Can you fly across the most populated part of the galaxy without running out of fuel? Do you know where the Fuel Rat Mischief is based? Where do most Commanders run out of fuel in the galaxy? All these questions will be answered with this rat race from one side of civilised space to the other.
Final Leaderboard
Regulars
Crazies!
THE EVENT IS NOW OVER - CLOSED FOR ENTRIES
Welcome Commanders! This is the fourth week-long warm-up race, designed to be a short diversion from everyday trucking, hunting and exploring.
I'll be hosting the event from the cockpit of my faithful T6, although you will have to excuse any delay with the comms as I am currently somewhere in the core, heading away from Weyl Gateway as fast as I can. It turns out Fat Tony doesn't have a sense of humour - who knew I was only to deliver the products in the Bootlegger Challenge, not actually use them at the spa with Mrs Lonnegan? I am not sure if it was drinking all the Mega Gin or giving Carmela a sensual massage with Herculis Body Rub that tipped him over the edge...so I thought it would be a good time to see the rest of the galaxy.
Anyway, the race was inspired by a visit to the Rat Cave - home of the Fuel Rats. Those of you who like a bit of back story, read away, otherwise skip straight into the details of the race.
I sat down at a table in a dark corner, towards the back and overlooking most of the Rat Cave.
"Hey Rusti, long time no see."
I turned to the sound of the voice and noticed that I wasn't alone at my table - there was a figure sat in the deepest shadow, keeping a watchful eye on the rats in the cave.
"Hey SB! Just the Rat I wanted to see."
"What’s up?" the dark figure replied.
"I am heading out on a long journey, so won't be doing many rescues until I am back. Actually, I won't be taking any limpets as I want to keep the weight down to maximise my jump range. I'll make sure I keep connected to the mischief through ship comms, just won't be firing any limpets for a while."
Surly Badger nodded, the movement barely visible in the shadows.
"No problem Rusti, we have plenty of young, keen Rats to keep the limpets flowing. In fact, I overheard a couple of them talking when I came in", Surly chuckled and continued "They were arguing if you could fly across the width of the galaxy without a fuel scoop."
I snorted "The width of the galaxy...as in 80,000 Light years?"
"Yeah, I don't think they have been out much. I think they meant the bubble, one side of populated space to the other. What is it? About 400 Light Years?"
"Something like that. And it would be easy nowadays with extra fuel tanks and stuff."
Surly Badger sighed "I guess it would be."
"Anyway, I need to find Orange Sheets to let him know I'll be absent for a while and then I want to get going. Laters SB."
"Fly safe Commander."
I got up and headed through the cave to the front, passing Alec the holographic bar tender serving strong coffee to the Rat in the dispatch chair. Looking up I saw it was DerryBear, running dispatch on several rescues at once.
"Hey Uncle Rusti! How’s the rocking chair?"
I smiled and replied "Gonna need someone to keep it warm. I’m heading out on a walkabout."
"Well take some limpets and drop them at stations out near the edge of the bubble on your way out. I've been getting reports that there has been a shortage out in the frontier systems"
Nodding I said "I'll see what I can do. See you later Derry."
A little later I was sat in the cockpit of my Lakon Type 6 Exploration ship, waiting for the docking clamps to release so I could start my journey. I decided to make one last call before I left.
"Hey Drakhyr! I have an idea for a race..."
"Hey Rusti, long time no see."
I turned to the sound of the voice and noticed that I wasn't alone at my table - there was a figure sat in the deepest shadow, keeping a watchful eye on the rats in the cave.
"Hey SB! Just the Rat I wanted to see."
"What’s up?" the dark figure replied.
"I am heading out on a long journey, so won't be doing many rescues until I am back. Actually, I won't be taking any limpets as I want to keep the weight down to maximise my jump range. I'll make sure I keep connected to the mischief through ship comms, just won't be firing any limpets for a while."
Surly Badger nodded, the movement barely visible in the shadows.
"No problem Rusti, we have plenty of young, keen Rats to keep the limpets flowing. In fact, I overheard a couple of them talking when I came in", Surly chuckled and continued "They were arguing if you could fly across the width of the galaxy without a fuel scoop."
I snorted "The width of the galaxy...as in 80,000 Light years?"
"Yeah, I don't think they have been out much. I think they meant the bubble, one side of populated space to the other. What is it? About 400 Light Years?"
"Something like that. And it would be easy nowadays with extra fuel tanks and stuff."
