Cmdr Pingmonster's Interstellar Travelogue

Manticore · May 8, 2016

Welcome to Cmdr Pingmonster's Interstellar Travelogue

Cartographic Note: If an ELW or WW are too far from the entry point in a system they won't be individually scanned when on deep exploration voyages requiring thousands of light years of travel. It would have to be a black hole to justify taking 30 minutes to cover a couple of hundred thousand light seconds when 30 minutes can cover 20-25 systems jumping and scanning. Visual inspection of the map (and some exploration experience) allows recognition of most ELW's and WW's anyway. Black holes will always be investigated, no matter what distances are involved.

Significant finds mapped: For formatting (and readability) purposes the scanned system maps for discovered ELW's, WW's and other interesting stellar objects will be hidden behind the spoiler tags.

Nebula Explorations-Names: Astronomy gives various names to nebulae depending on the source of the research. For exploration purposes the nebulae will always following the naming of sectors in the ED:H universe galactic map unless otherwise stated in the map.

Attention Elite Cartographers: Unfortunately I'm not much of a cartographer (it's all about exploring!) so I keep system map screenshots but I don't do spreadsheets etc. Map screenshots are provided and if any cartographers are motivated to use the information it's all to the good of expanding our human presence in the Milky Way; our home galaxy.

o7!
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Keelback Amazon sporting 40,000LY's+ worth of chipped paintwork.

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Ship manifest:

1. Cobra Mk III PIN-01 Mithra
2. Viper Mk IV PIN-02 Baby
3. Diamondback Explorer PIN-03 Star Dancer
4. Imperial Eagle PIN-04 Medusa
5. Type 6 Transporter PIN-05 Irene
6. Type 7 Transporter PIN-06 Doris
7. Keelback PIN-07 Amazon
8. Viper Mk III PIN-08 Phaedra
9. Type 6 Transporter PIN-09 Gladys
10. Anaconda PIN-10 Kali
11. Sidewinder PIN-11 Makeda
12. Asp Explorer PIN-12 Kinnara
13. Vulture PIN-13 Jezebel
14.Python PIN-14 Ariadne

newman1702 · May 8, 2016

The black hole's lensing effect is more visible against a background that isn't completely black. Try position yourself so the black hole is directly in front of the milky way in the background and the effect will be a lot more visible.

Manticore · May 9, 2016

newman1702 said:
The black hole's lensing effect is more visible against a background that isn't completely black. Try position yourself so the black hole is directly in front of the milky way in the background and the effect will be a lot more visible.

Thanks for the advice.

I did try to find a view which had a decent starfield behind it .

Next time I'll get pictures.

Manticore · May 24, 2016

Pingmonster's Report From The Bridge:

A week spent touring the Pleiades (mainly searching for salvage):

Maia B Black Hole:

And the unknown structures (I posted another thread on this) found out there:

Happy trails CMDR's!

Manticore · May 28, 2016

Pingmonster's Report From The Bridge:

Back in The Bubble for the release of 2.1:

I finally came across this configuration of station and it I got a huge hit of nostalgia for the original Elites from back in that day:

Bright lights, big city:

Manticore · Jun 2, 2016

Pingmonster's Report From The Bridge:

With 2.1 dropping I decide to go back to the HQ of my Powerplay faction (which is also the system where my ships are in hangar) and amp up my stats and rep etc. in my "home" system. I also unlocked some of the Engineers by quickly doing the required materials run.

Apart from that I did the Morning After CG which was quite productive.

I had been saving up for a Type-6 Transporter and, with the changes/re-balancing of Missions after the release of 2.1, the money to buy it came through at just the right time. I spent the week doing shakedown runs in the Type-6 and slinging 80T loads around for the Empire or to the Orbital for the CG. The new Missions system has required me to rethink my business model and, for that reason, getting the Type-6 happening now couldn't have been at a better time for rebooting my commercial interests.

