I'm not an explorer but was thinking about them a little bit, it often seems like it could do with a little love... To inject a bit more in the way of expeditionary planning to the profession. Explorers building bases are one suggestions but the question is to do what? Refuelling seems to be a common thought but at what point (if at all) would having a small base permanently scooping fuel be more convenient that a ship-mounted fuel scoop, and of course the is the fact that many players don't want to see runaway base building, particularly if they can lead to passive earning and players extending their influence beyond their ship too far. FD do seem a little receptive to the idea though, having mentioned things like inflatable bases as something players might be able to deploy. So here are some of my thoughts on what explorers might want bases for.
These could each be different kinds of base, the explorer having to carry any bases they propose to set up as 'ammunition' for a base deployment module, each base weighing something like 10 tons. Bases can be shared by explorers in the same wing.
UPLINKS
An uplink allows the explorer to communicate with the rest of civilisation. To do this requires an especially large radio dish to be deployed and therefore can only be done from a fixed location, not simply bolted into the ship. The most important thing an explorer can do with an uplink is sell their data. This doesn't totally remove the risk factor of carrying all your profit in your ship data banks, but a well placed uplink can allow explorers to relieve the load more frequently.
An uplink can also do other things, such as allow you to read up on news back home and even take missions specifically related to your exploring. For example someone might wish to pay a bit extra for you to provide a detailed surface scan of a planet you have discovered.
For very long journeys, the time delay on the uplink would increase, meaning you may have to wait a while to recieve your money should you sell some data. For extremely long journeys you may have to set up several uplinks in relay.
AUTO REPAIR RELOAD
This creates the ammunition for the auto-repair module. It must be placed at a source of some resource or other and over time will restock itself so that the explorer can return to it and replenish their auto repair modules supplies.
HULL REPAIR BAY
This repairs what the auto repair module cannot. It is more resource intensive, perhaps better placed on a planet surface. Just as repairing a module requires that module to be turned off for the duration of the repair, your ship's hull cannot continue to do it's job of protecting the gubbins while being repaired. As a result this requires your ship to enter a bay with an internal atmosphere so that the hull can be safely repaired.
OBSERVATORY
Over time, the observatory will capture BDS level data on all systems within a range of something like 50Ly... This will allow the explorer to better plan where they're going to go, forgoing the need to discovery scan everything they come across and allowing them to spend more time targeting the interesting stuff. It would also increasing profit. The explorer must return to it to download the data, and then of course head to an uplink to sell it.
Anything else you think an explorer might want?
These could each be different kinds of base, the explorer having to carry any bases they propose to set up as 'ammunition' for a base deployment module, each base weighing something like 10 tons. Bases can be shared by explorers in the same wing.
UPLINKS
An uplink allows the explorer to communicate with the rest of civilisation. To do this requires an especially large radio dish to be deployed and therefore can only be done from a fixed location, not simply bolted into the ship. The most important thing an explorer can do with an uplink is sell their data. This doesn't totally remove the risk factor of carrying all your profit in your ship data banks, but a well placed uplink can allow explorers to relieve the load more frequently.
An uplink can also do other things, such as allow you to read up on news back home and even take missions specifically related to your exploring. For example someone might wish to pay a bit extra for you to provide a detailed surface scan of a planet you have discovered.
For very long journeys, the time delay on the uplink would increase, meaning you may have to wait a while to recieve your money should you sell some data. For extremely long journeys you may have to set up several uplinks in relay.
AUTO REPAIR RELOAD
This creates the ammunition for the auto-repair module. It must be placed at a source of some resource or other and over time will restock itself so that the explorer can return to it and replenish their auto repair modules supplies.
HULL REPAIR BAY
This repairs what the auto repair module cannot. It is more resource intensive, perhaps better placed on a planet surface. Just as repairing a module requires that module to be turned off for the duration of the repair, your ship's hull cannot continue to do it's job of protecting the gubbins while being repaired. As a result this requires your ship to enter a bay with an internal atmosphere so that the hull can be safely repaired.
OBSERVATORY
Over time, the observatory will capture BDS level data on all systems within a range of something like 50Ly... This will allow the explorer to better plan where they're going to go, forgoing the need to discovery scan everything they come across and allowing them to spend more time targeting the interesting stuff. It would also increasing profit. The explorer must return to it to download the data, and then of course head to an uplink to sell it.
Anything else you think an explorer might want?
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No seriously though, that could be cool...