Newcomer / Intro New player wanting to just Explore!

[00ohDstruct]

First off, I appreciate everyone's time in reading this post.

I'll cut the the chase. I'm new, and I'm not finding a lot of information on getting me started in the direction I wish to go.

Basically I just want to explore the systems and make my living that way.

Starting out from scratch with my basic Sidewinder, what should I procedurally get in order to accomplish this goal of exploration, and best way to get the equipment to do so?

Are there any guides that I have missed while searching?

I appreciate any advice, help and pointers in the right direction!

 

[hitkill1]

If you wanna do exploring best to get started when you have a what descend ship like a cobra or asp.
Because you will need a higher jump range.

If you have that you will need some scanners.
Basic Discovery Scanner - Has a 500 LS range and costs 1,000 CR
Intermediate Discovery Scanner - Has a 1000 LS range and costs ~500,000 CR
Advanced Discovery Scanner - Has a system-wide range and costs ~1,500,000 CR

Once you used the discovery scanner target the unexplored locations and get close enough so it says scanning on the left side.

 

[CMNDRMK]

First off, I appreciate everyone's time in reading this post.

I'll cut the the chase. I'm new, and I'm not finding a lot of information on getting me started in the direction I wish to go.

Basically I just want to explore the systems and make my living that way.

Starting out from scratch with my basic Sidewinder, what should I procedurally get in order to accomplish this goal of exploration, and best way to get the equipment to do so?

Are there any guides that I have missed while searching?

I appreciate any advice, help and pointers in the right direction!

You can explore with the starting ship as it is fitted with the discover scanner. Yea you cant explore as well with the ships mentioned above, but you dont have the monies for those yet. You have to map the discover scanner to a different fire group using the left hand panel (button 4 or on mouse look pan right). I think its the second or third tab. Then you can switch to the discovery scanner by pressing the change fire group key which by default is N.

When you press fire, a blue bar will fill up and then there is big impressive BOOM, any unexplored/undiscovered astonomical bodies with range will appear in your nav list. You then have to fly to the bodies and scan them, the scan distance depends on the object, you can scan suns from a large distance, planets slightly closer and astroid belts you have to get withing 5LS. As you fly around its worth firing the scanner a few more times to get a scan from that point in the system. Also look out for moving lights as these maybe objects that can be scanned but are out of range.

Once you have done this you can sell the data at 20L away. My one pro tip is watch a you tube video on how the galaxy map works as using this properly will be key.

I would also advice picking up ad hoc work as you travel and doing trades, you dont have to focus on them but starting out you need monies. I sold my sidewinder and bought an Eagle for 48K, after one upgrade to 4 cargo its superior to the sidewinder in every regard, better jump range, speed, peew peww, shields etc.

So you have to balance out doing upgrades to the sidewinder against the fact that upgrades cost money that could go towards a new ship.

 

[Joe Spivey]

This vid might help too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr32Ao3RzCc

 

[Greyshadow]

First off, I appreciate everyone's time in reading this post.

I'll cut the the chase. I'm new, and I'm not finding a lot of information on getting me started in the direction I wish to go.

Basically I just want to explore the systems and make my living that way.

Starting out from scratch with my basic Sidewinder, what should I procedurally get in order to accomplish this goal of exploration, and best way to get the equipment to do so?

Are there any guides that I have missed while searching?

I appreciate any advice, help and pointers in the right direction!

Best advice i can offer. Buy an Adder - 87 K
Equip a Grade A FSD - 500 K - depending on what other upgrades you get you will get 20 to 18 LY jump range - More then enough to go almost anywhere.
Get a fuel scoop - Will never have to worry about refueling again.
Detailed Surface scanner - 250 K - Lets you scan the planet type when exploring
You will be fine with a basic scanner however I would highly recommend the Advanced. One scan with the advanced scanner it will map the entire system.

This will give you a decent starter exploration ship and is much cheaper then a cobra or an asp

You can fully upgrade an Adder to the Max
A class life support
A class FSD - Size 3
A class Thrusters - Size 3
A class Power plant - Size 3
A class power distrubuter
A class shields - Size 3
A class sensors
Advanced Discovery scanner
Detailed surface scanner
Class A size 2 Fuel scoop

All for just under 4 mil this also includes any weapons and utility mounts you equip

A cobra well equiped for exploration will run you at much more money. Yes its a bigger and better ship overall but you only get 22 LY fully upgraded as opposed to 18 to 20 on the adder.

The ASP is a fantastic ship with a lot of potential if you have more then 15 mil to spend. If you are just starting out get about 4 mil saved up. Or atleast 600 K for the adder and A class FSD and go out exploring. The adder is not the best looking ship but it is effective and has very decent range.

 

[00ohDstruct]

Hitkill1, CMDRMK, Joe Spivey, and Greyshadow,

Thank you so very much for your helpful and informative replies! I hate not knowing what I'm doing in a new game, and there's quite a bit to learn!

Again, I appreciate you all taking your time to inform me from your experiences!

Sincerest regards,

00ohDstruct

 

[Krighten]

Hitkill1, CMDRMK, Joe Spivey, and Greyshadow,

Thank you so very much for your helpful and informative replies! I hate not knowing what I'm doing in a new game, and there's quite a bit to learn!

Again, I appreciate you all taking your time to inform me from your experiences!

Sincerest regards,

00ohDstruct

The uncomplicated way just to get started.

Equip a better FSD (If you can afford it, no biggie if not)
Equip a discovery scanner (Assign it to a firing group on the right ship panel)
Strip equipment you don't plan on using: weapons for example (Allows you to jump farther)

Go flying into the unknown. Sell data 20 light years away from where you scanned.

 

[mrinku]

Exploring can be done in any ship, as they all come with a free Basic D-Scan. Adder is definitely the one to aim for first, although I did find the Eagle very nice, and it has a brilliant cockpit view for spotting moving objects and taking screenshots. A pure exploring Eagle can dump its guns, and will benefit greatly from any FSD upgrade, but even the basic model outranges the Sidewinder.

Myself, I'd keep the guns and learn to fight a bit so that you can pick up some easy bounties from weaker NPCs that attack you (run from anything you can't handle - Eagle is good at that). If you can handle the mass (i.e. after upgrading the FSD), a Kill scanner to allow tagging bounties in the Anarchy systems you'll often find yourself in.

Eagle lacks enough slots to be truly long range unless you lose the shields (don't), but for early short range exploration it's fine (same applies to the Sidewinder). Jump around settled space and you don't need a fuel scoop, especially in a small ship that is cheap to refuel.

 

[r4nger0]

If you're not interested in fighting, trading or mining and only want to explore (like me), toss the shields, weapons and cargo bay from your Sidewinder. This gives you more FSD range for jumping and reduces power draw. Buy a fuel scoop (very important). Upgrade your FSD and reinforce your hull (since you have no shields). Start exploring till you can save the 250k for the Detailed Surface Scanner. After that, save for the Intermediate (500k) or Advanced (1.5mil) Discovery scanners. The better scanners will bring in alot more money for your time. This is my strategy. I'll eventually upgrade to a Cobra (for the evasion speed) and possibly the Asp (for deep space exploration).

I've explored close to 300 star systems since launch using the Sidewinder and have evaded every interdiction I've encountered. Even if I did get killed, the insurance costs are tiny since you only pay to replace the upgrades (the Sidewinder is free to replace).

Exploring is not for everyone. Most think it's too boring and it doesn't pay as well. But if you're like me, you hear 400 billion stars calling your name.