How do people like to explore?

[AcePalarum]

So, I've been exploring the uncharted reaches of the Evoverse, and having a good time therein. But as I was cruising through the black (man, after 20-some jumps through sectors with no background nebulae, I can understand the idea of space explorers going bugnuts crazy), I thought to myself, "Self, I wonder how other people explore (having developed a bit of a routine already)."

So I thought I'd toss the question out, since I'm generally curious. How do folks go about charting the unchartable void? What ship loadouts work for my fellow explorers? Do you explore with a pattern, or more free-form to find new and exciting planets? Multiplayer 'verse or solo?

For example:

Right now I'm rocking a Guardian frame with:
4000-capacity fuel tank (best I can do with the rest of my loadout, hasn't run dry yet)
Mantis drive (I'd go nuts without the 10-sector jump ability)
High-end beam and cannon, plus an Excalibur pack (in single-player, one has to be prepared to respond to hostile ships with lovely parting gifts)
One cargo bay (never know when you might find something interesting out there worth bringing home)
Build constructor (I like putting full-service refuel ports/bases of operation in place to help explore the surrounding sectors)

I thank the heavens for SeeJay's Planet Finder tool (believe it or not, I tried to do the triangulation by hand at first). I've generally got it open on my laptop off to the side (never did get the hang of multi-monitor setups), though I take all my notes with pen and paper. Once I find a new planet, I use a spiral grid pattern to locate all the other planets etc. tied to the same star. Then those planets give me a starting point to the next system.

So how do other folks poke about, looking for new places around the Evoverse to hang their hats?

[SeeJay]

Great to hear that the old art of exploring still exists.

I Cruise around in my fighter (Chimera) and set aim from one know system to Another charting the
void in between. I either play Another game in the browser on my second monitor or work on
a spreadsheet, manual or some website (like the Planet Finder;)) until I get a "hit" with a new planet.
Then I hunt it down and when the star is found, i do a grid search for about 30 sectors in all directions (not the SY).

I have a tank of 3000 and a Build Constructor in case I can't find any fuel somewhere.

The finetuning of the Planet Finder was done while searching for planets so I could test it "live".

I Always fly in MP, so helping new players (or chatting with the oldies) in the Chat while exploring is also a good way
to kill time.

Not much need for weapons since the AI never catches up with me while exploring. Constantly moving hunting
planets down is enough to keep me safe. I Always carry my home made weapons just in case tho!

Keep up the good work.

[Marvin]

I add a science officer and, when I remember, a tractor beam. The science officer tells me if something of interest is nearby and the tractor beam allows me to grab hold of whatever it* is the science officer found. I also carry a deploy constructor ... for those times when I want to check out the science officer's findings but don't have time to use SeeJay's worksheet.


* Nothing more frustrating than finding a cargo pod orbiting a planet out in the boonies ... and not having a tractor beam to grab it.

[Sinbad]

For exploration I use the heavy Starmaster kitted out more for defence than attack, with an Anti-missile system and cloaking device for emergencies. It's configured for maximum scan detection and navigation with science and navigation officers. Build constructor for refuelling depots and clan outposts in any newly discovered territories. Deploy constructor to make it easier to find hidden containers, and scan for hostiles. Terrain Walker in the hold for planet surface walkabouts.

My preferred exploration tool is Atolski's map log and triliteration programme. I also like making use of the snippets of info from AI pilots, that often leads to hidden systems.