RC Vehicles

[PaulMClem]

Rover - Great for travelling around with a set of drones to mine metals etc. Usually always doing something.
Transport - Great for moving "stuff" around. Usually always doing something.
Explorer - Great for researching anomalies. However, other than that it just sits around getting dusty.

I know the Explorer can buff research (à la Science Ships in Stellaris), but in the early game I find it does almost zilch. Am I missing something or is there really nothing else the explorer can do? If not, then I think it would be nice it it was given something else to do.

 

[Chaon]

The explorer is only good for the anomalies. Then it adds to research.

Other than that it is a dust collector.

 

[spannbeton]

I often use it to recharge other vehicles.

 

[PaulMClem]

Other than that it is a dust collector.

Aye, seems a shame. Perhaps it should be allowed to discover anomalies somehow, not just research ones which already show on the map. Just doesn't do enough to feel part of the colony infrastructure.

 

[Kadera]

Towards mid-game when I start having depot outposts, or at least further-flung Drone Hubs, I usually have my 2 or 3 Explorers sitting out at the periphery of my installations, so that if new anomalies show up (and they often do after meteor storms), I'm well-positioned to head out to analyze them quickly. But otherwise, yeah, I do the research bonus thing as soon as it comes up and about 90% of the time the explorers are just sitting on a power cable, waiting for stuff to do.

 

[Ri0Rdian]

I often use it to recharge other vehicles.

Only this. Once every anomaly is gone I keep them for the research they give and park them in the middle of a frequent route of transport rovers so when one runs out of juice it can assist.