Exploration - Zero to Hero in under 5 days

[Becky]

How to get to Elite Exploration in under 5 days

Written by: CMDR Inyahin aka Space Elf
Elite Dangerous Version: 2.3.02
Affiliated Wings: Paladin Consortium, Hutton Orbital Truckers



Who is this Guide for?
1. People who have just started the game and want a bunch of cash and access to Founders World
2. Experienced Explorers that want to finish off the Exploration Rank without going far away from the bubble
3. People who want a one off shot of exploration data to increase their credit balance

New Player? How to start
1. Do bounty hunting at a nav beacon or multicrew until you can afford a detailed surface scanner
2. Buy a surface scanner (you should have a basic discovery scanner by default on your loan ship)
3. Use EDPathFinder or EDDB to find unscanned systems with a Water World, go to that system and scan the water worlds
3.a Systems that have Earth Like Worlds will already be in your Nav Computer so you can't use these for scanning
EDDB Search (Click on "REF")
4. Once you've saved up a few million credits from scanning water worlds around the core systems, buy a better ship



You'll need a ship, with a good jump range, advanced discovery scanner, detailed surface scanner & fuel scoop

Ship	Cost	Jump Range	Coriolis URL
Sidewinder	2.4 million credits	19 ly unladen	Coriolis EDCD Edition A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous s.orbis.zone
Cobra Mk3	4.6 million credits	25 ly unladen	Coriolis EDCD Edition A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous s.orbis.zone
Type 6	6 million credits	29 ly unladen	Coriolis EDCD Edition A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous s.orbis.zone
Dolphin	5.9 million credits	30 ly unladen	Coriolis EDCD Edition A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous s.orbis.zone
Diamondback Exp	8 million credits	36 ly unladen	Coriolis EDCD Edition A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous s.orbis.zone
Asp Exp (G5 FSD)	23 million credits	55 ly unladen	Coriolis EDCD Edition A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous s.orbis.zone
Orca (G5 FSD)	70 million credits	54 ly unladen	Coriolis EDCD Edition A ship builder, outfitting and comparison tool for Elite Dangerous s.orbis.zone

My personal favourite for exploration is the Orca; I've tried most and it's the one that I love - I put a Grade 5 FSD mod on my Diamondback Explorer; I didn't get more than 100ly before I turned back and upgraded to an Orca - 4A fuel scoop is pitiful.

Update: 2020-11-30 - updated Coriolis URLs - builds are as close as I can remember them to be.


Although old, it's still relavent except for the exploration game mechanics (see addition below)
If you're completely new to exploration there's a good tutorial by CMDR Chaoswulff
It takes you through everything you need to know from ships, outfitting, modules, exploring, handing in the data afterwards: Changes in 2.3.0 upgraded the Diamondback Explorer - it now has much better modules than when the video was written.

EDIT: This walkthrough is up to date with up to date new scanning mechanics with FSS and Probe
The Ultimate Guide to Exploration Tools - EDTutorials by Exigeous

Payouts in 2.3.02 are a lot higher
Advanced Descovery Scanner and Detailed Surface Scanner are a MUST have (don't leave without them, you wont get your big payouts without them)
You'll need 1T of Cargo space for Meta Alloys
Earth-like worlds up to 800,000 credits each
Systems and suggested order to scan them in
See the Route Worksheet - Netted 314 million of exploration data and Elite Exploration Rank
SRV Is required to collect grade 5 materials for Farseer's Long Range Frame Shift Drive

Unscanned Water Worlds near core systems

Wolf 718 10	Minmar 6	Gamma Leporis A 1	LFT 859 3
Dvoruba 2	LFT 140 B 3	G 97-54 AB 1	G 97-54 AB 2
Youming AB 1	Wat Yu 1	Wat Yu 2	V492 Lyrae D 1
AZ Cancri 4	Rod 1	Usiren 1	LHS 463 B 2
Ngurelban A 1	Malina AB 1	LHS 1168 1	LHS 2335 5
Tyche 1	Sesuyar B 1	Wolf 369 6	Wolf 369 7

The spread sheet was populated from data from EDSM and EDDB, and the last 80 systems with EDPathfinder


https://www.edsm.net/
https://eddb.io/
https://github.com/neotron/EDPathFinder



You'll need to collect 1T of Meta Alloys to give to Felicity Farseer before she'll accept Cartographic Data


All these unlocks used approximately 55million of exploration data

Required Outcome	Data Drops	Why?	Reputation
Give 1T Meta Alloy	Felicity Farseer	Unlock Farseer	Unlock (mode switch required)
Grade Up Farseer	Felicity Farseer	Felicity Farseer	Ally (Grade 5) - Approx 15mil
Unlock Ryder	Eurybia Blue Mafia	Liz Ryder	Ally - Approx 7mil
Unlock Sirius Permit	Sirius Corporation	Marco Qwent	Ally - Approx 7mil
Unlock Nemo	Party of Yoru	Zacariah Nemo	Ally - Approx 7mil
Unlock Alioth Permit	Alioth Independents	Bill Turner	Ally - Approx 7mil

For more permits you can check Updated Permit List



Barnacle Sites (for meta alloys)
Bare in mind these can be in 4 states, only one of which is "here's your resources"

System	Planet	Location
HIP 17225	A1	-33.2579 / 140.34
HIP 17226	A1	-32.75 / 140.10
HIP 17227	A1	-32.49 / 141.31
HIP 17228	A1	-31.94 / 141.22
HIP 17229	A1	-31.67 / 141.51
Merope	5 C	8.33 / -96.13
Merope	5 C	-28.77 / -114.01
Merope	5 C	-28.24 / -109.52
Merope	5 C	-26.35 / -156.40
Merope	2 A	-11.23 / -145.37
Merope	2 A	2.68 / 143.03
Merope	2 A	9.748 / 134.23
Merope	2 A	13.42 / -161.51

