Maximizing Hyperdrive Range

[Rexxer]

Other posts have already discussed arrangements of S-class modules to maximize effects, so I'll only summarize that aspect. What I'm interested in is how to find the best S-class module since the difference in range is enormous depending on *which* S-class hyperdrive module you can install. I routinely get over 3000 ly range even from ships without a max base hyperdrive range.

Basically, from what I can tell, S-class hyperdrive modules can range from a bonus range of under 200 u to about 250 u, and this can result in a difference of over a 1000 LY in range depending on what the base range is and your arrangement of them. So finding the right S-module is actually very important but neglected in the discussions. But here is a summary of what most people already know:

BASE RANGE of the SHIP: The native unupgraded hyperdrive range of the ship is a value from about 100 to 181. Only explorers can natively reach the maximum range. I have found explorers in the wild (without the nanite upgrades) with 181 or close to it. But I heard if you upgrade a ship to S class with nanites, it will also automatically give the upgraded ship the max upgrade of 181 hyperdrive range. This means, potentially, the best way to get the ideal explorer may be to get an A-class then upgrade it to S. Getting the max base hyperdrive range is a given. You must do it. That being said, with the right hyperdrive modules, I have been able to get ships with less base range to over 3000 LY actual. That is where module selection comes in.

S-CLASS HYPERDRIVE MODULE ARRANGEMENT: The max arrangement will require you have 11 hyperdrive related modules separated in two groupings, one grouping in tech and one in inventory: 6 modules (3 blueprint upgrades + 3 purchased upgrades) in one grouping , and then another 5 modules (2 blueprint upgrade + 3 purchased upgrades) in the other. This is a must: get ALL FIVE the hyperdrive blueprint upgrades available: cadmium drive, emeril drive, indium drive, and the emergency warp...the sixth is the hyperdrive itself. They all stack with S-class modules but these can be built whenever and wherever without exceeding the "three upgrade module limit" which would overload the arrangement causing none of them to work. You must go to the Anomaly to buy hyperdrive blueprint modules with nanites, or get them by completing various starting quests. As for arrangement of them to max out the values, read other posts, but basically I found you must put the S-modules in an "L" arrangement around the highest value blueprint module, creating a box of 4 modules, then add the lower value modules outside of this box, together adjacent to each other. For example, the 3 S-modules you buy would surround the S-Indium drive module you build, and then the hyperdrive unit itself would be outside of that box and the A-class Emeril would be next to the hyperdrive so there is a neat 2X3 clump of hyperdrive modules. In the other section, whether tech or inventory, would be another L-shaped arrangement of the store-bought S-class modules around the remaining A-class module which you can build: the emergency warp unit. Directly opposite that unit, with an intervening S-class module, would be the B-class cadmium drive unit. There is actually a difference if you don't use that arrangement, you must have the A-S-B in one line, and also the S-indium drive must also be in one line with the Hyperdrive unit, S-S-H (S-indium+S-MOD+Hyperdrive):

SS.....SS
SS...ASB
HA

(note: it was pointed out the absolute max arrangement is:

A......SS
SA....SB
SS
SH

But with the 7-4 arrangement I got less than a 1 LY advantage and it is a little clunkier to work other things around in the tech section or inventory, but it can be done if you want the absolute max. At 3000+ LY it won't matter much.)

The goal is to have as many 250 ly S-modules (or as close as you can get to it) in those positions.

MAIN DISCUSSION - How are Drive values generated when you buy a S-class Module? Quick answer is, they aren't. The values seem to be attached you you personally, so you can't go from one station to another trying to find the best value. What it does mean is that you will have to go through many S-modules until you reach the one you need. You won't be able to luck out and suddenly get one from a different station because the predetermined values will travel with you. For example:
I bought or salvaged 5 hyperdrive modules, and carefully lined them up in order so I could see which one yielded a particular value.

I applied them all at once, in order, and noted their range values:
209 220 202 204 214
Then I applied them in the reverse order and noted their range values:
214 204 202 220 209

(To illustrate further, imagine you labeled 5 S-mods, "A,B,C,D,E" then if you mounted "A" first it would show 209 ly, but if you mounted it last, it would be 214 ... all others also being in the order of which you clicked next, without regard to which mod you actually clicked)

In other words, the actual module didn't matter. They are all the same. The values are generated in order by some sequence that is attached to you, not to the module. So it won't matter if you go to a different station and pay more or less for one, all they do is tick off the next value in a sequence that is attached to you. So let's say this sequence bumps off a 250 LY value every 20 to 30 cycles. That means no matter what you do, or where you go, you will need to waste 19-29 S-class hyperdrive modules to get the 250.

Another possibility is that the sequence is generated as a function of the S-modules already installed on the default ship you are in. In other words the sequence is attached to the ship you are in. That way it may be keeping you from cherry picking S-modules to prevent some massive hyperdrive range. Since I can't seem to get much past 3100 LY, my guess is there is some limiting equation keeping any values from appearing that would let you past. However, that is what this post is for. Let me know if you discover anything different.

