Am I doing it wrong or does it pay too little?

[Ringslinger]

Exploration doesn't pay much when compared to top earning methods, but as it is now, it pays a lot when compared to how few credits you have to invest in it to reach maximum income. Basically, you need to buy a DSS module for 250,000 Cr, and that's it. Of course, there are optional stuff like fuel scoops, but you could set up a Sidewinder for something like 1-2 million credits that would do it all. Meaning if you scanned and mapped two already-tagged ELWs, you're all set.

Meanwhile, a Sidewinder wouldn't get you anywhere near the top earning methods for combat, trade, mining etc. So, exploration, and now exobiology as well, have a very low barrier to entry, and you hit the ceiling of credits per hour nearly instantly.

If memory serves, exploration would do around 15 million Cr per hour at most (without a LYR bonus), so with the Odyssey mapping bonus, I suppose it would be around 20 MCr/h. I could recalculate it and see if this still holds true, but what for? That's obviously not going to reach the highest(!) income rates of other professions, and that's in my opinion fine.

That is all very valid. But I do think that once you are out there the exploration loop is way more time intensive than mining or combat. I could do a combat mission in 30 min and net 50-60Mil. Let's say you get lucky and find 2 2Mil planets in 10 consecutive systems. To Jump, FSS, then fly to and DSS those bodies, then jump and do it again 10 more times is waaaaay more time than combat. and still 10 to 20 mil short of a combat mission. I don't have the experience in mining to know.

Maybe the cost of entry is lower, but the time sink is much, much bigger and the reward is still less.

 

[angusmadmac1]

I really only have the EDSM data to go off of to see how much I did collect. I think I'm around 200M but clearly I was not doing something right. Learning still I suppose.

DSS all Terraformable planets ELW WW and ammonia world's as that is where the money is. I also don't visit M class systems but you can cut out others from KGBFOA (M) . Once you get to First discovered areas drop down to economic jumps when you start hitting discovered move back up to longer jumps . I very rarely head towards known poi as they are well travelled . And stay away from the Sagittarius carina arm and drymans point , They are full of penduncle trees and it gets boring really quick .
Edsm was the only one I could use ( console player ) and it's fairly accurate but can be out .
And enjoy the exploration I did it for the discoveries but the credits were a rather nice addition .

 

[TiberiusDuval]

I usually drop K's too. GBFOA plus exotics...

 

[Ringslinger]

DSS all Terraformable planets ELW WW and ammonia world's as that is where the money is. I also don't visit M class systems but you can cut out others from KGBFOA (M) . Once you get to First discovered areas drop down to economic jumps when you start hitting discovered move back up to longer jumps . I very rarely head towards known poi as they are well travelled . And stay away from the Sagittarius carina arm and drymans point , They are full of penduncle trees and it gets boring really quick .
Edsm was the only one I could use ( console player ) and it's fairly accurate but can be out .
And enjoy the exploration I did it for the discoveries but the credits were a rather nice addition .

Oh yea. I mean, I just went to Salome's reach and I'm headed to Colonia now. There ain't nothing out here discovered so far.
I've been bad about reporting my data to EDSM but now I'm better. Running Observatory and Icarus as well are very helpful as well.
I just cut M class out for my last 150 jumps to Colonia.

 

[varonica]

I don't think I was skipping Terraformables, but that's highly possible. I'm certainly not skipping them now that I have Observatory Core running, but that certainly could be an issue.
I still do the landing on occasion, just to look around, and get a screenshot. Don't get me started on planet mining since Odyssey.

If you are looking at the system map unless you click on every one it's easy to miss terrformables, specially in multiple star systems, they sometimes pop up in the strangest places.

 

[varonica]

I really only have the EDSM data to go off of to see how much I did collect. I think I'm around 200M but clearly I was not doing something right. Learning still I suppose.

We're all still learning!

 

[Dragsham]

Eddi is fab. Easy to make a profile detailing what you want to map and what to ignore. Not that l do much ignoring tbh. I can't help it.! I feel neglecting in my duty if l find a system as yet undiscovered (I'm 6.5k out at Hawkins gap finding em constantly), and it has bios as well as ringed planets which l scan for hotspots, as well as a ammonia or water giant etc..that's enough for me to map every last moon & planet.
As well as scanning all bio signs which in turn means alot of 1st footfalls.
I've even Inadvertently maxed raws which l harvest if nearby the bios I'm hunting for. Saves a trip to the forest hehe.
I can understand cmdrs absolutely hating this loop(s).
But for some weird reason l find it almost Zen-like. Especially seeing as I'm in VR throughout all of the experience.

 

[Ringslinger]

Eddi is fab. Easy to make a profile detailing what you want to map and what to ignore. Not that l do much ignoring tbh. I can't help it.! I feel neglecting in my duty if l find a system as yet undiscovered (I'm 6.5k out at Hawkins gap finding em constantly), and it has bios as well as ringed planets which l scan for hotspots, as well as a ammonia or water giant etc..that's enough for me to map every last moon & planet.
As well as scanning all bio signs which in turn means alot of 1st footfalls.
I've even Inadvertently maxed raws which l harvest if nearby the bios I'm hunting for. Saves a trip to the forest hehe.
I can understand cmdrs absolutely hating this loop(s).
But for some weird reason l find it almost Zen-like. Especially seeing as I'm in VR throughout all of the experience.

100 % on the Zen part. I do a lot of flying with music on (lately it's lofi stuff) and just relax. It's incredibly peaceful at times.

Digging Observatory Core right now. Great on the vocal alerts to high value targets and other things worth checking out. Need to learn the custom settings a little better.

ED Discovery and Icarus Terminal are great at offering second screen options to give me more data. They work on tablets but I use them on my iMac next to my PC. I only have one monitor. for the PC, so this is a good alternative.

Would love to try VR but I don't think I want to make a huge investment for Elite only.