Need some serious help please

[MeowThai]

So im very new to this game and im kinda confused. Need some help with some issues im having please:

1) i know long scan can help you to find bases or other things in the sector. Shift 3 and hold R for near 2 seconds. But so far it seems i cannot locate anything. Theres a cloud area where im sure has a station but my LRS doesnt show it as ? So far my understanding is this scan is not 360 degrees so i have to do 4 times scan to all 4 main directions. This is just seems totally stupid to me. Also since i almost cannot find anything it gives me feeling im doing somehing wrong. But i do LRS as i told you. Do i have to scan like up and down sides too? Any suggestions please.

2) related to the 1st question. What is the best way to find all stations in a sector? So far im just flying around for hours and try to eye spot big construstions. Also not mentioning stop time to time to do LRS to see if there is something interesting around. So to open a sector or to find stations is like hours of work.. any suggestions please? Also im lookijg at the map when im flying around.. so if im near a station that will be ? Auto or i must do eye spitting to see it? If so open map and flying around is useless?

3) whats the point of short range scan? Im just using it to find data leaks.. i know if i scan ships or station modules i can construct them at my base.. thats all? Also good for pirating?

4) i also noticed that some areas on the map get fog again after i openned it. Why is this happening?

5) how can i know i found all of the stations or interesting things in the sector?

Thnx

[Random Kiwi Gamer]

To answer the FOG question. Its an area you currently can not see.
As for finding stations, I use the fly to command in the map view and send my ships around the the sector that way.
You could also use the Explore command in the map view to reveal a sector, take longer than just manually setting the waypoints.
To keep vision of a system you can use satelites.
Short range scan Shift 2 is for scanning stations for data leaks, these are easier to see in these mode.
I think the clouds are mineable resources.

[Harrison]

1 and 2) The scan is actually onmi-directional, at least as far as locating stations in concerned. As for finding stations, you can go to the map and open the station plot screen and it will show you the location and general size of all the stations in a given sector. I use the plot screen to orient myself in the right direction but then use the Long Range scan to pinpoint locations.

3) It will also color code asteroids based on composition and, with the police scanner installed, determine the loadout and cargo of other ships (this requires you be close to them and then right click the ship).

4) This is known bug, I think it was introduced with patch 3.1.

5) For stations refer to 1 and 2 above, as for other interesting thing... Some of them respawn over time (lockboxes) while others don't.

[MeowThai]

Originally posted by danelkinnzl:

To answer the FOG question. Its an area you currently can not see.
As for finding stations, I use the fly to command in the map view and send my ships around the the sector that way.
You could also use the Explore command in the map view to reveal a sector, take longer than just manually setting the waypoints.
To keep vision of a system you can use satelites.
Short range scan Shift 2 is for scanning stations for data leaks, these are easier to see in these mode.
I think the clouds are mineable resources.

hi thanks for the answer. about the fog. In some small areas it comes back right after i left the area. So i already been there and clear the fog. I mean the fog in map.. not the fog around resources..

thnx

[MeowThai]

Originally posted by Harrison:

1 and 2) The scan is actually onmi-directional, at least as far as locating stations in concerned. As for finding stations, you can go to the map and open the station plot screen and it will show you the location and general size of all the stations in a given sector. I use the plot screen to orient myself in the right direction but then use the Long Range scan to pinpoint locations.

3) It will also color code asteroids based on composition and, with the police scanner installed, determine the loadout and cargo of other ships (this requires you be close to them and then right click the ship).

4) This is known bug, I think it was introduced with patch 3.1.

5) For stations refer to 1 and 2 above, as for other interesting thing... Some of them respawn over time (lockboxes) while others don't.

hi and thnx for the answer. So its a bug. Good to know.

If im not mistaken that station plot shows you only the stations you found already, right? And could you tell me if this is correct or not: If i fly over the sector and open my map, When im near or something like that the stations will be ? on my map so i can see them OR opening map is useless and i just need eye spot?

thanks

[Danke]

1) If there's no ?, I'm pretty sure there's no station; or it's too far away to be detected. And I've never had to look up or down to find anything, but I'm not sure how that works.

2) I haven't tried it out recently, but I used to go into the Plot Placement section, and there you can see cubes where all stations are, so that you don't place yours near them; you can use that to try and spot stations you haven't discovered. You won't know what type of stations they are, but at least you'll know if there are any stations left to discover in the sector.

3) You need to enable Short Range Scan to not only find data leaks, but to decode them, by getting close enough until the message Decoding Signal pops up, and then keep that distance until it finishes. You also have to enable Short Range Scan to scan other ships for their Crew and Contents, by right clicking them and choosing Scan. The option is greyed out if you don't have SRS mode enabled.

4) You need to have a Ship or Satellite placed in an area (or be there yourself) to have a constant view of the location.

5) For stations use the method in 2); as for other interesting things (I assume you mean abandoned ships, lockboxes and data vaults) you'll have to explore them yourself or with an owned ship.

