Long distance smuggling missions
- Thread starter B33 ENN
- Start date
Ah, but that requires planning!I like the fact that the different cargo loads I end up with means the route planned takes me to different places to honk at. Only if I get to <1/2 tank and the next star is not scoopable do I start to look at the route ahead to make sure there is one soon, and re-route if not.
It's what I love most about this game - we're all doing a similar activity, but from all sorts of different angles in different ships and by subtly different means. There's no "right" way, just one that you enjoy.
Requires planning? What are you talking about? You choose a waypoint that results in your ship going through a region of space that has more scoopable stars than a direct route. After you find one (or a few) waypoints, you write them down and reuse them. Route plotting is a skill that you develop, not something you plan.
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Almost every MMO rolls in that direction these days
Small additional general tip (while the good times roll).
I now load up on missions then simply dump or resell my cargo really quick before departing back to the bubble then rebuy the illicit cargo in the amounts I need.
This lets me use an exploration conda to go to/from the remote systems much quicker, then I dock and switch out into a Python and go shopping really quickly.
It saves a lot of time and still has the benefit of if you were accepting stacks in a cargo racked python.
If you are really hard up for cargo you can even cannibalize the "low paying" illicit cargo missions back in the bubble.
I now load up on missions then simply dump or resell my cargo really quick before departing back to the bubble then rebuy the illicit cargo in the amounts I need.
This lets me use an exploration conda to go to/from the remote systems much quicker, then I dock and switch out into a Python and go shopping really quickly.
It saves a lot of time and still has the benefit of if you were accepting stacks in a cargo racked python.
If you are really hard up for cargo you can even cannibalize the "low paying" illicit cargo missions back in the bubble.
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For fantasy geeks, Pratchett's Disk at HIP 74290 has some good long range missions.
Nice 4 million for two smuggling missions for a total of half an hour play. Few more of these will certainly improve my bank account.
This does not include the 300k for selling the rare goods (14T) I picked up at SOTHIS.
This does not include the 300k for selling the rare goods (14T) I picked up at SOTHIS.
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Sothis Gold is the only rare where the intended use of rare goods, to supliment normal trading runs, applies. That's rare.
OK, guess I'm late to the party, and probably won't get many runs in before the nerf hits. My question is, what's the timer on most of these delivery and smuggling missions? Just curious since real life doesn't usually let me have a nice undisturbed 2 hour sessions to be flying from place to place. i was wondering if I can space this out, like do a partial delivery one night and do the rest the next night.
Thanks.
Thanks.
9 hours was the longest I saw, quite a lot in the 5 - 7 hour timer. A good spec Asp will do these missions quickly, 400 Ly in around 14 jumps.
OK thanks, guess that means I should focus on a limited number of destination stations if I'm short on time.
You won't really have the option to be choosy in which destinations you get back in the bubble, but generally they are no more than 3 jumps away from each other if you get a cluster of missions and draw a logical path.
The offerings can be as quick as 2 hours. I generally don't take anything less than 4 hours and will stop accepting missions if any of my current ones are at the 2 hours left mark. That gives me enough time to comfortably get back and deliver what I need.
It also depends on how much time you have to devote to the session then and there.
I've seen 14 hour timers on some mission.
Great reading the new replies!
I decided to ditch the Python. It's a great ship for many reasons but it doesn't seem to fit me. It's very expensive as well and not really delivering the return to make it viable. I lost one in a fight after interdiction and it cost me 4 million insurance. So I decided to sell it and get my Asp out again.
Like the Cobra, I've always loved the Asp. I am curious so rather than doing the CG as I intended, I'm going to try the Takurua, Robigo, Sothis area run this evening.
I decided to ditch the Python. It's a great ship for many reasons but it doesn't seem to fit me. It's very expensive as well and not really delivering the return to make it viable. I lost one in a fight after interdiction and it cost me 4 million insurance. So I decided to sell it and get my Asp out again.