- - - Updated - - -

RouteId	SystemName	DistanceLY	Body	Body	Body	Body
1	Maia	0	Scan whole system including black hole
2	Pleiades Sector DL-Y d65	4.54	4 Water world 790ls (Terraformable)	5 Water world 1032ls (Terraformable)
3	Pleiades Sector GW-W c1-12	10.08	A 3 High Metal 700ls (Terraformable)	A 4 Water world 1124ls (Terraformable)
4	Pleiades Sector EB-X c1-14	17.01	2 Water world 396ls (Terraformable)	3 High Metal 396ls (Terraformable)
5	Pleiades Sector DL-Y d59	8.11	6 Water world 1261ls (Terraformable)	7 Water world 1628ls	4 High Metal 946ls (Terraformable)	5 High Metal 946ls (Terraformable)
6	Pleiades Sector DL-Y d34	31.23	1 Water world 560ls (Terraformable)
7	Pleiades Sector DL-Y d52	25.22	3 Water world 837ls (Terraformable)
8	Pleiades Sector FW-W c1-3	16.36	6 Water world 588ls (Terraformable)
9	Pleiades Sector HR-W d1-15	29.64	4 Water world 1144ls (Terraformable)	3 High Metal 936ls (Terraformable)
10	Pleiades Sector IH-V c2-11	43.81	B 3 Water world 4661ls (Terraformable)
11	HIP 17125	15.71	A 4 Water world 1115ls (Terraformable)
12	Pleiades Sector HR-W d1-57	17.86	A 4 Water world 970ls (Terraformable)	A 5 Water world 1197ls (Terraformable)	A 6 Water world 1743ls
13	Gliese 3254	22.25	A 5 Water world 1840ls (Terraformable)
14	Pleiades Sector KS-T c3-15	9.45	A 1 Water world 466ls (Terraformable)	A 2 High Metal 466ls (Terraformable)
15	Pleiades Sector FW-W d1-54	18.37	B 5 Water world 5240ls (Terraformable)
16	Pleiades Sector JC-V d2-62	13.71	A 5 Water world 921ls (Terraformable)	A 4 High Metal 921ls (Terraformable)
17	Pleiades Sector QT-R c4-12	13.95	A 1 Water world 261ls (Terraformable)
18	Pleiades Sector WF-N b7-0	20.95	AB 1 Water world 88ls (Terraformable)
19	Pleiades Sector MN-T c3-3	4.42	6 Water world 206ls (Terraformable)
20	Pleiades Sector LX-U d2-57	19.34	5 Water world 1078ls (Terraformable)	4 High Metal 1078ls (Terraformable)	6 High Metal 1078ls (Terraformable)	7 Water world 1831ls
21	Aries Dark Region MY-Q b5-4	31.75	A 3 Water world 62ls (Terraformable)
22	Aries Dark Region TZ-O b6-0	32.17	5 Water world 133ls (Terraformable)	A 4 High Metal 100ls (Terraformable)
23	Aries Dark Region WU-O b6-0	23.31	A 1 Water world 125ls (Terraformable)
24	Aries Dark Region JH-V c2-6	18.13	2 Water world 534ls (Terraformable)	3 High Metal 534ls (Terraformable)
25	Pleiades Sector SO-R c4-3	18.31	A 1 Water world 190ls (Terraformable)	A 2 Water world 281ls
26	Pleiades Sector GC-L b8-1	31.32	4 Water world 52ls (Terraformable)
27	HIP 17511	32.59	2 Water world 689ls (Terraformable)	1 High Metal 370ls (Terraformable)
28	HIP 17552	11.05	4 Water world 1574ls (Terraformable)	2 Water world 913ls (Terraformable)	3 Water world 913ls (Terraformable)
29	43 Tauri	31.39	5 & 7 Water world 4137ls (Terraformable)	6 Earth-like world 4148ls	3 & 4 High Metal 2430ls (Terraformable)
30	53 Tauri	19.55	5 a Water world 2929ls (Terraformable)	6 Water world 4099ls (Terraformable)	4 & 4 a High Metal 2300ls (Terraformable)
31	Hyades Sector BQ-Y d77	13.19	5 Water world 717ls (Terraformable)	3 & 4 High Metal 520ls (Terraformable)	2 High Metal 400ls (Terraformable)
32	Hyades Sector BV-Y c16	29.96	A 6 Water world 523ls (Terraformable)	5 & 5 a High Metal 400ls (Terraformable)	7 High Metal 677ls (Terraformable)
33	Hyades Sector LX-T b3-0	37.55	6 Water world 61ls (Terraformable)
34	Arietis Sector ZJ-A c14	13.21	C 5 Water world 7549ls (Terraformable)
35	HIP 18320	21.61	7 Water world 1106ls (Terraformable)	5 & 6 High Metal 640ls (Terraformable)
36	Arietis Sector AA-Z b5	28.2	6 Water world 77ls (Terraformable)
37	Hyades Sector DB-X c1-3	17.9	7 Water world 240ls (Terraformable)
38	Hyades Sector DB-X c1-6	8.44	A 1 Water world 314ls (Terraformable)
39	Hyades Sector CB-X c1-15	25.8	A 6 Water world 625ls (Terraformable)	A 5 High Metal 420ls (Terraformable)
40	Hyades Sector ZA-W b2-4	26.04	A 7 Water world 109ls (Terraformable)
41	Col 285 Sector KC-U c3-9	22.03	8 Water world 494ls (Terraformable)	6 & 7 High Metal 280ls (Terraformable)
42	Col 285 Sector JC-U c3-10	27.52	A 3 Water world 498ls (Terraformable)	A 4 Water world 498ls (Terraformable)
43	Col 285 Sector EB-X d1-63	34.32	3 Water world 504ls (Terraformable)	2 Water world 380ls (Terraformable)	1 Water world 270ls (Terraformable)
44	Arietis Sector ZU-Y c10	51.52	1 Water world 281ls (Terraformable)	2 High Metal 281ls (Terraformable)
45	Arietis Sector HM-V b2-4	39.53	10 Water world 121ls (Terraformable)	8 High Metal 80ls (Terraformable)
46	Arietis Sector DL-Y d60	12.19	4 Water world 1071ls (Terraformable)	5 High Metal 1071ls (Terraformable)
47	Arietis Sector DL-Y d73	12.33	5 Water world 548ls (Terraformable)	6 Water world 991ls	7 Water world 1366ls
48	Arietis Sector KC-V b2-4	29.35	1 Water world 121ls (Terraformable)	2 High Metal 160ls (Terraformable)
49	Col 285 Sector LC-V d2-85	21.81	5 Water world 1069ls (Terraformable)
50	Aries Dark Region OY-R c4-17	21.7	A 4 Water world 429ls (Terraformable)
51	Aries Dark Region LS-T c3-17	21.35	A 5 Water world 361ls (Terraformable)	A 6 Water world 439ls (Terraformable)	A 7 Water world 674ls	A 8 Ammonia world 1962ls
52	Aries Dark Region YF-N b7-2	18.75	5 Earth-like world 103ls	4 Water world 103ls (Terraformable)
53	Aries Dark Region LS-T c3-12	18.57	4 Water world 735ls (Terraformable)	3 High Metal 600ls (Terraformable)
54	Aries Dark Region MS-T c3-13	21.18	ABC 1 Water world 277ls (Terraformable)
55	Aries Dark Region ON-T c3-3	30.58	8 Water world 146ls	9 Water world 177ls (Terraformable)
56	Hyades Sector IR-W c1-12	30.93	2 Water world 368ls (Terraformable)	1 Water world 270ls (Terraformable)	3 Water world 460ls (Terraformable)
57	HIP 17049	32.3	5 Water world 1903ls (Terraformable)
58	Arietis Sector AF-A d93	24.17	3 Water world 986ls (Terraformable)	2 High Metal 747ls (Terraformable)
59	66 Arietis	29.92	4 & 4 a Water world 1728ls (Terraformable)	5 & 5 a Water world 3147ls
