Surface scanner mods: which do you plan to use?

[marx]

I'm curious about which of the upcoming DSS mods the explorers here plan on using, or if they don't plan to use any, then about the reasons why they don't. Unfortunately, polls are disabled on the forums, so please post your comments here, or alternatively, I've put up a quick strawpoll at https://strawpoll.com/a55feye. (Mods, if external polls are not allowed, please remove this part.)

For quick reference, you can view the DSS mods here.
Also, the Engineers required to get these are:
- Bill Turner does DSS to G1
- Juri Ishmaak and Lei Cheung do DSS to G2
- Tiana Fortune and Lori Jameson do DSS to G5
Of the above, in addition to their normal engineer unlock requirements, Bill Turner requires an Alioth permit (reach Allied status with an Alliance faction), Tiana Fortune requires an Achenar permit (reach the fourth rank, Squire, in the Imperial Navy) and Lori Jameson requires a Founder's permit (reach Elite rank in something, or be a Kickstarter backer at Founder level or above).

Also, I don't know of any others doing some tests as to the actual effects of these mods, but I did a few which you can find here.


To get the ball rolling: personally, I plan on getting a Long Range mod, although only on my Clipper/Cutter, and not on my Courier (mass increase would be too much) nor Anaconda (only for minmaxing the jump range). The main reason for this would be the ability to scan small moons much quicker. Otherwise, I doubt that the increased mass and power draw (-> heavier PP -> even more mass) would be worth it for me, as I rarely scan whole systems.

 

[Zieman]

Lori Jameson needs you to be at least Dangerous in combat in addition to the Founders system permit.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Of the above, in addition to their normal engineer unlock requirements, Bill Turner requires an Alioth permit (reach Allied status with an Alliance faction), Tiana Fortune requires an Achenar permit (reach the fourth rank, Squire, in the Imperial Navy) and Lori Jameson requires a Founder's permit (reach Elite rank in something, or be a Kickstarter backer at Founder level or above).

So, I was thinking: Ziggy, you vinegar wee-er you, instead of belly aching, at least try one scanner upgrade when you pick up the Dolphin.

I don't have an Alioth or Achenar permit, have no ranking with any of the factions, but I do have a founder's permit. Oh well, at least I got the Lori option.

Lori Jameson needs you to be at least Dangerous in combat in addition to the Founders system permit.

Lori option evaporates. So, commence urinating vinegar.

Seriously, you cannot make this nonsense up. Blaze your own trail indeed, but if you want a 1/3rd of the ships available grind this, if you want access (just access) to any of the engineers grind that. If you're roleplaying an independent pacifist explorer: sucks to be you!

 

[Zieman]

So, I was thinking: Ziggy, you vinegar wee-er you, instead of belly aching, at least try one scanner upgrade when you pick up the Dolphin.

I don't have an Alioth or Achenar permit, have no ranking with any of the factions, but I do have a founder's permit. Oh well, at least I got the Lori option.


Lori option evaporates. So, commence urinating vinegar.

Seriously, you cannot make this nonsense up. Blaze your own trail indeed, but if you want a 1/3rd of the ships available grind this, if you want access (just access) to any of the engineers grind that. If you're roleplaying an independent pacifist explorer: sucks to be you!

Alioth permit is easy enough: find a station that's controlled by Alioth Independents and sell about 15 MCr worth of exploration data there, you'll become allied with them (assuming you started with neutral status) and you should get the permit (mission? - got the permit long time ago...). Some relogging or jumping around (in game) may be required, depends on how buggy the permit system nowadays is...

 

[Monk]

I'll probably go with the long range option as I'm constantly saying "Are we there yet?" whenever I'm scanning a system.

 

[Hooplah]

Considering all the sensors definitely light weight for those few sensors that increase their weight considerably going to A-rated. Have tried long range for combat but find the stock A-rated more than adequate. The rest do not seem to be worth the effort especially the surface scanners as there is no emergency need to do it faster or farther away. What would be awesome is a detailed surface scanner that grabs all the planetary detail info in a system like the advanced discovery scanner finds all the bodies. But that would be an exploration game breaker generating fast profits.

 

[marx]

Lori Jameson needs you to be at least Dangerous in combat in addition to the Founders system permit.

Yes, but that's part of her unlock requirements. I just noted the permits because they aren't readily known from the linked Inara pages - I, for example, completely forgot before that Achenar is permit-locked.

If you're roleplaying an independent pacifist explorer: sucks to be you!

Don't forget that Lei Cheung and Juri Ishmaak also offer it, though only up to G2. For pacifists, you only need to sell gold to Mr. Cheung to unlock his services. (Juri Ishmaak wants combat bonds, so that's out.)

 

[Iron Orchid]

I'Tiana Fortune requires an Achenar permit (reach the fourth rank, Squire, in the Imperial Navy)

I have the Achenar permit - but don't known how I got it as I'm still an "outsider". (CG perhaps?)

 

[CMDR CHIGGY VONRICTOFEN]

With the 'Conda being able to shed 50-ish tons with lightweight sensors, I seen the writing on the wall and finally put my Asp into storage after 2 1/2 million light years. I built up a 'Conda with 61.5 ly range with an SRV and mining laser. I plan on getting the Lvl 5 long range mod on the DSS. Probably get both mods done at Jameson, but I have them all unlocked and at lvl 5 access.

 

[newman1702]

So, I was thinking: Ziggy, you vinegar wee-er you, instead of belly aching, at least try one scanner upgrade when you pick up the Dolphin.