Like the Cobra, I've always loved the Asp. I am curious so rather than doing the CG as I intended, I'm going to try the Takurua, Robigo, Sothis area run this evening.
I'm a bit of an Asp man myself, but I do like playing with my Python it is a hard one to beat. But when the going gets hairy, the Clipper comes out as it is great for making a smooth exit;pGreat reading the new replies!
I decided to ditch the Python. It's a great ship for many reasons but it doesn't seem to fit me. It's very expensive as well and not really delivering the return to make it viable. I lost one in a fight after interdiction and it cost me 4 million insurance. So I decided to sell it and get my Asp out again.
Like the Cobra, I've always loved the Asp. I am curious so rather than doing the CG as I intended, I'm going to try the Takurua, Robigo, Sothis area run this evening.
Merchant is fine, you will get transport missions of 700k - 800k with it. I even got Smuggling for 5M with Merchant rank. At Broker (next one), I got even 1.1M transport mission so it gets better (these missions will push your trade rank very quickly).
Talking about FEHU system, it is very nice for these things - two stations close together.
Talking about FEHU system, it is very nice for these things - two stations close together.
I'm Broker level, but I understood from reading people's comments that the payout scales with your level. The high level stuff won't be available to you, but there should be lower level ones. Like for instance, I saw missions of the million and a half mark requiring Entrepreneur, but I couldn't get them, only from 700-1M. I don't think combat or exploration ranks matter in this, only trade.
That's what I liked about Fehu as well, plus the fact that it boosted my Imperial status opening up rank progression opportunities.
The Clipper was my lust after ship since the start, and I finally got to try it in beta. It's truly amazing to fly!
I never had the rank so never ended up getting one. I'm still only a Squire now, but I got the Python when I could afford as I thought it had better hard points and could land on medium pads.Having flown the Python, and had a taste of the Clipper, I have to say I'm a Clipper man for sure.
It's just more fun to fly. It's also cheaper upfront, and that's important for me. I think I sold the Python because I know I'd prefer to get the Clipper as soon as I hit Baron, and I'd like enough in the bank at that point to kit it out well.If you had a python then you can kit out Clipper at least moderately I do not have money for a Python above hollow basic equip so I am ranking like crazy for a clipper. Lord now so hopefully I will get that goddamn Baron soon, been in ranking mode for a week and it is starting to be quite annoying and boring
I do not have money for a Python above hollow basic equip so I am ranking like crazy for a clipper. Lord now so hopefully I will get that goddamn Baron soon, been in ranking mode for a week and it is starting to be quite annoying and boringDeleted member 102790
D
I did a ROBIGO run last night in a weaponless (and shieldless ASP) with a 4 slot and smaller slots filled with fuel. Filled up around 40 tons of missions averaging 850,000 credits each.
Nearly got blasted many times - was quite exciting. At first station back put a higher power generator and shields (from where I was leaving the shieldless build let me get to Robigo without a fuel stop or needing to scoop even once).
All up 3 hours and I abandoned last 3 missions. Made about $10 million which was less than I had hoped for all the planning to build the ASP, fuel etc was another hour. So total profit for me was $2.5m an hour.
Which is pretty much what I make bounty hunting in my FDL, which I will go back to.
I had not factored in (as per the excellent guide a few pages ago in this thread) that my low trade ranking means no million dollar missions.
Also it is harder than Bounty hunting in the sense that I had to do 17 long jumps with a 31+ ly jump range both ways you cannot take a break once you leave Robigo.
After each jump you had to immediately line up and jump again or be interdicted and 3 times I was pulled out of jumping by interdictions plus attacked twice all the way to the station's no fire zone (station then blasted the pirate).
Nearly got blasted many times - was quite exciting. At first station back put a higher power generator and shields (from where I was leaving the shieldless build let me get to Robigo without a fuel stop or needing to scoop even once).
All up 3 hours and I abandoned last 3 missions. Made about $10 million which was less than I had hoped for all the planning to build the ASP, fuel etc was another hour. So total profit for me was $2.5m an hour.
