In need of some exploration advice. . .

Happy Seal

H
Currently docked at Gagarin Gate, unsure as to what my next move should be. . .keep exploring in my non-engineered Anaconda or head back to the bubble and mod it a bit to set back out again. . .

OR

Jump in something else altogether. I read up on a lot of threads about Exploration loadouts for the Anaconda, Python and ASPX and some other intriguing ships/setups. I hastily chose the Anaconda as I was drawn to it being one of the big 3. After a solid week of constant jumps and scans of many systems I decided to find the nearest station to dock in and sell my data, a realization had hit me: I think I brought the wrong ship for this tour. :x

My original goal was to set out on the path least chosen to Sagittarius A*. I have yet to reach the supermassive black hole but still intend to, just maybe not in this ship. I'm not enjoying this Ice-Breaker in molasses feeling from the ship. From everyone else who has gone from a stock Annie to even a mildly-modified, is it worth it? How about those who have gone from one to a different ship? Do you regret it or have never looked back?

I've been lurking on the forums reading up on some of the expeditions that have taken place in the past and would like to outfit something for future convoys into the void. . .
 

CMDR Eryn Liamson

CMDR Eryn Liamson
Engineering an Anaconda won't change how it performs in supercruise, which is where you'll spend most of your time exploring. For new explorers I'd recommend using an Asp Explorer. It's got a very good jump range, room for all the toys you'll need and it handles really well in both normal flight and SC.
Unless you're planning on going to the extreme edges of the galaxy it really doesn't make much difference which ship you take, so the most important aspect is using a ship you enjoy flying.
 

Sapyx

Sapyx
This is all second-hand as I've never actually owned one, but (I'm told) the Anaconda has two main weaknesses as an explorer: the sluggish maneuverability in supercruise and the terrible view from the cockpit/bridge. An Asp is better in both these ways, but has drawbacks of its own: it's a tad too small to take everything you could possibly need for self-sufficient deep-space exploring (so you have to make some tough decisions) and there's no option for a fighter bay, for those who like to take a short break from honk-scan-jump and do some canyon-racing in a disposable ship.

I've always explored in an Asp, but that's mainly because until very recently, I couldn't afford an Anaconda to try one out. But even if I could afford one, I still think exploring for months on end in an Annie would drive me crazy.
 

GunnerBill

GunnerBill
Happy Seal said:
Currently docked at Gagarin Gate, unsure as to what my next move should be. . .keep exploring in my non-engineered Anaconda or head back to the bubble and mod it a bit to set back out again. . .

OR

Jump in something else altogether. I read up on a lot of threads about Exploration loadouts for the Anaconda, Python and ASPX and some other intriguing ships/setups. I hastily chose the Anaconda as I was drawn to it being one of the big 3. After a solid week of constant jumps and scans of many systems I decided to find the nearest station to dock in and sell my data, a realization had hit me: I think I brought the wrong ship for this tour. :x

My original goal was to set out on the path least chosen to Sagittarius A*. I have yet to reach the supermassive black hole but still intend to, just maybe not in this ship. I'm not enjoying this Ice-Breaker in molasses feeling from the ship. From everyone else who has gone from a stock Annie to even a mildly-modified, is it worth it? How about those who have gone from one to a different ship? Do you regret it or have never looked back?

I've been lurking on the forums reading up on some of the expeditions that have taken place in the past and would like to outfit something for future convoys into the void. . .
Click to expand...

I feel for you OP. I had this dilemma myself but fortunately before i set out from the bubble!

I was all set to head off in my Anaconda engineered to around 60 ly but the Supercruise handling was killing me (sometimes literally!). Problem was for various reasons I am no great fan of the Asp X or the DBX so on a whim I bought a Dolphin, kitted it out, with some modules I already had engineered and got about 46 ly out of it.

Anyway I'm half way back from Beagle Point having been to most of the major sights/sites there and back.

If you want to go far then either a Dolphin, DBX or Asp will get you to Beagle Point and Ishum's Reach beyond that (sorry Semotus Beacon!).

In order of the range you can achieve from them:

DBX - https://eddp.co/u/Lua28QYM -> 60 ly
ASP - https://eddp.co/u/Em21UBfT ->55 ly
Dolphin - https://eddp.co/u/87J42nPp -> 46ly

[Of course these builds are in no way definitive, just what I threw together in Coriolis!]

But the Dolphin is cheapest and the best looking!
 
