Is exploration rewarding

[HippoZoned]

Ok so I bought and played this game for the first time today, its the first sim I ever played so far I like it, I'm aware of the learning curve and the grinding and I'm ok with both.

One thing that I'm still unclear about is, does this game reward you for finding new planets?
Also can I still be the first to find a planet, with over 400 billion stars I'd assume it's possible, but I'm late to this game and I'm unsure if that will make a difference.

Also I setup my controller to work with this game as I could not learn kb and mouse. Check this out https://youtu.be/qyPhMmZY9WA

However I feel these controls are the best setup and I came to realize this in an advanced tutorial, so if anyone can point me to a tutorial for 360 setup that'd be nice anyways I like this game and I hope to stay awhile and become a member of this community.

 

[mossfoot]

Exploration being rewarding depends entirely on you and your expectations.

You can money much faster trading or bounty hunting, but exploring is overall low risk. Finding new uncharted planets are easy even a few hundred light years outside the bubble, just drop down or go up a hundred light years before striking out in any direction and you'll be hitting uncharted territory in no time.

Whether you get the thrill of exploration is very much a personal thing - some people love finding unexplored systems and keep hoping for new Earth-Likes to revisit later once planetary landings are introduced. Some people like to farm neutron stars and black holes to make money faster. Some people like to do the tourist thing and visit the major sites they can read about in Wikipedia (ie Barnard's Loop, Sagitarius A*, etc...).

Hopefully you'll find what you're looking for out there Fly safe CMDR.

 

[shadowwar]

Welcome on game HippoZoned.

Exploration is quite ok and can be profitable but you need to find and scan your own first discoveries to make some ok amounts of cash. Head your ship to M7 SECTOR and look around there. Loads of new systems waiting for someone like you. I have 176 systems as first discoverer. If you like though when you scan a system that shows up on your screen as unscanned then check the system map to see if someone else has been there before and never mind, just go ahead and scan every planet too. You will make more money that way.

Good luck in your quest Explorer!

 

[TIVBS]

Whats your definition of "rewarding"?
If that means earning lots of credits in a short period of time, then no it wont be rewarding to you.
But for me, its very rewarding.

Yes, you can discover planetary objects, stars, celestial objects and be the first one to discover it and get the credit of being the first.

 

[HippoZoned]

Well my idea of rewarding is. That it will feel like u are actually discovering a new planet for the first time, I think this feeling will be more so when planetary landings is added to the game. I appreciate the responses about the money aspect of exploring but I actually did not think exploring would be profitable nor did I expect it to be. I just want to explore the universe and make money only when I have to, I want to pilot a peaceful vessle however by no means will my ship be weak. I will upgrade it and have it combat capable if it is needed.

Also should I but a hotas does it make this game easier to play?

 

[SandTrout]

If you want the fame and recognition of having your name permanently attached to celestial bodies hundreds of light-years outside of human habitation: yes.

If you want money quickly: no.

I mostly enjoy it as prep for possible alien invasion (Knights of the Black is a group I joined for this purpose) as well as possibly becoming famous by virtue of my discoveries.

Doesn't hurt that I already pretty much already have a ship that I thoroughly enjoy using for every purpose (Diamondback Scout), so wealth is just icing on the cake now.

 

[GluttonyFang]

I laughed a little, then stopped myself...

Meta rewarding? No, definitely not. Hour/credit is crap.

Personal satisfaction? If you love exploring (staring at stars and planets for days), then yea, very rewarding!

 

[OnePercent]

it is now, before it use to be like mining.

 

[mossfoot]

it is now, before it use to be like mining.

Look forward to when it gets more love and has more to do too

 

[TIVBS]

Well it sounds like you will enjoy it to me! Also, HOTAS is definitely nice and if youre used to controlling via joystick then by all means do it. Tho its probably more needed for combat, exploring all you need is keyboard and mouse. All what you want mate
Good luck!

 

[Brimstone]

If you see a nebula in the distance and want to see it up close, and from within, then yes, exploring is rewarding in this aspect.

If you want to earn lot's of credits in a short amount of time, then exploration is not the way to go.

 

[mossfoot]

Also should I but a hotas does it make this game easier to play?

Easier? Depends on what you're used to. More immersive? Hells yes!

 

[bartmoss]

Welcome to ED, HippoZoned!

Well my idea of rewarding is. That it will feel like u are actually discovering a new planet for the first time, I think this feeling will be more so when planetary landings is added to the game.

Yes, I think so. I just found my first untagged (nobody has explored them before) systems yesterday. First one was full of ice worlds, second one had four terraforming candidates, two of which orbit each other!

They are now "mine"!

To me, this is the most fun in the game so far. Much, much better than hauling Palladium or whatever. But every person has different preferences

Also should I but a hotas does it make this game easier to play?

Can't really advise you on that, sorry. I play with a Thrustmaster flightstick (not a full hotas) and keyboard, and couldn't imagine using a mouse, but I am not sure how different it would be from an xbox controller. (I have always hated the xbox 360 controller, and preferred the Playstation ones, so I'd be biased anyway.)

