Beginner Cobra Mk3 For Exploration

garbage chris

G
Hallo.
I've been playing a week so not totally clear what I'm doing right or wrong but I'm having a great time doing it!

I seem to have spawned towards the edge of civilisation, lower right on the galaxy map, on the very edge of the bubble. Does this sound right? I also picked a random direction to go when I started and that happened to be down and to the right, so further away from everything!

I've only been to Res sites 3 times, one went well, one ended in my only death, one ended in my only test of my Life Support. Bounty Hunting isn't for me!

I'm loving honking and finding good planets, been the first to map a few already and first to discover one. Explorer for me.

This is the ship I've really inefficiently put together.
My ship

I had to swing back round to civilization as i realised I was woefully under prepared in my pretty much base Cobra. I'm going to head out in a random direction and see where I go, then at some point in the future get a better ship for hardcore exploration.

I'm playing in Open, have not yet met another CMDR.

I've got 9m credits in the bank.

I'm enjoying this game a lot.

I'm starting to have to search forums less to find out what is going on. I'll only be new to the game once so I'm savouring this time.

See you out there.
 

Taskmage

Taskmage
If you want to focus on exploration, here a slightly modified version of your ship: Rhebus ?

Comments:
  • You do neither need good shields nor a good power distributer when exploring (and if yomeone wants to gank you while you are inside the bubble, he will do so even with what you had)
  • Life support is pointless out there, as such, D rated. If your cockpit is breached, you die. No matter if you have 1 minute or 30 minutes of air left.
  • Making the ship lighter by using unterrated D modules gives more jump range
  • Lower class powerplant = less weight = higher jump range - A-rated powerplant because of heat efficiency, makes fuel scooping easier.
  • I have added the planetary vehicle, in case you have horizons. you can use it to stock up on materials out there, these allow you to synthesize relods for your AFM.
  • the AFM is turned off by default. You only need it only if you use it, no point in having it active while not. Produces heat in your ship for no gain. If you need it, turn of thrusters/frameshift and activate it.
  • the extra fuel-tank isn't needed, i just added it because the slot was free
There is mor one could do, like underrated thrusters, no shield, ... i left that out because as a beginner this build is a bit more forgiving.
Other then that, have fun and fly save.
o7
 
Last edited:

Lightspeed

Lightspeed
Welcome, Commander.

Next time, you really should include a planetary vehicle hanger and SRV, so that you can get the incredible feel of the loneliness of space as you drive around on a planetary surface. This assumes you have Horizons, and if not, look out for a sale and get it.

If your ship is working well enough for you at the moment, stick with it. All is good.

But remember that "first discovered" and "first mapped" is only attributed once you have reached a station and sold your data.
 

Ian Doncaster

Ian Doncaster
Taskmage said:
[*]You do neither need good shields nor a good power distributer when exploring (and if yomeone wants to gank you while you are inside the bubble, he will do so even with what you had)
Click to expand...
If you don't have Horizons, that's certainly true.

If you have Horizons and want to do planetary landings then good power distributor, shields and thrusters can stop you fatally colliding with planets. Sure, you can just be really careful all the time instead, but good equipment helps.

Taskmage said:
[*]Life support is pointless out there, as such, D rated. If your cockpit is breached, you die. No matter if you have 1 minute or 30 minutes of air left.
Click to expand...
Not really true now that you can synthesise life support from Iron and Nickel - if you do a bit of SRV driving you'll have plenty of those, and your synthesis reserves last twice as long with A-rated.

Easier to get decent material reserves and still use D-rated, of course - but it's not necessarily the end if your canopy cracks.
 

Xani D

X
You cant really go wrong with exploring, you have all the right tools, and in theory, any ship can do it, its just that some are better than others.

Some things to consider.

* Anything you can do to reduce weight on your ship, will increase your jump range, although this is not critical for all exploration, once you start getting to some regions of space, you will appreciate every ly you can get. For example consider dropping that extra fuel tank, it gives you an extra 1.5ly or so, and you can still make maybe 6 or so jumps should you need to without refueling. The other option is take the tank, but never refuel above half way, you will still get the range increase (As its your current weight that matters, not your empty space), but have the option to top up if you really need to cover an area of black without stopping for a fuel scoop.

* Once you unlock the enginner that can modify your frameshift drive (Once you reach scout rank you should get an ingame mail from her), go pay her a visit. Even if you cant max out to grade 5, even the lower level modifications can add a considerable amount to your jump distance. Most of the things she needs can be got from scanning wakes/ships, and from surface SRV mining, the rest you can probably get from missions, if blowing up ships isnt your thing.

* Consider taking an SRV. Some people are for, some are against (Adds weight), but you never know when a planet may catch your eye, you need some materials, or you need a break from your ship, and just fancy racing around making patterns on a ice moon to remind you there is more than honking in life.

* Consider unlocking the Gaurdian FSD booster. Its a bit of a %&"$&"%& to do, but its a cool destination, and once unlocked, its yours forever to buy. Depending on what size module slot you stick it in, a class 4 should give you around a 9ly range increase. If your not sure how to do this, im sure many on here would offer help, myself included, its really not that hard if you know what your doing or have a guide.

