Exploration loadout advice
- Thread starter Perjoss
- Start date
If just rocks, then none because it all goes in materials. If you expect to find a few canisters and need the credits, 8 or 16 will be plenty, depending on how long you expect to be out there. The value of physical space cargo isn't enough to be worth cramming racks in if you need other things (like a DSS, AFMD etc)
You probably don't need any cargo space, as stuff (rocks / materials) you pick up on planets goes into your material storage.
If you plan on picking up stuff from signal sources or POI's on planets, then you might need some, but be careful. If you carry any cargo, you stand a greater chance of being interdicted by NPCs on your return, putting your exploration data at risk if you happen to be destroyed.
In real terms, there's absolutely nothing out there (that we know of) that's worth taking aboard as cargo.
Sure, you might find valuable goods and data caches can be worth a LOT of credits but there's nothing that's going to provide a "life-changing" reward and, on the flip-side, anything valuable that you are carrying in your hold is going to attract bandits to your (probably) lightly armed and armoured exploration ship and make it explode... which is a life-changing experience.
Most explorers probably fit some cargo space, in the desperate hope that they'll stumble across some unique, previously-undiscovered, item but how many of those things (assuming any exist) do you actually need to bring back?
2t of cargo space is probably all you need to get rid of that anxiety.
4t at most.
Sure, you might find valuable goods and data caches can be worth a LOT of credits but there's nothing that's going to provide a "life-changing" reward and, on the flip-side, anything valuable that you are carrying in your hold is going to attract bandits to your (probably) lightly armed and armoured exploration ship and make it explode... which is a life-changing experience.
Most explorers probably fit some cargo space, in the desperate hope that they'll stumble across some unique, previously-undiscovered, item but how many of those things (assuming any exist) do you actually need to bring back?
2t of cargo space is probably all you need to get rid of that anxiety.
4t at most.
If I may I'd like to add a little caveat to your solid, logical approach. If I find an occupied escape pod I consider it my duty to attempt to rescue them. At one point I had (IIRC) 77 escape pods onboard, until I was able to return them to civilisation
I'm on the grand tour (anti-clockwise) & I'm still carrying 12 escape pods 40,000ly later. I considered dropping them at beagle point but couldn't bring myself to do it
If I may I'd like to add a little caveat to your solid, logical approach. If I find an occupied escape pod I consider it my duty to attempt to rescue them. At one point I had (IIRC) 77 escape pods onboard, until I was able to return them to civilisation
I'm on the grand tour (anti-clockwise) & I'm still carrying 12 escape pods 40,000ly later. I considered dropping them at beagle point but couldn't bring myself to do it
Fair comment.
I actually feel the same way myself and it really bugs me when I build a ship that has absolutely NO room for cargo at all because I always try to rescue escape pods when I find 'em (Vulture, I'm looking at you).
Objectively, though, nobody's ever yet found anything unique out in the black.
Most explorers probably fit a small cargo rack just in case there are wacky new things out there to be found but there's no indication there are.
Beyond that, it's just up to each player to build a ship in a way that supports their own gameplay choices.
*4th time trying to post this reply. Let's hope it goes up this time.
verminstar
Banned
Cargo? One doesnt even fit cargo racks so I suppose...none. Most the junk ye find is exactly that...junk that costs one more in range than its worth. Data is worth more and iws easier to farm and requires zero cargo space ^
Just remember, any salvage you find out there will make you an instant target for npc stalkers once you get back into the bubble.
You don't want anything that adds weight as it cuts down on your jump range. Focus on exploring. At the most, carry two SRV's for mat collection, maybe a repair module and the two scanners.
When setting up an exploration rig you are looking to subtract, not add, hence undersized D modules except the FSD drive.
When setting up an exploration rig you are looking to subtract, not add, hence undersized D modules except the FSD drive.
I only carry 2 scanners, 1 heat sink, 1 srv, the rest you don't really need !
RP? If yes,then cargo space needed like others said.
No RP?
(For all ships)
Needed: advanced & detailed scanner, SRV, scoop
Optional: shields(for heavy landings,I take them), heat sinks, cargo racks, AFMU
Not needed: weapons, utilities, SLF
Most of us with long range builds only use it to get to a nebula or area we want to investigate. Also lots of times we only jump a short distance,as we are explorers! Other times,in sparse areas,that extra 1 or 2 LYs makes a difference.
For a Conda i totally love them even just for the relief of doin some canyon racing here and there (a lightweight mod would be great though ^^)
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Re read my post *sticks tongue out*Good luck trying to find one for an ASP
Ähm... nothing to see here *silently walks out to get another coffee* [noob]
Someone did an interesting analysis of jump range a little while back, and found that max jump range's usefulness was stepped rather than a smooth gradient. Something like 25ly & 35ly were 'sweet spots'. Wish I could find it now. My ship has just over a 19ly range (19.2 or so), and on low fuel max single jump of about 19.8. There have been lots of places where I have had to pick my way through a maze of dead ends, but so far only two jumps where running down my fuel load and/or dumping cargo made the difference between making the jump and it being too far anyway. The larger the jump range the larger the difference between normal & max of course.
Since being able to filter my route for specific star classes I've not needed to vary my range with the cargo slider. I have 256t of cargo space which has turned out to be way more than I need for exploring, but my loadout isn't optimised for exploration. There have been several occasions where even a small second fuel tank could have been useful but so far I've always been able to switch to economical while travelling or find another route. I really like the 'apply filter to route' feature
I've seen things you will not believe. Warplanes burning on the shoulder of the mighty. I saw the rays of the sun, gurgling in the darkness of the Tanhouse gate. All moments lost in time, like tears in the rain
Have been you been to the Exploration subforum? We're a friendly bunch and everyone has a different opinion on loadouts. It will depend on your style in the end. Here is mine, The Wandering Pig. I'm a purist so she has no engineered modules. She is equipped with shield boosters and a HRP because I'm prone to hitting planets. I am thinking of replacing that with a secondary AMFU. She ships a mining laser just in case I run out of fuel somewhere. The link shows her in cruising mode which means all unused systems are powered off so that she runs cooler.
The Wandering Pig
The Wandering Pig contemplating the Planet Of Death
The Wandering Pig
The Wandering Pig contemplating the Planet Of Death
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