Newcomer / Intro Galaxy and System Map: How I'm looking forward to this!

[Ashnak]

We'll have to distinguish here between Elite(1984) and Elite Dangerous. In Elite(1984) a "Galaxy" was a seperate playing area, comparable to star systems in Elite Dangerous. Elite Dangerous uses the proper term, a Galaxy being a bound group of stars. And yes, Elite Dangerous is limited to the Galaxy we live in in real life, whch is also oftne called The Milky Way- The Milky Way has ~400 billion stars in real life, and a similar number in Elite Dangerous. But since a lot of those stars aren't visible from Earth, or aren't logged in real life stellar catalogs, the farther you get from the Solar System, the less likely you are to find the same stars in Elite Dangerous and in real life.

For the number of Galaxies in our universe, according to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy), the current guess is around 2 trillion.

 

[Wombat1940]

Interesting. I've auto-docked with a Station where I could not see, and did not know, the location of its entrance, and by simply requesting and gaining authority to dock, auto-docking successfully found the entrance.
Edited: shown in Italics

 

[MishaTX]

Why would anyone choose to manually launch and dock when it can be done far safer in auto ?

Speaking only for myself here:
1) Since I don't want or need the big boats, I can always find a better use for the slot
2) Every bit of flying I do myself, however trivial, gives me a better feel for my ship and makes me a better pilot.

If I go to an unexplored part of the Galaxy, how much do I see on my Galaxy Map when I first arrive?

Galaxy Map: Every star in the system. They're pretty noticeable and don't require exploring
System Map: If never visited, nothing will appear on it until you scan it in the FSS or manually fly close enough to each object to "auto-scan" it.

If I explore and document what I find and DON"T sell it, does that part of the Galaxy remain unexplored for others?

Again, it would only be the system map but yes, I believe it will. Could be wrong, though. And, of course, if you blow up, the data dies with you, so even you would have to scan it again for it to become visible to you again.

 

[Wombat1940]

Speaking only for myself here:
1) Since I don't want or need the big boats, I can always find a better use for the slot
2) Every bit of flying I do myself, however trivial, gives me a better feel for my ship and makes me a better pilot.

That's a good point about "... a better pilot". Something I had overlooked.

Galaxy Map: Every star in the system. They're pretty noticeable and don't require exploring
System Map: If never visited, nothing will appear on it until you scan it in the FSS or manually fly close enough to each object to "auto-scan" it.

Right ...... so it's really the System set-up I'm exploring. ie. The Planets, the Moons, the what-ever and I use the FSS and auto-scan to detect them.
How much "flying around" do you have to do to detect them? Thanks.

 

[Wombat1940]

I did a mission yesterday and included a few "excursions" rather than flying directly to the designated Star System. As a consequence, I ran short on fuel and could not make the final jump to the target System.
I've still yet to complete the mission and assume I will need to land at a closer station so as to refuel.

 

[Wombat1940]

I did a mission yesterday and included a few "excursions" rather than flying directly to the designated Star System. As a consequence, I ran short on fuel and could not make the final jump to the target System.
I've still yet to complete the mission and assume I will need to land at a closer station so as to refuel.

Made it! But down to 5% of fuel reserves. Now to find out where I am and plot a new course for the target system.

 

[Para Handy]

.......
How much "flying around" do you have to do to detect them? Thanks.

Zero - FSS scanning is done from minimum speed in supercruise.

You enter the FSS and use the controls to move your cursor around, varying the tuned frequency to resolve a signal source into a complete circle then zoom-in on that circle (repeat as necessary) to see that actual body (you can also wait until it resolves in the top-right how many "surface features" there are - but you don't need to - it can take a long LONG time).

The only "flying around" you have to do is to reposition yourself if any signals are blocked by being obscured by the star for example).

 

[Tetra Trash]

If you want to do manual docking practice and are having a hard time finding the entrance to a Coriolis station - once you get docking permission, little arrows will appear on the station picture in the target area to show you where the entrance is. I read this in the forums sometime in the past and it made life easier.

I have an advanced docking computer on some of my larger trade ships - I like to dock manually, but I use auto-launch sometimes so I can go the the gal map and set a course for somewhere or check eddb.io to find good prices for source and return mission commodities while launching.

 

[aRJay]

That's a good point about "... a better pilot". Something I had overlooked.


Right ...... so it's really the System set-up I'm exploring. ie. The Planets, the Moons, the what-ever and I use the FSS and auto-scan to detect them.
How much "flying around" do you have to do to detect them? Thanks.

To detect them using the FSS you only need to fly if any bodies are too close or obscured behind another body.

To map the bodies using the DSS module you have to fly to each one.

Edit: As usual I didn't read far enough to spot Para's clearer answer.

 

[Wombat1940]

To detect them using the FSS you only need to fly if any bodies are too close or obscured behind another body.

