Engineers Gaining engineer rep with exploration data

who? · Jun 3, 2016

I'm returning to the bubble with a lot of exploration data, and want to use some of it to help get improved FSD drives. Can anyone tell me if the following process will work:

- Travel to Farseer Inc. (I have an invitation)
- Sell lots of exploration data to raise my Grade (I can't yet craft anything, as I don't have the meta-alloy to unlock the workshop)
- Now, travel to Maia to buy 1 meta-alloy (at this point, I'm more likely to be pirated!)
- Return to Farseer Inc., and start crafting Grade 5 modules!

I could get the meta-alloy before visiting Farseer, but I'm concerned (cough... chicken cough...) that with cargo on board I'll get pirated and 6 months of exploration data will go down the drain.

I'm not sure if selling exploration data at Farseer before I unlock the Engineer's workshop will contribute to my rep with that Engineer. Plus, can I get up to Grade 5 just by selling exploration data, or do I need to craft at least one upgrade at each grade?

Bod · Jun 3, 2016

As far as I remember, the cartographic selling ability only becomes available once you have unlocked her with the meta-alloy. But once done you can sell data to grade 5, then start crafting grade 5's straight away (if you got the bits)
Also if you have so much data to sell, once you got her to grade 5, maybe sell the rest to Elvira Martuuk (need 3 soontill relics to unlock), as at grade 3, she unlocks more engineers.
I went to Maia (meta-alloy), then Farseer to dump some data and get a few upgrades, then on to Ngurii (relics), then Martuuk to clear out the rest. Worked ok in the python, which isn't the fastest for running away...
So as long as you're not bad at the 'brave sir robin', things should be ok.....he says.....
ps. You may have to log out then back in after donating to get the data selling available.
good luck...

TankMaster · Jun 3, 2016

Bod said:
As far as I remember, the cartographic selling ability only becomes available once you have unlocked her with the meta-alloy. But once done you can sell data to grade 5, then start crafting grade 5's straight away (if you got the bits)
Also if you have so much data to sell, once you got her to grade 5, maybe sell the rest to Elvira Martuuk (need 3 soontill relics to unlock), as at grade 3, she unlocks more engineers.
I went to Maia (meta-alloy), then Farseer to dump some data and get a few upgrades, then on to Ngurii (relics), then Martuuk to clear out the rest. Worked ok in the python, which isn't the fastest for running away...
So as long as you're not bad at the 'brave sir robin', things should be ok.....he says.....
ps. You may have to log out then back in after donating to get the data selling available.
good luck...

Yup, all of the above.

Alex Brentnall · Jun 3, 2016

Take a rep Bod

If you are looking for Meta alloys some player groups will help you. Possibly call up the Distant Worlds guys or Iridium wing or Fuel rats chat or another group you trust. It's not their usual MO but I'm sure one of them would find 10 minutes to fly you a Ton of MA's over in a nice safe private group... <- To be very clear I'm saying this specifically for this situation where there's a lot of exploration data on the line, I'm not saying they'd do this willingly for random players that can't be bothered to travel

who? · Jun 3, 2016

Bod said:
As far as I remember, the cartographic selling ability only becomes available once you have unlocked her with the meta-alloy. But once done you can sell data to grade 5, then start crafting grade 5's straight away (if you got the bits)
Also if you have so much data to sell, once you got her to grade 5, maybe sell the rest to Elvira Martuuk (need 3 soontill relics to unlock), as at grade 3, she unlocks more engineers.
I went to Maia (meta-alloy), then Farseer to dump some data and get a few upgrades, then on to Ngurii (relics), then Martuuk to clear out the rest. Worked ok in the python, which isn't the fastest for running away...
So as long as you're not bad at the 'brave sir robin', things should be ok.....he says.....
ps. You may have to log out then back in after donating to get the data selling available.
good luck...

Great answer, much appreciated. In that case, I'll head for Maia, then Farseer (I can Brave Sir Robin with the best of them). Good suggestion about Elvira Martuuk too.

vermu · Jun 3, 2016

who? said:
Great answer, much appreciated. In that case, I'll head for Maia, then Farseer (I can Brave Sir Robin with the best of them). Good suggestion about Elvira Martuuk too.

Yesterday I gave metal alloy to farseer woman but I didn't get the option to sell exploration data. Are you sure you don't have to craft first mod before you can sell exploration data? Where's the option to sell exploration data? I looked everywhere but I just didn't see that option.

