Buckyball Run 7: It's not what ya do, it's how ya do it!



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POS indicates current position based on submitted race time. NA Has not launched. UNK Launched with no submitted time.
UR Under Review. DNF Did Not Finish. DQ Disqualified. PEN Penalty. Dots indicate number of BBR's run. Reverse dots indicate a BBR win.
Highlighted records indicate a new time posted during the current period.
Times updated daily, or when I can manage it.


Looking for info on the previous Buckyball Runs? Click here for the Buckyblog.


The "Buckyball" Braben Star-to-Shining-Star Memorial Trophy Dash, widely known simply as The Buckyball Run, was an unofficial, unsanctioned spaceship race run from Xiaoguan Hub in Magec to the Vonarburg Co-Operative in the Wyrd system, intended both as a celebration of the Federation Interstellar Star Route System and a protest against strict traffic laws coming into effect at the time.

As it was found out, the newly imposed 9.8c relativistic limit imposed by the Federation Maximum Velocity Law (imposed as an energy conservation measure) was actually slower than the quickest average velocities of point-to-point travels of Commander Ian Buchanan "Buckyball" Braben (no relation) in the first half of the 32nd century. In 3102, Braben flew the route in a Cowell-MgRath model 57 Sidewinder, averaging greater than 12.5c, setting a 32 minute record that stood for nearly 140 years.

Another motivation was the fun involved...


So what is it?

The Buckyball Run is the name of a series of point-to-point rally races through the space lanes of Elite Dangerous where pilots record their best time from start to finish. Commanders can make the run in whatever vessel they have provided it has the jump range. The Buckyball Run isn't just about coming in first, it's about taking the dare. Sidewinders and Haulers all the way up to fully tricked out Anacondas have all made the Run.

So... What are we doing this time?

The Buckyball Run 7 is a "Scramble" race. Instead of a long route stretching across hundreds of light years, pilots will have to dock at seven stations of their choosing in seven closely spaced systems before return to the starting point. Because this might be more confusing than previous events, I took the liberty of drawing a map:


(Click the map for a more readable version. - Mirana)

What the hell kind of map is that?!?

What are you, an art critic? Who died and made you Magellan? It's perfectly legible! Racers will launch from Cady City in No Chianga, and then hit any seven out of the eleven stations on the map in any order. Cady City does not count as one of the seven checkpoints. Basically pick 7 out of 11, then come home to Cady. Only dock at the listed stations. Take a screen shot of your dash clock at each stop, then another when you land back at Cady. Note all the checkpoints are full-size stations. No platforms. We don't discriminate against ships with big bones The pilot with the best time will be declared the winner!

This is as clear as mud.

Start at Cady city in No Chianga. Take a snapshot of your dash clock to mark your starting time.

Got it.

Pick any 7 of the 11 stations to visit. Take a snapshot of your dashclock as you dock at each one to prove you were there.

Got it.

Come back to Cady. Take another snap of your dashclock to mark your finish time.

Got it. Do I have to visit every system?

Nope. It's the stations that count. You need 7 out of the 11 listed. It's part of the theme. Buckyball 7. Get it?

Yeah, 7. Clever. And Cady City doesn't count toward the 7?

Nope. Cady is not a checkpoint, it's the finish line.

Why didn't you just say so?

I thought I did. But I was drunk when I drew up the map. Maybe you need to be drunk to read it.

So all ships compete together?

Yep. Ship modding has made classes irrelevant, and we still haven't been able to figure a way to segregate racers by ship class, FSD type, cost and hull color without a whole lot of rules. Rules mean work and since Bucky does all the work around here I do my best to lighten the load for him. So we keep it as simple as possible. The race will be run in two classes, and each can be run Multiplayer or Solo. First we have Unlimited, where you can race whatever you have, from a Sidewinder up to an Anaconda, configured however you like, and for racers who want to remove ship stats and money from the competition, there is always...

The Sidewinder Challenge
To give pilots a chance to test their skills against other pilots instead of their bank accounts, we have Sidewinder Challenge. With multiple ship ownership, this is a lot easier than back when you had to sell your baby to race a Sidey. It works like this: at Cady City, purchase a stock Sidewinder. (Talk to Larenz Giler down at AAAA Ships 'N' Service. He'll make you a good deal. Mention the Buckyball and get 10% off of a hull wash and detailing) Fit your stock Sidey with an A2 FSD and A2 Thrusters. (EDIT: Cady appears not to be stocking A2 FSD's. Slide over to Ray Port in Shesmu. They've got them there. Thanks for nothing, Larenz!) The whole package will run you about 250-300K. Strip out the loaner pulse lasers to increase jump range. After that you can't change, remove, or add any other component. That means no fuel scoop, no other downgrades to remove mass, or anything else. You have to dock in order to refuel. (in this race it shouldn't be an issue) The purpose of this race is to put all your piloting skills to use: navigation, supercruise management, docking, the works. May the best pilot win.

