Discovery scanner - quick clarification needed

[Jonny Shiloh]

Hi all, I'm new-ish to the game and I've been merrily exploring away out in the black, logging many unexplored systems with the discovery scanner, uploading to EDSM, currently at somewhere round the 350 mark for discovering systems new to EDSM. Now, I get that new systems to EDSM aren't necessarily new to the game, given the different platforms etc...

However, I think I've been making a serious (and somewhat soul-destroying, if true ) error - I've been jumping to a new system, scanning with the infinite discovery scanner, then jetting out to the next system WITHOUT scanning the star with the planetary scanner... does this mean what I think it means? I.e. that without scanning the star, I won't be tagged as being first discoverer of that system?

If that's the case, then OK, my bad, I feel suitably foolish - but how then do I come across systems which have all the system bodies marked as "unexplored" (i.e. no surface map done) yet tagged with a commander's name as first discoverer? I mean, how did they manage to discover the system without "planetary scanning" any of the bodies in the system?

I'm confused about the process so if one of you experienced explorers could enlighten me please, I'd appreciate it.

 

[Micha]

Unfortunately yes, you need to Surface-scan a body in order to be tagged as first-discoverer for that body - including the main star. Just doing the "honk" is not enough.

Also, even though the system may have been discovered and tagged by someone else first, your ship computer won't have any of the system information until you scan the system yourself (or buy the data from UC). After a "honk" you will be given the system map and first-discovered information for a system, but to get the surface maps you have to surface-scan each planet/moon.

 

[Jonny Shiloh]

Got it, thanks Micha - oh well, there's no way in hell I'm retracing my tracks, but now I understand the process I'll be a bit much more diligent about doing a proper job of surveying the systems, which of course I probably should have been in the first place...

 

[Cpt Shadow Wolfe]

My rule of thumb while exploring is to jump into a system, honk it and then check to see if its "Virgin", meaning, no one has their name on the system, if it is Virgin, then I scan all the stuff. If the system has been visited and they only scanned the high end stuff and left other stuff unnamed, then I don't mind scanning them to get my name on them, even if they are just icy rocks, don't matter to me. I normally don't waste time scanning other people's stuff unless I am just trying to generate the cash from the scan, or if its close to the star and I don't have to travel to scan it, stuff like that. But regardless of whether someone has been there or not I always scan the main star, I don't know if you retain the system info by just honking and moving on, but if you scan the main star, you will always be able to go back to that system in the Gal Map to see what was there.

You might want to use the filter system to filter out and avoid the systems that have nothing worth finding, I usually avoid Class G, Class M, Class T, Class L, and Class Y systems since your not gonna find anything much beyond icy rocks in those type of systems. Class G systems gives you a higher probability of finding earth likes, but you also have the higher probability of finding it full of icy rocks as well. Class K starts the higher probability of High Metal Contents, but still the likely hood of finding a bunch more icy rocks. Class F you will find mostly High Metal Content and Rocky worlds and a few icy rocks further out from the star. Of course, you can find Gas Giants in any type of system. Class A and B stars is where its all at, the High Metals, Metal Rich and plenty of water worlds galore, and earth likes, the majority of my earthlikes are in Class A systems, maybe cause that's where I look am going mostly, Class B are nice cause you can find very unique systems in them, and neutrons occasionally piggy back in Class B systems, so if your looking for neutrons in the area, filter everything out cept class B and non sequencial stars to find them. They probably piggy back in Class O systems as well, but those are quite rare to find unless you get way out.

But scanning is a good way to generate cash now if you know what to look for, HMC's are bout 34000 a scan, but if its terraformable, it jumps up to 600k for the scan, even more if its Nitrogen Atmosphere. Metal Rich are bout 60k a scan along with BH's and Neutrons. Although rare, Terraformable Rocky worlds are in the 500K range, but you won't know a rocky world is terraformable or not unless you scan it and check.

 

[Major Klutz]

To clarify an often misunderstood mechanic.
There is no first discovered "tag" for the system as a whole. Tags are only applied to individual bodies, and only if scanned with a detailed surface scanner. A normal level 2 scan won't get you the first discovered tag.

In EDSM, you do get your name applied to any system you upload, but not to the bodies in that system.

 

[Jonny Shiloh]

Many thanks all, very useful pointers - knowing what I now know, I'm currently reworking my method, trying to find the most efficient way of getting round the systems, scanning as I go before moving on to the next star. At the moment, I'm starting with the furthest interesting planet (if there is one) and working back towards the main star before aligning with the FSD exit point, but I'm not convinced this is the most efficient way of doing it. Time and practice will tell I guess.

 

[Hell Razor5543]

I, when approaching a planet with moons, manoeuvre my ship so that the destination appears like a target (but this does mean you have to have orbital lines enabled). Then I approach (if I can) to within 5ls of the primary planet. That way I can normally scan most of the moons without having to fly around much. It also means that I do not have to play 'dodgems' with the moons (which can happen if the 'system' appears like a line).

 

[Major Klutz]

It seems more efficient to me to scan from the inside out. Scan as you move outward away from the star and then jump out from the last planet you plan to scan. No need to backtrack.

You don't have to scan everything. If I scan anything, I scan the main star and then the closest body moving outward to the interesting or valuable bodies. If there is anything really interesting, I am usually tempted to scan the whole system but if I'm in a hurry I just scan the good ones and leave the ice balls.

