Heading to Sagitarius A* - What should I fit?

junaum

junaum
Tourist-580x387.jpg


The trip to the center of the galaxy (and beyond) was one of the main reasons I bought this game. Sounds like a very interesting way to expend time on it.

<< EDIT>>

At first, this post was about asking advice on how to get my old setup (Cobra MK III and 200k CR) to a exploring outfit. Turns out that this thread became an awesome collection of personal tips that you won't find anywhere. If you are new to exploring, I strongly suggest that you take a look at all the valuable insights contained here (and here). I've already did some expeditions with a nicely setup Adder (sold my cobra), and now I'm doing some trading to get an ASP.
 
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YoBuck

YoBuck
Best scoop and fsd you can afford. Dump everything else surplus and if you have change after that, D class all other moduals.


Or save a bit more.. 200k won't buy you very good jump range.

Oh Edit: and a discovery scanner. Detailed surface scanner is optional :)
 
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streki

streki
Scanners. Scoop. largest FSD you can afford. Lots of pot noodles. A will to succeed. Heightened sense of curiosity. Patience. Determination.

Good luck commander.
 

hawkenfox

hawkenfox
No good for exploration should try the type 6 ... fit it up to run exploration. 200k isn't gonna cut a good exploration ship.

Remember to make it a profitable trip you will also need detail surface scanner. Avoid populated space with community

goals or famous system like sol or lave to sell your exploration data when you head back... would risk losing all data

when you get ship destruction. I would suggest you wing up with someone when you head back.
 
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junaum

junaum
Thanks commanders!

Yobuck, I can mine myself some additional cr's if needed. I guess you are talking about "Million" tier stuff?

Streki, which Scanners would you recommend? There are 2 kinds If I recall correctly, and one of those are for detailed scanning (I guess I won't be doing much of that due to time constrains of the trip).
 

YoBuck

YoBuck
hawkenfox said:
No good for exploration should try the type 6 ... fit it up to run exploration. 200k isn't gonna cut a good exploration ship.

Remember to make it a profitable trip you will also need detail surface scanner. Avoid populated space with community

goals or famous system like sol or lave to sell your exploration data when you head back... would risk losing all data

when you get ship destruction. I would suggest you wing up with someone when you head back.
Click to expand...

Cobra is fine for exploration mate. Also don't worry about heading back, there are escorts available :)
 

RosaMaus

RosaMaus
Do one or two 1KLY out and back trips. That'll get you into the exploring mentality and some credits to get a ADS and DS, as well as a decent FST and scoop.
 

YoBuck

YoBuck
junaum said:
Thanks commanders!

Yobuck, I can mine myself some additional cr's if needed. I guess you are talking about "Million" tier stuff?

Streki, which Scanners would you recommend? There are 2 kinds If I recall correctly, and one of those are for detailed scanning (I guess I won't be doing much of that due to time constrains of the trip).
Click to expand...

Not sure what you mean by million tier stuff?
 

junaum

junaum
Thanks RosaMaus! I've done a test sequence of 40 jumps, to properly learn Fuel Scooping. I'm quite sure that's nothing compared to what lays ahead, but it got me acquainted with the mechanics.

YoBuck said:
Not sure what you mean by million tier stuff?
Click to expand...

The gear that cost a Million or more. I've seen some expensive stuff in-game (guess it was a FSD).

By the way, thanks for the offer Yobuck! That was very thoughtful and kind. I'll get everything I can in place and submit the stuff here, for quality check. Then we can get your hard earned palladium to good use, not risking myself expending it on the wrong stuff. And I'll certainly get back to you in-game friend.
 
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Kaeldian

Kaeldian
Id' still go for the detailed surface scanner. fits in a class 1 slot, takes very little power, and increases the payouts of your scans.

Definatly the largest fuel scoop. I'm doing a core run with only a class 3 when my asp can fit larger and I'm starting to regret it.

Fit yourself with at least one heat sink - you might sometimes get a rare seize when jumping in and end up getting pulled out of supercruise too close to the star (not to mention White Dwarves and Nuetron stars tend to pull you out if you don't react fast enough). Being able to reset your heat when trying to escape to supercruise is very nice.

If you are going a long way away, consider taking a Automatic Field Repair module (or whatever it's called), but not really necessary if you aren't going too far out.
 

junaum

junaum
That's some valuable stuff Kaeldian. Thanks.

Would you mind sharing some of your milestones (time taken until now) and planned traveling time ahead? It would be interesting to know how deep the rabbit hole goes.
 

streki

streki
Advanced discovery scanner and detailed surface scanner..... Your trip has to be profitable as well as fun. I'm nearly at Sagittarius A in my Cobra and it's been a long slog, but fun. I'll ADS every system, and DSS every interesting planet along the way. On the way home, I'm planning to swing by Eta Carinae as it looks like a fascinating and unique star (check out the YouTube video "The amazing Eta Carinae - sixty symbols"). Maybe I'll see you out there lol.

A Big scoop is essential. As big as you can get. Scoop little and often. At every star ideally just swing in close as you line up your next jump. Be careful not to cook yourself. If you take your eye off the fuel gauge and run dry, your trip is over and your profit is gone.

It can be done without Shields, but I've got them for peace of mind. Heat sinks are useful if you jump into a binary system, but I forgot to pack them. Did I mention pot noodles?
 
