Thinking about finally going exploring, do I have enough for a proper ship?

Sanderson

Sanderson
As the title says.

I have 32mil cr in the bank and a ship worth about 18mil I think. Currently in a Keelback. It's taken me over two years to collect what little credits I have and honestly, I'm not a "grind" type of player, I'm in it for fun (it's ok if you find what is typically called grinding) and really don't care about credits so waiting for more money isn't something I'd like to do.

I have essentially no real experience exploring or what ships/equipment I'd need to not get caught out in the middle of nowhere. What I'd like to do is collect as much information about each system I visit that will pay when (if) I get back to populated space (bubble) and do as much detailed exploring for the parts I find particularly interesting. . Is it possible with a little under 40mil to do? I really don't care what ship I take, as long as it's up to the task. After reading a boat load of threads of others adventures and the amazing pictures they have captured I can't fight the urge any longer, I must go exploring.

I'd really appreciate advice from you exploration experts. With your help and advice I may be "out there' for a couple years, so teach me good!

Thanks
[EDIT] If possible, I'd like to take and SRV and a fighter. I know it's probably not the best idea, but I'd really like the ability to explore planets in the SRV and buzz canyons or defend myself with a SLF. Is it possible I'm already in the best ship for my somewhat cheap adventure?

One more thing, I'm the type that likes (IRL and games) to just take off and see where I end up, not much into planning beyond my scoopable star.
 
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Sanderson

Sanderson

Yanick

Yanick
I broadly agree. Do take the SRV, as this will allow you to collect Materials for boosted jumps, and restocking the AMFU.
However, I would leave the Heat Sinks behind. It's down to personal preference, but I've never needed one.
 

[VR] optimal_909

[VR] optimal_909
Sir, you have the right ship for the task! I flew my unengineered Keelback to Beagle Point. :)

You can fit everything you need with the exception of an AFMU (I made this build how I'd do it, the empty rack is for the fighter), but once you get used to the rhythm of exploring, you won't need that. True, you'll need to avoid neutron stars, but in the core there are planty of black hole-neutron binaries and those are safe to visit (I did the same as I'm also exploring without AFMU).

I normally go for good thrusters, shields and whatnot to provide safety when returning, great to have speed over planet surfaces even with a fighter in the bay, shields are also good if you miscalculate a landing...

As you probably know by now, the Keelback has excellent heat management, you won't need heat sinks that reduce your jumprange. My A-rated Keelback in exploration trim (without fighter) has a jumprange of close to 30ly with a lvl5 upgrade, which is more than enough.

If I may suggest a route, go along the stopovers to Jaques so you'll have the comfort of the outposts for repairs if needed, and after that Jaques is an excellent hub to go exploring as there are stunning sectors nearby including the planet with the highest gravity.
 
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disorganise

disorganise
I started DWE in a T6 cos I couldn't afford an Asp. I turned around at 10,000ly to hand in my first ELW and the proceeds from that 20,000 ly trip *just* bought me an Asp with a class B scoop and class B afmu.
I don't know if you can fit a fighter and an srv in the keelback? Be nice if you can :D
Iirc I first set off with a 4b scoop in the T6 to save money. Bad idea. Go the highest 'B' that fits ('A' is too expensive...it affects insurance too). If you drop the size in order to fit a fighter, then you'll probably need to go class A. Scooping eventually gets tedious if you *have* to wait for it to finish :/

I only used one heatsink in the 160,000 ly trip....and that was fired accidentally when chatting.....I remapped the binding after that. So I don't believe they're needed. I just put them in storage at Jaques actually, and am heading back to the bubble for the final meet up.

I *did* use the afmu....but only because it was there......last week.....about 10,000 ly from Jaques. Didn't need to, just wanted to. Only reason I didn't store it is because it's weightless so nothing gained by doing so.

I had hoped fighters would be the armament alternative but in beta I found the unarmed mothership kept hanging around like an idiot. So, at present I'd say the best bet is to still run....unless you arm the main ship as well....which is more money and more weight. Weapons aren't needed "out there" yet. And if/when they are, do you really want to engage and risk weeks of data?
 

