TL;DR for those who are just looking to see where they can find Chalice Pods of their own.
Now, read on for details.
Earlier in May, I was looking at NSP maps, and I realised that I never really looked into the Chalice pods far in the North-East, even though they stand out. Why? Because unlike many NSPs that are only found in one or two spheres, these appear in five distinct spheres... with no obvious centers. That they are 500 ly spheres is easy enough to tell, and for two of them, looking at the data I was pretty sure I could tell their centers already. Those would be Pyra Dryoae FT-O d7-0 and Crivoe ZG-S d5-12. Looking at those two systems, one had a ringed Ammonia World, the other was a nicely varied system too, so a thought struck me: what if Frontier placed the centers of the other three into interesting systems as well?
None of the zones had any previous forum posts (usually record breakers at the time) or GMP entries nearby (that I could find), so it seemed Frontier didn't place these on top of them. They often did that with other NSPs, though not always.
So yeah, by the time I looked through all these, I was committed: I decided to head out and determine those centers.
For those who don't know, the procedure for that is as follows:
1. Using the existing uploaded data of where NSPs have been found, estimate where their spheres' centers might be
2. Get the coordinates of systems that are around that estimate, compare distances to known NSP systems
3. Find known ones just inside where you suspect the border would be (500 ly in these cases)
4. Check for candidates that would be just outside said border, and most importantly, where there were no NSPs reported!
5. Fly to those locations to verify that there really are no NSPs there, or if they were just not uploaded (like the data is older than 2018. Dec.)
Repeat until you narrow it down to only one system that fits everything.
The requirements of the NSPs in question are critical to how much work this requires. Back when I was looking for the Ovomly Torus Mollusc zone's center, it took a long while. However, Chalice pods only need an O/B/A/F star and an Ammonia World or a Gas Giant with Ammonia-based Life, so those are relatively easy to find.
Let me give you an example. Blia Aod TY-S d3-53 has NSPs and is 499.95 ly from Roefe FK-H a37-0, while Blia Aod PS-U d2-82 has no NSPs and is 501.31 ly from Roefe FK-H a37-0. Both systems meet the other requirements (star and body), and there are no other systems near that Roefe system where the first Blia Aod would be within 500 ly and the second outside of it.
With that in mind, here are the results of my search. Chalice pods can be found within 500 ly of these systems:
1. Roefe FK-H a37-0
2. Striechie PR-X b7-0 or Striechie BT-V a15-2
3. Blue Bluae TX-M a75-0
4. Crivoe ZG-S d5-12
5. Pyra Dryoae FT-O d7-0
Now, about the systems themselves.
Roefe FK-H a37-0 had nothing of interest. One landable moon, nothing found upon it after mapping. Another system where I have no idea why Frontier chose that one in particular.
For the second zone, I could only narrow it down to two close candidates: Striechie PR-X b7-0 or Striechie BT-V a15-2. With enough effort, it could be pinpointed to one, but I decided it wouldn't be worth that much time spent for me and moved on to the other spheres instead - because unfortunately, neither of these two systems had anything of note. The former is empty, the latter only has the usual bunch of landables icy bodies. Although curiously enough, the game slowed down to death while charging a jump out of PR-X b7-0, so much so (FPS became SPF) that I had to kill it. However, I couldn't reproduce this, so while it was weird, I wouldn't put any stock in this.
Blue Bluae TX-M a75-0 was completely empty as well. At first, I thought this would be a difficult one, given the density of dwarf star systems in the area, but it turned out to be quite easy, as there were good uploads very near the border already. I only needed to check one candidate system to nail the center down to one system.
Pyra Dryoae FT-O d7-0 has a ringed Ammonia World that looks quite nice (one of those very thick atmospheres that make them look like icy planets), and Crivoe ZG-S d5-12 has a nice variety in bodies. Even if none of the two are especially noteworthy. I'd much more recommend visiting the Grotto of Amethystos if you want to see Chalice Pods, maybe sample them, as it's a more interesting location.
Because of those two systems, I was hoping that all five would be interesting, but oh well. At least those who'll come later will know where exactly they might find some NSPs of their own.
Finally, my data sources, the thanks to the people whose works I used. The sites were Spansh, EDAstro and EDSM for their data on where Chalice Pods have been found already. Of course, my thanks also go to all of the players who shared their discoveries with everyone else!
Have fun, and visit the pods if you're in the area! They can be sampled with research limpets (although said samples are quite useless right now), and the pods themselves are pretty nice, and mostly harmless.
In case anyone would like to see my notes, read which candidate systems I confirmed to have no NSPs, let me know and I'll post them here.
