Beginer Explorer Ship? :)

[Chronverge]

The DBX is on a permanent 20% discount in Wolf 406 - Hamilton Gateway.

The ASP and the Orca are also on a permanent 20% discount in Alioth - Irkutsk Station. You will however need a permit to access the system.

Good general systems to buy modules are Diaguandri or Lembava. They offer a permanent 15% discount since it's located in Yong-Rui space.

 

[Major Klutz]

If you play on a PC, I would recommend setting up an account with EDSM and using ED Discovery or EDMC to contribute data to the EDDN.
I know, that's a lot of acronyms. If you're on an X-Box or Playstation just ignore this.

If you're on a PC and you're interested in a logging tool that will keep track of your jumps and scans and give you a nice map of your travels, read on.

EDDN is the Elite Dangerous Data Network. An association of web sites that share data on star systems uploaded by users.
EDSM is the Elite Dangerous Star Map. A web site that catalogs star systems to create a complete galactic map, logs your travels and gives you a user profile and travel map.
ED Discovery is a program you run on your PC to automatically upload your data to EDSM, EDDN and EGO.
EDMC (Elite Dangerous Market Connector) is another program that does the same things but also contributes commodity pricing details for stations you visit.

... farmed arround 50 Mio Credits, ...

50 mil will get you a well equipped Asp Explorer.
Just make sure you have an extra 3 or 4 mil for rebuy cost just in case.

 

[WR3ND]

I had no time to check out Exploring yet.

I did some exploring today for 5 Hours and farmed arround 50 Mio Credits, so I am a bit over Ranger now, so I can spent more into ships. If someone can give me a short briefing on Engeneering how I upgrade my Frameshift for example, would be cool. All I heard is you get invitations to planets but tbh. no idea how it works

Regarding the ship build question...

Once you get around 70 to 80 million or so you can more or less outfit an Asp Explorer however you want with the best or at least most effective modules. This will work as a pretty decent multi-role ship to work on the Engineer stuff as well as being a very good exploration ship option.

With more internals it has more options available to it and more things you can use the ship for. Not sure exactly what you might want for it, but if you want a build mock-up that can do a little bit of everything, let me know. Half the fun though, at least for me, is customizing my ships to my own liking and what I want to do in the game. For example, I have four different exploration ships that I have more defined roles and usage scenarios for – passenger missions or CGs, combat capability, planet surface scouting, and deep space exploration. For these reasons, I don't actually have an Asp Explorer. That being said, it is a very popular and capable ship to have at its price point.

 

[Straha Yeagar]

Regarding the ship build question...

Once you get around 70 to 80 million or so you can more or less outfit an Asp Explorer however you want with the best or at least most effective modules. This will work as a pretty decent multi-role ship to work on the Engineer stuff as well as being a very good exploration ship option.

With more internals it has more options available to it and more things you can use the ship for. Not sure exactly what you might want for it, but if you want a build mock-up that can do a little bit of everything, let me know. Half the fun though, at least for me, is customizing my ships to my own liking and what I want to do in the game. For example, I have four different exploration ships that I have more defined roles and usage scenarios for – passenger missions or CGs, combat capability, planet surface scouting, and deep space exploration. For these reasons, I don't actually have an Asp Explorer. That being said, it is a very popular and capable ship to have at its price point.

Along these lines, I have a hellishly good exploration Eagle. Engineered for 32ly jump range, and will boost to over 600. Has ADS, DSS, and SRV.

 

[Bladefeather]

From using the DBX for exploration, I can say that it works well. I still prefer my Anaconda, but I like the DBX better than the Asp that's for sure. It has a low heat output, meaning you can get close to stars, and It is an amazing exploration vessel. I would say, try a few out, go a couple thousand lightyears. If you don't like it, you can get back quickly. It is all up to you.

 

[WR3ND]

From using the DBX for exploration, I can say that it works well. I still prefer my Anaconda, but I like the DBX better than the Asp that's for sure. It has a low heat output, meaning you can get close to stars, and It is an amazing exploration vessel. I would say, try a few out, go a couple thousand lightyears. If you don't like it, you can get back quickly. It is all up to you.

