The Elite Dangerous Vanguards Patch 1 update introduces key improvements including new vendor installations on squadron carriers, enhanced colonization mechanics to prevent economic cannibalization, increased squadron member limits, and various bug fixes enhancing gameplay stability. While some features like the bar remain absent and the squadron cargo insurance perk is temporarily disabled, the update significantly improves social, organizational, and colonization aspects ahead of a potential future Patch 2.
In this video, Ricardo provides a detailed breakdown of the Elite Dangerous Vanguards Patch 1 update, which was released on August 22nd by Frontier Developments. The update primarily addresses issues and improvements following the initial Vanguard’s update. Ricardo highlights that players can now install the Vista Genenomics and Pioneer Supplies vendors on their squadron carriers, which was a missing feature that many players had noticed. However, there is still no news about the bar feature yet.
The patch also brings improvements to the colonization mechanics, specifically how built constructions produce and consume goods. The update ensures that goods produced by the top two economies are no longer consumed by ports or settlements linked to those economies, preventing the economies from cannibalizing each other through market links. This is a welcome fix for players involved in colonizing the galaxy, enhancing the gameplay balance and resource management.
Squadron-related features have received significant updates. The maximum number of members in a squadron has been increased from 500 to 600, and the number of possible applications to a squadron has also risen from 10 to 25. Additionally, the profanity filter in squadron mods, descriptions, and recruitment messages has been improved, now allowing commas and accented characters. These changes are aimed at improving the social and organizational aspects of the game for players involved in large squadrons.
Several bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements have been implemented in this patch. Notable fixes include preventing squadron owners from removing their own management permissions, correcting inbox message triggers for colonization construction completions, fixing population growth issues on colonized planets, and resolving crashes related to advanced maintenance and planetary body scanning. Other fixes address issues with squadron member application processing, shipyard service toggling on squadron carriers, personal carrier access settings, and errors during squadron carrier decommissioning.
Finally, Frontier Developments acknowledges some known issues still present in the game. For example, the squadron’s cargo insurance perk has been temporarily disabled and will not provide any bonus, although it remains selectable. Players can change perks via the squadron details page. Ricardo concludes by commending Frontier for this timely update just before the UK August bank holiday and expresses anticipation for a potential Patch 2, which may address remaining issues and further enhance the game.