Ben_BigBen

Ben_BigBen
A fighter isn't going to be much protection from anything, I'd save the weight tbh and go for a ship with a good view from the cockpit - the Keelback will do the job just fine
 

MattG

MattG
As others have said, no point in taking fighters for protection - but for flying over planets, why not. How about something like this ?

Fighter bay, SRV, all for 18m - and actually it'll probably be nearer half that as you're already in a keelback. You have options here too - I've gone with 4D shields and 1 SRV, you could swap to 3A shields and 2 SRVs. I personally wouldn't go lower than 3A as you don't have space for an AFMU, better to have a bit extra protection in case of a heavy landing. You could also downgrade to 4B fuel scoop, though I'd advise against taking the best you can afford. I also downgraded to an 8t tank instead of 16t - with map filters now you won't need more than 8t but if you need a security blanket you could revert this.

Do you have engineer rep? If you do, improve the FSD on this and it'll hit over 30LY. If not, at least unlock one of the level 5 FSD engineers, then when you get back from first exploration run you can sell them the data and hopefully get straight to level 5 access.
 

[VR] optimal_909

[VR] optimal_909
disorganise said:
Go the highest 'B' that fits ('A' is too expensive...it affects insurance too). If you drop the size in order to fit a fighter, then you'll probably need to go class A. Scooping eventually gets tedious if you *have* to wait for it to finish :/
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree, going all-A is the way to - needing insurance is unlikely, and you can sell the modules at full price. A 5A scoop can fill at a rate of 577kg/sec, so you can dip-scoop without having to slow down, in a Keelback you can even charge when doing so. Very convenient.
 

rrobes

R
The biggest issue for me is range, an ASP Explorer would be my first choice. The only issue with these builds is that you should fit the biggest fuel scoop you can afford, for an ASPX is 28 mill w/o discount, way more than the cost of the ship.

If you were to fit a big scoop on your T6 it would be 9 mill w/o discount. These allow you be way more efficient when traveling between systems, I saw this recommendation written many times by long range explorers.

An AspX without any engineer mods does 30ly and with some level 3 mods to the FSD, it should exceed that number substantially.

An epic rescue just took place by CMDR vonRictofen doing an express across the galaxy that covered may thousands of ly. His ship was an ASP w/ 50ly range. His was surely engineered.

I am currently 4kly from Sag A* on a first deep space run and I personally don't see the need for a fighter. However, a mining laser may help out in ways that I wasn't aware of for jumponium mining.

I have AFMx2, SRVx2, undersized modules for most components but full-size FSD and full-sized shields, no armament or utilities. Fully loaded my CondaEX does 47ly, probably more to be gained if I sacrificed speed and shields. Of course, the cost is high and the re-buy steep. The class 7A scoop alone is ridiculously expensive, I will sell it back on return.

That is why to me the AspX would be a compelling a purchase or keep the ship you have, but I would engineer the FSD at the least and go with under moduled D components.

BTW, the distances are truly staggering, around 550 jumps to get to Sag A* from my start point.

Good luck.
 
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Batgut

Batgut
This is the Keelback I went exploring in. Did everything I needed it to for under 8mill total cost, currently docked at Jaques 22KLY out from the bubble. I think I actually had a grade 1 or 2 engineered FSD, which added a couple of extra light years to the range shown.

Didn't need the huge cargo bay, but SLF wasn't an option when I set out otherwise I think I'd have probably taken that.

Optional, but potentially useful : AMFU on the off-chance that you get into trouble with a star. Mining laser, to avoid an End of the Road scenario.
 
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disorganise

disorganise
optimal_909 said:
I respectfully disagree, going all-A is the way to - needing insurance is unlikely, and you can sell the modules at full price. A 5A scoop can fill at a rate of 577kg/sec, so you can dip-scoop without having to slow down, in a Keelback you can even charge when doing so. Very convenient.
Click to expand...