To map the bodies using the DSS module you have to fly to each one.

That DSS module mapping appeals to me, particularly if I can physically land on the body despite all the risks of doing that.

 

[Wombat1940]

If you want to do manual docking practice and are having a hard time finding the entrance to a Coriolis station - once you get docking permission, little arrows will appear on the station picture in the target area to show you where the entrance is. I read this in the forums sometime in the past and it made life easier.

I'll have to have a look. Thanks

I have an advanced docking computer on some of my larger trade ships - I like to dock manually, but I use auto-launch sometimes so I can go the the gal map and set a course for somewhere or check eddb.io to find good prices for source and return mission commodities while launching.

Yes ....... I mustn't be too opposed to manual landing. This is a game and shouldn't take my reality wishes so far as to spoil the fun.

 

[Wombat1940]

Made it! But down to 5% of fuel reserves. Now to find out where I am and plot a new course for the target system.

What happens if you do run out of fuel? Are there rescue craft that you can call up to come and refuel you?
It could be quite a lucrative business running a group of dedicated refuelers. Pilots would pay well for the service. Oh! maybe it's cheaper to have a fuel scoop .....
Edit: shown in Italics.

 

[Para Handy]

What happens if you do run out of fuel? Are there rescue craft that you can call up to come and refuel you?

Everything runs out and you find yourself immobile and breathing your emergency life support air - as that runs out you hear an awful sound of suffocating and "u ded". (I am not sure but I think in the SRV it blows up and you find yourself in your ship in orbit.*)

There are people who will come refuel you - search for "Fuel Rats" (you will see their adverts in stations) - basically, log off, find out about the Fuel Rats, ask for help, they will talk you through the process.

BTW - You can synthesise emergency air - but you need to have collected the materials (2xIron + 1xNickel *) for that already.

*:

Spoiler: SRV Death and Air Synthesis

 

[Wombat1940]

Hmmmmm ........ If I was in charge of any Station, no way would you be allowed to launch and dock manually. I can't believe it is as safe and can't be much quicker than auto, which is very quick. As for being fun ....... sorry ....... I'm here for serious business. This is all reality for me ..... sorry ...... it's just the way I want to "play" it.
If you can't trust them (I assume you mean the auto systems), then fix them so they don't manufacture accidents. Haven't we got Engineers for that ...... Again I'm sorry, I'm not here for fun.
I assume the "slot for other stuff" means the Auto Docking Module. is taking up a slot for maybe something others see as more valuable. Auto Launch/Dock would be mandatory for me ...... but that's me.
Yes. OK. Accept the risk of having one in OPEN. I'll just stick to SOLO.

[ Oooh!...... now there some issues for discussion ....... ]

I'm starting to think I'm taking this reality wish too far. No .... not to include combat, but why not manual docking ? ...... Why not fly in OPEN and enjoy meeting others, friendly or otherwise ? .......
Never afraid to admit, "I might have it wrong ..... "

 

[Wombat1940]

Everything runs out and you find yourself immobile and breathing your emergency life support air - as that runs out you hear an awful sound of suffocating and "u ded". (I am not sure but I think in the SRV it blows up and you find yourself in your ship in orbit.*)

There are people who will come refuel you - search for "Fuel Rats" (you will see their adverts in stations) - basically, log off, find out about the Fuel Rats, ask for help, they will talk you through the process.

BTW - You can synthesise emergency air - but you need to have collected the materials (2xIron + 1xNickel *) for that already.

*:

Spoiler: SRV Death and Air Synthesis

View attachment 194851

Thanks. This just gets better and better ...... There have been times when I would look for any excuse NOT to strap in and fly. Just too challenging. But now I have a few of the basics I look forward to flying, even if I nearly run out of fuel ! It's a real shame that the tutorials, training missions, etc. are not better delivered, monitored, and updated by Frontier. So many must be put-off and not have the patience to blunder their way through the learning process. Thank goodness for the Forum, particularly their training missions !

 

[Vetinari]

Docking Computer - I hand my keys to the valet and they park it for me, as long as I can reverse park I dont need to do it every time, you do need to be able as sometimes the DC will get damaged

Tutorials - I think theres more in the Right Hand Panel, but yeah, its a steep learning curve for sure but its gotten better every time its been updated,

Now youre out in the verse have you tried the CG? Good place to meet people as chat is across all servers.

 

[Codger]

Just as a side note, it is indeed possible to land on many of the planets in the game (but not with auto dock -- no stations means no auto-dock).

Out where I am right now (about 5000 LY from Sol, heading home from a long journey), any planet I discover that's landable is a completely untouched place. No one has ever been there before. When I land on one, it's one of the times I feel the most like a space explorer, viewing a new and never-before-seen landscape.

I'm looking forward to Odyssey which will increase the types of planets we can land on, and increase their visual diversity, as well as adding new biologicals to discover.

The game keeps getting better.