How to Explore

myo2 · Post by **myo2** » Sun May 25, 2014 6:20 pm

Hey All,

I'm digging the game (shame there aren't any active MP servers), but I was wondering if anybody has any tips for exploring. I've got a good ship and good equipment, largely from MP handholding a while back, and now I want a spoiler-free hunt for other planets. The problem is, I can't see how I'd find the dozens of hidden planets on my own. Is there any way in-game to get hints about where to search? Even that one in Pearl isn't easy to find just by jumping around...

Post by **DaveK** » Sun May 25, 2014 6:40 pm

There are several options:

there are a several utilities that assist in tracking down uncharted systems: EMTools / H2G2 Nav computer / Travel Buddy / SeeJay's Trilateration tool for planet finding / a form to record your data (and for submission to SeeJay for the one and only Evometrics!)
there are good tutorials available in the Hints&Tips Guide

Everything is available from SeeJay's site: http://www.evochron2.junholt.se/ in the Guides and in the Tools sections.

Evometrics is kept up to date to and takes its data from the web. It is therefore a complete spoiler unless you want the extra challenge of finding as yet unreported systems - there are more than a hundred 'uncharted' systems in it!

I use MapLog to automatically log which systems I'm flying through when I fly from one system to another across an uncharted expanse. It gives me a chance to spot stuff I've not heard of. Opportunities are getting rarer because the core system is well covered, but if you are starting with a blank canvas . . . . It was just about the earliest exploration tool so the newer utilities might have superceded it.

You might consider it a cheat but you can buy info from AI ships - they might give you the coordinates of a system well out of the galactic plane

picommander · Post by **picommander** » Sun May 25, 2014 9:16 pm

From post: 170542, Topic: tid=11426, author=DaveK wrote: You might consider it a cheat but you can buy info from AI ships - they might give you the coordinates of a system well out of the galactic plane

I really don't know why some players consider this a cheat. IF anything is a cheat then this would be the least IMO since buying infos from AI-pilots is a natural game mechanic, while e.g. the trilateration tool is not (doesn't mean I'd consider trilateration a cheat). Furthermore, once you get a hang of it, it's also quite efficient! This way you'll even make a good bargain while exploring the Evoverse. Just focus on the 'green' AI ships, 'F'ollow them up and open your trade console 'F4' when under 1000m. Then trade for information. Sometimes with a little luck even the yellow ships won't reject a trade.
The only downside of this method is that you have to tatke what you get. Only if you're goal is to explore the really deep space (far beyond SX/SZ coordinates of +- 5000) or specific parts of the Evoverse you need to resort to the above mentioned methods - and a mindset of cosmic patience.

[Edited on 25-5-2014 by picommander]

Major Grubert · Post by **Major Grubert** » Sun May 25, 2014 9:18 pm

From post: 170541, Topic: tid=11426, author=myo2 wrote:Hey All,

I'm digging the game (shame there aren't any active MP servers), but I was wondering if anybody has any tips for exploring. I've got a good ship and good equipment, largely from MP handholding a while back, and now I want a spoiler-free hunt for other planets. The problem is, I can't see how I'd find the dozens of hidden planets on my own. Is there any way in-game to get hints about where to search? Even that one in Pearl isn't easy to find just by jumping around...

Hi

as an explorer i can tell you my own way to explore and discover the evoverse with no spoiler and keep a fine mapping about where i've been before and where i have to explorer again and so on...

first i use EM_Tool

at zoom level 1 em tool show you systems you already now by the quadrant map, gated ones

choose one of them and target the nearest one but by the "space" way

, example : start from sapphire and enter coordinates of cerulean and go autopilot

no need to say you need some cash for station build on the way for refuel and spawn civilization across the galaxy

no need to say you better have some mantis drive and 3000 fuel tank for being sure you can go search some cold drink while on the way...

soon after you leave a known system you will find another one, EM_Tool will tell you the name at the point you enter this new system, this is important to remember coordinates in emtool are where you enter the system, not the center, not the star coordinates, nothing at this point, only 2 systems join

at this point you can either continue your way (to cerulean or another) or decide to see what's behind this strange "Z426" (example) name

each time i want know what's there i use the "star light method" : when in the cockpit view inside the ship you can see the light inside the cockpit changing, when you face the light source : you face the star, so i go find the star, on the way u can cross planets, if not when i'm near the star i start spiraling around the star, then i find planets

in emtool u can add body's which are discovered inside systems, planets, stations, stars, asteroids, and so on..

