Taking a solo trip down the Colonia Highway in my DBX. Currently filtering for scoopable stars. But, I'm concerned that I'm missing cool systems to explore by only visiting KGBFOAM stars.
How important is KGBFOAM really?
- Thread starter Ridley Wilder
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- coloina exploration
Neutron stars are not only cool, but helpful to making progress along that highway. In fact is it even a highway if you're not making neutronium jumps?
And you'll miss the black holes, and the Wolf-Rayet stars, and and and...
Now you gotta make progress, but I personally would stop and look around once in a while.
And you'll miss the black holes, and the Wolf-Rayet stars, and and and...
Now you gotta make progress, but I personally would stop and look around once in a while.
Let me break it down for you. Here's what's beyond KGBFOAM:
- L-type Stars: the odd valuables, and if you're very lucky, you might even find Earth-like Worlds here.
- T/Y-type Stars: okay, these will pretty much always be boring.
- Proto Stars: these are usually rather chaotic, so to speak. You can find T-Tauris of all kinds, and the Herbig Ae/Be-s that are also filed here are actually the best places for Ammonia Worlds.
- Carbon Stars: worth visiting because these dying stars' systems are visibly different, and they are also surprisingly good for some valuable bios. Unless you're in the correct places though, the chances of you jumping randomly to one of these is tiny.
- Wolf-Rayet Stars: chances are you won't come across these randomly either. Which is why they're worth visiting then. (Don't expect much in the way of valuables though!)
- White Dwarf Stars: plenty of people hate these because their jets are more dangerous than neutron stars' and give a much smaller boost. Don't expect much from these systems either, although you still might find some very rare finds - for example, a landable planet passing through the dwarf's jet.
- Non Sequence Stars: neutron stars or black holes. You'll be using the former a lot, and if you run into the latter (sorry), then why not go there?
I did KGBFOAM in the beginning of my exloration career … and stopped using it after a while. Nowadays Im just filtering the White Dwarfs out (I dislike those with a passion. It's far to stressful for my old heart encountering those). Even T/Y stars are getting some love from me 
I think I have four max range jumps in my tank (might be 8 … but I think it's four) and in over 3000 hours of mostly exploring I had just a few times an issues with that. And that was when I didn't pay attention to my fuel gauge while in the unscoopable stars belt. But even there a scoopable star is usually just a jump away. An if not there is jumponium to extend the range or jumping in small steps (to save fuel) to the next scoopable star.
Long story short: KGBFOAM is important to remember when you run low on fuel, but it's unlikely that you will run low on fuel, especially not if you pay attention to the fuel left in your tank.
I think I have four max range jumps in my tank (might be 8 … but I think it's four) and in over 3000 hours of mostly exploring I had just a few times an issues with that. And that was when I didn't pay attention to my fuel gauge while in the unscoopable stars belt. But even there a scoopable star is usually just a jump away. An if not there is jumponium to extend the range or jumping in small steps (to save fuel) to the next scoopable star.
Long story short: KGBFOAM is important to remember when you run low on fuel, but it's unlikely that you will run low on fuel, especially not if you pay attention to the fuel left in your tank.
Here is my take on KGBFOAM filtering:
The Fuel Rats have an entire spiel (and web page) about KGBFOAM filtering, but in my opinion it perhaps misleads people a bit into thinking that they must always use it, lest they become stranded out there. In my experience, knowing about KGBFOAM star types is very important, but filtering the galaxy map with those types is for the most part unnecessary, even when you are using the galaxy map route plotter. Filtering the galmap with those star types can be useful in some situations, but in general it's not that crucial. It's much more important to know and remember those particular star types, but most often you don't need to outright filter the galmap.
As you pointed out, you indeed miss many cool systems if you filter by KGBFOAM. (After all, those are the "boring" star types, besides brown dwarfs and T Tauri stars.)
Here is how I travel the galaxy, when I'm using the game's own route plotter (using Spansh is an entirely different thing with its own unique tactics):
Just have all star types visible, and plot as normal. Every time you jump to a scoopable star system (which you'll usually see immediately after starting the jump, which is where knowing the "KGBFOAM" star types is useful), just scoop up.
If, however, you are getting several (three or four) consecutive non-scoopables in a row, quickly check the galaxy map: Does the "fuel star" symbol appear on the solid line? If it does, then you are fine, just keep going on.
(Ok, if the first scoopable star on your route is the last system on the solid line, theoretically you could just barely run out of fuel before you can start scooping it, but this is so extraordinarily rare that it's not really worth worrying about IMO. After literally tens of thousands of jumps I have yet to encounter this situation. It's so rare. The distances would need to be just perfect for this to happen.)
But now the important question: What if the "fuel star" symbol is not there (and there is a dashed line after the solid line)? Meaning that none of the stars on the solid line are scoopable? Now here's where you need to perform a special maneuver and make a detour.
More particularly, instead of going on in your route, search for a nearby KGBFOAM system and jump there instead. Don't plot a route there, just select that system and jump there. After you have filled up you can open the galaxy map and it will re-plot to your original destination automatically.
It will help finding a scoopable system (particularly in those vast brown dwarf / T Tauri fields near the bubble) if you have the "star type" filter selected: Look for yellow or blue systems nearby. Those are scoopable. (Also bright red ones are, but they can be hard to distinguish from the slightly less bright red systems, which are brown dwarfs and T Tauri stars. The yellow and blue ones are easiest to spot.) To double-check, check the star type in the system's info box.