Cmdr Zach · Jun 3, 2016

There is another engineers that needs you to be recommended by a minor faction. I intend to sell data to rep up with that faction quickly too.

Mikey2305 · Jun 3, 2016

@vermu... After dropping your meta alloy you fly away and come back again or log out and back in. The UC option then appears and you sell as usual. At least, it did for me!

sgurr · Jun 3, 2016

vermu said:
Yesterday I gave metal alloy to farseer woman but I didn't get the option to sell exploration data. Are you sure you don't have to craft first mod before you can sell exploration data? Where's the option to sell exploration data? I looked everywhere but I just didn't see that option.

There's a known bug, and this may apply to the OP as well, where cartographics doesn't show at Farseer. If it doesn't while you're docked at Farseer log out and back into the game, cartographics should now be on the menu.

Edit: ninja'd by Mikey

vermu · Jun 3, 2016

Mikey2305 said:
@vermu... After dropping your meta alloy you fly away and come back again or log out and back in. The UC option then appears and you sell as usual. At least, it did for me!

Ah, thanks.

who? · Jun 3, 2016

I guess if I'm being really chicken, I could go for the ultra-safe option:

- Fly to (wherever my FAS is), switch into it.
- Fly to Maia, pick up Meta Alloy; fly to Ngurii and pick up Soontil Relics.
- Deliver them to Farseer and Elvira Martuuk (wherever she is), unlocking both engineers
- Fly back to my Asp, switch into it, and return to the Engineers.
- $crafting!

An A-rated FAS isn't indestructible either, but it's a lot safer than an exploration-optimised Asp.

akaliel · Jun 3, 2016

That's basically what I did in my Python. And naturally, those 4 locations were basically set in all 4 corners of the bubble. So it took a while. My Asp could have done it in half the time, but I did feel a little safer.

5miley · Jun 3, 2016

who? said:
An A-rated FAS isn't indestructible either, but it's a lot safer than an exploration-optimised Asp.

I would do that run in a stripped out Cobra with max shield and SCB
Speed wins

Raiko · Jun 3, 2016

@Who, if they're still on sale in Maia when you get back, I'd happily buy you a ton of meta alloys and deliver them to the Farseer Inc system to scoop up, in open, Mobius or Kamzel. I'm sure others would do the same for you.

No point risking all that data. I'll fetch you some Soontill Relics so you can sell data to the other one as well.

I've got a RL friend who's currently at Sag A* and I'll do the same thing for him.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

You should be able get to grade 5 just with data, although I'm not sure how much it takes. I sold a small amount of data and jumped straight to the middle of rank 2, and I know others who've jumped straight to higher ranks.

You just need to make sure that you don't sell too much, once you hit rank 5 anything else would be a waste and more than one engineer accepts exploration data.

Chris M Fortune · Jun 4, 2016

How do you upgrade with exploration data, I see no way of handing it over at either of the two who ask for it. Am currently parked at Long Sight and have delivered the relics, there is no upgrade by handing over data button and there is no normal homepage button either. I am at a loss what to do here now.

Alex Brentnall · Jun 4, 2016

Chris M Fortune said:
How do you upgrade with exploration data, I see no way of handing it over at either of the two who ask for it. Am currently parked at Long Sight and have delivered the relics, there is no upgrade by handing over data button and there is no normal homepage button either. I am at a loss what to do here now.

Have you only just unlocked? Restart and universal cartographics should pop up. There is a bug where you have to fly outside the instance and back to get it to appear.
Upgrading through data selling works just like faction rep so sell data as normal through universal cartographics and wait for the communications to pop up on your comms panel.

If this doesn't help I don't know, it seems to be working for others... Take screenshots, file bug report.

Chris M Fortune · Jun 4, 2016

Alex Brentnall said:
Have you only just unlocked? Restart and universal cartographics should pop up. There is a bug where you have to fly outside the instance and back to get it to appear.
Upgrading through data selling works just like faction rep so sell data as normal through universal cartographics and wait for the communications to pop up on your comms panel.

If this doesn't help I don't know, it seems to be working for others... Take screenshots, file bug report.

Thank you, my continued reading of the forum had already paid off with this answer and it worked just fine, but I still appreciate your taking the time to help.