Thinking about exploring...and a ship.

[ROSS-128]

DBX is probably the cheapest, Asp is the best performance per price (for an explorer at least) despite costing more, Anaconda is the best exploration ship in the game hands-down but of course I see you are aware of the price tag.

Unfortunately, the only advice I can give you is "it depends on where your priorities are".

Alternatively, the Federal Dropship manages to have room for both scanners, an SRV bay, and a pretty big fuel scoop if you want to be hardcore and explore in a ship with a 15LY jump range.

 

[ForeverN00b]

Hi there,

I have been playing around with Explorer ship builds for a little while now, and have made some horrific discoveries....

...The Transit van of space (hauler) has been nerfed. the Hauler used to be my favorite ship for exploring; it's cosy, tidy, and sounds like a happy little sloth yawning through space. however, with all exploration-necessary components, the Hauler packs a measly 25ly max jump: https://coriolis.io/outfit/hauler/0p3t3F0l3d3s3f2---2t2iv62f.Iw19A===.Aw19A===

DBX is looking more and more appealing as an explorer: this build trumps the Hauler by 10ly, with all the same components! https://coriolis.io/outfit/diamondback_explorer/0p3tdFfldddsdf5---------v62i2f.Iw1-kA==.IwBj4yKA

The Asp is a fabled explorer. However, after flying the thing for just 10 minutes I was left with chronic buzzing in my ears, so I choose not to think about that ship anymore.

Anaconda will take you across space fast, and in style, like a Bentley. However, long-range explorers have reported the on-board toilet systems occasionally refuse to flush, which is cause enough for me to avoid it in favor of a more sanitary machine.

The Hauler wasn't nerfed, I explained why in your Hauler thread.

The extra internals afforded to you by the AspX might be worth it if you are planning on bringing an SRV. The problem with the DBX is you will have to sacrifice an AMFU to bring an SRV. AMFUs aren't really necessary if you fly careful, but accidents do happen over long periods of time for exploring (especially neutron stars and WDs).

If the lack of AMFU doesn't bother you, a DBX should be fine.

Whichever ship you choose, it shouldn't be too much trouble to unlock Felicity Farseer and put a G1 FSD upgrade on it.

 

[DukeIronHand]

Okay I looked at my DBX build and Asp build side by side and, yea, it's more money but the Asp is clearly superior. And since I already own one it's cheaper right this second with cash on the barrel head.
Faster, more armor and shields, longer range, plus the extra internals that greatly increase my flexibility. Jump ranges are basically identical.

And I love the idea of carrying an SRV but you know what? I have never driven one before! Hehe...

 

[ForeverN00b]

Okay I looked at my DBX build and Asp build side by side and, yea, it's more money but the Asp is clearly superior. And since I already own one it's cheaper right this second with cash on the barrel head.
Faster, more armor and shields, longer range, plus the extra internals that greatly increase my flexibility. Jump ranges are basically identical.

And I love the idea of carrying an SRV but you know what? I have never driven one before! Hehe...

For longer journeys I highly recommend bringing the SRV hangar with 2 SRVs (class 4 IIRC), because accidents do happen. You might lose .5 to 1 Ly of jump range, but once you get to AspX levels of jump range it really isn't that important.

 

[Ozram]

Nono, you need to engineer the heck out of a T7 and go with that.

 

[Kaybe]

Asp Explorer is hands down the best exploration ship in the game right now. DBX is short a slot and can only fit a 4A fuel scoop. Anaconda has to be ridiculously stripped down to get great jump range ... and it's waaaay too sluggish in supercruise to be enjoyable long term. Go with the AspE.

 

[Zeeman]

In all my ED careers I have done everything but serious exploring. Well that and kill Gluttony Fang in that war wagon of his.
Sure I honk and cash in when smuggling or when on a mission but have never set out for SERIOUS exploring with a Detailed Surface Scanner, going to planets..the whole nine yards. Sounds like it might be cool.

Three obvious ships come to mind.
1) Anaconda - way out of my price range.
2) Asp Explorer - of course.
3) Diamondback Explorer.

Have a lot of stick time in the Asp in a lot of roles. Obviously a great ship.
Also have a lot of stick time in the DBS - DBX's little brother. Love the DBS but have never owned a DBX.

In a quick glance at the Corolis site both the Asp Explorer and DBX are certainly comparable - almost roughly equal.
But for the semi-serious explorer (may try it and hate it...maybe) I can get a DBX for about 1/5 the cost of the Asp.

Anyone have strong feelings either way? Something I am missing?

Fuel scoop - C4 vs C6. this will make all the difference after the first 5k LY.

Z...

 

[Pville_Piper]

I hated the hauler... Terrible views from the cockpit. The DBS is much nicer with just as much internals, faster, more maneuverable with a good jump range.

Here's one nobody's talked about... The T6. Great internals, reasonably fast, and a view that rivals the Asp for a whole lot less.

With mods my DBS has a L3 Thrusters 358m/s - 485m/s and a Level 5 FSD running 29 fully loaded. The T-6 has the same mods and she runs 284m/s - 451m/s and the jump range runs 26 to 33 ly. Not the best stats maybe but they are a blast to fly. My FAS clocks in at 23 Ly and 275m/s - 458m/s. The Viper 3 hasn't been heavily modded but that will be coming soon.

 

[Captain Willard]

ASP Hands down the best.

 

[Nazdakka]

Your shoestring Asp is going to look something like this:

https://coriolis.io/outfit/asp/0pdtiFflidisnf5------020200-3f4d0l02v62i2f.Iw18WQ==.IwBj4jXZpI==

For a bit more money you can upgrade the power plant to 3A (it's lighter and runs cooler, which helps avoid scooping accidents) or the scoop to 6C.

