Horizons [POI: TIPS/OBSERVATIONS] Efficient methods of locating mission specific items in POIs.

VR andysonofbob · Dec 31, 2015

Hi

Trying to understand the scanner and working out methodical and time saving methods of locating mission specific items in POIs. I think I am having some success here and I am consequently enjoying planet missions!

Thought I would share these observations...

Observations:

Minerals are EVERYWHERE and are NOT tied to POIs.
Minerals are picked up on the bottom third of the scanner and goodies are picked up on the top two thirds of the scanner.
Each POI has something interesting and relevant.
Having an active surface mission results in POIs containing that mission specific item, unless...
Some POIs have mining installations (I haven't tested to see if these are persistent yet).
Having zero missions result in POIs containing data points, those massive drones, a random crash site with random cargo etc..

Knowing each POI has something relavent, if I have a mission active, I use the following method to locate my resources. Doing the following always results in one interesting find.
[EFFICIENT LOCATING OF MISSION SPECIFIC ITEMS]:

Hover just under the 2km mark and position ship to the approximate 'centre' of the POI in the ship radar.
Slowly reduce height, spinning on yaw axis, for the off chance of visually spotting POI.
Land - DO NOT DISMISS SHIP!
Max out radar range.
Drive away from ship, in any direction, until you are around 250m from ship.
Circle ship, keeping the distance and keeping an eye on the scanner for signal traces on the top 2/3 of the scanner. I usually pick up a signal here. If I haven't...
No signal? Drive away from ship to around 1000m from ship. Circle.

I recon choice of ship is also important. Different types of ships help or hinder planet missions, which obviously relates to enjoyment. I recommend ships having high maneuverability (8/10), good field of view and settting up your HUD interface so it doesn't get in the way.
[SHIPS]

Sidewinder: Yes, the starter ship is one of the best for planet based missions, with decent FOV and maneuverability. I think Horizons is the perfect start for newbies!
Diamondback Scout: Fab cheapish newby ship with great good FoV
Asp Scout: Upgrade from the above - relatively cheap best field of view in game

[SETUP]

In the game menu, turn off the menu popups, so when you look around the menus don't activate. They should only pop up when you activate them manually.

Works for me! Comments and any other helpful tips gratefully received!

Some1else · Dec 31, 2015

andysonofbob said:
Works for me! Comments and any other helpful tips gratefully received!

Excellent post Commander, and Thank you.

I was working on a redo of my first post on the POI subject, and sense you invited us to add tips, why not keep all the POI stuff together.

Please note, my tips are not mission based POI hunting. These are just ways of finding them easier. However, as the OP stated, and I would agree, POI's are randomly generated like USS, WSS, and SSS when you have missions.

OK, first, most POI's emit light. So I recommend you start your searching on the dark side of the system body. Pay attention, even galactic core background light can effect this method.
Same rock with and without core lighting.

Personally, I like to start my search between 3-5km up cruising around 200 KPH. As OP said, use your sensor zoom. Start zoomed out, and center, and zoom in.

Next, I like to drop straight down till the POI background color disappears, and step outside for a look around. Sometimes you'll get lucky.

And remember, good parking jobs are appreciated!

If no luck, drop down to 100-300km and cruse ahead nice and slow, and pay attention. Visibility will very depending on you graphics, and monitor setup. I use a rather large monitor, running 4k max, so you may need to tweak your method to work best for your setup.

Now that you've found your POI, here's the kicker. You Don't need to land if you're scooping cargo. Your ship can do it just fine. This works on materials also.
DISCLAIMER! S1E is not responsible for and damage to your ship!

This is very dependent on terrain, and obstacles around objects. Also, I highly recommend you practice this on low G bodies. My hull didn't get to 46% on purpose!:S

Hope it helps, and as OP said, let's hear from others on what they have found that works for them.

LLAP
S1E

Luniticisi · Dec 31, 2015

Two great tips I had no idea about ....

1) being able to turn off the screen pop-up in ship... thanks 'andysonofbob'

2) scooping planetside cargo with the your ship ... cheers 'Some1else'

+rep for both of you

epoch71 · Dec 31, 2015

andysonofbob said:
Some POIs have mining installations (I haven't tested to see if these are persistent yet).

They're not. I was merrily raiding a mining installation a few days ago and the game crashed. Logged back in - I was right where I was when I crashed but the mining operation had vanished.

VR andysonofbob · Jan 1, 2016

Awesome!

@S1E
That's the laziest thing I have ever heard, you can't even be bothered to leave the ship! +1 Rep

I really like the little details like that (lights being visible). Great tip!

Love the detailed screenshots too!

HOGSnDOGS · Jan 9, 2016

Will take all on board .... In my sidewinder .. I go to 2KM .. find a blue circle and then drop to 50m above ground level. Low and Slow with landing gear extended .. I then fly in a search pattern (well the best I can Keep). Often the missing vehicle will show up visual (BUT?? not on radar) .. I then land get out trusty SRV and go direct to Target.. and get what needed.

Kneejo · Jan 11, 2016

Great tips.. a little nitpicking on the numbers though: the indicated speed in normal flight is in meters/second,. 300m/s is roughly the speed of sound. (1000 something km/h) or a jet airplane.
Where you mention altitudes you talk about 100 and 300 km, this should of course be meters

As far as finding the POI when you see the blue circle from up in the sky: I usually fly above the circle, but a little off-centre, such that my ship's nose is pointing to the center. When I land, I only have to drive in the general direction of the nose of my ship to find the signal. In case of the bigger circle that usually means a few kilometers, so the ship will auto-depart.

CMDR Thrope · Jan 13, 2016

Here's a little thing I just haven't been able to figure out or find on-line: How does one max-out the radar when scouting for a landing place?

Thanks in advance for the noob question from a relative veteran.

Pville_Piper · Jan 13, 2016

Some good tips here. I tend to fly to the middle, drop low and look for anything obvious, If I don't see anything then land and break out the SRV. Usually if you are in the center you can find the POI pretty quick. One question, recently while roaming around the planet I found a data point at a crash site which I scanned and retrieved some data that was worth about 3,000 credits. One problem, I could never figure out were to sell it at?

Lowievisser · Jan 13, 2016

elevator gameplay.

rather have high speed surface skimming with my ship and with a working radar. oh btw , if you land and put off sensor you see pio on radar still.

Good guide tho +1

VR andysonofbob · Jan 14, 2016

Cool obs.

Confirming what has been mentioned:

Landing as close to the centre of the POI as possible results in the POI signature being visible straight away.

I think people take for granted that when they decend they don't move, when in fact they can drift considerably, possibly KMs from the centre by the time they have secured landing. Thus putting the POI out of scanning range.

I position my ship so the POI so that I can see the full circle of the POI on the scanner. This is tricky. Then I slowly decend.

I can often see the crash site as I am landing!

HOGSnDOGS · Jan 18, 2016

Page Up and Page Down operate the SRV radar ... I am taking notes in the hope that the radar image AND the sound put together give me an indication of whats out there....