Discovery scanner - quick clarification needed

[Warm Considering]

Hi all, I'm new-ish to the game and I've been merrily exploring away out in the black, logging many unexplored systems with the discovery scanner, uploading to EDSM, currently at somewhere round the 350 mark for discovering systems new to EDSM. Now, I get that new systems to EDSM aren't necessarily new to the game, given the different platforms etc...

However, I think I've been making a serious (and somewhat soul-destroying, if true ) error - I've been jumping to a new system, scanning with the infinite discovery scanner, then jetting out to the next system WITHOUT scanning the star with the planetary scanner... does this mean what I think it means? I.e. that without scanning the star, I won't be tagged as being first discoverer of that system?

If that's the case, then OK, my bad, I feel suitably foolish - but how then do I come across systems which have all the system bodies marked as "unexplored" (i.e. no surface map done) yet tagged with a commander's name as first discoverer? I mean, how did they manage to discover the system without "planetary scanning" any of the bodies in the system?

I'm confused about the process so if one of you experienced explorers could enlighten me please, I'd appreciate it.

Hey there!

Ok, so you have three different levels of scans: Level 1 (sometimes called HONK) is your D-Scanner, aptly nicknamed the "D-Horn." Just don't use that phrase around anyone in real life, because they won't think it means what you think you mean.

Anywho...

So, level 1 is the D-scanner, it provides a list of all astronomical bodies in range (unlimited since you have the advanced version). You use the D-Scanner to see what bodies warrant your attention, and while you do get a little money for these discovery scans, you don't get anywhere near as much for a detailed scan, and do not get a first discovery tag.

Level 2 is a detailed scan. To perform a detailed scan lock onto the object and then fly towards it until your sensors can resolve it. You'll know when scanning starts. It happens automatically, and when it is complete you will be prompted. A detailed scan will provide you a first discovery tag--provided you are the first to sell the data. If you have a Detailed Surface Scanner equipped when you perform a detailed scan you will also automatically perform a level 3 scan, which nets you the most cash.

Level 3 is a Detailed Surface Scan, which is performed automatically when you get a detailed scan on any object with a DSS (detail surface scanner) equipped. A DSS will give you much more information about an object, and in the case of landable bodies it will provide you a mineral composition that you can use to find synthesis and engineering materials on the landable surface. Accordingly, detailed surface scans are the most profitable, with such level 3 scans on Earth-like planets yielding in excess of half a million credits (600,000+ as of 2.3 I think).... each, plus bonus for first discovery if you are so fortunate.

You can find a visual guide to current exploration values and yields here.

When it comes to efficient scanning what I like to do is travel all the way out to the furthest planet and then attempt to scan across the system by range. This requires that you observe the ranges to objects from the cockpit instead of their orbital positions in the system map. This way you are moving across the elliptical plane in a more orderly fashion, instead of zipping back and forth between planets whose actual positions in space do not correspond to their positions in the system map. For example, while planet A may be near planet B in the system map, in reality it may be on the other side of its host star, which becomes problematic if planet A and planet B are the two with the outermost orbits. So, instead of scanning from planet A and planet B, go from A to... C... or whichever is actually closer. It doesn't always work out that you make a nice neat line across the diameter of the system, but it is always faster than going in order in the system map because the planets are never--I repeat never ever--organized in neat lines starting from the star out, and if they ever are you may conclude it is a bug.

Hope this helps!

 

[Jonny Shiloh]

Thank you Major (and everyone else who's patiently chipped in to help a wayfarin' doofus out...), I think I get it now.

Fly safe everyone o7

 

[Sapyx]

Many thanks all, very useful pointers - knowing what I now know, I'm currently reworking my method, trying to find the most efficient way of getting round the systems, scanning as I go before moving on to the next star. At the moment, I'm starting with the furthest interesting planet (if there is one) and working back towards the main star before aligning with the FSD exit point, but I'm not convinced this is the most efficient way of doing it. Time and practice will tell I guess.

That was behind my thinking to start far away from the star and work back towards it - because you scan it from a long way off, I don't have to slow down, by the time I'm in danger of planting my ship into it, I've already scanned it and I'm jumping to the next star.

Most people start at the star and work outwards, for several reasons.

- You're already pointed more-or-less at the star when you arrive, so you might as well scan it while you're facing that way. This is especially important for people exploring in giant, lumbering ships like the Anaconda. A typical explorer routine on arrival at an Unexplored system is to point at the star and start scanning it while the discovery scanner is charging, then load the system map to look at what the other targets in the system are while the star is being scanned; by the time the system map loads and you've picked your next target (or decided there aren't any worthwhile targets), the star scan should be finished.

- Many planets are already within scan range right there at the jump-in point. If it's a typical M to A rated star, then any molten-lava-ball planets and any gas giants within 1000 Ls are probably already within scan range, without you even having to move. For some compact systems, such as TRAPPIST-1, every planet is scannable from the jump-in point. Other interesting targets (like a typical ELW/terraformable orbit) are usually just a short flight away from the jump-in point. And as a general rule, the planets closest to the star (metal rich, ELWs, terraformables) are more valuable than the ones further away (gas giants and iceballs).

- Travelling out, then back in again, is covering twice the distance than just starting at the centre, travelling out, then leaving the system while you're out. Furthermore, you may have noticed that travelling in towards a star is much slower than travelling out; the FSD travels faster the further away you are from the star so approaching a star makes you slow down.

 

[Jonny Shiloh]

Thanks Sapyx, makes sense - I had a go last evening using the "star first" method and, with much use of keyboard shortcuts etc, got some decent times scanning unexplored systems. Possibly needs a bit of refining still to find the most efficient method, but maybe super-efficiency isn't the most important thing. I've come to realise that exploration isn't so much about getting to your destination as quickly as you can, it's more about the journey that gets you there.

Despite its oft-noted shortcomings, E is a great achievement and I can honestly say I haven't had this much fun just poking around in any game I can think of.

 

[Cpt Shadow Wolfe]

Actually that's the main function of the Discovery Scanner. It finds all of the bodies, and as long as you don't die before you sell the data, you'll retain the system information and can view it from the map. But that's the key part-- You have to sell the data before it becomes permanent. If you die, you'll lose it, and the system will be "unexplored" for you again, just like with the detailed scans of each body. Scanning the entry star doesn't impact the discovery "honk" data.

Thanks for the clarification, I never wanted to actually test it to see how it works, I just make it a habit to scan the main star anyway since its right there in front of you, also gives me time to top of the fuel before moving on, I pretty much top off at every scoopable star whether I need it or not, and while its fueling I checking system map to see if I need to scan anything else. Usually will bypass all the 'Discovered' stuff even if I know its a WW or EL or something interesting simply because my interest is mainly First Discoveries and not credits. Of course, that philosophy is out the window in the Bubble, I will often scan stuff around my home station just to have the information on what types of materials are on the planets in case I need to go foraging for something specific.