Explorer - anything worth discovering?

[noodle]

So I'm looking at the "Explorer" starting option ("Have the option to start on the edge of explored space with a long range version of the Cobra Mk III and 3,000 CR") and wondering if there's any point to it. If you're heading out beyond the core of settled systems, will there actually be anything to see other than pretty scenery?

On a related note, can we have multiple characters on the go? Or are we tied to one per account?

 

[Memnoch]

Once you have travelled outside the sphere of mankinds influence, however large that is likely to be, it is doubtful you will see much civilisation out there. They might throw in the odd curveball, with NPC explorer types out there doing the same thing that you are: exploration for the sake of it. But you won't be finding stations and other signs of life.

One of the subjects discussed in the DDF was rewards for these explorations. One idea being floated was that as you explore you would accumulate some kind resource e.g. "data", that would be tradeable for vouchers that you could then spend at a later time. Once that system was explored it would not be exploitable by another player meaning that as an explorer you really would be making a different to the galaxy, making it a tiny bit smaller a system at a time.

 

[Steph]

I was wondering about exploration last night, thanks for reminding me.

I had a possible "exploit" in mind - well not an exploit as such, more something to try out when Beta arrives.

1) Start as the explorer (edge of explored space).
2) Go somewhere new and get map data.
3) Bring it back to "civilisation".
4) Restart as fresh character - is the boundary of the known universe getting further and further away from civilisation?

 

[Ian Phillips]

Somewhere there are Thargoids.

 

[Memnoch]

4) Restart as fresh character - is the boundary of the known universe getting further and further away from civilisation?

Perhaps eventually as the galaxy evolved but right now all you have done is discovered a star system and mapped it. A space station hasn't just sprung up instantly because of your discovery. That kind of expansion is going to take time and I hope that there will be some mechanic for this expansion. It would be great to see fleets of ships that are following the pathfinders out there, with the resources needed to build a space station. I would love to follow one of those groups as they set up shop.

 

[noodle]

Perhaps eventually as the galaxy evolved but right now all you have done is discovered a star system and mapped it. A space station hasn't just sprung up instantly because of your discovery.

Yeah, I realise that. But there's all kinds of stuff that could be out there. I just wondered if the developers planned to seed anything interesting or useful.

 

[Memnoch]

That question has popped up many times. The only way you would ever see anything really impressive, such as orbital tethers, rings etc. would be if they were built by aliens. And that is a subject that doesn't get elaborated on. I believe that there will parts of the galaxy that you won't be able to visit, and I'm interested to know what mechanic they are going to use to explain that. The reason for this is unclear but it could just be that they are setting aside some space to work in for a possible return of the Thargoid but that is mere speculation.

 

[Cody]

Where would be the fun in exploring if one already knew what was out there?

 

[Erimus Kamzel]

Being the first person to see something in game that no other player, nor the devs themselves, have ever seen or will ever see is reward enough isn't it?

Seriously though, that's what a procedural gameworld on this scale will provide. Unique experiences that are personal to you. You will find things, and see worlds, interact with creatures (after the expansion) that in all likelihood no other player will get to see (unless you share it via vids and screenshots).

To the OP I think there will be plenty of natural phenomena and environmental anomalies to collect data on and chart way beyond the frontier worlds. I hope the galaxy isn't some sort of Star Trek galaxy teeming with intelligent life. That would be just as boring as a galaxy devoid of anything but nice scenery. I think there is a balance there though. Maybe relics of ancient civilizations, void creatures have been mentioned, and of course the Thargoids are one of the known alien races to exist.

 

[izzy]

All role will be balanced, so an explorer will also have great reward

 

[Colonel Kenney]

I mean after a while it can get boring. I mean oh joy.. more gas giants, asteroids and lifeless moons. Nebula = clouds yay.

What really can we explore and find other than comets, stars, maybe some old tech from a lost race floating in space.

Maybe they can add binary star systems with suns eating each other.. or pulsars. Blue giants..

I mean you could maybe list 20 things you could find out there but even procedurally generated it will get mundane after a while exploring. There is only so much you can find in the universe. I think the reward for exploring will be high concentrations of resources. Exploring and finding those can be rewarding.

But once you've explored 1000 star systems exploration will be pretty boring. I hope they come up with something unique that allows us to probe and analyze planets for unique and interesting information.

 

[Norbert]

Exploration has been actively discussed and you can find all about it in this thread.

 

[Jenner]

I'm definitely looking forward to exploring! Even if it's just pretty scenery, that'll be cool. Hoping to find some nice random encounters/events, even if it's just environmental.

 

[The Space Pirate]

Perhaps eventually as the galaxy evolved but right now all you have done is discovered a star system and mapped it. A space station hasn't just sprung up instantly because of your discovery. That kind of expansion is going to take time and I hope that there will be some mechanic for this expansion. It would be great to see fleets of ships that are following the pathfinders out there, with the resources needed to build a space station. I would love to follow one of those groups as they set up shop.

So we'd be like Intergalactic Pioneers? I think that would be great!

 

[Vingtetun]

I, for one, will be hunting for Fat Furry Felines and Slimy Blue Frogs. I don't believe a word of it when they say that they won't be making an appearance. Somewhere, out there, there will be a planet just like that and when I find it, I'll send you all an E(lite)-Mail.

Oh, and there's an asteroid belt made entirely of gold. None of this ferrite core nonsense, pure gold, I tell you!

Either that, or my blog of "Tales from the Edge" will make me an instant star and rich beyond my wildest dreams.

 

[Thargon]

I'm really looking forward to the Tribble pandemic you discover when visiting planet X.

 

[noodle]

I'm definitely looking forward to exploring! Even if it's just pretty scenery, that'll be cool. Hoping to find some nice random encounters/events, even if it's just environmental.

I agree, but I would like to do that knowing that there's a possibility of stumbling across something more interesting. Lost ships to plunder, far-flung colony worlds with unique goods, alien bases..... I don't need to know what, just the knowledge that there's some surprises out there would make it worthwhile

 

[nats]

So I'm looking at the "Explorer" starting option ("Have the option to start on the edge of explored space with a long range version of the Cobra Mk III and 3,000 CR") and wondering if there's any point to it.

If you mean you are thinking of buying the explorer option I think you are too late arent you? All those options dont exist anymore. Now its just alpha, premium beta, or standard beta with an extra option to get all expansions. Or am I missing something? These starting options may become available again at some point in the future of course so I would wait to see if they do.

Certainly if I had some spare money the Explorer would probably be my choice of starting option, but I dont, so I will make do with the default start plus 500 credits. Which seems fine to me considering there will be insurance and escape options available in the game and your starting option will probably be rarely needed past a certain point.

 

[Memnoch]

So we'd be like Intergalactic Pioneers? I think that would be great!

Yeah. I think an off-shoot of Exploration should be Colonisation. It has already been stated that stations will be constructed and that players would be able to assist with this, or even halt their construction should they choose. Having dynamic missions to assist with these efforts, perhaps guarding a convoy of ships to a newly discovered system and then helping bring in the raw materials to build it. That would be amazing.

 

[noodle]

If you mean you are thinking of buying the explorer option I think you are too late arent you?

No, I meant I was looking at the explorer starter option in the game. I already pledged at a tier that includes that option.