Getting into exploration right from the start?

[los]

Hi there! I'm new to the forum, but I've been playing the game for a few days now.

I was just wondering if I should jump right into exploring or if it would make more sense to take on odd jobs here and there to upgrade my ship (or buy a new one) to better fit the exploration path before jumping right into it. I've been exploring for the most part, and credits are slowly trickling in, but I can't help thinking that I'd be better off taking on missions or bounty hunting to make some cash. I'm in the Sidewinder at the moment and I swapped out the cargo space for a fuel scoop to help with the long trips.

Just looking for some tips for how to get on the exploration path. I'm honestly not that interested in trading, decent at dogfights, afraid of being scanned with illegal goods... blah. I'd love to just go out there and explore, man. Got any tips on how to get there a little sooner?

Also, I'm having a ton of fun not knowing what I'm doing. This game is a blast.

Thanks!

 

[jadefriendly]

I'm also building up with a long-term aim of exploring.

From what I can gather: maxed out Cobra or an Asp is recommended.

Gotta get an advanced discovery scanner (fire it once and see the whole systeam) & detailed surface scanner, and a decent fuel scoop.
Currently this stuff costs WAY MORE than all the credits i've amassed, so it'll be some time yet.

Get a good Frameshift drive, and Kit the rest of the ship out with D-class (lightest) and possible a fuel sink to compensate for overheating during fuel scooping.

Then out into the void. Big money is on earth-like words / terraforming candidates / water worlds / metal rich / black holes.
don't waste time scanning ice worlds, just onto the next system

 

[los]

WELP. I can't edit my post, so I'll just add this here: I thought I was posting under the newcomers forum. Feel free to move this, mods. My bad.

 

[los]

Thanks, jadefriendly.

So, I should be ok with just going and exploring with the Sidewinder. I've "wasted" some time wandering around in systems where the discovery scanner can't pick up anything within its standard range. Perhaps I should just keep moving until I find a system worth exploring.

Silly question: I'm still not sure I understand the rating and class system for ship upgrades. Class is size and rating is quality / effectiveness?

 

[Erimus Kamzel]

Exploring is currently the slowest way to make money if you're starting from scratch. If you're into exploring just for the money then you should really have at least an intermediate scanner and decent jump range with a decent fuel scoop. You're talking about a 4-5 million investment in equipment alone just to start making a living from exploration.

Its much quicker to get that initial investment by trade or combat. Once you have it then exploration can be opened up as a viable money maker (depending on where you go and what you find, obviously).

But if you enjoy grass roots exploring from the off, it can be really fun and will probably give you the most satisfaction when you find something good as its challenging. But you will make very slow progress up the exploration ladder. Exploration is a strange one, it gets easier to make money the more you invest in it, but I find the challenge and fun diminishes as it gets easier to find stuff.

My favorite time as an explorer was in a modestly fitted out 20 LY Cobra with an intermediate scanner, as it was challenging to get to far off places and took skill and perseverance to locate things in a system that the intermediate scanner never picked up.

Now I have an Asp with all the bells and whistles on that can jump 35.5 LYS, a scanner that reveals everything with a simple press of a button, it seems the fun factor has died a little.


So while you're still starting off on the exploration path, ask yourself how quickly do you want to progress within it, as the really fun and challenging times occur long before you have the best ship and equipment (personal opinion of course).

 

[Stressfest]

Exploration is a great way to get extra cash between trades and the trade aspect gives you a great excuse to explore.. so they kinda go hand in hand really, well in my mind. The big monies are in the far far outer reaches, but the pain being that you need to travel quite a distance from where you scanned to cash it in. So it's a constant payment in arrears type of situation. Great fun though!!
I did quite well in my humble little hauler.. nothing too over the top, just a steady little work 'van'.

 

[los]

So while you're still starting off on the exploration path, ask yourself how quickly do you want to progress within it, as the really fun and challenging times occur long before you have the best ship and equipment (personal opinion of course).

I'm actually OK with progressing slowly as exploring is what I really like to do. I'm not in it for money, but it's a necessary evil. I wouldn't mind getting my hands dirty with some bounty hunting if it's going to fund my exploration. Should I upgrade to an Eagle to make this more viable or just get a few weapon upgrades for my Sidewinder?