If you happen to be in an area where you just can't see any yellow or blue systems, that's when you can actually use the KGBFOAM filter proper, as it will hide all the non-scoopables, making the scoopables obvious. Remember to restore the filter aftwards.
The Fuel Rats have an entire spiel (and web page) about KGBFOAM filtering, but in my opinion it perhaps misleads people a bit into thinking that they must always use it, lest they become stranded out there. In my experience, knowing about KGBFOAM star types is very important, but filtering the galaxy map with those types is for the most part unnecessary, even when you are using the galaxy map route plotter. Filtering the galmap with those star types can be useful in some situations, but in general it's not that crucial. It's much more important to know and remember those particular star types, but most often you don't need to outright filter the galmap.
As you pointed out, you indeed miss many cool systems if you filter by KGBFOAM. (After all, those are the "boring" star types, besides brown dwarfs and T Tauri stars.)
Here is how I travel the galaxy, when I'm using the game's own route plotter (using Spansh is an entirely different thing with its own unique tactics):
Just have all star types visible, and plot as normal. Every time you jump to a scoopable star system (which you'll usually see immediately after starting the jump, which is where knowing the "KGBFOAM" star types is useful), just scoop up.
If, however, you are getting several (three or four) consecutive non-scoopables in a row, quickly check the galaxy map: Does the "fuel star" symbol appear on the solid line? If it does, then you are fine, just keep going on.
(Ok, if the first scoopable star on your route is the last system on the solid line, theoretically you could just barely run out of fuel before you can start scooping it, but this is so extraordinarily rare that it's not really worth worrying about IMO. After literally tens of thousands of jumps I have yet to encounter this situation. It's so rare. The distances would need to be just perfect for this to happen.)
But now the important question: What if the "fuel star" symbol is not there (and there is a dashed line after the solid line)? Meaning that none of the stars on the solid line are scoopable? Now here's where you need to perform a special maneuver and make a detour.
More particularly, instead of going on in your route, search for a nearby KGBFOAM system and jump there instead. Don't plot a route there, just select that system and jump there. After you have filled up you can open the galaxy map and it will re-plot to your original destination automatically.
It will help finding a scoopable system (particularly in those vast brown dwarf / T Tauri fields near the bubble) if you have the "star type" filter selected: Look for yellow or blue systems nearby. Those are scoopable. (Also bright red ones are, but they can be hard to distinguish from the slightly less bright red systems, which are brown dwarfs and T Tauri stars. The yellow and blue ones are easiest to spot.) To double-check, check the star type in the system's info box.
If you happen to be in an area where you just can't see any yellow or blue systems, that's when you can actually use the KGBFOAM filter proper, as it will hide all the non-scoopables, making the scoopables obvious. Remember to restore the filter aftwards.
KGBFOAM route plotting is for jumping about the bubble trying to get somewhere. If you're exploring you just need to keep an eye on whether you can get to another scoopable star before running out.
Even in brown dwarf systems you can find the odd high value exobiology planet or two.
Or better, ridiculous canyons to fly down.
Even in brown dwarf systems you can find the odd high value exobiology planet or two.
Or better, ridiculous canyons to fly down.
Fuel Rat here...
For exploration, yes filtering on KGBFOAM will reduce the amount of exotic stuff that you see, but t the expense of not having the game help keep you topped up.
If travelling (for the purpose of getting somewhere) I'd use the fiter. When mooching around in no hurry. I might rely on my wits or on software such as EDDI to watch my back (I actually use VoiceAttack and a journal reader plugin instead of EDDI now)
When Exploring without the filter, Don't assumt that just because you check and see a "Fuel Star" ahead, that it will still be there after you have spent some time in system (The flagged "Fuel Star" is the most distant scoopable star that is on your route and that yo can reach with your current fuel. If relying on the fuel star, expedite your flying to it (or be sure that you have other options in range )
For exploration, yes filtering on KGBFOAM will reduce the amount of exotic stuff that you see, but t the expense of not having the game help keep you topped up.
If travelling (for the purpose of getting somewhere) I'd use the fiter. When mooching around in no hurry. I might rely on my wits or on software such as EDDI to watch my back (I actually use VoiceAttack and a journal reader plugin instead of EDDI now)
When Exploring without the filter, Don't assumt that just because you check and see a "Fuel Star" ahead, that it will still be there after you have spent some time in system (The flagged "Fuel Star" is the most distant scoopable star that is on your route and that yo can reach with your current fuel. If relying on the fuel star, expedite your flying to it (or be sure that you have other options in range
)In or near the bubble, I filter for systems not visited (by me) to passively get more scans logged while doing my normal routine. If I start to get low on fuel, which is a rare thing during my normal routine, I will individually target a scoopable star to top off and continue on my way.
Thank you for your service Commander O7
I think the... not exactly Problem, but not sure what the label to slap on this should be, is that "trip" is an ambiguous word here.
If you are Traveling to Colonia, then filtering for scoopables is a good way to move because you rarely have to come off of full throttle.
If you are Exploring, then all of the above advice about finding more exotic/valuable things applies.
There are variations on this, such as excluding class M stars because they are less likely to produces ELWs.
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