New explorer with couple questions

timpelo

T
So I have been bounty hunting since I started playing. It really has been loads of fun and I have done some nice credits. So I decided it's time for something different. And what would be more interesting than exploring huge galaxy. I have some questions I'd like to know before I start:

1. Will my ship be ok for it? (http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=703,mpW0Wg0Wg0Wg0Wg,2-5K8S7_8S8S8S6k,5440NmmpT5EsmpU2jw2UI)

I decided to go with Imperial Clipper. Yes I know that ASP is superior for this thing, but I don't want to fly with crappy looking can. Also I am not sure what I exactly need for trip (i.e will I ever land on planets out there? shields? thrusters?)

2. Is there enough scoopable starts out there? Will I find myself easily out of fuel or will it be quite safe?
3. Is it easy to find way back? Anyway I have decided to keep log where I fly. Just for pure fun.
4. Should I scan everything once I arrive to new place? Is it worth or should I just scan those valuable places (starts, earth-like planets etc.)

So couple simple question. Other things I have already found from other threds.
 

Whiterose

Whiterose
timpelo said:
So I have been bounty hunting since I started playing. It really has been loads of fun and I have done some nice credits. So I decided it's time for something different. And what would be more interesting than exploring huge galaxy. I have some questions I'd like to know before I start:

1. Will my ship be ok for it? (http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=703,mpW0Wg0Wg0Wg0Wg,2-5K8S7_8S8S8S6k,5440NmmpT5EsmpU2jw2UI)

I decided to go with Imperial Clipper. Yes I know that ASP is superior for this thing, but I don't want to fly with crappy looking can. Also I am not sure what I exactly need for trip (i.e will I ever land on planets out there? shields? thrusters?)

2. Is there enough scoopable starts out there? Will I find myself easily out of fuel or will it be quite safe?
3. Is it easy to find way back? Anyway I have decided to keep log where I fly. Just for pure fun.
4. Should I scan everything once I arrive to new place? Is it worth or should I just scan those valuable places (starts, earth-like planets etc.)

So couple simple question. Other things I have already found from other threds.
Click to expand...

1. You can explore in any ship.
2. there are plenty of scoopables (FOGKBAM). Set yourself a limit on your fuel gauge and when it gets to that point you can head for a scoopable. If you do run out of fuel you can always rely on the fuel rats.
3. Navigation is easy with the galactic map. You can use various third party tools, such as EDD, EDSM and Captains Log to keep up to date of where you have been.
4. Scanning is up to you, there is no right or wrong. personally I started out scanning everything, but that soon became boring, so I list a set criteria of what I will scan.
 

Dommarraa

Dommarraa
1. It will do.. for a Clipper. You have done well to get 25ly, but that is still pretty low for long distance travel. Distance is not the be-all and end-all, so its up to you what you are doing. I would take the 2A PP instead for better heat. 5B AMFU is not as good as a 5A despite how some people read the stats, if you have the money, take a 5A. Might as well take another AMFU in one of the spare slots to cover the very remote chance that you break your main AMFU, you can fix it. IMHO you dont need 4 HS, 2 will do fine, and I would take a Chaff instead for your return to the bubble, especially as you have no shields. Fuel Scoops, pay until it hurts, then pay some more, bigger IS better

2. You will find plenty of scoopables, just never go below half a tank.
3. Yes. Search for SOL if you cant see it on the GalMap for some reason
4. Thats entirely up to you. Some do, some dont, if you are after pure cash, just Honk/Scoop and dont scan anything other than BH/NS/WD
 
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Jon flint

Jon flint
That's a reasonable build, personally I wouldn't take quite so many heat sinks. I've covered more than 200,000Ly in exploration and never used one. Maybe as a new explorer, take one or two just in case. I find the best option if you get to close a star and start to overheat is to just keep going in SC and turn stuff off (fuel scoop/vehicle hanger/shields/pwr distrubuter/sensors etc)

2.Yes you should be fine for scoopable stars (O,B,A,F,G,K,M classes). If you find your route takes you through a region with a few unscoopables in a row, try going up or down on the galactic plane by 100Ly.

4.It's your call, I only tend to scan interesting stuff, Earth likes, Water worlds, Ammonia worlds, Black holes, Neutron stars and white dwarfs. Or anything else that catches my eye as being unique or interesting.

If you're doing it for the cash/rank, go straight for the neutron fields and scan as many as you can. If your going for the experience then just let whatever you find interesting dictate what you scan. I think every explorer will have stories where they flew 300,000Ls just to scan a rocky planet because it looked pretty on the system map!
 

