Exploration: Difference between revisions

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== Probing Down an Exploration Site ==

Your system has a few [[Cosmic Signatures]] listed, and you're well versed in what could possibly be out there. Let's probe one down.

[[File:scanwin_orange.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The scanner window, with two Anomalies and a Signature]]

* '''You already have the scanning panel open, but let's hit F10 to open up the Solar System Map.''' This is a "wireframe" representation of the system you are currently in, complete with all the major celestials, like planets, moons and the sun. Since you have your scanning window open, there should be some green and/or red dots and spheres on your map. These represent the Anomalies and Signatures currently tracked by your scanner, as well as their general location. Green dots indicate areas that you can warp to, either an Anomaly or a Signature you have scanned down. Red dots or spheres represent the general area in which your ship's scanner is detecting the signal of a Cosmic Signature. We're going to have to narrow that down in order to warp there.

* '''The middle left of your scanner window has an icon that looks a bit like an atom.''' That's the shortcut for the "Pinpoint" probe formation. '''Press it''', and your ship will launch its payload of probes and automatically arrange them in a Pinpoint formation. Neat!

* '''You should now notice that some blue spheres have appeared on your Solar System map.''' That's the general area that your probes can currently scan. The center probe in this formation is represented by a white box with arrows sticking out of it. '''You can click and drag those arrows to move the probes around: by default, dragging that center probe will move ''all'' the probes together in formation. This is useful. Now, in order to start tracking down a Signature, you will need to drag your probes so they are centered over one of the red Signature dots or spheres and then press the Scan button on the middle left of your scanning window.''' This will scan that area more thoroughly with your probes, and will take a few seconds to complete. If the signature's red sphere is larger than the area your probes' blue spheres cover, click and hold the outside edge of one of the blue spheres and drag outward. This will increase the range of your probes so you can scan the whole red sphere. If all this is done correctly, the scan will complete and increase the '''Signal Strength''' of your chosen Signature. This is listed on the far right of your scanning window.

* '''The goal of probing is to increase a Signature's Signal Strength to 100%.''' As you continue to increase the Signal Strength, you will begin to learn more and more about the Signature: first, what type of Site it is, followed by the specific name of the site, and then finally, the Signature's actual location so you can warp to it! Obviously, this is why we've picked a ship and equipment that raises the scan strength of our probes: it makes it much easier to get this number to 100%.

* Now, it's unlikely this first scan got the signal to 100%. '''In order to further increase its Signal Strength, we're going to have to give our probes more power by reducing the range of their scan.''' We do this by clicking and holding the outside edge of one of the probe's blue spheres and then dragging it inward. This will decrease the size of your scan. '''Now, re-center your probes on your signature's dot or sphere and hit the scan button again.''' If done correctly, your smaller scan area should still catch the Signature and will end up increasing its Signal Strength.

* '''Most Signatures can be probed down by repeating this process: reduce your scan range by a step, re-center your probes on the Signature, and scan!''' It's just that easy.

* Once you've raised the Signal Strength to 100%, '''the Signature's bar on your scanner window will turn green, and you can click the arrow to warp to the newly located Site.''' Congratulations! You're exploring!

=== Probing Tips and Troubleshooting ===

== Relic Sites and Data Sites: Hacking ==

@@ Line 137: / Line 137: @@
 == Probing Down an Exploration Site ==
 Your system has a few [[Cosmic Signatures]] listed, and you're well versed in what could possibly be out there. Let's probe one down.
+[[File:scanwin_orange.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The scanner window, with two Anomalies and a Signature]]
+* '''You already have the scanning panel open, but let's hit F10 to open up the Solar System Map.''' This is a "wireframe" representation of the system you are currently in, complete with all the major celestials, like planets, moons and the sun. Since you have your scanning window open, there should be some green and/or red dots and spheres on your map. These represent the Anomalies and Signatures currently tracked by your scanner, as well as their general location. Green dots indicate areas that you can warp to, either an Anomaly or a Signature you have scanned down. Red dots or spheres represent the general area in which your ship's scanner is detecting the signal of a Cosmic Signature. We're going to have to narrow that down in order to warp there.
+* '''The middle left of your scanner window has an icon that looks a bit like an atom.''' That's the shortcut for the "Pinpoint" probe formation. '''Press it''', and your ship will launch its payload of probes and automatically arrange them in a Pinpoint formation. Neat!
+* '''You should now notice that some blue spheres have appeared on your Solar System map.''' That's the general area that your probes can currently scan. The center probe in this formation is represented by a white box with arrows sticking out of it. '''You can click and drag those arrows to move the probes around: by default, dragging that center probe will move ''all'' the probes together in formation. This is useful. Now, in order to start tracking down a Signature, you will need to drag your probes so they are centered over one of the red Signature dots or spheres and then press the Scan button on the middle left of your scanning window.''' This will scan that area more thoroughly with your probes, and will take a few seconds to complete. If the signature's red sphere is larger than the area your probes' blue spheres cover, click and hold the outside edge of one of the blue spheres and drag outward. This will increase the range of your probes so you can scan the whole red sphere. If all this is done correctly, the scan will complete and increase the '''Signal Strength''' of your chosen Signature. This is listed on the far right of your scanning window.
+* '''The goal of probing is to increase a Signature's Signal Strength to 100%.''' As you continue to increase the Signal Strength, you will begin to learn more and more about the Signature: first, what type of Site it is, followed by the specific name of the site, and then finally, the Signature's actual location so you can warp to it! Obviously, this is why we've picked a ship and equipment that raises the scan strength of our probes: it makes it much easier to get this number to 100%.
+* Now, it's unlikely this first scan got the signal to 100%. '''In order to further increase its Signal Strength, we're going to have to give our probes more power by reducing the range of their scan.''' We do this by clicking and holding the outside edge of one of the probe's blue spheres and then dragging it inward. This will decrease the size of your scan. '''Now, re-center your probes on your signature's dot or sphere and hit the scan button again.''' If done correctly, your smaller scan area should still catch the Signature and will end up increasing its Signal Strength.
+* '''Most Signatures can be probed down by repeating this process: reduce your scan range by a step, re-center your probes on the Signature, and scan!''' It's just that easy.
+* Once you've raised the Signal Strength to 100%, '''the Signature's bar on your scanner window will turn green, and you can click the arrow to warp to the newly located Site.''' Congratulations! You're exploring!
+=== Probing Tips and Troubleshooting ===
+== Relic Sites and Data Sites: Hacking ==