Featured CMDR Charcobo

What was your first experience with the Elite universe and what keeps you playing it today?

I played Elite way back in the day on my Amiga 500, then completely missed the memo on the Kickstarter. I randomly discovered it while browsing the Xbox Store, if I recall correctly!

Tell a quick story about your favorite moment in Elite: Dangerous.

My favorite moment was relatively recently, when I got enough Federal Rank (and cash!) to buy my Federal Corvette. Then I promptly went out to a combat zone with a chip on my shoulder, and got destroyed!

Tell the story of how you earned your callsign.

I currently do not have a callsign, but if I did, it would probably be “Pathfinder” or “Lipton”. “Pathfinder” because I like to go scouting for systems that have great mission opportunities, and “Lipton” because I spent five hours hauling 50 tons of Fujin Tea (four tons at a time) 150 light-years each load to appease engineer Broo Tarquin’s ravenous thirst. The other commanders that I was chatting with on Discord at the time kept me company and cheered me on.

Tell us about your favorite ship in the game.

I have lived in my Asp Explorer since 2017! But I now own a Corvette, Cutter, Python, Mamba, and Type-9. But I’ll always cherish my Asp for flitting around the galaxy.

What drew you to join The Fatherhood?

I joined Bravo Squadron on the Xbox after logging into the game at the end of a lengthy hiatus playing other Xbox titles. Up until that time, I had pretty much played solo, but I discovered that there were now squadrons, and a quick Inara search for large squadrons revealed the existence of the Fatherhood to me! I joined shortly thereafter.

What’s your day job, and how do you balance your home, work and gaming life (or do you)?

I’m a software tester by day, and a singer/voice actor by night. I generally balance my work and gaming life by allowing myself to have game time whenever I can. I got laid off back in September 2020, so I’d been doing a LOT more gaming since then, but I got hired at a new company a week ago, so we will see how that affects my playing! I’m in the Pacific Time Zone, in Seattle, Washington, USA

What is one thing most people don’t know about you that you wish they did?

I’m a genuinely likable person, and I built a Dalek that hates everyone.

How did you come up with the name of your Commander?

It’s a mix of a couple of franchises that I adore: Pokemon (Charmander), and Final Fantasy (Chocobo). Also, it’s the first four letters of my given name.

Any fatherly advice for new CMDRs trying to make their way in Elite: Dangerous?

Well, I can’t speak as a father, but I do encourage the Wil Wheaton rule in-game and in life: Don’t be a d**k. Also, remember to drink your water and wash your hands.