Would like a new, different exploration ship from FD:

[Mengy]

Some people in this thread are advocating for specialized ships - why in the seven hells would you want Frontier to deliberately pare our choices down from 34 to 4-6 for any given activity?

That is both stupid, and myopic. I can't wait to see the screenshots and videos of the upcoming Distant Worlds II Expedition that show different colors of the exact same, meta Exploration ship. There is a reasonable amount of ship diversity on the currently running Dead End's Expedition, and that is something that should be encouraged and developed, not squashed.

I guess my definition of "reasonable diversity" is different than yours. Here is the breakdown of ships on the DECE:

82% of the fleet is dominated by three ship types, and 47% is dominated by just one ship. In my opinion, the game needs an exploration ship to compete with the Anaconda, and the game overall could use more viable top tier choices for exploration in general.

 

[Kubicide]

OP: perhaps the better request here is to ask for a dedicated explorer ship. None of the ships in Elite are truly specialized - all can be somewhat good at everything. Having one truly dedicated explorer ship would be nice. But this has been a major issue with the game since day one in that the ships truly lack diversity and individual purpose aside from the few corner cases (FdL being the overpowered combat standout; Anaconda being the super-multirole ship). This game should have ships that have clear advantages in specific roles.

OR make it such that RNGineers can turn any ship into anything.

 

[MrFailfactory]

I guess my definition of "reasonable diversity" is different than yours. Here is the breakdown of ships on the DECE:

https://i.imgur.com/LyZahh7.png

82% of the fleet is dominated by three ship types, and 47% is dominated by just one ship. In my opinion, the game needs an exploration ship to compete with the Anaconda, and the game overall could use more viable top tier choices for exploration in general.

That representation is not unexpected, and I'm not going to pick nits with you on this, other than to say that it appears as though 14 of 33 (current) ships are represented in that chart. Strictly speaking, it's 15, unless Henka has come back to the bubble to replace his T-10. Last time I checked, that's really close to half.

A specialized Exploration ship that competes with the Anaconda makes that chart a lot less diverse, wouldn't you say? It might go from 82% (including the AspX and DBX), to 98%. Is that really your preferred outcome?

That doesn't seem like a good step forward, to me. The majority of ships available in the game can reach 32-40 light year jump ranges in Exploration fit, which is enough for all but the most remote locations.

I am all for a new ship (or a few of them) that have a visual appearance and design ethos indicating a vessel designed primarily for Exploration. I am all for real space and Supercruise performance that support that design ethos. I am all for designing Optional internals and Utility slots that support that intended design.

I am not, however, in favor of creating a meta ship for any role. It squashes diversity, and that would be bad for the game.

As a side note to others: it has been shown a number of times that the Anaconda is not the best at everything. In fact, the only place where it does reign supreme is jump range. It is not the best at Trade, Combat, or Missions, and whether or not it is the best at Exploration can easily be debated. It does everything at a high level, but it is not the uber-end-all-game-breaking ship that some make it out to be.

Riôt

 

[kofeyh]

Ok, so we have the trusty old ASP Explorer.

It certainly will do for most any situation, if you stretch it here or there. But its overly rustic and that B-29 sound can get a bit old after some time.

Then we have the "everything-and-the-kitchen-sink" Anaconda, where you don't have to leave anything behind, but you pay for that with a distinct lack of agility - which is really only a problem-problem when jumping to certain types of stars.

Next, we got the Diamondback Explorer... It arguably can be both a smaller and a better package than the ASP for some some jobs. Having the best jump range of all certainly makes it great to get around the bubble, with enough slots to still do stuff. But hell, its even more rustic than the ASP and the sound it makes is just annoying. Looks are a matter of taste, suffice it to say I'd prefer something from Gutamaya.


Personally, my favorite would be an Exploration Version of the FDL - loosing in weapons, shields and armor what it gains in tank size, FSD range and an assortment of optional slots somewhat better than an ASP, to give you enough flexibility to bring SRV garage, AFM, some cargo, engineering-grind capable etc.

Thus, we could have a more stylish exploration ship in between ASP and Anaconda, only requiring a fairly minimal amount of work for FD.

This assumes Frontier want to introduce a ship with respectable jump range; I think the odds of that are somewhere between buckley's and none. They had to halve the weight of Orca to resolve it's jump range, for example.

