Frontier, can we PLEASE have a new Exploration ship now?

[Kaybe]

Hello Frontier,

I think this has been brought up a few times, but it has indeed gotten to the point of extreme frustration for so so many people.

Every single new ship released in the last year or more has been combat focused. Even the multi-role Krait is a basically a more combat friendly version of the Python. And before that, we got the Beluga (still in a bad spot, still needs buffs) and the Dolphin.

You know what's missing here?

The last time we got an exploration focused ship was THREE YEARS AGO (Diamondback Explorer). Since then, nothing. There are a grand total of three deep space exploration friendly ships currently available: Diamondback Explorer, Asp Explorer, Anaconda. And when I say deep space exploration, I mean ships with a pre-engi/pre-guardian tech jump range of over 30LY when fitted with D-rated gear.

Now obviously, any ship can go exploring in the deep ... but when you're travelling FAR, range matters a great great deal as space sickness is a thing and sometimes you need to get back to the nearest base ASAP.

The biggest problem with the current lineup is that there's no decent mid-range explorer. There's this big gap between the Asp and the Anaconda where a huge number of low jump range ships lie. The community *absolutely* needs a dedicated explorer in the 30-50 million credit range stock. And certainly something much more agile in supercruise than the Anaconda (I HATE exploring in that thing), as well as having a better cockpit view. As it stands, you either take DBX or AspX for an agile and comfortable explorer with limited internals, or you grab an Anaconda that can fit limpets and a fighter bay, but feels like you're piloting a coma patient.

Those of us who like travelling far are more than happy to have a ship with very limited weaponry a la cargo ship or passenger liner. Give us an 8 or 9 optional slot ship with a great cockpit view, good supercruise agility, and great range, and we'll be happy and stop complaining.

Anything in the works? Maybe a pair of explorers that arrive with the exploration update?

EDIT 11/14/2018:With the Krait Phantom being tested in beta with an amazing jump range, it appears we might have gotten what we asked for. Awesome!

 

[Stinja]

I'd prefer an expensive medium explorer, say 100 million, but properly worth the value as an explorer. Don't spend the money on being plush, and having designer lighting, Trumble carpets etc
Focus on a massive jump range, a large number of small internal slots (like 4 size 1's) then a big locked one for scoops only, and ones for SRVs, SLFs and other gubbins.
It'd have less total carrying capacity than the Python, but something like 12 slots all up.

The hull would be made out of recycled Anacondas: so super light, and half the hull mass you'd normally expect.

Make the cockpit a glass bowl with no pillars at all.


But in reality, we've had a non-combat ship (Krait) recently, so it'll be another 2 years of combat updates, and then we might get a mining ship...

 

[Sylveria]

If we see anything regarding Exploration (ships inclusive) it likely won't be until Q4.

The only information I've seen yet for Exploration in particular is "probes"... the rest isn't even "exploration" specific (meaning it's available no matter what your chosen activity) and we've yet to see much announced that really is outside of the probing thing.

 

[Drelthar]

I'm pretty certain they are working on a specialised one with "exploration" slots (maybe they will call them scientific slots though)

But the krait works very nicely as an exploration ship.

 

[MottiKhan]

A new exploration ship would be nice.

And make it combat focused. Max dakka!

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

Hello Frontier,

I think this has been brought up a few times, but it has indeed gotten to the point of extreme frustration for so so many people.

Every single new ship released in the last year or more has been combat focused. Even the multi-role Krait is a basically a more combat friendly version of the Python. And before that, we got the Beluga (still in a bad spot, still needs buffs) and the Dolphin.

You know what's missing here?

The last time we got an exploration focused ship was THREE YEARS AGO (Diamondback Explorer). Since then, nothing. There are a grand total of three deep space exploration friendly ships currently available: Diamondback Explorer, Asp Explorer, Anaconda. And when I say deep space exploration, I mean ships with a pre-engi/pre-guardian tech jump range of over 30LY when fitted with D-rated gear.

Now obviously, any ship can go exploring in the deep ... but when you're travelling FAR, range matters a great great deal as space sickness is a thing and sometimes you need to get back to the nearest base ASAP.