Surly Badger sighed "I guess it would be."
"Anyway, I need to find Orange Sheets to let him know I'll be absent for a while and then I want to get going. Laters SB."
"Fly safe Commander."
I got up and headed through the cave to the front, passing Alec the holographic bar tender serving strong coffee to the Rat in the dispatch chair. Looking up I saw it was DerryBear, running dispatch on several rescues at once.
"Hey Uncle Rusti! How’s the rocking chair?"
I smiled and replied "Gonna need someone to keep it warm. I’m heading out on a walkabout."
"Well take some limpets and drop them at stations out near the edge of the bubble on your way out. I've been getting reports that there has been a shortage out in the frontier systems"
Nodding I said "I'll see what I can do. See you later Derry."
A little later I was sat in the cockpit of my Lakon Type 6 Exploration ship, waiting for the docking clamps to release so I could start my journey. I decided to make one last call before I left.
"Hey Drakhyr! I have an idea for a race..."
The basic principle is to fly as fast as you can from one side of populated space to the other, paying a visit to the Fuel Rat’s home system of Fuelum and the systems that see the most rescues. About 400 Light Years. Sounds easy doesn't it?
There are a couple of catches.
No Fuel Scoop.
No extra fuel tanks.
The route is reversible, so you can start at either Hooke Hub in Tepech or Ocampo Station in Mirateje but you must always visit Wollheim Vision in Fuelum (official home of the Fuel Rats), NLTT 48288 (most popular place in the galaxy to run out of fuel) and MCC 811 (second most likely place to run out of fuel). You finish at either Tepech or Mirateje, depending where you started.
Bonus Snickers
Ship Classes
The distances between the race checkpoints means that the ships split into two classes – Fuel Rat Regulars that can make most of the distances without needing extra fuel and Fuel Rat Crazies that will need to make additional stops for fuel (ideal if you feel the need to dent more stations or receive more limpets).
Note that the Asp and Diamondback Explorers have reduced fuel tanks from a standard build!
Leaderboard
There will be one leaderboard during the race, but three sets of podiums at the end – Fuel Rat Regulars, Fuel Rat Crazies and Bonus Snickers. There may be a special mention for the Commander delivering the most Limpets during the course of the week…if anyone delivers any at all!
How to enter
1. Get to Hooke Hub in Tepech or Ocampo Station in Mirateje. Make repairs, fill with fuel, and ensure your ship is outfitted exactly how you want it for the race.
2. Open the Outfitting screen and capture a screenshot (F10) of your ship. Be sure to capture Power Plant, Thrusters, Frame Shift Drive and Power Distributor statistics as well as your ship's mass.
3. Return to the surface and prepare for launch.
4. Hit F10 to take another screenshot, or start your video capture, showing your start location and time.
5. Call at the following systems, in any order. At each one, take a screenshot on the landing pad (Wollheim Vision) or the Galaxy Map (NLTT 48288 and MCC 811).
- Wollheim Vision in Fuelum
- NLTT 48288
- MCC 811
NOTE: if doing a Bonus Snickers run you will need to take an extra screenshot of your Cargo screen (from the right panel) when you have purchased limpets in Wollheim Vision)
6. Get to your finish station (Hooke Hub or Ocampo Station), taking another screenshot on arrival.
7. Send a PM to me (mw_aurora), or email rusticolus <at> buckyballracing <dot> org <dot> uk, with the following:
- Forum user name
- Commander name (i.e. your in-game name)
- Ship name
- Ship type
- Race entry class (open play, solo or private group)
- Bonus Snickers Entry (Yes/No)
- Refuel method (Station or Limpets)
- Race time
- Either a link to your video, or a link to your screenshots. There should be 6 screenshots in total: outfitting; start; 3 x waypoints; finish. Or 7 if doing the Bonus Snickers.
For guidance on what to capture on screenshots, see the How to Enter page of the Buckyball Racing Club website.
Rules and Stuff
- Race starts 00:01 on 5th December and finishes 23:59 on 13th December.
- Fastest time wins.
- You can enter with multiple ship classes.
- Sorry, what happens in Beta stays in Beta - entries must be in the released version.
- No Fuel Scoops are allowed.
- Do not exceed the maximum amount of fuel allowed per ship class.
- Wings are allowed but you must not use Wingman Navlock to drop out of Super-Cruise at a station or outpost.
- It is good form to state your intent to race on this thread, but not required.
- Have fun and fly fast.
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