60	Arietis Sector GG-Y d79	22.64	AB 1 Water world 675ls (Terraformable)
61	Arietis Sector JW-W b1-4	10.58	2 Water world 44ls (Terraformable)
62	Arietis Sector IW-W b1-0	23.13	4 Water world 169ls (Terraformable)
63	Arietis Sector CQ-Y c6	12.21	2 Water world 386ls (Terraformable)	1 High Metal 272ls (Terraformable)
64	Arietis Sector DL-Y d62	19.58	5 Water world 832ls (Terraformable)	4 High Metal 604ls (Terraformable)
65	HIP 13035	30.31	A 4 Water world 1342ls (Terraformable)
66	26 Arietis	27.24	9 Water world 2105ls (Terraformable)	10 Water world 2616ls (Terraformable)	8 High Metal 1526ls (Terraformable)
67	Arietis Sector FG-Y d68	11.51	B 6 & B 6 a Water world 6589ls (Terraformable)	B 2 & B 3 High Metal 6600ls (Terraformable)	B 4 & B 5 High Metal 6900ls (Terraformable)
68	Arietis Sector GL-Y c17	50.39	A 3 Water world 507ls (Terraformable)
69	Hyades Sector HR-W d1-54	20.18	A 3 Water world 727ls (Terraformable)
70	Hyades Sector FB-X c1-18	58.86	6 Water world 185ls (Terraformable)
71	Hyades Sector GB-X c1-8	31.8	ABC 1 Water world 782ls (Terraformable)
72	HIP 24971	43.22	6 Water world 2146ls (Terraformable)	5 High Metal 1514ls (Terraformable)	7 & 8 Water world 2863/4021ls
73	Hyades Sector DG-X c1-7	58.46	A 4 Water world 190ls (Terraformable)	5 High Metal 265ls (Terraformable)
74	HIP 22718	80.42	3 Water world 831ls (Terraformable)
75	Hyades Sector AQ-Y d91	48.37	5 Water world 1039ls (Terraformable)	4 & 4 a High Metal 750ls (Terraformable)
76	Hyades Sector AB-W b2-5	26.02	B 1 Water world 6140ls (Terraformable)
77	HIP 15204	57.51	9 Water world 2351ls (Terraformable)	7 & 8 High Metal 1480ls (Terraformable)	10 Water world 2994ls	11 Ammonia world 4329ls
78	Hyades Sector AL-X c1-9	91.84	A 1 Water world 353ls (Terraformable)	A 2 High Metal 480ls (Terraformable)
79	Col 285 Sector CV-X c1-8	84.19	A 2 Water world 250ls (Terraformable)	A 1 High Metal 180ls (Terraformable)
80	Synuefai VZ-M d8-50	58.35	A 4 Water world 1399ls (Terraformable)	A 3 High Metal 1399ls (Terraformable)	A 5 Water world 1799ls
81	Pleiades Sector FW-W d1-63	58.98	A 6 Water world 1128ls (Terraformable)	A 4, 5, 7 High Metal 1519ls (Terraformadle)	B 1 Water world 62708ls (Terraformable)	B 2 Water world 62708ls
82	Pleiades Sector FM-V c2-10	29.15	B 5 Water world 5708ls (Terraformable)	B 6 Water world 5708ls (Terraformable)	B 7 Water world 6035ls (Terraformable)	B 4 High Metal 6000ls (Terraformable)
83	Pleiades Sector EW-W d1-21	20.72	8 Water world 199ls (Terraformable)	7 High Metal 130ls (Terraformable)
84	Pleiades Sector AQ-Y d52	8.6	1 Earth-like world 506ls	2 Water world 684ls (Terraformable)
85	Mel 22 Sector GM-V d2-24	43.53	3 Water world 333ls (Terraformable)	1 & 2 High Metal 242ls (Terraformable)
86	Mel 22 Sector ZM-H b11-3	50.55	A 2 Water world 107ls (Terraformable)	A 6 Ammonia world 277ls	3 High Metal 140ls (Terraformable)
87	Mel 22 Sector VG-J b10-0	25.97	5 Water world 82ls (Terraformable)
88	Mel 22 Sector IN-S c4-4	31.74	AB 3 Water world 518ls (Terraformable)	AB 4 Water world 518ls (Terraformable)	AB 2 Water world 350ls (Terraformable)	AB 5 Water world 894ls
89	Synuefai FN-D c15-1	31.22	1 Water world 382ls (Terraformable)
90	Synuefai EE-J b29-1	52.99	AB 1 Water world 119ls (Terraformable)	AB 2 High Metal 159ls (Terraformable)	AB 4 Water world 236ls
91	Wredguia UX-L d7-85	47.48	A 2 Water world 899ls (Terraformable)
92	Wredguia YD-K d8-62	100.64	A 3 Water world 1228ls (Terraformable)	A 2 High Metal 819ls (Terraformable)
93	Wredguia WH-U c16-16	35.58	1 Water world 281ls (Terraformable)
94	Synuefai AO-X a69-0	42.36	A 4 Water world 31ls (Terraformable)
95	Col 285 Sector YU-X c1-14	42.14	1 Water world 435ls (Terraformable)
96	Col 285 Sector AV-Y d69	26.96	5 Water world 978ls (Terraformable)	2,3,4 High Metal (Terraformable)
97	Col 285 Sector ER-T b4-3	29.41	7 Water world 146ls (Terraformable)	5, 6 High Metal (Terraformable)
98	Col 285 Sector OT-P b6-5	58.89	A 8 Water world 128ls (Terraformable)	A 7 High Metal 150ls (Terraformable)	A 9 & 10 Water world 205ls
99	Col 285 Sector MI-R b5-4	39.98	B 5 Water world 2069ls (Terraformable)	B 3 High Metal 2000ls (Terraformable)
100	HR 653	25.37	6 Water world 3730ls (Terraformable)
101	Synuefai VL-W c18-12	16.68	6 Water world 223ls (Terraformable)	4, 5 High Metal 170ls (Terraformable)	8 Water world 385ls	10 Ammonia world 531ls
102	Synuefai SA-Y c17-5	38.23	2 Water world 374ls (Terraformable)	1 High Metal 300ls (Terraformable)
103	Synuefai ZA-L d9-77	58.79	A 10 Water world 599ls (Terraformable)	A 9 High Metal 500ls (Terraformable)
104	Col 285 Sector FW-U b3-5	69.84	A 1 Water world 65ls (Terraformable)
105	Synuefai UZ-M d8-24	44.92	4 Water world 562ls (Terraformable)	2,3 High Metal 500ls (Terraformable)
106	Pleiades Sector JS-T c3-15	29.04	1 Water world 649ls (Terraformable)
107	Col 285 Sector EL-X c1-9	24.68	2 Water world 263ls (Terraformable)	1 High Metal 200ls (Terraformable)
108	Col 285 Sector CQ-X c1-3	26.95	A 3 Water world 207ls (Terraformable)	2, 4 High Metal 270ls (Terraformable)
109	Col 285 Sector LX-T c3-13	81.58	2 Water world 372ls (Terraformable)	3 High Metal 373ls (Terraformable)
110	Aries Dark Region LN-T c3-9	75.71	11 Water world 241ls (Terraformable)	12 High Metal 305ls (Terraformable)
111	Aries Dark Region WA-N b7-1	30.3	A 4 & 5 Water world 64ls (Terraformable)	A 2 & 3 High Metal 35ls (Terraformable)
112	Aries Dark Region FW-W d1-73	40.89	A 4 Water world 1527ls (Terraformable)	A 2 & 3 High Metal 1175ls (Terraformable)	B 5,6,7,8 High Metal 31,000ls (Terraformable)	B 9, 10 Water world 31,000ls
113	Aries Dark Region FW-W d1-27	32.64	A 3 Earth-like world 809ls	A 4 Water world 810ls (Terraformable)	A 1, 2 High Metal 500ls (Terraformable)
114	Pleiades Sector DM-M b7-2	53.6	A 1 Water world 280ls (Terraformable)
115	Aries Dark Region DL-Y d30	50.33	3 Water world 535ls (Terraformable)	4 High Metal 747ls (Terraformable)
116	Aries Dark Region TI-T b3-1	80.52	A 3 Water world 88ls (Terraformable)
