Stars Reach: Surveying with the Pathfinder

Follow the Pathfinder's tone and compass toward a survey node. When the node appears red, aim at it and use Left MB. Green means it has been surveyed.

Look for surveyed ground, blank areas, settlements, portals, camps, and useful markers.

Bring food, medicine, repairs, movement support, and a fallback suited to the planet.

Start from a portal, town, camp, or feature you can find again.

Stand still for a moment, then turn slowly and listen for the stronger or more frequent response.

Walk toward the stronger reading, stop at a safe landmark, and compare again.

Watch the ground and nearby slopes as the signal becomes more precise.

If the direction stops making sense, go back to the last point you trusted and scan again.

Deal with creatures, fire, falling ground, or another interruption before using the node.

A red node has been found but still needs to be surveyed.

Aim the Pathfinder at the node and use Left MB. Green confirms that the survey is complete.

Press M to see the newly revealed area and choose where to search next.

Search along the border between mapped and unmapped terrain so each node opens the next useful area.

Ridges, lakes, roads, structures, and portals make better directions than a temporary guess.

Mark camps, Makers, difficult crossings, safe routes, and unfinished builds when your current skills allow it.

Surveying every node fills out the entire planet map.