You can have a Pilot explore an area of a sector, and have him Alert you if he finds anything of interest. Specially useful and faster than doing it yourself if you have SETA available.

[Harrison]

Originally posted by MeowThai:

If im not mistaken that station plot shows you only the stations you found already, right?

The plot screen shows ALL stations in a sector, whether you have discovered them or not. If it didn’t you could conceivably try to build a station on top of someone else’s.

Originally posted by MeowThai:

And could you tell me if this is correct or not: If i fly over the sector and open my map, When im near or something like that the stations will be ? on my map so i can see them OR opening map is useless and i just need eye spot?

No, to both, question marks (?) appear on the map for only two reason that I can think of.

First is that you’ve used the long range scanner and it has reported back that there is something out there. Clicking on the ? in either the full map or the radar will indicate if it’s a station or an object.

The second reason is that you’re near a lockbox, these ? will blink on the map or radar a few times before disappearing. To locate them you have to use the long range scanner.

[Ben Argo]

Really important. If you're using the LRS but you hear a 'bwaaaaaah" sound, that means you held R for too long. Try it again until you do it without a bwah.

Satellites have a vision range of 30 km, so I usually place them between several factories (within 30km of all of them, obviously). This allows me and my trade ships to find better deals for them and just makes certain future missions easier, like patrols.

[MeowThai]

Originally posted by Harrison:

Originally posted by MeowThai:

If im not mistaken that station plot shows you only the stations you found already, right?

The plot screen shows ALL stations in a sector, whether you have discovered them or not. If it didn’t you could conceivably try to build a station on top of someone else’s.

Originally posted by MeowThai:

And could you tell me if this is correct or not: If i fly over the sector and open my map, When im near or something like that the stations will be ? on my map so i can see them OR opening map is useless and i just need eye spot?

No, to both, question marks (?) appear on the map for only two reason that I can think of.

First is that you’ve used the long range scanner and it has reported back that there is something out there. Clicking on the ? in either the full map or the radar will indicate if it’s a station or an object.

The second reason is that you’re near a lockbox, these ? will blink on the map or radar a few times before disappearing. To locate them you have to use the long range scanner.

Hi again and thnx.

Well, i dont know maybe its something with me but i cannot see all stations for sure but only stations i discovered already. Im not sure maybe im looking some wrong place. Suggestions?

Yes, im also now sure ? shows box or interesting things. not stations.

thnx

[MeowThai]

Originally posted by Ben Argo:

Really important. If you're using the LRS but you hear a 'bwaaaaaah" sound, that means you held R for too long. Try it again until you do it without a bwah.

Satellites have a vision range of 30 km, so I usually place them between several factories (within 30km of all of them, obviously). This allows me and my trade ships to find better deals for them and just makes certain future missions easier, like patrols.

thnx for the LRS advice. im trying to do my best about it. I read somewhere you need to hold it like really close to 2 sec. but not 2 sec for the best result.. right?

at the moment im using satellites at gates or highways. It allows me to ships. Which is very useful if i want to build something or else.

as i said i just started this game. Im still at the first sector, Black Hole Sun IV. trying crystal mining so far. Not started the main mission

[Ben Argo]

No rush. Take your time and get used to all of the commands. I recommend doing some minefield clearing missions as thats an easy way to get cash early game.

A satellite network will help with trade a lot, so as you explore new sectors, throw some down near station clusters, especially ones near Wharfs/Shipyards/Equipment Docks. A good way to help the AI factions is to funnel resources into their shipbuilding industry. You can make lots of cash that way

? Marks are unknown things on the map. Could be objects like mines or lockboxes or they could be stations. When you do LRS, it'll tell you if it's a station or object. When you travel within 40km, you'll identify what type of station. Once you move away, the trade data will slowly become outdated unless you have a ship visit again soon or you place a satellite.

[MeowThai]

Originally posted by Ben Argo:

No rush. Take your time and get used to all of the commands. I recommend doing some minefield clearing missions as thats an easy way to get cash early game.

A satellite network will help with trade a lot, so as you explore new sectors, throw some down near station clusters, especially ones near Wharfs/Shipyards/Equipment Docks. A good way to help the AI factions is to funnel resources into their shipbuilding industry. You can make lots of cash that way

? Marks are unknown things on the map. Could be objects like mines or lockboxes or they could be stations. When you do LRS, it'll tell you if it's a station or object. When you travel within 40km, you'll identify what type of station. Once you move away, the trade data will slowly become outdated unless you have a ship visit again soon or you place a satellite.

Thnx :)

[Ben Argo]

When you get a M or even small trader, communicate with the pilot (select ship and press 'c') and give him some pilot seminars to get him up to two stars in piloting.

Next, setup a string of trades by selecting a supply station, buying as much as you need to fill a demand at another nearby station, then try to repeat that with a series of nearby stations.