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marx

marx
If you don't like how the Anaconda looks and feel, then I'd recommend only using it if you wanted to set a new distance record or something. For everything else, there's... everything else.
As things stand, the Anaconda is the best in jump range and number of internal slots. That's it. Even in the Big Three, the Cutter has it beat on internal slot sizes(!), forward speed, base shield strength, still a bit better at supercruise turning (although not much), and of course it has much better looks.
But you'll probably want a smaller ship. The recommendations from others have so far all been good.

I'd add the Imperial Clipper and Courier to the mix as well, assuming you have the rank required for them. The Courier requires a fair bit of engineering, but rewards it very much, and is great at planetary flight: really fast forward speed, good cockpit visibility, and very powerful shields (for a ship its size) in case you'd make a mistake. The Clipper has excellent forward speed too, and cockpit visibility as well. Due to its size, landing it can be difficult at times though. Most importantly, the Clipper has a class 7 slot, and if you fit a fuel scoop there, you'll be able to travel by zooming past stars without even stopping. Combine that with the great supercruise turning (like the Asp, it's much better than the ship's size would warrant), and it's an absolute joy to fly. Sure, the jump range won't go much higher than 40 ly on a full tank, but in my opinion, unless you're in a hurry or looking to head to the extreme edge, that's fine.

Oh, and the Orca is worth considering as well. Both it and the Clipper have a class 5 FSD slot, same as the Diamondback and Asp Explorers, so even if you don't like any of these ships, you can reuse your engineered FSD in the others.
Also, having multicrew seats is a nice extra too, in case you want to show off some things to others.
 

Orvidius

Orvidius
One thing to consider is whether the high jump range matters to you or not. As others have pointed out, the Anaconda is the king of jump distance. But if the looks, and the steering (or even the visibility) just aren't to your liking, the AspX does everything you really need it to, except you won't be able to pack all of the standard kit and the new repair limpets together. That's probably fine. As long as you don't run out of hull, or get your canopy blown out, you can go anywhere in the galaxy with an AspX (except the places that require those record-breaking jump ranges with an Anaconda).

But if you want the best mix of equipment, looks, and cockpit visibility, and the range doesn't matter as much, there are many, many other ships to choose from.
 

Ashnak

Ashnak
Let me add my voice for the Dolphin.

hyCot5i.jpg

Currently somewhere on the western rim, maybe about the latitude of Colonia/Sgr A*.

Never had an Anaconda, though - but briefly enjoyed a Python and hated how sluggish it felt compared to the smaller ships. With all the trimmings, including a mining laser and a mine launcher, my Dolphin can do just short of 40 ly per jump, has a nice cockpit view (especially in VR if I lean back in my office chair), can scoop up to the dropout boundary and lands on a tea towel.

If you want more jump range, by all means, get an AspX. I wouldn't recommend a DBX, though. The AspX can fit a size 6 scoop for a size 5 FSD (perfect), the Dolphin a size 4 scoop for a size 4 FSD (workable), but the DBX will only fit a size 4 scoop for a size 5 FSD. Not good, at least not until we get a slider for jump range efficiency instead of the switch fast/economy.

If you have the money and want to travel in style, the Orca may also be worth looking into.
 

ModishNouns

ModishNouns
I've taken a 45 ly AspX across the Formidine Rift, to Hawking's Gap and the Conflux and I am just returning from a Skaudai-Colonia-Sag.A trip in a 50 ly Anaconda. I've also taken a Python to the Rosette nebula and back.

The Annie has grown on me over the last 40 - 50,000 ly or so, but there is no getting away from the fact that it is a pig to fly. It's great for the long haul but hopeless when you want to DSS a whole system or search a planet for surface features. The AspX wins hands down for real exploration / research.

I actually really like the Python but not for any objective reasons, I just have a real soft spot for it.
 
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Kolato

Kolato
Well it really depends on your tolerance, i had no issues taking my 39LY anaconda everywhere pre-engineers, but you have to consider the fact that i had no options at that time. If you're willing to grind a bit to get up to a good ASP i'd say go for it, but if you don't want to the anaconda even unengineered is a very solid choice that won't leave you dissapointed.
 

Kenneth McGrew

Kenneth McGrew
Happy Seal said:
Currently docked at Gagarin Gate, unsure as to what my next move should be. . .keep exploring in my non-engineered Anaconda or head back to the bubble and mod it a bit to set back out again. . .

OR

Jump in something else altogether. I read up on a lot of threads about Exploration loadouts for the Anaconda, Python and ASPX and some other intriguing ships/setups. I hastily chose the Anaconda as I was drawn to it being one of the big 3. After a solid week of constant jumps and scans of many systems I decided to find the nearest station to dock in and sell my data, a realization had hit me: I think I brought the wrong ship for this tour. :x

My original goal was to set out on the path least chosen to Sagittarius A*. I have yet to reach the supermassive black hole but still intend to, just maybe not in this ship. I'm not enjoying this Ice-Breaker in molasses feeling from the ship. From everyone else who has gone from a stock Annie to even a mildly-modified, is it worth it? How about those who have gone from one to a different ship? Do you regret it or have never looked back?

