Frontier: More Profitable Bulk Passenger Transport Missions?

[Kaybe]

Hello Frontier,

Most of us really enjoy passenger missions. While there are some obvious problems with some VIP missions (for example, nearly all famous explorers being secretive and risk aborting those loooong missions on return), ferrying VIPs around is cool. We get to use our Asps to see the sites and get paid handsomely.

But therein lies the problem. Key words: VIP and Asp.

Where are all the profitable bulk transport missions? Every time I look over the passenger mission boards, everywhere I fly, the VIP missions *greatly* outnumber the bulk transport ones. And the vast majority of them are exploration based ones, either tourism ones to see a few sites, or long range ones thousands of LY out. And many are Secretive, meaning it's way too risky to transport more than one at a time. So with all that, why do we even have ships like the Beluga in game? I mean, I have a very souped up and painted Beluga in my home port gathering dust. I don't see many players playing them either. Instead, nearly everyone uses Asps for passenger missions because it's only practical to carry one VIP at a time, so may as well use the ship with the best jump range for it.

Could we get more non-VIP (especially non-*secretive* VIP) bulk transport missions, please? Or more importantly, more bulk transport missions that all go to the same place? Many of us think Boeing 747 when it comes to passenger missions, but that's not what we're getting.

Again, don't get me wrong ... I really love those exploration based VIP passenger missions. But a little variety would be nice, wouldn't you agree?

Regards,
Kaybe

 

[Deleted member 115407]

Yes, we do need a higher proportion of bulk passenger missions.

To really make good use of bulk passengers, you need to operate in a specific area. Bulk passengers are just like normal missions, a given system will tend to send them to a set group of other systems in a short radius, say 20 or so Ly. Many of the other systems in the same radius do the same. Take Lave for example. In Lave, Leesti, Orrere, Diso, and Uszaa(sp?), you can generally find missions going to Zaonce. You should be able to find passenger missions in these systems that go to the same place, and by mixing passengers with hauling, you really increase your earning potential.

Also, once you get to the Friendly/Allied tier with minor factions, bulk passengers should start paying really well... like transport 11 aid workers for 900k.

That's all been my experience, anyway.

 

[metascrawl]

Yeah I agree. I can't afford a Beluga, but I recently bought another Dolphin - had one as my only ship early in the game, until I traded it for my Asp. But then I thought: wait, why do I have this? I can usually carry passengers on the most profitable missions in my DBX (which has the longest jump range) or failing that, my Asp (which has a first class cabin). I love the Dolphin, it looks so cool. But I can't really justify having it, let alone an Orca or Beluga, despite the fact that passenger missions are my main source of income. Shame really.

 

[Vasious]

More reliable sources of Bulk passengers would be great.

At the moment it seems they are cause by destination system states, so might not see them that often unless it is an area of player conflict.

My ultimate wish would be for bulk passengers to be a pool that you can take on the contract to carry even if it take multiple trips so my 2 berth Sidewinder can make six trips to move 12 aid workers to the system with an outbreak

 

[Deleted member 115407]

More reliable sources of Bulk passengers would be great.

At the moment it seems they are cause by destination system states, so might not see them that often unless it is an area of player conflict.

My ultimate wish would be for bulk passengers to be a pool that you can take on the contract to carry even if it take multiple trips so my 2 berth Sidewinder can make six trips to move 12 aid workers to the system with an outbreak

That's a good idea.

 

[Marc_Hicks]

Hello Frontier,

Most of us really enjoy passenger missions. While there are some obvious problems with some VIP missions (for example, nearly all famous explorers being secretive and risk aborting those loooong missions on return), ferrying VIPs around is cool. We get to use our Asps to see the sites and get paid handsomely.

But therein lies the problem. Key words: VIP and Asp.

Where are all the profitable bulk transport missions? Every time I look over the passenger mission boards, everywhere I fly, the VIP missions *greatly* outnumber the bulk transport ones. And the vast majority of them are exploration based ones, either tourism ones to see a few sites, or long range ones thousands of LY out. And many are Secretive, meaning it's way too risky to transport more than one at a time. So with all that, why do we even have ships like the Beluga in game? I mean, I have a very souped up and painted Beluga in my home port gathering dust. I don't see many players playing them either. Instead, nearly everyone uses Asps for passenger missions because it's only practical to carry one VIP at a time, so may as well use the ship with the best jump range for it.

Could we get more non-VIP (especially non-*secretive* VIP) bulk transport missions, please? Or more importantly, more bulk transport missions that all go to the same place? Many of us think Boeing 747 when it comes to passenger missions, but that's not what we're getting.

Again, don't get me wrong ... I really love those exploration based VIP passenger missions. But a little variety would be nice, wouldn't you agree?

Regards,
Kaybe

I'd just love to see the bulk & VIP contracts take on a lot more interesting & varied twists & turns-with each one adding to the value of the mission.

 

[metatheurgist]

Mmm, depends on your situation. At Deciat, where I'm pretty much allied with everyone and friendly with half the factions in 2 jumps I get plenty of transport missions. I knocked off Elite trading in 2 weeks doing those.