Guide / Tutorial Nutter’s explorers guide to the Galaxy

Pilot Mark · Mar 22, 2015

Just returned from my third exploration trip, this time about 4 weeks duration. In total I visited about 3000 new systems taking my total to 6603 and managed to earn my 'Elite' badge in the process. Total profit was 129.5 million, plus an assortment of wonderful screenshots and some new record breakers on the way. Here are some highlights from my journey:

Found quite a few earth likes, but these two were in orbit around each other, in BYEIA EUQ QY-B B4 9:

Selfie from inside the supernova remnant HYPIAE AUSCS NO-Q E5-385:

Watch out for those pesky binaries, this one didn't cause much damage although I did come across a neutron star binary that stripped some hull. It was a bit less photogenic.

One of the very dense areas of non-sequence stars, mostly neutron stars but the occasional black hole thrown in for good measure:

Journeys end. No interdictions on my way in, I landed at an outpost for repairs and then made my way to collect my Cobra to help spread the love around a bit. Managed to up my rep in Federation to Allied, and am now Friendly with the Empire.

Thanks to everyone who frequent this thread, you have provided much inspiration. Now I want to start ranking up in preparation for the Imperial Courier, I really hope it has a decent jump range. Planning the next trip, will probably head towards the edge of the galaxy next time.

Selling the data took about a day. In the end I downloaded "Auto Mouse Click by MurGee.com" and after a bit of experimentation programmed the necessary mouse clicks and delays into it. Left it running overnight.

Jackie Silver · Mar 22, 2015

Good going, Pilot Mark!

Nyres · Mar 22, 2015

Any tips on locating where the other star in a 2 star system would be direction wise? I've found systems with two stars but i can't get the circle for targeting to appear around the other star.

mossfoot · Mar 22, 2015

Nyres said:
Any tips on locating where the other star in a 2 star system would be direction wise? I've found systems with two stars but i can't get the circle for targeting to appear around the other star.

I assume you don't have an Advanced Discovery Scanner and it's out of range of whatever horn you're using.

Typically if it's that far away it's directly behind the star. Try turning 180 when entering, though not exactly. Keep an eye near the orbit line that no doubt is there. The star will be somewhere along that plane. You want to "hunt shift", look for the parallax of your star moving against the immobile backdrop. It will become clearer as you move faster and faster (shift your direction every so often by 10 degrees or so to help in case you're already going head on towards it).

Of you could get a La-Z-Boy (Advanced Discovery Scanner) and have it find it for you (though that is admittedly 1.5 million)

graham.reeds · Mar 23, 2015

mossfoot said:
I assume you don't have an Advanced Discovery Scanner and it's out of range of whatever horn you're using.

Typically if it's that far away it's directly behind the star. Try turning 180 when entering, though not exactly. Keep an eye near the orbit line that no doubt is there. The star will be somewhere along that plane. You want to "hunt shift", look for the parallax of your star moving against the immobile backdrop. It will become clearer as you move faster and faster (shift your direction every so often by 10 degrees or so to help in case you're already going head on towards it).

Of you could get a La-Z-Boy (Advanced Discovery Scanner) and have it find it for you (though that is admittedly 1.5 million)

Cost is irrelevant. I have made 20m from exploration so it made its money back. If you can't afford it, do a rare run for an evening.

Mezger · Mar 23, 2015

I just started exploration a few days ago in a Cobra. I've been wondering: if all the human and npc presence ends pretty quickly after leaving the habitated areas of space, what's in the Strong Signal Sources hundreds of light years away? Are they just the same random encounters as in populated space (as in "Yarr, you stepped into our trap, landlubber!") or completely different encounters? I haven't dared to take a peek yet.

J. diGriz · Mar 23, 2015

I'm starting to lose it, I'm down to two tons of Brandy and its been 4 weeks. made it to Sag A* and turned right.. just wandering from Neutron to type G to Neutron. Still 25,000 LY from Sol and just broke 2000 scanned systems.. It has started to get very very repetitive. It would be super cool is there was a 1st contact option to spice thing up.

BlueTeamMember · Mar 23, 2015

I have only dared to investigate the Weak Signal Source encounters 3 times out past civilization. They are the same as inside. The annoying part is that the comms panel keeps repeating the chatter when you are back on the lonely hunt. I NPC was named Wi Tu Lo. Maybe they take more risky license with the ones' out in the deep. That is all I can infer from my encounters.

Razar · Mar 24, 2015

This is an awesome thread. Thank you for the videos. It helps better understand what you are talking about, and they are not full of endless chatter.

They are factual, and to the point. Very nicely done.

Nyres · Mar 24, 2015

Two Questions what's a level 2 or 3 detailed scan and what's the best place near lave to get a grade A fuel scoop and frame shift drive? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Egan · Mar 24, 2015

J. diGriz said:
I'm starting to lose it, I'm down to two tons of Brandy and its been 4 weeks. made it to Sag A* and turned right.. just wandering from Neutron to type G to Neutron. Still 25,000 LY from Sol and just broke 2000 scanned systems.. It has started to get very very repetitive. It would be super cool is there was a 1st contact option to spice thing up.

Lol, the first person to get zapped by a Thargoid is going to be famous. All the beers people will buy them when they teleport home should go someway to offsetting all that lost exploration data!

I'm currently intrigued by the neutron star thing: It seems that a N.S with a second star (or more, I guess) is often a good place to find earth likes or, at the least, lots of CFT planets. I was a bit suspicious of this when I first heard it but last night I seemed to find plenty of evidence that it is true. I made out like a bandit last night. After the last two days of jumping from rubbish red dwarf to rubbish red star it's really perked me up. Nothing as fun as opening the system map and seeing what might be one of those little blue marbles sitting there.

Lodorenos · Mar 24, 2015

I found this... thing? Supernova remnant?

http://imgur.com/hJ6qKwc,ziV1nMs,P3S0C4A,fh05LWU,UdvOxT6,cYn5hud,7PwssTT,a6F5c2F,hQB83S6#5

Iain Stewart · Mar 24, 2015

Nyres said:
Two Questions what's a level 2 or 3 detailed scan and what's the best place near lave to get a grade A fuel scoop and frame shift drive? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Can't help with the level 2 or 3 scans. I think that might be something thats not in game yet, but on it's way. Nearest place to Lave for grade A stuff for me would be Shinrarta Dehzra, The Founders system. They stock every ship and module, but you need a permit to get in. You either need to have achieved an elite ranking in one of the three disciplines, or paid to get into the game before Beta ended. I realise this info won't be much use if you don't fit into either of those categories. Sorry I can't be more help.

Werppa · Mar 25, 2015

Allitnil said:
According to the Shipyard, a stock Hauler with a 1C fuel tank does 10.46 LY with a full tank (1T of fuel). The same ship with a 2C tank at half capacity (ie also 1T of fuel) does 10.46 LY. It's the amount of fuel in the tank that determines the range, not the tank itself.

Yeah, but it's kinda easier to go tank full than tank half full all the time, so to say...

noodle · Mar 25, 2015

Excellent work on the OP. Much appreciated

Quick question about binary star systems. I watched the video on avoiding jumping into the oven, but whenever I look at binaries on the map (realistic view, just to be clear), I can't see any visual indication of more than one star. Am I missing something?

Egan · Mar 25, 2015

noodle said:
Excellent work on the OP. Much appreciated

Quick question about binary star systems. I watched the video on avoiding jumping into the oven, but whenever I look at binaries on the map (realistic view, just to be clear), I can't see any visual indication of more than one star. Am I missing something?

Easiest way to see them is have the system selected as your next jump then go back into the galaxy map. Should show up every time. I have to say, though, it's not always a foolproof guide to whether the stars are real close or separated. Been a few times the map has shown them to be widely spaced and yet when I've jumped in it's been pretty hairy.

Werppa · Mar 25, 2015

Well I found my first Wolf Rayet star today! Kinda underwhelming. Might be because I deviated 3k Ly from my original route just to check it out but oh well.

Razar · Mar 25, 2015

Egan said:
Easiest way to see them is have the system selected as your next jump then go back into the galaxy map. Should show up every time. I have to say, though, it's not always a foolproof guide to whether the stars are real close or separated. Been a few times the map has shown them to be widely spaced and yet when I've jumped in it's been pretty hairy.

Is there not a way to have the ship jump to the one that is closer to you, instead of the one furthest away? Or is this something they will do later to the game?

Egan · Mar 25, 2015

Razar said:
Is there not a way to have the ship jump to the one that is closer to you, instead of the one furthest away? Or is this something they will do later to the game?

No. Ships jump to the object with the greatest mass. Might or might not change in the future, but it's way down their list of priorities at the moment.

HUSKER222 · Mar 26, 2015

when doing exploration do you normally quit in space and not even dock? I'm assuming there aren't docks that far out?