Exploration dudes, you're probably going to hate me for this, but I have to give my honest opinion.

[Deleted member 110222]

I think the Advanced Discovery Scanner is cheap.

Not cheap to buy. Just cheap to use. I think that it has made it far too simple to "explore".

Jump into system. Ten seconds later... You instantly know where everything is.

This honestly makes exploration boring for me. There's no hunt for exciting finds. You just get everything handed to you on a silver platter. *yawns*

You are welcome to disagree with me. I mean no hostile intention with this thread. It's just my honest-to-maker opinion.

I've decided that from now on I'm not going to use the ADS, but rather the IDS. Doing so will give me the hunt I crave, and when I find an ELW... I'll feel like, personally, that I really earned it.

Profits will be less, but for my gameplay, it'll be a lot more fun.

 

[MattG]

Is it too early for a shot?

 

[Zieman]

FDEV kinda dropped the ball by introducing the ADS in its current state.
I've always had the opinion that the scanner ranges are bad, and a revision is long overdue.
What are 'good' ranges then? That merits its own discussion, but something like:
BDS - 1000 Ls
IDS - 20000 Ls
ADS - 500000 Ls

 

[newman1702]

Discussed to death - check the second post in here to see there's even a drinking game, that's how much it's been discussed. The tl;dr version, and what it always comes down to, is that for many explorers that go on months long expeditions, visiting thousands of systems, spending much time in each system even determining if the system is worth a look is simply not viable. A lot of newcomers to exploration express this opinion and a very good percentage change their opinion rapidly after their first longer expedition. But, yea, the simple answer for those that hate the ADS is to use a lower grade variant. You then have to use the parallax method to find planets, which may be fun for a while, but would become tedious for most after their Nth ice ball system they spent hours in.

 

[Deleted member 110222]

FDEV kinda dropped the ball by introducing the ADS in its current state.
I've always had the opinion that the scanner ranges are bad, and a revision is long overdue.
What are 'good' ranges then? That merits its own discussion, but something like:
BDS - 1000 Ls
IDS - 20000 Ls
ADS - 500000 Ls

I think 500,000ls for the ADS is too much, IMO.

I'd say:
BDS - 1000ls
IDS - 25,000ls
ADS - 100,000ls

As it stands, I'll use the IDS. I find exploration more fun when I feel like I have to hunt for stuff.

- - - Updated - - -

Discussed to death. The tl;dr version, and what it always comes down to, is that for many explorers that go on months long expeditions, visiting thousands of systems, spending much time in each system even determining if the system is worth a look is simply not viable. A lot of newcomers to exploration express this opinion and a very good percentage change their opinion rapidly after their first longer expedition. But, yea, the simple answer for those that hate the ADS is to use a lower grade variant. You then have to use the parallax method to find planets, which may be fun for a while, but would become tedious for most after their Nth ice ball system they spent hours in.

As stated, it's a personal opinion, and I welcome people to bring their disagreement into the discussion. I'm not going to get hostile, don't worry. I want a civil discussion.

You're quite right. People in my position can use a lower grade scanner, and it it's absolutely what I do. I just find it more enjoyable.

 

[newman1702]

I think 500,000ls for the ADS is too much, IMO.

I'd say:
BDS - 1000ls
IDS - 25,000ls
ADS - 100,000ls

As it stands, I'll use the IDS. I find exploration more fun when I feel like I have to hunt for stuff.

You should really refrain from making any definitive statements about exploration mechanics before you can call yourself an experienced explorer. It's very easy to think you really get it after you've just begun, but the sheer scale of the galaxy is a huge factor in these discussions, and you can't really get it until you've done it enough to start comprehending just how mind-boggingly huge the galaxy we play in really is, and what longer expeditions, spending months, sometimes over a year, not seeing another ship or station, really means.

But yea, if you enjoy using the IDS, by all means, go for it. You might feel differently after the first 10k systems with your name on it. Or maybe not. We'll see

 

[Deleted member 110222]

You should really refrain from making any definitive statements about exploration mechanics before you can call yourself an experienced explorer. It's very easy to think you really get it after you've just begun, but the sheer scale of the galaxy is a huge factor in these discussions, and you can't really get it until you've done it enough to start comprehending just how mind-boggingly huge the galaxy we play in really is, and what longer expeditions, spending months, sometimes over a year, not seeing another ship or station, really means.

Don't let the signature fool you. I'm anything but new to the game. I've just reset save many times, for reasons that never have anything to do with exploration.

 

[newman1702]

Don't let the signature fool you. I'm anything but new to the game. I've just reset save many times, for reasons that never have anything to do with exploration.