The Type-6 has magnificent views from the expansive bridge canopy:

Bringing it on home for the CG:

I am going to spend the next Powerplay cycle doing much the same thing; amping up my faction stats and rep and using the Type-6 to haul large and fast with a view to researching my next nebula tour in the coming weeks (I haven't decided which one yet but it will be in the Cobra MkIII which is purposed for exploration).

Even hauling is a photo opportunity:

See you out there!

Manticore · Jun 11, 2016

Pingmonster's Report From The Bridge:

I spent some time with the new missions system, made some money, lost some money (ship destruction) running haulage in the Lakon Type-6 (I wish I could find a Class 4 power unit and Class 4 shields for it!). A couple of weeks playing inside the bubble amping stats etc. is enough.

Time to get back to what I like to do; exploring, salvaging and collecting bounties (which are going to end up in the hands of some engineer-type dude). I pulled the Viper MkIV out of the hangar and upgraded it somewhat (particularly defensive and offensive capabilities):

See you out there!

Manticore · Jun 18, 2016

Pingmonster's Report From The Bridge:

I've been doing the exploration data CG mostly this week (I like exploration, obviously).

Also tooling around on planets doing my salvage thing:

An undefended mining facility:

The photo I couldn't take:

At another location I recall the ship and, for some bizarre reason only known to the ship's computer, it decided to land near a defended facility 1.4kms away from the SRV (and it wasn't as if the the planet surface didn't allow for closer landing).

I'm heading back to the ship and I realise that it is actually inside the defensive perimeter and the defenses have acquired it. So I can see the Point Defense from the outside of the ship targeting and eradicating incoming missiles. It looked damn spectacular and impressive.

No time to stop and take a photo as I need to get to the ship and get it the hell out of there.

As I'm getting closer the missile defenses also acquire the SRV so the Point Defense is protecting me as well in the SRV. Damn spectacular stuff.

Point Defenses work people! It's just a shame that survival was more important than the travelogue photo at that time.

An old school Elite orbital looking very smart in red trim:

See you out there!

Manticore · Jun 26, 2016

Pingmonster's Report From The Bridge:

I've spent the past week or so hanging around Garoku for the Exploration Data CG.

After that I headed back to my "home" system (where my ships are in hangar) in Empire space with the intention of making a bit more cash and pushing up my rank(s) before either refitting the Cobra Mk III or buying another ship, to do some seriously deep exploration and touring (a 14,000 LY round trip this time).

After picking up the Cobra I've headed to Alliance space and the relevant Engineer in that space and I'm going to spend some time grabbing cash and busting Bounties (for the Engineer unlock) before getting serious about my next long range tour.

De-assing Garoku after the CG and heading home:

Dropping down on the night-side:

Speeding into a jump while on a courier run:

See you out there!

Manticore · Jun 30, 2016

Pingmonster's Report From The Bridge:

I basically spent the week around the Engineer base at Trophy Camp busting out and turning in bounties to unlock this Engineer. Apart from that I did some heavy salvage in this region and made some credits.

I keep noticing similarities between stuff in this game and sci-fi movies (and books) which I think is pretty cool.

Trophy Camp:

Every time I visit this Engineer the structures here remind me of the movie Alien³. Concept art based on the film:

Crater surfin' for salvage:

Coming up is a week or so in Alliance space to improve my Alliance rank and put more credits in the bank to top up the account before I buy another ship and head out on a deep exploration tour.

See you out there!

Manticore · Jul 7, 2016

Pingmonster's Report From The Bridge:

This week was just exploring, salvage and bounties inside the Bubble. I'm basically topping up my credits before buying another new ship (probably a Diamondback Explorer) specifically for my next exploration into the deep black.

Geology Lesson:

The surface of this planet looked to be either a basalt or granite. There was very little dust or regolith type of particulate; just bare rock. Basically the whole area I was exploring for salvage looked like it had been spat out of a volcano.

Low-G rock-hoppin' for salvage:

I was getting some good "air"...........

Ringed worlds in this game never get old for me:

Ship's computer has a mind of its own:

I've had some funny experiences recalling the ship. Sometimes it has a bit of a brain fade and lands somewhere dumb and inconvenient. Other times it lands right next to me. I like the way this (and docking computers) give the ship's systems a kind of personality.

