Question about exploration data

[B33 ENN]

I just recently started exploring, having been trading mostly with some RES combat occasionally. I got the hang of how to use the ADS and DSS, but I don't understand how the data you aquire affects the persistent universe we all play in.

I visit systems that have the "First discovered by <name>", so I'm expecting them to be revealed with discovery information. But for me they have no data, are "unexplored", as it were. Once I've done my scans, the details and compsitions are revealed.

Now when I go to sell them, is this part just to help me raise credits from the activity, or does it also mean that data becomes available to all players in the universe who may happen by that system? Or, it is that when they visit, it will appear blank to them as well unless they scan it and sell the data?

 

[Wullail]

I just recently started exploring, having been trading mostly with some RES combat occasionally. I got the hang of how to use the ADS and DSS, but I don't understand how the data you aquire affects the persistent universe we all play in.

I visit systems that have the "First discovered by <name>", so I'm expecting them to be revealed with discovery information. But for me they have no data, are "unexplored", as it were. Once I've done my scans, the details and compsitions are revealed.

Now when I go to sell them, is this part just to help me raise credits from the activity, or does it also mean that data becomes available to all players in the universe who may happen by that system? Or, it is that when they visit, it will appear blank to them as well unless they scan it and sell the data?

Server side , the planetary setup of any undiscovered system doesn't exist , only the systems suns do , as soon as your ship arrives , the system layout is created , I THINK (it's not been confirmed) , that your HONK then locks the system in that format (it may be locked as soon as the first person visits it, honk or not) , so every time the next person comes and explores it , they see the same format of planets etc.

Client side , it stays 'unexplored/blank' until they scan it , they do however see 'first discovered by' on the planets etc as soon as they HONK , but they do see it on the sun straight away.

 

[Galten75]

As far as I know it the only thing you really get out of exploring (as far as noticeable things goes in this game) is your name as "First discovered by" when you are the first to discover AND sell the data as well as credits. I don't think you have any other impact in the universe.
The effort you do to discover stuff can't be sold to other players and that is why you only see "First discovered by" on those and nothing else, the objects a Unexplored for you but there could have been 100 other CMDRs before you in that system.

Hopefully explorning will get a major overhaul in the future.

// G

 

[gooddoc]

When you visit a system that is new to you, all the bodies are unexplored to you, even if someone has already been there first.
Its only when you scan a body in that system, that it will tell you if the body has already been scanned & the data on it has been sold, hence 'discovered by' or if not you are the first.
When you return to a station to sell the data (must be at least 20 LYs from where you scanned), it will then give you a bonus if you are the first to scan the body & tag your name on it.

At a station you can buy data on a system, if it's available. So once youve sold your data, i can then land in that station & buy the info that you sold. But what you sell to a station isnt available to every station everywhere. It's like each system wont share this information with any other faction.
So you explore, sell your data & gain credits & rep to yourself & the station/system faction.

Edit...entering a system then 'honking' will then let you know what bodies in the system have been scanned & 'tagged'

 

[B33 ENN]

Firstly, thanks for al the replies! Got a few more questions if anyone doesn't mind chiming in.

Server side , the planetary setup of any undiscovered system doesn't exist , only the systems suns do , as soon as your ship arrives , the system layout is created , I THINK (it's not been confirmed) , that your HONK then locks the system in that format (it may be locked as soon as the first person visits it, honk or not) , so every time the next person comes and explores it , they see the same format of planets etc.

That's very interesting in terms of how it works, part of the procedural generation process.

...I don't think you have any other impact in the universe. The effort you do to discover stuff can't be sold to other players and that is why you only see "First discovered by" on those and nothing else, the objects a Unexplored for you but there could have been 100 other CMDRs before you in that system.

That confirms how it seems from my experimentation.

When you visit a system that is new to you, all the bodies are unexplored to you, even if someone has already been there first.
Its only when you scan a body in that system, that it will tell you if the body has already been scanned & the data on it has been sold, hence 'discovered by' or if not you are the first.

This is what made me think that once someone has explored a region and sold their data, surely it should become available in the cartography to all players, just like the inner systems of inhabited space.

...At a station you can buy data on a system, if it's available. So once youve sold your data, i can then land in that station & buy the info that you sold. But what you sell to a station isnt available to every station everywhere.

I see, that explains it. I hadn't noticed I could buy cartographic data, only the market infomation, but will look out for that. Does it follow, then, that if I try to sell data to a station that already has been sold the same data by someone else, they won't buy mine?

What if a station is affiliated with a faction, like the Federation, and you sell to them, do all their stations get copied in on that data because they are on the same side?

...it's like each system wont share this information with any other faction. So you explore, sell your data & gain credits & rep to yourself & the station/system faction.

This is even more interesting. So who you sell the data to is important in terms of gaining/losing favour?

 

[Sir Reginald Barthold III]

This is even more interesting. So who you sell the data to is important in terms of gaining/losing favour?

Absolutely, ol' fruit. I dumped all of my data on a Sirius Corp station and got a permit for the Sirius system in return.

Regie

 

[B33 ENN]

Absolutely, ol' fruit. I dumped all of my data on a Sirius Corp station and got a permit for the Sirius system in return.

I see, so given I'm out of favour with the Federation right now, If I found a way into one of their outposts without being killed, and sold them my exploration data, it would go some way to correcting that back to unfriendly, then neutral again?

 

[iain666]

I see, so given I'm out of favour with the Federation right now, If I found a way into one of their outposts without being killed, and sold them my exploration data, it would go some way to correcting that back to unfriendly, then neutral again?

Should do. You get 50% more money if you also get the 'discovered by tag' for being the very first to sell the data (not visit the system) but you get credits and rep for all of it either way. Not sure if you get more rep with first discovered or if it's just more credits.

 

[GiantHaystacks]

Can I ask a noob question? Is it enough to use an advanced discovery scanner, then sell the data for me to be the first to "discover" something, or do I need to perform a surface scan on it first?

 

[puca]

Need to surface scan a body and then be the first to turn the data in about that body to get first discoverer credit. That last part is important.

 

[Dommarraa]

But you dont need a Detailed Surface Scanner. Your ship will do a surface scan sufficient to tag the object without it, the DSS just increases the amount of information and credits

 

[GiantHaystacks]

Thanks. I wasn't sure if I could just drop into a system, do an advanced scan to pick up all the bodies and then fly on. Mind you, my OCD would never let me do that.

 

[BlueTeamMember]

Thanks. I wasn't sure if I could just drop into a system, do an advanced scan to pick up all the bodies and then fly on. Mind you, my OCD would never let me do that.

If that is an issue do not under any circumstance try to find out how to do a Penetrative Surface scan.

 

[Dommarraa]

Thanks. I wasn't sure if I could just drop into a system, do an advanced scan to pick up all the bodies and then fly on. Mind you, my OCD would never let me do that.

Nothing wrong with honk scoop jump. If you pick a destination to scan, scan the destination, not the dull m stars on the way. Just stopping to scan the star will double your travel time. Profit comparison between the 2 isn't significantly big to claim one is much better than the other.
If you want your name emblazoned across the Galaxy on stars that nobody is ever likely to visit, then go right ahead, but there is nothing sub standard about only scanning places of scientific interest, nor anything heroic in spending your time in places of no interest