Ships My take on dedicated exploration ship

[Varrag]

After reading some rather interesting posts popping here and there on this subject, I decided to assemble my basic sketch for hypothetical, highly specialized exploration ship which may, or may not, appear some time in the future.

So, here's what I would expect it to be:
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• first of all, she must get the biggest existing FSD, fuel scoop, and fuel tank in game - other ships may come close, but shouldn't ever surpass her jump range and autonomy;
• max. standard jump range ~45 LYs;
• ability to jump twice the max standard range using "supercharged" FSD - this special feature should allow us to visit at least some of the currently unreachable systems and star clusters; note: amount of available "superjumps" should be limited (to, let's say, 20 jumps), either by using expendable FSD "boosters", or by adding slight permanent (unrepairable in flight in any way) damage to FSD on each superjump, so the ship system refuses further superjumps after passing some fixed damage value; - edit: now obsolete due to synthesis (jumponium), and engineer modifications;
• two medium and two small hardpoints for basic active defence;
• one hardpoint reserved exclusively for new exploration laser, designed for scooping samples from asteroids and comets - assuming that this mechanics will appear in some future content patch (note: this is entirely my speculation/wishful thinking); - edit: probably unnecessary; explo laser should be simply fitted as any other module in one of the available hardpoints; in this sense, adding another (third) hardpoint might be considered so that we can still have four weapons and the explo laser if we wish so (thanks, Psycho Romeo);
• plenty of utility points to mount proper passive defence, heatsinks, etc;
• enough power to run all current and -perhaps- future, more powerful scanners (e.g. deep penetration scanner capable to "see" through the icy crust, or detailed biosphere scanner);
• excellent view from the cockpit, unobstructed by hull, metal frame or bright interior lights;
• capable for fast atmospheric flight - speed limited by overheating caused by the density of the medium and the resulting friction; this means that the ship should have good aerodynamic properties;
• capable to sustain great pressure (for example: 1000 atmospheres standard, up to 2000 atmospheres with max. reinforced hull/bulkheads);
• capable to safely land on high-G planets thanks to extremely powerful retro thrusters; - edit: added after the introduction of Horizons;
• optimized to rest on the watery surface (positive buoyancy);
• capable to dive and move through liquid oceans (ref: Moray Star Boat);
• small cargo bay for keeping and preserving scientific samples;
• drone bay: exploration drones are launched from orbit to take soil or biological samples if the planetary environment happens to be too dangerous for us, or the ship itself - e.g. too high pressure/temperature, unstable ground, or something entirely different (hint: aggressive or highly contagious life forms);
• "garage" and ramp for planetary ATV (all-terrain-vehicle) - which will be used for driving around once we are allowed to land on the planets (more speculations from my side); - edit: done in Horizons (yay);
• finally... NO LUXURY AND FANCY-SHMANCY CRAP, PLEASE! Keep it heavy duty-rough and militarily tough. You aren't going into the wilderness to break your way through sticky mud, deep rivers and over the sharp rocky boulders in Maybach.

Well... that's it. FDEV, you may now start working on it

 

[Tryst]

I disagree with no weapon hardpoints. It should have them but only small weapons and only 2 similar to the Lakon Type 6. In a universe where almost anything is possible, even the re-emergence of Thargoids, a completely unarmed ship would be ludicrous.

 

[Varrag]

I disagree with no weapon hardpoints. It should have them but only small weapons and only 2 similar to the Lakon Type 6. In a universe where almost anything is possible, even the re-emergence of Thargoids, a completely unarmed ship would be ludicrous.

Fixed, and updated.

 

[Somillian Hiigara]

Actually, I'd give it some, maybe a lot, of creature comforts. You're all the way out there, 'alone'. Maybe there's other crew members, but still... You'll go mad in a metal box, so to speak, without anything to keep your mind off the fact that you're twenty-thousand lightyears away from home.

 

[Varrag]

Well, as I am imagining it as quite a big ship (perhaps FDL size, definitely larger than Asp), there should be plenty of space inside for all sorts of things. But I am still thinking that the basic design should be simple and highly utilitarian, resembling modern nuclear submarine rather than the oligarch's yacht.

For example, this:

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...not this:

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This:

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...not this:

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This:

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... and not this. Etc.

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It just doesn't feel right to me, in a same way that the concept of "luxury combat ship" (lol?) does not.

 

[Psycho Romeo]

Well, as I am imagining it as quite a big ship (perhaps FDL size, definitely larger than Asp), there should be plenty of space inside for all sorts of things. But I am still thinking that the basic design should be simple and highly utilitarian, resembling modern nuclear submarine rather than the oligarch's yacht.

