Because it is a re-occuring question on these forums, i decided to put up a brief guide how to use exploration data for engineers. i have returned in 2.1. myself, and i picked up various tips from a lot of threads on this topic - thanks for everyone, who shared his ideas and experience!
Safety tips at the end!
How can I use Exploration Data for Engineers?
There are two Tier 1 Egineers, that accept exploration data to gain reputation - Felicty Farseer and Elvira Martuk. High Reputation gives you access to higher level modifications as well as to other engineers. Both Engineers provide the FSD Range Increase Modification many explorers want. You want one of both with Level 5 access (for the best modification) and one to Level 3/4 (for access to the next engineers).
You can also use exploration data to raise your reputation with minor factions. Some engineers (Liz Ryder, Marco Qwent, Zacariah Nemo) require friendly reputation with certain minor factions to be unlocked. If you have any exploration data left over, you might want to sell data at a station controlled by that minor faction to get the rep quickly. See your engineer invites, which can be accessed via the right hand panel, for more details, which minor factions you want to raise reputation with. You need to sell exploration data at a station controlled by that minor faction. eddb.io can be used to find such a station (input faction name at station search).
There is are two Tier 3 Engineer - Professor Palin and Selene Jean - who also accept exploration data - but you will gain access to them much later, so you probably don't want to risk flying around some weeks with millions of exploration data.
How do i get access to those engineers?
You will have received an invitation. Farseer wants 1 meta-alloy, Martuk wants 3T of a rare good called “Soontill Relicts”. At the moment you can buy Meta-Alloys at the surface station Darnielle’s Progress in Maia, and the rare “Soontill Relicts” can be bought at Cheranovsky City Ngurii.
For safety and to speed up things ask friends or players from an exploration friendly group like SEPP, or Canonn, or the Iridium Wing to meet with you around an engineers base and drop you those commodities.
How do i sell Exploration data to Farseer or Martuk?
You need to fulfill the initial access contract (see access). After delivering your goods, you need to log out and back in, to get Universal Cartographics in the contact menu at their base. Sell exploration data in the usual way. Be aware, that reputation sync can take some time - recheck by logging in/out, whether you already have sold enough. You’ll need 4-7 mio in exploration data for level 3/ 4 Access, and 8-11 mio for L5 access.
Isn’t my Exploration Data in danger, when returning to the bubble? - Safety Advice -
With the new AI the bubble is more dangerous these days. But if you take the following security advices serious, you’ll be safe:
1. Return via a “Safe Harbour”, a System with High Security Rating at the Edge of the Bubble, with a Starport close to entry point. You can see the Security Rating in the System Map. Ensure via System Map that the Safe Harbour system isn't in a state of war / civil war, and that any intervening systems on your route also aren't in such a state. War states increase interdictions. Check outfitting/shipyard beforehand via eddb.io. Fly to the target station in a loop instead of going straight there from the drop-in star. Avoiding the heavily travelled traffic 'highways' cuts down on random NPC interdictions.
2. NPC spawns depend on your Shipsize. If you are sitting in anything larger than an AspE, switch to a smaller ship at a “Safe Harbour”. If you are sitting in anything smaller than a Cobra MKIII/Courier, switch to a Cobra/Courier/AspE.
3. Speed is still safety. Reoutfit your exploration vessel with A-class thrusters and A-class powerdistributor at your safe harbour.
4. Fit point defense. Missiles are beefed up. Also chaff.
5. Fit a good shield. Additionally Boosters and/or A small scb with a heatsink.
Outfitted like this, you are safe to go!
6. NPC Spawn also depends on cargo, and wether you are pledged to a power, or not. If you still want to minimize risk, drop all cargo you collected outside the bubble, and/or unpledge.
7. If you are still nervous, don’t hesitate to contact the Iridium Wing, or one of the Exploration Friendly Groups like SEPP, Canonn, Deep Recon X - they have pilots who will happily wing up with you.
Did i miss something? please add it to this thread!
Safety tips at the end!
How can I use Exploration Data for Engineers?
There are two Tier 1 Egineers, that accept exploration data to gain reputation - Felicty Farseer and Elvira Martuk. High Reputation gives you access to higher level modifications as well as to other engineers. Both Engineers provide the FSD Range Increase Modification many explorers want. You want one of both with Level 5 access (for the best modification) and one to Level 3/4 (for access to the next engineers).
You can also use exploration data to raise your reputation with minor factions. Some engineers (Liz Ryder, Marco Qwent, Zacariah Nemo) require friendly reputation with certain minor factions to be unlocked. If you have any exploration data left over, you might want to sell data at a station controlled by that minor faction to get the rep quickly. See your engineer invites, which can be accessed via the right hand panel, for more details, which minor factions you want to raise reputation with. You need to sell exploration data at a station controlled by that minor faction. eddb.io can be used to find such a station (input faction name at station search).
There is are two Tier 3 Engineer - Professor Palin and Selene Jean - who also accept exploration data - but you will gain access to them much later, so you probably don't want to risk flying around some weeks with millions of exploration data.
How do i get access to those engineers?
You will have received an invitation. Farseer wants 1 meta-alloy, Martuk wants 3T of a rare good called “Soontill Relicts”. At the moment you can buy Meta-Alloys at the surface station Darnielle’s Progress in Maia, and the rare “Soontill Relicts” can be bought at Cheranovsky City Ngurii.
For safety and to speed up things ask friends or players from an exploration friendly group like SEPP, or Canonn, or the Iridium Wing to meet with you around an engineers base and drop you those commodities.
How do i sell Exploration data to Farseer or Martuk?
You need to fulfill the initial access contract (see access). After delivering your goods, you need to log out and back in, to get Universal Cartographics in the contact menu at their base. Sell exploration data in the usual way. Be aware, that reputation sync can take some time - recheck by logging in/out, whether you already have sold enough. You’ll need 4-7 mio in exploration data for level 3/ 4 Access, and 8-11 mio for L5 access.
Isn’t my Exploration Data in danger, when returning to the bubble? - Safety Advice -
With the new AI the bubble is more dangerous these days. But if you take the following security advices serious, you’ll be safe:
1. Return via a “Safe Harbour”, a System with High Security Rating at the Edge of the Bubble, with a Starport close to entry point. You can see the Security Rating in the System Map. Ensure via System Map that the Safe Harbour system isn't in a state of war / civil war, and that any intervening systems on your route also aren't in such a state. War states increase interdictions. Check outfitting/shipyard beforehand via eddb.io. Fly to the target station in a loop instead of going straight there from the drop-in star. Avoiding the heavily travelled traffic 'highways' cuts down on random NPC interdictions.
2. NPC spawns depend on your Shipsize. If you are sitting in anything larger than an AspE, switch to a smaller ship at a “Safe Harbour”. If you are sitting in anything smaller than a Cobra MKIII/Courier, switch to a Cobra/Courier/AspE.
3. Speed is still safety. Reoutfit your exploration vessel with A-class thrusters and A-class powerdistributor at your safe harbour.
4. Fit point defense. Missiles are beefed up. Also chaff.
5. Fit a good shield. Additionally Boosters and/or A small scb with a heatsink.
Outfitted like this, you are safe to go!
6. NPC Spawn also depends on cargo, and wether you are pledged to a power, or not. If you still want to minimize risk, drop all cargo you collected outside the bubble, and/or unpledge.
7. If you are still nervous, don’t hesitate to contact the Iridium Wing, or one of the Exploration Friendly Groups like SEPP, Canonn, Deep Recon X - they have pilots who will happily wing up with you.
Did i miss something? please add it to this thread!