so step by step u can create your own map and after some trip in the "space between" i can insure u that you'll never coming back to those gates

just keep in mind you'll need some cash, or to know the way to quickly set up a trade lane by your own...
exploring can be expensive

good jump drive, good crew, emtool, and ... jump

but this is my own way, and how i started, now my emtool screen is full of coordinates but i miss mapping lots of body's (inside systems), and since some updates there is lots of new planets to discover... so... it sounds like a never ending trip

Which i enjoy really a lot

my 2 cents

MG

Major Grubert · Post by **Major Grubert** » Sun May 25, 2014 9:27 pm

From post: 170542, Topic: tid=11426, author=DaveK wrote:
You might consider it a cheat but you can buy info from AI ships - they might give you the coordinates of a system well out of the galactic plane

forgot to mention this way

i used it sometimes, it's really a cool way to get informations and have a place to go

but if a noob with not good equipment/experience and so on, use it... it can lead to some "ho i wanted answer one of those distress call and..." situation : someone lost in pace with no fuel and lots of frustrations

so, young explorer, if you wanna use this method be sure about your mapping skills, navigation skills and equipment things before pushing "jump"

i dont consider this as cheat either, in opposite i find this really cool and can be really incentive for go and explore, it gives only coordinates, nothing specific even not how to go there

picommander · Post by **picommander** » Sun May 25, 2014 9:27 pm

That's good for the basics but good luck using the "star light method" on the *massive* systems on the outer rim like z653.
Not that I know a better method yet for those huge and far out systems...

Major Grubert · Post by **Major Grubert** » Sun May 25, 2014 9:31 pm

From post: 170548, Topic: tid=11426, author=picommander wrote:That's good for the basics but good luck using the "star light method" on the *massive* systems on the outer rim like z653.
Not that I know a better method yet for those huge and far out systems...

the z653 situation is very specific as other in the same situation, in the very border/corner of the evoverse, you'll find same strange situations at the opposite of the map, with a system here which have a... very strange name

picommander · Post by **picommander** » Sun May 25, 2014 9:41 pm

From post: 170547, Topic: tid=11426, author=Major Grubert wrote: [...]
but if a noob with not good equipment/experience and so on, use it... it can lead to some "ho i wanted answer one of those distress call and..." situation : someone lost in pace with no fuel and lots of frustrations

But distress calls and bought information from AI pilots are two very different animals, aren't they?
That's no rhetoric question since I'm not much into DC hunting. Maybe I'm missing something here...

Major Grubert · Post by **Major Grubert** » Sun May 25, 2014 9:46 pm

From post: 170550, Topic: tid=11426, author=picommander wrote:
From post: 170547, Topic: tid=11426, author=Major Grubert wrote: [...]
but if a noob with not good equipment/experience and so on, use it... it can lead to some "ho i wanted answer one of those distress call and..." situation : someone lost in pace with no fuel and lots of frustrations
But distress calls and bought information from AI pilots are two very different animals, aren't they?
That's no rhetoric question since I'm not much into DC hunting. Maybe I'm missing something here...

yes definitely 2 different animals

but can lead unexperienced pilot to same situation

you can answer distress calls if you have good navigation mapping skills and good equipment and so on...

you can go explore far away if you got many things like this to

you can go and end lost with empty tank in both situation if you dont take some precautions

picommander · Post by **picommander** » Sun May 25, 2014 9:47 pm

@ Major:

Can you also find planets not placed on the SY 0 plane with the "star light method"? Dave mentioned a "zick zack" method in the SY-bend but I doubt this works if you don't happen to be on the exact SY-plane when you arrive in the same quadrant of an existing planet.