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Kaeldian

Kaeldian
I started my journey to Sag A last week, probably on Thursday or Friday. I try to go about 1k light years a day, but will sometimes get 2 done if I have the time. I'm currently about 18k from Sag A. I've traveled outside our home arm of the Galaxy and crossed the next one, I'm about to enter another arm. I went by way of the Lagoon and Trifid nebula's for a bit of sight seeing on the side, but decided in the end that nebula's are fun for finding odd stars, but decided to focus mostly on the prize at the end and have stopped site seeing.

So far I've found 3 earthlikes, several water worlds that I mistook for earthlikes, one black hole (who's location shall remain secret as I have a discovery in that system I want to cash in), and lots of strange system with interesting configurations.

My current process is to jump in, hit the scanner. If the star is scoopable, I get close enough to pull 80 to 120 per sec from the star, stop and start scanning it while I pull up the system map. If I see anything unusual, I go scan it. If not, I leave as soon as the scan stops.

When plotting my course, I usually look for a blue star to end on because I've noted they tend to be larger and thus have more interesting solar systems.

I probably won't be at Sag A until the end of this week or early next week.

EDIT - so far I've only had one "Stall" where my computer didn't load the star textures right away and I ended up getting pulled out of supercruise. the heat sink saved me from getting anymore than just minor damage.
 
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CMDR IPL Victim

C
Remove the cargo racks. Don't need them for exploration. Replace with scoop, field repair modules. Keep or remove shield if you choose, though the cobra is generally quick enough to outrun hostiles near habited space.

D rate most modules to save weight. Get the best scoop and fsd you can afford, though. Consider a heat sink. That is what encouraged me to turn back when I was 4k ly out in my explorer cobra. A4 scoop is sweet, pulling in up to 343/sec.

Now I'm considering a 18 mil t6 explorer build...
 

junaum

junaum
This is such a cool reading. Thanks for all the feedback. I feel like I'm really getting into to a serious, compromising, mission here. This should be a space tavern talk.

So, D rated stuff are lighter? Didn't make that relationship until now (I'm quite noob when it comes to modules designations).

The noodles are already onboard sir. And so is a bottle of Jack Daniels. Maybe 2.

Heat sinks needs 'ammo' right? Read that somewhere. If so, how much should I bring with me?

Kaeldian, after selling your info on that discovery, please come by and give more details. Sounded like a cool place to visit as well.

I just checked, I have something like 1.2mil worth assets. So, aside from the cobra value, I'll have something like 850k crs. Is thst something I can work with for this trip? I won't bother mining another 500k, or more, if it's important.

By the way, heard that asp is the ideal ship for that. But will the cobra be a big downgrade if chosen?
 

Crank Larson

Crank Larson
Don't make the mistake I did which was to change my power plant to the class lower (4A instead of 5D for my Asp). This means I no longer have boost when in normal flight... I only discovered this half way to Sag. A. :) Not an issue while out and about, but I'm concerned for my journey back when I am heading back through inhabited space...

I didn't fit heatsinks or auto-repair modules, either - but I'm not concerned about those and probably won't fit them in future either. I do have a small shield. And a huge fuel scoop - you want the biggest you can fit!

Oh, and the Cobra is fine for exploring with A rated FSD. Not quite the range of the Asp, but good enough. I did my first exploring trip (out beyond Horsehead Nebula) in a Cobra, though did have to go around one region due to the limited jump range.
 
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Kaeldian

Kaeldian
Oh believe me, I plan on sharing when I turn in my discovery. The system is a site to behold.

Heat sinks come with 4 ammo installed. Some people will double up on them so they can carry 8. You can deploy them at will by just hitting V. Instantly drops your heat to manageable levels (and makes a really cool crackling sound, like you're icing up)

Also - I recommend you get yourself a play list of music you like to help pass the time. It does get mind numbing at times unless you got other things to distract you.

I do that, and keep the forums open on my other screen so I have something to do while traveling to a body I want a closer look at. Also - there's a lonely explorers thread here you might want to look up if you want to find somebody to talk to while out there.
 

Gopher971

Gopher971
This is my current Mark III loadout for exploration. http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=602,,2-6u6u6Q5K4s5U6k,2UI2jw7Re0Iw0Iw4xy The Frame Shift Drive is the most essential piece of kit for exploring. Build your ship around it. If you are going for an extended journey make sure you buy both the Advanced Discovery Scanner and Detailed Surface Scanner. It will turn a journey earning you 95 million credits into a 140 million credit journey. Everything else needs to be as light as possible to decrease your mass and increase your jump range. Where I am currently there are gaps of between 18 and 21 light years between stars so in my previous loadouts I would of had to divert a couple of hundred light years to get back on track. I've heard a lot of explorers recommend heat sinks for those occasions when you jump between a close binary pair but I have found that if you are careful when exiting Witch space you only lose 2 - 3 % of hull and these encounters are not that frequent. As other commanders have recommended, go for D rated where possible.

After the Frame Shift Drive the next most essential piece of kit is your sense of adventure and wonder. The sights that I have seen on my journeys, ringed hot jupiters with the local carbon star illuminating the ice rings a deep ruby red colour.... a ringed neutron star, the ringed earth-like planet orbiting a type 1 gas giant orbiting an A type star... i could go on....

Be warned it can get lonely out in the black.... noodles and JD will only keep you company for so long.... join the Lonely Explorers Club https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=129539 and maybe you might just bump into new friends on your odyssey.

Best of luck Commander, and keep the forums updated on your travels... you may inspire a new generation of explorers with you exploits!

Cmdr Fearon
 
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