The Era Of Cherry Picking Might Be Over.

[Batman 14]

I would say that Cherry picking is not over as a matter of fact I do it
I like to fully scan a system (easy to do now with the FSS)
Mapping a system is a decision that I have to make based on what I know about the system my decision goes something like this
I get to a new system fire off the honk .
I see how many bodies there are and then use the system scan
Low number (under 20)
see if they are just rocky Icy planets ? If just Rocky Icy planets move on
But if a system is larger ( 20+) and more intresting with different types of world I check to see if
Have they been discovered?
No by doing the system scan I've just discovered them.
Have they been mapped?
If yes move on
If no
check distances check types of world
The further I have to travel to probe the less likely I will go there
check type of planet
A single gas giant at 500KLS in a system i will probably leave alone and move on
A gas giant at 500KLS with multiple moons I will probe as long as there are other planets nearby to probe in addition
Along with the other interesting planets eg HMC WW etc
In the local area, It also helps if there are planets near to the main star for me to probe.
If I probe one planet I probe them all as there's a bonus for fully mapping and scanning a system
Thats my general thought process.

 

[Whoamus]

I also cherry pick. I have gone just a few KLY from the bubble. Instead of jumping to go somewhere in a hurry, I am opening map and going from star to star in short jumps and then select stars from that point all close by to jump to and inspect. I will see another CMDR's name on some but for the most part the area is undiscovered. Lots of stars with just ice and rock planets I see from the FSS, I move on. Sometimes I will discover planets during the initial scan that are close to the star but will pass on discovering the remainder. Once I decide I want to discover anything else in a system, I will scan everything and map the more interesting ones. I have found lots of the usual geological spots but also some biological and stellar phenomena systems. I could probably fly this sector of space for years and find undiscovered systems.

 

[Ralph Vargr]

Don't confuse distance with volume or number of systems. Also, the higher the (effectively used) jump range, the more systems will be left out. Reminder: the OP is all about cherry picked systems if I got this right, something I still have my doubts about.

At least partially right. Triumphalism of one group over another might have something to do with it as well.

The FSS is enabling "Deity Mode" to a greater extent than previous mechanics, and there is no going back.

 

[Ralph Vargr]

Now I've lost you. The journey to the fringe is under 100 jumps even without guardian tech. That's under two hours jumping. Hardly a sweat, and then you can explore to your heart's content.


Oh just think of first mapped as a "I was here", because you need to travel to these planets to map something. Yes, sometimes it will be a long trip, but it was the same under old system to detail scan... Leave the "discovered" to grafitti kids whizzing past, "real explorers" are mapping! As it should be .

Truth be told, for me the appeal was exactly the "I was here" sign, because credits were laughable compared to what could have been earned in the bubble at the same time investment and no gameplay restrictions. Leaving a mark on the galaxy so to speak. Totally insiginificant and statistically unimportant mark, but my mark nonetheless... Now it will be "first mapped" and we will no doubt discover something special with it, probably leading to the "new era". Previously there was nothing to be found, now with that mechanic I am sure someone will someday stumble across an anomaly on the mapped planet leading to some groundbreaking events.

I'm glad there are new things to discover.

With my limited play schedule, it took more than a week to get to Colonia.

Grinding for Guardian tech is not something I enjoy, so I have no FSD booster. A humble 45 light-years is my average jump, and I do not use jumponium, or neutron stars.

I do not think I am alone.

 

[VR StarLightPL]

Grinding for Guardian tech is not something I enjoy, so I have no FSD booster. A humble 45 light-years is my average jump, and I do not use jumponium, or neutron stars.