Not disagreeing if you have the funds. That was the point I was making (badly) - if you have to skimp, a B class scoop can save heaps with not *that* much negative. I have a B in the asp cos I couldn't afford an A and get 475kg/s out of it and can easily sustain sub 50 secs jonks. I imagine an A will save me 2 maybe 3 secs, which would be great, but hasn't stopped me doing the 160kly ;)

Edit: Actually my 6B gets 752kg/s :/ 475 must have been what I had in the T6. Memory...bad :(
 
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[VR] optimal_909

[VR] optimal_909
disorganise said:
Not disagreeing if you have the funds. That was the point I was making (badly) - if you have to skimp, a B class scoop can save heaps with not *that* much negative. I have a B in the asp cos I couldn't afford an A and get 475kg/s out of it and can easily sustain sub 50 secs jonks. I imagine an A will save me 2 maybe 3 secs, which would be great, but hasn't stopped me doing the 160kly ;)
Click to expand...

An A-rated Keelxplorer costs about 20 mil and he the ship already, it is well within his means. :)
But yeah, you take whatever you can afford, my first trip into the black was on board of a Z-rated DBX. :)
 

Jackie Silver

Jackie Silver
A few days ago I took a sightseeing passenger mission: take someone round four destinations (all within the Bubble), all of which were reasonably close to the jump-in points for their systems. There were no complications, and it paid 30 million credits.

Utterly ludicrous and broken but fun to do and not an exploit or (RP-wise) unprincipled (like most of Elite's get-rich-quick schemes) so if you want easy money to kit out your ship maybe keep an eye open for them.

I guess the practical minimum for a capable long-distance explorer is a Hauler with ADS and DSS, which would set you back about 3 million credits for an unmodified 25 light year jump range.
 

Straha Yeagar

S
Sanderson said:
Is that because the Type 9 has a substantial jump range advantage over the Keel back? If not, I already have a SLF in my current ship.

Should I ditch my weapons and use the SLF for defense? Detailed surface scanner? More fuel tanks?
Click to expand...

I have not read this thread beyond this point, so this may have already been mentioned...

For a primarily explorer build, I wouldn't spend a whole lot of time considering defensive weaponry. The one thing that will keep you alive when encountering a hostile ship is your ability to run. Once you are out of the immediate bubble, weapons will just be dead weight reducing your jump range, and in the bubble, hostile ships will outgun you with offensive weaponry, and an exploration ship is not going to win against a combat load ship, which brings me back to the one thing that WILL keep you alive...your ability to run. Hell, I wouldn't even look at the SLF for defensive purposes...take it for fun if you want though :)
 

Cmdr Frawd Digger

Cmdr Frawd Digger
Sanderson said:
As the title says.

I have 32mil cr in the bank and a ship worth about 18mil I think. Currently in a Keelback. It's taken me over two years to collect what little credits I have and honestly, I'm not a "grind" type of player, I'm in it for fun (it's ok if you find what is typically called grinding) and really don't care about credits so waiting for more money isn't something I'd like to do.

I have essentially no real experience exploring or what ships/equipment I'd need to not get caught out in the middle of nowhere. What I'd like to do is collect as much information about each system I visit that will pay when (if) I get back to populated space (bubble) and do as much detailed exploring for the parts I find particularly interesting. . Is it possible with a little under 40mil to do? I really don't care what ship I take, as long as it's up to the task. After reading a boat load of threads of others adventures and the amazing pictures they have captured I can't fight the urge any longer, I must go exploring.

I'd really appreciate advice from you exploration experts. With your help and advice I may be "out there' for a couple years, so teach me good!

Thanks
[EDIT] If possible, I'd like to take and SRV and a fighter. I know it's probably not the best idea, but I'd really like the ability to explore planets in the SRV and buzz canyons or defend myself with a SLF. Is it possible I'm already in the best ship for my somewhat cheap adventure?

One more thing, I'm the type that likes (IRL and games) to just take off and see where I end up, not much into planning beyond my scoopable star.
Click to expand...

Hay Cmdr,

I went exploring to the other side of the galaxy and back in a sidewinder. Any ship you have is good enough ;)

You just need an ADS and a DSS and you're good for exploring. An added bonus would be an SRV but I didn't have one...they are fun though :)

Frawd
 
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