 

[gooddoc]

Others have stated that Exploring is poor when compared to Trading or the pewpew side of the game.

It's the only thing i wanna do. For me i find it relaxing & stress free.

What hasn't been said though about Exploring is...

Although most, but not all, of the systems within around 400LYs of the bubble have been tagged with 'first discovered by...' you will still get credits for these when you scan them & sell the data to a station. You only miss out on a 50% bonus that you get if youre the first to discover & sell data on a planetary body.

 

[IronGremlin]

Well my idea of rewarding is. That it will feel like u are actually discovering a new planet for the first time, I think this feeling will be more so when planetary landings is added to the game. I appreciate the responses about the money aspect of exploring but I actually did not think exploring would be profitable nor did I expect it to be. I just want to explore the universe and make money only when I have to, I want to pilot a peaceful vessle however by no means will my ship be weak. I will upgrade it and have it combat capable if it is needed.

Also should I but a hotas does it make this game easier to play?

I fly with a HOTAS.

I can't say it makes the game easier.

I definitely have WAAAAY more fun than I would with another method of control.

RE: Exploration -

I'd say, pick a common tourist destination like a closer nebula, something ~ 3,000 ly out or so. Fly out there, scan systems, try to find some planets, don't stop to do detailed scans of -everything- (unless you really want to), just stop for interesting looking stuff.

If, by the time you make it back from the nebula, you feel exhausted and really bored, exploring isn't for you, but you probably just made around a million credits or so, relatively easy money.

If, on the other hand, you felt super excited and accomplished, then you know it's for you and you've found yourself a great new hobby.

 

[Star Admiral]

I'm personally waiting to outfit an asp for exploration. Don't want to risk it in a Cobra, even if my Cobra is basically all A rated.

 

[HippoZoned]

You guys have been very helpful so far I just have one more question then I should be done with the 50 questions.

My last question is, is there a specific ship that is better suited to exploration or I just should pick and outfit my ship to my needs.

 

[bartmoss]

My last question is, is there a specific ship that is better suited to exploration or I just should pick and outfit my ship to my needs.

Any ship will do, but there are some things to consider:

a) You will need a fuel scoop. Practice fuel scooping before you head out, it can be a little tricky at first as you may end up too close to a star and take damage from the heat, but it's not hard to learn. You'll want to do your practicing somewhere where you can limp back for repairs easily.

b) You need an advanced survey scanner (start out with the more basic ones, then upgrade as you can afford) and a detailed surface scanner. Total cost ~2Mio Credits.

c) Certain outfits are beneficial. Generally, bring the best FSD you can (for jump range), a good reactor (heat mitigation) and otherwise the lightest (usually D-classed) modules. There are several builds floating around; check the Ships & Explorers subforum.

d) Some ships are considered to be better explorers, specifically the ASP Explorer and Diamondback Explorer. They are both really well suited for exploration - I mean, that's what they are designed for - but lots of people set out in Cobras, Type-6 transports, or even Orcas. Pick a ship you feel comfortable with, and don't be afraid to trade up - or down - over time.

My general advice as someone who has just started out and went through the learning curve would be to learn the basics in human space (scanning, fuel scooping) while earning money for a ship you like, and once you have one you like and feel comfortable with, set out to an easy-to-reach destination. Something like the Pleiades, 430~ish light years out. You likely won't make many "new" discoveries so close to human space if you take a direct route, but it will give you confidence for longer trips.

Oh, and one final thing: If you do run out of fuel during an early practice run, don't dispair, contact the Fuel Rats. www.fuelrats.org. They are an awesome bunch of people who help stranded commanders.

 

[Verhaas]

Hi Hippo

I am new to ED myself and have just started my first epic voyage into the unknown. I highly recommend checking out a few exploration guides and not to go out into deep space before saving up enough creds to kit out your chosen vessel with certain components. There are several ships better suited to exploration， the Cobra is widely used then there、s the Diamondback Explorer and my personal choice， the Asp. Some explorers use the bigger boats but my advice would be to wait on those.

Investing in a class A FSD is worthwhile along with an advanced discovery scanner and a detailed surface scanner.

My suggestion would be to run some basic bulletin board missions to get a feel for the game， build some rep and earn some creds until you can afford to kit out your ideal boat.

 

[Kulin]

I would say: for some time. In the beginning it was pretty entertaining. But the moment you recognize that all this planets are just random generated balls with different colors and descriptions it stops being rewarding and gets boring. Especially because there is practically no gameplay involved beside flying from planet to planet. No challenge and no depth. Its extremely monotone. Fly to Sun, Ping the System, look for interesting planets in system map, fly to planets or jump to next star. Do this a few hundret times and you have enough of it. Especially because there is not more than this game-play, nothing interesting(after you have seen the few interesting things, like super big stars, twin stars, black holes, neutron stars and so on) to explore. In the beginning you may be amazed by the graphics and atmosphere. But you will look behind this beautiful curtain and see that there is nothing behind it very soon.