10 years in game and Commander, you have genuinely just rocked my galaxy o7
What ship do you use for exploration/exobiology?
- Thread starter HevKenzieHarris
- Start date
The following are the ships that I have used for deep-range exploration and exobiology:
Type-10 Defender - An unusual choice, but this is the ship in which I chose to make my first pilgrimage to Beagle Point and back. That trip was long enough and with enough scenic diversions, that I attained most of my Elite V exploration and exobiology ranks in this ship. Its sheer bulk makes it harder to find a landing spot than smaller vessels, and it does mean that taking an SRV with you is basically a requirement. But that gave me a lot of experience in traversing difficult terrain with the SRV.
Diamondback Explorer - Before the advent of SCO FSDs, this was the best small ship for the job IMO. It still beats the Mandalay for flying close to the ground while searching for exobiology, since it doesn't have those pretty-looking but functionally silly wings. Fuel scoop potential is a little undersized, but I consider this is to be a minor drawback since I'm usually using the FSS while the ship is scooping.
Krait Phantom - I outfitted one of these a while back as a neutron highway runner, its decent range and generous internals making it the best choice for the role among the Medium ships. Its size also makes it easier than the DBX to control among the rough-and-tumble conditions of a neutron star's jet cones. It's a great choice for exploration, and were it not for the Mandalay it would still be a competitive choice.
Mandalay - The new hotness. Unmatched jump range, along with sufficient internals to carry an SRV bay and self-repair modules. The wings do quite sharply limit how far one can roll while flying close to the ground, but its advantages in other areas are still good enough to mean that my DBX and my Phantom are now second-string choices gathering dust in my carrier's hangar. I recently took a little trip out to the Elysian Shore, and were it not for my sub-optimal module choices I could have spent a very long time out there without needing to dock at a carrier.
I've heard people say that they can't stand the sound of the Asp Explorer's engine, but it sounds alright to me.
Type-10 Defender - An unusual choice, but this is the ship in which I chose to make my first pilgrimage to Beagle Point and back. That trip was long enough and with enough scenic diversions, that I attained most of my Elite V exploration and exobiology ranks in this ship. Its sheer bulk makes it harder to find a landing spot than smaller vessels, and it does mean that taking an SRV with you is basically a requirement. But that gave me a lot of experience in traversing difficult terrain with the SRV.
Diamondback Explorer - Before the advent of SCO FSDs, this was the best small ship for the job IMO. It still beats the Mandalay for flying close to the ground while searching for exobiology, since it doesn't have those pretty-looking but functionally silly wings. Fuel scoop potential is a little undersized, but I consider this is to be a minor drawback since I'm usually using the FSS while the ship is scooping.
Krait Phantom - I outfitted one of these a while back as a neutron highway runner, its decent range and generous internals making it the best choice for the role among the Medium ships. Its size also makes it easier than the DBX to control among the rough-and-tumble conditions of a neutron star's jet cones. It's a great choice for exploration, and were it not for the Mandalay it would still be a competitive choice.
Mandalay - The new hotness. Unmatched jump range, along with sufficient internals to carry an SRV bay and self-repair modules. The wings do quite sharply limit how far one can roll while flying close to the ground, but its advantages in other areas are still good enough to mean that my DBX and my Phantom are now second-string choices gathering dust in my carrier's hangar. I recently took a little trip out to the Elysian Shore, and were it not for my sub-optimal module choices I could have spent a very long time out there without needing to dock at a carrier.
I've heard people say that they can't stand the sound of the Asp Explorer's engine, but it sounds alright to me.
I've got a Cobra Mk III wireframe.But there is one in the main menu, so you can change your bobbleheads wherever you are in the Galaxy
Also, I love my cockpit flowers: the aloe, cactus, succulent and Thargoid interceptor bobbleheads are in all my ships I fly frequently
I took a T10 out to the Explorer's Anchorage CG, stopping along the way to visit interesting bodies. No SRV on the way out, because the ship was kitted out for mining.
When the CG ended I did get the SRV aboard, binned all of the mining stuff and took my time coming back to visit some oof the bodies I'd bookmarked along the way.
Brilliant ship for sightseeing, despite being a little on the large size!
I had a lot of fun throughout the entire trip, lovely ship to fly.
If you are using a fleet carrier as your "base" for exploration, then it doesn't really matter what ship you use for exploring. I have seen some streamers use the Eagle, which according to them is a superb exploration/exobiology ship for short distances.
Nowadays I wouldn't be surprised if they prefer the Cobra Mk V instead, because of its superb SCO handling. (Also its jump range is actually really decent.)
However, if you are not using a fleet carrier, then the range of options becomes much more limited, particularly if you want to travel very long distances (thousands of Ly).
Before the new SCO ships, the four classic were, of course:
Of course now the Mandalay has probably taken the number 1 spot: Very stylish, second-largest jump range by a very small margin, turns like a dream, SCO-optimized, small footprint (allowing it to land even on rougher terrain). A bit poorer canopy view, though, which is its only drawback.
The Cobra Mk V also shouldn't be scoffed at as an exploration vessel: It can achieve quite decent jump ranges (about 70 Ly, even more if you compromise), small footprint, excellent canopy view, and has the best handling of all ships.
Nowadays I wouldn't be surprised if they prefer the Cobra Mk V instead, because of its superb SCO handling. (Also its jump range is actually really decent.)
However, if you are not using a fleet carrier, then the range of options becomes much more limited, particularly if you want to travel very long distances (thousands of Ly).
Before the new SCO ships, the four classic were, of course:
- Asp Explorer: The "old reliable". Ugly, sounds like a badly tuned diesel engine, but decent jump range and internal slots. Excellent canopy view.
- Krait Phantom: Very stylish and "badass" looking, slightly larger jump range than the AspX. Turns slower. Decent but not great canopy view.
- Diamondback Explorer: Second-best jump range (before the Mandalay), rugged look, excellent canopy view, small footprint (thus can land on a postage stamp). Suffers from supporting only a class-4 fuel scoop.
- Anaconda: By far the largest jump range (which was actually a mistake that they never "fixed"). Good to set world records, but it's a huge ship that turns like in molasses and requires an airport to land. It's supposed to be a large combat ship, not an exploration vessel.
Of course now the Mandalay has probably taken the number 1 spot: Very stylish, second-largest jump range by a very small margin, turns like a dream, SCO-optimized, small footprint (allowing it to land even on rougher terrain). A bit poorer canopy view, though, which is its only drawback.
The Cobra Mk V also shouldn't be scoffed at as an exploration vessel: It can achieve quite decent jump ranges (about 70 Ly, even more if you compromise), small footprint, excellent canopy view, and has the best handling of all ships.
Most recently, an Imperial Courier for the nice landing. Before that, Cobra 3.
