Exploration jump range

[Frankymole]

The DBX has two 1-slot spaces. One for DSS. What else to put in the other? The DBX defintely has sufficient slots for an SRV hanger and other travelling basics including flight assists if desired.

I'm not going anywhere without Supercruise Assist. I've just spent all evening in one system doing exobio on multiple, distant bodies and the SCO is too fuel-hungry for all of them. Plus I need to make tea when travelling Also, Repair Limpets are essential when spending months in the black headbutting moons.

The DBX is the ship that can most easily land in mountains on tiny patches of ground that other ships (bar the dolphin?) can't. It also handles like a dream - almost like a small helicopter. What other ship is better suited to exobiology?

 

[Greasetrap42]

The DBX is the ship that can most easily land in mountains on tiny patches of ground that other ships (bar the dolphin?) can't. It also handles like a dream - almost like a small helicopter. What other ship is better suited to exobiology?

Make an honest build effort on an Eagle MKII for exobiology. Here is mine
Give it an honest try for a couple hours, then switch back to the DBX. The DBX will feel like a brick in comparison.

• Short range, launched from fleet carrier. Scanning systems in a bubble around the fleet carrier.
• I have never run into a problem with fuel, but gotta pay attention.
• Amazing in areas of high density stars.
• And yes... it has an SRV hangar and both flight assists. I was just using it at crystal shard sites. (see pic below).

For small landing footprint there are quite a few ships that fit into challenging locations even better than the DBX.

 

[Riverside]

What other ship is better suited to exobiology?

I'm happy to accept your views on the DBX but it's not a ship I fly much. If nothing else for exobiology specifically it has a rear entry/exit which I'm personally not keen on. I appreciate this is subjective.

One aspect of living with a ship you didn't mention though is acceleration/deceleration in normal flight, and along with a front entry/exit that's more of a factor for me than anything else. The vanilla Eagle (not the iEagle) speeds up & slows down extremely well but jump range is a bit of an issue (mine does ~30ly). The Viper MkIV has that front entry/exit, mine jumps around 47ly and speeds up & slows down very well. It's also got more useful optional internal slots allowing decent shields & armour.

I would guess the main benefit of a DBX would be it's potential jump range rather than its ability to land in tight spots. As I mentioned I don't use the DBX much but I certainly can land well enough in an eagle or Viper MkIV for me not to want something even better & sacrifice that front door I have a Sidewinder on my carrier too, it doesn't see much use even though it's landing footprint is tiny because of that rear entry.

 

[Greasetrap42]

For medium range exploration and exobiology, my go-to ship is Viper4.

• Good jump range.
• Okay fuel tank.
• Very small footprint
• Fantastic handling.
• 9 Internal optional slots.

 

[Frankymole]

For small landing footprint there are quite a few ships that fit into challenging locations even better than the DBX.

The Cobra III doesn't land anywhere near as tight spots as a DBX! Try landing it right in the jagged mountain peaks required for some fungoida. I use the Cobra for ground missions but it's way too wide for routine exobio mountain landings. This is my top priority - I don't want to use an SRV when I don't need to for exobio.

 

[aRJay]

The Cobra III doesn't land anywhere near as tight spots as a DBX! Try landing it right in the jagged mountain peaks required for some fungoida. I use the Cobra for ground missions but it's way too wide for routine exobio mountain landings. This is my top priority - I don't want to use an SRV when I don't need to for exobio.

Looking at the table a few posts back you should be able to land either in the same space just in a different orientation.
Personally I use a Hauler as it was the smallest ship I had with me when I stopped using the Phantom.

 

[Greasetrap42]

The Cobra III doesn't land anywhere near as tight spots as a DBX!

My recommendation wasn't a cobra. I wouldn't use a cobra, it isn't as good as my other suggestions. It was Eagle MK II and Viper4.
- Both of these ships have room for an SRV hangar. Which I don't use for exobio, but I do use for other activities.

Sidewinder is even better for landing in tight spots but I find it too frustrating when I skim the ground and it tumbles.

Dedicated short range exobio, Eagle MK II wins. For general purpose medium range utility, the Viper4 easily wins.

 

[Greasetrap42]

I should also add that for fleet carrier launched explor/exobio ships there is no need for AFMU, repair limpets, or secondary SRV.

 

[DjVortex]

And yes... it has an SRV hangar and both flight assists. I was just using it at crystal shard sites. (see pic below).

Technically speaking an SRV isn't needed for exobiology, especially if you have a small and agile ship.

For material gathering, though, it might be more necessary. (With a very small ship I assume it could be a bit tricky to use the Flak Launcher + collector limpets cheese trick because a small ship has just so much place for limpets...)

 

[Darrack]

Make an honest build effort on an Eagle MKII for exobiology. Here is mine
Give it an honest try for a couple hours, then switch back to the DBX. The DBX will feel like a brick in comparison.

• Short range, launched from fleet carrier. Scanning systems in a bubble around the fleet carrier.
• I have never run into a problem with fuel, but gotta pay attention.
• Amazing in areas of high density stars.
• And yes... it has an SRV hangar and both flight assists. I was just using it at crystal shard sites. (see pic below).

For small landing footprint there are quite a few ships that fit into challenging locations even better than the DBX.

View attachment 395753

View attachment 395754

I use a keelback for Exo, smallish and carry's everything.
Aether

O7