Exobiology - why do Stratum Tectonitas pay so well?

[geoffrey.hdt]

Hi commanders,

Currently enjoying a change of pace with a short exobiology trip, 3 days / 3 billions, whichever comes first.
Just wondering why, lore-wise, the big bucks are on the Stratum Tectonitas?
I mean, they are pretty easy to find (High Metal Content worlds with almost any type of atmosphere), and super easy to spot (the blobs are just all over the place, over large areas that sometimes cover the entire planet).
Has it ever been explained what Vista Genomics does with these? Are these supposedly converting the metals in the ground into outstanding alloys or something?
Not that it really matters, but curious about what the logic is w.r.t. their value.

Also, has there even been an exobiology Community Goal in the past? just hoping that the next CG's (which are scarce since I returned to the game after a long break) will not just be about hauling, shooting or pinging...

 

[aRJay]

No revealed information on the why’s and what’s of Vista’s pricing or interest in particular bios that I know of.
It obviously not merely scarcity or difficulty in this case so it must be something else.

No exobiology CGs yet, mostly CGs have avoided content that you can’t access from Horizons.

 

[geoffrey.hdt]

[...]No exobiology CGs yet, mostly CGs have avoided content that you can’t access from Horizons.

Any reason FDev is fine to reward Odyssey players with the highest paid activity (seriously, this is pretty much pay2win), but don't want to implement Odyssey CG's? Sure some non-Odyssey players would whine, but that would be a helluva selling point for the DLC...

 

[ꝁestrel]

We don't know but it might even be arbitrary. Take a look at this list:

Vista Genomics Price List | Canonn Research Group

Are you tired of getting stiffed at Vista Genomics? Commanders using our software have been uploading their sales data so we can create this price list...

canonn.science

There are plenty of other species that pay well. Stratum Tectonitas just happens to be the easiest to find consistently.

 

[Dougie]

I have also noticed that certain type of gas giant seems to pay a lot more than others (EDD shows a $ next to them) - any reason for that?

 

[geoffrey.hdt]

We don't know but it might even be arbitrary. Take a look at this list:

Vista Genomics Price List | Canonn Research Group

Are you tired of getting stiffed at Vista Genomics? Commanders using our software have been uploading their sales data so we can create this price list...

canonn.science

There are plenty of other species that pay well. Stratum Tectonitas just happens to be the easiest to find consistently.

Oh my, indeed!
Never seen any of these other high paid bios.
Glad to see the salad bar has some interesting secret items, I'll have to do some research and see if I can add some to my menu

 

[metatheurgist]

Because this game mechanic is so boring they had to dangle a big carrot over it. In fact I think there should be something that looks like a big carrot and pays a lot. Then they should release the bunny suit cosmetic and have it pay 5x more if you scan it when wearing that suit.

 

[Bigmaec]

Because this game mechanic is so boring they had to dangle a big carrot over it. In fact I think there should be something that looks like a big carrot and pays a lot. Then they should release the bunny suit cosmetic and have it pay 5x more if you scan it when wearing that suit.

Will the x5 multiplier apply to rank?
Asking for a friend because he would approve then.

 

[metatheurgist]

Will the x5 multiplier apply to rank?
Asking for a friend because he would approve then.

Only if you use the cosmetic that turns your guns into carrots.

 

[GoldenSilver484]

Only if you use the cosmetic that turns your guns into carrots.

Do the carrot guns also come in lightish red? Everyone knows lightish red does the most damage.

 

[Bigmaec]

Do the carrot guns also come in lightish red? Everyone knows lightish red does the most damage.

Lightish red goes fastest. Sick green glow does most damage. Duh.

 

[metatheurgist]

Purple carrots ftw.

 

[Surprize960]

There was simply a mistake. Actually, the much rarer Stratum Araneamus, which depends on the presence of volcanism, should have the highest price of all stratums. As you can see, the other, volcanism-dependent and rare stratum (Stratum Cucumisis) is also very valuable.

