Anybody studied passenger missions?

Stealthie

Stealthie
Just something else I was idly wondering about...

I don't really see the point of the Beluga or the Orca as tourist ships.
I don't see why anybody would want to take on a whole heap of passengers, all wanting to go to completely different places, and then cart them all around together.
Seems far more straightforward to bundle one tourist into an Asp (or, after 2.3, a Dolphin), complete their tour, collect their cash and then pick up another tourist.
IIRC, it's not even like you can take a bunch of people to POIs near to each other and they'll be ticked-off that tourist's list because they all seem to want to go places in a specific order and, besides, with a dozen tourists aboard, that'd be a nightmare to plan anyway (although I suppose it'd be possible if you wrote down all their intended destinations and then bookmarked them on the galaxy map).

I was really wondering about the viability of one-way passenger trips to the same destination and whether there are places where there are plenty of these types of missions?

Seems like the best use of a Beluga or an Orca would be as a "bulk transport" for passengers.
You might start off at, say, Sol, take on a whole bunch of people who all want to go to the same place and then, ideally, stop off at other systems where there will be even more people who want to go to the same place so that your ship ends up completely filled before you arrive at your destination.

I was wondering if anybody's actually studied passenger missions to the point where they've developed "bus routes" for moving people around as efficiently, and profitably, as possible?
 

Noctover

Noctover
Stealthie said:
Just something else I was idly wondering about...

I don't really see the point of the Beluga or the Orca as tourist ships.
I don't see why anybody would want to take on a whole heap of passengers, all wanting to go to completely different places, and then cart them all around together.
Seems far more straightforward to bundle one tourist into an Asp (or, after 2.3, a Dolphin), complete their tour, collect their cash and then pick up another tourist.
IIRC, it's not even like you can take a bunch of people to POIs near to each other and they'll be ticked-off that tourist's list because they all seem to want to go places in a specific order and, besides, with a dozen tourists aboard, that'd be a nightmare to plan anyway (although I suppose it'd be possible if you wrote down all their intended destinations and then bookmarked them on the galaxy map).

I was really wondering about the viability of one-way passenger trips to the same destination and whether there are places where there are plenty of these types of missions?

Seems like the best use of a Beluga or an Orca would be as a "bulk transport" for passengers.
You might start off at, say, Sol, take on a whole bunch of people who all want to go to the same place and then, ideally, stop off at other systems where there will be even more people who want to go to the same place so that your ship ends up completely filled before you arrive at your destination.

I was wondering if anybody's actually studied passenger missions to the point where they've developed "bus routes" for moving people around as efficiently, and profitably, as possible?
Click to expand...

Don't tell anyone, but I've always wondered what the point in those ships is aswell :D. shh.
 

Cmdr Travers

Cmdr Travers
I've earned billions, literally, doing passenger missions. There is a pattern to them that I've discovered. I use a Beluga too, which is okay as a ship.

I usually take a couple, perhaps three missions. If you do take multiple missions though just be wary of people who have pirates after them, especially if you have another passenger who doesn't want to be scanned.

When it comes to the pattern, this is a little hard to explain, but I always start with the closest system, and then work through the first destinations for the other missions from nearest to farthest.

They tend to jump (north <> south / east <> west) but generally tend to jump in the same direction. This means that if one missions goes off in one direction, a couple of hundred light years, the others shouldn't be too far away form it.

Like I said, hard to describe, but hope this helps :)
 
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goemon

goemon
Cmdr Travers said:
They tend to jump (north <> south / east <> west) but generally tend to jump in the same direction. This means that if one missions goes off in one direction, a couple of hundred light years, the others shouldn't be too far away form it.
Click to expand...

depends a bit from where you pick them up in my impression. for stacking more than 1 mission, I'd go to a system more on the edges, as destinations have just 1 general direction :) - more problematic if running missions from sol.
 

sb413197

S
Stealthie said:
Just something else I was idly wondering about...

I don't really see the point of the Beluga or the Orca as tourist ships.
I don't see why anybody would want to take on a whole heap of passengers, all wanting to go to completely different places, and then cart them all around together.
Seems far more straightforward to bundle one tourist into an Asp (or, after 2.3, a Dolphin), complete their tour, collect their cash and then pick up another tourist.
IIRC, it's not even like you can take a bunch of people to POIs near to each other and they'll be ticked-off that tourist's list because they all seem to want to go places in a specific order and, besides, with a dozen tourists aboard, that'd be a nightmare to plan anyway (although I suppose it'd be possible if you wrote down all their intended destinations and then bookmarked them on the galaxy map).

I was really wondering about the viability of one-way passenger trips to the same destination and whether there are places where there are plenty of these types of missions?

Seems like the best use of a Beluga or an Orca would be as a "bulk transport" for passengers.
You might start off at, say, Sol, take on a whole bunch of people who all want to go to the same place and then, ideally, stop off at other systems where there will be even more people who want to go to the same place so that your ship ends up completely filled before you arrive at your destination.

I was wondering if anybody's actually studied passenger missions to the point where they've developed "bus routes" for moving people around as efficiently, and profitably, as possible?
Click to expand...

You are correct. The Orca and Beluga currently have no point due to their short jump range, and the relatively low frequency of luxury missions that pay well. The AspX is fine for most passenger missions due to its class-6 internal; after 2.3 the Orca will become viable also due to its buffed jump range.

