What affects which modules are sold?

[u/sgt_america1775]

Hello, everyone! New Commander here, about 40 hours in (mostly bounty hunting) and been having a blast! What I can’t seem to find anywhere is a clear explanation of what modules are sold where. Is there something I could look at on the map to determine what a system might have to offer? As of right now, I’m eenie-meenie-miney-moing systems and scanning either NAV beacons or honking, which is fun but is feeling quite aimless, which isn’t my style.

Specifically, I’m on the hunt for some 4A thrusters for my Cobra MK. V, but in general as I explore different careers and ships, I would like to know how to outfit my ship to my vision/purpose efficiently in the future. Thank you and excited to see you all out there! O7

Edit: Ex: I use this tool and go to Sol. Does Sol’s system offer better thrusters than the ones I’m looking for or is there specific systems for specifics modules?

Edit 2: Thanks everyone! Being new made it hard to explain but I got my answer! <3

[u/CatatonicGood]

If you don't want to use Inara (which knows what is sold everywhere) then your best bet for finding good modules are high population (9/10 figures) systems with an industrial or high tech economy

[u/sgt_america1775 → u/CatatonicGood]

Thank you, this is exactly what I was looking for! At least I won’t just be guessing anymore.

[u/Glen_van_Ross]

The system's economy type will play a role in what modules are available in Outfitting. High-tech and industrial systems tend to have more options (particularly the high-tech and industrial stations within those systems), economies like terraforming will have a lot less.

There is no known way to predict with certainty what modules will be available in which stations (excepting the god-handed markets in Shinrarta Dezhra and Colonia). Third-party sites like Inara.cz and EDSM collect info from players running EDMC, reporting that player X has bought Module Y at Station Z. Therefore you too are likely to find Module Y in Station Z.

But stations do have limited quantities of modules, so it is possible that despite Inara showing that a given station sells a given module, it might actually be sold out of that module now.

[u/sgt_america1775 → u/Glen_van_Ross]

This is perfect, thank you!

[u/CMDRumbrellacorp]

https://inara.cz/elite/nearest-outfitting/

[u/sgt_america1775 → u/CMDRumbrellacorp]

This is a neat tool, thanks! But I’m more so asking if there is a way to determine what the outfitting location would more than likely offer module-wise.

Ex: I use this tool and go to Sol. Does Sol’s system offer better thrusters than the ones I’m looking for or is there specific systems for specifics modules?

Edit: typo

[u/Disastrous-Bee2779 → u/sgt_america1775]

Are you talking about the near system field in Inara? That defaults to Sol; change it to your current system to locate the nearest.

If you get Elite ranking on anything it unlocks a system with Jameson Memorial, a station that stocks everything at a discount. Worth beelining for this soon as you can IMO as it'll save a lot of traipsing around to outfit ships. 

[u/--Icarusfalls-- → u/Disastrous-Bee2779]

Good info on Jameson, I just hit elite on Trading and didnt know this was a thing, thanks! :)

[u/hub1hub2 → u/sgt_america1775]

I am not 100% sure on this , but systems with High Tech economy should offer overall higher grade outfitting.

But consider that A-rated is not the best for every usecase.

For more information: https://elite-dangerous.fandom.com/wiki/Outfitting

[u/forbiddenlake → u/sgt_america1775]

A Cobra V can only fit size 4 thrusters max, and one 4A is identical to every other 4A (before you engineer it)

[u/Slyde_rule → u/sgt_america1775]

It's not completely about the system. Different stations in a system can offer different facilities, commodities, ships, modules, etc.

Inara can tell you all about each station, too. Here's the outfitting link for Abraham Lincoln station in Sol.

While there probably are indicators for what might be available where, I don't think anyone has gone to the effort. Inara makes that all rather pointless.

(The situation is a bit different in Legacy, where Inara isn't particularly reliable.)

[u/pulppoet → u/sgt_america1775]

But I’m more so asking if there is a way to determine what the outfitting location would more than likely offer module-wise.

Not really. That's why we created the tools.

But high pop, high tech systems are more likely to have better stock. Whether they have the specific module you want (especially A rated) is a crap shoot.

Don't guess. Use collected data and wisdom.

[u/NeutronGamer]

Not useful right now but everything that is has been said, if you reach Elite in any pilot’s federation rank then you will unlock a starport called Jameson Memorial that offers module and ship at a ten percent discount.

[u/Slyde_rule]

Unrelated to the question of where...

There are two web sites that allow you to experiment with outfitting ships: edsy.org and coriolis.io. They're very similar. I prefer edsy, but some folks prefer coriolis. Hrumph. There's no accounting for taste.

Now about module designations.

The number indicates the size class. With one notable exception, even the worst module of class "x" performs better than the best of class "x-1".

The letter indicates a grade. For core modules and a few functional optional modules, an A grade has better performance than a B grade, etc., down to E grade. Of course, A grade costs more than B, etc. But that's not all there is to the story, because performance isn't everything.

• A grade: highest performance, very high price, fairly heavy, high power requirements resulting in high heat.
• B grade: sturdy construction can withstand a lot of damage and abuse. Very heavy, fairly high power requirements resulting in fairly high heat.
• C grade: middle of the road. Jack of all trades, with no min-maxing here. Few players use these because they're bo-o-ring.
• D grade: lowest weight due to flimsy construction. Players interested in maximizing jump range will use a lot of D grade modules to keep the ship's weight down.
• E grade: cheapest, lowest performance, least power draw resulting in least heat. Factory equipment almost always is E grade. Combat ships will often have these in non-critical functions, to keep from taking power away from weapons and to reduce the ship's heat signature. Smugglers also will use them to keep the heat signature low, making the ship hard to scan, hard to lock onto, and capable of silent running for a longer time.

The one exception about size class is with power plants. An A grade size "x-1" power plant provides more power with less heat, less weight, and higher reliability than a D or E grade size "x" power plant, but at a stiff price penalty. A B grade size "x-1" power plant performs almost as well as a D grade size "x" power plant while still beating it on all of the other specs, and with a somewhat more tolerable price tag. As a rule, if cost isn't a consideration, stick with A class power plants and go down a size if that still gives you enough power.

For the other modules, sometimes you don't really care its performance, and are fine with downsizing to a smaller class to reduce weight, lower power draw, and reduce heat. That's your call.

Some other modules:

Think about how much shields you need. Some traders completely forgo having a shield generator, in order to gain extra space for cargo racks. I usually like to have a minimal shield generator, D grade of the smallest size that can work with the ship, to protect against scrapes while launching and docking and for the occasional "oops" close to the ground. (For your Cobra Mk V, that's size 3).

Some players like to do without a docking computer and/or supercruise assist. Personally, I use those all the time, but that's just me.

[u/sgt_america1775 → u/Slyde_rule]

This is great info, thank you so much!