Which is pretty much what I make bounty hunting in my FDL, which I will go back to.
I had not factored in (as per the excellent guide a few pages ago in this thread) that my low trade ranking means no million dollar missions.
Also it is harder than Bounty hunting in the sense that I had to do 17 long jumps with a 31+ ly jump range both ways you cannot take a break once you leave Robigo.
After each jump you had to immediately line up and jump again or be interdicted and 3 times I was pulled out of jumping by interdictions plus attacked twice all the way to the station's no fire zone (station then blasted the pirate).
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You overthink it Crumpeteater. I go with my battleAsp, just put down military grade armour, have about 25 LY jump range. It is about 19 jumps from FEHU, was interdicted about 4 times, had to scoop once and made about 10M in 50 minutes. All while laughing at interdictions because I just submit and jump away, their shooting do not bother me.
The journey took about 15 minutes, rest of the time is completing those missions. And that was with Broker trading rank so two missions for a million and rest for about 800k.
The journey took about 15 minutes, rest of the time is completing those missions. And that was with Broker trading rank so two missions for a million and rest for about 800k.
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Arrived at Takurua. About 15 stops in my trade Asp with some defensive capability in a single Beam Laser and a Multicanon, plus anti missile turret, heat sinks and chaff, and A rated for speed (pulls 394 on boost). So basically not as light as it could be, and a decent D5 shield and an extra 8T of fuel tanks means about 80T of cargo hold. I figure I'll have just about a time filling to 80T and that suits me for the jumps back as the profit will be good enough if my previous run is anything to go by.
Anyhow, having to grease a lot of palms with the local factions to get Friendly and Allied level contracts which are worth the better money. When I arrived, they weren't ginving me anything but a 2-300 grands worth.
Indeed, I'm looking to save up so I can buy it and immediately put a top level of modules in, which is around 100 mil for a Clipper as I recall, but better value than a Python which is a fair bit more.
I agree, the travel is the real killer doing this. I'm not a fan of Elite's one-jump-at-a-time and no auto-piloting mechanic at the best of times, but when you do these very long distances it really takes the biscuit. That's why I looked for these sorts of high payout missons, because otherwise, I agree, it's not worth it for peanuts. I normally bounty hunt in RES, and at least the combat is always fun, even if the payouts aren't as good as this, and if they nerf this again to spoil the fun, I'll go back to that.
Yeah, the interdiction mechanic winds me up too as the trigger is too obvious and makes it too predictable: Empty, no one bothers you out-bound, but as soon as you are heavy, every Tom, and Harry for light years around suddenly knows who and where you are and wants to make you an offer you can't refuse. Some of their messages are way too repetitive too, as if they know you personally! I'd much rather they shut up and get on with it.
Anyhow, having to grease a lot of palms with the local factions to get Friendly and Allied level contracts which are worth the better money. When I arrived, they weren't ginving me anything but a 2-300 grands worth.
If you had a python then you can kit out Clipper at least moderately
Indeed, I'm looking to save up so I can buy it and immediately put a top level of modules in, which is around 100 mil for a Clipper as I recall, but better value than a Python which is a fair bit more.
I agree, the travel is the real killer doing this. I'm not a fan of Elite's one-jump-at-a-time and no auto-piloting mechanic at the best of times, but when you do these very long distances it really takes the biscuit. That's why I looked for these sorts of high payout missons, because otherwise, I agree, it's not worth it for peanuts. I normally bounty hunt in RES, and at least the combat is always fun, even if the payouts aren't as good as this, and if they nerf this again to spoil the fun, I'll go back to that.
Yeah, the interdiction mechanic winds me up too as the trigger is too obvious and makes it too predictable: Empty, no one bothers you out-bound, but as soon as you are heavy, every Tom, and Harry for light years around suddenly knows who and where you are and wants to make you an offer you can't refuse.
Some of their messages are way too repetitive too, as if they know you personally! I'd much rather they shut up and get on with it.
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