Is the EAGLE the best exploration ship?
- Thread starter sb413197
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Adding another aspect to this: Nothing, I repeat NOTHING beats the visibility of the bridge/cockpit of the Imperial Clipper. The Clipper is an amazing ship to explore in, even if a bit heavy for certain planetary landing and its lateral thrusters are complete crap.
Few ships not made by Saud Kruger match it for being pretty, as well. I miss my Clipper. Maybe I need to give her another go now that I've confined myself to the bubble for the next little while.
Few ships not made by Saud Kruger match it for being pretty, as well. I miss my Clipper. Maybe I need to give her another go now that I've confined myself to the bubble for the next little while.
Doubt I'd last long in an Eagle. I'm prone to bellyflopping planets every know and again. I've gone the other way and am trying out a T10. Great view.
Good Luck out there CMDR.
Good Luck out there CMDR.
Is the Eagle not too limited as far as slots go?
In general Explorers like to take all kinds of equipment: fuel scoop, SRV, AFMU, perhaps an extra fuel tank, repair limpets, all necessary scanners... stuff like that.
The Eagle might be cool for close to medium range exploration, but I would not at all feel comfortable in it for real deep space exploration.
Fast turning is not an important requirement for exploration by the way
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Is the Eagle not too limited as far as slots go?
In general Explorers like to take all kinds of equipment: fuel scoop, SRV, AFMU, perhaps an extra fuel tank, repair limpets, all necessary scanners... stuff like that.
The Eagle might be cool for close to medium range exploration, but I would not at all feel comfortable in it for real deep space exploration.
Fast turning is not an important requirement for exploration by the way
Dodging stars can be/was occasionally fun... in a sort of terrifying way.
I do prefer fuel scooping on the fly. Something the Chieftain can't always quite keep up with even. Shame. Was looking forward to that ship. Might still use it more just around the bubble, or just get my Python DDed up.
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Yep it's limited so you can't carry everything you need for extended trips, but for local or short duration trips you can do it.
Here is how I have mine set up:
https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/imp...AAA=.EweloBhAWEoUwIYHMA28QgIwV0A=&bn=Explorer
I just carry the ADS, DSS, SRV, and scoop. No shields so landings have to be done very carefully but you still do lose hull to landings now and then. Still, her 700m/s speed is great for sightseeing surfaces or buzzing canyons.
It depends what all you want to do and how prone you are to accidents, I suppose. I find less close binaries up a little ways above or down below the galactic plane, for example.
My priorities when going on treks regardless of range/distance are generally...
ADS
DSS
Scoop
Shields
Then optionally...
SRV
AFMU
I've never bothered with heat sinks nor anything else really beyond that. If you're wanting to use neutron star boosts or the like then you'll want to prioritize an AFMU, and likewise might want to bring along an SRV or mining laser if you're wanting to gather jumponium on the way or so you don't get stranded somewhere. Personally, I've only used boosts of this nature twice in the game so far.
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I love the flight characteristics of the iClipper in normal space and supercruise. Reduce it to two medium hardpoints, weaken the shields and armour and give it the same jump range as an Anaconda and call it the Imperial Clipper Mk-II.
This is why the Eagle can not be the best exploration ship. To truly take advantage of all exploration has to offer you need six internals: ADS, DSS, SRV, AFMU, shields, and a scoop. Sure you CAN explore with less than that but you are giving up aspects of exploration if you do. So while the Eagle can make for an okay explorer, it can never be the best at it. It can be a very FUN explorer though!
Before the engineers, I did > 12000 Ly.
Back then, it was ok for exploring locally, but a bit of a pain for long journeys. You could plot a route, but there was only enough fuel for one non scoopable star, the second one was Fuel Rat Time, so each jump had to be checked manually.
The cockpit view is amazing - look up and there's only stars, no framing.
Great manoeuverability.
Now we can auto plot to scoopable stars, and have longer jump range, I've bought another to outfit for exploring.
The last one didn't survive the autolandings on a planet ( shieldless - each landing took several percentage points from the hull even on 0.1g planets.
Back then, it was ok for exploring locally, but a bit of a pain for long journeys. You could plot a route, but there was only enough fuel for one non scoopable star, the second one was Fuel Rat Time, so each jump had to be checked manually.
The cockpit view is amazing - look up and there's only stars, no framing.
Great manoeuverability.
Now we can auto plot to scoopable stars, and have longer jump range, I've bought another to outfit for exploring.
The last one didn't survive the autolandings on a planet ( shieldless - each landing took several percentage points from the hull even on 0.1g planets.
Yep. Without a shield a lot of planet landings will grind down your ship, and without space for the AFMU it's even worse. The last time I had my Ieagle out exploring I had to return to repair due to no shields or AFMU.
It's a fun explorer, just not an ideal one.
iCourier.
Problem solved.
Yes, the Courier makes for an EXCELLENT explorer. It's biggest drawback is it's slightly better than average jump range, but other than that it's great.
iCourier.
Problem solved.
I don't mess with the ranks in the game. Gives me access to the Imperial Eagle at least though, which I use as a speed runner of sorts.
I'd argue that "best" is more subjective based on play style and such, but yeah, for a more general all around capable basic exploration ship, I rather like the Cobra Mk. III and would generally recommend that instead of something like an Eagle or even Vulture.
It's worth it to get to fly an iCourier.
As a swoopy, lightweight, multirole there isn't really a better ship to be had. [up]
I knew I forgot to do something in the beta. Engineer my iCourier to max for an exploration build.
It does sound like quite a fine ship and I've checked out builds for it and such. I just don't bother with the ranks primarily for "RP" reasons and my own style of play.
Here are the stats for a maxed out FSD in the new system, if you or others want to plug them in somewhere.
Mass +30.0%
Integrity -21.8%
Power Draw +15.0%
Optimal Mass +61.2%
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I use a Keelback for exploration. Fits a great fuel scoop, SRV, SLF, and both the scanners. Good super cruise handling, and now also seats two.
The cockpit view is not as good as the Asp Explorer (which I used the cross the width of the galaxy twice, nearly 300,000LY worth), but it's not bad IMO.
This setup gives me the best access to the things I found most enjoyable during exploration: Planet surfaces. I can survey surface features quickly with the remote Taipan, then drop down into the SRV if I find something really cool.
The cockpit view is not as good as the Asp Explorer (which I used the cross the width of the galaxy twice, nearly 300,000LY worth), but it's not bad IMO.
This setup gives me the best access to the things I found most enjoyable during exploration: Planet surfaces. I can survey surface features quickly with the remote Taipan, then drop down into the SRV if I find something really cool.