Long range hauling missions... ?

[Florenus]

Why don't we have some long range hauling missions in the bubble?

By that I mean missions that would require you to take cargo to a system at least 100 Ly away. And I don't mean missions in a system that's eaither far from the bubble, or on the edge - destinations for those missions are generated to next inhabited system that just happens to be further than usual.
I'm not sure if they were ever a thing, but I seem to remember that after 3.3 update, when every system state was reset, for a very short time there were missions that required you to go somewhere further than next system. Therefore is this some side effect of how BGS works? Or do I remember it wrong?

There are systems and stations that are home to big interstellar companies that sell ships, engines, build stations all around human space etc. If long range hauling missions can't be more common for some reason, those would be great places to generate them. I think it would create interesting gameplay option for a space trucker.

 

[Bigmaec]

Why don't we have some long range hauling missions in the bubble?

Because

a) people would forget their fuel scoop and get stranded
b) complain they have to equip a fuel scoop and be unable to max cr/hr
c) complain they get ganked by NPCs after 100 LY because they left out shields for cr/hr
d) complain they have to equip shields and fuel scoop and be unable to max cr/hr
e) complain about "respecting their time" and why the game makes them jump 5+ times instead of once (cr/hr, remember?)

f) the mission server is propably gonna implode by calculating missions to all possible locations 100 LY away.

 

[Factabulous]

There are 'Source' missions that need stuff from 100's of LY away. What you are asking for could legitimately be countered with 'why would anyone choose to ship further when there is a market close by?' by the immersion-seekers

 

[GreyAreaUK]

f) the mission server is propably gonna implode by calculating missions to all possible locations 100 LY away.

Heh. Keep in mind that we already get data delivery mission to Colonia, so the mission generator is certainly capable of looking a bit further than 'two systems over'

Actually, I quite like the OPs idea, especially if it guaranteed higher-ranked (and maybe Engineered) NPC pirates along the route. Bit like the old 'transport the military plans' mission from the original game.

 

[Bigmaec]

Heh. Keep in mind that we already get data delivery mission to Colonia, so the mission generator is certainly capable of looking a bit further than 'two systems over'

Actually, I quite like the OPs idea, especially if it guaranteed higher-ranked (and maybe Engineered) NPC pirates along the route. Bit like the old 'transport the military plans' mission from the original game.

Data missions don't have to factor in market data though...

 

[GreyAreaUK]

Data missions don't have to factor in market data though...

Good point, although the goods we tend to transport tend to be 'unique to the mission', so maybe that station 100ly away needs those exact 100t of fish - accept no substitutes!

 

[Florenus]

There are 'Source' missions that need stuff from 100's of LY away.

That's not bad workaround... even if not well paid usually.

What you are asking for could legitimately be countered with 'why would anyone choose to ship further when there is a market close by?' by the immersion-seekers

erm.. maybe they're part of retail chain and need to ship some stuff to their stores somewhere?

Good point, although the goods we tend to transport tend to be 'unique to the mission', so maybe that station 100ly away needs those exact 100t of fish - accept no substitutes!

I would think fish from Earth are not the same thing as fish from Lave, f.ex.

 

[777Driver]

Why don't we have some long range hauling missions in the bubble?

By that I mean missions that would require you to take cargo to a system at least 100 Ly away. And I don't mean missions in a system that's eaither far from the bubble, or on the edge - destinations for those missions are generated to next inhabited system that just happens to be further than usual.
I'm not sure if they were ever a thing, but I seem to remember that after 3.3 update, when every system state was reset, for a very short time there were missions that required you to go somewhere further than next system. Therefore is this some side effect of how BGS works? Or do I remember it wrong?

There are systems and stations that are home to big interstellar companies that sell ships, engines, build stations all around human space etc. If long range hauling missions can't be more common for some reason, those would be great places to generate them. I think it would create interesting gameplay option for a space trucker.

There are long haul high paying missions out of the Maia Nebula back to the bubble, as you mention they only appear on Thurs while the BGS plays catch up and links trade missions to nearby systems.

If you want long haul, A-B-A Polymer or Military grade Fabric's pay a good amount for long haul. Sol is the main cheap supplier of Military grade fabrics in the Bubble (5 stations in Sol) Deadalus in orbit around Mercury is the closest to the main star, pay around 600 CR/T sell to military and prison surface ports for 14000 CR/T

My T9 was hauling around 770 tonnes, making around 11 million per trip. Not amazing for old timers, but it's a good haul for a 100LY trip and you get to travel to many interesting planets.

Those old 80 million credit long haul missions are long gone. A-B-A trucking is the most reliable method.

Keep in mind short haul pays a lot more if you are stacking freight missions of haigh value metals or Thorium - Around 30 million credits for a 1 jump trip in a T9 or Cutter maxed for trade.

