Matrix Games Forums

There are two techs in exploration tree one gives you Resource Scanner and Advanced Survey Module.

Both modules seems to be doing similar thing but are using different terminology on the module description :/

Resource Scanner:
Exploration Power: 5
Exploration Range: 5000
Exploration Time: 45sec

Advanced Survey Module:
Survey Amount: 15.00
Survey Maximum Level: 25.00
Survey Time: 110sec

So how I am suppose to compare those two approaches for exploration if the only thing, maybe, I can compare is Exploration Time and Survey Time. But how other parameters relate remains a mystery! :/

I would like to fit my Exploration ship, it seems that Resource Scanner is more fitting but Survey Module is not far off maybe ~%50% increase of time is worth it. Who knows?!?

Do you know?

Resource Scanner is much easier to fit but what are its limits? On the planets there is a number shown, I think it is related to the Survey Maximum Level, will Resource Scanner try to dig this number or not?

I am looking forward to find out what you think about this and maybe someone can explain a bit more about it. Cheers.

Resource scanners can scan multiple objects at a time. This is helpful with asteroid fields. However, they can't scan as deeply as the survey modules.

OK I did a test. It appears that Exploration Power on Resource Scanner is somehow equivalent to the Survey Maximum Level on Advanced Survey Module since you can only explore object once. So basically in 45 seconds you get planet or asteroid to level 5. Additionally as you have mention it can scan multiple objects, asteroids, in a single go but only up to 5.

Advanced Survey Module scans 15 in a first scan in 110seconds and then up to 17 in next 110 seconds and then +1 in next 110 seconds until object if fully scanned or Survey Maximum Level, 25 in case of Advanced Survey Module, is reached.

Problem comes up if you equip both on a single ship and keep it on auto. Exploration ship will go to the object it will use the Resource Scanner to get object to 5(over 45s) and then it will switch to Advanced Survey Module to get it to 15(over 110s) and so on up to max.

There is no way to setup explorer with both modules to only use Resource Scanner it would be good to distinguish in automation option between exploring and surveying so you can select different automation options and have more freedom.

Surveying can take a lot of time and it would be good to switch the automation mode via automation options and not refitting.

Currently, I believe, in the early game is better to fit most of your exploration ships only with the Resource Scanner so they can go fast and see whats on the surface, explore up to 5, and have couple of ships equipped with only Advanced Survey Module and slowly go and top up all the objects left behind.

Is there a way to contact devs witch suggestions?

There is no way to setup explorer with both modules to only use Resource Scanner it would be good to distinguish in automation option between exploring and surveying so you can select different automation options and have more freedom.

There are several automation modes to choose from in a listbox when clicking on automation button in the selection window (clicking that button in the ship list will only switch between modes). Maybe it's the "Auto-Explore" mode instead of the "Fully Automate" one ?

Radamanthe wrote: Wed Mar 16, 2022 6:55 pm

There is no way to setup explorer with both modules to only use Resource Scanner it would be good to distinguish in automation option between exploring and surveying so you can select different automation options and have more freedom.

There are several automation modes to choose from in a listbox when clicking on automation button in the selection window (clicking that button in the ship list will only switch between modes). Maybe it's the "Auto-Explore" mode instead of the "Fully Automate" one ?

I tested it and Auto-Explore does the Resource Scanner first and then it moves to Survey Module.

Auto-Scout options only gets into the system and than jumps to the next one.

What I would suggest is to have 3 options:

Auto-Scanner - uses scanner only
Auto-Survey - uses survey only
Auto-Scout - only gets into the system

Not sure how Auto-Scanner should work if you dont have scanner equipped, maybe just don't show this option for automation.

kocur4d@gmail.com wrote: Wed Mar 16, 2022 7:03 pm

Radamanthe wrote: Wed Mar 16, 2022 6:55 pm

There is no way to setup explorer with both modules to only use Resource Scanner it would be good to distinguish in automation option between exploring and surveying so you can select different automation options and have more freedom.

There are several automation modes to choose from in a listbox when clicking on automation button in the selection window (clicking that button in the ship list will only switch between modes). Maybe it's the "Auto-Explore" mode instead of the "Fully Automate" one ?

I tested it and Auto-Explore does the Resource Scanner first and then it moves to Survey Module.

Auto-Scout options only gets into the system and than jumps to the next one.

What I would suggest is to have 3 options:

Auto-Scanner - uses scanner only
Auto-Survey - uses survey only
Auto-Scout - only gets into the system

Not sure how Auto-Scanner should work if you dont have scanner equipped, maybe just don't show this option for automation.

If you look in the Policy Settings under Exploration, there's a few options which I think are supposed to control in what circumstances they use the slower scan method - either Never, When Hidden Items Present, When Hidden Items Present or Conolizable, or When Hidden Items Present Or Colonizable Or Populated, or Always

baldamundo wrote: Wed Mar 16, 2022 10:59 pm ...
If you look in the Policy Settings under Exploration, there's a few options which I think are supposed to control in what circumstances they use the slower scan method - either Never, When Hidden Items Present, When Hidden Items Present or Conolizable, or When Hidden Items Present Or Colonizable Or Populated, or Always

Thank you. I didn't know about this setting. I will test it tomorrow.

Yes, this is good information. I'll also look for that setting, because I was a little confused as well.