Things to love in 2.2 for an Explorer

For a variety of reasons, as soon as 2.2 installed I set off into the deep dark on and exploration expedition. I have only seen the changes as they affect an Explorer and I really love them:

• The filterable Route Planner. This means that I set up to only jump into scoopable star systems. No need for a long-range fuel tank and much less stress over-all.

• The persistent Route Planner. When I log back in again (even Explorers have to sleep sometimes) just open the Galaxy Map and my previously plotted Route re-appears. Wonderful!

• The Compass Direction indicator in the HUD while is Orbital Cruise. Why it wasn’t there from the beginning is a mystery, but it’s there now. Thank you FD!

• I know there was lots of controversy about it, but I like the way the System Map shows the details of planets and moons after they have been Detail Scanned. I like to move around a star system Detail Scanning everything and then, when there are no more ‘Unexploreds’, use the System Map to check out whether any of the planetary bodies looks interesting enough to go in and land.

One pleasant bi-product of filtering the Route Planner for sccopable stars is that I have been taken off the ‘beaten track.’ Although I am less than 2 K Ly out of the bubble almost every system I enter is a First Discovery. Very nice!
 
One pleasant bi-product of filtering the Route Planner for sccopable stars is that I have been taken off the ‘beaten track.’ Although I am less than 2 K Ly out of the bubble almost every system I enter is a First Discovery. Very nice!

I set the filter to Class G stars. I'm finding undiscovered earth-likes or water worlds every five to 10 minutes.
 
Yes, but I'm one of those Explorers who has to scan everything on a First Discovery. If it's going to have my name it I want to know all about it so I scan every rock, moon, planet, and star; even the asteroid belts - and yes, I know they don't pay anything.

It makes for a slow journey but, for me, a satisfying one.
 
The alignment before jumping.

The coming out of a jump in the same direction as you should do and your destination often on the other side. This is great for refuelling. Combined with route filtering for scoopables, you can basically stay at full tank every jump without losing more than a few seconds, overall saving on total travel time as there is rare need to stop for a full refuel every now and again.

Not seen it myself yet, but apparently should also save us from the terrors of contact binaries by bringing us out of hyperspace at the first star.
 
I like to move around a star system Detail Scanning everything and then, when there are no more ‘Unexploreds’, use the System Map to check out whether any of the planetary bodies looks interesting enough to go in and land.

What's your personal criteria to land or not to land on a planet? I'm scanning and landing on various planets and don't find anything interesting...
 
Instead of going exploring, I decided to try the new neutron highway to Jacques Station. So far, it kept me entertained :) It is much more variable, than the traditional jump'n'honk, it has big potential to reduce the time needed and makes the decidion whether or not "Go again with that 7+ hours trip" to something like "3 hours I can handle just fine."
I only wish, that the root planner would not be limited by that single jump after supercharging the FSD, but will rather be able to create a route to the next neutron star, with the first jump just being much bigger.
 
I totally agree with the OP.

The upgrades for explorers are very nice. I just headed out yesterday, and really like the route filter. I'm heading to Jaques in my Cutter, and finding the trip much more enjoyable. Being able to see the surface of scanned objects before getting to far in the gravity well. I can't wait to find some deep canyons and take my SLF for a run.

I have also notices it is much easier to land. I was worried about this being in a large ship, but have yet to have a problem.

LLaP

S1E
 
I like being able to fly *inside* planets, and approach POI's from under the surface. :)

Able to do that last night. Next, "Silent Hunter"? :)
 
If you are jumping into a multi-star system and there is a star in between you and the main one then in 2.2 you will drop out in front of the second star. No more arriving *through* the second star. Perhaps a little less exciting but less chance of getting cooked between a really close binary.
 
If you are jumping into a multi-star system and there is a star in between you and the main one then in 2.2 you will drop out in front of the second star. No more arriving *through* the second star. Perhaps a little less exciting but less chance of getting cooked between a really close binary.

That explains how I ended up 30 minutes flying time away from a station I needed for a mission. I thought I'd found a new Hutton Orbital. Either that or it's the equivalent of being rickrolled by ED.
 
The alignment before jumping.

The coming out of a jump in the same direction as you should do and your destination often on the other side. This is great for refuelling. Combined with route filtering for scoopables, you can basically stay at full tank every jump without losing more than a few seconds, overall saving on total travel time as there is rare need to stop for a full refuel every now and again.

Not seen it myself yet, but apparently should also save us from the terrors of contact binaries by bringing us out of hyperspace at the first star.

It's actually about 3-5 seconds slower than previously since the next star is usually blocked by the current star for several seconds after I've finished topping off the tank, but the increased immersion and sense of having a continuous direction is worth the extra delay.

Simply Love it.
 
Back
Top Bottom