Exploration styles?

Roqinn · Jul 12, 2015

I am just curious how other people explore in this game. Do you use Economical routes or Fastest routes? Do you scan everything in a system, only what's interesting, only what's close or just the parent star?

I am currently using Economical route planning and I scan the parent star and anything that looks interesting or what is within detailed surface scan range. I know it will take me a lot longer to get where I'm going, but that's OK! =D

Dommarraa · Jul 12, 2015

Yes that's OK. I do virtually the opposite, that's OK too

Allitnil · Jul 12, 2015

The only correct way to explore is to do it the way you want to

There are ways to maximise profits, but if that's your main goal you wouldn't be exploring anyway!

I mostly travel somewhere as quickly as possible with minimal scanning and then scan my objective, which may be a few or a lot of systems.

Cmdr Raz · Jul 12, 2015

Roqinn said:
I am just curious how other people explore in this game. Do you use Economical routes or Fastest routes? Do you scan everything in a system, only what's interesting, only what's close or just the parent star?

I am currently using Economical route planning and I scan the parent star and anything that looks interesting or what is within detailed surface scan range. I know it will take me a lot longer to get where I'm going, but that's OK! =D

I believe that makes you a "Veggie" by this standard

I've tried most styles, but for now I just pick a direction and go one system at a time, scanning what looks interesting

Chaodiurn · Jul 12, 2015

Cmdr Raz said:
I believe that makes you a "Veggie" by this standard I've tried most styles, but for now I just pick a direction and go one system at a time, scanning what looks interesting

Where is the cannibal? I'll scan when I feel like it, but I live for the silent killing of whoever I may find thousands of light years from home.

Bobo · Jul 12, 2015

4 requirments for me govern whether or not I scan a body in a system, or indeed the whole system sometimes. Has to be of scientific, artistic or financial interest. Not necessarily in that order. The fourth reason would be, just cos its there and I can.
Generally look for an patch or interest to explore in from the gal map, fastest route there and then settle down to searching O, B, F, G, Protos, Black holes, White dwarves, T Tauri and Wolfs. M, Y, T etc i dont even look, just leave the dead system quickly, don't like em, horrid cold emptie places of no interest 99% of the time

Katejina · Jul 12, 2015

I use fasted route, mainly because of the size of my expedition (2 months, 10 days on now, and less than halfway through I think...). I scan the parent star, most bodies within 1kls, all ELWs, AWs, WWs, large-ringed worlds, worlds that are very, very far away and potential record-breakers. Not quite a veg, but definitely a selective eater.

Ziggy Stardust · Jul 12, 2015

Fastest route when I'm going somewhere. Pick individual systems when I'm there. Favourite systems are A, F, G and O class systems

I either scan a whole system, or nothing. Except when taking pictures of an unexplored system. Then the object of the picture will be scanned by just flying there.

And most importantly, I explore in a comfy chair.

Snafu Manchu · Jul 12, 2015

Fastest route if I'm going somewhere particular, and I tend to scan entire systems in an OCD-like manner. Occasionally I only grab the stuff that looks like potential EWLs or WWs if I can't be bothered, but mostly I feed the OCD with healthy servings of planets. It's even better if the system is... weird.

Cmdr Raz · Jul 12, 2015

Chaodiurn said:
Where is the cannibal? I'll scan when I feel like it, but I live for the silent killing of whoever I may find thousands of light years from home.

... okay... Say, which region of space are you currently in? 'Cause I might want to avoid that by a few thousand LY...

Roqinn · Jul 12, 2015

Ziggy Stardust said:
And most importantly, I explore in a comfy chair.

I need to get me one of those! The thing I sit in now has a bit of a lean to the right and the cushion is just about flat. I've had this cheap thing for a long time! Makes it hard for me to sit for long periods.

BTW, I found my first WW this morning! =D

Strychnine · Jul 12, 2015

I've still "Put on the Black" and I usually pick a direction and go with the fastest route. If it looks like all ice worlds, I'll skip it, but if it's remotely interesting, I'll scan everything. Currently 3000+LY away from Sol and growing.

newman1702 · Jul 12, 2015

I kind of vary in styles depending on what suits me and what I'm doing at present. For example, when I started the trip I'm currently on, I just knew I wanted to go towards the edge of the galaxy southwards, making a stop at Rigel because, reason.

Well, past Rigel, my plan took on additional form; I'll make this a grand southern nebula run. So, I swung by Witch's Head, past Orion and the Barnard's Loop, and am currently getting close to the Jellyfish nebula. My goal is to get further towards the rim and reach the Monkey Head nebula, then turn back towards Seagull in a sort of a fishook looking route, before heading home. Since this is a long route I've started using fast route plotting instead of economical, but there's no real wrong way to do this.

By the way, I have to brag a little, because today I really hit the exploration jackpot. First, I found two systems with a water world each, one being terraformable. Then, I found my first ammonia world with life on it. After this I found what I thought was another jackpot - a system with twin water worlds very close to one another. Again, one terraformable. But the real luck came from the fact that in the very next system, I found my first Earth like world! It's a beautiful planet of blues, whites and greens, with more of an archipelago type landmasses rather than a few larger continent. Planet is about 1.5 earth masses, has a breathable atmosphere and surface temperatures well within human norms, and as such the planet is capable of supporting human life even though it's surface atmo pressure is at about 0.65 atmospheres. Sensors also picked up indigenous life, though with a thinner atmo, I doubt predators would be much of a problem to potential surveying parties; a lower oxygen supply would make it unlikely for the survey team to encounter alien T-Rexes

Jackie Silver · Jul 12, 2015

I explore for !!SCIENCE!! and the patterns I follow are opaque.

At present I'm still engaged in my search for unusual terraformables (or to rule out their existence as much as possible) but I've diverted to visiting each of the Centauri systems.

callahan44 · Jul 12, 2015

If you're thinking of taking exploration seriously, you might want to look at EDDiscovery, and help us map out a few areas.

Chaodiurn · Jul 12, 2015

Cmdr Raz said:
... okay... Say, which region of space are you currently in? 'Cause I might want to avoid that by a few thousand LY...

I currently am on a returning trip from Barnard's loop. Patrolled at a radius of 300 ly around it. I passed the California Nebula today and am making way for T Tauri. Some other stations including Polaris will follow. Then, I will see if I take a break in the bubble or set out for my next patrol (different area). Alternatively, I think about going to hunt down Katejina.

Cmdr Raz · Jul 12, 2015

Chaodiurn said:
I currently am on a returning trip from Barnard's loop. Patrolled at a radius of 300 ly around it. I passed the California Nebula today and am making way for T Tauri. Some other stations including Polaris will follow. Then, I will see if I take a break in the bubble or set out for my next patrol (different area). Alternatively, I think about going to hunt down Katejina.

*Checks Katejina's thread for route* Yeah, okay, that works for me

Katejina · Jul 13, 2015

Wait, wuuuuuut!!?

iain666 · Jul 13, 2015

Roqinn said:
Do you use Economical routes or Fastest routes? Do you scan everything in a system, only what's interesting, only what's close or just the parent star?

Yes. Those are the things I do...

jimglot · Jul 13, 2015

I buzz out as quick as i can honking like a goose the whole way. Get out past 2k ly and then start Cherry picking stars. A,B,F are my game. I just meander wherever the solar winds blow me. Not much of a tourist, more like a big game hunter. I'll work my way out between 4k and 10k for most of the trip. Coming back in i scramble full speed. I will stop for a high value, but that's it. If you come to a system i took a bite out of, i will apologize in advance. "My Bad" <g>