Ariel circumnavigation

Jonas Treesong · Oct 4, 2018

Alec Turner said:
So how are you feeling about the circumnavigation now? Confident? Enjoying it?

Circumnavigation is great. I love driving my SRV, especially on those planes with a bump every now and then so I can launch my SRV and fly stretches. I've seen some pretty amazing sights already. I guess I'm lucky with Ariel as the gravity is not so low that the SRV becomes undrivable and not so high that flying is undoable. Being able to fly stretches has already saved me a couple of times. It would have been great if Frontier gave us the opportuniy to leave beacons and name them. However, I don't see that happening any time soon if at all....

While I was struggling last night, I was wondering what is the protocol for an exploding SRV? Is that a game-over-end-of-circumnavigation situation? Or do you just land (if I remember correctly your ship respawns exactly over your last coordinates) and deploy a new SRV and get back in it? From the map, I know for a fact that although impressive, the canyons so far have been just kids play. The real deal is yet to come.

Alec Turner · Oct 4, 2018

Jonas Treesong said:
Circumnavigation is great. I love driving my SRV, especially on those planes with a bump every now and then so I can launch my SRV and fly stretches. I've seen some pretty amazing sights already. I guess I'm lucky with Ariel as the gravity is not so low that the SRV becomes undrivable and not so high that flying is undoable. Being able to fly stretches has already saved me a couple of times. It would have been great if Frontier gave us the opportuniy to leave beacons and name them. However, I don't see that happening any time soon if at all....

While I was struggling last night, I was wondering what is the protocol for an exploding SRV? Is that a game-over-end-of-circumnavigation situation? Or do you just land (if I remember correctly your ship respawns exactly over your last coordinates) and deploy a new SRV and get back in it? From the map, I know for a fact that although impressive, the canyons so far have been just kids play. The real deal is yet to come.

When I did my circumnavigation I had two SRVs in my ship and I lost one of them to a high speed rock collision. I found myself back in the ship above the planet, flew down to my last recorded position, deployed SRV #2 and resumed my circumnavigation. From a roleplay perspective I reckon' that was OK (although it's always bugged me that I didn't manage to do it in one SRV ... next time for sure!). If I'd lost my 2nd SRV I'm not sure what I'd have done. I guess I'd have flown to a station and purchased some more but in terms of breaking my isolation on that planet and reconnecting (however briefly) with civilisation I think I'd have felt like a bit of a fraud.

My best advice is ... don't explode!

Jonas Treesong · Oct 4, 2018

Circumnavigation is a new thing so I was unsure about any rules. I'd say it's fine to have multiple SRV's as they are so flimsy and as long as you just fly down to the last location, then that's fine. But I do agree, it sort of puts a scratch on the paint when you lose your SRV. I packed 4 SRV's in my Cobra. So far I'm still in the first one but I know for a fact that a canyon on the southern hemisphere is at least 12km deep, so yeah... It might prove uncrossable. But we'll see when I get there...

Jonas Treesong · Oct 5, 2018

Late night update after great progress. Currently at 23° North, from 44° North at the start of the session. The terrain was awesome, both for high-speed runs and for high-speed flying which allowed me to clock another 210 km. Quickly approaching the equatorial zone, which is a bit of a landmark location (note to self: do not forget picture moment!).

Looking forward to tomorrow. A canyon is on the agenda that will dwarf all previous canyons...

Mengy · Oct 5, 2018

You are making good progress! Ariel is a nice choice too, it's a very interesting planet terrain wise.

Arnoldo · Oct 5, 2018

Phew - glad I wasn't the only one

Jonas Treesong · Oct 5, 2018

Right.

I'm open to suggestions...

Mengy said:
Ariel is a nice choice too, it's a very interesting planet terrain wise.

Did you see those spikes at the bottom of the canyon? There are canyons inside the canyon!!

Orvidius · Oct 5, 2018

Jonas Treesong said:
Right.

I'm open to suggestions...

Start flapping your arms real hard, and fly? Oh wait, no atmosphere. Flap harder!

Spaceman Si · Oct 5, 2018

You remember how I said I got stuck in a canyon on Ariel, and had to get my ship to rescue me?

It was there.

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The very best of luck to you sir!

o7

Jonas Treesong · Oct 5, 2018

Thanks all for your supportive comments

After giving it some thought, my plan is the following: the canyon sort of runs in my general direction and according to the system map looks to be shallowing out a bit further towards the south. So, my plan is to follow it along and cross it at a more convenient spot...

More tomorrow!!

