“Elite Dangerous Universal Cartographics Belt Clusters Pay Zero” is a phrase that refers to the fact that scanning asteroid belt clusters in the game Elite Dangerous does not give any monetary reward from Universal Cartographics. This has been the case since the game’s release in 2014, and there is no official explanation from the developers as to why this is the case.
There are a few theories as to why asteroid belt clusters do not pay out. One theory is that it is because they are not considered to be significant enough to warrant a reward. Asteroid belts are relatively common, and they do not contain any valuable resources that would make them worth exploring.
Another theory is that it is a technical limitation. Asteroid belt clusters are procedurally generated, which means that they are created randomly each time a player enters a system. This could make it difficult for the game to track which asteroid belt clusters have already been scanned, and to prevent players from scanning the same cluster multiple times.
Whatever the reason, the fact that asteroid belt clusters do not pay out is a source of frustration for many Elite Dangerous players. Some players have suggested that Frontier Developments, the developers of Elite Dangerous, should change this so that scanning asteroid belt clusters does give a reward. However, there is no indication that Frontier Developments is planning to do this.
In the meantime, players who are looking to earn money from exploration should focus on scanning planets and stars. These bodies do give a reward when they are scanned, and they are more likely to contain valuable resources.
Why are asteroid belt clusters scannable, but worthless?
Asteroid belt clusters are scannable in Elite Dangerous, but they are worthless because they do not contain any valuable resources. Asteroid belts are relatively common, and they are made up of small, rocky objects that are not worth much money.
In addition, asteroid belt clusters are procedurally generated, which means that they are created randomly each time a player enters a system. This makes it difficult for the game to track which asteroid belt clusters have already been scanned, and to prevent players from scanning the same cluster multiple times.
As a result, scanning asteroid belt clusters is not a worthwhile activity in Elite Dangerous. Players who are looking to earn money from exploration should focus on scanning planets and stars, as these bodies do contain valuable resources.
Here are some additional reasons why asteroid belt clusters are scannable, but worthless:
- They are not considered to be significant enough to warrant a reward.
- They are not as rare as other objects in the game, such as black holes and neutron stars.
- They do not contain any valuable resources that would make them worth exploring.
- They are procedurally generated, which makes it difficult for the game to track which clusters have already been scanned.
Despite being worthless, some players still scan asteroid belt clusters for the sake of completing a system scan. Others scan them to see the ore quality of the cluster, in case they want to mine it in the future. Ultimately, whether or not to scan asteroid belt clusters is up to the individual player.
What is the universal cartography in elite dangerous?
Universal Cartographics (UC) is a megacorporation in Elite Dangerous that is focused on mapping the universe. It is the only company that buys exploration data from pilots.
UC has a presence in most starports in the Milky Way Galaxy. Pilots can sell their exploration data to UC at any of these starports. The amount of money that UC pays for exploration data depends on the following factors:
- The distance of the system from Sol.
- The type of bodies that are scanned.
- The level of detail of the scans.
For example, a system that is 1000 light-years from Sol and contains a neutron star will sell for more than a system that is 10 light-years from Sol and contains only rocky planets.
UC also offers a number of bonuses for exploration data, such as:
- A bonus for selling data on a system that has not been scanned before.
- A bonus for selling data on a system that is in a popular exploration region.
- A bonus for selling data on a system that contains a rare or valuable body.
Pilots who earn a lot of money from exploration can become Elite Explorers. This is one of the highest ranks in the game.
UC is a valuable resource for pilots who are interested in exploring the galaxy. It provides a way to make money from exploration and to contribute to the mapping of the Milky Way Galaxy.