117	Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-71	57.37	3 Water world 731ls (Terraformable)	4 Water world 1030ls (Terraformable)	2 High Metal 500ls (Terraformable)
118	Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-64	11	A 6 Water world 414ls (Terraformable)	B 4 Water world 2984ls (Terraformable)	B 5 High Metal 2984ls (Terraformable)	B 8 Water world 2812ls
119	H Camelopardalis	11.94	A 3 Water world 758ls (Terraformable)	A 5 Water world 1362ls
120	Pleiades Sector FW-M b7-1	20.85	6 Water world 100ls (Terraformable)	7 Water world 119ls
121	Synuefe OZ-V b35-0	30.69	5 Water world 59ls (Terraformable)
122	Synuefe UZ-X c17-5	22.19	A 2 Water world 396ls (Terraformable)	A 1 High Metal 216ls (Terraformable)	A 4 Ammonia world 689ls
123	HIP 21090	24.65	5 Water world 1134ls (Terraformable)	4 High Metal 837ls (Terraformable)
124	Pleiades Sector KH-V c2-4	8.75	A 4 Water world 608ls (Terraformable)	A 3 High Metal 363ls (Terraformable)
125	Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-75	38.06	A 1 Water world 759ls (Terraformable)	B 4,5 High Metal 412,061ls (Terraformable)	B 6 Water World 412,061ls
126	Pleiades Sector IR-W d1-48	19.12	6 Water world 1519ls (Terraformable)
127	HIP 20785	25.14	4 Water world 1078ls (Terraformable)	2,3 High Metal 1000ls (Terraformable)	5 Ammonia world 3395ls
128	Pleiades Sector VZ-O b6-3	31.29	5 Water world 56ls (Terraformable)	4 Water world 56ls	6 Water world 75ls
129	HIP 18154	29.65	A 3 Water world 693ls (Terraformable)	2 High Metal 486ls (Terraformable)
130	Pleiades Sector MN-T c3-15	30.5	A 2 Water world 256ls (Terraformable)
131	Ross 374	14.27	A 2 Water world 368ls (Terraformable)	A 3 High Metal 486ls (Terraformable)
132	Pleiades Sector HH-V c2-0	69.82	A 10 Water world 692ls (Terraformable)	A 9 Water world 500ls (Terraformable)
133	Pleiades Sector DB-X c1-4	44.75	A 2 Water world 420ls (Terraformable)	A 1, 3 High Metal 420ls (Terraformable)
134	Pleiades Sector ZU-Y c8	35.48	2 Water world 174ls (Terraformable)	3 High Metal 240ls (Terraformable)
135	Pleiades Sector AV-Y c5	23.11	4 Water world 641ls (Terraformable)	2, 3 High Metal 340ls (Terraformable)
136	Pleiades Sector CL-X b1-0	34.76	1 Water world 46ls (Terraformable)	3 Water world 67ls
137	Pleiades Sector DL-Y d55	25.2	3 Water world 1034ls (Terraformable)	2 High Metal 340ls (Terraformable)	5 Water world 2247ls
138	EQ Tauri	39.75	AB 7 Water world 836ls (Terraformable)
139	Taurus Dark Region LM-W c1-7	31.42	1 Water world 354ls (Terraformable)
140	Taurus Dark Region OX-U c2-3	50.88	A 6 Water world 526ls (Terraformable)	A 5 High Metal 326ls (Terraformable)
141	Struve's Lost Sector FR-M b7-0	23.55	A 7 Water world 95ls (Terraformable)	A 6 High Metal 65ls (Terraformable)
142	Pleiades Sector EL-Y d35	28.58	4 Water world 881ls (Terraformable)	3, 5 High Metal 340ls (Terraformable)
143	HIP 20810	20.7	A 6 Water world 611ls (Terraformable)	5, 7 High Metal 600ls (Terraformable)
144	Taurus Dark Region MC-V c2-12	26.29	6 Water world 432ls (Terraformable)	5 High Metal 600ls (Terraformable)
145	Pleiades Sector EL-Y d28	48.94	1 Water world 549ls (Terraformable)
146	Pleiades Sector EL-Y d61	18.39	A 4 Water world 1166ls (Terraformable)	A 2, 3 High Metal 640ls (Terraformable)	B 3 High Metal 9166ls (Terraformable)	B 5 Water world 9166ls
147	Taurus Dark Region DL-Y d21	64.01	5 Water world 1061ls (Terraformable)	3 High Metal 640ls (Terraformable)
148	Taurus Dark Region DL-X b1-3	53.7	A 2 Water world 54ls (Terraformable)	A 3 Water world 76ls (Terraformable)	A 6 Ammonia world 170ls
149	Taurus Dark Region MN-S b4-0	69.45	5 Water world 102ls (Terraformable)
150	Taurus Dark Region CQ-Y d54	20.72	6 Water world 982ls (Terraformable)	3,4,5 High Metal 640ls (Terraformable)
151	Taurus Dark Region EG-X c1-8	27.84	A 6 Water world 266ls (Terraformable)	B 8, 9 High Metal 8998ls (Terraformable)	B 10, 11 Water world 8998ls	C 4, 6 Water World 35,000ls (Terraformable)
152	Synuefe ER-D c15-5	72.16	1 Water world 368ls (Terraformable)
153	Synuefe FO-O d7-45	83.42	4 Water world 840ls (Terraformable)
154	HIP 24807	24.2	A 6 Water world 2542ls (Terraformable)	A 5 High Metal 1300ls (Terraformable)
155	Synuefe GO-O d7-74	39.01	A 5 Water world 1807ls (Terraformable)	B 3 Earth Like World 40,000ls	B 2 High Metal 40,000ls (Terraformable)
156	HIP 24093	72.93	6 Water world 2517ls (Terraformable)
157	Synuefe OE-W b35-1	47.83	6 Water world 115ls (Terraformable)	7 Water world 206ls
158	Col 285 Sector KG-X c1-9	33.88	1 Water world 361ls (Terraformable)
159	Synuefe ZF-W c18-14	38.18	6 Water world 166ls (Terraformable)	5 High Metal 80ls (Terraformable)
160	Synuefe XA-U b36-1	29.71	5 Water world 37ls (Terraformable)	4 High Metal 37ls (Terraformable)	6 Water world 65ls
161	Col 285 Sector QH-V c2-4	53.19	A 9 High Metal 430ls (Terraformable)	A 10 Water World 550ls
162	Hyades Sector KR-W c1-14	20.1	6 Water world 350ls (Terraformable)
163	Hyades Sector KB-X b1-0	34.52	6 Water world 111ls (Terraformable)
164	Hyades Sector DL-Y d73	30.12	1 Water world 922ls (Terraformable)
165	Aries Dark Region LH-V c2-2	31.61	1 Water world 301ls (Terraformable)
166	Synuefe ZA-W c18-8	23.46	3 Water world 540ls (Terraformable)	2 High Metal 400ls (Terraformable)
167	Col 285 Sector RR-M b7-1	37.92	5 Water world 69ls (Terraformable)
168	Aries Dark Region ST-R c4-6	68.39	A 2 Water world 385ls (Terraformable)	A 1 High Metal 230ls (Terraformable)
169	Aries Dark Region NN-T c3-3	21.33	1 Water world 365ls (Terraformable)	2 Water world 546ls
170	HIP 11154	51.74	A 3 Water world 987ls (Terraformable)	A 2,4 High Metal 1000ls (Terraformable)	B 6 High Metal 123,333ls (Terraformable)
171	Synuefai YQ-X c17-5	126.94	7 Water world 374ls (Terraformable)
172	Mel 22 Sector TG-B b14-0	45.85	5 Water world 140ls (Terraformable)
173	Mel 22 Sector LN-T d3-17	39.13	7, 8 High Metal 1000ls (Terraformable)
