Your Questions Needed - Join the Elite Tutorial Livestream - Everything You Need to Know About Exploration

[CMDR Heisenberg B. Damned]

Will your tutorial go from zero to hero. As an example, my good lady wife has started playing. She flew to an inhabited system that she did not have the data for. Used an ADS and then flew out to the surface base.
It showed up as unknown on the LH Nav pane, even though it was available in the system map.

rescan after rescan did not resolve it. In the end she swapped ships and the new one had a Basic Scanner instead and this resolved it. I have no idea what the capabilities and limitations of the different scanners are!

TLDR: What scanner is needed to identify a surface base so it shows in LH nav panel?

Not wishing to preempt the tutorial but planets remain unknown (undiscovered? not in game ATM) until you target them and get in range. The ADS reveals the system but not the planet details. Any Discovery Scanner can scan a planet without being fired or in a fire group at all - you just target the planet and fly towards it. That shows the name and some info on the planet and a Detail Surface Scanner just adds to that info.

EDIT - Ninja'd

 

[Haden Jett]

Hi Michael,

I'm not sure if this has ever been asked or was on the DDA so here goes.....

"Has there ever been plans or will there be plans to ONLY show the regions of the Galaxy map that you have discovered yourself?"

I've always thought that one of the best mechanics to exploration would be to only see where you've been and scanned and slowly over time build up the Galaxy map. I'm sure it would encourage players to explore whilst also offering an element of surprise when you don't know the next type of star you're about to jump to. It would certainly keep the Fuel Rats busy (as if they aren't already!).

 

[edgar]

My question for the stream:

In Frontier's "How to Make a Real World" live stream there was a comment about how the different colours of the planets are determined by the material composition of the planet. I remember that feldspar was one material that was specifically mentioned that gives a grey colour.

Are there any plans to actually show the player details about these different compositions in-game, perhaps using a scanner, in the future? I think it would add hugely to the scientific realism of exploration.

 

[drkaii]

Hi,

All of the ideas the community has put forward to improve exploration and the galaxy in general have been nicely collected here: Exploration Community Request List

It would be very nice to know if the team have seen it, and are considering working on some of the items in the list? We know that there are no major exploration expansions planned as of yet, and we also know that the game is still very young and one day there might be one.

We hope the Distant Worlds expedition has proven that exploration is a huge, important part of the game and have encouraged Frontier to maybe open doors they once deemed closed, in terms of improving the galaxy and exploration. A nice place to start would be by looking at that thread, and maybe commenting on even the possibility that it will be taken seriously and developed with enthusiasm by Frontier.

Dr. Kaii and Distant Worlds

 

[tea_rex]

Hi,

All of the ideas the community has put forward to improve exploration and the galaxy in general have been nicely collected here: Exploration Community Request List

It would be very nice to know if the team have seen it, and are considering working on some of the items in the list? We know that there are no major exploration expansions planned as of yet, and we also know that the game is still very young and one day there might be one.

We hope the Distant Worlds expedition has proven that exploration is a huge, important part of the game and have encouraged Frontier to maybe open doors they once deemed closed, in terms of improving the galaxy and exploration. A nice place to start would be by looking at that thread, and maybe commenting on even the possibility that it will be taken seriously and developed with enthusiasm by Frontier.

Dr. Kaii and Distant Worlds

Seconded, I love Elite Dangerous, and I love exploration. Anything that can be done to further enrich exploration would be greatly appreciated by myself, and no doubt many other players

 

[Michael Brookes]

Hi,

All of the ideas the community has put forward to improve exploration and the galaxy in general have been nicely collected here: Exploration Community Request List

It would be very nice to know if the team have seen it, and are considering working on some of the items in the list? We know that there are no major exploration expansions planned as of yet, and we also know that the game is still very young and one day there might be one.

We hope the Distant Worlds expedition has proven that exploration is a huge, important part of the game and have encouraged Frontier to maybe open doors they once deemed closed, in terms of improving the galaxy and exploration. A nice place to start would be by looking at that thread, and maybe commenting on even the possibility that it will be taken seriously and developed with enthusiasm by Frontier.

Dr. Kaii and Distant Worlds

We do keep an eye on the forums and are aware of many suggestions (including this one) - we can't often get involved in discussions, but Sandy and his team do so as they can and when specific feedback is wanted.

Michael

 

[AirOnSkin]

Hi,

All of the ideas the community has put forward to improve exploration and the galaxy in general have been nicely collected here: Exploration Community Request List

It would be very nice to know if the team have seen it, and are considering working on some of the items in the list? We know that there are no major exploration expansions planned as of yet, and we also know that the game is still very young and one day there might be one.

We hope the Distant Worlds expedition has proven that exploration is a huge, important part of the game and have encouraged Frontier to maybe open doors they once deemed closed, in terms of improving the galaxy and exploration. A nice place to start would be by looking at that thread, and maybe commenting on even the possibility that it will be taken seriously and developed with enthusiasm by Frontier.

Dr. Kaii and Distant Worlds

I also would like to know if Frontier is considering the Exploration Community Request List for future improvements. There are a ton of fantastic inputs there...

 

[sensai25]

So just 1 base completely isolated 20,000Ly away from anything else? That actually makes less sense.

Have i told one only base ? No.

Please don't take me for a fool, use your brain a little.

In the range 0 => 20000 ly there could be 8-10 relay station that could be use as foreign outpost, advanced base to help mankind to extend.

No need 50 bases.

Each one should be built through complex and long term CG (1-3 month per station) and this complete plan cannot be achieved within 2-3 years from now ?