I did the pilgrimage in a 50Ly AspEx, before guardian tech existed ;-) Still it's ~100 - 120 jumps depending on circumstances. As for "I don't use jumponium" I find it weird ("Do you guys not have... Horizons?!") and not using neutron boosts - even weirder. Both are there, and aren't exactly hard to use. In fact jumponium/srv fuel prospecting was a way for me to alleviate boredom during the trek. But hey, some peps clear save when they die, so that's okay, I guess. Only I wouldn't complain about not having time to play while simultaneously stating that you reject all possible timesavers, but that's me

 

[Ralph Vargr]

I did the pilgrimage in a 50Ly AspEx, before guardian tech existed ;-) Still it's ~100 - 120 jumps depending on circumstances. As for "I don't use jumponium" I find it weird ("Do you guys not have... Horizons?!") and not using neutron boosts - even weirder. Both are there, and aren't exactly hard to use. In fact jumponium/srv fuel prospecting was a way for me to alleviate boredom during the trek. But hey, some peps clear save when they die, so that's okay, I guess. Only I wouldn't complain about not having time to play while simultaneously stating that you reject all possible timesavers, but that's me

It's more like 300+ jumps for me. I guess we'll have to differ on this.

Yes, I have Horizon's. And the Cobra 4 to prove it.

 

[rrobes]

I'm with Ralph on this, I don't use jumponium nor do I use neutron stars. I had a 62 ly Ana for my long treks and for reaching elite explo. I don't explore at all now as it wasn't what I want(ed) to do in the game.

Did unlock the Guardian FSD, mainly to improve on the Corvette I use like 90% of the time (I just like the way it flies).

I keep a rather small fleet of 5 ships that do everything I want, mostly because I don't enjoy engineering at my point in the game. Others may do so, that's personal choice, people play differently, it's not wrong, just different.

There are many posts that I have read describing styles of play that avoid all engineering as sort of an "Iron Man" mode. I take my hat off to these players, they've got to be a persistent and patient lot.

So do as what is becoming a cliche; "blaze your own trail!"

 

[voidwalker]

I did the pilgrimage in a 50Ly AspEx, before guardian tech existed ;-) Still it's ~100 - 120 jumps depending on circumstances. As for "I don't use jumponium" I find it weird ("Do you guys not have... Horizons?!") and not using neutron boosts - even weirder. Both are there, and aren't exactly hard to use. In fact jumponium/srv fuel prospecting was a way for me to alleviate boredom during the trek. But hey, some peps clear save when they die, so that's okay, I guess. Only I wouldn't complain about not having time to play while simultaneously stating that you reject all possible timesavers, but that's me

Personally, I'm a 'smell the roses' kinda guy. I'm on a 40kly trip right now, and it's going to take a lot of time because I scan everything. I don't use neutron stars for two reasons: 1. I prefer small ships and don't like using AFMUs that take up a slot and use a lot of power, and I use A-rated powerplants with grade 5 low emissions to keep cool, and 2. I wouldn't use them even in a big ship because they skip me over a bunch of stuff along my route. I also don't use jumponium for the same reason as 2 above. I'm not trying to save time, I'm trying to use it to get as much scanning done as possible, and put my name on as much stuff as possible, regardless of credit value. Because for me, the real value is in the journey itself.

 

[Stealthie]

I'm with Ralph on this, I don't use jumponium nor do I use neutron stars.

Similar thing for me.

Don't use Neutron stars because a screw-up can be fatal so I prefer to avoid getting used to relying on them at all.

Similar thing with FSD injections.
I do use them, on occasion, to reach specific target systems or hop across a big gaps but I don't use them often because I've gotten into situations where I've used one trivially, to hop into a different area, and then forgotten where I used it, used another one to make another hop and then found myself stuck in a different area and ended-up having to use several more to get back to an area of space that can be travelled easily.
A related tip is, whenever I use an FSD injection I tag both the origin and destination systems so I can always find my way back and know I can jump out of an area by that route.
Needless to say, I always ensure I've got at least as many more injections available as I use.

I do use GFSB's although I just fit whatever size can go in a spare slot, rather than compromising a build to accomodate a big GFSB.

 

[Ralph Vargr]

I don't mix well with neutron stars. Been burned.