Here's what your Regulation Sidewinder should look like at launch:

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If you've got a Sidewinder but don't want to follow these restrictions you can of course run it in the Unlimited class. It'd be cool to see exactly what a tricked out Sidey is capable of.

How long does this take?

Give yourself 25-40 minutes to complete this run.

Anything else?

Screenshots will verify the racers' times. Take one before you launch and one each as you land at each of the seven checkpoints. The difference between the time you launch at Cady and when you return will be your time for the race. You will also need to provide a screenshot of your vessel in the Outfitting screen showing the internal configuration and performance stats.

That's, like, 10 whole screenshots.

Relax. The computer does all the work for you.

NOTE: if you intend to do more than one run, just send your start/stop screenshots from Cady. When you are satisfied with your time and don't want to make any more attempts, send me all the links to your pictures. That way you obsessive types don't have to spend all day uploading your shots. Do note that if I post a time for you and you can't provide the screenshots by the end of the race, it's an automatic DQ. (cue dramatic music) To date, I'm the only Buckyballer ever to be disgraced with a DQ. Don't be like me.

ANOTHER NOTE: Pilots recording video of the race do not need to take screenshots provided the recording shows the clock at takeoff and landing at each checkpoint as well as the Outfitting screen as outlined above. YETANOTHER NOTE: If your video is going to take days to convert and post, don't worry about it. Grab a screenshot of outfitting, your takeoff time and landing time at Cady and send that instead. That'll be good enough to get on the board. You will still be expected to provide the full video at the end of the race, though, or get the dreaded DQ. (cue dramatic music.)

The deadline to submit times is 23:59 game time, Saturday, 11 April 3301. You make as many attempts as you like. Open play and Solo times will be logged separately. Please note open or solo play when submitting your times.

So, to participate in the Buckyball Run 7:

The Important Stuff (How to register and race)
  1. Post your intent to race in this thread, or if you are not a forum member, email (bucky at electricz dot net) with your info. List the following:
    • Your commander's name (if different than your user name)
    • Ship Name
    • Ship Type
    • Your answer for the Official Buckyball Question of the Race: "Who is your favorite Artificial Intelligence? Computer, robot, or whatever?"
  2. Make sure your ship is in tip-top shape at Cady City in the No Chianga system. Make repairs, remove any excess mass, get it configured how you want it for the race. You should have at least 10ly jump range to make this Run.
  3. Open the Outfitting screen and hit F10 for a screenshot of your ship. Be sure to capture Power Plant, Thruster, FSD and Distributor statistics. You will send this with your race time submission.
  4. Make sure you are on the surface and prepare for launch. If you start your clock in the hangar you'll be unhappy.
  5. Hit F10 to take a screenshot or start your video capture, showing your location and time. You need it in order to qualify your run.
  6. Launch and get going, champ! The clock is ticking!
  7. Navigate your way to and dock any 7 stations on the map in any order. No other stations count. Cady City does not count as one of the seven checkpoints.
  8. At each checkpoint, hit F10 to screenshot as soon as your dash clock comes up, showing your time and location.
  9. Return to the finish line by docking at Cady City in the No Chianga system, the station you started from. Don't forget to take that last screenshot of your finishing time.
  10. PM me links to your screenshots. If you are going to make another attempt, just the first and last screenshots at Cady will do. For your final run, send links to all 10: your ship's configuration, start/stop at No Chianga, and the seven checkpoints. Don't post them in this thread. If you recorded video, send me the link.
  11. With your screenshots/video, include the following information:
    • Your Ship Name
    • Game Mode: Open or Solo/Private
    • Your Race Time. Use Time Duration Calculator for easy calculation. Please include your time because I guarantee I will mess it up and you will be sad.
  12. Sit back, relax, have a drink or two (Bucky makes a mean martini!) and share tales of your race with your fellow Buckyballers for them to admire or ridicule as they see fit. Or, if you think you can do better, head on back out! You're already at the starting line. Why wouldn't you?

Submissions for race times will be accepted until 23:59 game time, Saturday, 11 April, 3301. If you are not a member of the forum and would like to participate anyway, email your links and route info to (bucky at electricz dot net.)

