Signs you've been exploring too long

Cmdr Raz · Jul 11, 2015

I recently returned from my first proper exploration trip (~9500 kylies, ~1700 systems, ~10.000 level 3 scans). While this trip is definitely not hardcore exploring by any standards, it still took me about 2 months, since I can only play on average maybe 1 hour/day (if I knew how time consuming girlfriends are, I never would have gotten one

).
Returning to the bubble, I thought I’d engage in some pewpew before starting my next major trip, maybe make a few extra credits towards upgrades and a new ship. But it turns out I’ve forgotten how to play Elite while exploring, not to mention the weird traits/habits I’ve picked up along the way

– perhaps I need to stay in the bubble a while longer

Signs you’ve been exploring for too long:

You forget which button you bound your landing gear to (this actually happened to me, stupid X52 and its million buttons…)
You develop an irrational hatred for a player you’ve never met, i.e. that guy who scanned all the cool stuff along your path (you know who you are, you !)
You honk your horn of discovery on every system you enter (apparently there are no undiscovered bodies in Sol, who knew…)
You no longer giggle at the term “brown star”, it just conjures up depressing images of lifeless ice planets
Your first thought when getting interdicted is “No! Not my cartographic data!”

Please feel free to add to this list – and fly safe out there, Commanders

PanPiper. · Jul 11, 2015

Requesting docking permission. Having not communicated with much in ages,it's easy to forget docking protocol.
Also subconsciously knowing exactly how many jumps back to undiscovereds

newman1702 · Jul 11, 2015

When you scan a ship in RES, it turns out it's clean, and you're just thinking "he's an icy planet".

Cmdr Raz · Jul 11, 2015

PanPiper. said:
Requesting docking permission. Having not communicated with much in ages,it's easy to forget docking protocol.
Also subconsciously knowing exactly how many jumps back to undiscovereds

Nothing like starting your R&R from exploration with a fine

Critterbot · Jul 12, 2015

After getting home and arriving at your target station (after overshooting at least once of course), bring up contacts tab thing you've completely forgotten the purpose of and request docking 10km out and are told you have to get within 7,5km. I started the trip before that became a thing, and I was gone for a looong time. xD And then you hope you remember how to dock properly.

Cmdr Raz · Jul 12, 2015

Critterbot said:
After getting home and arriving at your target station (after overshooting at least once of course), bring up contacts tab thing you've completely forgotten the purpose of and request docking 10km out and are told you have to get within 7,5km. I started the trip before that became a thing, and I was gone for a looong time. xD And then you hope you remember how to dock properly.

Hehe, good one

I can't tell you how many times I've either overshot or just been sitting there waiting for the scanner to start ticking away

Snafu Manchu · Jul 12, 2015

A broken cargo hatch. Either that or a busted chaff launcher, I've had concentration lapses during jumps at least once a session so far and the health of my cargo hatch and chaff are neck and neck

Ulysses_W · Jul 12, 2015

When it dawns on you that there are actually other players in the game... Somewhere.

RafeZetter · Jul 12, 2015

I'm sick of seeing Red bloody Dwarf nearly every planet!.

Traveller_GG · Jul 12, 2015

You cannot explore for too long. Now get out of here with your negative feelings. I have rocky rings to fly through, asteroid belts to map, Icy worlds to photograph, and that weird pink planet 250,000ls away to fly to.

Gut Rumble · Jul 12, 2015

Too Long.....That depends.....What year is it now , I started my trip in the year 1984.

Cmdr Raz · Jul 12, 2015

Traveller_GG said:
You cannot explore for too long. Now get out of here with your negative feelings. I have rocky rings to fly through, asteroid belts to map, Icy worlds to photograph, and that weird pink planet 250,000ls away to fly to.

Gut Rumble said:
Too Long.....That depends.....What year is it now , I started my trip in the year 1984.

I think you're right - I lasted less than 2 days in the bubble

Bought a Clipper, did some pewpew. Got bored, traded it in for a DBE and set sail

Bye bye civilization, hello adventure!

Edit: Which I guess means, that a sign that you've been exploring too long is that you can't stop