Don't over upgrade!

[smartroad]

I have been thinking, with PP coming in soon, now might be a good time to start getting ready to get out of known space and back into the void. I have an Asp (The Nomad's Snake) which I use for this. Had heard of people getting more than 30LY jumps out of it and wondered how, I could max out with 28ish. Okay I have a class 5 shield (I may find the Thargoids or some over unknown hostile race!). So I wondered how it could be done. I have been playing with the Coriolis.io ship building site when I noticed something, bigger isn't always better.

Previously I hadn't bothered with upgrading some modules - thrusters, power distributor etc. - as it isn't really needed when you are on your own in the black. But while doing another ship I noticed the weight of modules isn't linear with rating. When you look at it the B rated modules tend to weigh the most and the D's the least.

So if I upgrade my ship with D rated items (power plant, thrusters, distributor, sensors and shields) I get a 16% increase to 33LY jumps. Okay it costs 703k CR to do it, but just goes to show that ignoring the weight can be dis-advantageous!

I wrote (in character) on my blog if anyone wants more ramblings...

[Feldspar]

You can further your jump distance by downsizing some components, this is my current set up and there a bit more than can be squeezed out of it:
http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=60g,,2-6u6u7_6u6u8S8I,52WmpT7Q4mpU2UI2jw

Now, jump distance isn't everything, but without that 34 LY range (full tank) I wouldn't have got to some of the places I have been and when I have just been travelling I wouldn't have gone quite so fast.

[Xerxryn]

The power plant can be a good place to down grade since you don't need much power without weapons, been playing around and got this.

http://coriolis.io/outfit/asp/02C4D5A4D1D5D5C--------------432i2f

Not had much experience with deep exploring so I might got the fuel tank wrong by downgrading it.

[smartroad]

I agree that range isn't everything, although I wanted it for return trips. Once I have finished a 'mission' it would be nice to spend less time getting back, same as going out too to get to the start position.

[Feldspar]

The power plant can be a good place to down grade since you don't need much power without weapons, been playing around and got this.

http://coriolis.io/outfit/asp/02C4D5A4D1D5D5C--------------432i2f

Not had much experience with deep exploring so I might got the fuel tank wrong by downgrading it.

I'm certainly considering putting a 2A power plant in when I get back (the A class has better cooling), but I want to keep the ability to boost so I won't be taking the power distributer down that far. As for the fuel tank, I have had occasions when I have needed all I have, and can run with it part-filled when I need to go that little bit further, it would be nice to have the option to dump fuel.

[smartroad]

I'm certainly considering putting a 2A power plant in when I get back (the A class has better cooling),

Is that why my Python massively overheats with even just moderate fuel-scooping? I can only get to about 50% capacity on the scoop without heat issues!

[Eva]

Smartroad, you can try powering down unused systems while you scoop. Your ship runs colder if less things are on - try scooping with only your frame shift, scoop, thrusters and life support on : ) also the closer to A you get with your power plant the better it cools you, so you can check if a lower class but higher rating will work better for you too.