174	HIP 14123	35.28	A 3 Water world 1213ls (Terraformable)
175	Mel 22 Sector VQ-K b9-2	69.06	5 Water world 125ls (Terraformable)
176	Mel 22 Sector HH-V d2-63	9.09	5 Water world 1158ls (Terraformable)
177	Pleiades Sector CL-Y d43	19.69	A 7 Water world 1020ls (Terraformable)
178	HIP 16791	62.53	6 Water world 3305ls (Terraformable)	7 Water world 3311ls (Terraformable)	5 High Metal 2328ls (Terraformable)
179	Taurus Dark Region QD-T b3-2	35.63	A 6 Water world 107ls (Terraformable)
180	Taurus Dark Region IR-W c1-9	27.07	6 Water world 461ls (Terraformable)	3,4,5 High Metal 350ls (Terraformable)
181	Mel 22 Sector EB-X d1-28	59.71	A 5 Water world 1084ls (Terraformable)	A 4 High Metal 840ls (Terraformable)	A 7, 8 Water world 2039ls
182	Mel 22 Sector FR-V c2-6	28.5	A 8 Water world 437ls (Terraformable)	A 7, 9 High Metal 400ls (Terraformable)	B 3, 4 High Metal 3400ls (Terraformable)	B 6 Water world 3177ls
183	Mel 22 Sector KI-R b5-1	21.99	4, 6 High Metal 100ls (Terraformable)	5 Water World 100ls
184	Mel 22 Sector BL-X c1-3	16.47	A 4 Water world 164ls (Terraformable)	A 3 High Metal 80ls (Terraformable)
185	HIP 15740	73.8	A 5 Water world 1254ls (Terraformable)	A 4 High Metal 933ls (Terraformable)	A 7 Water world 2333ls
186	Mel 22 Sector JC-V d2-39	135.95	A 4, 5 Water world 710ls (Terraformable)	A 3 High Metal 700ls (Terraformable)	A 6 Water world 1367ls	B 1 High Metal 14,600ls (Terraformable)
187	Mel 22 Sector ON-T c3-0	70.69	A 1 Water world 505ls (Terraformable)
188	Struve's Lost Sector WJ-R b4-1	77.87	A 1 Water world 207ls (Terraformable)
189	Hind Sector HR-W d1-27	57.62	6 Water world 1407ls (Terraformable)
190	Struve's Lost Sector NC-V c2-8	72.25	2 Water world 337ls (Terraformable)	1, 3 High Metal 500ls (Terraformable)	4 Water world 610ls
191	HIP 14384	191.1	AB 1 Water world 935ls (Terraformable)
192	HIP 14319	32.93	3 Water world 1534ls (Terraformable)	7 Water world 4010ls
193	Synuefe WJ-A c16-1	55.11	8 Water world 207ls (Terraformable)	6, 7 High Metal 120ls (Terraformable)
194	Mel 22 Sector YJ-R c4-4	39.07	6 Water world 275ls (Terraformable)	7 Water world 418ls
195	HIP 17643	98.93	3 Water world 2131ls (Terraformable)
196	HIP 18749	60,42	2, 2a High Metal 1000ls (Terraformable)
197	Mel 22 Sector BB-D b13-0	17.6	4 Water world 100ls (Terraformable)	3 High Metal 70ls (Terraformable)
198	Pleiades Sector RS-T b3-2	35.18	5 Water world 28ls	6 Water world 41ls (Terraformable)
199	Synuefe OY-Z c16-18	82.78	1 Water world 306ls (Terraformable)
200	Col 285 Sector IL-X c1-12	30.1	1 Earth-like world 316ls	2 Water world 439ls (Terraformable)
201	Col 285 Sector GQ-X c1-8	56.96	A 4 Water world 557ls (Terraformable)
202	Col 285 Sector EQ-X c1-10	59.05	1 Water world 581ls (Terraformable)
203	Pleiades Sector HM-V c2-1	42.45	3 Water world 564ls (Terraformable)	1, 2 High metal 300ls (Terraformable)
204	Wredguia VB-W c15-17	125.32	2 Water world 612ls (Terraformable)	1 High Metal 430ls (Terraformable)	4 Water world 1007ls
205	Wredguia VB-W c15-1	28.9	7 High Metal 241ls (Terraformable)	8 Water World 430ls
206	Col 285 Sector UT-Z c1	70.51	AB 1 Water world 321ls (Terraformable)
207	Wredguia YD-K d8-38	27.52	4 Water world 1157ls (Terraformable)	3 High Metal 890 ls (Terraformable)	7 Water world 3394ls
208	HIP 21712	49.7	A 4 Water world 1160ls (Terraformable)	A 3 High Metal 900ls (Terraformable)
209	Col 285 Sector CG-W c2-6	57.7	8, 9, 9a High Metal 250ls (Terraformable)
210	Col 285 Sector DG-X d1-96	15.2	C 4 Earth Like World 4774ls (Terraformable)	C 3 High Metal 4800ls (Terraformable)	C 5 Water world 4900ls
211	HIP 23170	37	A 3, 4, 5, 6 High Metal 1000ls (Terraformable)	A 7 Water World 1800ls
212	HIP 22768	50.2	A 8 Water World 1600ls (Terraformable)	A 6, 7 High Metal 1500ls (Terraformable)	B 1 Water World 315000ls (Terraformable)
213	Lyncis Sector MX-U b2-4	71.2	A 3, 4 Water World 75ls (Terraformable)	A 2 High Metal 70ls (Terraformable)	A 5 Water World 100ls	B 4 High Metal 1444ls (Terraformable)
214	HIP 29113	48.2	3 Water World 400ls (Terraformable)	2, 4 High Metal 300ls (Terraformable)
215	Lyncis Sector FG-Y d54	15.1	A 3 Water World 800ls (Terraformable)	A 2 High Metal 500ls (Terraformable)
216	Col 285 Sector HM-U c3-5	47.8	1,2,3 High Metal 500ls (Terraformable)
217	RR Lyncis	47.7	A 7 Earth Like World 3500ls (Terraformable)	A 4, 5, 6 High Metal 2000ls (Terraformable)
218	16 Lyncis	51.7	12 e Earth Like World 5500ls (Terraformable)	12 g Water World 5500ls (Terraformable)	12 c, d, f Rocky 5500ls (Terraformable)
219	Col 285 Sector AQ-W c2-5	40.7	A 1 High Metal 255ls (Terraformable)
220	Col 285 Sector YE-Z d36	40.7	A 4 Water World 650ls (Terraformable)	A 2, 3 High Metal 450ls (Terraformable)	A 5, 7 Water World 1100ls
221	Col 285 Sector XE-Z d55	67.9	6 Water World 1000ls (Terraformable)	5 High Metal 1500ls (Terraformable)	8 Water World 2600ls
222	Col 285 Sector OH-B b1-2	37.6	5 Earth Like World 55ls (Terraformable)	4 High Metal 45ls (Terraformable)	10 Water World 150ls
223	Wredguia SO-Q b32-4	59.4	A 4 Water World 150ls	B 3 Earth Like World 20000ls (Terraformable)	B 2 Water World 20000ls
224	HIP 21144	48.8	5, 5a, 6 High Metal 2500ls (Terraformable)
225	Synuefe CT-O d7-57	36.1	5 Water World 844ls (Terraformable)	4, 6, 7 High Metal 1100ls (Terraformable)
226	Pleiades Sector BQ-Y d49	37.4	2,3 High Metal 450ls (Terraformable)	4, 5 Water World 980ls
227	HIP 19637	44.4	A 4 Earth-like world 1300ls (Terraformable)	A 2, 3 High Metal 800ls (Terraformable)	A 5 Water World 1700ls
228	59 chi Tauri	58.3	16 c, d 4450ls (Terraformable)	17 Water World 4500ls
229	Hyades Sector VT-A c9	41.6	1,2 High Metal 400ls (Terraformable)	5 Water World 920ls
230	Hyades Sector FW-V b2-2	56.4	4, 5, 6 High Metal 90ls (Terraformable)
231	HIP 19136	6.9	D 2, 3 Water World 109,000ls (Terraformable)	D 1 High Metal 109,000ls (Terraformable)
232	Hyades Sector EB-X c1-19	7.1	2, 3, 4 High Metal 200ls (Terraformable)