I didn't set this shot up. The ship just decided to create a photo opportunity.........

Seeing the sights:

I'm totally into exploring and being able to land on planets and get out and about is what it is all about for me. The postcard opportunities never end for an explorer. There is an extremely deep gorge behind the SRV and ship which I was just about to follow a scanner ping into.....

Time for some pest control:

Cash on delivery:

See you out there!

Manticore · Jul 14, 2016

Pingmonster's Report From The Bridge:

I came back to the Bubble for the release of 2.1 and with the intention of amping up ranks and stats and making credits to buy some new ships before heading back out on another expedition into the deep black (news on that coming next week). Apart from the Lakon Type-6 bought for trading etc. I've now bought a Diamondback Explorer and am prepared to get out there for another nebula expedition. But first a few tourist highpoints from the past week.

Planetary salvage always provides photo opportunities:

The "string of pearls" to the right of the star is the neighbouring stellar sub-system all lined up nicely by accident.

Into the sunrise:

Expedition Earth:

I realised I was only 20LY's from Sol so I had to "make the pilgrimage".

Checking out the Capital Ship standing off a (heavily terraformed) Mars I actually (and accidentally) rammed it! I was expecting to be immediately vapourised but they were friendlies....

Dropping in on Dark Hide:

500,000 credits to an Engineer was a good way of doing a shakedown run in the Diamondback.

Off into the deep black:

This is probably 1000LY's out from the Bubble trekking out to where I want to be. There are endless wonders and great vistas to explore.

So far on this expedition I have explored two black holes that had not been charted (at least on my map). All those adventures and more in the next report back.

See you out there!

Manticore · Jul 21, 2016

Pingmonster's Report From The Bridge:

I've left the Bubble heading out into the Perseus Arm with the intention of doing a nebulae crawl (and returning with a truck load of data).

Black Hole Sun(s):

I made a slight detour back to HIP 34707 to explore and photograph the black hole this time. A great example of gravitic lensing taken against the background of the galaxy. HIP 34707 now explored.

Then, on the way out, discovered another black hole in a system I was passing through. Data collected.

Seeing the sights:

Setting down on a planet to log off for the day I find a massive impact crater.

An infinite number of vistas to explore and witness:

More next week.... see you out there!

Manticore · Jul 28, 2016

Pingmonster's Report From The Bridge:

Destination: Heart and Soul Nebulae expedition

I've spent the past week exploring the Heart and Soul Nebula. Interesting enough but not two of the most spectacular nebulae. They are close together (300-400LY's) and both small enough to get around in quite quickly. The light in them is quite good for some holiday photos.

Almost there:

Stopping for a rest at a landfall. Heart and Soul are clearly visible from over 1500LY's away.

Gratuitous travelogue photos:

Under a blood red sky:

The light of old stars in one volume of the Heart Nebula paints everything the colour of blood.

Pingmonster's Wall:

While setting down on a planet to log off I found this structure that looks decidedly unnatural; as if it could be made by intelligent life. The formation runs from horizon to horizon and has the appearance from altitude of an ancient ruined wall. It's probably an artifact of procedural generation of the planet but it's nice to imagine that it's actually something else.

Found here:

The Lost Explorers:

I lucked on a crash site on a planet I was set down on last night; at 7000LY's outside the Bubble what are the odds that that will happen (RNG perhaps)? This crash site had four Occupied Escape Pods but my current Diamondback Explorer load-out is set up for deep exploration so the Cargo Racks have been swapped out for an AFMS. Four Pods 7000LY's from the Bubble and I couldn't save them!

They are here if anyone is out that way and want to rescue them:

Constellation of the Riddle:

Heading home I turn back for one last shot of the nebulae from some distance and a few local star clusters line up in a question mark; coincidentally.

See you out there!

Manticore · Aug 4, 2016

Pingmonster's Report From The Bridge:

Heart and Soul Nebulae Expedition debrief

This week it's all about the statistics and other map data.