Sounds doable. Anything else?

We try to keep things informal and friendly during this thing. You can run as many times as you like, and your best time will be recorded for each class: Unlimited/Sidewinder/Open/Solo for a maximum of four entries. When the race period is over, I will post the collected times and a summary of the race, and pilots can share their screenshots, vidoes, routes and tactics with the world.

So what's to keep me from faking my screenshots or lying about my ship's configuration?

I can't stop you. Not at all. There are all kinds of ways you can cheat on this. The Wings update in particular makes cheating super easy. But in the real life, earth-bound Cannonball Run the competitors were doing it just for the hell of it, and "there was a gentlemen's agreement that the vehicle entered would be driven the entire distance, not having it transported on another vehicle, nor having an identical second vehicle hidden near the finish, etc." That's the spirit of this little exercise. How fast can you make the run, using only your piloting skills the ship you've got? There's no need to cheat because what would that get you? There's no prize other than doing it. Besides, cheaters make Bucky sad. Do you want to make Bucky sad? Don't be that commander. Nobody likes that commander.

Thanks for the lecture. Anything else?

Nope, that about does it.

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. You may launch at any time. The Shotgun Shine is already docked at Cady and will be serving at both the start and finish. In light of the dangerous nature of the race, CMDR Ortilano is insisting that bar tabs are to be paid in full before you depart on your run. Good luck, Commanders!

FAQ in a following post since this long-winded drawn out message always puts me close to the limit, and I can't post two messages in a row without getting concatenated.
 
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Yessir, Yabba! And thanks for posting inbetween so I can put up the FAQ!

Buckyball Run 6 FAQ - Spoilered to keep from giving away the ending...

Do I have to race against other people?

This is a rally race, so you're racing the clock and comparing your time to others. This model lets racers run on their own time from anywhere in the world, plus it's a lot less work for your beleaguered race organizer. It's still fun, trust me!

Do I have to play online then?

I wholeheartedly encourage multiplayer just for the added thrill but Solo/Private racers are welcome. Race both ways if you can! Just be sure to note which way you're playing when submitting a time.

Why are there no times on the leaderboard?

Times are posted at the finish. It's like a rally race, or a marathon. The participants don't know the competitors' times until it's over. Our crack marketing research team polled eleven thousand commanders and found that posting times while the race was ongoing actually discouraged pilots from participating or logging a time if it didn't compare favorably with the times already on the board. So, relative position is all that's shown until the end.

However, upon sending in a time, the pilot is told how far back he or she is from the closest competition if they choose to make another attempt.

How do I take screenshots?

To take a screenshot press 'F10' to put a screenshot into The Frontier Developments\Elite Dangerous folder in your 'My Pictures' folder.

What's the "dash clock?"

This thing. Make sure it's in all of your checkpoint screenshots from start to finish. (no need to crop the image)

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How do I send you the screenshots in a private message?

First you have to have a place to store it online. I recommend imgur.com, a free picture storage site. Registration is free. All you have to do do is upload it to imgur. Once uploaded, look for an HTTP link to copy into your private message to me here on the ED forum.

Or you save it to Dropbox, Google Drive, make a web page, post it to your blog, just as long as I can see 'em. At the end of the race, they will be shared by all.

I forgot to take a screenshot when I launched/landed at one point.

Do the letters "DQ" mean anything to you? All checkpoints must be documented or it doesn't count. Sorry.

Screenshots suck. How do I record it?

That's beyond the scope of this document. Google is your friend. Or, ask one of your friendly fellow Buckyballers.

If I go through all of this, jump through all these hoops for you, what do I win?

All the virtual groupies and fans you can imagine and the accolades of your fellow commanders on this board.

No, I mean, what do I win that's TANGIBLE?

What, like prize money? A trophy? As an unsanctioned event run off of a message board, I've got nothing to award and no way to get it to you in game. Fun and bragging rights will have to be enough.

BUT... In game, you will get better at navigation, docking, collision avoidance, and interdiction avoidance. Under the gun to make a good time, my docking went from "easy, easy, OH GOD STOP" to being able to do an uninterrupted velocity landing through the slot down to the pad with a minimum of damage to myself or the station. Not only does it make you feel like a stud, it's a skill that will stick with you and help you in the game. Being jack rabbit quick means less time loitering in Supercruise or outside the slot waiting for people to shoot at you. Your races will also help other commanders learn from your experience. In addition, you get to do something that makes the ED universe a litte more alive.

