Overall, these changes sound very nice.
One big question you didn't touch upon - what about that combined class 2 or 3 ADS+DSS module so you don't have to spend like 2 class 4 slots for these class 1 modules?
Now for some specific points from the post:
Because explorers ply their trade far from civilized space, we’ve decided to not add new module requirements. Instead, we’re improving the discovery scanner and detailed surface scanner so Commanders can jump right in as soon as the update is released, without having to spend time traveling back to a port to purchase new gear.
Hooray for that!
As you move the view around, you are aiming your discovery scanner sensors.
How do you
move the view around? Turn the ship? One of the most annoying things for me is that ships that turn slowly are so terrible at exploration because it takes ages to just point them at a planet to scan. I'd love to turn my Cutter into an explorer but its low agility makes that an utter chore.
Along with the Exploration update, we are improving the way that USSs work. USSs will now spawn throughout the entire system when you first enter it. This enables you to use the new exploration tools to find USSs throughout the system, not just in the area around you. You can still interrogate nav beacons to find the locations.
Whilst USSs do still have a decay time, the timers have been increased to allow you time to find and fly to the ones you are interested in. The decay time is also now displayed when targeted. Signal sources still obey rules determining where they can appear within a system, and mission critical signal sources will still be highlighted to differentiate themselves once located.
Do I interprete this correctly that new USS will also spawn while you are in the system? Please don't tell me you have to relog to generate new USS once you have exhausted the current ones (or found none of them of interest).
You will be able to synthesise micro-probes for the detailed surface scanner, but the better aim you are, the less probes you will need to get complete coverage.
So... not reusable? Massive, massive disappointment for me. I hate that about limpets already, and am not at all a fan of this for exploration, too. So far I have always brought both scanners with me even on hybrid loadouts, to be able to spontaneously explore some systems, but I am not sure whether I really want to bother with these DSS limpets just for that. Le sigh.
Now this may yet redeemable if you tell me that these don't require a cargo bay, have a large (e.g. 100) capacity built into the scanner and are very cheap to synthesize. I don't want this to a) exclude small explorers (e.g. Adder) which cannot afford to have a cargo bay, nor b) turn into mostly a grind to refill your DSS drones/limpets, nor c) make you reluctant about engaging the DSS in the first place if you are unsure whether a planet might hold something of interest or value, lest you waste a drone for little in return.
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