Clear to you now ?

 

[Philip Coutts]

I don't know about a few hours ... it took me 15 and that was a MAJOR feet of endurance (and something I will never forget). Have you actually tried it? 'Tis no small thing. Those guys at the top of the Buckyball Sag A* scoreboard are lunatics

Maybe I exaggerate the time it can be done in a little but it really is just a case of head down, jump, honk, scan, jump honk scan, jump, honk etc etc. I remember when the game was released on player made it to Sag A in I think 8 hours. Also there is very little risk, you can easily make it to Sag A and back with barely a scratch.

 

[drkaii]

We do keep an eye on the forums and are aware of many suggestions (including this one) - we can't often get involved in discussions, but Sandy and his team do so as they can and when specific feedback is wanted.

Michael

Great, thanks! Glad to hear that. I've actually noticed a few of the suggestions there seem to be taken up here and there.

If exploration and the galaxy could get some dedicated love, I think it would be great for the game as a whole.

 

[CMDR Weatherwax]

When detailed scanning landable planets, on completion instead of the planet information appearing in the bottom left of the HUD it switches straight away to the distance/speed display, sometimes I just want quick information on what planet types they are without landing on them. Currently I end up having to go to system map to check if icy, rocky etc. Is there a different way I'm missing to quickly get this information, I can imagine that once other planet types are included for landing this will become more annoying.

 

[Ozric]

Have i told one only base ? No.

Please don't take me for a fool, use your brain a little.

In the range 0 => 20000 ly there could be 8-10 relay station that could be use as foreign outpost, advanced base to help mankind to extend.

No need 50 bases.

Each one should be built through complex and long term CG (1-3 month per station) and this complete plan cannot be achieved within 2-3 years from now ?

Clear to you now ?

No need to be abusive, especially as you made no mention of how many, if any, stop off stations you had planned.

We want to implant station in the core direction (planned on 2-3 year to reach 20000ly)...

My goal is not 40 stations. But at lasts some far base where explorers could regroup, rest, save data, repairs.

So I only had the request you made last week to go from which was for 24 stations per year. Perhaps you should outline your actual idea to start with next time.

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When detailed scanning landable planets, on completion instead of the planet information appearing in the bottom left of the HUD it switches straight away to the distance/speed display, sometimes I just want quick information on what planet types they are without landing on them. Currently I end up having to go to system map to check if icy, rocky etc. Is there a different way I'm missing to quickly get this information, I can imagine that once other planet types are included for landing this will become more annoying.

Your not missing anything at the moment, but you are right it is frustrating and as more types of planets become landable then the issue will only get greater.

 

[Edith_The_Hutt]

What's the best way to spot a Terraformable planet?

 

[Agony_Aunt]

What's the best way to spot a Terraformable planet?

I'll field this one! Learn about Goldilocks zones.

For a G type star like ours, that's around 500LS from the primary. Look for planets around this area +/- a few hundred LS with atmospheres (having said that, i've found an airless rocky world that was apparently a terraforming candidate). Hotter stars you need to look further out, colder stars further in.

Now, my question.

Buggrit millennium hand and shrimp!

Yeah, its not a question... i've been on Distant Worlds, i'm certifiably insane by now.

Bibble.

Kids, don't do exploration. You'll end up like us.

 

[Alec Turner]

I remember when the game was released on player made it to Sag A in I think 8 hours.

As a subject dear to my heart I have to just chip in one more time here. The player who made it in 8 hrs was Cmdr Alot. He's the long standing record holder for the Sag A* journey and has re-taken the title on no fewer than 8 separate occasions. His final breaking of the 8hr barrier was the result of over a years worth of slowly chipping away at the best time (his first attempt was just over 11hrs) and required an Anaconda carrying so little fuel (for weight reduction) that hitting even a single unscoopable would have left him stranded (consequently he had to pre-plan the entire route).

There's an excellent interactive graph of the A* record breakers over time available here:

http://astar.thargoid.space/times/

I do hear what you're saying about the dangers (or lack thereof) involved in this journey tho. As long as you don't lose concentration there isn't actually that much that can go wrong (aside from serious bladder malfunction). When I did my attempt I didn't bother with shields, AFMUs or Heat Sinks, never really needed them and actually hit relatively few patches of unscoopables, even just relying on the builtin route plotter. It's undoubtedly a serious mental challenge as the realisation of just how far it is starts to sink in around the 5-6hr mark but you're right ... more physical dangers would make it more interesting.

 

[Nicky the Hutt]

I painted my Sidewinder orange with flames. I painted my Cobra Mk III orange, with flames.

Will I be able to paint my Diamondback Explorer and Fer-de-lance orange, with flames? They're useless to me without flames.

 

[Alec Turner]

I don't know if this has already been mentioned but - the system view ... have you tried listening to it?

** hint hint ** get Ed to try this!

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Not so much a question as a request.

Ed has gone from the Bubble to catch up with the DW fleet in 2 weeks, on his first exploration trip. Could someone please shake his hands and say: "Respect" for me?

Thanks a bunch

 

[Iskariot]

QUESTION 1: Will we ever get a build-in personal Captain's log.
This would be an incredible tool for keeping track of a commanders explorations/discoveries etc.

QUESTION 2: Are you guys already working on the orrery?
Exploration would really be enhanced by it.
The entire game would be enhanced by it.
My life would be enhanced by it .

 

[sensai25]

When will we be able to find back the list of our previous visited system ?

If not available in game could FD give us one extract as the other time (excel file given by M. Brooke's).

It could be very precious.

Thanks