We need a compact optimized small exploration ship

duckofdeath

duckofdeath
We have combat ships, trade ships, mission ships, pirate ships but I think we also need an extreme exploration ship. Preferably really compact to work as a planetary explorer as well.
The Viper Mk IV is almost there, if the internals were tweaked to fit one size 4 for a scoop, three size 2 for shields, a small vehicle hangar and a small cargo/AFM, two size 1 for the scanners.
One small weapons mount.
One utility mount for the ones who insists on having a heat sink.
A size 2 power plant.
A size 1 PDU.
No replaceable bulkheads, only a super light weight default.
Use the extra space compared to the regular Viper Mk IV for a Size 5 FSD.

The Viper Mk IVe. e for the obvious.
 

DragoonKnight

DragoonKnight
We dont need a small explorer. We need a high end medium size ship with a Class 7 FSD, lots of internals for exploration equipment, and limited weapons and cargo.
Also needs to sound better than the Asp Explorer and be better suited to high G landings than a Conda.
 

duckofdeath

duckofdeath
No, you're not getting it DragoonKnight. A real exploration ship is optimised for long travel, not to carry 500 tons of useless stuff halfway across the galaxy. The ships you're looking for are already in the game. The multi-purpose ships.
There is not a single true exploration ship in the game. Which is pretty silly considering the whole concept of the game, being the full Milky Way and limited jump range on ships.
 
Last edited:

Psychomorph

Psychomorph
Asp Explorer outfitted for jump range is pretty much your dedicated exploration vessel. The fact that it is a multi purpose ship does not mean much, as it all comes down to what you make out of it.

However, I'd like a small, Sidewinder design like long range explorer. I guess the Diamondback is it, but it's so ugly... (it doesn't count :p)
 

duckofdeath

duckofdeath
For the fourth time. The Asp is a multi purpose ship. Built to carry 120 tons of cargo, with a hull thick enough for combat. You don't wear ice hockey gear on a marathon run, why carry all that dead weight in an exploration ship? Those who want fill their ships up with all sorts of things have the multi-purpose ships. Imagine how far the Asp would be able to jump if it had an A7 FSD instead of all that extra cargo space, weapons slots, power plant slots, hull. The Milky Way is several hundred thousand light years across. And we can't even get anywhere near locations like Cygni X-3.
 

CMDR Argent Steel

CMDR Argent Steel
I have a Diamondback Explorer and I've taken it way out into the black. It is an outstanding, excellent exploration ship and I can't really say enough good about it. It's not as expensive as the Asp Explorer, has less space for modules, but it has plenty for what it does well. It also jumps like a champ, when fitted with a 4A fuel scoop it slurps hydrogen and fills up quickly, and you have to actively try to make the thing overheat before it will. You'll spend a few million before it's ready to really rock outside the Bubble, but again...not as many millions as you would to make the Asp Explorer do the same.
 

PiLhEaD

PiLhEaD
Value for money I think the T6 is tough to beat.

Kit it out for exploration, add an extra fuel tank, and you're left with zero hold space and a ship with 23-25ly jump, 3-400ly range before needing to scoop, and 360 odd boost.

Best ship in the game is tough to call, but best value for money is simple... T6 (for me).
 

Lestat

Banned
Lestat
You know you can go camping in your car. Have matches sleeping bag and a tent and so on. Or you can buy a Motor Home. Which has a TV, Bed, AC, Bathroom Stove with a Oven, Freezer and so on. Pick your poison.

Larger ship mean more stuff.
 

duckofdeath

duckofdeath
It's not a question about money, I have made nearly one and a half billions on exploration alone. It's a question about getting a real, purpose built exploration ship.
 

Psycho Romeo

Psycho Romeo
I'm no explorer, but I don't see why the adder doesn't work as a small dedicated exploration vessel. A spectacular (considering the investment) 22~25ly, great scoop speed, space for all the goodies, lightweight. Replace planetary vehicle thing with AFMU or fuel as desired.

This seems like another silly I WANT post.

Edit: Oh look, the hauler works too, if not better (depending on the explorer's priorities).
 
Last edited:

Psychomorph

Psychomorph
Psycho Romeo said:
I'm no explorer, but I don't see why the adder doesn't work as a small dedicated exploration vessel.
Click to expand...

I'm an explorer, and the Adder has a nice cockpit, but little visibility from it. Part of exploration is to observe things.

An Adder Explorer would sound like an interesting idea. Reworked cockpit for more visibility and optimized for range equal to the Asp E.
 

Siobhan

Siobhan
The DBE has been mentioned, it's cheap, reasonably well armed, has good views and doesn't overheat... What's not to love? OK it makes an Asp look pretty, but meh, if you're alone in the black, who's looking at it?
 

Psycho Romeo

Psycho Romeo
Siobhan said:
The DBE has been mentioned, it's cheap, reasonably well armed, has good views and doesn't overheat... What's not to love? OK it makes an Asp look pretty, but meh, if you're alone in the black, who's looking at it?
Click to expand...
My understanding is that it has a ninety second scoop time instead of a forty five second scoop time and people find this unacceptable.
 

Siobhan

Siobhan
Psycho Romeo said:
My understanding is that it has a ninety second scoop time instead of a forty five second scoop time and people find this unacceptable.
Click to expand...

So put a scoop in the biggest slot... It's not as if you need military grade shields when you're a gazillion miles^Wkilolights from the nearest pirate.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom