Your Ship & Tools

Get acquainted with your ship and essential tools in Outer Wilds. Learn how to use your Signalscope, Scout Launcher, and navigate zero gravity before launching into the galaxy.

Alright, before you blast off into the great unknown of Outer Wilds, let's get you familiar with your trusty ship and the gear you'll be using. Think of this as your pre-flight checklist – knowing your tools makes all the difference out there!

Your Ship & Tools:

Your journey begins on your home planet, and the folks around the Outer Wilds Venture crater are your first guides. They'll introduce you to the basics you'll need for exploring the solar system.

Chatting with the Locals

First up, you'll want to talk to some of the other Hearthians. Gneiss will give you the rundown on your Signalscope. This nifty device lets you tune into all sorts of sounds across the solar system – super important for finding your way and uncovering secrets. You can even play a game of Hide-and-Seek with Galena and Tephra to get the hang of it; just use your Signalscope to track them down.

Then there's Arkose, who'll explain the dangers of ghost matter. It's invisible and deadly, but don't worry – your Scout Launcher is the key here. Send out a scout to detect it safely.

Mica has a cool miniature spaceship model you can pilot. It's a great way to practice flying and landing on some small pads before you take on the real deal.

Gossan is waiting by the entrance to the "Zero-G" cave. They'll tell you about a satellite needing repair inside, which is your introduction to moving around in zero gravity. Grab the space suit from the bottom of the cave elevator – it'll let you breathe and float around in there.

Checking Out the Sights

Once you've chatted with everyone, head over to the Observatory. You'll find more locals there with interesting tidbits about the world. The ground floor has a museum filled with artifacts from across the solar system. Take your time reading the descriptions; even if they don't make much sense now, they will later!

You'll also find Nomai writing on a stone slab – your translator will help you decipher their ancient language. Keep an eye out for a strange blue "museum shard" that hums; your Signalscope is useful for locating that too.

Pay attention to the glowing purple-blue "gravity crystal" – it demonstrates some unique mechanics you'll encounter. And don't miss the working map of the solar system on the very top floor!

Before you head to your ship, make sure to get the Launch Codes from Hornfels. He and Hal are usually by a Nomai statue head. Once you have the codes, the statue will activate, showing you flashes of your recent memories – a little preview of what's to come.

Now, head back down to where Slate was roasting marshmallows. Use the launch codes in the small lift, and it'll take you up to your ship. Take a moment to look around your vessel. It's small, but packed with essentials:

• Space Suit: Equip this to activate your turbo boosters.
• Oxygen Tank: You have a limited supply, but you can refill it on your ship or by finding living trees.
• Fuel: Your turbo boosters use fuel, which can be refilled from a tank on the wall of your ship or at traveler camps.
• Medical Kit: Use this on your ship to recover health.
• Marshmallows: Roast these over a campfire to recover health – a tasty way to heal!

Finding Explorers Off-World

Remember those explorers Gneiss mentioned? Some are already out in the solar system, and one might be missing. Your Signalscope isn't just for mysterious sounds; it can also help you locate astronauts by the unique instrument they're playing. You can also spot their camps by the smoke rising from their fires.

Every explorer's camp, past and present, is a good spot to know: they'll have trees to refill your oxygen, spare fuel tanks, and marshmallows.

Knowing these basics will set you up for a great start. Now, go get those Launch Codes and prepare for liftoff!