I don't have an Alioth or Achenar permit, have no ranking with any of the factions, but I do have a founder's permit. Oh well, at least I got the Lori option.


Lori option evaporates. So, commence urinating vinegar.

Seriously, you cannot make this nonsense up. Blaze your own trail indeed, but if you want a 1/3rd of the ships available grind this, if you want access (just access) to any of the engineers grind that. If you're roleplaying an independent pacifist explorer: sucks to be you!

You can get the same stuff from Tiana Fortune - the Achenar permit is extremely easy and fast to grind, and hardly worth complaining about. Frontier has always shown tendencies of trying to get players to try out a bit of everything, they don't want you to just jump-honk-scoop all the time. Whether you agree with that or not, it's hardly new.

 

[HazardousMatt]

The only thing I really don't agree with is the huge mass increase to the DSS for the long range and fast scan mod. 100%-200% increase is a little much even if it only weighs 1.3T stock. If you ever been hiking "ounces makes pounds" and the same goes here, tenths of LY can add up especially on smaller ships. Just putting it out there, but I'll probably be going with long range because I do not have the mats for even grade 4 for fast scan.

 

[Major Klutz]

Faster scanning speed is the clear winner here.
80% of systems I pass though, I only scan the primary star.

I believe tests have been done that show the increased speed vs increased range is a wash and complete the scan in approximately the same amount of time.

Most of the time range is not a big factor and even with a 100% increase in range, those little moons that you have to close to 7ls to scan, you'll still have to close to 14ls with the long range option.

 

[Brieus]

You know what mod I want? To be able to put the Discovery Scanner and the Detailed Surface Scanner in the same slot, even if it takes 3 or 4 tons.

 

[GregMalcolm]

Engineering this is a must for me. Initially I am going to try a fast scanner for my exploration sidewinder. I thought long and hard about long range vs fast and I think there is going to likely to be more bang for the buck with "fast" because it'll allow me to scan primaries faster. Also if I'm traveling a long way to a body I don't think doubling my reach will speed things up that much.

Now the million dollar question for the sidey is "can I build a fast dss scanner that also has low mass"? I'll take the mass hit if I have to, but I really want the jump range if i can keep it...

I'll be going to Lori Jameson most likely. I'm in high favor with her because I've been trying quite a few grade 4 rolls for lightweight Life Support.

 

[verminstar]

Well, first of all the solutions to simply accessing the rngeers might be simple enough...but thats just when the fun really starts and yer farming the required coins fer the one armed bandit pot luck game. With all the happy happy threads that comes with them, I gotta say, its hardly inspiring stuff...

Ill make do with what I have...its worked up till now, no reason to fix whats not broken, especially since being an explorer means spending very little time in the one place in this game I dont like being...

Im sure itll make others happy...Im not one of them but whatever...my choice ^

 

[Fishy]

I don't have an Alioth or Achenar permit, have no ranking with any of the factions, but I do have a founder's permit.

You may be surprised. I have the Achenar permit without the corresponding Imperial rank for some reason, and was actually surprised the day I discovered I could enter Achenar. Not sure whether that was given to everyone during a story event or after a CG, or if it was bundled with the Sol permit for KS/beta backers, but it's there... So double check: chances are you've had it all along without noticing! (and don't forget to go land on Achenar 3)

 

[marx]

Hm, there was a CG where Achenar was supposed to be open to all, but instead of removing the permit restriction, FD just added temporary permits to everyone - and not all of them were removed after the CG. I have no idea about the extent of this, whether it was only for a few people or for everyone, but yeah: you might have the Achenar permit already and not know about it yet.

 

[Kenneth McGrew]

Fast scanners, I unlocked Tiana the other day , and just unlocked bill turner too as I hadn't modified my life support until now

I'd like to unlock Lori but it's the dangerous rank in combat I'm struggling with

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

You can get the same stuff from Tiana Fortune - the Achenar permit is extremely easy and fast to grind, and hardly worth complaining about.

Hmmm, I always find that when it's possible to complain about it, it's worth complaining about it

But I'll stop complaining and sail off into the sunset, while no Dolphins will be engineered during the making of that trip. Free Flipper!

Frontier has always shown tendencies of trying to get players to try out a bit of everything, they don't want you to just jump-honk-scoop all the time. Whether you agree with that or not, it's hardly new.

Funny that, judging by exploration CGs jump-honk-scoop is exactly what Frontier wants us to do

Which I don't agree with.

You may be surprised. I have the Achenar permit without the corresponding Imperial rank for some reason, and was actually surprised the day I discovered I could enter Achenar. Not sure whether that was given to everyone during a story event or after a CG, or if it was bundled with the Sol permit for KS/beta backers, but it's there... So double check: chances are you've had it all along without noticing! (and don't forget to go land on Achenar 3)

Thanks! I'll check.

Won't make a difference, but thanks, I'll check

 

[Kuroshio]

You can get the same stuff from Tiana Fortune - the Achenar permit is extremely easy and fast to grind, and hardly worth complaining about. Frontier has always shown tendencies of trying to get players to try out a bit of everything, they don't want you to just jump-honk-scoop all the time. Whether you agree with that or not, it's hardly new.

Yeah - but to meet Tiana, you need to be at level 3-4 with Hera Tani, for which you need level 3-4 with Liz Ryder, for which you have to work for the mafia and sell landmines.

Fast scan here (working on my Dangerous combat rank and the modular terminals for Quent ...).