Not to mention this is your big chance to explore the galaxy, especially if you're still spending your time running the same ol' boring trade routes. There's some mighty cool sights to see out in the big black, and Frontier Developers has gone through a lot of work to put it there. You should check it out!

Plus, it's fun. You like fun, don't you?

For the seventh time now, I don't like fun..

How about a little light reading, then?.

I had to dock and get fuel. Does that count against my time?

Time waits for no one, and neither does the Run. It's part of the race.

I had to pay for it, too. This is costing me money!

You'll definitely want some creds in the bank for fuel. There's no such thing as a free lunch and it's a long walk back.

I got interdicted. Waaaaaah!

See "I had to stop and get fuel" above. Hope you got away!

I lost my ship. Waaaaaah!

Hope you had insurance! By simply reading this post you agree to hold me blameless for any losses incurred during the race.

I've got fines/have a bounty on my head now, thanks to this stupid race. Waaaaaah!

Shame on you. You should feel bad for whatever you did. You probably deserved it.

What's the Shotgun Shine? And who the heck is this Bucky guy, anyway?

As the finish line for the Buckyball Run is never in the same place twice and because of the, uh, "unsanctioned" nature of the race, the after party isn't something that's planned out ahead of time, and it never happens in a dock-side bar. You see, the last thing we need is some uptight station manager inviting a bunch of law enforcement types to hang out with us. Anybody who was around for the 3293 Run probably still has liens on their ship from the excessive fines, but I digress... After 3293 the party had to be more portable. CMDR Mirana Ortilano, a retired cargo hauler (and 3285,3286, 3289 Buckyball Champ) converted her Lakon Type-7 Shotgun Shine into a fully outfitted mobile home/party barge and spends her retirement wandering from port to port looking for new and inventive ways to get into trouble. Wherever the Buckyball Run stretches the tape for the finish line, Mirana and the Shine are always waiting, along with whoever she picks up along the way.

Of course, another advantage of having a mobile bar is that should the authorities arrive, we can all get out of the docking bay on the Shine without worrying about spilling our drinks. And anybody complaining about ships zooming through the slot has never seen Ortilano behind the wheel...

As for Bucky? This is him:

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He's the sole authority in this whole fiasco. His word is law. Got a problem with that? Talk to Bucky.

And I get the first registration. This is my most favorite time of the race where I am #1 on the leaderboard! Once again, feel free to race in any or all classes, but only one ship per class:

CMDR Name: Electricz
Ship Name: Shipwrecked and Comatose
Ship Type: Asp
Class: Open Unlimited
Favorite AI: HAL-9000, 2001 A Space Odyssey

Ship Name: Miss Adventure VII
Ship Type: Eagle
Class: Solo Unlimited

Ship Name: Snakebit
Ship Type: Sidewinder
Class: Open Sidewinder
 
CMDR Name: Genthus
Ship Name: Kusanagi
Ship Type: Cobra
Class: Open Unlimited
Favourite AI: Project 2501

Ship Name: Motoko
Ship Type: Sidewinder
Class: Open Sidewinder
 
CMDR Name: Crystal Starblade
Ship Name: Thrillseeker III
Ship Type: Eagle
Class: Open Unlimited
Favorite AI: Canal Volfeed, Lost Universe

CMDR Name: Jaryd Moonshadow
Ship Name: Colonel Gadsden
Ship Type: Viper
Class: Solo Unlimited

It may take me a couple of days to put up a time for Jaryd... I'll have to actually get his Viper over to No Chianga; he's not in the neighborhood. But I've made two attempts with Crystal (one ended in fire, the other... successful!) and will be sending you a time momentarily (with video to follow).
 
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CMDR Name: Jaereth
Ship Name: Labyrinth
Ship Type: Cobra
Class: Open Unlimited
Favourite AI: Glados


First run attempted..forgot the screenshots :) Will have to redo tomorrow
 
CMDR Name: Raiko
Ship Name: The Nomad
Ship Type: Asp
Class: Open Unlimited
Favorite AI: Wintermute, Neuromancer

Ship Name: Little Nomad
Ship Type: Sidewinder
Class: Open Sidewinder

My docking skills in The Nomad vary between terrifying and embarrassing... I expect this will get very expensive very quickly!
 
