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Just out of curiosity: what would be the defining difference between the Anaconda and the dedicated large exploration vessel you are talking about?
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The very only option coming to my mind would be to reduce the number of hardpoints.
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Is it time for the ASP Explorer Mk II (or ASP MK III)?
- Thread starter Phoenix_Dfire
- Start date
Just out of curiosity: what would be the defining difference between the Anaconda and the dedicated large exploration vessel you are talking about?
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The very only option coming to my mind would be to reduce the number of hardpoints.
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There are a few things that could be done to keep the conda somewhat relevant when introducing a large dedicated explorer:
- Fewer hardpoints
- Fewer utility slots (4 or 6 instead of 8)
- Fewer and/or smaller optional internals (only 9 slots required for complete self-sufficiency including 2x AFMs and a FSD Booster)
- Poor hull and/or shield strength
- No fighter bay
- They want their ship to be somewhat combat capable
- They want their ship to be able to reliably survive high-G landings without losing shields
- They want to be able to perform one or more secondary tasks such as mining or fuel ratting
- They want to be able to jump into a fighter to look for a landing spot
Having a word like "Explorer" or "Scout" added to the end of its name.
Actually, no, it is not objectively wrong. This is the Internet, and the OP is an admitted grumpy old sod - when he writes 'ASP' he could as easily be shouting for OAP emphasis as using an acronym. Given the tone of the post, I read it as random shouting.
Grumpy Old Sod - Yup.
As afar as ASP, not shouting, just bad grammar. ;-)
Mind you. I'd Love to see a ship with a tri wing design like the Old Imperial_Trader
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So yea. That's about what I thought. So the point of the large dedicated explorer would be to be an Anaconda, but with some slots removed.
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Alas, at least I can leave slots empty in ED. I can even install a smaller shield generator to remove mass and power consumption, at the price of reduced shield strength. So the whole thing is about removing options by eliminating slots which you can just leave empty?
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I am sorry if this sounds hostile. It should not be. But I am at a loss here. The Anaconda already has excellent jump range, especially when using the FSD booster. Asking for even more jump range can't really be the point of a new explorer. At the same time, the Anaconda can bring everything an Explorer needs, including all optionals and some extras. It has more room spare than is needed. So more space also can't be the point.
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Sure the Anaconda is defined as "multi role", because it can be configured to do so many different things. One of them is "largest and best equipped exploration ship". Which actually brings more than you need. The only path is see to push it to "pure explorer" is to nerf it. And i really wonder if "nerfed Anaconda" is really what people mean when they say "dedicated large explorer". But apparently it must be.
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Constrictor was used in an early version of Elite already so the path is there. Several other snake names as well; Moccasin, Copperhead, Hognose, Boa and other legless creatures as well Moray Starboat and Worm.
Maybe a feature that could be added to a more dedicated exploration ship is doubling the size of the built in fuel tank. Yeah, big jump distance but having a full tank of fuel that can take you maybe 500 ly's before refueling would go nicely in an exploration ship instead of adding fuel tanks to the slots. Could even introduce fuel scoop boosters to the utility slots so it won't take 10 minutes to fuel scoop an empty tank to full.
Just read your post in the "New Discussions", so I didn't follow this thread, but how does 330 ly at a max jump range of 56 ly and 27 seconds for a full refuel sound? Biger ships can do even better, but with the removal of the slot restriction on Tuesday, the Saud-Krugers come pretty close to what you suggest. And I like small ships for exploration - or rather, a small footprint for landing.
Having a big total distance on a tank of fuel would make a world of difference I believe in making a "ultimate" exploration ship. I was watching some videos from a commander out exploring and he was hitting one unscoopable star after the other and was starting to express his worry about running out of fuel. I don't think ship size is as important as the distance you can cover between fill ups as long as you can carry your exploration gear; SRV, scanner.. etc. I'm loving that Dolphin and that is my next ship to purchase but not for an exploration ship. I would go with no weapons and minimal shielding with nothing in the utility slots initially to reduce total mass and see how that goes. Then add stuff if I find the need. You can get pretty good results with just one visit to Aunty Felicity.