In the (long) run up to Fleet Carriers I found no real reason to get one. Even now none of the Bubble based Carrier uses really call out to me, admittedly I don’t tend to get to play with other Cmdrs regularly due to the time and time zone that I play in.
However, just before launch I realised that my exploration alt account actually had enough to purchase and run one fitted for a small exploration fleet. I purchased a full hold of Tritium just after launch which worked out at around 19/20k tonnes after fitting my modules, luckily at the low prices we had initially. I‘ve found that it makes a brilliant exploration base. Yes it moves slowly compared to using a single exploration ship but unless you’re immediately heading out to a distant region before actually beginning to explore it really doesn’t matter. I’m now out beyond Sag A, slowly exploring, using either my Sidey, Cobra, Asp, Krait and even an Eagle built for speed runs through canyons. I’ve got a stripped down Anaconda for moving quickly when I want to get somewhere further away at any degree of pace.
Thinking of the Carrier as a base of operations without needing to be just a jump away allows for ‘old fashioned’ exploration alongside more in depth localised exploration. I’ve found it’s opened up exploration for me in a way that the confines of the harsh choices that specific ship builds never allowed. Clearly having it within a purely exploration focused account is a big boon as the slow nature of moving a Carrier would make for other hard choices to be made were it my main account but if that were the case I’d be tempted to use decommissioning to act like Carrier rental for any exploration trips.
Anyway, without wishing to derail the thread with ‘it works for me’ comments I will be interested to discover just how easy it has become to mine for Tritium whilst out in the Black. I do foresee a point at which my Tritium stores (I’ve filled up twice - Bubble and a top up in Colonia) are low enough that I may be mining 1-2k tonnes here and 200-500 tonnes there. Tritium hotspots have been regular finds on my journey so if FDev have adjusted things more favourably I think exploration with Carriers as you envisaged will be entirely possible and very much enjoyable....if you enjoy exploring.
As an addendum; credits, maintenance and costs have all been covered easily by my discovery income to the point I’m able to keep my carrier for ten years should I wish, double what I initially had available.
Apologies, that became a very long post.
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