 

[kofeyh]

I am not, however, in favor of creating a meta ship for any role. It squashes diversity, and that would be bad for the game.

Ignore the elephant in the room, and claim it shouldn't exist, even when it does, because such a ship is bad. Can people (including the developer) a) stop panicking about Anaconda and b) actually consider the consequences of refusing to offer compelling choices for specific roles.

The very least of our concerns, would be two ships that were very good for exploration. Holy cow, can you imagine three genuine choices? How would the chart look then? It'd have just a ton less Anaconda, I can tell you that.

Protecting the Unicorn is not helping. No-one wants it replaced; they want alternatives. It just shouldn't be this hard.

 

[Lightspeed]

It would be easier for FD to introduce a nerf to the Anaconda .... which would introduce howls of derision and complaints.

So instead, they will let the Thargoids do it .... a nasty green slime will degrade Anaconda hulls and frame shift drives, for which a CG to repair them will fail As a result it will be a "community driven" nerf

I'll stop now, I may be giving FD some ideas.

 

[the source 0179]

Ok, so we have the trusty old ASP Explorer.

It certainly will do for most any situation, if you stretch it here or there. But its overly rustic and that B-29 sound can get a bit old after some time.

Then we have the "everything-and-the-kitchen-sink" Anaconda, where you don't have to leave anything behind, but you pay for that with a distinct lack of agility - which is really only a problem-problem when jumping to certain types of stars.

Next, we got the Diamondback Explorer... It arguably can be both a smaller and a better package than the ASP for some some jobs. Having the best jump range of all certainly makes it great to get around the bubble, with enough slots to still do stuff. But hell, its even more rustic than the ASP and the sound it makes is just annoying. Looks are a matter of taste, suffice it to say I'd prefer something from Gutamaya.


Personally, my favorite would be an Exploration Version of the FDL - loosing in weapons, shields and armor what it gains in tank size, FSD range and an assortment of optional slots somewhat better than an ASP, to give you enough flexibility to bring SRV garage, AFM, some cargo, engineering-grind capable etc.

Thus, we could have a more stylish exploration ship in between ASP and Anaconda, only requiring a fairly minimal amount of work for FD.

Actually it would be better if they made a exploration version of the python rather than the fdl. Python with less weapons, more utility slots and bigger fsd for longer jump range. They could shrink the powerplant and add more internal slots.

 

[Aussiedroid]

I am thinking along the lines of a few others in the thread. Something size/cost wise between the Asp & Conda, engineered range between 40-60lys. I keep going to back to the Asp because it is more fun to fly vs the Conda, although the Conda allows for a few things I would like to take with me like a SLF & hull repair limpets. Something the higher end of Medium class, good cockpit view, low on hardpoints, reasonable heat dissipation. Doesn't have to be tough as nails but reasonable maneuverability in SC & OK speed for exploring around planets. Tried most of the alternatives, but the overall best package right now for me is the Asp. Would like another alternative similar but slightly bigger size with more internals. I think there is a space in the ship line up for such a specialty ship. I like the idea of an Imperial Explorer from a design perspective as long as it has a good open cockpit.

 

[Jimbodiah]

Well, that's exactly what I mean, you are confusing exploration with fast travel.

Most people do, they confuse jonking from A to B as fast as possible as being what exploration is all about. If it can't jump 60ly, it's not an explorer. The same group that says you need a 24M credit 6A scoop on an Asp. Ignorance is bliss.

 

[kofeyh]

Most people do, they confuse jonking from A to B as fast as possible as being what exploration is all about. If it can't jump 60ly, it's not an explorer. The same group that says you need a 24M credit 6A scoop on an Asp. Ignorance is bliss.

There's more value to 60+LY than speed, m8. Potential. That potential means further above, below the galactic plane; it means further out on the rim. That potential, opens doors. Not everyone just wants to endlessly visit Sag A or Colonia.

Or complain about the size of other people's drives.

The universe is gigantic. The level of moral panic over having more jump range potential, with such a gargantuan system, never mind the shear number of stars, is hilarious.

 

[Jimbodiah]

Only a small percentage actually try to go to those locations so it is hardly representative of all the jonkers wanting 80ly jump range.

