The Fuel Rats have already rescued 70,000 players in the space MMO Elite Dangerous. But who are they and why do they do it?
What is being celebrated in Elite Dangerous? Players are currently celebrating the organization Fuel Rats because they have rescued 70,000 pilots in the space MMO from certain virtual death.
The Fuel Rats have fuel you need
Who are the Fuel Rats? The Fuel Rats are an organization made up of players from Elite Dangerous, established in 2015. Because players often get stranded in the vastness of space due to not paying attention to their fuel levels.
To ensure these pilots do not have to abandon their often valuable ships, the Fuel Rats have formed. They plan rescue missions to the most remote corners of the galaxy to bring the stranded essential fuel so that they can at least reach the first outposts of civilization to refuel.
This has led to some very spectacular rescue operations. For example, in 2017, during a 48-hour operation, the pilot Cmdr. Perersa had to be rescued.
Players of Elite Dangerous could follow this rescue live. Perersa wanted to set a new record and fly as far into space as no one had before. However, the fuel ran out along the way and Perersa got stranded where no one else could reach.
The Fuel Rats organized help, which pushed them to their limits. Nevertheless, they succeeded and Perersa was rescued.
Such actions have ensured that the Fuel Rats have become a solid and respected institution in Elite Dangerous. Players know they can turn to this organization when something goes wrong in exploring space and they need fuel.
How do you contact the Fuel Rats? If you find yourself stranded in space in Elite Dangerous, you need to call for help via the organization’s website.
Be prepared that you may not be rescued immediately. Organizing a rescue plan can take some time.
The Good Guys in Space Come to the Rescue
How does the group proceed? Depending on the position of the stranded player, several fully-fueled ships from the Rats usually head towards the player to be rescued, forming a sort of fuel transport chain. The last ship is supposed to arrive at the stranded player with enough fuel so that they can siphon off enough to safely fly away. Of course, the rescuer should still have enough fuel to return safely.
What does a rescue cost? Basically, a rescue is free. However, the Fuel Rats appreciate donations. You can negotiate a personalized amount with the organization. The Fuel Rats see themselves as the “good” ones in Elite Dangerous and want to rescue as many players as possible.
Why do they do this? The group sees themselves as helpers in need. There are simply many cases where players get stranded in space. This can be frustrating and the Fuel Rats want to come to the rescue.
It is also a kind of role-playing. Players take on the role of a space ADAC, have a lot of fun doing it, and still do something good.
Does it always work? No. The Fuel Rats also have limits. So far, according to the organization’s website, 2,823 players could not be rescued. With currently 70,297 successful operations, that is a reasonable average.
Have you ever needed the help of the Fuel Rats in Elite Dangerous? Share your experiences.
- Are you interested in Elite Dangerous? The space MMO could become really exciting in 2020.
- Players continually discover interesting new things in the game. Such as a new civilization. That’s what makes Elite Dangerous so exciting.