One tip is that it's better to scan a body from as far away as you can. The closer you get, the longer it takes to pull away. I often zero throttle as soon as the scanner starts so that I can accelerate faster toward the next body.

 

[Orvidius]

But regardless of whether someone has been there or not I always scan the main star, I don't know if you retain the system info by just honking and moving on, but if you scan the main star, you will always be able to go back to that system in the Gal Map to see what was there.

Actually that's the main function of the Discovery Scanner. It finds all of the bodies, and as long as you don't die before you sell the data, you'll retain the system information and can view it from the map. But that's the key part-- You have to sell the data before it becomes permanent. If you die, you'll lose it, and the system will be "unexplored" for you again, just like with the detailed scans of each body. Scanning the entry star doesn't impact the discovery "honk" data.

 

[Jonny Shiloh]

One tip is that it's better to scan a body from as far away as you can. The closer you get, the longer it takes to pull away. I often zero throttle as soon as the scanner starts so that I can accelerate faster toward the next body.

That was behind my thinking to start far away from the star and work back towards it - because you scan it from a long way off, I don't have to slow down, by the time I'm in danger of planting my ship into it, I've already scanned it and I'm jumping to the next star.

 

[disorganise]

To clarify an often misunderstood mechanic.
There is no first discovered "tag" for the system as a whole. Tags are only applied to individual bodies, and only if scanned with a detailed surface scanner. A normal level 2 scan won't get you the first discovered tag.
.

Unless things changed in recent patches, this is not completely correct.
Tagging does not require a DSS, but it DOES require a detailed scan (IE select body, point at it while spinny thing happens to reveal its name etc)

If you *don't* have a DSS on board, then you don't get all the available data about the body. For landables, this means you won't get the materials info. But you do get the tag if you're the first to see the data for that body. This is level 2 scans I believe.

Having a DSS provides all the extra info and about 30% higher payouts, and is level 3 scanning.

I previously checked the tagging bit a year ago as I couldn't fit a DSS in my sidey. (I also logged a bug report because no entries were made to the journal so 3rd party tools wouldn't recognise that you had scanned....this is now fixed )

I checked the scan info details a couple of weeks ago because I intended to leave the DSS at home to gain some jump range......but found the materials info was missing which is fairly crucial. (but tested in the bubble so no chance to test tagging)

 

[Aura Lorell]

To clarify an often misunderstood mechanic.
There is no first discovered "tag" for the system as a whole. Tags are only applied to individual bodies, and only if scanned with a detailed surface scanner. A normal level 2 scan won't get you the first discovered tag.

In EDSM, you do get your name applied to any system you upload, but not to the bodies in that system.

A level 2 scan will also allow you to tag the body if you are the first to sell it.

Also, on EDDiscovery, if you enable the connection to EDDN, then on EDSM you'll get your name on bodies too.

 

[Major Klutz]

I stand corrected. I thought you needed a detailed scan to get the tag.

 

[iain666]

Having a DSS provides all the extra info and about 30% higher payouts, and is level 3 scanning.

I thought it was more than 30%, but I may be misremembering. What I remember is that you get 1/6 value for a honk, 1/2 value for honk+scan without DSS and full value for a honk + DSS scan (with a 500cr minimum so you gain almost no credits for scanning a 5-700 CR ice ball)

leave the DSS at home to gain some jump range......but found the materials info was missing which is fairly crucial.

That I believe is working as intended - I'd be disappointed if FDev disagree. There should be a tangible there and then benefit to taking the DSS, not just a few credits when you get home (which are pretty meaningless after the first couple of billion...)

 

[disorganise]

I thought it was more than 30%, but I may be misremembering. What I remember is that you get 1/6 value for a honk, 1/2 value for honk+scan without DSS and full value for a honk + DSS scan (with a 500cr minimum so you gain almost no credits for scanning a 5-700 CR ice ball)



That I believe is working as intended - I'd be disappointed if FDev disagree. There should be a tangible there and then benefit to taking the DSS, not just a few credits when you get home (which are pretty meaningless after the first couple of billion...)

You'd have a better idea than me on the %age. I recall reading 30% somewhere....but with the new values it could be very different.

Don't disagree on the mats/DSS. Credits are pretty much meaningless since the 'easy mode' was enabled a while back

 

[Jonny Shiloh]

A level 2 scan will also allow you to tag the body if you are the first to sell it.

OK n00b question but what's a level 2 scan?

 

[Major Klutz]

OK n00b question but what's a level 2 scan?

Scanning without a detailed surface scanner. Just standard sensors.

Unless I'm mistaken, Level 1 is a Discovery Scan Honk, Level 2 is scanning by selecting the body and waiting for the scan to complete, level 3 is the same but with a DSS.

 

[Jonny Shiloh]

Ok (I think)... thanks for the clarification. So the benefit of lugging a DSS around is to discover which elements are present on a given planet?

 

[Major Klutz]

Ok (I think)... thanks for the clarification. So the benefit of lugging a DSS around is to discover which elements are present on a given planet?

That, and you get paid a whole lot more for the data when you return.

Take a look at this chart for approximate values based on each scan type.

Spoiler

 

[KTC]

The payout is also higher if you're still building up your bank balance.