233	Arietis Sector ZJ-A c18	22.3	CD 1, 2 High metal 200,000 (Terraformable)	CD 5 Ammonia 200,000ls
234	HIP 16806	26.4	AB 2, 3, 4, 5 High Metal 382ls (Terraformable)	AB 6 Water World 1750ls
235	Hyades Sector DB-X c1-5	16.1	2 Water World 400ls (Terraformable)	1 High Metal 300ls (Terraformable)
236	Arietis Sector XO-A c10	51.6	B 7, 8 High Metal 50500ls (Terraformable)	c 6 High Metal 44000ls (Terraformable)
237	Hyades Sector AL-X c1-21	48.7	AB 1 Earth Like World 400ls (Terraformable)	AB 2 High Metal 550ls (Terraformable)	D 1, 2 High Metal 16000ls (Terraformable)
238	Arietis Sector CQ-Y d121	38.3	A 7 Earth Like World 646ls (Terraformable)	A 6 High Metal 500ls (Terraformable)
239	HIP 19553	39.9	1, 2, 3 High Metal 500ls (Terraformable)
240	Hyades Sector ZK-X c1-1	15.4	1, 2, 3 High Metal 250ls (Terraformable)
241	HIP 18351	19.9	2 Water World 650ls (Terraformable)	1 High Metal 500ls (Terraformable)	4 Water World 900ls
242	HIP 18002	21.5	A 1, 2 WW, HMC 1000ls (Terraformable)	A 3, 4 Water World 2000ls	A 6 Ammonia 2800ls	B 2, 3 High Metal 20000ls (Terraformable)
243	Col 285 Sector HM-V d2-89	25.3	ABC 4, 5 High Metal 700ls (Terraformable)	D 1, 2, 3 HMC WW 24000ls (Terraformable)	D 4 Water World 24000ls
244	Col 285 Sector UU-M b8-1	5.1	1, 2, 3 High Metal 90ls (Terraformable)
245	HIP 12132	37.9	A 4 Water World 1777ls (Terraformable)	A 5 Water World 2444ls	B 3 High Metal 36,000ls (Terraformable)	B 4 Water World 36,000ls
246	HIP 14316	35.5	A 5 High Metal 690ls (Terraformable)	B 2, 3 High Metal 7500ls (Terraformable)
247	HIP 13431	17.3	3 Water World 1000ls (Terraformable)	2 High Metal 900ls (Terraformable)	5 Water World 4000ls
248	Col 285 Sector GM-V d2-82	8.1	6, 7, 8 High Metal 650ls (Terraformable)	9, 10 Water World 900ls
249	Col 285 Sector GM-V d2-99	24.3	A 1, 2, 3 High Metal 750ls (Terraformable)
250	HR 540	30.4	8 Earth-Like World 2260ls (Terraformable)	6, 7 High Metal 1170ls (Terraformable)	9 Water World 2960ls
251	Col 285 Sector QD-S c4-8	62	8, 9, 10, 11 High Metal 400ls (Terraformable)
252	HIP 11485	19.4	5, 6, 7 High Metal 1000ls (Terraformable)
253	Col 285 Sector MX-T c3-10	26.8	A 3 Water World 660ls (Terraformable)	A 2, 4 High Metal 700ls (Terraformable)
254	Col 285 Sector IR-V c2-14	42.8	B 6 Water World 128,000ls (Terraformable)	B 7 Water World 128,000ls
255	HIP 14364	47.9	5 Earth-Like World 1500ls (Terraformable)	3, 4 High Metal 750ls (Terraformable)
256	Pleiades Sector KS-T c3-7	71.1	8, 9, 10, 11 High Metal 300ls (Terraformable)
257	Pleiades Sector FW-W d1-56	43.8	A 4, 5, 6 High Metal 500ls (Terraformable)
258	Pleiades Sector BG-X c1-10	55.3	7, 8 High Metal 130ls (Terraformable)	9 Water World 1100ls
259	HIP 19298	62.4	B 2 Water World 372,000ls (Terraformable)	B 1 High Metal 372,000ls (Terraformable)	B 3, 4 Water World 372,000ls
260	Wredguia OV-X c14-8	59.2	A 4, 5, 6 High Metal 500ls (Terraformable)
261	Wredguia YD-K d8-65	73.4	A 2 Water World 980ls (Terraformable)	A 3 High Metal 990ls (Terraformable)
262	HIP 15818	26.6	A 5 Water World 2000ls (Terraformable)	A 6, 7 Water World 2700ls
263	Wredguia TL-L b35-3	38	3, 4 Water World 120ls (Terraformable)	2 High Metal 90ls (Terraformable)
264	Col 285 Sector ZF-W c2-3	36.2	10 Water World 400ls (Terraformable)	9 High Metal 300ls (Terraformable)	11 Water World 700ls
265	Col 285 Sector BG-X d1-65	62.4	2 Water World 350ls (Terraformable)	1 High Metal 200ls (Terraformable)	3 Water World 500ls
266	Col 285 Sector GM-V d2-52	44.4	2, 3 High Metal 700ls (Terraformable)	4 Water World 1222ls
267	HIP 14791	43.5	9 Water World 1700ls (Terraformable)	10 e Water World 2600ls (Terraformable)
268	HIP 11706	30.4	4, 5 High Metal 850ls (Terraformable)	7 Water World 3800ls
269	Col 285 Sector GH-U c3-5	28	A 4, 5 High Metal 500ls (Terraformable)	B 3 High Metal 8000ls (Terraformable)
270	Col 285 Sector AG-W c2-12	22.8	2 Water World 356ls (Terraformable)	1, 3 High Metal 356ls (Terraformable)
271	Col 285 Sector CR-T b4-1	49.6	A 1 Water World 40ls (Terraformable)	B 1, 3 High Metal 800ls (Terraformable)
272	Col 285 Sector GH-U c3-14	31	4 Water World 600ls (Terraformable)	2, 3 High Metal 400ls (Terraformable)
273	Col 285 Sector BG-X d1-56	32.5	2 Water World 700ls (Terraformable)	1 High Metal 600ls (Terraformable)	3 Water World 990ls
274	Col 285 Sector BB-W c2-4	14.5	A 9, 10, 11, 12 High Metal 400ls (Terraformable)	B 9 High Metal 36000ls (Terraformable)
275	Wredguia FO-H b37-2	20.8	5 Water World 78ls (Terraformable)	4 Water World 78ls
276	Col 285 Sector BB-W c2-13	17.3	2 Earth-Like World 350ls (Terraformable)	1, 3 High Metal 350ls (Terraformable)	5 Ammonia World 1000ls
277	Wredguia XD-K d8-100	23.9	2, 4 High Metal 800ls (Terraformable)	6 Ammonia World 2400ls
278	Wredguia BI-J b36-5	11.3	ABC 4 Water World 91ls (Terraformable)	ABC 1, 2, 3 High Metal 70ls (Terraformable)
279	HIP 11902	8.2	12 f Water World 3600ls (Terraformable)	6 e, 7 c Rocky 1000ls (Terraformable)
280	Wredguia XD-K d8-93	20	9 Water World 950ls (Terraformable)	6, 7, 8 High Metal 700ls (Terraformable)
281	Wredguia XD-K d8-24	20.9	10 Earth-Like World 6100ls (Terraformable)	8, 9 High Metal 4500ls (Terraformable)
282	Wredguia XD-K d8-97	11	4 Water World 929ls (Terraformable)	5 High Metal 1100ls (Terraformable)
283	Wredguia YD-K d8-34	21.4	A 4 Water World 999ls (Terraformable)	A 3 High Metal 555ls (Terraformable)	B 1, 2 High Metal 14000ls (Terraformable)
284	Col 285 Sector YZ-Y d54	51.9	A 2, 3, 4 High Metal 1000ls (Terraformable)
285	Col 285 Sector WE-Z d55	93.5	A 7 Water World 1200ls (Terraformable)	A 5, 6 High Metal 800ls (Terraformable)	B 1, 2 High Metal 123,000 (Terraformable)
286	Col 285 Sector UE-Y c1-11	33.1	B 1 Water World 8000ls (Terraformable)	4 Ammonia 8000ls
287	Wredguia PB-V c16-5	85.5	A 9 Water World 480ls (Terraformable)	A 7, 8 High Metal 400ls (Terraformable)
288	Col 285 Sector XE-Z d34	51.8	5 Water World 1444ls (Terraformable)	3, 4 High Metal 1062ls (Terraformable)

