Posted by: SpikeTheHobbitMage
« on: August 02, 2019, 07:51:53 PM »I usually use teams of three 1kt corvettes* for grav survey which can only fit one sensor each. Two Engineering Spaces gives them about 20 years rated maintenance life, so about 10 years before their first failure. A 2500t commercial tender will fit a 3kt military jump drive with room for extra fuel to extend their range.
*Not classed as FACs because they use minimum power engines. Fast they are not.
Since Geosurvey ships can be commercial I often use 2500t self-jumping ships once I start expanding in earnest. Depending on tech level these can fit a second survey sensor. I include a size 1 thermal sensor to find those pesky DSTS outposts some spoilers like to leave scattered around. While of little strategic value they do cause interrupts every time a civilian ship enters or leaves their range, which can be annoying in a high traffic system.
One Geosurvey ship can take a while to fully survey a large system, but if you set it to survey planets and moons first it doesn't really matter.
*Not classed as FACs because they use minimum power engines. Fast they are not.
Since Geosurvey ships can be commercial I often use 2500t self-jumping ships once I start expanding in earnest. Depending on tech level these can fit a second survey sensor. I include a size 1 thermal sensor to find those pesky DSTS outposts some spoilers like to leave scattered around. While of little strategic value they do cause interrupts every time a civilian ship enters or leaves their range, which can be annoying in a high traffic system.
One Geosurvey ship can take a while to fully survey a large system, but if you set it to survey planets and moons first it doesn't really matter.