Rustnsawdust · Oct 5, 2018

Jonas Treesong said:
my plan is the following: the canyon sort of runs in my general direction and according to the system map looks to be shallowing out a bit further towards the south. So, my plan is to follow it along and cross it at a more convenient spot...

Rationality! I approve.

SushiCW · Oct 8, 2018

And, of course, if all else fails, get a running start and do your best to soar across. Like so. ...more or less.

Jonas Treesong · Oct 8, 2018

I planned to cross the equator sometime last Saturday but like many plans, this one also had to be adjusted. Three massive canyons happened. The first one was roughly 8 km deep. The descend went rather well and I had planned to launch myself onto a plane at the bottom. Unfortunately, I miscalculated and missed. I ended up some 800 meters below and in the process lost my SRV. Getting down again proved difficult as there were hardly any flat spots to land. I managed to find one within visual range of my original point which was good enough. This time I managed to scramble onto the plane. From there I was able to cross the bottom of the canyon and scramble back up the other side. All in all it took 3 hours to cross. Needless to say I'm quite annoyed with myself for screwing up and losing the SRV :-(

The second was not as deep but terribly bumpy. It took the best part of my Sunday session to cross. The third and final one appeared just before crossing the equator. Due to an unfortunate boost, I lost control and pretty much tumbled all the way down and ended up with 49% hull at the bottom. Not too bad and nothing a hull repair can't fix

The bottom wasn't too spikey for a change and I managed to scramble back up the other side relatively quickly.

Shortly after the last canyon, the equator was there. Quick photo moment and off to the south pole. Judging from the system map I'm in for many, many bumpy kilometers...

Approaching the first canyon.

The first canyon. My target plane visible in the center of the image.

Finally! The equator. Where's a light when you need one...

My current location: 2° South!! South pole here I come...

Sapporo · Oct 9, 2018

Would you be ok if I add you in game and try to find you on the planet

?

Jonas Treesong · Oct 9, 2018

CMDR Sapporo said:
Would you be ok if I add you in game and try to find you on the planet ?

I play in open and honor all friend requests, so yes

Jonas Treesong · Oct 9, 2018

FREAK ACCIDENT ALERT!

I'm happily racing along, boost over a hill and land in the middle of a restricted zone and in the process I damage (destroy?) a skimmer. Generally, this gives you a bounty voucher but no, not this case... I'm now a wanted circumnavigator with a 200CR bounty. Crap!

I don't believe these bounties disappear with the new C&P system, do they??

Alec Turner · Oct 9, 2018

Jonas Treesong said:
FREAK ACCIDENT ALERT!

I'm happily racing along, boost over a hill and land in the middle of a restricted zone and in the process I damage (destroy?) a skimmer. Generally, this gives you bounty voucher but no, not this case... I'm now a wanted circumnavigator with a 200CR bounty. Crap!

I don't believe these bounties disappear with the new C&P system, do they??

OK, that "could" make things interesting, probably not tho. So you'll be WANTED until you can get yourself to an Interstellar Factors to clear the bounty (which obviously won't happen while you're still circumnavigating). Generaly that might not be a problem but I'd be wary of any human POI's 'cos if they contain ships or skimmers from the faction you're wanted by then I guess they may well come after you.

Run silent, run deep!

Nick Sticks · Oct 9, 2018

Jonas Treesong said:
FREAK ACCIDENT ALERT!

I'm happily racing along, boost over a hill and land in the middle of a restricted zone and in the process I damage (destroy?) a skimmer. Generally, this gives you bounty voucher but no, not this case... I'm now a wanted circumnavigator with a 200CR bounty. Crap!

I don't believe these bounties disappear with the new C&P system, do they??

If they send any security ships after you don't give up, you can get away from them in an SRV.

Scroll down to the YouTube video:

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...looking-rock?p=6425299&viewfull=1#post6425299

Jonas Treesong · Oct 9, 2018

Alec Turner said:
I guess they may well come after you.

I'm pretty sure they will. I regularly see System Security ships pop up overhead. And once they spot you, they will not stop until you're dead. An SRV has very little defense against an air-to-ground attack.

This has a high suck factor... :-(

Alec Turner · Oct 9, 2018

Jonas Treesong said:
I'm pretty sure they will. I regularly see System Security ships pop up overhead. And once they spot you, they will not stop until you're dead. An SRV has very little defense against an air-to-ground attack.

This has a high suck factor... :-(

What you need is 24/7 armed escort. There's much roleplay to be had here but organising it would be a major hassle I guess. I wonder if an armed wing of the Fuel Rats would be interested (I'm semi-serious about this).