Asp upgrade question

[Infomage]

My goal is to build an asp for long range exploration.

I'm currently in a Cobra running trade and missions, with about 1.5 million in the bank.

How much do you guys think I should save before purchasing the Asp, in order to kit it out properly, bearing in mind I would quite like to keep my (somewhat upgraded) Cobra?

 

[Hawkmoon]

My goal is to build an asp for long range exploration.

I'm currently in a Cobra running trade and missions, with about 1.5 million in the bank.

How much do you guys think I should save before purchasing the Asp, in order to kit it out properly, bearing in mind I would quite like to keep my (somewhat upgraded) Cobra?

To do the job properly you are going to want to spend about 20 million on upgrades thats after you have bought the asp so about 26 or is it 28 million in all.

 

[KillaALF]

Here is a configuration of an Asp fit for exploring, it's 14,8M all told.

 

[Katkon]

I got an ASP yesterday. I was probably worth 4-5 million before several hours worth of trading, after which I was worth about 9-10 million. I have about 9 million in the ASp, but only a class C FSD. You'll probably want an A for long distance exploration - I would expect to have to spend 12-15 for a decent long range explorer. It's a fun ship.

 

[SvennoJ]

For the best range (36ly) you need about 14 million

http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=30g,,2-4s6u7_6u5K8S8I,mpV7Q44zW2jw2UI

[Asp]

BH: 1I Lightweight Alloy
RB: 3A Power Plant
TM: 4D Thrusters
FH: 5A Frame Shift Drive
EC: 4D Life Support
PC: 3D Power Distributor
SS: 5D Sensors
FS: 5C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 32)

3: 3D Shield Generator
3: 3B Fuel Scoop
2: 1C Detailed Surface Scanner
2: 1C Advanced Discovery Scanner

It won't be fast out of super cruise, but you don't need to be away from the inhabited systems. Every ton counts, best is to fly with the tank half empty unless you see a long line of brown dwarfs coming up.

 

[Toscaner]

if you mainly want to use it for exploration, you need the scanners and an A-drive for 5mil
so 15M sounds about right

mine costs about that at the moment, but it's fitted for fighting and some exploration, lacking the A-drive

 

[SvennoJ]

Here is a configuration of an Asp fit for exploring, it's 14,8M all told.

A 3A power plant is much better for heat management than a 5D, that will give you much better shot at avoiding damage in tricky systems and much easier to fuel scoop while tired You also don't need 5D thrusters for exploration, 4D is fine. You'll be spending 99.9% of the time in super cruise, so you can drop the power distribution to 3D as well. The auto field maintenance unit isn't needed as it won't repair thrusters, power plant or hull unfortunately.

 

[KillaALF]

A 3A power plant is much better for heat management than a 5D, that will give you much better shot at avoiding damage in tricky systems and much easier to fuel scoop while tired You also don't need 5D thrusters for exploration, 4D is fine. You'll be spending 99.9% of the time in super cruise, so you can drop the power distribution to 3D as well. The auto field maintenance unit isn't needed as it won't repair thrusters, power plant or hull unfortunately.

All true, I just cobbled it together quickly, yours is the better configuration, although I would change the fuel scoop to a 5D one, it's cheaper und sucks up more than double of the 3B.

 

[snotface]

My goal is to build an asp for long range exploration.

I'm currently in a Cobra running trade and missions, with about 1.5 million in the bank.

How much do you guys think I should save before purchasing the Asp, in order to kit it out properly, bearing in mind I would quite like to keep my (somewhat upgraded) Cobra?

I ran my asp for a while in exploration mode.
This is what I had:-

1, 64 ton cargo bay
2, detailed surface scanner
3, Inter or higher scanner
4, FSD of class d or higher.
5, Class 5 shields
6, Class B3 shield cell (costs about 65k)
7, Class B3 Fuel Scoop
8, up to you..

I did about 1000 ly like that, didn't stop at a station whilst flying around.

Oh and do not under power your systems, If its a class 5 system, get a class 5 system otherwise you run a big risk it not being up to scratch in a fire fight.

Put it this was. I had class B5 shields, cost a lot. Used a class A3 setup and watched my shields drain quicker than water in a cullinder. If you want power go for the higher class D - A in the class it is already in.

 

[SvennoJ]

All true, I just cobbled it together quickly, yours is the better configuration, although I would change the fuel scoop to a 5D one, it's cheaper und sucks up more than double of the 3B.

True, I was still running with cargo bays to run rares when I put it together, so I wanted to fit it in a max 3 slot. Never leave without enough money for twice the insurance cost plus money for cargo or you'll be downgrading when something goes wrong

 

[Sexconker]

BH: 1I Lightweight Alloy
RB: 2D Power Plant
TM: 4D Thrusters
FH: 5A Frame Shift Drive
EC: 4D Life Support
PC: 1D Power Distributor
SS: 5D Sensors
FS: 5C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 32)
6: 6A Fuel Scoop
2: 1C Advanced Discovery Scanner

Unladen jumps range from 35.040 Ly to 37.956 Ly depending on fuel levels. Just under 44,000,000 credits (including insurance).

 

[RipperJack]

My goal is to build an asp for long range exploration.

I'm currently in a Cobra running trade and missions, with about 1.5 million in the bank.

How much do you guys think I should save before purchasing the Asp, in order to kit it out properly, bearing in mind I would quite like to keep my (somewhat upgraded) Cobra?

I was originally in the same boat, i bit the bullet and used the cobra to grind up enough for a type 6 via rares and used this to really cash up at the lower stages, the asp does everything so well you'll find it ends up replacing that cobra, its just down to replacing the parts, theres no loss in doing so if you want to go specifically into 1 bounty hunting or trading. 20mill is a good number for the asp but 35 mill is around a solid middle point with everything kitted out nicely (give or take a few mill, i think i got around 35-40mill top end when i moved onto a clipper).

