Thanks for the video, very useful informations!
I don't understand how all that's exploration data is shared in the universe map/database though...like why do you need to scan your surroundings to discover already discovered planets? Shouldn't they already be present in your map but marked unexplored?
I saw you can buy exploration data of systems in stations, so I suppose that's the reason, but then why you don't need to buy it for some systems?
If a system has no map and no exploration data available to buy, can I assume it was never explored? I would guess not since I saw some of them next to the starting location...but then how does it work?
Hi, Nehluxhes. Good questions.
You have to re-scan objects that have already been discovered for a couple of reasons:
1. This allows other explorers who are new to the game an opportunity to make money as explorers within the space that is already colonized by humans. Starting out, it is tough to go 200ly out just to start making money as an explorer.
2. You have to buy the exploration data. If someone else has scanned a system, it still isn't in your ship's computer until either you scan it or buy the exploration data at a station while in the galaxy map.
And I can see where you're coming from, because it can get confusing to a new explorer. I guess some systems are just so old, been around for so long that the information is freely available, whereas some colonized systems are newer or a little more obscure. Like Sol is the best known human system in existence, so the data is freely available. If a system's data is not available to buy at a station, then the discovery data from the past explorer(s) was sold to other factions or galactic nations. Also keep in mind that a system's data cannot be sold at a station that is within 20 light years.
Just in case this still doesn't make sense:
Let's say you're at a station in System A owned by Faction A. You jump to System B that's only 4 ly away, you cannot sell the data at a station in System A due to it being too close. So, that station/faction cannot get that data. But, let's say that Faction A isn't an independent system. Let's now say it's a part of the Federation. You still can't sell the data for System B at that station, again due to how close it is, BUT Faction A can still have that data to sell if an explorer explored System B and sold it to another, further away Federation station. Furthermore, if past explorers do not sell System B's information to the Federation, but instead to the Empire, then you need to find an Empire station in order to buy that system's data.
I know its kind of confusing starting out, and I'm not sure if I 100% understand everything correctly. But I think I got the gist of the situation here. As always, if you have more questions or if I haven't sufficiently answered your questions, feel free to post and elaborate
We'll figure this out.