* Possibly consider a mining laser. Asteroids can be a good source of materials out in the black for things like reloading various ammo/equipment, repairing your SRV, refreshing your air supply (If your in this situation though, its a dire one), or increasing your FSD range with boosts. And as its the materials your after, you dont need anything else for mining.

* After your first big exploration trip, and you hand in your data, you should have enough cash to consider looking at at more dedicated exploration ship for your next trip in the black. Nothing wrong with the Cobra mk3 for exploring (Its a good all round ship at that stage in the game), but other ships will get you more jump range. Which makes those longer trips, or those unreachable stars in your cobra, more accessible. For example for 10-15 million, you could get yourself a Diamondback Explorer, that can (With a quick throw together build) do easily 35ly+ without any engineering or modifications, with engineering, weight stripping, and a guardian FSD, that thing can push doule that. But these are all ideas for down the line as you progress in the game. For now, that Cobra, is a fine fine ship....... and if you want to stick with her..... tinker with her.... and treat to all the fancy engineering you can, she will easily hit 50ly and still be a great explorer, treat her well commander.

Otherwise, see you in the black :)
 
Last edited:

PhilBFC

P
Love my little explorer/bubble taxi cobra! And with 51ly jump range not too shabby. Nothing overly special but does everything I need it to with no trouble and fuel scoops a full tank in seconds of skimming a star.

Coriolis EDCD Edition

A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous
s.orbis.zone s.orbis.zone
 

firemane

firemane
An initial bad experience with combat is something most of us share. The Humble Cobra is an excellent combat ship when properly fitted. A full combat build is about 12-13 Millions, but it turns the ship into a whole different thing. I encourage you to try it again at some point with a stronger build. Combat s very well done in this game.

Only play in open if you are okay with being steamrolled. I suggest you assume everyone you encounter may be hostile... even the ones who act "friendly". You may want to consider only venturing into Open if you have a ship that can soak some damage. A paper-thin exploration build will just melt on first contact with a player.

Just keep it in mind. :D
 

PhilBFC

P
Everyone's journey is different and for me the cobra never worked for bounty hunting. I saved a bit and got a vulture and the benefits of the large hardpoints and the fact it could turn on a dime made Rez sites a much more enjoyable experience.
 

PavelKCZ

PavelKCZ
For bounty hunting it is probably much simpler for the begginer to hunt in some relatively safe system around Nav Beacon. The police units around can help you a lot. Just be sure that your target is marked Wanted and be carefull with friendly fire.
 

PavelKCZ

PavelKCZ
For exploration, I would suggest make some more money first, buy and equip ASP Explorer, do some basic FSD engineering and after that, you can try some more serious exploration trip.
 

S0rkvild

S0rkvild
Hello. Of course you can explore in style with unengineered Cobra. My first explorer trip was in D-rated Cobra with FSD engineering from Farseer. Range was ~30ly. I went to Coalsack and Pencil Nebula where I found many escape pods on one planet and later on I delivered them back to space port in the Pencil Nebula. It was quite fun because I realized I can do some sort of deep space rescue ;)

Here is my early Cobra minus light FSD engineering from engineer Martuuk https://s.orbis.zone/3lp-

I still have my first exploration Cobra, but now she's is heavily modded capable explorer (~49ly in range) that allowed me to travel nearly 2000 ly above the galactic plane. It was quite thrilling adventure. I absolutely love my exploration Cobra, she is parked in Hell Port of the Seagull Nebula and I mainly use her in Sanguineous Rim of the galaxy which is my exploration area of interest, generally southern part of the galaxy and galactic fringes.

Here. Probably the best and most comprehensive guides on exploring.

[DISTANT WORLDS] Guides & Tools

Guides and Tools for Explorers Here's a collection of guides, tools, and links I've collected over the months as I've played Elite: Dangerous. At the bottom of this thread are a few scripts and tweaks I use with Elite: Dangerous. I'll update this thread as I come across new and useful things...
forums.frontier.co.uk forums.frontier.co.uk

Distant Worlds II - The Outfitting Guide

Link: Logo by Qohen Leth (original concept by Hi-Ban) with assets borrowed from Frontier Developments PLC Animated by Placyde Please contact Qohen Leth if you intend to use the DW2 logo for merchandising items; he will do his best to help you with the technical requirements. The DW2...
forums.frontier.co.uk forums.frontier.co.uk

vH3QMIq.jpg
 

Troopi

Troopi
Welcome commander. If you go exploring these things you must never forget to carry:
1- fuel scoop
2-srv hangar WITH an srv (don't forget to buy it!)
3-mining laser (In case you get stuck in a system with no landable planets but with asteroid belts)
4- amfu (to repair your damaged modules, specially the FSD when you do Neutron-jumps)
5- repair limpet module (In case your hull gets too damaged) - WITH enough cargo rack to store some limpets. (I advise 16 limpets)
6- heat sink module. Because sh-t happens.

Fly well and far, CMDR!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom