FC Usage Charts

[Northpin]

clog up a system with a dozen "stations" for reasons.

You're not wrong. But that comes with blaze your own way concept (and fast, else others will do it and you'll have to find another way to blaze)

For example the current CG. It's so damn pointless to use a carrier when you have stations with millions tons within a jump distance. Yet both the System CG and the source systems are littered with Carriers.
So you'd wonder, why feeling the need to do twice the job when it's just as fast to use a Cutter or a T9

 

[lemon407]

You're not wrong. But that comes with blaze your own way concept (and fast, else others will do it and you'll have to find another way to blaze)

For example the current CG. It's so damn pointless to use a carrier when you have stations with millions tons within a jump distance. Yet both the System CG and the source systems are littered with Carriers.
So you'd wonder, why feeling the need to do twice the job when it's just as fast to use a Cutter or a T9

And i could see really cool uses for them though, like parking one half way through the Nutron highway from Colonia and the bubble to basically act as a reststop. Port.

The issue to me still is for what the provide in the game, i dont feel their cost is justifiable, unless you are using it explicitly for exploration which even then idk if its possible to fun it.

 

[CMDR D Noize]

Limited uses?
I don't know the circumstances around the 'parked' FC's you see, but know that my 2 are active (although main is 'parked' next to a Tritium hotspot regularly for another week or so) in various systems - being able to carry 16,000+ tons of cargo over huge distances is quite useful, as is having a mobile platform for the 3 R's beside a Haz Res or CZ, plus the entire fleet to hand...

On this exact note, I've bounced around grabbing Rares and unlocked 2 more Engineers today and my FC rarely stays in one place for very long unless there's a combat CG happening.
Now all I've got left to unlock in the Bubble is the ladies & gents that want crap loads of Data and they don't really have much that I want or need either, but I'll do them eventually just for the "completionism".

"Useful" doesn't even come close in respect to my FC, more like "God Send".

 

[CMDR D Noize]

The issue to me still is for what the provide in the game, i dont feel their cost is justifiable, unless you are using it explicitly for exploration which even then idk if its possible to fun it.

If you cant see a use for them then you probably don't need one, they aren't designed for everyone.
The initial investment cost is admittedly quite steep but the operating costs go practically unnoticed if you're an active and experienced player.

 

[CMDR D Noize]

And now that I've unlocked Miss Jameson I'm off to go and see where her late-great-grand father crashed because I've never actually been there yet.

Must have done about 500-600 ly worth of FC jumping this evening alone and I'll probably pop back to one of the Nebulas to nick some Raws from those pesky Thargoids or check out some more abandoned settlements tomorrow.

Again, if you're an Independent Pilot like myself that dabbles in a bit of everything FCs are a total game changer

 

[Northpin]

If i will ever unlock engineers on my 2nd alt, i will use a carrier for sure
actually, i might unlock the engineers just to use a carrier

 

[Rat Catcher]

If my main didn't already have a Fleet Carrier then this account would still be a way to go toward getting one...
6 days of around 4 hours a day play was able to raise a little under 6 billion credits in 'trade' to pay for this one...
Now 'my' FC is bouncing around various systems in the bubble in preparation for a trip to Colonia (again) while my 1st is mining Tritium to return to the bubble - I may meet up halfway to transfer some 'rocket tea' to ensure no issues occur if my main gets sidetracked...

 

[Red Rocket]

I have made two long trips into the black, returning to the bubble to re-fuel and went through about 35000 tons of Tritium and spending about 3 months on each trip.
I purchased all the Tritium for the trips in the bubble at about 4,000 credits per ton.
After returning last November and seeing the high cost for Tritium I have lost all desire to refill with Tritium and return to the black to explore.
I just can't see making enough exploring to even pay for the Tritium.
I haven't moved my Carrier since getting back in November

 

[Ouberos]

6 days of around 4 hours a day play was able to raise a little under 6 billion credits in 'trade' to pay

"Trading" is a nice little earner these days.

The only complaint I have is that I need a bigger ship to offload the 9000 tons of "trading" goods.

On another note, did you see my 3 Billion for one ton of Rare goods trade the other day? This has been my biggest week since Borann.