Currently, the best passenger ship is the Anaconda - its huge jump range combined with lots of utility slots means you can easily build a "stealthaconda" that is virtually unscannable in silent running - I run low emission power plant with clean5 drives, 6 heat sinks and two chaff - in silent running it's very difficult to scan - in fact even when completely screwing up the docking (missing the slot, having to back up etc haha) I've only been scanned ONCE when going for stealth. Several times the scan has started, and failed to finish due to all the heat sinks and chaff breaking the scan.

You should only do 2, or at most 3 sightseeing missions at once because as the earlier poster noted you tend to accumulate too many pirates - I tried 8 once and yeah it didn't end well - the interdictions got tougher and tougher to break for whatever reason and come in "chains" (one, then immediately another etc). Long-range exploration passenger missions though are safe to stack 8 with, with the class7 internal being a 7A fuel scoop, and a discovery and surface scanner.

I love passenger missions. They are my favorite part of the game currently. They combine great visuals, with some risk (pirates and being scanned at base) - great gameplay. The biggest sightseeing mission was around 35 million for me (I usually accept two above 15 million), and the biggest exploration mission 90 million - stack 8 of those bad boys and you'll make some money. I hope they don't nerf them in 2.3, they are great.
 
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Cmdr Travers

Cmdr Travers
goemon said:
I'd go to a system more on the edges, as destinations have just 1 general direction :) - more problematic if running missions from sol.
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I run all my passenger missions from Carter Port, Rhea. Depending on your rank you can get missions up to 35 million cr there from time to time. Usually missions are around 10 > 20 million :)
 

Commander_Brucitor

Commander_Brucitor
goemon said:
depends a bit from where you pick them up in my impression. for stacking more than 1 mission, I'd go to a system more on the edges, as destinations have just 1 general direction :) - more problematic if running missions from sol.
Click to expand...

I would second this, missions from the edges are more than likely going to be more efficient and the longer the distance the higher the payout. However you'll more variety from systems closer to the center of the bubble. I've ran alot of passenger missions and what I found out works for me is to first get to a Allied status with a faction. Then load outfit an Asp X with a class six first class module and run long distance tourist trips. I get to see some cool places and if I'm patient I can usually find a mission with a 2-3 hour timer for about 10-15 million. Sometimes there's pirates and usually just make a run for it and it's never been more than a nuisance. But then again I wasn't stacking them either. If you've got the time and the right ship you can run sight seeing tours to the galactic core. I've seen some for 99 million. You could definitely get a couple of these as some are in the same general region and or along the way. But that's if you have time and a great jump range.
 

Commander_Brucitor

Commander_Brucitor
Another idea I've had but not tried is to outfit a Type 7 with all modules and find a system like Aditi that is out in the middle of nowhere and has one neighboring system to ferry people back and forth. The type 7 can be outfitted with 5 modules, (3- class 6 and 2 class 5)
 

NCFCpaul

N
I'm also Elite explorer, I regularly pick up missions wanting two or three stops, these are usually worth something between cr5- 10million, sometimes as high as cr20 million. From time to time one pops up with that price, very occasionally even higher, wanting to go 1kly. Generally I can do 2000klys an hour so one or two passenger runs an hour if its the two/three stops. Basically once you're allied and Elite the money is very easy.
You do also see missions crop up offering cr150 million to go to SagA* or further. I have taken one in the past but it's a bit of a hike! Even for that money!
 

IndigoWyrd

IndigoWyrd
I fly both the Beluga and the Orca, and soon the Dolphin will be added, and I'll use it too.

Both my Beluga and Orca also carry cargo racks - sometimes passengers ask for things, other times...

I'll fill up on passengers and fly them all over the place. And if they're not asking for this, that, or the other, I'll fill my cargo space as well with commodities desired at those various destinations as well - be it as a mission or as pure trade. My Orca paid for itself in half a day. My Beluga in two days. Dolphin, probably one trip.
 

Bariel

B
Got to agree that being near the edge of the bubble helps - my home system is fairly near the edge on the "south west" side, which means missions tend to quite reliably go "north" or "east" of the start location. Once you have done a few starting from the same place you get to know most of the local tourist beacons and can then pick missions going in roughly the same direction - doesn't always work that way of course - especially when you factor in minimum payments (ie what is the minimum payout you are prepared to accept), but it definitely helps.
 

goemon

goemon
as for that:

Stealthie said:
I don't really see the point of the Beluga or the Orca as tourist ships.
Click to expand...

i think, what many people are missing about the beluga, is its better supercruise handling and general handling compared to a conda. now, as said, stacking passenger missions comes with drawback, but if i would decide to pick up a lot of them at once, and than spending several sessions on working down the list, which would lead me to taking legal passengers that don't mind being scanned, i'd probably take a beluga for that. it dosn't meet how i play the game though - either deciding what i want to do the next 2 hours, or going for "real exploration" trips - but i can see, that other players would love it, like flying rare circuits...

the deal breaker with the beluga for me is mainly, that i can't fit a class 5 fighter hangar and using a class 6 fuelscoop with that, as the fighter is a great distraction for highwaking, if interdicted.

the orca was in a bad shape, but gets a massive buff in 2.3. it will be my passenger ship of choice then, as you can fit 2 large cabins (to run 2 missions, which will even include luxury cabin requirements), having a good fuelcoop, a srv for those beacons at geysers and fumaroles, speed to outrun anything and to boost into stations, and still ~40 ly jumprange.
 
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