Exploration - how do you go in a certain direction?

[archie456]

Hi,

I've decided to take up exploration for a bit.

I've picked the Soul Nebular as a target first off, but I'm finding it difficult to plot a route towards it as I can only see my current position and the soul nebular when zoomed out a lot - when zoomed out I cannot select stars as destinations.

How to I pick destination stars in the Galaxy Map which are in the correct direction I'm headed - without lots of zooming in and out and guessing?

Thanks.

 

[Kneejo]

I usually rotate the view so that the target thing is above and I am below in the view. THen I use one control to move the cursor into one direction.. usually up in the heading of the target. just under 1000 LY further zoom in, pick a star and hit plan route. But in locations with less stars you have to plan shorter routes. 100 LY works well in the Rift for me currently.

1000 LY is usually the max distance to plot. you will have to cross over to perseus arm somewhere so there's an area where you will have to plot shorter legs. Just repeat this procedure until you can select a star close to or in the nebula

Edit: skimming over the map like this zoomed in allows you to find interesting stars or other objects in the general direction your're going. I usually scan the entire 1000 LY again in slightly zoomed mode with only the rare stars active, like black holes and neutrons

 

[Alex Brentnall]

Generally If I know my destination in the galmap I turn grid on and look at the co-ordinates. Plot a 1,000 Ly route in the vague direction of target. Jump & repeat until close enough to plot manually.
Alternatively zoom out, use grid to work out roughly 1000Ly in direction and zoom in to plot, It's never 100% perfect but will always get you there with relative accuracy.

If I see a shiny nebula or object that I don't know where it is in the galmap I will use the left hand panel to select systems until it's in the vague direction of what I'm aiming for. Load galmap and follow the direction the line in to find said object and use above to plot towards it.

 

[anikaiful]

Hi,

I've decided to take up exploration for a bit.

I've picked the Soul Nebular as a target first off, but I'm finding it difficult to plot a route towards it as I can only see my current position and the soul nebular when zoomed out a lot - when zoomed out I cannot select stars as destinations.

How to I pick destination stars in the Galaxy Map which are in the correct direction I'm headed - without lots of zooming in and out and guessing?

Thanks.

Enable galaxy map Grid and note down the coordinates.

 

[cheesenbiscuits]

I select my destination star then zoom out until i see my current location,line the two destinations up and then zoom back in and select a star that is less than 1000ly,plot my route and rinse repeat
Make sure you have realistic view selected on the map.

 

[CMDR Ellegon]

Enable galaxy map Grid and note down the coordinates.

Wait, there is a grid? :O

Now I feel really, really sheepish. [rolleyes]

 

[Windscreen Smudge]

This is how I do it. Which will probably not work for anyone else, but oh well....

Works best when you start out from a system that has a ship in storage in one of the stations for the extra marker. If you don't have one there, do yourself a favor and park a sidey there real quick before leaving.

Lock on to your destination star, and write the name down so you can find that specific star later.

Rotate the camera so that you're looking at your ship marker on the map and line your target star up with your ship marker so that it looks like your marker is sitting above your target star.

Click the button next to the "my location" bar which lists where you are. The camera should zoom back in on your location without changing the camera's orientation.

Roll the mouse wheel back and find a star 1000ly away from you in the right direction, doesn't have to be exact, and get there.

Now that you're 1000ly out from where you started you're close enough to heading in a straight line for your destination that whenever you need to plot a new route you just rotate your camera until your current position lines up with your parked ship marker, zoom out 1000ly and select your next route. Rinse and repeat until you're within 1000ly of your destination and then beeline it over there.

You may end up to the side, above or below your destination when you're finally within 1000ly of it but that doesn't matter. It's actually a bonus. You're probably not the first heading for that landmark. There have likely been thousands of players there before you, but you just took a completely unique route from everyone else and you've got a pile of first discovered scans to show for it.