How to get the shields of your exploration ship right?

Thanks to dragsham posting his build, I just learnt that repair limpets can repair my ship (I thought they were just for other ships). I saw them on his build and look them up, I had only ever gone by the in-game description. See this is why I read the forums.

His build is mostly the same as mine for my dbx and i don't have power issues and if I overheat it is usually my fault.
The only thing I don't like on the DBX is the fuel scope, I hate fuel scoping and therefor usually take my other explorer on longer exploration even though the jump range is better on the DBX.
For that matter, you can also use decontamination limpets as these also repair your hull (but less well than actual repair limpets). I tend to carry them if there's even a slight chance I might encounter a Thargoid on my journeys.
 
I've practiced a few times landing on a 11g planet with my dbx with 4d thrusters that 95mj of shielding does me just fine.
 
3A Prismatic on a Phantom. Low power enchanced, Hi cap.

Tweaking in coriolis to a 3D doesn't give that much jump range, nor does the reduced powerplant size from using 3D's. I get double the joules and then some. 60+ light years.
 
This part is not true.
Clean drives consume more power (16%) in idle (supercruise) than dirty drives (12%), and therefore heat your ship up slightly more.
Dirty drives only heat your ship up more in normal space.

Powerplant engineering makes a big difference though.

Spreadsheets and reading stuff on forums might suggest so, but I've tested most of my exploring ships in the game changing only dirty to clean drive, and the difference was great towards clean drive in scooping, scooping while jumping, and high g planet movement. It only costs some special effects mats to try it out yourself..
 
Cool, what ship are you using?
Krait Phantom miner / explorer (65Ly). I confess, if it were a dedicated exploration ship only I would have an AMFU and repair limpets (but no shields). However those slots are being used for mining equipment. I actually like the challenge it offers, since if I do something dumb to wreck my ship, I'll need to either call for help (Hull Seals) and / or go back to the nearest asteroid base for repairs. It makes exploration a bit more challenging because I have no cushion / margin for error. I've already have enough credits and planets bearing my name to not be totally devastated should I die out here, but so far my hull remains at 100%.
 
Food for thought - shields won't protect you from things like a failed glide or emergency stop, so if you are worried about hull damage, I recommend carrying repair limpets even if you do have shields, assuming you have the room. I personally equip repair limpets INSTEAD of shields when I'm being extra cautious, but that's because I enjoy the "gotta repair my ship now" gameplay this (sorta) gives me.

iu
 
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Spreadsheets and reading stuff on forums might suggest so, but I've tested most of my exploring ships in the game changing only dirty to clean drive, and the difference was great towards clean drive in scooping, scooping while jumping, and high g planet movement. It only costs some special effects mats to try it out yourself..
I'll gonna test it as soon as possible (on my way to Colonia right now) and post video evidence.

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interestingly, EDSY gives me a lower heat on a Viper4 (smallest ship I want to buy new drives for…) with clean drives versus one with dirty drives for spooling up the FSD, with otherwise identical stats.
Color me intrigued, will definitely test this...
 
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I'd suggest using Coriolis to create a build with the smallest possible D-rated shield, modded for ELP and then fitting 0E shield-boosters, modded for kinetic resistance, into any spare utility slots.
If that's not enough, fit a bigger shield until you're happy with the result.

SBs are a good way to enhance an exploration ship's shield, which shouldn't be overlooked.

My exploration Phantom, for example, has a jump-range of 67.2Ly with a 4D shield and 206mj of shield (343mj kinetic resistance).
If I add 3x 0E SBs, it adds 1.5t to the weight, reduced the jump-range to 67.07Ly and gives me 262mj of shield but a whopping 786mj of kinetic resistance.

By comparison, upgrading the 4D shield to a 5D shield (alone) adds 2t to the weight, gives me 268mj of shield but only increases the kinetic resistance to 447mj.
So, 3D shield + 3x 0E SBs is lighter and twice as tough (kinetically) as a 5D shield.


I don't see any point in fitting a combat-capable shield to an exploration ship because, unless you've also got suitable weapons and thrusters fitted, you're not going to be doing any combat.
 
Yes, resistances do not factor in to collision damage.

My DBX uses ELP, Low Draw 4D shields plus one heavy-duty 1D HRP for integrity. I find this is a good compromise between survivability, heat and mass.
 
...collisions are absolute damage, right?

I guess I need to do some more SB engineering. :cautious:

Funny thing is, Coriolis tells me that I have got HD SBs on my exploration Annie but I've got Kinetic SBs on my Phantom.

I dunno.
I suspect I might've been trying to find out if there was a mod' for SBs that could make them more useful for exploration without increasing their weight.
 

On that note, I think I'm right (this time) in saying that it's always better to fit a bigger set of D-rated thrusters instead of smaller A-rated ones.

For example, instead of fitting 5A thrusters to this Annie, you get almost exactly the same performance, but 4t less mass and less power usage, by fitting 6D thrusters.
 
Sure, if I wanted to die while trying to land on a high gravity planet.
I can understand how one can get accustomed to having various size shields, but in reality; There isn't any need for shields when landing on any planet regards of the gravity if one is careful on their approach and touch down technique.

Higher G planets means one has to be more mindful as to their own personal total landing process. Wanna do it in the shortest amount of time, gonna need some good shields, take you time, need less shields. Most generally it only effect noobs and those not having ANY experience on higher G planets. As a noob once myself, I did just about everything wrong their was to do out of ignorance. And though my python was completely A graded, destroyed myself upon my first planetary landing. I learned a lesson the hard way, and it had its cost of having to do my first re-buy. I've since learned how to set up and implement a flight path that will get me down safely thus far on every planet I've ever been to, and thus far, haven't ever had an issue. There is one planet I've yet to try, and someday if I'm ever in the neighbor hood will.
Experience is the key!
 
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I can understand how one can get accustomed to having various size shields, but in reality; There isn't any need for shields when landing on any planet regards of the gravity if one is careful on their approach and touch down technique.

Higher G planets means one has to be more mindful as to their own personal total landing process. Wanna do it in the shortest amount of time, gonna need some good shields, take you time, need less shields.
Pretty much. I rather recommend practicing landings in different situations. Knowing how to do it is better than braking with shields.
 
I can understand how one can get accustomed to having various size shields, but in reality; There isn't any need for shields when landing on any planet regards of the gravity if one is careful on their approach and touch down technique.

Higher G planets means one has to be more mindful as to their own personal total landing process. Wanna do it in the shortest amount of time, gonna need some good shields, take you time, need less shields.

Honestly, I can't understand how anybody would be caught out by high-g landings more than once.

Unless you deliberately fly toward the surface with the intention of bouncing off it because you think it takes too long to fly downwards in a controlled manner, it shouldn't be an issue.

Don't boost downwards (duh!), don't bank and don't use your momentary downward thrusters.
Job done.

It's not like you're trying to land on a pad when exploring so you can afford to just fly downward, with your gear extended, until you touch the surface.
 
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