I've been lurking on the forums reading up on some of the expeditions that have taken place in the past and would like to outfit something for future convoys into the void. . .
Click to expand...

never been a fan of the big ships, I like the idea of them but cant spend more and a day in one, there is a lure for me of small ships on the edge of the universe and those are the ones which have seen me though to the edges, and around every corner of it.

I have never got an anaconda further than the Pleiades sector

the only exception of small ships outside the bubble was an asp explorer back in the beginning of time because there really wasn't anything else out - Pre DBx days (1.3 I think)

but three years on and im still in small ships pottering around the universe with over a million ly behind me, my favourite being the Dolphin - I took this on "the slow road to colonia" (videos here
[video=youtube_share;1kNp8JSXOhA]https://youtu.be/1kNp8JSXOhA[/video]
) and ended up at beagle because I loved it that much. but the DBx is still a close 2nd favourite.

I still have my anaconda, its named the Dodo because I never fly it.

maybe your a rare breed too and just a little... different

giphy.gif
 
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iain666

iain666
marx said:
The Clipper has excellent forward speed too, and cockpit visibility as well. Due to its size, landing it can be difficult at times though. Most importantly, the Clipper has a class 7 slot, and if you fit a fuel scoop there, you'll be able to travel by zooming past stars without even stopping. Combine that with the great supercruise turning (like the Asp, it's much better than the ship's size would warrant), and it's an absolute joy to fly. Sure, the jump range won't go much higher than 40 ly on a full tank, but in my opinion, unless you're in a hurry or looking to head to the extreme edge, that's fine.
Click to expand...

I second that, loving my Clipper.
 

duckofdeath

duckofdeath
I use the Conda as my primary exploration ship since 2.3. Since I'm only scanning the things Big Corp wants me to scan, the habitable planets, I scan less than two planets per jump. If your plan is to scan more than that, like gas giants, metal-rich and other things, the Anaconda isn't a good choice.
Get a DSS mod fitted depending on your style. That's a big time saver! Long range mod for cherry-picking or fast scan for scan-all-the-things!. It doesn't feel like you're saving any time, but you are in fact saving around 10-15 seconds per planet. Four planets means you've save the time of one full jump. Add that up to the thousands and you're a time-traveller! \o/
 

Happy Seal

H
I'll admit aesthetics played a role in my Annie purchase...love the exterior but not the cockpit view. Coming from a Viper Mk4 and a Python, the nose view novelty from the Anaconda wore off after a few hours.

I'm not trying to set lap or jump records, I'd be comfortable in anything within a 30-40ly range. I dont have a lot of money (compared to some of the figures I'm seeing get thrown around) but I could pump out some missions to afford an engineered AspX or Python.

Fuel capacity/range is more of a concern as I just kind of point and shoot in a random direction. Last haul I hit a very long stretch of brown dwarfs and barely made it to a scoopable star...

I'll do some window shopping and dream-spec something as I won't be back home for a couple weeks yet...

Thanks for the input guys, very much appreciated.
 

iain666

iain666
Happy Seal said:
Fuel capacity/range is more of a concern as I just kind of point and shoot in a random direction. Last haul I hit a very long stretch of brown dwarfs and barely made it to a scoopable star...
Click to expand...

There's a layer of them right across the galaxy but it's not very thick. There are usually some scoopables in the mix but if there aren't just go up or down a jump or two.
 

13A

13A
Tried a 'Conda in one of the betas, and lasted about 2 hours before I sold it.

I took an Asp on DWE and it's a good ship, but I prefer:

1. Dolphin - 47ly
2. Orca - 36ly
3. Adder (stop laughing at the back) - 33ly

They're all engineered, but I haven't spent ages trying for god roles, so could probably get a bit more distance if I wanted.
 

Kenneth McGrew

Kenneth McGrew
13A/24B said:
Tried a 'Conda in one of the betas, and lasted about 2 hours before I sold it.

I took an Asp on DWE and it's a good ship, but I prefer:

1. Dolphin - 47ly
2. Orca - 36ly
3. Adder (stop laughing at the back) - 33ly

They're all engineered, but I haven't spent ages trying for god roles, so could probably get a bit more distance if I wanted.
Click to expand...

yep I broke 50 in the Phin ;)

Adder was my first exploration ship - you can also get it crazy fast now with performance thrusters! (an adder still hasn't been to the edge of the universe)
 
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