You can't have 60ly, 15 modules, agile and fast in one package. More modules means larger means slower means less agile. The asp is fast and agile but has fewer modules. Conda has a lot of modules but is slow. Wanting it all is wishfull thinking. I think FD will not make another conda mistake in ship balance.

 

[GraXXoR]

Only a small percentage actually try to go to those locations so it is hardly representative of all the jonkers wanting 80ly jump range.

You can't have 60ly, 15 modules, agile and fast in one package. More modules means larger means slower means less agile. The asp is fast and agile but has fewer modules. Conda has a lot of modules but is slow. Wanting it all is wishfull thinking. I think FD will not make another conda mistake in ship balance.

There are Class 8 Thrusters.
There are Class 8 Power Plants.
There are Class 8 Power Distributors.
There is Class 8 Life Support.
There are even pointless Class 8 Sensors.
There are Class 8 Slots for OPTIONAL internals for heaven's sake.

Yet there's no Class 8 FSD.

Add that into the game, create a ship the weight of the Anaconda (if you can do it once, you can do it again, eh, FDEV?) with much less armour and hardness to compensate. Give it a class 8 FSD and change the PD and PP to Class 7 each... Hell, even Class 6 would do... Job Done.
Give it 2 medium and 2 small hardpoints, less than the Asp. Give it the crappy magic shield rating balance multiplier of the T9 so that it has weaker shields than the Asp. SLF is optional but would be good for exploring canyons and scouting a route for the SRV once FDEV fix the Smoothification and Beigification Spacetime Reconfiguration Events that struck in 3302.

Give it a decent canopy view and job done.

Get Zorgon Perterson to make it and give it a 150 ~ 200,000,000 price tag.

It's not rocket science.

 

[V'larr]

I'm of the opinion that any ship in the game suffices as an exploration vessel.

What you're asking for is not an exploration vessel, but rather a traveling one - one that allows you to skip as much of the in-between galaxy as possible.

 

[Mengy]

I'm of the opinion that any ship in the game suffices as an exploration vessel.

What you're asking for is not an exploration vessel, but rather a traveling one - one that allows you to skip as much of the in-between galaxy as possible.

Sigh, really? I mean seriously, have you read the thread? Because it sure doesn't seem like it. :S

 

[Flin]

There aren't any exploration ships as there isn't any specific exploration gameplay.

The Dolphin, Orca, Beluga line of ships are 'cruise ships' as they are the only ships that can fit luxury passenger cabins.

Some are combat-focused as they have military internals.

We need something for exploration to count as exploration-focused.

Suggestions:
* Modules designed specifically and limited to 'exploration' ships that are associated with exploration gameplay (however limited it is).
* Example: fuel injection module to increase fuel efficiency or just increase fuel.volume to FSD jump.
* Advanced scanners to better pin point Surface POIs.

 

[Susanna]

How about a dedicated Exploration Vessel with absolutely NO Hardpoints?

Make it small, Let it accommodate a single Luxury cabin, make it amazingly fast (450+), decent shields, an amazing jump range (50+), but absolutely NO GUNS. You only option is to run if attacked. Not much need for hardpoints anyway once you clear the bubble.

I would buy one.

You need at least two hard points...
Mining laser (mining jumponium)
Plasma slug rail gun (for burning off excess fuel)

 

[kofeyh]

I'm of the opinion that any ship in the game suffices as an exploration vessel.

What you're asking for is not an exploration vessel, but rather a traveling one - one that allows you to skip as much of the in-between galaxy as possible.

Please, friend, read the the topic, don't just ape the "casuals" line, as though that somehow means anything. You're just wasting people's time, otherwise.

 

[Susanna]

Folks, the only reason you need a high jump range, 30ish, is to reach those systems on the edges that are far apart. Your average jump will be less than 10. Don't confuse exploration with fast travel.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showt...ound-Origins-a-Distant-Worlds-saga-expedition

Enough said.

 

[kofeyh]

Only a small percentage actually try to go to those locations so it is hardly representative of all the jonkers wanting 80ly jump range.

This isn't a valid argument; it's attempting to minoritise entire exploration reasons. I could go on, but I won't. The entire argument isn't worth the time.

 

[Mangal Oemie]

18K out in a Beluga, left Sunday.

Cockpit view that can only be described as panoramic