New to Exploration and I am Confused

[Werewolf13]

Please explain how this makes sense. re: Universal Cartographics mostly but a few other things too.

1) I've found lots of High Metal and Metal rich bodies. Some are landable some not. Almost all of the ones that aren't landable, are planets or are moons with an atmosphere and pay something for being found (EDDI will tell you the exact amount). None of the ones that are landable though pay squat (at least the EDDI robo voice doesn't say they do). ?????

2) Mapping the landable moons should be a big deal and pay a bunch especially considering that they have lots of good stuff to scrape off of 'em.

3) I've found one water world so far. I expect UC will pay for that but EDDI doesn't mention any pay off.

I've mapped a lot of moons, rings and planets. It takes a lot of time or used to anyway (once I figured it out 2 or 3 probes will get you to 100% and it takes mere seconds to launch them - large planets take a few more and you might have to move the ship some but still - easy). Exploration is borderline interesting but not what I would describe as fun. What will I end up actually getting paid for. Currently I only spend time surveying systems with 5 or more bodies that aren't companion stars of the jump in star. Is there a way to rapidly identify a system as worth mapping? If so how would one go about doing it?

Currently in a part of space that is 95% Red and White dwarf type stars witht the closest human system being almost 500 LY away (just started on my trip out). Is that a problem.

 

[Rick6549]

Most likely if you are only 500ly away is that its already been discovered. Once you get about 1000ly you'll start hitting unexplored systems. Generally exploration is a quantity over quality thing though, so once you go through lots of systems is when it starts to add up.

Going 2000ly usually ends up getting me about 5mil (i almost never map anything)

 

[Flossy]

You might find this chart useful!

Replaced with updated chart, which I used it as my desktop wallpaper during DW2 so that I could easily refer to it along the way.

 

[Bam]

https://external-preview.redd.it/LP...bp&s=23258302e0a6641e964ed997c72647995502f33c
This might help with estimated scan values

Ninja'd by Flossy

Edit, the link takes you to the current version of the graphic with 3.3 estimates.

o7

 

[Jaymundo87]

You need to hit the unexplored systems, each planet will tell you who discovered it and who mapped it first, these pay out less. A good tip to find untapped systems is to the use the galaxy map and go horizontally through systems not vertically like the route planner usually gives you, plot your own route and visit the systems above and below the well-traveled routes.

Also, use the codex for rumors, confirm these for bonus creds.

 

[Flossy]

Ninja'd by Flossy

Haha, oops sorry Bam.

 

[Bam]

This one helps with the FSS Scanner.

https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/9t0wow

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/9t0wow/fss_frequency_array_diagram_now_with_patterns/


The more valuable stuff are the Earthlikes, Water Worlds, and Ammonia worlds., even High Metal Contents are worth a scan in the FSS scanner.
If any of them are terraformable its worth firing some probes at them to surface scan them, this can make a HUGE difference in the credits you get.

You may have more like looking for terraformable planets around F and G stars.

 

[xondk]

Currently in a part of space that is 95% Red and White dwarf type stars witht the closest human system being almost 500 LY away (just started on my trip out). Is that a problem.

Payout is received when you turn in the exploration data, it is a general formular with what flossy posted, though also distance from civilisation plays a role as well, as well as first time discovery and such.

You'll be interested to know also that while some areas can seem bland, the Stellar forge has been complimented several times by scientists for being damn close to the real thing, it even was correct enough that the existence of trappist-1, a recently discovered system actually fit with the model it has made in game.

 

[Para Handy]

You might find this chart useful! .....

I used it as my desktop wallpaper during DW2 so that I could easily refer to it along the way.

As @Bam indicates that graphic is well out of date, maybe you should change your wallpaper?

For convenience, here is the one @Bam links to:

Spoiler: scan chart

(Hint - if you click that image and then right-click "view image" you should get the full 4096 x 2551 image.)

 

[Flossy]

As @Bam indicates that graphic is well out of date, maybe you should change your wallpaper?

For convenience, here is the one @Bam links to:

Spoiler: scan chart

View attachment 134263

(Hint - if you click that image and then right-click "view image" you should get the full 4096 x 2551 image.)

LOL, actually that is the one I had and intended to post, but didn't take long enough to find the correct one obviously! I recently replaced my wallpaper with a screenshot from DW2 as I'm now skipping scanning a lot of stuff except ELWs and WWs after hitting Elite in Exploration at Explorers Anchorage.

 

[S~P]

Nice one flossy, will help a lot of first time explorers!!

 

[Werewolf13]

From confused to overwhelmed...

Some really great information too.

Thanks to you all!...

Now back to the big black.

