Horizons Did I make an 80,000,000 cr mistake?

[DanGriswold]

So I've been working my way through endless passenger missions in order to have enough money to buy myself a Beluga Liner. I've been using my trusty Orca and it's been paying off nicely, I'm happy to say (best-case scenario, I was making 10 million for a mission that would take me approx 90 minutes to complete (no sight-seeing (other than passenger-requested, that is))). I got the money I needed and bought my Beluga last night. The joy wore off pretty quickly once I realized that I would be doing the exact same missions I've been doing with my Orca. If I don't do more than 1 passenger mission at a time, was it worth my while buying the Beluga? Sure, I can fit a Fighter Bay in there, and it looks awfully cool in my opinion, but I don't think that was worth the extra 30 million credits.

Any thoughts on how I can make the best of my purchase (money-wise, I mean)?

 

[Lightspeed]

You bought a white elephant [yesnod] Mine is gathering space dust, in favor of the Orca which handles better, goes faster and, as you find, does sufficient passenger missions to pay well.

 

[Gunnet]

Passenger missions are a bit weird like that. For the most part they're focused on carrying at most a handful of people. There's no real support for playing like an airline rather than a private jet rental service.

You could probably refit a Beluga into an okay trader or miner. But if the worst comes to the worst, it's really only an 8m mistake since you can sell ships for 90% of their buy value. Just be sure to strip the modules out and sell them separately.

 

[PhoenicianSon]

Why not skip the Beluga, go with a Python or an Anaconda (if you want to save further), and that way you can fit the ship for more than one purpose, and it will be suitable for other ventures as they become available. You could fit a Python for a combination of cargo, passenger, and still fit it for combat and have a very effective ship for all three verticals. Just my two bits...

While the majority of my ships are fit for strict combat, all shields, integrity and combat prowess in the world, but if it weren't for the materials, the cargo scoop would be completely useless. However, my Corvette one Python are loaded out for multi-role, allowing me to interchange between passenger, cargo and combat missions or purposes. The Python can also make a very good smuggling vessel. I have successfully performed smuggling missions with my Python, along with smuggling in illegal goods for the Black Market.

I could easily buy all of the passenger ships and fully fit them out, but they just are too limiting in my opinion for expansive game play and roles. You certainly would not want to take an Orca or Beluga to hunt Wanted ships in a Hazardous or HRES zone; however, a Python could be most effective as a combat vessel, even if it is not entirely fit for that sole purpose.

 

[Broon]

You bought a white elephant [yesnod] Mine is gathering space dust, in favor of the Orca which handles better, goes faster and, as you find, does sufficient passenger missions to pay well.

This exactly fits my situation too.

One day I will swing by my Belugia's hanger and strip it of modules and scrap it.

 

[CMDR Josky]

I did watch a YouTube on fitting the Beluga for combat.Heard that when it rams other ship's there sheilds drop haven't tried that yet.

 

[DanGriswold]

Thanks for the comments, guys. It seems as though the Beluga is not all that popular. Seeing as how there aren't any other ships I'm pining for, I think I'll hang onto it for now and see what happens. Maybe it'll get a buff here or there in a future update and it will look a little more enticing. If not, I can always sell it.

 

[Cpt Shadow Wolfe]

Used mine early on as a miner since it was too slow to outrun the dang scans when ferrying criminals. Can get a decent load of mining done with it, maneuvers well, huge fuel tank so can skip the scoop. Now my Cutter is the huge miner. With engineering, the Beluga gets up to Anaconda speed and the jump range has increased to make it viable as a passenger hauler again, so I have refitted it for bulk passenger missions. Can load up with multiple transport and sightseeing missions from the same station, run them and be back for the next load. Use the Orca, with its increased jump range for the mid range 1000 Lys trips, those usually take 40 or so jumps to complete round trip, can stack a couple in relatively the same area, and make 30 mil or so.

Will keep the Beluga, it really is easy to fly in SC and turns really good so if you overshoot doesn't take forever to get turned around, not like in the Conda, which took forever to spin around.

