Trying something new, Looking for long range exploration related advice

[Stahll Amatin]

So, the one thing i've yet to try in this game is heading out far beyond the populated cluster and just seeing what there is to see but i do have a few questions for the more seasoned explorers around here;

1. Is it worth carrying the SRV bay with the way the game is right now?
2. I assume Asp Explorer is still the prefered ship? I have one kicking around somewheres and about 140m to spend- Any decent builds for the *current* game?
3. I plan to wander for quite some time (many sessions before seeing a station again) any special considerations?

Other ships I already own- 2 Couriers (one I use as a more nimble vulture, the other is used for planetary mission running) a Clipper (thought of using this, I really like the imperial ships, but if coriolis.io is still accurate- the ASP outranges it masively.), and my Cutter which i dont think is really viable for this due to it's (comparibly) limited range. Are any of these a valid choice?

p.s. sorry if post is a bit ramble-y i just typed as it came to me

 

[Raelek]

Well lets see the SRV thingy is quite fun to use from time to time on planets
An asp is the proper way to go, also 1 x fuel scoop 2xafmu I'll update this reply with a build shortly

[Asp Explorer]
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher

BH: 1I Lightweight Alloy
RB: 5A Power Plant
TM: 5D Thrusters
FH: 5A Frame Shift Drive
EC: 4D Life Support
PC: 4D Power Distributor
SS: 5D Sensors
FS: 5C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 32)

6: 6A Fuel Scoop
5: 5A Auto Field-Maintenance Unit
3: 3C Bi-Weave Shield Generator
3: 2G Planetary Vehicle Hangar
3: 3E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 8)
2: 1C Detailed Surface Scanner
2: 1C Advanced Discovery Scanner
---
Shield: 71,45 MJ
Power : 14,13 MW retracted (69 %)
14,13 MW deployed (69 %)
20,40 MW available
Cargo : 8 T
Fuel : 32 T
Mass : 353,5 T empty
393,5 T full
Range : 31,95 LY unladen
31,30 LY laden
Price : 55.959.010 CR
Re-Buy: 2.797.951 CR @ 95% insurance


Its funky, I bet you can take off things here and there to make it cheaper / have a higher jump-range, imho unless you are going for the fringes 30LY is enough ^^

Fly safe CMDR!
-Raelek

 

[dognosh]

So, the one thing i've yet to try in this game is heading out far beyond the populated cluster and just seeing what there is to see but i do have a few questions for the more seasoned explorers around here;

1. Is it worth carrying the SRV bay with the way the game is right now?
2. I assume Asp Explorer is still the prefered ship? I have one kicking around somewheres and about 140m to spend- Any decent builds for the *current* game?
3. I plan to wander for quite some time (many sessions before seeing a station again) any special considerations?

Other ships I already own- 2 Couriers (one I use as a more nimble vulture, the other is used for planetary mission running) a Clipper (thought of using this, I really like the imperial ships, but if coriolis.io is still accurate- the ASP outranges it masively.), and my Cutter which i dont think is really viable for this due to it's (comparibly) limited range. Are any of these a valid choice?

p.s. sorry if post is a bit ramble-y i just typed as it came to me

Come and ask us in the exploration forum, we are the most experienced explorers on ED
1. YES
2. Asp is one of the best, so is the conda
3. Take at least one AFMU

 

[Eloy]

Well lets see the SRV thingy is quite fun to use from time to time on planets
An asp is the proper way to go, also 1 x fuel scoop 2xafmu I'll update this reply with a build shortly

[Asp Explorer]
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher
U: 0I Heat Sink Launcher

BH: 1I Lightweight Alloy
RB: 5A Power Plant
TM: 5D Thrusters
FH: 5A Frame Shift Drive
EC: 4D Life Support
PC: 4D Power Distributor
SS: 5D Sensors
FS: 5C Fuel Tank (Capacity: 32)

6: 6A Fuel Scoop
5: 5A Auto Field-Maintenance Unit
3: 3C Bi-Weave Shield Generator
3: 2G Planetary Vehicle Hangar
3: 3E Cargo Rack (Capacity: 8)
2: 1C Detailed Surface Scanner
2: 1C Advanced Discovery Scanner
---
Shield: 71,45 MJ
Power : 14,13 MW retracted (69 %)
14,13 MW deployed (69 %)
20,40 MW available
Cargo : 8 T
Fuel : 32 T
Mass : 353,5 T empty
393,5 T full
Range : 31,95 LY unladen
31,30 LY laden
Price : 55.959.010 CR
Re-Buy: 2.797.951 CR @ 95% insurance


Its funky, I bet you can take off things here and there to make it cheaper / have a higher jump-range, imho unless you are going for the fringes 30LY is enough ^^

Fly safe CMDR!
-Raelek

Not bad Maybe I would switch Shields and AMFU. Shields have become much more important recently ... and since the ASP can´t run away the shields should last longer than the FSD charge time.
For the same reasons I would replace two of the heat sinks with 1 point defense and 1 chaff launcher.
Maybe then drop the SRV for a second AFMU ... but that´s a hard decision.

 

[dognosh]

2 AFMUs are not needed, never had my single AFMU fail on me in 400000 LYs
4 HS launchers ? Never used a single one and not needed it
5A power plant , overkill
32t fuel tank, not needed, 16 or 20 will do

 

[Raelek]

Depends on how aware you are when playing I guess ^_^ I tend to zone out from time to time lel ^_^ but yeah some of the things are overkill on my conda im running D grade all over the place except for Frameshift still all thy points are valid good sir ^^

 

[Chrystoph]

A lot of what you are asking depends on what you want to accomplish.

If you are heading for the core, any ship will get you there, it is just a matter of how quickly you want to travel.

If you are actually stopping to explore anything that comes along, fly what makes you happy. Maximum ranges really only matter for buckeyballing and when you are heading to places away from the central arms.

1. Is it worth carrying the SRV bay with the way the game is right now?

SRVs are not a requirement, but they certainly make life more diverse, and, in some cases, easier. It will depend entirely on what you want to accomplish. They are a big help for resupply and for extending range.

2. I assume Asp Explorer is still the prefered ship? I have one kicking around somewheres and about 140m to spend- Any decent builds for the *current* game?

A basic AspX (What I am flying right now, although I would add a second AFMU): http://coriolis.io/outfit/asp/04A4D5A4D3D5D5C------02---3d0s43-v62i2f.Iw18WQ==.Aw18WQ==?bn=Explorer

 

[Whiterose]

Asking an explorer for the best loadout is like asking for your favourite ice-cream. Everyone will have different opinions. Every type of ship made it to Beagle Point on Distant Worlds. Fly what you want. All you need is the best FSD, fuel scoop, SRV everything else is optional.

 

[Edith_The_Hutt]

I'm currently a few thousand light years out in a Courier, explore in whatever you like.

My advice for your first trip is to pick something pretty a couple of thousand light years away and head out, then travel a few hundred light years in a random direction and head back. You should get a couple of first discoveries and some good screenshots without dedicating weeks to your journey