First, be within 500 ly of one of the following systems: Roefe FK-H a37-0, Striechie PR-X b7-0 or Striechie BT-V a15-2 (choice pending), Blue Bluae TX-M a75-0, Crivoe ZG-S d5-12, Pyra Dryoae FT-O d7-0. Then, you need to find a system with an O/B/A/F star, and either an Ammonia World or a Gas Giant with Ammonia-based Life. If all these requirements are met, you'll find NSPs with Chalice Pods.
Now, read on for details.
Earlier in May, I was looking at NSP maps, and I realised that I never really looked into the Chalice pods far in the North-East, even though they stand out. Why? Because unlike many NSPs that are only found in one or two spheres, these appear in five distinct spheres... with no obvious centers. That they are 500 ly spheres is easy enough to tell, and for two of them, looking at the data I was pretty sure I could tell their centers already. Those would be Pyra Dryoae FT-O d7-0 and Crivoe ZG-S d5-12. Looking at those two systems, one had a ringed Ammonia World, the other was a nicely varied system too, so a thought struck me: what if Frontier placed the centers of the other three into interesting systems as well?
None of the zones had any previous forum posts (usually record breakers at the time) or GMP entries nearby (that I could find), so it seemed Frontier didn't place these on top of them. They often did that with other NSPs, though not always.
So yeah, by the time I looked through all these, I was committed: I decided to head out and determine those centers.
For those who don't know, the procedure for that is as follows:
1. Using the existing uploaded data of where NSPs have been found, estimate where their spheres' centers might be
2. Get the coordinates of systems that are around that estimate, compare distances to known NSP systems
3. Find known ones just inside where you suspect the border would be (500 ly in these cases)
4. Check for candidates that would be just outside said border, and most importantly, where there were no NSPs reported!
5. Fly to those locations to verify that there really are no NSPs there, or if they were just not uploaded (like the data is older than 2018. Dec.)
Repeat until you narrow it down to only one system that fits everything.
The requirements of the NSPs in question are critical to how much work this requires. Back when I was looking for the Ovomly Torus Mollusc zone's center, it took a long while. However, Chalice pods only need an O/B/A/F star and an Ammonia World or a Gas Giant with Ammonia-based Life, so those are relatively easy to find.
Let me give you an example. Blia Aod TY-S d3-53 has NSPs and is 499.95 ly from Roefe FK-H a37-0, while Blia Aod PS-U d2-82 has no NSPs and is 501.31 ly from Roefe FK-H a37-0. Both systems meet the other requirements (star and body), and there are no other systems near that Roefe system where the first Blia Aod would be within 500 ly and the second outside of it.
With that in mind, here are the results of my search. Chalice pods can be found within 500 ly of these systems:
1. Roefe FK-H a37-0
2. Striechie PR-X b7-0 or Striechie BT-V a15-2
3. Blue Bluae TX-M a75-0
4. Crivoe ZG-S d5-12
5. Pyra Dryoae FT-O d7-0
Now, about the systems themselves.
Roefe FK-H a37-0 had nothing of interest. One landable moon, nothing found upon it after mapping. Another system where I have no idea why Frontier chose that one in particular.
For the second zone, I could only narrow it down to two close candidates: Striechie PR-X b7-0 or Striechie BT-V a15-2. With enough effort, it could be pinpointed to one, but I decided it wouldn't be worth that much time spent for me and moved on to the other spheres instead - because unfortunately, neither of these two systems had anything of note. The former is empty, the latter only has the usual bunch of landables icy bodies. Although curiously enough, the game slowed down to death while charging a jump out of PR-X b7-0, so much so (FPS became SPF) that I had to kill it. However, I couldn't reproduce this, so while it was weird, I wouldn't put any stock in this.
Blue Bluae TX-M a75-0 was completely empty as well. At first, I thought this would be a difficult one, given the density of dwarf star systems in the area, but it turned out to be quite easy, as there were good uploads very near the border already. I only needed to check one candidate system to nail the center down to one system.
Pyra Dryoae FT-O d7-0 has a ringed Ammonia World that looks quite nice (one of those very thick atmospheres that make them look like icy planets), and Crivoe ZG-S d5-12 has a nice variety in bodies. Even if none of the two are especially noteworthy. I'd much more recommend visiting the Grotto of Amethystos if you want to see Chalice Pods, maybe sample them, as it's a more interesting location.
Because of those two systems, I was hoping that all five would be interesting, but oh well. At least those who'll come later will know where exactly they might find some NSPs of their own.
Finally, my data sources, the thanks to the people whose works I used. The sites were Spansh, EDAstro and EDSM for their data on where Chalice Pods have been found already. Of course, my thanks also go to all of the players who shared their discoveries with everyone else!
Have fun, and visit the pods if you're in the area! They can be sampled with research limpets (although said samples are quite useless right now), and the pods themselves are pretty nice, and mostly harmless.
In case anyone would like to see my notes, read which candidate systems I confirmed to have no NSPs, let me know and I'll post them here.
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