Cdr Voorheez

Cdr Voorheez
Agree with everything CMDR Whiterose said. A criteria which limits going 'scan crazy' and getting explorer burn out is important. All exploration CMDRs have different ways of limiting what they do and varying how they do it, you will find your own groove as you get more experienced.
 

marx

marx
I'd second that you don't need that many heatsinks: probably one will do if you want peace of mind, but personally, I've never had to use one.
I would however take another AFMU: if you have two, you can have them repair each other if they get damaged. They weigh nothing, and you can just keep one (or both) switched off.
An A-rated power plant has better heat efficiency, so I'd switch yours to a 2A or higher. Compared to the 3D, the 2A weighs a bit less, provides a bit more power and has better heat efficiency.
If you have Horizons, I would recommend including an SRV bay as well. That way, you can always touch down on landable planets that you might be curious about - plus gathering FSD boost materials could be useful to extend your jump range. The Clipper should be good for landings, and the extra 6T doesn't reduce your jump range by much.
 
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Duckfather

Duckfather
I do keep seeing people saying that Heat Sinks are a waste of time, or they've never used one. This is down to personal experience.

I can categorically say that, if I didn't have Heat Sinks, I would have been an interesting smudge of various particles currently being hoovered up by the close orbiting trinary (is that a real word?) system that I jumped in to on my way out on the DW Expedition! It is the first time I've had to use one in over 300KLY of exploration and over 16,000 systems, and is the single largest reason I made it to Beagle Point at all, never mind at at 100% hull and 100% modules (also thanks to the twin AFMU's I have on-board).

I'm eternally grateful that I didn't dump them from my build before I set off (as I was toying with) and will certainly be carrying 2 Heat Sink launchers on every exploration trip I take in the future :)

It's better to have it and not use it than need it and not have it ;)
 
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Jon flint

Jon flint
Duckfather said:
I do keep seeing people saying that Heat Sinks are a waste of time, or they've never used one. This is down to personal experience.

I can categorically say that, if I didn't have Heat Sinks, I would have been an interesting smudge of various particles currently being hoovered up by the close orbiting trinary (is that a real word?) system that I jumped in to on my way out on the DW Expedition! It is the first time I've had to use one in over 300KLY of exploration and over 16,000 systems, and is the single largest reason I made it to Beagle Point at all, never mind at at 100% hull and 100% modules (also thanks to the twin AFMU's I have on-board).

I'm eternally grateful that I didn't dump them from my build before I set off (as I was toying with) and will certainly be carrying 2 Heat Sink launchers on every exploration trip I take in the future :)

It's better to have it and not use it than need it and not have it ;)
Click to expand...

You're probably right. It's better to have heatsinks and not need them vs needing them and not having any!
 

domaq

domaq
Clipper is fine. There were a couple Clippers at Beagle Point as part of Distant Worlds. If you have Horizons, I highly recommend this adjustment to you build. Don't worry too much about the jump range this first trip out. If you find your limitations debilitating, return and try a higher jump range. If you can land on planets, do so and find FSD boost materials. A nice stash of that will also increase your exploration enjoyment in a lower jump range ship.

First trip out, bring the heat sinks and at least one AFMU. You'll enjoy being able to repair your canopy if nothing else.
 

Ashnak

Ashnak
1. Ok - yes. Good - not if you want to land on planets, and borderline once you return to the bubble. Take along some shields and, if you have Horizons, one or two SRVs.

2. So far, everyone has managed it - down to and including CMDR Frawd Digger in a 2-jump-Sidey. It's relative - the smaller your tanks, the more careful you have to be with respect to route planning. Yes, the Fuel Rats will try to help (or most other explorers who happen to be in the area and carry limpets and a controller), but it may take some time. And yes, there are specific areas where scoopables are rare.

3. Finding your way back is not a problem - there's a large button on the right hand side panel, marked 'self destruct'. Guaranteed to bring you back immediately ;-). Getting back with your ship and the exploration data is slightly harder, but still manageable. By the time you want to get back, you will have mastered the Galactic Map (but you may have forgotten how to dock - see 1.).

4. Your choice. Everyone does it differently, and most people change their opinion on that over time. Exploration isn't about the money. If you want to earn big bucks in exploration, go for the neutron stars and black holes. Their locations ('neutron star fields') are sufficiently well documented.
I started off on my first trip with scanning everything, especially if it still was undiscovered. Now, I pick my targets according to where my mood takes me. K and M stars with a bunch of boring planets I usually ignore. Ringed (or in other ways remarkable[1]) landables are a different matter.

[1]I'm currently parked on a small metallic moon (130 km diameter, 0.04 g surface gravity), a few ls from the primary in a close orbit around a slightly larger metallic planet. Unfortunately, prospecting so far has turned up lots[2] of iron, nickel and chromium. A couple of chunks of mercury IIRC.
[2]as in I can't even distinguish the different sources on my scanner
 

Jackie Silver

Jackie Silver
I'd go with something like this; fewer heatsinks, bigger engines, shield and rover bay. You lose a little range, but you're in a Clipper so you're never exactly going to be reaching the places that other starships can't.

The Clipper is a joy to fly, and very fast, which is why I'd keep decent engines even on an explorer - possibly even use 6A engines.
 