(Guess)

 

[pvaljann]

Much in the same way, I went on my first exploration trip recently, and came back with 4 billion in exobio. I'm not a picky scanner (unless something is particularly hard to find,) but over half of that was from Stratum + first discovery. It seems the outer Orion and Elysian Shore have very similar exobio. My next discovery trip is going to be something different. I will probably end up finding different types that are equally nuts.
Vista require genetic variety, so I'd rather be see "high money" for samples based on distance or similar - Same planetoid+distance or other planetoid+distance.

 

[aRJay]

Any reason FDev is fine to reward Odyssey players with the highest paid activity (seriously, this is pretty much pay2win), but don't want to implement Odyssey CG's? Sure some non-Odyssey players would whine, but that would be a helluva selling point for the DLC...

According to the credit grinders it isn’t the highest paid activity because it isn’t fast enough and the prices are too variable. Obviously a R2R approach would sort some of that but would eliminate the bonus.
Maybe but remember CGs didn’t really involve surface settlements, passengers etc until Horizons was rolled into the Base Game.

Because this game mechanic is so boring

To some, others find other stuff boring.
For me it is the most interesting and enjoyable thing to do on foot.

they had to dangle a big carrot over it. In fact I think there should be something that looks like a big carrot and pays a lot. Then they should release the bunny suit cosmetic and have it pay 5x more if you scan it when wearing that suit.

As long as that stacked with the first discovery bonus or better the bonuses multiplied then I might be persuaded to buy Arx. Actually no I wouldn’t so best to leave it as it is.

 

[geoffrey.hdt]

We don't know but it might even be arbitrary. Take a look at this list:

Vista Genomics Price List | Canonn Research Group

Are you tired of getting stiffed at Vista Genomics? Commanders using our software have been uploading their sales data so we can create this price list...

canonn.science

There are plenty of other species that pay well. Stratum Tectonitas just happens to be the easiest to find consistently.

Eh eh, on my way back from the black, I did find a system with lots of rocky moons hosting several high paying bios.
Sadly, not the first footfall for me :-(
I have some homework to do for my next exobio trip. Hopefully I can add some rocky candidates to my list of HMCs.

 

[Lhorndra]

Any reason FDev is fine to reward Odyssey players with the highest paid activity (seriously, this is pretty much pay2win), but don't want to implement Odyssey CG's? Sure some non-Odyssey players would whine, but that would be a helluva selling point for the DLC...

I assume they want people to buy Odyssey, so high paying exobiology is a pretty good argument. On the other hand, they want many players to participate in CGs without alienating those who don't have Odyssey.

Because this game mechanic is so boring they had to dangle a big carrot over it.

Speak for yourself. I find exobiology much more engaging than many other gameplay loops. Not the scanning itself, of course, but the whole investigating, low altitude flying und actually finding salad with my own eyes bit.

 

[Monk]

I assume they want people to buy Odyssey, so high paying exobiology is a pretty good argument.

Why don't they just make Odyssey part of the base game purchase going forward? I mean, Elite Dangerous is old enough to hang out in the discount games bin at Walmart, if that were still a thing. I guess, the purchase of Odyssey is much more than legs and worse planets; with all future updates locked behind it. It still just feels wrong to me.

 

[geoffrey.hdt]

Why don't they just make Odyssey part of the base game purchase going forward? I mean, Elite Dangerous is old enough to hang out in the discount games bin at Walmart, if that were still a thing. I guess, the purchase of Odyssey is much more than legs and worse planets; with all future updates locked behind it. It still just feels wrong to me.

Yes, I think it is about time they do.
Or...maybe they planned to do that, with Trailblazer being the new paid DLC...which would have been a very bad decision since we need as many players colonizing to make the think work as intended.

Now, back to the CG's, they could have two CG's running concurrently, like on Exploration and one Exobio...would be a shame to not use all the system body data collected on the way, and everybody (Odyssey and Horizon players would have something to do).

 

[aRJay]

Why don't they just make Odyssey part of the base game purchase going forward? I mean, Elite Dangerous is old enough to hang out in the discount games bin at Walmart, if that were still a thing. I guess, the purchase of Odyssey is much more than legs and worse planets; with all future updates locked behind it. It still just feels wrong to me.

It is something about the different depictions of violence between the two, blowing up ships can be done on a PEGI 6 classification in Horizons while shooting people in the way Odyssey shows is a PEGI 16.
There are probably others but that is one of the stumbling blocks.