Example, I have my main trader set to buy Advanced Electronics for a Wharf and Shipyard in a nearby system. The advanced electronics are -12% price, which means they're under the market average and the Shipyard is buying them at 20% or higher, so it's a sizable profit margin. The shipyard needs thousands but my trader can only load up around 450, so I safely fill it up by

selecting my trader on map,

right clicking on the Electronics station,

selecting trade offers,

buying max amount.

Then, with that same trader selected, I right click on the shipyard in the neighbouring sector and select trade offers, selling all my electronics for a profit.

I notice the shipyard also wants missile components, so I check a nearby factory but it's selling at too high of a price. I could still make money but that shipyard also wanted smart chips. I check another factory and sure enough, they're selling at average or below.

I've set up strings of a dozen trades before and this is while my main ship's pilot is taking me to my next mission location, so it isn't much of a bother. Doing this with more than one trader would get annoying though.

Buying and selling prices that are green mean it's a good deal, orange and yellow are not so good. White is average.

Buying miners is also a good investment. Set them up in a safe sector and use satellites to keep an eye on neighbouring refineries. When miners call in to say they're full, send them on to those refineries, the queue them up to mine in the field again. At three stars they can do that automated.

[MeowThai]

Originally posted by Ben Argo:

When you get a M or even small trader, communicate with the pilot (select ship and press 'c') and give him some pilot seminars to get him up to two stars in piloting.

Next, setup a string of trades by selecting a supply station, buying as much as you need to fill a demand at another nearby station, then try to repeat that with a series of nearby stations.

Example, I have my main trader set to buy Advanced Electronics for a Wharf and Shipyard in a nearby system. The advanced electronics are -12% price, which means they're under the market average and the Shipyard is buying them at 20% or higher, so it's a sizable profit margin. The shipyard needs thousands but my trader can only load up around 450, so I safely fill it up by

selecting my trader on map,

right clicking on the Electronics station,

selecting trade offers,

buying max amount.

Then, with that same trader selected, I right click on the shipyard in the neighbouring sector and select trade offers, selling all my electronics for a profit.

I notice the shipyard also wants missile components, so I check a nearby factory but it's selling at too high of a price. I could still make money but that shipyard also wanted smart chips. I check another factory and sure enough, they're selling at average or below.

I've set up strings of a dozen trades before and this is while my main ship's pilot is taking me to my next mission location, so it isn't much of a bother. Doing this with more than one trader would get annoying though.

Buying and selling prices that are green mean it's a good deal, orange and yellow are not so good. White is average.

Buying miners is also a good investment. Set them up in a safe sector and use satellites to keep an eye on neighbouring refineries. When miners call in to say they're full, send them on to those refineries, the queue them up to mine in the field again. At three stars they can do that automated.

thnx

[Eggselsior]

1) Fly to the edge of a sector setup guidance to the next corner start travell drive. At the edges and if u want in the middle trow out LRS: just while in travell mode kick in the LRS charge it and swap to travel mode again. Never stop and drift at the corners unless u see a "?" that indicates lockbox/vault etc - if u want to ping that down u have to stop. Do a full circle then move inwards. Fastest way if u do it yourself, uncovers most stations.

2)Get Scouts, give them a decent travell engine and either use the explore function or preferably in the beginning manually setup waypoints: you can que em up indefenitely via shift righclick and context menu. That however will not discover all stations, some are far out. The explore function will find them but here is the catch that u want high lvl pilots for that to be effective.

3)leaks give u additional normal missions, criminal missions, access to black marketeers and if u have it researched blueprints. Latter isn't that simple tough. You will be in you spacesuit for that most times and need to have a stockpile of emp bombs.

4) shouldn't happen and should have been fixed with the latest patch.
5) you actually can't. It's dynamic. Factions build stations/destroy them.

[MeowThai]

Originally posted by Eggselsior:

1) Fly to the edge of a sector setup guidance to the next corner start travell drive. At the edges and if u want in the middle trow out LRS: just while in travell mode kick in the LRS charge it and swap to travel mode again. Never stop and drift at the corners unless u see a "?" that indicates lockbox/vault etc - if u want to ping that down u have to stop. Do a full circle then move inwards. Fastest way if u do it yourself, uncovers most stations.

2)Get Scouts, give them a decent travell engine and either use the explore function or preferably in the beginning manually setup waypoints: you can que em up indefenitely via shift righclick and context menu. That however will not discover all stations, some are far out. The explore function will find them but here is the catch that u want high lvl pilots for that to be effective.

3)leaks give u additional normal missions, criminal missions, access to black marketeers and if u have it researched blueprints. Latter isn't that simple tough. You will be in you spacesuit for that most times and need to have a stockpile of emp bombs.

4) shouldn't happen and should have been fixed with the latest patch.
5) you actually can't. It's dynamic. Factions build stations/destroy them.

thnx for the tips