- - - Updated - - -

Post: Why did I create this, some back story, my thoughts on "Elite Rank"

 

[Paroxsym]

Talk about detailed. Well done.

Going to make some time to try this out on my alt and see how it goes!

 

[varonica]

To tell you the truth I basically ignore the exploration achievements, I set a course, I honk the system, if anything looks interesting I scan it, otherwise I just jump out. Not even sure what my percentage to Elite is.

Of course some people will be interested in achieving elite in exploration as soon as possible, so this will be really good for them, well done.

 

[Jaiotu]

I recently reset one of my game saves and took the "Colonia Outlander Challenge" ... flying the 22,000 light-years to Jaques Station in just my starter sidewinder. I'm not at Elite yet ... but I'm getting close

I'm starting to think that the Sidewinder is the best ship for exploration, at least if you stick to the areas of the galaxy with a high population of stars. You find all the nice gems that the folks with bigger jump ranges miss.

 

[Col Frost]

Great guide, gonna use this to rank up my second account, thank you for all the hard work +1 rep

 

[gooddoc]

Not the way that I ranked up to Elite in Exploration.

It took me 6 months & a trip to Sag A*, two years ago, for me to reach Elite - when the payouts were very poor & you only had to reach 80mil to get there.

Now, in these 'get rich quick' days, you don't REALLY have to do very much to reach Elite in any of the ranks, which in some players opinion's devalues the whole idea of becoming Elite - Shame really!

Still each to their own & nice work cmdr, laying down a route for others to follow, should they wish - but not for me!

 

[Cmdr-Wotherspoon]

Still each to their own & nice work cmdr, laying down a route for others to follow, should they wish - but not for me!