I wanted something that let me trade rares but would give someone the jump if i was interdicted, in the end it had something like a 22 or so laden jump range, a good 80+ cargo for rare running if i needed a bit of cash, 4 low lasers and 2 heavy multi cannons melted everything aswell as a re-inforced alloy (the military grade one WILL set you back to 21 in the jump distance and thinking about it was why my asp was around 35mill when it was sold) aswell as shield banks and a low level scoop.

 

[Aircool]

First thing I'd do is get a Lakon 6, fit it out with 100 tons of cargo space, whack a decent powerplant and engine on it and start earning credits. I'm after the Asp myself, but the T6 will get you credits much faster than the Cobra (don't sell the Cobra though).

 

[Infomage]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Much appreciated.
Guess I have a few more weeks trading yet before I bite the bullet. Was tempted by the sale in LHS 2447 too. :/

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First thing I'd do is get a Lakon 6, fit it out with 100 tons of cargo space, whack a decent powerplant and engine on it and start earning credits. I'm after the Asp myself, but the T6 will get you credits much faster than the Cobra (don't sell the Cobra though).

That sounds like good advice.

 

[donotreply]

I saved up for an ASP with all the trimmings. Awesome ship! nimble big teath and fun to fly with lots of glass to see out of which brings me to my point...

Do yourself a favor and scrap the advanced discovery scanner for the lesser one. IMHO it ruins exploration. No more looking out the window just click and it gives you everything. Then its a grind to go fly out to it (and you already know what it is) and scan it.
Kinda wish they would make one that is 1k or 1500 maybe even 2k. 500/700/infinity is kinda unbalanced IMO.
...And to that (shameless begging really) Exploring IMO is a very fun thing to do.... why can't it be more profitable? I'm 2KLy out from any station lost my shields and my ship is beat up scanning crap nobody ever seen and I get the same amount if I were 30Ly to a station. I scan moons and rocks that take more time to fly to than planets and suns and I get nuthin' for 'em. Needs balance. We want to explore but we want to make Cr too (ok now it's a rant) I find an interesting dichotomy in exploring. It's very frustrating and often quite Zen why can't it also be profitable?
/Rant_Off
}

 

[adoredtv]

I just started out (in a Cobra) and keep finding that I lose my next jump target if I select another target in the current system (ie the main star for a quick scan). Is this a known bug or am I missing something? Some keybind to jump to the next system in the route planner maybe?

Cheers.

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I saved up for an ASP with all the trimmings. Awesome ship! nimble big teath and fun to fly with lots of glass to see out of which brings me to my point...

Do yourself a favor and scrap the advanced discovery scanner for the lesser one. IMHO it ruins exploration. No more looking out the window just click and it gives you everything. Then its a grind to go fly out to it (and you already know what it is) and scan it.
Kinda wish they would make one that is 1k or 1500 maybe even 2k. 500/700/infinity is kinda unbalanced IMO.
...And to that (shameless begging really) Exploring IMO is a very fun thing to do.... why can't it be more profitable? I'm 2KLy out from any station lost my shields and my ship is beat up scanning crap nobody ever seen and I get the same amount if I were 30Ly to a station. I scan moons and rocks that take more time to fly to than planets and suns and I get nuthin' for 'em. Needs balance. We want to explore but we want to make Cr too (ok now it's a rant) I find an interesting dichotomy in exploring. It's very frustrating and often quite Zen why can't it also be profitable?
/Rant_Off
}

I agree sorta. The advanced scanner basically takes the "discovery" out of it altogether. There are still some things that can be used to scan smart though (even with the advanced scanner), hopefully i'll have a video on that soon.

 

[ME-tan]

Check your navigation menu. The next system in your route will have an icon next to it.

 

[adoredtv]

Check your navigation menu. The next system in your route will have an icon next to it.

Yes I know, but is there a way to "fast jump" to it? It is targeted when I first jump into a system, so I only need to press "J" (hyperspace) again to jump to the next - so long as I don't target anything else. As soon as I target anything else in my current system though (star, planet or even a ship), I lose the ability to jump to the next system with my "J" key.

Quite often I lose the nav menu icon as well and have to manually redo the route. Is this how it is or am I bugged somehow?

 

[SvennoJ]

Yes I know, but is there a way to "fast jump" to it? It is targeted when I first jump into a system, so I only need to press "J" (hyperspace) again to jump to the next - so long as I don't target anything else. As soon as I target anything else in my current system though (star, planet or even a ship), I lose the ability to jump to the next system with my "J" key.

Quite often I lose the nav menu icon as well and have to manually redo the route. Is this how it is or am I bugged somehow?

That's how it is unfortunately. Usually the next step will be in the navigation menu yet 10% of the time it's missing. Nor will it work if you only set 1 next step, your route must be at least 2 steps long. After travelling 7k I still can't tell why or when the next destination goes missing. The bigger the system is and the more you explore seems to affect the disappearing of the nav icon. It's very annoying as you can't simply click on your destination again in the galaxy map and have to wait until the planner catches up again.

 

[adoredtv]

That's how it is unfortunately. Usually the next step will be in the navigation menu yet 10% of the time it's missing. Nor will it work if you only set 1 next step, your route must be at least 2 steps long. After travelling 7k I still can't tell why or when the next destination goes missing. The bigger the system is and the more you explore seems to affect the disappearing of the nav icon. It's very annoying as you can't simply click on your destination again in the galaxy map and have to wait until the planner catches up again.

Yes I noticed that it seemed to disappear the more I explored, annoying bug. Cheers.