New Explorer Saying Hello

CMDR Armanghaast

C
Hi folks,

I was lucky enough to pick up E:D on Steam during the sale a few weeks ago, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. It's so nice to play a mature, refined, and deep game about a subject I love (space, sci-fi, the Universe).

I have tried various paths, but I keep coming back to Exploration. I'm currently a few hundred LYs out from inhabited space, but limping home after a few close encounters with T stars (check before trying to fuel scoop...).

I am just saying hello, but had a few questions:

1. Through my exploration, I've racked up a couple of million credits. About 500k cash, and the rest tied up in my Hauler. My Hauler is currently jumping about 27 LYs at a time. Is there any better ship I could switch to at this price range, or am I currently in the best exploration bang for buck? I'm pure exploration, so no combat.

2. Similar question: I'm planning an expedition to the galactic core and hopefully the fabled neutron field. Will the hauler be sufficient, and is there any special precaution or preparation I need to undergo before taking this trip? For example, I've not bothered with an repair module so far, would this be a wise investment of money and mass?

3. How do you go about plotting a course to distant zones when you can't plan further than 1000LY at a time? Do you sort of head in that general direction until you're within the 1k mark?

Any other bits of advice would be great. I've got a few systems to my name as first discovered, which I think is a really nice touch.

Cheers,
Arm
 

Cmdr Raz

Cmdr Raz
Hello, fellow explorer :) Glad to see another one got the exploration bug :)

To answer your questions:

1. It's probably best to stick with what you have for now. You could start thinking about a Cobra, but you won't get more range out of it for exploring. Probably want to wait til you can afford a DBE, maybe even wait til you can afford an ASP. But do read these threads for inspiration:
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=174483
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=166657

2. You can do it in the hauler, but a repair module might be a nice addition, especially in the neutron fields (really easy to get too close to those suckers :D). Repair modules (AFMUs) do not weigh anything, så if you have a free slot for it, by all means add one for the trip :)

3. That's all down to how you like exploring. I do exactly as you describe, axcept I occasionally check my orientation by marking the destination system. I intersperse this with 1k LY plotting for some quick jumping for variation on longer trips (like to Sag A*). Be advised, that route plotting in the core can be dificult (many, many more systems for the computer to check through), but here's a good guide for core plotting: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=151389

Good luck out there, and remember the scoopable stars: Oh Be A Fine Girl Kiss Me :D
 

Flimley

Flimley
Hello and welcome to shiny world.
A repair module would be a good call alongside an 'A' rated fuel scoop. Picking up damage will occur.
 
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thehairymob

T
And remember when jumping into hyperspace to go to a new system to hit the "x" to throttle back to zero. When you leave hyperspace you will not crash into the star if you do that. :)
 

Witzo

Witzo
Welcome to the frontier!

Aiming for far-off destinations, say, a nice nebula a few kly away, I do as follows:
I zoom/scroll the map pointer around until I can select a star in the nebula.
Then I click 'current location' in the navigation tab to get back to where I am.
I tilt the map so that I see the selected pointer in a vertical straight line slightly above my current pointer.
I start moving the map pointer in a straight line from current in the direction of the selected pointer until I am 500-1000ly distant from where I am, and select the star there. Click plot route.
 

Katejina

Katejina
Welcome to the greatest adventure of your life.

Okay, I lied, it's not the greatest but it's pretty damn good. Once the expansions start to roll out, then it'll get really​ good!


For plotting courses toward far objects, I generally just find something interesting, then look back at the 1kly range and see if there is anything interesting in the same general direction. O class stars, Black Holes, neutron stars, etc. If it happens to be 900ly from me, I'll still head toward it.
 
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CMDR Armanghaast

C
Thanks for the warm welcome all. It sounds like sticking with my Hauler is the best bet for now. I'm currently limping back to inhabited space to repair, refit, and rethink, then I'll be heading off to the deep.

Hope to see some of you out there.
 

Whiterose

Whiterose
Welcome Commander. The thing is with exploring is it doesnt matter what you are are exploring in, your jump range is not that important, neither is how or where you explore, the key thing is to have fun and enjoy what you are doing. I am making the most of it now, because as soon as we have planetary landings I will be spending most of the time aimlessly driving around taking pictures.
 

Genar-Hofoen

Genar-Hofoen
Welcome to the exploration fray, Cmdr. :)

All the above advice is good. Take a library of good books with you on your adventures, and remember to top up your fuel tank whenever possible.

Safe and happy travels o7
 

Antoni

Antoni
Welcome CMDR
If you want to be the first in a system, stay away from famous nebula and the core (and soon the Orion-Arm;). You should go out min. 2.000ly.

Good luck
 
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Cdr Voorheez

Cdr Voorheez
Welcome Cdrs. Always good to see new talent joining the ranks of the pioneers. If you need any advice here it will be given honestly, freely and usually with a lot of humour. Enjoy and I hope to advise/see you out there in the deep black.
 

rowners

R
Enjoy yourself bud, I'm currently floating around less than 3kLy from Sol and have discovered Earth likes and just now a terraformable Water World Moon. There is much to be discovered, go up or down from the plane then fly diagonally in your preferred destination you will bag 1st discoveries no problem. It's a loooooooooooooong way to the core if you explore on the outbound journey.
 
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CMDR Armanghaast

C
Thanks again to everyone for the warm welcome. This looks like a lovely community.

I'm currently heading back to the bubble after heading Galactic East about 500ly. I've decded to upgrade to a T6, but I want to make sure I have enough for the DSS, Advanced DS, and a top line FSD, so I'm doing a few mini-expeditions to top of the balance.

Is there some sort of friends list in Open mode? I think I've passed one or two other explorers, but it would be nice to see a few fellow explorers out there. My game name is the same as my forum tag.
 
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