Major Grubert · Post by **Major Grubert** » Sun May 25, 2014 9:54 pm

From post: 170552, Topic: tid=11426, author=picommander wrote:@ Major:

Can you also find planets not placed on the SY 0 plane with the "star light method"? Dave mentioned a "zick zack" method in the SY-bend but I doubt this works if you don't happen to be on the exact SY-plane when you arrive in the same quadrant of an existing planet.

i never encounter problems with the star light method, even with stars outside y plan or wherever in the system, the light comes from the star, if you target the star = you get the star

if you configure well your spiraling jumps you cant miss a planets
you can make spirals that cover each other for about 1 sector, then you dont miss one

myo2 · Post by **myo2** » Mon May 26, 2014 7:03 am

Thanks for the tips so quickly. Is EM_tool an external addon? If not, where can I find it in-game?

Also, what is 'spiralling?'

I think in the meantime, though, I'll trade for info from other pilots.

Post by **DaveK** » Mon May 26, 2014 8:00 am

From post: 170545, Topic: tid=11426, author=picommander wrote:
From post: 170542, Topic: tid=11426, author=DaveK wrote: You might consider it a cheat but you can buy info from AI ships - they might give you the coordinates of a system well out of the galactic plane
I really don't know why some players consider this a cheat.

[Edited on 25-5-2014 by picommander]

It's not a cheat but I was replying specifically to myo2 who actually said 'and now I want a spoiler-free hunt for other planets.' - in that context he might not consider it a legit way of finding new systems since he's getting the info from a pilot who's already found it.

Personally I think it's pretty hard finding new systems in the galactic plane - the AI's know about systems well above or below the plane; how you'd find them there without cruising for hours in a grid search at several levels to find areas controlled by new systems as the first step I know not!

Vice introduced the facility to buy info for good reasons, me thinks!

MiaZ · Post by **MiaZ** » Mon May 26, 2014 8:55 am

The Perch cockpit is good for the star light search method.
It has a little reflector/mirror thing that makes targeting the source of light easier and more intuitive.

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Mon May 26, 2014 9:20 am

From post: 170558, Topic: tid=11426, author=myo2 wrote:Thanks for the tips so quickly. Is EM_tool an external addon? If not, where can I find it in-game?

Also, what is 'spiralling?'

I think in the meantime, though, I'll trade for info from other pilots.

EM Tool is an external program. It's available on my site as well as here in the forum.

Spiraling is just a search pattern used to find planets and other stuff once a star is
located. Start from the star and fly in a spiral outwards with your map open so you
don't miss any planets etc.

picommander · Post by **picommander** » Mon May 26, 2014 10:12 am

From post: 170561, Topic: tid=11426, author=SeeJay wrote:Spiraling is just a search pattern used to find planets and other stuff once a star is
located. Start from the star and fly in a spiral outwards with your map open so you
don't miss any planets etc.

That's the way I understood it. I was (I am) pretty confused when the major mentioned 'spiraling' in this context (finding a planet above/below the SY 0 plane):

if you configure well your spiraling jumps you cant miss a planets
you can make spirals that cover each other for about 1 sector, then you dont miss one

Post by **Marvin** » Mon May 26, 2014 2:58 pm

From post: 170562, Topic: tid=11426, author=picommander wrote:I was (I am) pretty confused when the major mentioned 'spiraling' in this context (finding a planet above/below the SY 0 plane):

Once you find one planet in a newly discovered star system, all the other planets and the star will be on the same SY. If it's a planet you find first, you can travel directly away from its illuminated side to find the star. From there, spiraling at 7-sector intervals should help you find any other planet is the same system.

Major Grubert · Post by **Major Grubert** » Mon May 26, 2014 8:05 pm

sorry about my bad english, only tried to share some experiences

[Edited on 5-26-2014 by Major Grubert]

picommander · Post by **picommander** » Mon May 26, 2014 10:03 pm

No problem, no hard feelings. Language-wise we are sitting in the same boat, anyway...

picommander · Post by **picommander** » Mon May 26, 2014 10:09 pm

From post: 170560, Topic: tid=11426, author=MiaZ wrote: The Perch cockpit is good for the star light search method.
It has a little reflector/mirror thing that makes targeting the source of light easier and more intuitive.

But now that is funny! Before I started to explore this cockpit has become my favorite. I only swapped it out with the standard cockpit cause I didn't understand this little reflectors (the 2 little cubes on the side view and the one at the front). The cockpit pegs also reflect the sunlight quite well. I'm in heaven now - literally!