Newcomer / Intro First sightseeing trip?

Nounverber

Nounverber
I've been doing a lot of local exploring - basically all within 60ly of Eravate - but I'd like to change it up and pick a couple of sightseeing destinations and explore on my way there, between, and back. Since this will be a first attempt at something like this I have a couple of questions:
-What are some nice destinations that aren't too far away? (i.e. a trip that could be done an a few days rather than weeks)
-When away from populated systems, what is an actual safe way to log off between sessions?
Thanks in advance!
 

cmdr lowest

C
When you get about 500LY out you leave populated space and there are no starports so you actually save anywhere as long as your ship isn't in any danger (burning up in a star etc.). Another 100LY or so you never see a living soul - no USS' or interdictions.

No starports also mean no refuelling / rearming so my advice is you need to reconfigure your loadout for exploration:

1) Rip out all cargo holds. No use for carrying cargo and only adds weight.
2) Buy the biggest (class) most expensive fuel scoop you can afford. Grade A and whatever class compartment is biggest in your ship. Believe me - it makes a HUGE difference.
3) Pick up an advanced discovery scanner to find all astronomical bodies in each system. (infinite range but expensive)
4) Also pick up a detailed surface scanner to maximise how much of a return you get for your discoveries. (you have to fly close to each planet to scan it)
5) You don't need weapons. Lose them to reduce vehicle weight and increase jump range. If you get interdicted - run.
6) Currently, don't bother scanning asteroid belts. You get nothing for them.

Then there's optional stuff like chaff for protection and auto repair kit for repairing modules in case of fuel scooping accidents. These comes down to choice and affordability.

Good luck. And don't forget to hold your breath when you decide to return and try and make it back to a starport to sell your data... also, good tip, sell your data to your friends - you will most likely level up your rep with them all the way to friendly after you finish selling your data. Don't level up your enemies!

I've never went looking for landmarks. Those routes are all well-trodden and I prefer to go wandering at random to find undiscovered 'little blue dots'.
 
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Kingston@#

Kingston@#
I pick a point on the map 200lys from base, choosing route that's economical. scanning everything in every system, along the way collecting free goods. at finishing point i rest/have a break. restart go in any direction for 50ly scanning etc. then make economical route back to base. or if hold is full before i get home i change to quickest route. sell data and my illegal cargo for at least 12,000,000cr at my local black market.

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Nounverber said:
what is an actual safe way to log off between sessions
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drop out to normal space . make a note of were you were going. end game
 

Hellhawk666

Hellhawk666
The Pleiades cluster is a popular local destination. Maia is a pretty amazing system with a black hole.

I'd also recommend the Hart nebula. It's fairly close, small and doesn't look much from outside, but inside is very pretty. A lot of people bypass it, but it's worth the trip.
 
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ZephyrDark

ZephyrDark
Two good systems/regions to check out are HIP 63835 and the Nebula, LBN 623. They are relatively close to populated space and feature some unique things. LBN 623 is a unique nebula (doesn't use one of the three copy/paste/resize nebulae you see everywhere) and 63835 has three black holes and over 13 other stars.
 

Nounverber

Nounverber
Well, I wasn't able to find anything better than a C3 Field-Maintenance Unit, so just to be safe I equipped two of them. :) Beyond that, I'm fairly sure I'm ready to go. Question though: is there any need for a shield bank or armor module, or should I just throw in a third Field-Maintenance Unit?

Also, I've decided that Betelgeuse will be my first major destination, with sights seen along the way. Once I'm there I'll say it out loud three times to see if I can summon Michael Keaton. ;)
 

Fen Harel

Fen Harel
If you haven't seen one of the fancy, palm tree stations, they are worth a look. The new Leonard Nimoy memorial is one, I think, and there is also Trading Post in the Delta Phoenicis system. It's not exactly exploring, but they are neat to visit if you are only used to the generic stations. If you go to Delta Phoe... make sure to pick up some of the palms trees they sell there :)

Mintaka is a nice black hole system to visit, about 650 ly out from Sol. It has a black hole and is also one of the stars in Orion's Belt. So, on a clear night, you can see it in the Real, Actual Sky.
 
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Fen Harel

Fen Harel
Nounverber said:
Well, I wasn't able to find anything better than a C3 Field-Maintenance Unit, so just to be safe I equipped two of them. :) Beyond that, I'm fairly sure I'm ready to go. Question though: is there any need for a shield bank or armor module, or should I just throw in a third Field-Maintenance Unit?

Also, I've decided that Betelgeuse will be my first major destination, with sights seen along the way. Once I'm there I'll say it out loud three times to see if I can summon Michael Keaton. ;)
Click to expand...

Shield modules and armour banks add mass which cuts down the jump distance. Personally I don't take those, but I have equipped my ASP with A5 shields (which is overkill, frankly). An auto repair unit has the advantage of being massless, but honestly, you might not need any of them. Outside civilized space the most prevalent danger to you will face is... you. As in, letting your mind wander while fuel scooping, or forgetting to throttle down to zero during a jump. To give an example, I am currently 8400 ly from Sol and have 100% hull, and others have gone farther - much farther - with very little damage.
 

Nounverber

Nounverber
Thanks for the suggestions. Here's my current thoughts on loadout. I went with B Module Power Plant and FSD because I couldn't afford A Modules, but even so I still have just over a 25 light year jump range. I also realized that for the price of a single B3 Auto Field-Maintenance Unit, I could instead get three C3s. I'm considering adding 6 fixed Pulse Lasers, but that would just encourage me to stop and fight something when interdicted. Critique away. :)

[Asp]
U: 0I Point Defence
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher
BH: 1I Lightweight Alloy
RB: 5B Power Plant
TM: 5D Thrusters
FH: 5B Frame Shift Drive
EC: 4D Life Support
PC: 4A Power Distributor
SS: 5D Sensors
FS: 5C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 32)
6: 6D Fuel Scoop
5: 5D Shield Generator
3: 3C Auto Field-Maintenance Unit
3: 3C Auto Field-Maintenance Unit
3: 3C Auto Field-Maintenance Unit
2: 1C Detailed Surface Scanner
2: 1C Advanced Discovery Scanner
 

Fen Harel

Fen Harel
When interdicted, I would strongly suggest just running. Don't worry about weapons. Any fight you have - especially if you are inbound on a long journey - is not one you want. There is no benefit to winning such an encounter, but a great deal of risk. It's just not worth it. Run out, explore, and then run back in. Once you have sold all your exploration data, take a while to spin around in a new combat ship you bought with all those discoveries. But, while the exploration trip is in progress... run and run fast.
 
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