Use FSS while Fuel Scooping

It takes me a few seconds to scoop, I have enough time to honk, if it's only stars I zero throttle to fire up the fss to see if there is anything interesting, if there isn't it's full throttle and ready to jump, if there is it's full throttle to investigate, I can't imagine sitting fuel scooping while using the FSS, that would just waste so much time.
 
It takes me a few seconds to scoop, I have enough time to honk, if it's only stars I zero throttle to fire up the fss to see if there is anything interesting, if there isn't it's full throttle and ready to jump, if there is it's full throttle to investigate, I can't imagine sitting fuel scooping while using the FSS, that would just waste so much time.
Eh, yes and no. Depends if you're already planning to use the FSS already or not. Cause if you are then you might as well scoop while doing it. Saves time when you get to your final star or lets you jump longer before having to take a forced refuel break while you're on your journey.
 
I think, while possible, it still would be a pita because the planets move relatively to you in FSS and the targeting/zooming might get whacky.
Not really... I used to do it all the time while approaching gas giants. Throttle down at five seconds, and then use the FSS to resolve the less interesting or too distant bodies as the moons of the one I'm approaching resolve themselves as they got near enough. If I timed and aimed it right, I'd be half way out of the giant's SOI by the time I was done using the FSS.

FD doesn't require you to throttle down because it's too difficult to use at speed. It's because the FSS goes a bit wonky during a sphere of influence change. Maybe they tried to fix it and gave up. Maybe they didn't want to bother fixing it in the first place. Either way, this effect only happens during times you won't necessarily want to be using in the first place. The only reason I'm aware of it is because I was a bit stubborn about using the FSS on the go, even if doing so was rather limited.
 
Eh, yes and no. Depends if you're already planning to use the FSS already or not. Cause if you are then you might as well scoop while doing it. Saves time when you get to your final star or lets you jump longer before having to take a forced refuel break while you're on your journey.

No, it doesn't save any time, if you are scooping while using the FSS after exiting the FSS you still need to line up on your destination, if you have a ship that can't handle the heat you need to move away from the star before jumping, and if your destination is behind the stars it takes far longer to get around it than it's worth, a few seconds scooping while I honk and maybe check the FSS quickly for interesting objects then moving away to run the FSS if I need to takes a matter of seconds. I can imagine the extra time wasted running the FSS while scooping and it's just not worth it!

Bascially by the time I have scooped and done a quick check of the FSS I am full so sitting there is pointless, far better to move away, which I would probably have to do anyway if a) some bodies are behind the star, very likely if FSS while in scoop range, b) my next jump destination is behind the star, very likely while in scoop range, or c) I have a not running ship and need to move out of scoop range to initiate jump.
 
Last edited:
No, it doesn't save any time, if you are scooping while using the FSS after exiting the FSS you still need to line up on your destination, if you have a ship that can't handle the heat you need to move away from the star before jumping, and if your destination is behind the stars it takes far longer to get around it than it's worth, a few seconds scooping while I honk and maybe check the FSS quickly for interesting objects then moving away to run the FSS if I need to takes a matter of seconds. I can imagine the extra time wasted running the FSS while scooping and it's just not worth it!

Bascially by the time I have scooped and done a quick check of the FSS I am full so sitting there is pointless, far better to move away, which I would probably have to do anyway if a) some bodies are behind the star, very likely if FSS while in scoop range, b) my next jump destination is behind the star, very likely while in scoop range, or c) I have a not running ship and need to move out of scoop range to initiate jump.

That does depend on the size of the scoop though :)

I occasionally scan while scooping (but not pooping) in a Python with a 2A Fuel Scoop, but that ship is optimised for cargo space (mining) not fast travel.
 
That does depend on the size of the scoop though :)

I occasionally scan while scooping (but not pooping) in a Python with a 2A Fuel Scoop, but that ship is optimised for cargo space (mining) not fast travel.

That's one thing I never compromise on when exploring, they have no mass rating so taking a smaller one is pointless, my type 9 however doesn't even have one, it's basically ferrying tritium to and from my carrier, so that space is better used for cargo, horses for courses, but exploring is always improved by fitting the largest fuel scoop you can and scooping at every suitable star.
 
Last edited:
My main issue with this would be that when you're close enough to a star to scoop from it, it blocks a big chunk of your vision when in the FSS.
This would be my issue with doing this too. After I've scooped I tend to move away from the star before starting the FSS. Otherwise, there's normally a few bodies that are blocked by the main star, so I'd have to move again in order to scan them.
 
This would be my issue with doing this too. After I've scooped I tend to move away from the star before starting the FSS. Otherwise, there's normally a few bodies that are blocked by the main star, so I'd have to move again in order to scan them.
This is an issue mainly if you position yourself in the orbital plane. If you position yourself on the axis perpendicular to the orbital plane, you will likely have LoS to all of the planets.
 
I'm always fascinated by the subtly different ways people play this game, many of which I'd never considered. The bulk of my exploration over the past few years has been in an Anaconda with an insane fuel scoop that easily fills the tank by the time the next destination has cleared the star's limb, so the idea of combining scooping with FSS has literally never occurred to me. But this is all stuff I might have had to consider back in my Asp or especially DBX days, had the FSS been a thing back then.

It's interesting that even with just a handful of variables, no "best" way has emerged. I guess there's a lot of subjectivity when it comes to what feels most efficient, and that's very human. It'd be a boring universe if we all flew the same way.
 
This would be my issue with doing this too. After I've scooped I tend to move away from the star before starting the FSS. Otherwise, there's normally a few bodies that are blocked by the main star, so I'd have to move again in order to scan them.

That's always an issue, but this is no solution;

This is an issue mainly if you position yourself in the orbital plane. If you position yourself on the axis perpendicular to the orbital plane, you will likely have LoS to all of the planets.

First of all you don't always get an orbital plane, if all the bodies in the system are in binary or trinary groups they don't generate an orbital plane line, second, the amount of time spent actually moving around to a point perpendicular to the orbital plane, while scooping is plenty of time to honk, scoop and move out to a reasonable distance where bodies won't be blocked and you can always be assured of being in a good position for the next jump. There's just no way this will ever be quicker than a fast scoop and move out to a good position for and jumping to next target!

What is this "overheat while scooping"?
* Laughs frantically in Dolphin *

Not me of course, but there are beginners who are still finding their feet and working out the best way to do things.
 
Hi,

New to the forums. As the subject line suggests, I think it would be awesome if you can FSS mode while fuel scooping. As I like to explore, this would be a huge time saver.

Edit: to clarify while using supercruise assist.
Not possible.
Bodies will fly past to fast.
Sorry!
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom