instantaneous hop between systems, often 10. Use the “Contacts” screen on the Target Panel to select the starport/
many light years apart. outpost and request docking.

• Super Cruise: The colloquial name for travelling in a single system 11. Once docking permission has been approved, fly to your allotted
using the Frame Shift Drive, often at superluminal speeds. berth, using the Nav-compass and deploy landing gear.

It is strongly advised that you complete your Pilot’s training to get a feel 12. Correctly align your ship and alight gently on the pad to successfully
for docking, undocking and travelling. dock.

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 SUPER CRUISE GALAXY MAP

When travelling in super cruise there are some important changes to You can access the Galaxy Map from the “Navigation” screen in the
your ship’s operation: Target Panel.

• You cannot stop. Your position in the galaxy is shown as a blue arrow above the system
you are currently in.
• Your maximum speed is limited by the mass of nearby stellar bodies.
The further away you travel from stellar bodies, the more your Frame Select a system using the mouse to gain additional options for it.
Shift Drive can compress space, significantly increasing the relative
speed you can achieve. The side-bar panel has a number of tabs:

• As you approach stellar bodies their mass will inhibit the Frame • INFO: displays basic information about the selected
Shift Drive, slowing you down. It is important to note that this effect is system.
minimized when you are at full throttle.
• NAVIGATION: lets you search for specific system names
• If you get too close to a stellar body you will be forced out of super and check routes to systems.
cruise, regardless of speed. Emergency drops will damage your ship.
• VIEW: lets you set filters to view different aspects of the
• When you have a target destination in the system the Target galaxy, including factional control and trade routes.
Information Panel will show you required speed, distance and
alignmentrequired to safely exit super cruise. • OPTIONS: Lets you configure what information is shown by
default in the Galaxy Map.
• You can exit from super cruise by using the “Enable Frame Shift Drive”
SYSTEM MAP
• The sensor scale changes automatically depending on what you have
You can access the System Map from the “Navigation” screen in the
targeted, and shows stellar bodies.
Target Panel, or from the Galaxy map as one of the system select options.
• You cannot deploy hard points.
The System map displays the stellar bodies in the system, along with
starports and outposts. Use the mouse to select a stellar body, starport
or outpost to view information about it in the side-bar panel.

When nothing is selected, the side-bar panel displays which factions

are present, their influence in the system, and which one is currently in
control.

When a starport or outpost is selected, details of the faction controlling

it are displayed, along with the market type, top imports, exports and
prohibited commodities.

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 crime pilot training

Any crimes committed and reported within a jurisdiction will cause a Videos can be found at: www.elitedangerous.com/guide/training
bounty to be automatically assigned to you.
1. BASIC FLIGHT CONTROLS
If a jurisdictional authority has assigned a bounty to you, your
Characteristic Indicator will display “WANTED”. Be warned, while within In this Pilot Training video you will learn basic flight controls and
the jurisdictional boundary, any vessel is legally allowed to engage and manoeuvres.
destroy you, but responding in kind is illegal, unless the aggressor also
has a bounty in the jurisdiction. 2. DOCKING
Caution is advised when travelling in warzones and systems with no In this Pilot Training video you will learn about the basics of docking with
functioning authority (anarchies). In such regions of space no law is a Starport.
respected; vessels can engage each other with impunity; no bounties
will be issued (though bounties can still be claimed for successful target
3. TRAVEL
destruction).
In this Pilot Training video, we take a look at travel. Learn about using
Some active conflict zones may have combat bonds available from the
the Frame Shift Drive (FSD) to supercruise between planets and jump
sides involved. Simply choose a faction in the “Functions” screen of the
between star systems. The tutorial also explains the nuances of normal
Ship Panel; you will be temporarily co-opted and able to earn rewards for
flight, supercruise and hyperspace jumps.
the destruction of enemy vessels in the zone.

You are legally allowed to engage a ship if the target Information Panel 4. BASIC COMBAT
displays “WANTED. Should you destroy such a vessel, you will be awarded
a bounty claim, which you can convert to credits at any starport controlled In this Pilot Training video you will learn the following:
by the faction that issued the bounty. - How to use the scanner
- How to target ships
You can look at the status tab of your ship’s System Panel to see what - How to divert power around systems in your ship
bounties have been issued against you in your current system. If you - Basic flight maneuvers including turn rates
can reach a starport or outpost, you can pay off (at a premium) these
bounties and any fines you have accrued. 5. STARPORT SERVICES

In this Pilot Training video you will learn about services available at
Starports and Outposts.

5. GALAXY AND SYSTEM MAP

In this Pilot Training video you will learn basic features of both the galaxy
and system maps.

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 NOTES

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Elite © 1984 David Braben & Ian Bell. Frontier © 1993 David Braben, Frontier: First Encounters © 1995 David Braben

Elite: Dangerous © 1984 - 2015 Frontier Developments plc.

All rights reserved.