I might eventually break down and get a DbE just for exploring the very thin parts of space. Already have an extra 5A tier 5 range modded FSD hanging around collecting dust.

Would be nice to fit a bigger fuel scoop on it and the DbS though. Seeing as how the DbE has such a big jump range now, it does have more of a functional role within the game, especially since I'm not particularly interested in getting an Anaconda.

 

[Kenneth McGrew]

Fashionably late to the party...



but, for less than 8 mil credits you can afford a very nice Dolphin and still afford rebuys

https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/dol...A=.EweloBhBGA2EoFMCGBzANokMK6A=&bn=cheap phin

the D spec AFMU is only to reduce cost, you can refill it anyway (with very easy materials to find) so it wont put any restrictions on your trip in the black other than how often you need to synthesise materials, which isnt often anyway!

or stick with the Type 6 and go for a b class fuel scoop and lower class AFMU to save on costs.

https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/typ....EweloBhBGA2EoFMCGBzANokMK6A=&bn=cheap type 6

the DBx is also a great ship, but you will have to compromise further since the 5A FSD costs ~4.3 million alone, and skimping on an already small scoop vs the FSD size will mean you're sat next to stars for a long time and its pretty much at 8 million even with a C Class fuel scoop!

 

[velospeed2002]

Count me as another proponent for the DBX. In fact, just last night I returned from a trip to Beagle in mine, via the left perimeter of the galaxy. She performed admirably.

The 58 LY jump range was very nice for when I wanted to make a beeline for home. Slower fuel scooping is somewhat mitigated by the ability to engage the FSD quite early on in the scooping process, due to the cool running aspect of the ship. Trying to get very near to, without hitting, 100% heat actually livens up what is normally a boring game mechanic - IMHO.

I have three fully engineered exploration vessels: DBX, AspX and an Anaconda. Obviously personal opinion, but the DBX is my favorite of the 3.

The fact that it is relatively inexpensive puts one of the best exploration ship in the game within reach of beginner explorers.

EDSM Profile: CMDR Sakae

 

[Major Klutz]

I can't find it now, but I read an account of a buckyball race between a DBX and an AspX.
Although the Asp can go faster due to it's faster fuel scoop, that only holds true over short distances.
Over long range, the DBE can out pace the Asp due to it's greater jump range.

 

[Orvidius]

Yeah, I like the DBX too, but I just find its scoop-rate to be excruciating. I'd rather do a few extra jumps. In the end it's a pretty close call, but then when you consider that the AspX has a lot more internals (one additional slot, and several are bigger), it wins out pretty clearly (for my tastes).

 

[Heavy Johnson]

From using the DBX for exploration, I can say that it works well. I still prefer my Anaconda, but I like the DBX better than the Asp that's for sure. It has a low heat output, meaning you can get close to stars, and It is an amazing exploration vessel. I would say, try a few out, go a couple thousand lightyears. If you don't like it, you can get back quickly. It is all up to you.

Well, yeah, but he's looking for a beginner ship, not one that has a 146M hull cost

 

[roboteconomist]

I had no time to check out Exploring yet.

I did some exploring today for 5 Hours and farmed arround 50 Mio Credits, so I am a bit over Ranger now, so I can spent more into ships. If someone can give me a short briefing on Engeneering how I upgrade my Frameshift for example, would be cool. All I heard is you get invitations to planets but tbh. no idea how it works

There are a couple of good guides out there. I did one recently, but Dr. Kaii's series on unlocking Felicity Farseer/Elvira Martuuk and range modding is probably the best out there.

Oh and FWIW, I think the AspX is the best ship for a first time deep space explorer. It has been said elsewhere, but bears repeating that fitting a size 6 fuel scoop (even a 6C!) on a ship with a 32 ton tank is a crucial quality-of-life feature and -- this may seem like a "number of cup holders" argument -- the Asp's bubble canopy gives you the best FOV in the game.

