I just sold my Vulture...

[Grimnir9]

For an Asp, and I am not regretting the decision! When I picked up this game about a month ago, I brought it to primarily do exploration. I hopped into solo (after getting ganked too many times in open), found an RES, and BHed to fund my exploration. I brought the Vulture a few days ago as a quicker way to get credits and purchase a Clipper for exploration. I started reading how the Asp was one of the best ships for exploration, and decided to trade up. I thought that I would regret my decision to trade in the Vulture, but to be honest with you, I'm glad I made the trade. I don't have the Asp decked out completely (I'm only getting 18.75 LY with my current FSD), but I picked up the Advance Discovery Scanner and the Detailed surface scanner; which is pretty much what I need to get going. I am definitely happy with my purchase!

A few questions for you guys:
1. What method do you use to start your exploration treks?
2. Have you ever come across a star going nova (do they even have this effect in the game)?
3. What are some of the best places to visit?

 

[Murishani]

1. Not sure what you mean, many people pick a destination and just start heading towards it, others do the "second star to the right and straight on til morning" method where they just start jumping. Really, anything that will get you 1000 ly from an inhabited system will get you started.

2. afaik this effect is not currently in the game. There is no direct interaction between two binary stellar objects, and thus, no nova. Right now the closest youll get is a supernova nebula.

3. That depends on what you want to do. If you want to take photos and see pretty space stuff, nebulas and open clusters are generally targets for "tourist" trips. However if youre wanting to explore purely to make money, you will want to avoid these obvious areas as they have been traversed many times and you will be missing out on "first discovered" bonuses. Most people tend to pick a destination of something they want to see or an area they want to explore and head out towards it, picking up undiscovered stuff along the way.

 

[Grimnir9]

Thanks! I want to do a bit of both (site seeing and scanning for credits). I started exploring by just picking the farthest system I could plot, and off I go. It seems like other people have a different way of choosing their destination; and I was curious of what their methods of choosing them were.

Thanks for answering my questions.

 

[Murishani]

no problem, you sound like me, I choose a nebula or area I havent seen, Ill fly up or down off the beaten path by about 1 kylie and then plot a course to the destination. Generally, once I get about 1 kylie out, Ill start hitting unexplored systems and will see many of them along the way until i get close to the destination at which point I start seeing tagged systems again, at that point I take photos and either go home or move on to another destination.

Good luck out there!

 

[Roninpaul]

I started my exploring with a trip to the edge of inhabited space somewhere at right angles to my destination that way my whole route will be unexplored, I even found systems 150 ly from sol that had never been seen.

best ship for exploring is a type 6 equipped with usual scanners, a grade fsd, no weapons and just in case you find unknown artefacts a few cargo holds. I would love to come back with a real find, but I'm saving that for the next trip

 

[Saint242]

Seems like direct routes between inhabited space and major tourist sites have a lot of explored systems, but if you start detouring even a little you'll hit unexploreds.

For instance, I went out to the Horsehead Nebula from around Lave and I hit nothing but explored systems. Instead of going straight back, I decided to cut over to Betelgeuse and the Pleiades and immediately started seeing unexplored systems.

 

[Kancro Vantas]

Hi OP. I would recommend you to go for a short exploration trip to a nearby nebula to get your explorer's legs stretched.

You could go to The Pleiades which is like an afternoon stroll in the park when it comes to exploring. Very popular destination, very few systems unexplored however you get to visit some very nice systems and is rich in variety - neutron stars, black holes, big and bright stars- plus the nebula background is always breathtaking.

Is not far, you can still scan a few systems even if discovered they still pay out lots - remember, first discover just gives you a 50% bonus but if not you still get the 100% value of what you scan. The only thing is that pretty much on your way there, there will still be NPC's since they appear up to 500ly out of last civilized system.

Another great starter is Orion. Same than Pleiades but still a little bit farther so for second half of trip you wont see NPC.

Either one will provide you with helpful tips and info on cruising to a destination, scanning, heat management, GalMap usage, scooping and above all, it will give you a sense on how big the Galaxy really is and if you will be fitted for longer distances.

It will also gives you an idea of time/credit payout once you come back and sell data. Also, you get a chance to refit your ship for a longer trip. IMO you will want to change the FSD for a longer range. But you need to find out for yourself and your own style!

Good luck!