My frustration with exploring

[raddoc]

I enjoy spending some time exploring, it's a nice break from the trading grind, or bounty hunting/pirating, etc.

I've outfitted my ASP for exploring, no weapons, small shield, big fuel scoop. I'm just looking to cruise around some empty systems, taking in the sights, not worried about maximizing profits.

Here's my problem:
I'm currently >800 LY from the edge of civilization, and almost half the systems I jump into have an NPC camped out near the star who immediately makes a bee line for me. If I let them get close enough, I get interdicted, which I usually lose because (a) I'm not great at it, and (b) I don't have very good thrusters due to being outfitted for exploring. Then they start blasting me and my small shields drop quickly, and suddenly I'm taking hull damage out in the middle of nowhere.

1- This takes away from what I believe the intent of exploring is- a less hectic way to enjoy the game, taking a solitary journey to parts of the universe that have never been seen before

2- It makes absolutely no sense that pirates or even psychos would be hanging out in random systems just hoping that a victim will come by. We're not hauling any cargo, and the odds that someone would happen to show up at their "trap" is so low it would be ridiculous to even consider heading out there to wait, especially when there are so many backwater systems in colonized space that act as a much better locale for that kind of activity.

 

[AtheosisX]

I haven't gotten around to deep space exploration yet, but if what you are saying is true that's pretty silly. I mean if there are no stations or populated planets in or near the system you are exploring I can't imagine why you would run into pirates. Pirates hang out where lucrative targets are, they don't head out into the unknown and wait for hapless explorers to come by eventually. At the same time I don't get why you are flying a defenseless ship for exploration. Exploration doesn't require much other than a discovery scanner. What are you using in your weapon hardpoints?

 

[raddoc]

I think most deep space explorers fly without weapons in order to keep weight down and maximize their jump range. Some even go without shields, but that's too risky for me.

 

[elayeth]

From what I experienced - NPC fly up to 400 LY from the known space... So at 800 LY you shouldnt see one...

 

[jpaulwilson1982]

I always have weapons when I explore. I always have shields. It holds back my max jump distance, but I always survive an expedition. Be prepared.

 

[EMarkM]

800Ly out and still seeing ships?

That's unusual. I normally lose them at around 500Ly from Sol.

In order to minimise damage, refine your technique for always submitting to interdiction and then boosting away while your FSD recharges.

Duck and dive!

 

[Ian Phillips]

OP. I view these encounters as simply other explorers taking the opportunity for quick gains, and don't think too much about them.

And why is anyone heading off into the unknown without protection? Explorers on earth don't go unprotected into the wilderness, why should we think that we can?

We actually have no (in-game) idea of what we might encounter, and in-game we do know of one hostile race, so having weapons or a really fast ship to escape in is basic equipment I would have thought.

 

[EMarkM]

You head out with minimal protection in order to keep weight down and therefore jump distance up.

Once you really get "out there" you need jump distances of way over 25Ly in order to survive.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I took weapons (energy based only) and shields with me on my last long distance journey, not knowing what to expect. Mind you, this was back in the day when poorly equipped NPCs would spawn as far out as Sagittarius A*... These days, with NPCs allegedly less spawn-happy, it made more sense to remove all extraneous mass to improve jump range and access more stars, leading to record breakers stripping everything down while trying to reach the farthest edge of interstellar space, and in the face of potential conflict being geared up to flight instead of fight.

Then again, with the mystery of the often vast unexplorable zones (if and when they open for business), arming oneself in the great black may well become an increasingly necessary option again.

 

[Devil's Refugee]

OP. I view these encounters as simply other explorers taking the opportunity for quick gains, and don't think too much about them.

And why is anyone heading off into the unknown without protection? Explorers on earth don't go unprotected into the wilderness, why should we think that we can?

We actually have no (in-game) idea of what we might encounter, and in-game we do know of one hostile race, so having weapons or a really fast ship to escape in is basic equipment I would have thought.

I'm out there in an exploration kitted Asp. No weapons, pips to systems and engines. Weapons aren't needed because there's literally nothing out there but you and deep space. I'm surprised the OP is seeing NPCs that far out though, I haven't encountered one all week since leaving my old trade route. I did get interdicted once by a NPC but just boosted away and jumped. I'm still at 99% hull. I also went in random directions for exploration, not really bothered heading into the Core, I went to the fringes instead.

 

[virosh]

OP. I view these encounters as simply other explorers taking the opportunity for quick gains, and don't think too much about them.

And why is anyone heading off into the unknown without protection? Explorers on earth don't go unprotected into the wilderness, why should we think that we can?

We actually have no (in-game) idea of what we might encounter, and in-game we do know of one hostile race, so having weapons or a really fast ship to escape in is basic equipment I would have thought.

I had the same issue as the OP when i started exploring. I encountered some small ships in the fringes where they should not have been. Well, at least they did not attack me.
The thing is that you are around 50-60LY away from the last station and then you encounter an Eagle or Sidewinder fitted for combat without fuel scoop and with FSD interdictor. What is this? A pilot with suicidal tendencies?
There is no way for an Eagle or Sidewinder will make this trip out there and back to the station without fuel scoop, and for the Eagle this means no FSD interdictor or no shields.

I am ok having such NPC's at the fringes of the populated space, but at least FD needs to get them more realistic.