The biggest problem with the current lineup is that there's no decent mid-range explorer. There's this big gap between the Asp and the Anaconda where a huge number of low jump range ships lie. The community *absolutely* needs a dedicated explorer in the 30-50 million credit range stock. And certainly something much more agile in supercruise than the Anaconda (I HATE exploring in that thing), as well as having a better cockpit view. As it stands, you either take DBX or AspX for an agile and comfortable explorer with limited internals, or you grab an Anaconda that can fit limpets and a fighter bay, but feels like you're piloting a coma patient.

Those of us who like travelling far are more than happy to have a ship with very limited weaponry a la cargo ship or passenger liner. Give us an 8 or 9 optional slot ship with a great cockpit view, good supercruise agility, and great range, and we'll be happy and stop complaining.

Anything in the works? Maybe a pair of explorers that arrive with the exploration update?

8 or 9 optional slots?
You don't need more than 5 for exploration.

Would you prefer a ship that jumps 80LY but only has 5 optional slots, or one that jumps 40LY with 9?
Because if you have both - 80LY and 9 optionals - then you don't have 4 'deep space exploration friendly' ships, you have 1.
At which point the demands begin for a second dedicated exploration ship and the cycle begins again.

 

[Metal Angel]

I would love a 50million explorer. Something with like, limited hardpoints and utility mounts, but gobs of optional internals. A 6-7a FSD and a lightweight hull. The cockpit needs to be as open (if not more open) than the Asp.

 

[TheSisko]

*cough*Imperial Explorer*cough*

 

[Safepuppy]

Y'know, I'm signing up on this, because I think it needs to happen.
I've done a small amount of exploring, and it made me feel for people who really enjoy it. I love the asp, but I used my Diamondback on a whim. Both need a tad more internals, but the views are great ☺.
Dedicated slots. There's the excuse for a dedicated explorer.
Even I would enjoy that. Material gathering for others...I think it would be popular.

 

[Dbrn47]

Multi-purpose ships are generally the 'explorers', in case you didn't notice. We also have forum members that explore in ships that weren't meant at all for it, but they make it happen. Point is, we don't have any ships particularly specialized in it yet, so I'd say we'd first need a single exploration ship before we add more. Perhaps with the tools they are adding and the talk of creating slots aimed at further specializing certain ships, then we can talk about it, since then we'll get to see where and how the new scanners will fit and if they even focus on specifically ships that have a higher jump range. With the additions of boosters, synthesis, weight reductions, looking at just jump range isn't currently a surefire indicator aside from the ships that have 'explorer' in the name... which they're multipurpose anyway.

 

[Dutchman141]

I'd like a realy expensive exploration ship with plenty room for all bells and whistles that are coming with the Q4 update.
A class 7 scoop.
An SLF bay.
A great dome shaped cockpit for exelent view up, down and to the sides.
A good jumprange and not to heavy for landings on high gravity worlds.

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

Multi-purpose ships are generally the 'explorers', in case you didn't notice.

That's because anything with a bucket-load of optional slots that has a decent jump range is good for all kinds of roles.

(Some) explorers seem to be offended by this, so they demand unrealistic limitations on the optional slots (eg fuel scoop only) in order to prevent the ship being used for anything else.

Why any ship designer would deliberately hamstring their ship is beyond me.

 

[Sylveria]

That's because anything with a bucket-load of optional slots that has a decent jump range is good for all kinds of roles.

(Some) explorers seem to be offended by this, so they demand unrealistic limitations on the optional slots (eg fuel scoop only) in order to prevent the ship being used for anything else.

Why any ship designer would deliberately hamstring their ship is beyond me.

It would help if Frontier weren't making ships with other slots that are "dedicated" then. E.g., Passenger Ships, Military Slots, etc.

Consistency is key in setting examples.

 

[Dbrn47]

I'd like a realy expensive exploration ship with plenty room for all bells and whistles that are coming with the Q4 update.
A class 7 scoop.
An SLF bay.
A great dome shaped cockpit for exelent view up, down and to the sides.
A good jumprange and not to heavy for landings on high gravity worlds.

They're going to handle that with specialized slots, or at least they were thinking about it and combining scanners I think? Don't quote me on combining scanners, I vaguely remember that bit and might be making it up.

 

[CMDR Zadian Lichtfrost]

8 or 9 optional slots?
You don't need more than 5 for exploration.