 

[Captain Willard]

I really like how the beluga handles, best of the big ships. I've also made more money with it than any other. It's not for everyone but does have some niche uses as do all ships.

 

[dayrth]

was it worth my while buying the Beluga?

Not really no. Not worth trying to fight in one and even the SLF is not worth having as it will add too much weight to your already limited jump range. You can put bigger cabins in it, but the real advantage is having multiple cabins and taking multiple missions. If you're not going to do that then the Orca is probably a better ship for you.

 

[-VR- Max Factor]

Thanks for the comments, guys. It seems as though the Beluga is not all that popular. Seeing as how there aren't any other ships I'm pining for, I think I'll hang onto it for now and see what happens. Maybe it'll get a buff here or there in a future update and it will look a little more enticing. If not, I can always sell it.

I don't think the Beluga needs a buff so to speak, we just need a better passanger solution.

 

[shadragon]

I took an exploration AspX, fitted a passenger hold and got access to a bunch of well paying passenger trips I can do in 1-2 days of play. Does not have to be an Orca or Beluga unless you want "Luxury" cabins. I've found business class to pay enough for me and they are not typically demanding clients.

 

[Saltyseadog]

So I've been working my way through endless passenger missions in order to have enough money to buy myself a Beluga Liner. I've been using my trusty Orca and it's been paying off nicely, I'm happy to say (best-case scenario, I was making 10 million for a mission that would take me approx 90 minutes to complete (no sight-seeing (other than passenger-requested, that is))). I got the money I needed and bought my Beluga last night. The joy wore off pretty quickly once I realized that I would be doing the exact same missions I've been doing with my Orca. If I don't do more than 1 passenger mission at a time, was it worth my while buying the Beluga? Sure, I can fit a Fighter Bay in there, and it looks awfully cool in my opinion, but I don't think that was worth the extra 30 million credits.

Any thoughts on how I can make the best of my purchase (money-wise, I mean)?

Never had a Beluga but in my Anaconda and although presently I just have the one 64 ton unit converted to business class in my Anaconda, I previously had three passenger units aboard, one each of Economy, Business and 1st Class and I am sure that i remember getting different contracts for each one simultaneously?.

 

[duckofdeath]

The Beluga probably generates a lot less revenue per hour than an Orca, as it never got the range boost the Orca got in 2.3.
It's hard to fill that many cabins simultaneously, so out of the two I'd pick an Orca with either two or three cabins.
The Beluga seems to have suffered the same fate as the Type-9. You buy it if you want to fly big, not to earn more.

 

[VonBlade]

Yep, I brought a Beluga, realised the jump range was awful, the cost horrific and it's been left gathering dust. If I want to ferry people I used a Orca or stuff them into my Anaconda. There are so few luxury passengers that official "ferry" ships are meaningless.

Trouble is I'm a hoarder, so used or not I'm not selling it.

 

[Xintar]

Jump range awful? Really? For a massive class ship, I would rank it as quite good.
Have to explain that one.

 

[Lightspeed]

It has to be engineered. Can't remember what my jump range is on the Beluga (as I don't use it), but a reasonable session with Felicity increases it by about 50%.

 

[Dantedante]

For passenger missions, I don't see a reason why would I use a Beluga or Orca or Type 7 / 9. An ASP X with max jump rage build can do everything on this missions (except luxury which is not necessary) I jump about 32 ly with my ASP X and fitted Class 6 cabin. It does wonders IMO. And some day if I take a Sagittarius mission, probably I will start that journey with my ASP X. Its jump rage is phenomenal if you don't count the big expensive boys with have 6-7 class FSD modules.

 

[Alex Brentnall]

Sell all the modules internally to the cheapest you can get then sell the ship. You loose 10% so actually your losses are only 8mil credits.

That is if you decide to sell.

 

[Frank]

This thread has convinced me to sell mine. I don't think I'm up to the job of captain of the Love Boat. If I try to stack passenger missions all I get is a ship full of angry passengers.