 

[WR3ND]

Had enough extra credits and that extra tier 5 range modded FSD collecting dust, so I decided to make up a DbE to use just for those harder to reach systems. It's funny, but I'm actually dreading ever taking it out of the hanger. [haha] It's causing me some anxiety just thinking about it.

Love the ship name I chose for it though. Seems very apt. → https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/dia...loBhBmSQUwIYHMA28QgIwV0A=&bn=The Shimanagashi

 

[Teh Smoo]

I posted this before, about ship-specific bonuses: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/369767-Ship-Special-Abilities-noncombat-stuff

As the DBX/DBE line really could use a scoop bonus, no? And specific bonuses prevents unintended consequences that would result from just increasing optional slot size.

 

[WR3ND]

I posted this before, about ship-specific bonuses: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/369767-Ship-Special-Abilities-noncombat-stuff

As the DBX/DBE line really could use a scoop bonus, no? And specific bonuses prevents unintended consequences that would result from just increasing optional slot size.

I've suggested elsewhere at least a few times before about there being an exploration specific module slot allotment for things like FSDs and scanners, much as some of the combat ships now have. This way the larger module size couldn't be used for other things to throw off the balance too much. Just a thought.

On the other hand, with the DbE having the second largest jump range potential in the game now and for its price, it has a clear use in the game, so having a weak fuel scoop is a fair trade off. Still means I'm not too keen on using the ship myself, but to each their own.

 

[Orvidius]

I've suggested elsewhere at least a few times before about there being an exploration specific module slot allotment for things like FSDs and scanners, much as some of the combat ships now have. This way the larger module size couldn't be used for other things to throw off the balance too much. Just a thought.

I like that idea. There's also been talk on several occasions about the idea of having either a multi-rack for consolidating the scanners (for instance, a size-3 module that has a pair of size-1 slots in it, for the surface and discovery scanners). Or, also adding utility versions of the surface and discovery scanners.

I also like the idea of adding restricted slots for the transport ships (Type 6,7,9, and perhaps several others) that can take a frameshift range-booster, allowing for some exploration builds on those to get reasonably good jump ranges. Ideally, still shorter ranges than the existing explorers, but close enough to encourage more variety in exploration ships.

 

[velospeed2002]

I posted this before, about ship-specific bonuses: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/369767-Ship-Special-Abilities-noncombat-stuff

As the DBX/DBE line really could use a scoop bonus, no? And specific bonuses prevents unintended consequences that would result from just increasing optional slot size.

My view is that the DBX should be left exactly as is. The weak fuel scoop is a fair trade-off for everything else this ship does well. Upgrading it would risk obsoleting the AspX for exploration, obviously a big no-no.

IMHO, it isn't too much of a handicap really once a DBX pilot learns how to aggressively scoop and engage FSD early. Flirting with the 100% heat line can be somewhat entertaining in its own right.

 

[Satsuma]

Honestly, if you're exploring to make money and rank up (or just to see cool sights), there's not a lot of difference between a ship with a 20 ly jump range and a ship with a 50 ly jump range. You make money/scan data/see sights on a per-jump basis, not a per-light-year basis, so go with an affordable cheap ship that you like to fly and just enjoy yourself.

Don't get me wrong, I love having a long range exploration ship. It lets me travel long distances faster, and gives me more options for getting out into very sparse areas. But probably 90% of the explorable galaxy is open to ships of 20 ly range, so a cheaper ship gives you great bang for your buck, especially starting out.

Here's a variant Cobra Mk III I used pre-Horizons. I flew about 25 kly with it and made enough money to buy and fit an a-rated AspX, but I'd be perfectly happy continuing to fly it, too, with minor modifications. It's got a 25 ly range without any engineering mods, carries an SRV, has boost and good shields so it's forgiving in landings, and an a-rated power plant for good heat dissipation. Best of all, it's under 5 million credits.

If you like the Cobra (and I do), you can engineer the FSD and get a sizable increase in range, if that's your thing. A good grade 5 modification will push your jump range up above 35 light years, which is a greater range than I had on the ship I took to Beagle Point and the Treehouse. Without adding anything to the cost of the ship.