Featured CMDR “Jailbird” Jack_Harper

4 Dec 2020

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

My first experience? I thought it looked cool, so I got into the game, back just around the launch, but just a month after the Cobra MkIV. I used to do a lot of bounty hunting, flying around in a Cobra MkIII. That was quite the time. Credits weren’t as easy back then.

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

I’ve had a lot of moments in Elite. I’ve had Thargoids swing me around in an SRV. That was a fun time. Another moment was when I was on a voice chat with a friend, and they just had their first Thargoid hyperdiction (they were relatively new back then), and they screamed. Though I think my favourite moment is just being a part of The Fatherhood. I’ve never had a better gaming experience than with being a part of this community.

Tell the story of how you earned your callsign.

So, this occurred over about a month, September 2019, I think. I was just coming back from a long time in the black, while carrying a dozen different bounties on my ship. I cleared them at an Interstellar Factor, no problem. Then I earned more bounties while working some Classified BGS work. I had forgotten when that happened and made the assumption that when I had went to the IF, it didn’t clear my bounties. So, for a few weeks, I was under the impression IF weren’t clearing my bounties. I ended up going to every minor faction, and turning myself in, to clear my bounties. Spent a lot of time in prison ships by doing this. After I was all cleared, I checked my logs on a third party software, and it showed that my bounties were earned after I had visited the IF. It wasn’t a bug after all!

I have coupons for Detention Centre Delta -7, if anyone is interested.

Tell us about your favorite ship in the game.

Type of Ship? This isn’t a real question, is it? But, not everyone knows me, I suppose. Federal Corvette, and of my fleet, it’s the FNS Cassandra, named after my wife. It’s sleek, beautiful, and dangerous (She’s got two huge… guns).

What drew you to join The Fatherhood?

Squadrons had just got released into the game, and I was a recent new father at the time, so as I was browsing what was available, I came across The Fatherhood. Seemed like a natural fit. So for a long while, I was part of PC Alpha, since they had space then. Now a Member of Delta Squad.

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

I work as an accountant and system administrator for a property management company. Home, work, and gaming life is not always in equilibrium. I had to drop out of the PvP tournament to take a step back and focus on family. It’s a constant work in progress to find a balance.

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

This is a tough one to answer. Sometimes I may act like a jerk, or say something stupid, but usually its just meant to be a sense of irony, for humour’s sake. I never mean ill towards anyone. Not everyone may know that.

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

My original CMDR name (you are allowed one name change by Fdev) was Necromonic Angel. Just username I used, a holdback from an old MMO. However, my character had a story, lore, background, and a sense of roleplay. My CMDR name is a reference to Mass Effect, with some similarities in persona.

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

Fatherly? Do your homework first before playing games. School is still important.