For example, this:

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View attachment 30784

...not this:

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View attachment 30778

This:

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View attachment 30780

...not this:

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View attachment 30781

This:

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View attachment 30782

... and not this. Etc.

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View attachment 30783

It just doesn't feel right to me, in a same way that the concept of "luxury combat ship" (lol?) does not.

In some of the scifi movies I've watched, they go to great lengths to bring comfort to the passengers. Sound logical if you ask me, considering that the inside of that vessel is all those folks will have for potentially years.

I'm just saying I'd prefer exploring in something more orca-esque than dropship-like. The FD is so ungraceful that it doesn't even get to use the suffix -esque.

As far as the rest of your post...
I see no reason why an exploration vessel needs to be aerodynamic with a fast atmospheric speed.
I see no reason an exploration needs many utility mounts when it doesn't really use anything other than the occasional heat sink.
I like your implementation of an FSD overclocker modules more than other types of jump range buffs suggested.
Why you want to reserve a hardpoint for something instead of just make a new weapon type is beyond me.

Stopping there. Many of the suggestions you listed seem a little over the top to me - their implementation wouldn't really benefit the game in any way more than just this ONE ship for doing this ONE thing that a minority of people do.

However, the core of the suggestion is adding a dedicated exploration vessel like what the FDL is to combat and the T9 is to trading, which I think is a good idea. Personally I'd like it to look something like this bad boy.

 

[Commander Garonis]

I really like the idea of a FSD overcharger. That module should only be able to be fit on multi-use or exploration type ships.

 

[Varrag]

I see no reason why an exploration vessel needs to be aerodynamic with a fast atmospheric speed.

Well, I think that we should be able to fly over (and admire) planetary landscapes: I am not sure that a slow flight which takes hours to cover several thousand kilometers fits well into this picture; moving fast looks very desirable to me. And when you fly fast, things tend to get really, really hot - especially in the atmospheres much denser than ours, which is often the case. Needless to say, aerodynamic/hydrodynamic shape helps a lot here by lessening the drag and thus the heating.

I see no reason an exploration needs many utility mounts when it doesn't really use anything other than the occasional heat sink.

To be honest, I am carrying chaff and (one) point defence. But you're right, we aren't being intercepted by crazy NPCs in the twilight zone any more - so the most of the utility points on Asp, for example, are usually left unused. That's how it is at the moment. However, I was thinking about the future: first of all, they might change this by re-introducing aggressive NPCs -or factions- waiting for us again on the borders of inhabited space. More importantly, Thargoids and god knows what else is coming; we won't be alone out there for ever. I think it's better to a create a well-rounded and fully prepared ship in advance, than to release something half-baked and then wait for buffs and tweaks to make it "compatible" with future expansions.

I like your implementation of an FSD overclocker modules more than other types of jump range buffs suggested.

Thanks. I think it's a pretty elegant solution. I should also mention that some guys were also suggesting something relatively similar to my proposal.

Why you want to reserve a hardpoint for something instead of just make a new weapon type is beyond me.

Idea was to make "exploration laser" this ship's exclusive, while in the same time I was preventing her to mount weapons bigger than the small ones. But you do have a point - perhaps it's unneccessary and unreasonable to cut all other ships from this feature (scooping scientific samples from asteroids and comets). Exploration laser may simply require small hardpoint and that's all. Perhaps we might add another (third) small hardpoint so that we can still carry two weapons: this is probably something that should be investigated a bit more.

 

[Psycho Romeo]

Well, I think that we should be able to fly over (and admire) planetary landscapes: I am not sure that a slow flight which takes hours to cover several thousand kilometers fits well into this picture; moving fast looks very desirable to me. And when you fly fast, things tend to get really, really hot - especially in the atmospheres much denser than ours, which is often the case. Needless to say, aerodynamic/hydrodynamic shape helps a lot here by lessening the drag and thus the heating.

That to me says tour bus (like a clipper or an orca) and not "NO LUXURY AND FANCY-SHMANCY CRAP, PLEASE" as stated in the OP. I don't mean to pick apart your post, but it seems like there's a bit of dissonance in your design for this dedicated exploration vessel.

I think it's better to a create a well-rounded and fully prepared ship in advance

Then take an Asp, it's a well-rounded multipurpose ship with great exploration capabilities.

Thanks. I think it's a pretty elegant solution. I should also mention that some guys were also suggesting something relatively similar to my proposal.

