Newcomer / Intro Advice for a would-be Explorer?

[Dommarraa]

That would be from "scanning" the star on entry to the system which is a freebie scan you don't have to initiate. You won't earn anything from the other bodies in the system unless you actually go visit them.

I put your last post down to a late night, but it just isnt true. Discovery scanner gets you a decent amount of money from everything (except roids) without having to individually scan them. The individual scan increases the cash (and tags it), the DSS increases it even more.

 

[Concenaros]

Using JUST the BDS I was able to earn over 100,000 CR in under around 2 HRs of straight boosting and re-fuelling and scanning.

You don't need the DSS to start at all. Just the BSD and a Fuel Scoop for sure. Just make sure you're careful coming back into inhabited space.

 

[willowfan]

I didn't think you got anything for leaving things unexplored - if I'm wrong, so be it.

 

[CMDR Nightjar]

BDS is all that's needed - you get creditsss for everything it discovers when you drop into the system - but it onlu has a limited range.
ADS will do the same for ALL the bodies in the system - but it's very expensive!
IDS will (probably) add to earnings, and is a (generally unnoticed) possible good upgrade.
DSS allows you to 'up the creditsss' for the indivdual bodies discovered by the above. Use it after any of the above after checking the system map and working out what you want to scan.

 

[theEmohawk]

I didn't think you got anything for leaving things unexplored - if I'm wrong, so be it.

Yep, as others have already said, you've definitely got that wrong. I used to carry an ADS and ping it on every jump when I was trading rares. Some systems would just pay out a few hundred credits, but others with lots of bodies could be worth over 20k. The only difference between the ADS I was using and the BDS is the range.

 

[Chrisfs]

2.) Do I NEED a detailed surface scanner AND the basic discovery scanner to start making credits?

3.) Why is the Hauler better than an Adder for exploration?

4.) Is it really necessary to sell my weapons? I would still like the ability to defend myself from would-be pirates. I got killed yesterday by some idiot while flying around looking for bounties. An actual player messaged me asking what type of cargo I had, I said I had nothing, was doing bounties then was immediately killed. So yeah...

2) NO you do not NEED a detailed scanner. You just need a basic scanner (that's default) and that's it. Everything else gets you more credits and less effort but you don't need it. People who say you NEED it are being snobby optimizers. You need an advanced scanner like you need a fancy car to get you to work/school.

3) Not really sure. I like the window better on the hauler and it's cheaper to buy, so you have money for extras and cheaper to fix. Adder has more equipment slots.

4) You are unlikely to see anyone past a few hundred light years, but it's up to you. Sell them and get some nicer thrusters, so you'll go faster if anyone comes after you.

 

[willowfan]

Hauler is slightly cheaper to buy and has iirc a slightly better jump range. But overall the Adder is more versatile imo.

 

[Exeider]

How could it mean death unless you are attacked by someone or have an accident while docking?

AFAIK, shields don't help against overheating which is the only issue you can run into while exploring.

no but if your exploring a asteroid field at sublight, you could run into something, especially if you exploring in the shadow of a planet.

 

[InMemoriamSirocco]

no but if your exploring a asteroid field at sublight, you could run into something, especially if you exploring in the shadow of a planet.

Just don't do that then? Maybe look where you are flying? Don't enter an asteroid ring in the shadow of the planet? Common sense stuff? No? Just me? Okay... v_v

 

[willowfan]

I baulked at removing shields from my exploration kitted Asp.

No weapons I can live with - I'm very skilled at running away!

But no shields! Couldn't do it...*



* and my decision to have shields was immediately vindicated when I had a close shave getting through the letterbox - without shields the Asp would have been a selection of scrap metal floating around just inside the station

 

[Kuroshio]

Wouldn't leave without shields, either. Not because of any external danger or threat, but simply because I want to survive the last act of docking when I return. All that supercruising really ruins my flying skills in normal space.

 

[withnail7]

Way too scared to fly without shields. Concentration essential when appearing at the main star of a new system, as it gets a little crispy if your mind is on other things. And getting interdicted in those locations makes it trickier to get away before the damage is done.

 

[Kitfox]

I don't bother with shields on my Adder. The thing's minmax'd for 27.4 light-years range with a full tank for speed running long ranges. Interdictions are a non event - rare and the few I've had I've shaken even with an absolute bare bones crate.

Docking's not a problem either; indeed I've taken to doing a complete flight assist off approach, entry and landing the last half dozen times I've returned to Ziemkiewicz Ring in Tsu just for the challenge. Although I'll admit I did slam into the station wall on an outward bound trip purely from lack of concentration.

Ah, on the subject of Tsu - if you want some free money, go there, land at the station then go to the bulletin board and sign up for the community goal. Then sell all your scanned data to the universal cartographers. It'll put you on the ladder of rewards even for just a couple of scans and you'll get a payout when the goal finishes.
The more systems you scan, the higher up the ladder you can get. Even a simple basic scan of the first star of a system counts.

 

[cmdr lowest]

2) NO you do not NEED a detailed scanner. You just need a basic scanner (that's default) and that's it. Everything else gets you more credits and less effort but you don't need it. People who say you NEED it are being snobby optimizers. You need an advanced scanner like you need a fancy car to get you to work/school.

3) Not really sure. I like the window better on the hauler and it's cheaper to buy, so you have money for extras and cheaper to fix. Adder has more equipment slots.

4) You are unlikely to see anyone past a few hundred light years, but it's up to you. Sell them and get some nicer thrusters, so you'll go faster if anyone comes after you.

Your point 2) is confusing to me as you have mixed the terminologies between two different scanners so I'll expand.

You don't need a Detailed Surface Scanner but it is recommended. This is used for flying up to each planetary body and doing a detailed scan of the surface. This increases the revenue you get on the return visit and is really what exploring the galaxy is all about.

I would say an Advanced Discovery Scanner is essential as this will identify all the planets in the system in one scan (infinite system range). If you use the basic disco scanner then you have a range of 500LS (nowhere near enough in my experience) and an intermediate disco scanner is 1000LS range (I think) which is still nowhere near enough to scan all astronomical bodies in a system.

If you are serious about exploring you need an Advanced Disco Scanner and a Detailed Surface Scanner. If you're not so serious but just want to dabble with getting your name on some stars then a basic scanner will do but remember you will only get your name on that one star in the system plus anything within 500LS if you fly out to scan them.

You also need to purchase the biggest class, most highly rated fuel scoop you can afford. Absolutely essential for exploring.