New to the game is not equal to new to exploration. You can spend years trading, doing CG, hazres, CZ, whatever, then a few days exploring and it's very easy to start thinking you get exploration too because you've been playing long. If you've not explored long, those other activities are just too different for that time to apply to your understanding of exploration.

Anyway, please don't take the above as criticism. I think that if you like the IDS, it's a perfectly valid way to play. Not for me but if you enjoy it, that's great, keep doing it for as long as you find it enjoyable.

 

[Deleted member 110222]

New to the game is not equal to new to exploration. You can spend years trading, doing CG, hazres, CZ, whatever, then a few days exploring and it's very easy to start thinking you get exploration too because you've been playing long. If you've not explored long, those other activities are just too different for that time to apply to your understanding of exploration.

My exploration rank on first Xbox save: Pioneer

Signature represents PC account.

I appreciate your sentiment, but honest-to-maker, I'm not a newcomer to exploration.

 

[newman1702]

I appreciate your sentiment, but honest-to-maker, I'm not a newcomer to exploration.

No offense, but you kinda are. Talk to me after you've explored so much you could have made elite several times by now Doesn't matter, though. The only wrong way to play is to tell others they're doing it wrong. I don't think the ADS should be changed at this point, and like I said, you should definitely keep using the IDS if that's what's more fun for you.

 

[MattG]

Talk to me after you've explored so much you could have made elite several times by now

So in about 3 days time, if he does some passenger missions...

 

[newman1702]

So in about 3 days time, if he does some passenger missions...

Hahah Wait, do profits from the missions themselves count toward exploration profits? That's just wrong.. Even as it was reaching elite in exploration was way too easy. As it stands only combat elite actually takes time to get if you earn it by actually killing ships and not skimmers.

 

[Deleted member 110222]

No offense, but you kinda are. Talk to me after you've explored so much you could have made elite several times by now Doesn't matter, though. The only wrong way to play is to tell others they're doing it wrong. I don't think the ADS should be changed at this point, and like I said, you should definitely keep using the IDS if that's what's more fun for you.

None taken. I know better than to get upset with a stranger on the internet.

I'm nuts, and I'm not a min-maxer. *shrugs*

 

[Valije]

This déjà vu feeling...

 

[MattG]

Hahah Wait, do profits from the missions themselves count toward exploration profits? That's just wrong.. Even as it was reaching elite in exploration was way too easy. As it stands only combat elite actually takes time to get if you earn it by actually killing ships and not skimmers.

Yes, since last patch. But prob best to keep comments on it in the other thread, I only said it to be flippant

 

[newman1702]

Yes, since last patch. But prob best to keep comments on it in the other thread, I only said it to be flippant

Fair enough. I've had a short break from Elite recently and have only been getting back into it recently. Thanks for the link!

 

[Kolato]

After 700k LY you'll be happy that the ADS is as it is.
What i would like frontier to change however is to remove the star type filter on the galaxy map, or at least limit it to already visited systems. Sure it is practical, but it removes a lot of the fun from exploration. (Also while you're at it remove targeting bodies from the system map and do it the good old way)

 

[Valije]

After 700k LY you'll be happy that the ADS is as it is.
What i would like frontier to change however is to remove the star type filter on the galaxy map, or at least limit it to already visited systems. Sure it is practical, but it removes a lot of the fun from exploration. (Also while you're at it remove targeting bodies from the system map and do it the good old way)

Hey, hey... if they limit the filter to the "already visited" you will miss some systems when you try to map a full sector. Add the "no visited" filter at least

 

[Mengy]

I actually like the unlimited range of the ADS and I think it’s needed as an option in a game like this, HOWEVER, I wish a single ADS honk didn’t reveal the planet graphics but instead revealed the planets as black circles or wireframes so that you had to actually point your ship at them and detail scan the planets in order to tell what type they were. The current method of simply glancing at the system map for a few seconds and being able to tell what type of planets are out there with 95% certainty simply by the graphics alone feels cheap and poor to me. I think a greater effort should be needed for that. Consequently, I also feel like exploration should PAY better for said time investment.

That said though I don’t hate the way it is currently. Maybe I’ve just gotten used to it. What I really desire is more exploration content and improved game mechanics.

 

[thundernuns]

Discussed to death - check the second post in here to see there's even a drinking game, that's how much it's been discussed. The tl;dr version, and what it always comes down to, is that for many explorers that go on months long expeditions, visiting thousands of systems, spending much time in each system even determining if the system is worth a look is simply not viable. A lot of newcomers to exploration express this opinion and a very good percentage change their opinion rapidly after their first longer expedition. But, yea, the simple answer for those that hate the ADS is to use a lower grade variant. You then have to use the parallax method to find planets, which may be fun for a while, but would become tedious for most after their Nth ice ball system they spent hours in.

^^^^^^^^^^^