Been exploring and took a break

[TickTockRob]

Hello there, everyone!

I've basically been exploring, and was on my way to the centre of the galaxy, before I took a year break from the game.

I'm back on it now, but have forgotten many things, and don't know too much about the new features from the various updates.

Essentially though, it seems there's a few space stations now outside of the bubble...is it worth me visiting these, or should I just head back to the bubble once I'm done?

Also, is it a good idea to have it on open play when exploring? I'm very unlikely to run into anyone, but when I get to Sag A*, I imagine the chances are higher...will there be any nut jobs there that will try to attack me?

Also, any general tips for heading back? A good station to dock at, and also what about various factions or what not...whom should I sell my data too, or does it not matter?

Thanks, everyone!

TickTockRob

 

[Lightspeed]

Where are you?? Approximately? Like distance from Sol.

So much has changed in a year ! And planets are about to become more (visually) interesting again.

Since there's a new Beta starting next week, might be worth getting your hand in again via that, for practice, and see what is new without harming your explorer account.

 

[TickTockRob]

Where are you?? Approximately? Like distance from Sol.

So much has changed in a year ! And planets are about to become more (visually) interesting again.

Since there's a new Beta starting next week, might be worth getting your hand in again via that, for practice, and see what is new without harming your explorer account.

Well I'm not too sure haha I'm closer to the centre than I am from sol, let's just say!

Great to hear that the game is progressing so much! Just hard to keep up with everything...is there something(s) i should be aware of?

 

[Stealthie]

There isn't a lot to do at the stations between the bubble and Sag A.

Colonia is a fairly decent little mini-bubble but all the rest of the stations/outposts are really just places to repair and re-supply.

One place is really as good as another as a "base-camp" in the bubble.
I fly all of my exploration ships out of Strekalov Dock in HIP 103138 simply 'cos it's a high-tech system, which means you can buy a lot of parts there, and it's way out on the edge of the bubble, which means you're less likely to get ganked if you decide to fly in Open.

 

[Riverside]

I left dock on the 14th of October 2016 & docked again in Colonia (via Beagle Point) in mid-December 2017. Hull repair limpets are new & might be worthwhile if you can spare the room (controller plus cargo bay, you can synthesise limpets now).

I did most of it in Open apart from a few sessions taking high-res screenshots in solo, but never met another Cmdr. I could have of course, but mostly I played in Open so I could see where friends were on the galmap & they could see where I was if they wanted to.

If you are near the core Colonia is worth stopping at, you can repair your ship & sell your data. Although outfitting is limited you can still make changes to your loadout if you feel the urge or even have another ship transferred to you (at huge cost).

 

[Lightspeed]

Colonia is a group of planetary bodies with stations, and Jacques a space station, on the "west" side of the Galaxy from the center. There are facilities there. Also there is a chain of stations from Colonia to the Bubble. You can hand in exploration data at any or all of these.

There is also an Exploration section to this forum where you can get assistance of all kinds. https://forums.frontier.co.uk/forumdisplay.php/117-Exploration

 

[Lightspeed]

Best advice I can give is Don't Land Anywhere Without Your Shields On ! Easy to forget them after a long time out among the stars and you can take hull damage so easily.

 

[TickTockRob]

There isn't a lot to do at the stations between the bubble and Sag A.

Colonia is a fairly decent little mini-bubble but all the rest of the stations/outposts are really just places to repair and re-supply.

One place is really as good as another as a "base-camp" in the bubble.
I fly all of my exploration ships out of Strekalov Dock in HIP 103138 simply 'cos it's a high-tech system, which means you can buy a lot of parts there, and it's way out on the edge of the bubble, which means you're less likely to get ganked if you decide to fly in Open.

Thanks, I'll keep a note of that place! I guess I could just do closed play or what not, but I do like to play open, as it seems more "real" I guess. Hope I don't regret that!

I left dock on the 14th of October 2016 & docked again in Colonia (via Beagle Point) in mid-December 2017. Hull repair limpets are new & might be worthwhile if you can spare the room (controller plus cargo bay, you can synthesise limpets now).

I did most of it in Open apart from a few sessions taking high-res screenshots in solo, but never met another Cmdr. I could have of course, but mostly I played in Open so I could see where friends were on the galmap & they could see where I was if they wanted to.

If you are near the core Colonia is worth stopping at, you can repair your ship & sell your data. Although outfitting is limited you can still make changes to your loadout if you feel the urge or even have another ship transferred to you (at huge cost).

haha wow, that's a long time away! Did you spend all that time exploring?

I thought you'd bump into people in Sag A* purely because most would head there...but I guess there's still relatively few who would end up there in the end.

 

[TickTockRob]

Colonia is a group of planetary bodies with stations, and Jacques a space station, on the "west" side of the Galaxy from the center. There are facilities there. Also there is a chain of stations from Colonia to the Bubble. You can hand in exploration data at any or all of these.

There is also an Exploration section to this forum where you can get assistance of all kinds. https://forums.frontier.co.uk/forumdisplay.php/117-Exploration

Thanks, I didn't know that! I'm actually travelling away from the Colinia corridor...I'm going East of the centre, and am almost there now (then I plan on going inwards...I did this just because I thought most may make a bit of a B-Line to the centre, so I wanted to travel a bit offwards.

And thank you very much for the forum link! I did have a quick look for one, but I didn't spot it...perhaps I didn't look hard enough! I'll be sure to post there as well

Best advice I can give is Don't Land Anywhere Without Your Shields On ! Easy to forget them after a long time out among the stars and you can take hull damage so easily.

haha well I've actually got my shields on all the time...is this something that isn't often done when exploring? I think I read Nutter's guide a while back, and I'm sure he said to use your shields, so I just did....perhaps I'm missing a trick or something!

 

[Spacecat]

I just left Sag A and have been in open the whole time and haven't seen a soul.

 

[Lightspeed]

haha well I've actually got my shields on all the time...is this something that isn't often done when exploring? I think I read Nutter's guide a while back, and I'm sure he said to use your shields, so I just did....perhaps I'm missing a trick or something!

Only if you have heat issues, and taking shields off reduces that problem. Otherwise no need to worry.

 

[TickTockRob]

I just left Sag A and have been in open the whole time and haven't seen a soul.

Thanks...that sounds encouraging...I'm hoping it'll be okay. It's a risk, of course...have you ever had any issues playing in Open and been exploring?

Only if you have heat issues, and taking shields off reduces that problem. Otherwise no need to worry.

ahh okay...I hadn't ever tried doing that...would it be risky for taking damage though once your shields are off? What circumstances would you be taking heat damage but wouldn't take more damage from taking off your shields?