[MagPwn]

Interesting reading. For some reason i haven't found a single 250 LY module. Must have used over 200 modules for this ship now, so i wonder if it's simply impossible for it to get 250. Using a 181 hyperdrive range at the stock S class btw.

[Rexxer]

Originally posted by MagPwn:

Interesting reading. For some reason i haven't found a single 250 LY module. Must have used over 200 modules for this ship now, so i wonder if it's simply impossible for it to get 250. Using a 181 hyperdrive range at the stock S class btw.

The max I've gotten has been 249, so I am guessing 250 is the limit.

[Rexxer]

Note also that I tried this module experiment in one station then off in another star system, after shutting the game down and restarting....all to the same effect. The modules didn't matter, just the order I clicked on them. Same numbers with each sequential use, no matter the order of the modules.

I also want to try a different experiment which should be more telling: buy some modules and do a trial click run with them in a stripped down ship that has no hyperdrive upgrades, then transfer that module to another ship with full hyperdrive upgrades and try it. I am guessing it may give a different result.

If in fact the value sequence is generated off of the hyperdrive range of the current ship, then it may be advisable to maximize the module value by "unhooking" your upgrades before adding a store-bought module. Disassemble blueprint mods, and separate any existing S-class mods before clicking. That might be a work-around if the values are based off of the existing ship range.

The worst outcome though would be if it simply summed up the existing module values independent of the current range. Then there is nothing one could do to "hunt" for a better value.

[MagPwn]

Originally posted by Rexxer:

Originally posted by MagPwn:

Interesting reading. For some reason i haven't found a single 250 LY module. Must have used over 200 modules for this ship now, so i wonder if it's simply impossible for it to get 250. Using a 181 hyperdrive range at the stock S class btw.

The max I've gotten has been 249, so I am guessing 250 is the limit.

Alright, do you have an estimate on how many modules you have spend getting that 249? Would like to know if i'm just unlucky or there might be a reason why i wouldn't be able to obtain the 249/250 (maybe due to using a 181 hyperdrive ship?)

Seems like there's still alot of testing to be done in this game, for us to know all the info. :)

Btw is it just me or are the chance of getting less than 225 hyperdrive module significantly higher, than getting a module above 225?

[Lailantie]

How do I transfer a module I installed in a certain ship to another?

I also experienced that if you buy a hyperdrive module at a certain space station repeatedly, you get different values. And, the values are higher the more hyperdrive modules I already have installed.

[Fienyx]

Can't transfer modules from 1 ship to another.

[Lailantie]

Originally posted by Rexxer:

buy some modules and do a trial click run with them in a stripped down ship that has no hyperdrive upgrades, then transfer that module to another ship with full hyperdrive upgrades and try it. I am guessing it may give a different result.

*quote ends here* (sigh)

OK so I didn't understand that chapter. What is a trial click run?

[Ygolnac]

Originally posted by Rexxer:

Other posts have already discussed arrangements of S-class modules to maximize effects, so I'll only summarize that aspect. What I'm interested in is how to find the best S-class module since the difference in range is enormous depending on *which* S-class hyperdrive module you can install. I routinely get over 3000 ly range even from ships without a max base hyperdrive range.

SNIP

Your placement 6-5 is not the best one. 7-4 is better. Proof:

https://www.reddit.com/r/NMSCoordinateExchange/comments/fyh4wh/hyperdrive_technology_and_module_placement_for/

With the 7-4 placement you can bring a 179.9 (best possible) base explorer a tad over 3200LY.

My Exotic is a native 164.8 and I managed to find 6x249 S class upgrades scrapping other exotics. I could achieve 3005ly range using the 7-4 disposition.

I've upgraded several explorers from A to S class and I deny the fact max range on upgrade is granted. To me it never happened yet and I'm still looking for a best range explorer to this day, having already spent several hundred thousands nanites in the process. This experience is also shared by others in the linked post comments.

I've installed more than 2000 S class warp upgrades and never saw a 250. Number ranges between 200 and 249. In my experience the value you get in that range is completly random. Changing station does not matter, reloading refreshes the shop in your station. I did get a 245 and a 249 in sequence after reloading. I remeber becouse I scrapped the 245 that was really good.

I've never noticed a sequnce like the one you describe. If there's a modifier in the random value generator is one that makes the best values less likely to be achieved than the lower values.

Also if there's a way to transfer an already installed upgrade from a ship to another I don't know it. In my experience it's plain impossible.

[MagPwn]

Oh yeah your right @Ygolnac your tip gave me 0,2 hyperdrive range :D

Everything counts when going for max!

[Ygolnac]

Originally posted by MagPwn:

Originally posted by Rexxer:

The max I've gotten has been 249, so I am guessing 250 is the limit.

Alright, do you have an estimate on how many modules you have spend getting that 249? Would like to know if i'm just unlucky or there might be a reason why i wouldn't be able to obtain the 249/250 (maybe due to using a 181 hyperdrive ship?)

Seems like there's still alot of testing to be done in this game, for us to know all the info. :)

Btw is it just me or are the chance of getting less than 225 hyperdrive module significantly higher, than getting a module above 225?

