Featured CMDR Neutron “Tubs”
15 Jan 2021What was your first experience with the Elite universe and what keeps you playing it today?
My first (what I’d call) notable experience was the sinking of my first Anaconda. It was also where I received my first callsign and later to be my player name. At a star I don’t even remember the name of anymore. Running cargo for a community goal. It was late, I was tired but I kept pushing. Jump after jump, I had gotten careless and inattentive while exhausted, jumping the same four White Dwarf stars over and over and over again. I finally slipped and one caught me. It had me. There was no escaping, but I didn’t stop trying. For well over an hour I was repairing my ship replenishing my oxygen trying to scratch for the hopeful moment I could stomp my FSD box into lighting up just one time. Members of the squadron were trying to help pull me out, all dying in the process of trying to rescue me. The TFS Jorgmudr finally gave up and she sank there. Slowly crushed into oblivion.
Tell a quick story about your favorite moment in Elite: Dangerous.
Sometimes our favorite moments in this game are more based in the realism of an event than the actual enjoyment of the situation. The time that is invested to make it to Sag-A or Beagle Point. It’s not just some thing you tackle in a weekend. It takes time and patience; careful planning along the entire way. It’s not just the trip to the destination either. The return trip can be just as difficult if not more so. The true dangers of a mistake can ruin months of hard work.
Tell the story of how you earned your callsign.
At this point I’ve had a few now. “Tubs” is from my wife who thought it would be funny to throw me under the bus.
After ferrying my thoroughly sloshed self home from beach pub hopping. That included the incriminating evidence of me drinking margaritas from buckets. I had 2, which was 2 too much.
Tell us about your favorite ship in the game.
For me it’s almost always been the Anaconda. For what I do the most of, exploration, it’s always been the most sensible choice for long term expedition’s. Sometimes I’ve spent 6 months to well over a year in Deep Space. When you are out for that far, for that long, your vessel has to be absolutely self-sustainable. Sometimes I’ve forgotten how long it had been since I may have seen another commander or a station. Sometimes if only for a a scrub down and refit, barely long enough to turn around and break for the sky again.
What drew you to join The Fatherhood?
Actually, I’m one of the longest serving members of our fleet. Long before we even called it Alpha Squadron. Originally I started in Green Alpha until my console tragically caught fire one day. Even worse we were in the early Stages of what was the Distant Worlds 2 Expedition. We had a PlayStation that was relatively new at the time. So I scrambled to try to get it in working condition. And it took the collaboration of many of our finest in Blue Squadron to pull off absolute madness. To get downloaded, started, quickly mass the finances to purchase a new Annie, fit her for exploration, material grinding, and engineering just to make her space worthy. Then I had to run her as hot as possible for two weeks just to catch up with the fleet that was steadily and daily on the move.
What’s your day job, and how do you balance your home, work and gaming life?
For the most part I’ve always been a mechanic. Now I’m a parts and service advisor for the company I’ve been with for 7 years now.
How did you come up with the name of your Commander?
The name of my commander is actually the first callsign I received with The Fatherhood. When I had to make my transition to Blue Squadron. It’s just what to me seemed to fit best.
Any fatherly advice for new CMDRs trying to make their way in Elite: Dangerous?
There is no true ending to this game, so don’t be in a hurry to find one. Take your time weigh your options. The only thing that happens quickly in this game is a rebuy.
Invitation to Wing Up
Send a friend request on PSN to wing up with Cmdr_Neutron.