Not for me either. I was disappointed when I leapfrogged something like four rankings straight to Elite after I got back from the Distant Worlds Expedition in mid-3302 - it seemed way too easy. It should be something you have to work towards over a number of years, and only a few people should get to the very top. There's not much point in being Elite if everyone else is too.

There's rampant inflation going on in the game - financial and ranking earnings are getting steadily and rapidly easier, and if you're of the appropriate mindset, you can now presumably "complete" the game in about a month. I would argue that's missing the point, but perhaps it's actually me that's missing the point.

Perhaps it really is just a game, not a way of life.

In any case, CMDR Inyahin's post is a useful guide for those who want to get to the top quickly, and for that we should thank her.

 

[Jackie Silver]

*smiles indulgently*

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

A bit conflicted about this. Appreciate the work and effort that went into collecting these systems. But on the other hand, it is so contrary to what I consider exploration. But if people are going to enjoy this, why be a CMDR Scrooge?

So ... just a "Bah Humbug" and a quick exit from the thread.

 

[Qohen Leth]

Right... "Elite".

 

[Henkka77]

A bit conflicted about this. Appreciate the work and effort that went into collecting these systems. But on the other hand, it is so contrary to what I consider exploration. But if people are going to enjoy this, why be a CMDR Scrooge?

So ... just a "Bah Humbug" and a quick exit from the thread.

Well Ziggy ol' boy.. couldnt said it any better myself.

 

[marx]

A bit conflicted about this. Appreciate the work and effort that went into collecting these systems. But on the other hand, it is so contrary to what I consider exploration. But if people are going to enjoy this, why be a CMDR Scrooge?

I'd say that even the concept of an exploration rank is contrary to what I consider exploration. In fact, I consider that rank is good for telling who's an explorer, as opposed to a ranker: those who still go back out after they've reached Elite in exploration.

This is a well-written guide to powerleveling your exploration rank. Not to exploring the unknown. And that's fine, as it's made quite clear by the author that that wasn't their goal.

 

[MattG]

Good job, OP. It's an informative guide for those who want to hit Elite rank in exploration. I came up with a similar tour of bubble-based systems (or close to, anyway) that contained ELWs, as well as making a note of any other bodies that were worth scanning but never got around to writing it up - this is much more concise though, and I think shorter.

 

[Iron Orchid]

Nice write up:

Not sure why it's in the Exploration forum as it's about ranking rather than exploration and I bet that was a grind to complete in four days.

 

[Kenneth McGrew]

if you had scanned the exact same bodies the OP has put up in the list (which isn't a quick list by any means to get though) but if you scanned them 2.2 or 2.3, or any other version for that matter you would be elite.

Elite is no easier to reach now than it used to be, you get paid better along the way mind yes agreed... but neutron farming, ELW farming, its always existed.

and if people want to follow a sat - nav then fair enough each to their own.

I did it my way and had fun doing it, and that's all that matters, and I still explore every chance I get!

 

[MattG]

Elite is no easier to reach now than it used to be, it's a little irritating when people be-little the achievement and say its easier now, you get paid better along the way mind yes agreed... but neutron farming, ELW farming, its always existed.

Sadly, not true. 2.2 added passenger missions which - at the time - were matched 1:1 for payout:rank and made actual exploring a joke, if all you cared about was rank. They somewhat fixed that in 2.3, and at the same time approximately doubled the amount of credits you needed to hit elite - but the buffs to payouts hugely outweigh that. Terraformable WWs and ELWs are in the order of 10x more valuable meaning - if you only care about rank - it's literally 5 times easier to get Elite in exploration, if they're the only bodies you're scanning. If you don't sleep, and don't hang around, it's possible to do Elite in exploration in 24 hours. Makes neutron farming look ridiculous.

I did it my way and had fun doing it, and that's all that matters, and I still explore every chance I get!

^^This though. Can't be understated.

 

[marx]

if you had scanned the exact same bodies the OP has put up in the list (which isn't a quick list by any means to get though) but if you scanned them 2.2 or 2.3, or any other version for that matter you would be elite.

I think you miscalculated here.

Elite is no easier to reach now than it used to be, it's a little irritating when people be-little the achievement and say its easier now, you get paid better along the way mind yes agreed... but neutron farming, ELW farming, its always existed.

Like MattG said, you are wrong with this. Also, neutron farming and ELW farming did exist, but ELW farming used to produce less money per hour than neutron farming would - and not even above just jump-honking. Now, neutron farming wasn't nerfed in 2.3 per se, but other scan payouts were buffed so much that compared to them, it was nerfed. Not that I mind though.

At the end of the day, reaching Elite in exploration did get four-five times quicker, no way around it. Not easier though, because the difficulty didn't change. You do the same thing, with the same risks - which are very low, of course. Leveling your trading and exploration rank does not get more difficult as you progress through the ranks, it just takes longer to get to the next one.

Pre-2.3, this list would have needed to be longer. However, such a guide wouldn't really have been needed anyway, because if you just wanted to powerlevel your exploration rank, then with a few selective passenger mission picks, you could reach Elite in exploration via passengers even quicker than you could now. It was a gross oversight from FD. (Method: take a few missions with 7-8 first class passengers, as rewards rose very quickly at that number. If you're lucky, take those missions to the same destination.)

 

[Kenneth McGrew]

I think you miscalculated here.


Like MattG said, you are wrong with this. Also, neutron farming and ELW farming did exist, but ELW farming used to produce less money per hour than neutron farming would - and not even above just jump-honking. Now, neutron farming wasn't nerfed in 2.3 per se, but other scan payouts were buffed so much that compared to them, it was nerfed. Not that I mind though.

At the end of the day, reaching Elite in exploration did get four-five times quicker, no way around it. Not easier though, because the difficulty didn't change. You do the same thing, with the same risks - which are very low, of course. Leveling your trading and exploration rank does not get more difficult as you progress through the ranks, it just takes longer to get to the next one.

Pre-2.3, this list would have needed to be longer. However, such a guide wouldn't really have been needed anyway, because if you just wanted to powerlevel your exploration rank, then with a few selective passenger mission picks, you could reach Elite in exploration via passengers even quicker than you could now. It was a gross oversight from FD. (Method: take a few missions with 7-8 first class passengers, as rewards rose very quickly at that number. If you're lucky, take those missions to the same destination.)

I thought it was all balanced reading the change notes i.e 50% less rank, I am Elite already have been for a while so I have no idea

Yes passenger missions were a joke, but at least in my head I thought rank was now the same as it was in 2.1 but you just got paid more - but you learn something new everyday, I stand corrected release the hounds.

 

[TieKnee]

I've been playing since the very beginning and still don't have elite in any category, but am close in a couple - There was alot of work in doing this guide but as stated by a few others, it's not exploring as such but power leveling... it's not for me ... but thanks for the build on the Orca explorer .. I might try it and never thought about using one of them for that task. +1

 

[K-NINE]

How to get to Elite Exploration...
...without going far away from the bubble

Says it all, really...