On the one condition that you aren't inconvenienced by using and synthesizing repair limpets (they are coming along either way) on your ship, you don't strictly speaking need shields, right? If all you do is exploring and staying out of harm's way?
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Newcomer / Intro No shields on an explorer?
- Thread starter Harrowdown
- Start date
You'll need shields if you want to land on planets, especially high G ones, but for just touring space and scanning planets, shields are a waste of time. Use a docking computer to land at stations.
But I can use and make repair limpets after I have landed? Sure, a little time is lost...
Ah I see. Haven't really had any hard bumps then I guess.
Fitting a small, D rated shield shouldn't really impact jump range significantly, and as pointed out above can be turned off to save power and cut down on heat generation until such time as you decide to land on a planet, or possibly when you return to civilization to dock.
I cannot say that I've ever been interdicted by an NPC on the way back to civilization, usually turn my shields back on when I reach my home system so that I'll have some protection from bumping into things when I dock, and depending on how long you've been away, your docking skills may be a touch rusty.
I cannot say that I've ever been interdicted by an NPC on the way back to civilization, usually turn my shields back on when I reach my home system so that I'll have some protection from bumping into things when I dock, and depending on how long you've been away, your docking skills may be a touch rusty.
If everything goes to plan and you make no mistakes then you won't need your shield, but like heat syncs, it's better to have one and not use it than need it and not have one.
That's really solid advice. Thanks!
TAKE SHIELDS!!!
OK; some might not agree, but while in my 3 long-range 'out' trips I rarely needed the small bump-shields I'd hooked into Big Bad Nasty Warship; the times they WERE needed, they paid for themselves in terms of time and damage.
One occasion found me flying into a deep valley following a geological signal 20,000LY outside the Bubble. I misjudged my speed, and rather than soaring over a ridge bellied right into the damn thing, causing massive damage to my understructure. Had I not had shields, I'd have been toast right there - many millions in EXP creds lost.
USE them. They don't cost much in terms of distance and give HUGE security. You REALLY don't know what you'll find out there; so the first (physical) line of defence is ALWAYS valuable.
Cheers!
The thing with fitting out the defences of a ship is not to worry that you are being paranoid but to worry that you aren’t being paranoid enough.
There is a reason even back when you had to fly close to something to scan it that the Anaconda, which can be a pain to turn fast in supercruise, was a favourite ship.
Not the jump range but enough spaces to carry stuff you might need.
There is a reason even back when you had to fly close to something to scan it that the Anaconda, which can be a pain to turn fast in supercruise, was a favourite ship.
Not the jump range but enough spaces to carry stuff you might need.
I highly recommend shields for exploring man... Don't believe me? My first day heading out into the black on my last trip I crashed on only a 3g world while looking at bio signals. Thankful I had shields and repair limpets and was able to continue on. How about this, try testing your build at Anders Strong G, HD 148937, 3rd world
Majestic!
I explore a lot, in a range of ships - favourites being Asp-S and T7 - and I'd never, ever go out into the deep without shields. Just a little D rated one is fine. But for me it's essential. Shields, SRV, FSD booster, fuel scoop. Everything else is on the optional list, not those four.
Okay, bit aggressive. You win, must be right about everything. Doubt we'll all restate our posts just to have the last word. Discussion fora, when working best, produce a range of opinion rather than one which wins against all-comers.
It's just to make the point clear because everybody started saying that they wouldn't go exploring without shields, but they didn't qualify it with the type of exploration they do. In the context of exploration, do you disagree with my statement? If so, how?
I disagree while planets are the most likely thing to collide with but there are Other things to hit throughout the trip such as the rocks in rings, Non Stellar Phenomena like those caltrop style crystals, space debris and most likely after a long trip bits of station structure when trying to dock.
That's stretching it a bit. Do you think it's helping OP? I've never seen those things after 1.1 million LY of exploration, and the docking computer will get you into the station and onto the pad without bumping anything. Random debris in the station is not that common, and even if you do bump it, you lose a couple of percent of hull, which you can repair as soon as you land.
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