Flying a single engine fighter, with short legs, makes you *very* wary of using burner, just for transit.

I crossed the Atlantic with *three* tanks, and two AIM-9L's, and was still forced to tank, due to weather. No jumponium for me.

 

[VR StarLightPL]

Yes, I have Horizon's. And the Cobra 4 to prove it.

Cobra Mk IV mentioned! Obligatory vid!
[video=youtube;jt1g00-OnKg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt1g00-OnKg[/video]

I don't mix well with neutron stars. Been burned.

Flying a single engine fighter, with short legs, makes you *very* wary of using burner, just for transit.

I crossed the Atlantic with *three* tanks, and two AIM-9L's, and was still forced to tank, due to weather. No jumponium for me.

o7 <armchair pilot salutes jealously> o7
On a Sabrejet? (yes I looked your sq. in Wiki ;-) ) What does "having short legs" mean?

As for neutrons, I too have a baaad experience with something I think was a white dwarf, was completely powerless to escape, didn't know how to react - either I couldn't get the FSD to boot, or I couldn't line up with the escape vector... and my ship just disintegrated. Of course you have the right to play game your way, I am not in any way imposing that on any of you nor was it my intention, cmdrs. I simply like to use convenience features, including but not limited to a docking computer over which yet another thread rages on currently ;-)

 

[Deleted member 38366]

Odd, for me Neutron Stars are a true launch platform for long-range travel in minimum time. Never failed me in over some ~200k LY Neutron travels.
In small and medium Ships it's a bit "wobbly" but still quite safe if done properly.

During Beta I did egress trials in a DBX (intentional disengage right in the heart of the Neutron Jet Cone) and it worked surprisingly well.

On the FSS Exploration "what's left", I'm now in the Bubble and indeed it seems almost everything within almost 1500LY has been 100%-Explored.
A very few oddball inbetweens remained, plus the usual "noone really ever goes there" A-Mass collections of Icy balls.

Since I'm not interested in Mapping unless it's an ELW or Ammonia World (or the occasional Water World if close enough), I didn't even spent time on mapping unmapped inhabited Bubble Systems I still came across.
Thought I leave that to their inhabitants/regular Traffic to mark "their homes", I only did some mapping around my current home.

 

[Dagwit]

Thing I never saw said about neutron star boosting is that it's actually pretty hard work. You're essentially fighting a high-speed interdiction - I've wondered if FDev actually recycled the interdiction code for the purpose - with every jump. Rough on my somewhat fragile old hands.

I intend to stick with it if I can - it turns Colonia from an emigration into a commute - but I may not be able to, and I certainly understand at least one reason why someone would want to give it a miss.

 

[VR StarLightPL]

Thing I never saw said about neutron star boosting is that it's actually pretty hard work. You're essentially fighting a high-speed interdiction - I've wondered if FDev actually recycled the interdiction code for the purpose - with every jump. Rough on my somewhat fragile old hands.

I intend to stick with it if I can - it turns Colonia from an emigration into a commute - but I may not be able to, and I certainly understand at least one reason why someone would want to give it a miss.

Approach with the star in the back, should give you not much problems. Keep an eye on the exclusion zone (orbit lines on). There are tutorials which go over this in detail, well worth checking out.

 

[Ralph Vargr]

Cobra Mk IV mentioned! Obligatory vid!




o7 <armchair pilot salutes jealously> o7
On a Sabrejet? (yes I looked your sq. in Wiki ;-) ) What does "having short legs" mean?

As for neutrons, I too have a baaad experience with something I think was a white dwarf, was completely powerless to escape, didn't know how to react - either I couldn't get the FSD to boot, or I couldn't line up with the escape vector... and my ship just disintegrated. Of course you have the right to play game your way, I am not in any way imposing that on any of you nor was it my intention, cmdrs. I simply like to use convenience features, including but not limited to a docking computer over which yet another thread rages on currently ;-)

F-16A. Short legs means limited fuel and endurance. Our average mission time was 1.6 hours. Then, you're done. That's often with two external 370 gallon tanks, for reserves/burner. It also reduces ordnance carried.

