Welcome to our Community Spotlight!
Continuing our series of Space Engineers Spotlights with Sigma Draconis Expanse!
Server Overview
“Sigma Draconis has been around as a multiplayer server since multiplayer existed for Space Engineers, originally starting as dedicated admins running their PCs 24/7 so that others could play on them, and eventually moving to dedicated hosted boxes in a data center. Sigma Draconis has had multiple variations of servers sometimes getting up to 120+ players during peak hours during COVID lockdown. We try to be a welcoming Space Engineers community that offers modded servers with unique gameplay elements and stories.
Draconis Expanse originally started as a side project, and eventually grew to eclipse all other servers that Sigma Draconis offered. It is inspired by The Expanse books and shows and pulls lore, events, and even weapons directly from what is seen in the show. Everything on the server is modeled after how the Expanse universe functions, from Epstein Drives to Railguns to Torpedoes – though we alter many things to make sure that the fun element of the server is maintained.
Draconis Expanse (SDX) is very different from vanilla SE – sometimes so much that it is referred to as “its own game” by our playerbase. There is a 500m/s speed limit for large grids, and Epstein Drives (our main thrusters) can only point one way. There are areas of the server where you can go 15km/s, and a massive set of custom blocks modeled after sets seen in the show. There are many players on SDX who have never played Vanilla SE, and are racking up thousands of hours on server through our unique progression system and engaging community, while fighting 24 uniquely built lore-accurate NPCs. SDX truly is a server like no other.”
The Nation System
We offer a unique gameplay element called the “Nation System” – Nations are giant Alliances – basically factions FOR factions. Using a server plugin we let our players run and simulate the “Big 3” political entities from the Expanse Lore – The United Nations (UN), the Martian Congressional Republic (MCR), and the Outer Planets Alliance (OPA). Anybody can join one of the Nations in-game by running a simple command and then gain access to awesome features like friendly NPCs, Territorial Claims, and a friendly group of players to interact with. Our goal was to bring solo/small factions into the same realm as large factions and give them opportunities to work together in a dynamic setting.
Server Competition – Our staff team runs custom events and campaigns that pit these 3 Nations against each other in competition, often rewarding the victors with new mechanics or in-game rewards like the tech they need to make weapons and special blocks. These events are usually lore based and involve King of the Hill points, exploration of new worlds, and territorial control.
 |
United NationsThe United Nations (UN) is the centralized political body of Earth, having been founded from the remnants of Earth’s sovereign nations. The UN wields authoritative power over all of Earth and Luna. Players who join this Nation have access to friendly NPCs and territory on and around Earth and Luna. |
 |
Martian Congressional RepublicThe Martian Congressional Republic (MCR) is the governing body that rules over Mars and although Mars has a significantly smaller population than Earth, the ruggedness of the people, as a result of the harsher environment and sparser resources, makes Mars a worthy counterweight to Earth’s power. Players who join this Nation have access to friendly NPCs and Territory on and around Mars and its moons. |
 |
Outer Planets AllianceThe Outer Planets Alliance (OPA) is a loosely affiliated network borrowing or associating under a core common ideology of Belter freedom and independence. In SDX lore – the OPA has solidified into a legitimate government with their seat of power located on Ceres. Players of this Nation have access to friendly NPCs and territory on and around Ceres. |
Server Map
A 2d map of our server with its effective boundaries and zones can be found below:
Community Highlights
We have an extremely dedicated volunteer staff team that creates and maintains a suite of custom mods and plugins for our servers, they are very talented and we could not be more proud of the work they produce.
Community Builders: While a workshop search of “SDX” will reveal hundreds of blueprints made just for our server, there are several individuals who go above and beyond in their builds.
 |
SpudVoucher |
 |
germstorm |
 |
V0ID |
 |
Agent_Hound |
Mods/Modders
 |
SDX Creative World by RaidfireThis is not a survival world – it’s purely to design ships in creative mode for the server use. |
 |
Aryx-Lynxon Drive Systems by AryxCamiThis mod adds several variants of the Epstein Drive from The Expanse into space engineers, modelled in a vanilla-alike artstyle. They require hydrogen to run. |
Youtube Creators:
You can find the discord of the amazing Sigma Draconis Expanse here.
🛠️ Feedback & Support – https://support.keenswh.com/
🛰️ Discord: https://discord.gg/keenswh
📫 Newsletter: https://www.keenswh.com/newsletter
🚀 Community Hub: https://www.spaceengineersgame.com/community-hub/
➡️ Connect and find us on your platform of choice: https://www.keenswh.com/connect/