You only need 3 - scoop, ADS and DSS. Everything else is luxury

A ship with a good 9 module slot setup would be a ship that doesn't require going back to port. Not a necessity, but it would be nice to have. A small deep space exploration vessel with good jump range and enough module space to fit all the things an explorer might want to have without having to go back to the bubble.
It would be nice if such a ship would exist in the medium size class - enough modules, fast and long jump range.

(Oh and such a ship could be a nice long range smuggler)

 

[Old Duck]

I would like a "pretty" exploration ship. Something like the Orca or Beluga with exploration in mind - cool running, high jump range, slots optimized for all the scanners and limpet controllers we'll need, etc. It would also be nice if said exploration ship came with a "ship launched shuttle" instead of SLF, something with exploration tools built in. I'd also like it to come with more resilient paint. I breaks my heart to see my beautiful yacht (cough, I mean "science vessel") look like it's taken a bath in paint stripper.

In the meantime, I'm thinking grabbing one of those Guardian boosters for my Orca.

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

It would help if Frontier weren't making ships with other slots that are "dedicated" then. E.g., Passenger Ships, Military Slots, etc.

Consistency is key in setting examples.

True.
I'm not a fan of the other dedicated slots either.

However, there's a difference (I believe) between role-focused dedicated slots:
a slot that can only take passengers or cargo on a hauling ship
a slot that can only take armor/shield enhancements on a combat ship

or, indeed
a slot that can only take scanner modules on an exploration ship

and a 'fuel scoop' only slot. Fuel scoop or cargo I'd honestly be okay with - but that wouldn't be a 'dedicated explorer' to some people.

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

You only need 3 - scoop, ADS and DSS. Everything else is luxury

A ship with a good 9 module slot setup would be a ship that doesn't require going back to port. Not a necessity, but it would be nice to have. A small deep space exploration vessel with good jump range and enough module space to fit all the things an explorer might want to have without having to go back to the bubble.
It would be nice if such a ship would exist in the medium size class - enough modules, fast and long jump range.

(Oh and such a ship could be a nice long range smuggler)

I don't consider shields to be optional, but I'll accept that an SRV is.

I'm gonna ask you the same question I asked the OP - since nobody seems to want to answer it:

Would you prefer a ship that jumps 80LY but only has 5 optional slots, or one that jumps 40LY with 9?

 

[Sylveria]

True.
I'm not a fan of the other dedicated slots either.

However, there's a difference (I believe) between role-focused dedicated slots:
a slot that can only take passengers or cargo on a hauling ship
a slot that can only take armor/shield enhancements on a combat ship

or, indeed
a slot that can only take scanner modules on an exploration ship

and a 'fuel scoop' only slot. Fuel scoop or cargo I'd honestly be okay with - but that wouldn't be a 'dedicated explorer' to some people.

The main point of contention is that most ships seem to enjoy "extra" slotting dedicated to specific types of activities/roles... which is why Explorers tend to ask for a dedicated slot ship that's geared toward Exploration.

Ship balance is an oxymoron in Elite Dangerous currently... because they're not at all "balanced". Either they remove specific slotting that other ships enjoy- or they balance other ships so that they're more role-specific like the ones that currently enjoy such luxuries.

It's not rocket science... but it really seems that Frontier has some trouble solving this equation.

 

[[Diplomacy] Carnegie]

The main point of contention is that most ships seem to enjoy "extra" slotting dedicated to specific types of activities/roles... which is why Explorers tend to ask for a dedicated slot ship that's geared toward Exploration.

Ship balance is an oxymoron in Elite Dangerous currently... because they're not at all "balanced". Either they remove specific slotting that other ships enjoy- or they balance other ships so that they're more role-specific like the ones that currently enjoy such luxuries.

It's not rocket science... but it really seems that Frontier has some trouble solving this equation.

Maybe it'll be different after the Q4 update, but right now I don't feel anything other than DDS is actually geared towards Exploration - I don't think that Fuel Scoops fall into that category and definitely not the FSD+1 size that explorers demand.

If FDev come up with a combined ADS/DSS and give some ships (not the 'Conda) a slot dedicated to it I think that would address a lot of the complaints.
Of course there'll still be people who want it all - long range, lots of slots, great visibility and good SC handling - but 'One explorer to rule them all' blows what little balance we have out of the water completely.