This was super confusing to me when I would seemingly randomly and inconsistently get a notice (but only in my ship or SRV, and not on-foot) that I received a credit reward after doing a geological scan (but seemingly not biological, because again, that only happens on-foot).
So after doing some research and testing, here's what I figured out; if someone knows something different, please let me know and I'll edit this:
– you only get a codex credit reward, either 2500 OR 50k but never both, even on different geological and biological types, exactly *once per system*. My understanding is that if you scan a repeat type for the 2500 credit reward (see below) FIRST, but then scan a brand new, never confirmed type, you DO NOT get the 50k reward, because you already received an award in that system.
– you get 50k once and only once when you first "confirm" a new type and/or subtype. So the first time you scan a "stratum – lime" you get 50k. To get 50k again, your next scan must be in a *different system* and the FIRST scan in that system *must* be a previously unconfirmed entry. So to get 2X 50k in a row, you have to scan, say, "stratum – tectonicus – lime" — assuming it was unconfirmed — in system A, jump to system B, then scan something *different and unconfirmed* whether it be "stratum – tectonicus – indigo" or another stratum catgory like "stratum – excutitus" or another biological type altogether (needs to be verified that different unconfirmed subtypes get the 50k, not just distinct biological or geological categories).
– you get a 2500 credit reward when you scan a previously confirmed type but in a new system **OR if you scan with comp scanner after first genetic sampling
so the key here is to *always* go for entry top level categories first, to guarantee that you'll get a 50k credit. once you have all categories with at least 1 confirmation, it's hit or miss whether you'll get a 50k reward in another system, because it's random to get a new subtype.
PS – I've read that biologicals get their "color" from the host star, so something to go for is a different star type (AFAIK "color" corresponds more to surface temperature [at least that's how it works in real astronomy] than star type, because star types correspond more with age and size.
When scanning, keep in mind that scanning with the ship or SRV composition scanner immediately confirms the codex entry, whereas scanning with the genetic sampler on-foot requires all 3 samples be gathered before confirming the codex entry. so if you want to confirm and get the credit reward right away on biologicals, use the ship or SRV comp scanner first.
EDIT: I just confirmed after testing that genetic sampling first screws this system up. Presumably because you will later sell the sample to Vista Genomics, but you do get the 50k credit reward if you scan with the comp scanner first. So always comp scan first!
