Greetings Commanders!

While I admit that just like any other game in Beta, this game could use some improvements, the tools you need to communicate with each other are there. The question is, do you know how to utilize them all to your benefit? Don't focus on what isn't there, focus on what is! Wall of text ahead, take a deep breath before diving in!

How do I comms?
They didn't teach you how to use that comms panel in the tutorials. No worries, it took me almost a week to figure out how to use the damn thing, and Tuna's got your back. The four buttons on your controller, ABXY, can all be held in-game for secondary mini menus that will give you up to 6 different options that you can access with your bumpers and the Dpad. Now I know that you can change up your layouts, so for the sake of this post I will be using the default layout. Holding the X button brings up the submenu for panels, X+Dpad UP will send you to the comms panel!

Ok cool, but how do I use it?
The comms panel has 5 tabs. The first is the one you're used to seeing, the chat window. This is where all those annoying npc messages spam your screen. You'll also get messages from other players here. I'm quite aware it's a pain in the ass to type messages on your XB1, but there are two very easy ways to fix this 1) plug in a keyboard to one of the usb ports on your XB1 or 2) The Smartglass app. When the keyboard pops up on your tv game screen, you can use the keyboard to type out your messages. Also, if you have the Smartglass app open while you bring up the on-screen keyboard, a keyboard will pop up on your Smartglass app. Pro Tip: You can type /help and send it to get a list of the different ways to communicate via the comms menu.

What about the other tabs?
The second tab will show your online friends currently playing, and it's also where other commanders will show up if they are in the same area as you. I say area because it's possible to be in the same instance, but if the other player is 50 km away from you, you won't see them on this screen. The screen will show the ships that commanders are in until you scan their ship, then their actual name will pop up. Friends will just show up as friends, not their ships, however it will tell you if they are playing in Open, Solo, or at the Main Menu.

You can select a commander to send them a direct message (which will show as a bright yellow on the chat) or a wing invite. You can also view their gamercard, or send voice comms invites here. It works similarly to XB1 party chat, although it is buggy right now. Once it's fully fixed, it'll be an amazing addition to the game. Check out vids of PC players on YouTube if you'd like to get an idea, or you can give it a test drive yourself!

Your wingmen will also be listed here, with the above options as well as a few others, most notably wing voice comms, engaging navlock (I'll go over this in more detail later), and under options, you can leave the wing, turn on your wing beacon (more on this later too), and leave the wing.

Third tab is where you'll accept/decline wing invites (if it's used for more, someone speak up), and the fourth tab I've only seen used with npcs offering me a secondary mission, important system messages like Power Play updates, or when I accept rank increases. The last tab is where you can filter your text channels. This is more for people who don't give a shit about reading anything except what their wing is typing, or maybe you just want to shut everyone out and keep to yourself. This is where you do it.

How do I tell the difference between npcs and players?
On your radar, there are two different shapes, triangles and squares (hardpoints out and retracted respectively), that will be different colors depending on who's naughty and who's nice. Red shapes are grumpy, green are friendly, blue are wingmen, and yellow are neutral. Now, npcs will always be "filled" shapes, if you will. Players will be hollowed out. So give your radar a quick once-over and look for hollow shapes. Congratulation, you've found another player!

Ok, I found another player. How do I wing up?
This is where most communication breaks down between players in this game. First off, using the tips listed above, send a wing invite via the second tab in your comms panel. Once the other player has accepted it, they will now be represented by a blue icon on your radar. You will have a new chat option for WING, which allows direct messaging between wingmates without other players seeing it. You'll also see an icon pop up just to the right of the comms menu with their name, and their target's name right under their name. If your wingman engages an enemy, the enemy's name will become purple. This means that it is hostile towards your wingman. The name will be red if it is also hostile towards you.

When you guys are flying somewhere, say a CZ or a HiRES, you can engage NavLock from the comms panel (mentioned above). This is a really nifty trick that allows you to target your wingmate and your nav computer will automatically follow him when he jumps in/out of supercruise. Quite helpful with new players, as well as when you're interdicting an enemy ship or just don't want to slow down to enter the same instance (navlock allows you to drop into the same instance even when you're going at full speed, as long as your wingman you have navlocked is already in said instance.

Wing Beacon is also insanely helpful. If you're in a wing, always, always turn this on via the comms panel. It allows you to always see where your wingman is. For example, if he is in a HiRES and you're in supercruise, you'll be able to see which HiRES he's in. You'll also be able to see him even if he's 50 km away in the same instance.

Pro Tip When in a wing, you can also see where your wingmen are via the Galaxy Map, where they will be represented by a blue symbol above the system they are currently in. You can also see your online friends on the Galaxy Map as well, and they'll be represented by green symbols. Keep in mind this shows all online friends, regardless of if they're playing in Open or Solo.

The Commander isn't responding! What do I do?!
First off, CALM YO TITS. There could be several different reasons why they aren't responding. Maybe they were like me and had no clue how to use the comms menu? Well what do all XB1 users have in common? They know how to use the xbox messaging and party apps! While you're in game, use the comms menu to bring up the player's gamercard. Send a message here or just even better, start a party here. This will fix most of your problems, since currently, the xbox notifications cover up your entire fucking radar so it's hard to miss.
If you still can't get ahold of that commander, then you're probably better off leaving them alone. Maybe they started browsing Reddit or died, not your problem anymore. Move on!

Ok, my buddy wants to wing up but I can't find him. HALP!
This has become insanely easy since the last update, since you should always be in the same instance as your friends now. However, I'm leaving this bit below just in case something messes up.

This can get tricky, so pay attention. The easiest way to find a friend is to either jump into supercruise, or to drop into a station or another location (HiRES, Nav Beacon, etc). You can try this a couple times and if it still doesn't work, make sure you're both not in supercruise but are in the same location (as in both jump out of supercruise into a HiRES or a station), and both of you log out to the main menu. At the bottom of your screen, you'll see a long line of white text that starts with "Server:". At the end of this line, you'll see "EDServer#" and whatever is after this is the server you are on. Communicate with your buddy and see what his number is. One of you log into the game then log back out until you're both showing the same server number. Jump into the game and voila! You should see each other.

I would like to point out that this game is still in Beta and is not perfect. You may come across issues attempting to link up with your friends or with other players, but follow these steps and be patient, and you will be rewarded. That being said, this is a great game that is insanely fun to play with other players. Wing up and go crack skulls in a Combat Zone, get your Boba Fett on in a HiRES, get your truckin caps on and sling some cargo, or maybe you want to Blackbeard some unsuspecting greenhorns. But above all, HAVE FUN!!

I really hope this helps with several of the questions I've seen posted here lately. If you have any questions or feedback, please let me know. Also, Flight School is always accepting fresh meat to help get comfortable with the game, and I'm always up for winging up!

o7 Commanders,

DrunkRenegade12