Unless you load down with 3 external tanks, which means you are a target. Ferry flights are long, and painful. That seat is a rock, not a cushion.

White dwarfs are Death Suns.

 

[Ralph Vargr]

Got my first planet map today. Found a system where no one had mapped any of the system objects. Already first discovered by someone else.

Running into lots of systems discovered by my old buddy Oddsocks. Never could get anywhere ahead of him...

 

[Stealthie]

Kind of surprised to see the disparity in people's estimates of how many jumps to get to Colonia.

A bit of rudimentary math's tells me that 21,000Ly divided by an 80Ly jump range equals 263 jumps.

In reality, of course, the "next" system is never going to be bang-on the limit of your FSD so you'll always jump to a system within your ship's FSD range, with the result that a lot of your jumps, in an 80Ly ship, will be 70-75Ly, for a total of 280-300 jumps.
In an 80Ly ship.

Also, FWIW, I followed my own advice and took a 400Ly "side-step" before heading to Colonia.
End result was that I racked-up 110 newly-discovered systems during the journey.

Just honk-jumped all the way there so I didn't see much, except for a couple of breaks (I always land on planets before logging out when exploring), but what I saw seemed to support my previous comments; people either just tag the primary (presumably as a result of honk-jumping) or they tag absolutely everything in a system (except the primary, if somebody got to that before them).

Saw about half a dozen ELWs and about the same amount of water-worlds on the way to Colonia and they were all tagged by the same person who'd tagged everything else in the system.
Thinking about it, I didn't see a single example of somebody tagging, say, an ELW or WW and then somebody else tagging everything else in the system.
Seems like the people who want to claim ELWs and WWs etc also like to pee on every lamp-post in a system and not just the interesting ones.

Also, I made the trip to Colonia in 7 hours, which is what happens when the missus decides to go on a shopping trip on a Saturday.

 

[Ralph Vargr]

Kind of surprised to see the disparity in people's estimates of how many jumps to get to Colonia.

A bit of rudimentary math's tells me that 21,000Ly divided by an 80Ly jump range equals 263 jumps.

In reality, of course, the "next" system is never going to be bang-on the limit of your FSD so you'll always jump to a system within your ship's FSD range, with the result that a lot of your jumps, in an 80Ly ship, will be 70-75Ly, for a total of 280-300 jumps.
In an 80Ly ship.

Also, FWIW, I followed my own advice and took a 400Ly "side-step" before heading to Colonia.
End result was that I racked-up 110 newly-discovered systems during the journey.

Just honk-jumped all the way there so I didn't see much, except for a couple of breaks (I always land on planets before logging out when exploring), but what I saw seemed to support my previous comments; people either just tag the primary (presumably as a result of honk-jumping) or they tag absolutely everything in a system (except the primary, if somebody got to that before them).

Saw about half a dozen ELWs and about the same amount of water-worlds on the way to Colonia and they were all tagged by the same person who'd tagged everything else in the system.
Thinking about it, I didn't see a single example of somebody tagging, say, an ELW or WW and then somebody else tagging everything else in the system.
Seems like the people who want to claim ELWs and WWs etc also like to pee on every lamp-post in a system and not just the interesting ones.

Also, I made the trip to Colonia in 7 hours, which is what happens when the missus decides to go on a shopping trip on a Saturday.

See what I mean about "cherry picking"?

The ones who were shouting the epithet loudest, are now hypocritically either doing just that, or strip-mining the systems.

My 48 light-year Asp averaged about 44-45 during it's transition. And, by no means was it in a straight line. At that time, you *really could* discover things first, so there were a few diversions.

Welcome To Our Brave New Galaxy (crackling of neon sign tubes).