Tips for explorers

[Dommarraa]

More input - what are your tips?

Maybe I was a little harsh.
I also agree with #2, I misread "scanners" as "sensors", you dont need sensors, so #2 is a good one that not enough people bother with. A couple of free points of temp can make all the difference.

The 0% at jump is in my mind "bimbling". You are welcome to follow that procedure, many do, but when it is in a thread about "best", "optimal" or "efficient", I really grinds my gears. Add in the fact that you are not checking your destination before the jump engages... argggggghhhh

I have a DBE, but have not taken one out on a long trip, so I am not going to thrust the "most efficient" Asp procedure down your throat. I appreciate that the pitiful fuel scoop in a DBE does not fit very well with the Asp fast scoop method, and once that is off the table, then what I consider "best" is moot.

I recommend that when DS scanning, you try and judge it so that you are at least down to 75% throttle when the scan starts, then hit 0%. You really dont want to be anywhere near ANY gravity well, as it just slows you down when you head off for the next target. Does getting closer really speed up the scan ? I have never noticed it, and if it does, the gravity well issue will outway it by a large factor.

Tips:
Have the Galaxy Map on a key binding, and ALWAYS check the next system before the jump engages. Jumping blind is asking for trouble, even if all it does is prepare you so there is less panic when an unusual situation occurs.
Very few things are "worth" scanning. ELW, WW, AW, BH, NS, WD. By time you have done a 6k DSS, you could be in the next system honking for 20k. That doesnt mean never scan anything else, especially if it already within scan range, but be aware that you may be "wasting" your time.

 

[dannywhac]

. Does getting closer really speed up the scan ? I have never noticed it, and if it does, the gravity well issue will outway it by a large factor.

Yeah it does, but the time spent getting closer to a body and getting caught in its gravity well is outweighed by the time saved by scanning from a max distance, and not having to get your speed back up.

The way I explore, I only get close to a body if I've got some kind of photo opportunity.

 

[CMDR DoubleSkulls]

you dont need sensors

You do if you want to be able to see other CMDRs in the same system

 

[Krunchie]

I always hated the fact that if your ship gets to 57% heat when jumping, it's absolutely the same if you start the jump at 55% heat or at 25% heat, the ship will always get to 57%.

But ultimately it doesn't matter because even jumping into a close binary system can't damage your hull, it barely damages a couple of percent from your modules. It was much more dangerous before the heat management change.

 

[Allitnil]

You do if you want to be able to see other CMDRs in the same system

Like meeting up with two other CMDRs 65K from home and complaining that you can't see them and the matchmaking must be broke....

 

[Shaele]

Thanx for the input and the additions. Setting keys for throttle settings, maps and next system in the route is something I had already done but forgot to add to the list. I have also set the mouse wheel to throttle in 10% increments.

 

[Sapient6]

If nothing to scan and you are still refuelling/parked near the star, select the next system to jump to and head there, but jump when the heat starts to drop and is <58% jump as the heat will drop at the same rate it builds up saving a little bit of time

Disagree. Get to know your ship. Learn how hot your ship can be when you initiate your jump and still avoid heat damage. Then give yourself a little bit of breathing room. My clipper can initiate jump while within proximity of a hot star at around 75% heat and still not take any damage, but that's a very close thing, so I hit jump if: my heat is not above 68% OR if my heat is already dropping (if it's above 70% heat and dropping then it will drop down to the standard jump heat by the time I vacate the system).

I recommend that when DS scanning, you try and judge it so that you are at least down to 75% throttle when the scan starts, then hit 0%. You really dont want to be anywhere near ANY gravity well, as it just slows you down when you head off for the next target. Does getting closer really speed up the scan ? I have never noticed it, and if it does, the gravity well issue will outway it by a large factor.

Agreed! Getting involved in a gravity well is going to cost you a lot more time than you might gain from a closer range during the scan.

The way I explore, I only get close to a body if I've got some kind of photo opportunity.

Same here, and usually I will get all my scanning done first and approach the photo op so it won't occlude my next jump target.

But ultimately it doesn't matter because even jumping into a close binary system can't damage your hull, it barely damages a couple of percent from your modules. It was much more dangerous before the heat management change.

Of course whether that module damage matters depends a lot upon how careless you're going to continue to be, how long you're going to be out there, which modules take the damage, and whether you can repair them. Having my FSD start malfunctioning 10's of kylies out is something I'd find a little stressful.

 

[CMDR DoubleSkulls]

The way I explore, I only get close to a body if I've got some kind of photo opportunity.

Me too, but I really don't like that it works this way. I'd like to be able to be an efficient explorer and get nice views of all the bodies I scan (this is not a request to force people to get closer for scanning). Nowadays its pretty much only ELWs and via inattention I get close to consider a photo.

 

[EUS]

I always hated the fact that if your ship gets to 57% heat when jumping, it's absolutely the same if you start the jump at 55% heat or at 25% heat, the ship will always get to 57%.

Is this true? All this time I've been waiting until I go below 40% before hitting the FSD for nothing?

 

[dannywhac]

Is this true? All this time I've been waiting until I go below 40% before hitting the FSD for nothing?

Yep - so long as your heat has started to drop after scooping, it still won't get above the standard FSD engaged temp. As mentioned by Sapient6 above, if you learn your ships temps you can even get away with FSD'ing whilst you is hot, hot, hot.

 

[Smacker]

I agree with #1, but none of the others

Well the A grade scoop is usually massively more expensive than the B grade so I always get the B grade as it is only a little bit slower.

 

[CMDR DoubleSkulls]

Obviously it varies, but I'll regularly jump over 60%. As long as you are heading mainly away from the star at full speed you'll be okay. Try it, just get ready to cancel the jump if you get over 95%. I'm sure the experienced racers no exactly where the limits are.

 

[dannywhac]

Me too, but I really don't like that it works this way. I'd like to be able to be an efficient explorer and get nice views of all the bodies I scan (this is not a request to force people to get closer for scanning). Nowadays its pretty much only ELWs and via inattention I get close to consider a photo.

Agreed - although since I got to Elite Expl. I have been taking more piccies - I think it's due to not being so worried about losing data (after quite a few ring/asteroid/disconnect troubles pre 1.03).

Hopefully there'll be more incentive to get close-ups if they ever release planetary landings/that old planet scanning concept with the grid projected on the planets surface.