...I might have deleted it in my post but I meant to also add that while I like the idea more than others, I don't really feel it at all needs to be implemented in the game.

 

[Varrag]

That to me says tour bus (like a clipper or an orca) and not "NO LUXURY AND FANCY-SHMANCY CRAP, PLEASE" as stated in the OP. I don't mean to pick apart your post, but it seems like there's a bit of dissonance in your design for this dedicated exploration vessel.

No prob mate, we are discussing Imho, aerodynamical shape doesn't automatically make her a luxury ship - if that's what you've meant. I am thinking about nuclear submarines, or bombers like Tu-22 or B-1 rather than, I don't know... Arab sheik's golden plated Airbus. Ship doesn't have to look like a brick to appear heavy-duty rugged and minimalistic, military way.

Then take an Asp, it's a well-rounded multipurpose ship with great exploration capabilities.

Yeah, it's nice in the current setup, but as I said, I am looking primarily at the future of the game. When the planetary landings and walking avatars come, we will probably want to fly fast through the atmospheres (note: some are dense as water, oil, or more). To dive into the oceans (note: not necessarily watery oceans) and inspect what's down there. To land and drive around in planetary vehicle stored in our ship. And so on - possibilities are vast. Perhaps some of this might be a bit too much to ask from Asp.

Also, other mini professions in game already have, or (hopefully) will have their dedicated top-of-the-line ships. I don't see why us explorers should be treated differently than traders, bounty hunters or PvP'ers.

...I might have deleted it in my post but I meant to also add that while I like the idea more than others, I don't really feel it at all needs to be implemented in the game.

Why? I mean, there are so many distant, isolated systems and clusters that cannot be visited at the moment; even with the (limited) "superjump" capability, shedloads would still remain way out of our reach, so that the FDEV could still plant something in there if they want to (like home worlds for new alien races); in the same time, dedicated long range explorers are rewarded with (among few other things) a little bit increased area for their activities.

 

[Psycho Romeo]

Imho, aerodynamical shape doesn't automatically make her a luxury ship - if that's what you've meant. I am thinking about nuclear submarines, or bombers like Tu-22 or B-1 rather than, I don't know... Arab sheik's golden plated Airbus. Ship doesn't have to look like a brick to appear heavy-duty rugged and minimalistic, military way.

I don't recall being able to admire landscapes from a B-1 or a nulear submarine. These vessels have a job to do and they do their job. I don't know. I can't help but feel 'fancy smancy' and 'admire landscapes' go hand in hand.

Also, other mini professions in game already have, or (hopefully) will have their dedicated top-of-the-line ships. I don't see why us explorers should be treated differently than traders, bounty hunters or PvP'ers.

I completely agree.

Why? I mean, there are so many distant, isolated systems and clusters that cannot be visited at the moment; even with the (limited) "superjump" capability, shedloads would still remain way out of our reach, so that the FDEV could still plant something in there if they want to (like home worlds for new alien races); in the same time, dedicated long range explorers are rewarded with (among few other things) a little bit increased area for their activities.

I think the solution to that is to introduce an exploring vessel that has a FSD lage enough and is small enugh to make those kinds of jumps. The exploration equivalent of the Vulture's oversized large hard points - a small ship with an oversized FSD. I think the solution is not to introduce a buff to FSDs.

 

[Varrag]

Fair points. After all, I suppose that this "luxury or not" question is something which comes down to personal taste. I, for one, am not a big fan of shiny things

BTW, I've modified OP (regarding the hardpoint for explo laser) according to your suggestions.

 

[dognosh]

Excellent thread +1 rep

 

[Eloy]

Mh, speaking about making that new vessel aerodynamic for athmosphere flight ... the Anaconda has a (not yet active) bay for a small sidewinder-like ship. Maybe that´s the better solution than making such a special vessel areodynamic.

yes, thread +1

I really hope for the Imperial courier to have a long jump range but it looks to small (smaller than Asp) in terms of long range exploration with all the needed functions. We got fighters, traders and multirolers, but no dedicated exploration type yet. The Anaconda has the longest jump range, but it lacks totally a good unobstructed round view.

 

[Varrag]

Mh, speaking about making that new vessel aerodynamic for athmosphere flight ... the Anaconda has a (not yet active) bay for a small sidewinder-like ship. Maybe that´s the better solution than making such a special vessel areodynamic.

Sounds OK to me. However, smaller ship probably shouldn't be able to carry ATV down there to the surface, so... no driving around in that case.