Ship: Diamondback Explorer
Distance traveled: 14,000LY's approx.
Systems discovered: 35
Cartographic data profits: 7 million Cr. approx

Navigation notes:

This expedition took me out of the Orion Arm and into the Perseus Arm. The Diamondback had a jump rang of 21LY's. There is a volume of space between the two arms that I call the Outopps/Outorst Expanse where star density drops away. In a ship with this Diamondback's jump range the navigation plots require a lot more indirect jumping to cover the same distances. Usually 350LY's could be covered in approximately 20 jumps. In the Outopps/Outorst Expanse the lower stellar density requires 25-30 jumps to cover the same distance.

Traveling along navigation plots to the Nebulae there are high populations of young and Main Sequence stars so fuel-scooping and fuel maintenance are never a problem.

The Heart and Soul Nebulae are relatively small emission nebulae and only separated by 200-300LY's so navigating and exploring around both is easily accomplished in a short survey.

Significant finds mapped:

A lot of the best images from the expedition appear in previous weeks' reports above.

Up next:

So now it's back in the Bubble. I promised myself that the I would use the profits from this expedition to buy a "sports car" for the fun of it so an Imperial Eagle is now added to my ship roster. I'm heading into Alliance space to amp up my ranking there before deciding on my next longer run away from human occupied space.

See you out there!

Manticore · Aug 5, 2016

Up next:

So now it's back in the Bubble. I promised myself that the I would use the profits from this expedition to buy a "sports car" for the fun of it so an Imperial Eagle is now added to my ship roster. I'm heading into Alliance space to amp up my ranking there before deciding on my next longer run away from human occupied space.

Pingmonster's Report From The Bridge (additional):

I didn't have a shot of the new Imperial Eagle which I am now putting through it's paces in Alliance space. (And it's always interesting to visit those systems with the names from the original Elites; a real hit of nostalgia in a way).

So here she is examining an almost intact wreck floating in a close solar orbit in one of those systems:

Manticore · Aug 11, 2016

Pingmonster's Report From The Bridge:

I'm spending some weeks in Alliance space as I want to make so more credits and elevate my Alliance ranking. It's back to missions and salvage for the moment while I plan my next deep exploration escapade.

I've put the Imperial Eagle in the hangar and gone back to the Viper MkIV which is a better all round ship for missions...........

See you out there!

Jermus · Aug 13, 2016

Hello CMDR Pingmonster,

Apparently I cannot rep you anymore, so I'll settle for a +1 Vrep. I really like your weekly logs! You post some beautiful pictures, and there is lots of variety, so never a dull moment

.

I recognize the flashback moments this game gives. Sometimes I get warped back to what I experienced with the original Elite game, even far out from the bubble (currently 55 Kly out

) and I thoroughly love it!

Fly safe,
CMDR Jermus

Manticore · Aug 13, 2016

Thanks CMDR!

As I've said, here or elsewhere, it's all about going, seeing what's out there and getting some great images!

Stay safe out there in the black and I'll catch up with you later.

Best wishes!

Manticore · Aug 18, 2016

Pingmonster's Report From The Bridge:

I'm spending a few weeks in Alliance space making credits and ranking up by going back to missions and salvage. (I've always found Alliance ranking to drip-feed and it takes a long time to make progress).

For that reason I'll just hit the highpoints with some nice images from this week's escapades.

Diso 4:

I know everyone goes there and everyone takes this shot. However a ringed brown dwarf start is a magnificent image and I had to take a shot of my own.

The biggest space debris field I've come across:

I dropped down into his debris field and it was massive. It looks like a capital ship was destroyed. Salvage yielded a lot of materials.

Conjunction:

Close grouped multiple stars are always a hit.

Moon eyes:

Coming up-The Weekend Nebula Expeditions:

Mission profile:

I don't want to do a really deep exploration for a month or so (real life does exist!). The objective is to reach some nebulae that are within 1000LY's of The Bubble. Those trips I can make by flying out to a nebula on a Friday and staying there all weekend to explore and come back to The Bubble of a Sunday to spend the week making more credits and ranking up.

I'll probably start those in a week or so..........

See you out there!