Except that this guide has absolutely nothing to do with exploring. Its just a list of systems.
Exploration - Zero to Hero in under 5 days
- Thread starter Becky
- Start date
Except that this guide has absolutely nothing to do with exploring. Its just a list of systems.
Ah, I think that #2 is an euphemism. I have never been Toysrus at my local retail park but a visit there does not compare with any of Shackleton expeditions nor would I expect any prestige for doing so.
This discussion was had earlier in the post, from memory the conclusion was that in-game ranks are just a measure of how good you are "at the grind". Even back before the data boost, people would go to blackhole/neutron fields to grind out data for rank. It's no different today.
Where as actual prestige comes from the player created "merit badges" etc like the ones on EDSM. "65,000ly from sol", Neutron/Blackhole first discovery etc.
Believe it or not, when I was making the list in the OP, I had some first discoveries; there's still undiscovered stuff even around maia.
But look at the bright side - it's a carrot that gets people out using the exploration game mechanic. Even if it's already known systems. Once they have the exploration bug I'm sure they wont stop just because they hit elite. And they'll have the experience to try longer trips with confidence and the money to buy better ships; and the farseer reputation to get grade 5 jump ranges.
Last edited:
Ah, is that why you asked on EDSM Discord to have a badge for "Elite in 5 days"? Yes, you are right, that's very prestigeous.
On the other hand, and that's from EDSM Discord too, I find it funny that a meaningful achievement system for a game is invented by a group of dedicated players, rather than the gaming company itself. It says a lot about players' trust that FD will give exploration anything meaningful in the days to come, and it also illustrates that in the opinion of many, the triple "Harmless to Elite" ranking system holds no real value beyond a bird of prey decal that gets bigger and more flashy the more you grind your brain out.
If you draw a comparison, and I think that's where a certain amount of the players in this niche sub-forum are going, between being Elite Explorer and being in the 65k or 200k light year club or having organized a 100 people expedition, I think the preference tends to go towards accomplishing deeds that forward the unspoken goals and bonds of this community, rather thank taking a fly-by quickie to buy you the Elite rank.
On the other hand, and that's where your "list of things to see" is perfectly valid, people wanting to "level up" their alt accounts quick and dirty are well advised to consider having a hike around in a cash cow instead of killing inncocent NPC over and over. It's the faster lane and for that purpose it suits perfectly.
But please let me state that in my opinion it has nothing to do with exploration. Indeed, it's more like a shortcut (to mushrooms).
Fly safe!
Andrew
Ah, is that why you asked on EDSM Discord to have a badge for "Elite in 5 days"? Yes, you are right, that's very prestigeous.
On the other hand, and that's from EDSM Discord too, I find it funny that a meaningful achievement system for a game is invented by a group of dedicated players, rather than the gaming company itself. It says a lot about players' trust that FD will give exploration anything meaningful in the days to come, and it also illustrates that in the opinion of many, the triple "Harmless to Elite" ranking system holds no real value beyond a bird of prey decal that gets bigger and more flashy the more you grind your brain out.
If you draw a comparison, and I think that's where a certain amount of the players in this niche sub-forum are going, between being Elite Explorer and being in the 65k or 200k light year club or having organized a 100 people expedition, I think the preference tends to go towards accomplishing deeds that forward the unspoken goals and bonds of this community, rather thank taking a fly-by quickie to buy you the Elite rank.
On the other hand, and that's where your "list of things to see" is perfectly valid, people wanting to "level up" their alt accounts quick and dirty are well advised to consider having a hike around in a cash cow instead of killing inncocent NPC over and over. It's the faster lane and for that purpose it suits perfectly.
But please let me state that in my opinion it has nothing to do with exploration. Indeed, it's more like a shortcut (to mushrooms).
Fly safe!
Andrew
I was originally hoping to get the post in to Guides-and-Tutorials; but since I can't post there and don't know who ping to get it moved
No offense, but I don't think that flying a pre-made route to scan already-discovered stuff will make anyone contract the exploration bug. Especially since they don't even need to leave the immediate vicinity of the bubble.
I don't think the in-game statistics were meant as an achievement system. The three Elite ranks were just used to gate a few things in-game, although the mission gating has thankfully been removed since.
Also, something worth considering: meaningful to whom?
Last edited:
I am not sure where all the cries about a guide not having anything to do with the "true spirit of exploration" come from. There is no true spirit of exploration, each of us plays the way we find comfortable and fun. Therefore, all meaningful ways of achieving our goals are valid. A 5-day effort to reach Elite rank is as valid as a 6 month effort to reach it. No one enforces anything on anyone.
Diversity and tolerance means we accept we are different and play in different ways, all of which are perfectly valid. This is a guide for the people who want to reach the rank fast. It's correctly in the exploration subforum as it is about the exploration rank. Even though I've not used it, I want to thank Becky for all the effort she went to compile all this data.
Diversity and tolerance means we accept we are different and play in different ways, all of which are perfectly valid. This is a guide for the people who want to reach the rank fast. It's correctly in the exploration subforum as it is about the exploration rank. Even though I've not used it, I want to thank Becky for all the effort she went to compile all this data.
Well said.
And true for much more than just our little game
Sadly, I have to agree with you. Sadly not because of you, but because I think it's the stripped of all illusions reality: A gear gate of sorts, if you will.
Now, meaningful is perhaps attributed to my language barrier. With meaningful I mean substantial, differentiated, diverse, elaborate... Something like that. And maybe something players may identify more with than - like I said - three sets of grindy mechanics.
I hope I could clarify that a bit.
Thanks so much for this Becky. I will be using this list to make some credits and see some new sites then continue on my own exploration journey. I'm also scanning every planet in these systems. I am exploring after all, this just gives me some gguaranteed goodies along the way.
This is my personal view, I haven't been to New Zealand yet but millions of others have. Does that mean it's less of an exploration journey? I also use a GPS when i have to travel through a city, but it gets me there with a minimum of fuss. For me it's not about the ELITE badge at all, it's about the credits to outfit my future exploration ships for trips across the cosmos in my own direction. With my limited time and resources your compilation is a massive help. Thanks so much for the time and effort you have taken to share this with us.
Last edited:
Maybe exploration rank should be increased only by scanning previously unvisited systems, although I could give you mapping unmapped planets in already discovered systems and landing on planets that haven't been landed on in said systems, and change it to a points system rather than money to easily separate the two activities, that would set the cat among the pigeons, to actually have to find new stuff to get your exploration rank up!
But don't worry, it'll never happen!
But don't worry, it'll never happen!
there are those that explore for the new, unknown, undiscovered never touched systems out there. I know we are a "different breed" of explorer and credits don't matter, it's the first time anyone's seen this, mapped this, first footfalled this excitement. we've gone past beagle, to the outer arms and still enjoy the uncharted areas of space more than the bubble.
Don't even need to go that far from the Bubble for that, up and down are perfectly valid directions.
6 months in the black, over 2,000 newly discovered systems, around 50 WWs but annoyingly only one ELW. Just a little over £5bn credits pocketed and up to Elite 1 explorer. But my biggest satisfaction? Repainting my Anaconda!