Yes, it seems that the chance to get lower end modules is higher than to get best value modules.

I did manage to find 6x249 modules, but i needed to install and scrap several thousands S class upgrades. Reloading after install gave me the same value, so the value is attached to that specific module after purchase OR after installing. If you get a low value you can resell the module after reload, no need to try reinstall.

I've never tryed to install the same module on two different ships after reloading, so I don't know if the value is attached to the module or to the module installation on that ship. What is sure is that if you install a specific module on a given ship you'll get always the same value.

So best approach is:
1) descend ship creating a quicksave
2) go to shop
3) install module

4a) if module value is <245 reload, sell module to shop to minimize nanite loss and buy a new one.

4b) if module value is >245, go back in ship, descend it to overwrite the save, reload and buy another module at staion. You'll get a different value.

[Ygolnac]

Originally posted by MagPwn:

Oh yeah your right @Ygolnac your tip gave me 0,2 hyperdrive range :D

Everything counts when going for max!

If you had the luck to find a 180ish native explorer and will endure the grind to get 6x249 S class module let us know what warprange you'll get. Maybe by quoting me in the thread becouse by the time you have them this 3d will be buried deep.

[Ygolnac]

I've decided to be happy with my 3005 explorer that also has a ton of shields, superior manueverability and firepower and also quite a lot of cargo space left. Instead of maxing an expolorer I'll endure the scum to max the pulse engine modules on same ship just for the lols.

[MagPwn]

Originally posted by Ygolnac:

Originally posted by MagPwn:

Oh yeah your right @Ygolnac your tip gave me 0,2 hyperdrive range :D

Everything counts when going for max!

If you had the luck to find a 180ish native explorer and will endure the grind to get 6x249 S class module let us know what warprange you'll get. Maybe by quoting me in the thread becouse by the time you have them this 3d will be buried deep.

Haha sry to say i took the easy way out a couple of weeks ago and found a youtuber giving the coordinates for the 181 i'm using right now. I might give it a try and get the 6 x 249, i just really wish you could just buy as many as you want from the shop, instead of having to make the reloads. Btw someone posted in the reddit link you send before that the (theoretical) hyperdrive cap for a 181 is 3269,8. I'm on 3242,1 and 946,7 maneuverability right now.

[Ygolnac]

Originally posted by MagPwn:

Originally posted by Ygolnac:

If you had the luck to find a 180ish native explorer and will endure the grind to get 6x249 S class module let us know what warprange you'll get. Maybe by quoting me in the thread becouse by the time you have them this 3d will be buried deep.

Haha sry to say i took the easy way out a couple of weeks ago and found a youtuber giving the coordinates for the 181 i'm using right now. I might give it a try and get the 6 x 249, i just really wish you could just buy as many as you want from the shop, instead of having to make the reloads. Btw someone posted in the reddit link you send before that the (theoretical) hyperdrive cap for a 181 is 3269,8. I'm on 3242,1 and 946,7 maneuverability right now.

But please explain me this: if I portal to someone posted coordinates and manage to find an S class explorer are the stats the same? I thought they were regenerated again everytime you bought the ship. And even more so, if you buy an A class is it always going to upgrade to the same S class stats or upon upgrading the stats are rerolled everytime?

Also I guess the 3269.8 figure is theoretically calculated using 250ly upgrades that in my experience don't exist.

Do you have a tech disposition for best manueverability? That would save me trying to figure it out myself.

Then: I've noticed that all my 6 249 ly upgrades have the same name. Is this the only name for them?

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2093344143
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2093343858
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2093343638

[Rexxer]

Originally posted by MagPwn:

Originally posted by Rexxer:

The max I've gotten has been 249, so I am guessing 250 is the limit.

Alright, do you have an estimate on how many modules you have spend getting that 249? Would like to know if i'm just unlucky or there might be a reason why i wouldn't be able to obtain the 249/250 (maybe due to using a 181 hyperdrive ship?)

Seems like there's still alot of testing to be done in this game, for us to know all the info. :)

Btw is it just me or are the chance of getting less than 225 hyperdrive module significantly higher, than getting a module above 225?

Nearly every S-class ship you scrap at a space station drops a S-class Hyperdrive module, plus many stations sell them, so it's massively easy to just accumulate a few dozen then (1) save the game (2) then open them all, remember the order, and check how many iterations in you have to go to get to your "good" value. (3) Then reload the autosave and click exactly on that many to get to the high value. That's basically what I do.

Getting massive numbers of nanites (for upgrading ships) and massive numbers of S-hyperdrive modules is easiest by (1) standing in the space station of a busy, RICH, system, (2) buy every S-class (also A and B class if you are building up nanites) ship, (3) sell all the garbage from each scrap to (a) the mod sellers for nanites and (b) to the pilot of the next ship you buy. You can easily get 50,000 nanites in an hour or two at a good space station. If you save all the hyperdrive modules (S-class) you can then line them up to find how far away you are from a high value.

The rarity of values over 225 may have to do with the fact it is curving the gaussian distribution from 100 to 250 not 200 to 250 but just lopping off any values under 200 since S-class gives you 200-250 values only.