Explorers: (how) do you keep track of systems you've visited?

Mikalus · Jan 28, 2015

I'm a bit of a hoarder and I have a 10 week old so:
1. I take screen shots of system overviews.
2. Take screen shots of anything else I find interesting.
3. Later when I'm holding my little one I sort out the images and create folders for each system.
4. Keep a note pad where I write down anything really interesting and my personal records such as smallest planet etc.

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Maccus said:
I mix prospecting with my exploration, and I mark systems with Pristine Metal Rings on Sticky Notes on my second monitor. These are Desktop app notes, not actual sticky notes.

Haha, a, for a moment I was wondering!

Eldrazzi · Jan 28, 2015

I use my "Elite Spreadsheet" and then blog it. Click the link in my sig.

Slugsie · Jan 28, 2015

I'm currently using my own EDDL (Elite Dangerous Diary and Log) app to record the systems I visit, and a separate spreadsheet with details about stations in populated systems. I'll get around to rolling that into the EDDL at some point. Possibly.

Nauht · Jan 28, 2015

CMDRs Log. It's usually floats to the first page in General Discussion.

SvennoJ · Jan 28, 2015

I take screenshots of interesting worlds I encounter including all earth-likes. Apart from that, nothing extra. I do plan on writing down the most valuable systems once I'm back to sell the data. I hope the path of your visited systems will become visible after an update. The server should have a record of that, it has all my exploration data after all.

Darkfyre99 · Jan 28, 2015

Since the systems I've explored have system information on the galactic screen, and the ones I haven't explored don't, if the system info tab is red, I know I haven't been there. I do keep a log of systems worth a second visit with a detailed surface scanner, and I'll take a screen shot of particularly worthy candidates.

Schnooble · Jan 28, 2015

I didn't see anyone link this tool so I might as well. EliteDangerous Heatmap. Keeps a record of all the systems you've travelled to and allows you to add notes to the ones you want. You basically create an account, run a java applet (or whatever it is) and it updates your info on a website that you can keep track of. Pretty simple.

http://www.010102.de/download

Edit: fix up the link. Give the download link instead of the contact page.

Wolfman · Jan 28, 2015

Yep, screenshot of interesting systems then close ups of WWs, Earths, AW's etc. Windows organizes the folder by days so I can basically see where I was and when.

virosh · Jan 28, 2015

Just like @Pete i am using pen & paper notepad to track my current progress during flights. Much easier than to Alt+Tab constantly to write down something. When i am finished for the day i upload the notes in my OwnCloud notebook.
I also use Elite Heatmap to track the progress route and leave notes on each system about how and what type of bodies there are.
Once i get back to inhabited space i plan to have a day or two reviewing the data and putting it into a database for easier access.

Apocryphic · Jan 28, 2015

I don't, since it's doubtful I'd return to any of them. If I see something cool, I'll take a screenshot.

Each system is unique, but there's nothing particularly memorable about any of them. No ship graveyards, no alien artifacts, no strange monoliths or structures, no undocumented celestial objects. Just spinning balls in an endless void, and you'll see all the common objects within a few dozen systems.

It's harder if you want to see all of the rare stars, though, and requires several expeditions (or a very long one). I still haven't completed the set, though I've been spending more time trading than exploring lately. I would like to visit more of the systems that are always visible on the galactic map.

Ratlan · Jan 28, 2015

I tried keeping notes but it drove me nuts. So instead I just don't for the moment.

Next trip out of the bubble I'll take a stab at notes again, but I'm not all that optimistic about it.

If you have a second screen available, spreadsheet is fantastic for notes. If you don't, a notebook should suffice.

The problem I always have is deciding what's worth writing down and what isn't.

Allitnil · Jan 28, 2015

Scraps of paper that will get thrown away in a few days - ideal filing system really since 99% of what I write down isn't anything I would actually want to revisit. Other than that, I take a quick screenshot of the system map for any system that I think I might actually want to look at again.

Ratlan · Jan 28, 2015

Allitnil said:
Scraps of paper that will get thrown away in a few days - ideal filing system really since 99% of what I write down isn't anything I would actually want to revisit. Other than that, I take a quick screenshot of the system map for any system that I think I might actually want to look at again.

I highly recommend checking out the Universal Cartographics Records Book before throwing out the scraps from now on.

Gunslinger · Jan 28, 2015

I'd also love if there was a way to track some travel statistics, like showing which systems I've visted (and how many times?), how far I've travelled over all, etc.

Even better if they were available through an API of some kind

Lestat · Jan 28, 2015

Well I set a destination and that where I go. It tends to be 3 Points.
Point A is around 1,000 LY away. Point B is around 300 LY away Point C is coming Home to a system (I tend to pick a system not near my starting point.

Lodorenos · Jan 28, 2015

Gunslinger said:
I'd also love if there was a way to track some travel statistics, like showing which systems I've visted (and how many times?), how far I've travelled over all, etc.

Even better if they were available through an API of some kind

I requested system data for the API they're planning on releasing. Even if we only the system name and coordinates, it's something that would allow us to build applications to generate the path you took to get somewhere. I hope they include much more, so us avid explorers can keep our own databases with the full details of every system and body we scan. Imagine a crowdsourced database for explorers!

Celeste · Jan 28, 2015

Ilenya said:
So I've been out exploring, visited 760 systems so far (I'd guess I'm still pretty much a newbie at this point), but apart from a small number of really notable systems (Betelgeuse, VY Canis Majoris, Wezen aka Delta Canis Majoris) I have no record of systems I've visited or details on anything I've found there (not to mention things like distance traveled). Do you keep some kind of record of all places you've visited and discoveries there, and if so, how do you keep track of all this?

I currently do not keep track of them. It would be nice if Frontier added a function (button) to the galaxy map that only shows systems you've been to. This would actually be very useful.

Ratlan · Jan 28, 2015

I would love statistics that involve things like objects scanned and a breakdown of how many of each type. On top of that, a breakdown of why UC is buying a system for a specific amount of credits would also be nice.

Heck, something akin to a personal achievements version of the Universal Cartographics Records Book ingame would be great. Essentially, it would tell you the name of the body and system for hottest planet, coldest planet, etc.

Lupin · Jan 28, 2015

Slopey's ED BPC has a flight log, which I use.
But I get the impression that game is storing this information, so why can it not be made available in game.

KulKulcan · Jan 29, 2015

Lupin said:
Slopey's ED BPC has a flight log, which I use.
But I get the impression that game is storing this information, so why can it not be made available in game.

Yep, that seems like it would be nice, but as a poster above stated, they have visited 1000 systems, eventually it all gets buried in the haystack. I certainly do not record every system with the Cmdr's log but some of them that I feel a a bit unique I will make a note of it. If he gets the journal so it can contain a clickable link that would be nice for finding a screenshot.

I probably play a bit different than most at the moment. Quite a slow pace. When I visit a star system like 51 Ursae Majoris, I will look it up on the web and compare to what is in game. BTW it jived well with actual data. Multiple star systems... Quite a pretty site.