Overview
Fighting for funding? Drove that expensive rover into the crater instead of around? Crashed that science-stuffed lander in a dustbowl?This guide should show you tricks to avoid bankruptcy as well as give you a good idea of where the real interplanetary cash is made.(WIP)
Getting started: Landers
Here we are with nothing but a mission to Mars… well, and quite some money already.
Start off by doing all basic mapping missions (preferably those on Deimos as well).
Then, the best way to get started and build a budget is probably by researching tech needed for the small lander, although it is also possible to start with the small rover or even the zero-g probe. However, if you want to max out the available missions at minimum cost you should start off with the lander. Especially at the start it also pays off to do all the missions before moving on or investing into research.
Once you are done with those small lander missions you can either research more instruments and the large lander or go with the small rover first, which I would recommend.
(Later the large lander can be quite a workhorse though)
Let’s take a closer look at the small rover first.
Paparazzi: The Small Rover
The small rover is great for taking pictures. And not just those the mission demands but also every photo-op you can find on your way.
…Yes the rover is slow, yes you constantly have to manuver it around tiny rocks…
However, it can be a good moneymaker at the start. When moving towards a mission marker make sure to toggle all available, randomly generated side-missions in the nav-menu so you can see those that are on your way. It usually pays off to make a couple small detours when roving from your landing site towards the mission waypoint.
That being said use every small rover you have as much as possible. Especially in areas such as Victoria Crater it is easy to move around and do a few extra missions.
Plan Ahead
Plan Ahead. This can be very rewarding, especially when you are taking your fancy rovers to the red planet. But also if you have a large lander that can hold a whole science lab.
Check the mission details in the map view before you launch something. Some missions can be done by the same vehicle and all you need to do is add one extra instrument. So check the requirements carefully and make the most of your exploration craft by filling it with science from top to bottom!
Once you are done with the first mission you can go back to the map and hit the assign-button for a mission that your displayed vehicle is suited.
This is one of the best methods for saving money and maximising your profit because you save a whole vehicle.
On another note though: You should still take only what you have use for. Dont load up scientific instruments that you have no concrete use for in the hope of finding a mission for it later. This is not economic planning! Only take exactly what you need and nothing more.
Good Parts, Bad Parts
(Since battery-life is not yet implemented you basically dont have to worry about power supply at all.)
…Or Parts you need and those you definitely don’t!
First of all the “high-power illumination system”.
Although you can research it early on in the game it is not smart to do that. Its expensive and only gives you light… But you already have night-view-mode and basic lights on every cam!
So please invest this money in a better way. Later on when you are no longer worried about funds floodlights can be fun but not for now.
Another thing are solar panels. While they are certainly useful on the small rover (increasing movement capabilities extremely) they are nothing but dead weight on landers. (At least at this point in the game).
Your small and large landers will probably only do a few jumps to different waypoints before they run out of work to do. Until then batteries last longer than you need them to.
Also the price comparison is ridiculous. So jam a bunch of those 1k batteries in your lander and laugh at the solar cells and panels knowing that you just saved an incredible amount of money.
When thinking about antennas the low-gain model works for all your communication needs (at this point in the game) so no need to research high-gain etc.
Do The Rover-Trek
Do the Rover-Trek and be patient (you need a lot a patience in this game anyways…)
Take your time to move your rover all the way from one mission to the next even if the distance is >1km.
Moving your rover around is after all the best way to make money anyways (see randomly generated side-missions) and you always save twice if you do two tasks with the same vehicle.
So if you are serious about saving money jam a ruler into your W-key and have a coffee.
Don’t be afraid of long distance treks and most importantly, always save your game! You never know when a stupid little rock might flip your poor rover…
0G-Probe
Before moving on to the medium and large rover it is a good time to research the zero-g probe and unlock the asteroid field.
For me manuvering the zero-g is one of the most fun parts in the game actually. But be advised: Make careful manuvers and give it enough time to slow down or you might break off those thrusters. You will not make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs anyways!
With more than 2 thrusters missing the self-stabilizing feature becomes really messed up and navigation becomes hard to impossible.
Now back to business: A skilled pilot can easily do all the zero-g missions on Deimos with only two different probes. Navigation on Deimos is wonderfully fast (unlike on Mars) and you can fly around the moon in about 5 minutes I guess.
Therefore these missions are most efficient and with the scoop system researched you can make a hefty profit.
Finally let’s take a look at cameras.
Your Rover’s Eyes
This is your one and only perfect allrounder cam: The CYC wide angle camera you are given at the start.
Later on you might encounter missions requesting color photographs and you may research the basic imager or even the advanced one. But for everything else the CYC is everything you will ever need. You can slap 5-10 or even more of these on your rover for every more advanced camera.
Also you will rarely need tele-focus cams.
The CYC is simply the best option for your craft and costs virtually nothing.
Of course I don’t want to discourage you from putting those shiny, high-def cams on your mast system that your rover deserves 😉
Thanks for reading!
Thanks for taking your time to read this guide!
Also please tell me everything I can include here in the comments!
I am sorry if something is wrong in this guide or not clear, please let me know if you think there is.
Please don’t be too hard on me, it’s my first guide.