Mandalay too good for Exobiology and Exploration

[DjVortex]

restrictions on your view,

Have you tried using free look?

I don't know how feasible it is to use with M&K (I don't know what controls you are using), but at least with a controller it's super-handy (because you don't need the right thumbstick for driving the SRV, so you can use it for free look.)

and limited ability to jetpack way up and easily look around to find things

Well, the camera suite is for that. You can even use it while driving.

 

[space voyager]

If you want some variation, try the Cobra Mk V.

Cobra mk. V is an insane exporation machine. With a shield and an SRV I got it to 68LYs jump range, which is good enough for me. Add 7kLs/s SCO speed and a need for a quite small landing space (though those wings make it a bit bigger than one would like) one of the ideal choices untill an SLF able SCO optimised ship comes around...

 

[Cmdr. Numa]

Cobra mk. V is an insane exporation machine. With a shield and an SRV I got it to 68LYs jump range, which is good enough for me. Add 7kLs/s SCO speed and a need for a quite small landing space (though those wings make it a bit bigger than one would like) one of the ideal choices untill an SLF able SCO optimised ship comes around...

Explorer is what I'm planning with my MK V too. Probably going to collect the materials and start working on it after the Corsair is done.

 

[Red Rocket]

When planning my deep long term exobiology trip into the black I feel it’s important to build around a carrier.
It makes a perfect base for operations and you can sell all your Exobiology and Cartographics data.

When I first started to explore around my carrier randomly searching wasn’t working that great, finding a huge waste to time.
I have developed exploring system now being out experimenting, now centering around my carrier
From the carrier I pick a system about 1-2 jumps away 70-90 lys, bookmark it so as to mark area explored.
Jump to this system then filter out only star types wanted to visit, like F,G,K,M
Once there I plot route back to carrier setting to economy getting 25-35 jumps.
If the first route got good results then I will plot trips North, South, West, East from the carrier.

I am amazed by some of the beautiful planets and amazing lighting I am finding, that makes Exobiology so worthwhile.

 

[Joe Cool]

When planning my deep long term exobiology trip into the black I feel it’s important to build around a carrier.
It makes a perfect base for operations and you can sell all your Exobiology and Cartographics data.

When I first started to explore around my carrier randomly searching wasn’t working that great, finding a huge waste to time.
I have developed exploring system now being out experimenting, now centering around my carrier
From the carrier I pick a system about 1-2 jumps away 70-90 lys, bookmark it so as to mark area explored.
Jump to this system then filter out only star types wanted to visit, like F,G,K,M
Once there I plot route back to carrier setting to economy getting 25-35 jumps.
If the first route got good results then I will plot trips North, South, West, East from the carrier.

I am amazed by some of the beautiful planets and amazing lighting I am finding, that makes Exobiology so worthwhile.

For carrier based exploration I will jump my carrier ahead 500ly and then economical plot to catch up with it - this helps me break down sessions into liveable chunks. Once caught up, plot back across the area another 500ly at an angle. Not very scientific but I never could quite get my head around the boxel.
Likely old hat to a veteran such as yourself but the Not Visited filter was a QoL game changer for my little walkabouts.

Spoiler: Best Filter Ever

 

[Iron Body]

If we had a new SRV with a wide-range bio scanner, or something, not to do the 'collection scans' but to map out the various clusters of species then I would use one. For example, the map could show the 'blue zone' around the species you just collected so that you can quickly drive outside that range to find the next viable sample. Could be particularly useful for navigation on the dark side of a planet which I would typically avoid whenever possible.

As it is, the loss of the ability to do the bio-scan pulse, restrictions on your view, and limited ability to jetpack way up and easily look around to find things more often limits you more so than the extra speed helps.

The Cannon plug-in for EDMC will show you how far you are from your previous bio finds. Plus it lists the available bio and how many you've collected.

I find it very useful, but I only use it in my SRV. So don't know whether it works for Sideys as well.

 

[Red Rocket]

For carrier based exploration I will jump my carrier ahead 500ly and then economical plot to catch up with it - this helps me break down sessions into liveable chunks. Once caught up, plot back across the area another 500ly at an angle. Not very scientific but I never could quite get my head around the boxel.
Likely old hat to a veteran such as yourself but the Not Visited filter was a QoL game changer for my little walkabouts.

Spoiler: Best Filter Ever

View attachment 433808

I pick the distance form the carrier as a guide for the amount of time exploring per session.
25-30 jumps is a good for 2 hours session depending on finds.
Out near the center of the galaxy I very rarely come across previously found systems and never not gotten 1st footfall.

The outer day I accidentally hit boost into the planet ( oops ), ended up with 14% hull but still alive.
I was glad to be only one jump from home.

Back at the carrier I installed a larger shield generator, don’t care about jump range doing carrier based exploring.
Don’t skimp on good shields.

 

[Joe Cool]

The outer day I accidentally hit boost into the planet ( oops )

So many times at the end of a long session!
Boost or landing gear down - such an easy mistaka to maka

 

[aRJay]

So many times at the end of a long session!
Boost or landing gear down - such an easy mistaka to maka

Which is why boost is on my throttle while landing gear is on the stick separating them by a couple of feet.

 

[Rat Catcher]

Which is why boost is on my throttle while landing gear is on the stick separating them by a couple of feet.

Boost on the throttle handle
Landing gear / Cargo Scoop on a 2 way toggle switch.
Not so disastrous if I drop the cargo scoop instead of landing gear...

 

[Jinx Chrome]

Boost on the throttle handle
Landing gear / Cargo Scoop on a 2 way toggle switch.
Not so disastrous if I drop the cargo scoop instead of landing gear...

if FDev only would create more 'on hold' key binds that would make it easier to use flip switches (e.g. landing gear, arm/retract weapons). Instead, I am faffing around with VoiceAttack and other 3rd party tools which work in most cases but are tedious to create and maintain.
Beyond that a couple of more key binds such as turning on/off functions of the docking computer, switching between combat and exploration mode, synthesis, etc. would make the experience of HOTAS even better.

 

[space voyager]

Cobra mk. V is an insane exporation machine. With a shield and an SRV I got it to 68LYs jump range, which is good enough for me. Add 7kLs/s SCO speed and a need for a quite small landing space (though those wings make it a bit bigger than one would like) one of the ideal choices untill an SLF able SCO optimised ship comes around...

Daaaamn, that was 7000 c. Sorry, brainfart.

 

[BackToTheMud]

The Mandalay is the clear winner for exploring for now, although you can use any ship. But why would you want to?

Mainly because "better", however anyone personally wants to measure that, really doesn't mean more fun in this game. But also because the mandalay's uninspired mainstream Hollywood/aaa game studio "every edgy protagonist's space ship for the last decade" design, really doesn't speak too me.