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Ziljan

Ziljan
1) yes, but switch to a class A power plant (better heat while scooping) and grab at least the smallest D rated shield just in case you forget how to dock
2) yes, the only exception lies between -60 and -25 on the Z-axis. This is called the "dwarf plane" and permeates the whole galaxy
3) yes, unless you travel to very edges of the galaxy. Plotting a route home is virtually automatic
4). Up to you. If you're in it for the money, just head to the neutron fields and scan only blackholes and neutron stars. Otherwise, follow your curiosity. My favorites are the ice planets, and they're almost worthless in terms of credits. But beautiful none the less.


This is the Clipper I would personally use, but it requires a tiny bit of exploration experience. So since you're just starting off, Jackie's suggestion is more appropriate.

http://coriolis.io/outfit/imperial_...rCOI==.Aw18aQ==?bn=Random Exploration Clipper
 
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newman1702

newman1702
It seems most people can't make the distinction between very rarely needed and not needed at all; I would always bring at least one heatsink. Jumping between very close stars is rare, yes, and it might not even happen on your trip, but if it does, a HSL can save your life, or at the very least prevent damage. At the same time it's light and doesn't affect range a lot. Don't listen to people saying they're useless; some have even cooked because they didn't have them and are still saying this. To quote Saul Goodman, some people are just immune to good advice ;)
 

Flash_Baggins

Flash_Baggins
timpelo said:
I decided to go with Imperial Clipper. Yes I know that ASP is superior for this thing, but I don't want to fly with crappy looking can. Also I am not sure what I exactly need for trip (i.e will I ever land on planets out there? shields? thrusters?)
Click to expand...
*Shocked disbelieving noise* How dare you insult the Asp!
 

mls

mls
it doesn't really matter what ride you take as long as you feel comfortable at the helm.

if you use horizons then include a hangar with 2 or more srvs and shields.
shields are what will save your ship when landing on planets and when coming back to the bubble so when you're interdicted you can boost away to freedom without being murdered with your precious load of data.
also take the largest scoop you can fit and an afmu that will save your life when bad things come after you (e.g. hugging close multistar systems when leaving witch space).
and don't leave with just one srv, things may happen to it and you will hate to miss out on all those nice things on the planets when it happens. also cruising in an srv protects you from deep space madness after a few hundred jumps.

for whats to scan i usually honk a system then head past the central star at full throttle if scoopable and check the sysmap while my fuel fills up. from there i check for ww, aw, elw, ns, bh and wd in the system.
depending on my mood or time pressure i scan them if closer than 15kls or when i'm in scanmood i'll even go 50kls for a target. tho everything further than 15kls seems to be too little in return regarding the reward.

fly safe and happy exploring,
mls
 
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Scoopy Doopy

Scoopy Doopy
newman1702 said:
It seems most people can't make the distinction between very rarely needed and not needed at all; I would always bring at least one heatsink. Jumping between very close stars is rare, yes, and it might not even happen on your trip, but if it does, a HSL can save your life, or at the very least prevent damage. At the same time it's light and doesn't affect range a lot. Don't listen to people saying they're useless; some have even cooked because they didn't have them and are still saying this. To quote Saul Goodman, some people are just immune to good advice ;)
Click to expand...

I go with this but with the caveat that if you can remember which button it is that fires your heatsink if you do actually need it, then you are probably not exploring far enough:)
 

Ginrikuzuma

Ginrikuzuma
I agree with those saying 4 is excessive but I disagree with those saying you shouldn't bring any at all.

1 or 2 will be of use should you:

A) fly half-asleep and almost cook yourself
B) jump into a binary primary and be inexperienced in how to properly deal with those

personally on my first trip out I took 2 heatsinks, only had to use 1 of the 2 heatsinks and they were due to me being half asleep binaries shouldn't be a problem if you are a quick thinker and reactor (I idid cook myself to one once [and had to use a heatsink] but that's cause I alt+tabed as I jumped into said binary.

If you want to squeeze a bit more of a jump (and still carry extra fuel) I suggest this.

http://coriolis.io/outfit/imperial_...-3k0tf3f1--2i2f.Iw10AxepA===.CwBj4kEZwJgZkiIA

10 extra tons of fuel as opposed to 16 extra but you can fit the 4D thruster (lighter than the 5D obvioiusly) but you only got 1 heatsink.

If you are nervous about that you can lose the small fuel tank (leaving you with 8 extra tons) and fit a second heatsink)

Also regardless if you go with this build or stick to your original one I highly recommend the 2A powerplant. It gives more power, better heat management and its lighter you can't argue against it in comparison to the 3D you choose.

Also swapped the distrubutor to the tiny 1D. If you don't got horizon (which I assume you don't since you didn't fit an SRV hangar) you don't need to worry about boosting (and hence no need for a larger power distributor)


If you have the money (not necessary) obviously improve the AFMU (hell get a second one if you can afford it) and get a bigger fuel scoop but they are not necesssary.


Also if you are going to fly shield-less I heard of a group that escorts explorers out to (and back from) exploring out in the black. I have no experience with them however that way you don't risk destruction from NPC pirates (or worse trolls )
 
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