CMDR Name: Henry Passionfruit

Ship Name: ?SYNTAX ERROR
Ship Type: Cobra
Class: Open Unlimited
Favourite AI: Holly, AI of the 'Red Dwarf'

Ship Name: Spaminacan
Ship Type: Sidewinder
Class: Open Sidewinder
 
Let's do this !! \o/

CMDR Name: Larry Poste
Ship Name: Anna
Ship Type: Anaconda
Class: Open Unlimited
Favorite AI: David, Prometheus

Ship Name: Coque Q790
Ship Type: Sidewinder
Class: Open Sidewinder
 
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All right race fans, I have time for one quick mid-morning (GMT) update before I get down to serious work on tomorrow's hangover. Only a few hours in, and there's already blood on the Big Board. CMDR Crystal Starblade in the Eagle Thrillseeker III spanked my Asp (kinky!) Shipwrecked and Comatose in what is the first of what I am sure will be many pegs I am knocked down during the course of the event. Crystal is a veteran of Buckyball 5, and I'm really, REALLY happy to see her back. (Literally, as I am now in second place. :rolleyes:)

Welcome back also to returning Buckyballers CMDR Genthus, CMDR Reiko and CMDR Henry Passionfruit, all fresh from Buckyball 6 a couple months back. You'll all be happy to know that the local authorities in Agartha have no idea that you're all here at Cady City, at least until someone reads this message. But what the heck, those little security fighters got crap for range. I'm sure you can outrun 'em.

And a warm welcome to CMDRs Jaereth and Yank31, both first timers. But what's this? Mad props to Yank for whipping out the Big Snake on his very first try! Atta boy! Bear in mind there is an unofficial prize for the biggest dent in the side of a station. I think you've got a shot!

Looking forward to what the first full day brings!

EZ out...
 
All right race fans, I have time for one quick mid-morning (GMT) update before I get down to serious work on tomorrow's hangover. Only a few hours in, and there's already blood on the Big Board. CMDR Crystal Starblade in the Eagle Thrillseeker III spanked my Asp (kinky!) Shipwrecked and Comatose in what is the first of what I am sure will be many pegs I am knocked down during the course of the event. Crystal is a veteran of Buckyball 5, and I'm really, REALLY happy to see her back. (Literally, as I am now in second place. :rolleyes:)

Welcome back also to returning Buckyballers CMDR Genthus, CMDR Reiko and CMDR Henry Passionfruit, all fresh from Buckyball 6 a couple months back. You'll all be happy to know that the local authorities in Agartha have no idea that you're all here at Cady City, at least until someone reads this message. But what the heck, those little security fighters got crap for range. I'm sure you can outrun 'em.

And a warm welcome to CMDRs Jaereth and Yank31, both first timers. But what's this? Mad props to Yank for whipping out the Big Snake on his very first try! Atta boy! Bear in mind there is an unofficial prize for the biggest dent in the side of a station. I think you've got a shot!

Looking forward to what the first full day brings!

EZ out...

Well, I just put a Viper-sized dent on the inside of Biggie City (to go with the Eagle-sized one I left at Ray Port earlier)... I guess I have the early-lead in that category as well. :p
 
Hmmm, this will certainly be a different challenge...

CMDR name: Samwell Drakhyr
Ship Name: Back of Beyond
Ship Type: Cobra mkIII
Class: Open Unlimited
Favourite AI: The Doctor from the USS Voyager
 
CMDR Name: The Marshall
Ship Name: 20/20
Ship Type: Viper
Class: Open Unlimited
Favorite AI: Andrew, The Bicentennial Man

CMDR Name: The Marshall
Ship Name: Badge
Ship Type: Sidewinder
Class: Open Sidewinder
 
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Its not entirely clear to me. Is it hit any of the 7 stations and return to Cady or do you have to hit all 7 and then return? Seems to be conflicting info here.

Thanks
 
Id like to enter.. but its not clear to me either.. is it just one of the seven or all of them...ive read it 4 times now and just confused myself. can you list the systems and stations pls.. just to be clear.
I can only see 6 on the map.

CMDR Name: Kligg
Ship Name: Bingo
Ship Type: Cobra
Class: Open Unlimited
Favourite AI: HAL9000

edit: ok I see the legible map now. hit any 7 stations in the 6 other systems then back to cady city.. got it.
edit 2.. grrr.. keep getting dicted and failing.. don't have any cargo space.. and they haven't a hope of catching me.. its ridiculous.. I need to dress up like a priest!
 
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Its not entirely clear to me. Is it hit any of the 7 stations and return to Cady or do you have to hit all 7 and then return? Seems to be conflicting info here.

Click on the picture in the first post for a link to a clearer map.

As I read it: There are 11 stations listed, across 6 systems (Cate, Chaga, Chaona, K'uanele, Shesmu and Woloniugo). The race is to start at Cady City in No Chianga; call in at any 7 of the 11 stations, in any order; and then return to Cady City.
 
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