Exploration: Why are asteroid belt clusters scannable, but worthless?

[DIREVUS]

I noticed that asteroid belt clusters are exploration targets in the game, but when you go to the effort of scanning them, even if it's with a Detailed Surface Scanner, the results are always worth zero CR at Universal Cartographics.

That doesn't make any sense to me. Does anyone have an insight into what's going on here?

If asteroid belt clusters are supposed to have zero exploration value, that's a bit odd, but make them show up as already "explored" as soon as they are detected by the Discovery Scanner.

Really though, it seems more logical for Cartographics to pay something for asteroid belts -- it doesn't have to be a lot. Asteroids are potential mining sources. Exploring them ought to be worthwhile.

It would actually be kind of cool if there was a special Spectrographic Scanner module. It could work like the Surface Scanner, but for asteroids rather than planets/moons, and reveal something about the composition of the asteroids in the cluster. But that's more of a pie-in-the-sky idea.

 

[Winterwalker]

Does anyone have an insight into what's going on here?

Simple answer is I don't think we know. Asteroid belts have been like this since release.

If asteroid belt clusters are supposed to have zero exploration value, that's a bit odd, but make them show up as already "explored" as soon as they are detected by the Discovery Scanner.

A good idea ^ if there's some technical (game build) reason why cartographics can't pay out on belts.

Really though, it seems more logical for Cartographics to pay something for asteroid belts -- it doesn't have to be a lot. Asteroids are potential mining sources. Exploring them ought to be worthwhile.

Agreed by many. Although metal rich planet rings are much better picking than metal rich asteroid belts (fewer rocks), this does seem logical. As mentioned there MAY be a technical reason (or for future content we don't know about yet) for what otherwise looks like an oversight from our pov.

It would actually be kind of cool if there was a special Spectrographic Scanner module. It could work like the Surface Scanner, but for asteroids rather than planets/moons, and reveal something about the composition of the asteroids in the cluster. But that's more of a pie-in-the-sky idea.

Pie in the sky maybe, but I like this idea. Asteroid belts are a bit of a pain to scout, as obviously you have to get pretty close to scan them. Paying a bonus AND introducing more "scientific research" type gameplay is all for the good imo. +1

 

[CMDR Sheehy]

I think there is some link between the scanning of Asteroids and the determination of the pristine (or not) status of the belts.

 

[S~P]

I think there is some link between the scanning of Asteroids and the determination of the pristine (or not) status of the belts.

If you are out exploring in the galaxy the belts are going to be pristine in any case, not sure if metallic belts are worth anything over rocky or metal rich. I've only scanned belt the once and didn't get paid so didn't bother after that.

 

[DIREVUS]

I think there is some link between the scanning of Asteroids and the determination of the pristine (or not) status of the belts.

Nope. Would make sense if it were true, but I just tested this myself. I went into a system I hadn't explored before, that had an asteroid belt. As soon as my Discovery Scanner had pinged the belt, it showed up in my System Map, together with the "reserves" quantity level, and the basic composition (Icy/Rocky/Metal Rich/Metallic).

So scanning the asteroid clusters really doesn't add any information.

 

[Whiterose]

At least in Horizons you can filter them out.

 

[DIREVUS]

At least in Horizons you can filter them out.

That will be nice. Those silly belt clusters are always cluttering up my Nav list.

Which raises the question, why are the belt clusters in the game at all? They aren't for exploring (zero CR) and as far as I can tell, they aren't for mining (planetary rings are better in every way).

 

[ArkSeaJumper]

That will be nice. Those silly belt clusters are always cluttering up my Nav list.


Which raises the question, why are the belt clusters in the game at all? They aren't for exploring (zero CR) and as far as I can tell, they aren't for mining (planetary rings are better in every way).

Oh god dont suggest they take out content

 

[DIREVUS]

Oh god dont suggest they take out content

Well that's just it -- as it currently stands, the belt clusters aren't content.

But, I would not seriously suggest just taking them out. As you can see from my earlier posts, I would much prefer that they be made useful in some way. Either for exploration or mining, or, even better, both of those.