The main considerations for exploration ships are:

1) Big jump range. Aim for >30ly unengineered.
2) Big fuel scoop.
3) Enough internal space for scanners, shields and whatnot.

The reason the AspX is viewed as a better explorer than the DBX is because the Asp has a vast, gaping maw of a fuel scoop, and scooping is an activity that delays your exploring. A 6D scoop on an Asp lets you scoop 50% faster than the best scoop the DBX can possibly carry. Once you've been out in the black for a long time, you'll really appreciate the ability to get your fuel and get moving rather than hanging around for 30s at every star you come to.

 

[DukeIronHand]

I see everyone throws chaff and Heatsinks on their builds.

I get chaff but thought that seeing anyone is pretty rare.

Heatsinks? For? Someone mentioned "heat accidents." Is this code for a bad (too close to the star) jumps?
Been a few months since I scooped in a Asp by I didn't think heat was an issue.

AFMU. Never used one. For damage from bad jumps again?

 

[Nazdakka]

The heat sinks are for when you lose concentration and overheat or crash into a star while scooping. They can also be a lifesaver if you jump into a system with close binaries.

The AFMU is for the same contingency, plus the possibility of bumps when landing on planets. Given the AFMU weighs literally nothing and can be turned off when you don't need it, why wouldn't you bring one?

 

[DukeIronHand]

Well I reckon your AFMU logic is flawless.
This should be interesting. Getting kind of stoked.

 

[Alex Brentnall]

AFMU isn't needed until its needed and many advise against it. Same with heat sinks. I disagree on both counts:

Sure you can get cooked in a few binaries, faceplant a few stars and objects and still get back home safely. But there's that edge case, a one in 30,000 (<- in my experience) where you have no heat sinks and jump into a system that you could re-name as Hell.
From my personal archive:

Spoiler

Open that up nice and big and you'll spot there's not only a tight binary but a blooming neutron star in the middle.
Luckily I could blow 2 heat sinks at it and avoid any damage but failing that I'd have been up at 200% odd heat taking major damage. That was a good few thousand ly from Sol too.

Now imagine your discovery scanner breaks, now you have to return all that way without anything to show as you can't honk or scan. Now imagine your fuel scoop breaks, the fuel rats will rescue you but that'll be one of the biggest events in their history (https://www.reddit.com/r/FuelRats/comments/3df2he/press_release_on_deep_space_rescue_operation/)
Tl: dr - I pack in the backup stuff because I've seen that edge case and i'm scared of seeing it again


Point of note - Modules need to be off to repair them so don't repair things like life support unless they are critical as the timer doesn't refresh until you re-enter a station. <- I think Fuel rats have lost people because of this. If you intend to go out for a very long time A grade Life support is advised.
Oh and don't repair thrusters or FSD whilst in supercruise, you'll drop out with more damage

^so many things I learnt the hard way haha

 

[DukeIronHand]

Thanks for the hard earned tips!

 

[Saool]

AspX for me.

But if money is an issue, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Type-6. It makes a surprisingly good explorer on the cheap.

 

[Saool]

Re: Heat sinks, I can't say I use them on explorers. If I get too close to a star by accident I just turn off everything but thrusters and frame shift. Even life support. That drops your heat to the point you can low wake out without cooking anything.

 

[DukeIronHand]

Add content

Re: Heat sinks, I can't say I use them on explorers. If I get too close to a star by accident I just turn off everything but thrusters and frame shift. Even life support. That drops your heat to the point you can low wake out without cooking anything.

You must be very quick on your feet sir - or fingers in this case. In my, quite rare, arrival in a bad spot/overheat scenarios not only am I very surprised but it also happens quite quickly.

And you are absolutely correct about the ubiquitous T6. What a great ship. Always my stepping stone to the Asp Explorer.
Think I'll check out a Corolis build for it as an explorer just out of love and loyalty. Certainly should work well as a "short range" explorer. Maybe DWE range too.
My only issue with the "6" is she can be very fragile.

EDIT: Converted my mining Asp to a smuggler to get up some cash. I see Ceo's is still a money maker.

 

[Astronut57]

Here's my Asp Explorer build:
https://coriolis.io/outfit/asp/0p0tdFfliddsnf5---------023c430i02v62i2f.Iw1-gDGQ.Aw18WQ==?

Forget chaff and point defence and all that malarkey. If you get interdicted when you get back just boost and high wake.
Forget weapons too. If they're fitted you may be tempted to fight back and it'll end in tears very quickly.
.
Upgrade the thrusters to at least grade 3, grade 5 if you've unlocked Professor Palin. I opted for clean drive tuning just because it runs cooler.
Upgrade the FSD at Farseer to grade 5.
Upgrade the lightweight armour (Selene Jean) to grade 5 heavy duty (no mass gained on lightweight armour).
Upgrade the shields to reinforced shields if you like (Lei Cheung). I opted for it but it's up to you.
.
You might need to upgrade the power plant with a grade 1 overcharge if the above upgrades exceed the rated power output but that's ok - an overcharge upgrade doesn't gain mass and it only costs 1x sulphur. Keep throwing the dice until you get a decent power boost with minimal heat efficiency loss.
You can also swap out the 8T cargo rack for another AMFU. Having 2 means they can be used to repair each other. I'm always undecided about this.

 

[DukeIronHand]

Yow!
28 million for a Fuel Scoop!
Thanks for the build though between that, the Engineer upgrades, and my 6 hours a week playtime, that may be a future build.