 

[Kissamies]

Heh, I think I've seen a source and return missions on those very remote asteroid bases a few times. No one would be crazy enough to do those. Got me thinking that there could be special one way "resupply" missions to those remote bases and perhaps "sample transport" missions back to the bubble. For passenger missions there could be "crew rotation". I imagine some explorer with cargo space and already heading that direction might even consider taking those.

Probably too much work for too little gain, but I like the sound of the idea. Remote settlements should know they are remote and choose their missions accordingly.

 

[Florenus]

Keep in mind short haul pays a lot more if you are stacking freight missions of haigh value metals or Thorium - Around 30 million credits for a 1 jump trip in a T9 or Cutter maxed for trade.

Yeah, I know. There's one station in Pleiades, where I go when I need some quick cash for bunch of 1 jump missions in my T9. 30 mil sounds about right.

Good advice on Military Fabrics.
I haven't done bulk trading in a while, I might return to it.

 

[Factabulous]

You could also repair starports, they ask for rare stuff that no-one wants to ship. Not a good payer though.

 

[Chromezero]

I've requested or suggested this a few times but it's usually ignored. I do occasionally see a delivery mission to Colonia but that's further than I'd like to go. Something in the 100-500LY range would be fantastic. Smuggling missions, such as delivering slaves into Fed space or drugs into Antal space would be a good example of why we'd need to deliver cargo longer ranges. Additionally, it's reasonable to think that various factions would be trading with each other for "rare" items, only available in a specific system.

 

[MickyG1982]

I'm pretty certain I've seen loads of those colonia missions, couldn't tell you where though as I didn't pay that much attention.

 

[Vash627]

Is 100ly really a long haul in a trading ship? I've been away from the bubble a long time I think my sense of scale is off because of it.

 

[SpaceScania]

If there was one thing I’d love to see above all others in this game, it would be enhancements to haulage missions. Euro Truck Simulator has long haul missions and Elite Dangerous should too. There should be fragile haulage missions where damage to your ship risks spoiling the cargo. Dangerous cargo where damage to your ship could result in your ship being blown to pieces even before you hull gets to 0%.

Additionally, larger haulage missions that fill the hold of the Type-9/Cutter would also bring tears of joy to my eyes. It is low hanging fruit for Frontier to look at some tweaks like this to the missions system but sadly I am not optimistic this will change before 2020. It would certainly be a pleasant surprise if they did do something here.

Outside of haulage missions, I will say that bulk trading is in a much better place. While you can make much more money using eddb.io, using in the in-game tools to find good trade routes is actually really fun. Frontier did a great job with this in my opinion. Polymers and Military Grade fabrics are very lucrative indeed.

My only criticism of bulk trading now is the same as I have for Void Opals. Having a gold rush is fine, but the source of that gold rush should change over time. Don’t limit it to the same 1 or 2 commodities popping up at different sites in the bubble.

 

[SpaceScania]

Heh, I think I've seen a source and return missions on those very remote asteroid bases a few times. No one would be crazy enough to do those.

I would totally do those missions if the payout made it worth it. They would have to pay a premium for such long range missions. 720t of Synthetic Meat to the asteroid base in the California Nebula? Heck yeah! Sign me up!

 

[Florenus]

Is 100ly really a long haul in a trading ship? I've been away from the bubble a long time I think my sense of scale is off because of it.

We're talking about cargo missions and those generally require you to go to nearest inhabited systems. At any rate no further than 50Ly when in the Bubble. There are exceptions, but those are due to the fact that closest inhabited system might be outside of the Bubble, or vice versa.

I would totally do those missions if the payout made it worth it. They would have to pay a premium for such long range missions. 720t of Synthetic Meat to the asteroid base in the California Nebula? Heck yeah! Sign me up!

 

[DragonIV]

Here's the thing--since we already have dedicated mission cargo unique to delivery missions, why does it have to be commodities from the the commodity market for every delivery mission? Why not move ship modules, station components and other non commodity cargoes? Yes, I know they cannot be sliced into one unit canisters, but that's just a little programming detail to make a ship module be something like 5-12 units, or maybe station components are in the range of 50-100 units.

It would also serve to help make station repairs more interesting, providing jobs to help repair stations with meaningful cargoes.

And sorry (late edit) these would be ideal for long haul missions.

 

[777Driver]

Is 100ly really a long haul in a trading ship? I've been away from the bubble a long time I think my sense of scale is off because of it.

Short haul is all the standard 15LY routes we see on the mission board

Long haul - 100LY up to a few thousand LY's. Way beyond the standard mission or A-B-A routes. Normally the fetch missions and BGS trading (high value goods)

Ultra long haul is the mental stuff, 20,000LY+ Between the bubble and Colonia, only done that for CG's. No credits in that.

@dragoniv - Spot on mate, that really should be a thing. No 8A powerplants in Colonia? I'd be happy to haul them out there, time permitting.

 

[DragonIV]

Spot on mate, that really should be a thing. No 8A powerplants in Colonia? I'd be happy to haul them out there, time permitting.

Same. Never been to Colonia. Give me a reason along these lines and make it worth my while, FDev, and I'll make the trip.