EDITED to ADD: Don't know where I'm at. Synuefai systems with -G an K and J suffixes with a bunch of other numeric tags and neither EDDB nor Inara have any reference to any of the stars I have visited. Bummer. They should now though since I use EDDI and ED Discovery both of which communicate with EDDB and Inara such things.

Sure is lonely out here... Considered just payin the rebuy and self destructing. Then again - wimps way out. Not goin' there. Don't see how you explorer types do it.

O7 to you all!

 

[Flossy]

EDITED to ADD: Don't know where I'm at. Synuefai systems with -G an K and J suffixes with a bunch of other numeric tags and neither EDDB nor Inara have any reference to any of the stars I have visited. Bummer. They should now though since I use EDDI and ED Discovery both of which communicate with EDDB and Inara such things.

Sure is lonely out here... Considered just payin the rebuy and self destructing. Then again - wimps way out. Not goin' there. Don't see how you explorer types do it.

I highly recommend using Elite Dangerous Market Connector to update EDSM as you travel. Leaves you in no doubt about where you are and also displays the system you are currently in with a symbol for whether or not it has been discovered before - green 'blob' for known and a gold star for unknown. If you haven't already, create an account at EDSM, upload your latest journal so it gets an idea of whereabouts in the galaxy you are now and copy API key into the EDMC. Never be lost again!

 

[wAsh67]

Sure is lonely out here... Considered just payin the rebuy and self destructing. Then again - wimps way out. Not goin' there. Don't see how you explorer types do it.

O7 to you all!

Nah, don't do that. Just zoom all the way out on the galactic map and head for the bubble. Just departed Colonia for the trip back to Asellus Primus where the rest of my stuff is stored after flying there via Sagittarius A. From the bubble I honked each system on entry, probed any ELW, WW or Ammonia world, checked the HMC for terraformables and mapped those if there were any and moved on. Once I got to Norma's arm I got impatient and made a bee line for the core, only honking systems where I stopped to fuel scoop. Same from Sag A to Colonia where I cashed in, netting half a billion credits and quite a few first discoveries.

It's all about patience and perseverence. The financial reward is almost secondary to the sense of achievement you get from getting 'there and back again' as a hobbit once wrote.

 

[Werewolf13]

I highly recommend using Elite Dangerous Market Connector to update EDSM as you travel...

I used to use Market Connector but one of the updates about a year ago messed it up to the point where it stopped working on my PC. Mostly used it because it did regular updates to EDDB and there was a noticable difference in the accuracy of the trading routes in the part of space I occupied when I was using it.

Too bad, I liked it.

Might look into using it again. Thanks for the heads up.

And I do have an account with EDSM with API etc.

 

[War Eagle]

From confused to overwhelmed...

Some really great information too.

Thanks to you all!...

Now back to the big black.

EDITED to ADD: Don't know where I'm at. Synuefai systems with -G an K and J suffixes with a bunch of other numeric tags and neither EDDB nor Inara have any reference to any of the stars I have visited. Bummer. They should now though since I use EDDI and ED Discovery both of which communicate with EDDB and Inara such things.

Sure is lonely out here... Considered just payin the rebuy and self destructing. Then again - wimps way out. Not goin' there. Don't see how you explorer types do it.

O7 to you all!

I find the EDSM Dashboard useful in telling how many Systems/Worlds I have discovered and their value:

And it also has your progress to the next level of Exploration

 

[Lightspeed]

Is everyone mapping all the planets they discover? I only bother with the interesting ones for landing on (photo ops) and the earthlikes. Should I be mapping more? I'm at Triple Elite, so I don't have progress to chase.

 

[War Eagle]

I map all except the ones that are on fire- to close to their star.

 

[CMDR Yates]

Is everyone mapping all the planets they discover? I only bother with the interesting ones for landing on (photo ops) and the earthlikes. Should I be mapping more? I'm at Triple Elite, so I don't have progress to chase.

No way, I'd go crazy. I map most terraformables, water worlds, ammonia worlds, any nearby moons to the above, planets with biological signals if it's the first I've seen in a while (because I want to land and check it out), and metal rich if it's only a few LS away. And sometimes I'll map unusually large or small planets, or ones with unusual surface details that I want to check out

I'm mostly looking for biology, notable stellar phenomena, and unusual systems, so I like to keep moving along at a reasonable pace, while still taking some time to tinker around in systems here and there.

 

[pnellesen]

I map all except the ones that are on fire- to close to their star.

Is everyone mapping all the planets they discover? I only bother with the interesting ones for landing on (photo ops) and the earthlikes. Should I be mapping more? I'm at Triple Elite, so I don't have progress to chase.

I only map ELWs, TF WWs, and planets/moons I plan to land on. If there are TFHMCs or such close or on my way to one of the others, I may map them of the mood strikes.