Getting paid in multicrew

[Teh Smoo]

Happens far too infrequently.

Bounties work, more or less. Park in a low security station, fly someone's fighter, then when you return, you pay off any "oops" fines and enjoy your mediocre returns.

The rest? Worthless. I have yet to get paid anything but bounties.

Bounties- "works"
Piracy- haven't tried, no comment.
Mentor- no pay needed, really, you're just chilling there anyway. Some sort of money-share would be nice, but whatever.
Mining- does not work. Can help someone mine (lol, what, fire turrets or limpets) or fly their fighter cover. Then, they jump a couple systems to get paid more, you disconnect, and get nada.
Exploration- is there anything here that pays ANYTHING? Pointless.
Smuggling- crew helps during smuggling how, exactly? Turret/fighter role while docking is worse than useless.


What is needed is pay escrow. Get paid for what you do.

Mining- paid per (unique, no dropping and re-grabbing) item looted/created via refinery and sold. Probably mining materials. Escrow credit is instant, and tracked across disconnects (necessary, since the connection is so crap). When the helm sells the items, the escrow goes complete and can be redeemed- EVEN IF THE PLAYER IS DISCONNECTED.

Exploration- largely the same. Crew is paid per things scanned while they're connected, into escrow, not just wallet. Then, when the explorer finally turns in the data (assuming they succeed), the escrow completes and can be redeemed. Whenever that is, it's possible that could be a while, considering I've explored with someone who's more than 40k ly distant. Again, PAID EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT IN SHIP AT THE TIME

Now, this doesn't actually give data, just a share in the exploration. You can still fly out and explore it yourself. So, you could get paid twice, but the crew rate is still meh. Time per hour is still less, but it's not completely wasted.

Smuggling- like mining, except paid on delivery? Why is multicrew smuggling even a thing, crew doesn't help.

Piracy- same? Getting paid for bringing stolen stuff in? Would have to be larger than fines received to be worth any time at all.

 

[Konnivar]

Happens far too infrequently.

Mining- paid per (unique, no dropping and re-grabbing) item looted/created via refinery and sold. Probably mining materials. Escrow credit is instant, and tracked across disconnects (necessary, since the connection is so crap). When the helm sells the items, the escrow goes complete and can be redeemed- EVEN IF THE PLAYER IS DISCONNECTED.

Exploration- largely the same. Crew is paid per things scanned while they're connected, into escrow, not just wallet. Then, when the explorer finally turns in the data (assuming they succeed), the escrow completes and can be redeemed. Whenever that is, it's possible that could be a while, considering I've explored with someone who's more than 40k ly distant. Again, PAID EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT IN SHIP AT THE TIME

Now, this doesn't actually give data, just a share in the exploration. You can still fly out and explore it yourself. So, you could get paid twice, but the crew rate is still meh. Time per hour is still less, but it's not completely wasted.

I've had a similar idea for mining and exploration:

Mining- For each ton of ore refined the multicrew member receives a portion of that cargo's worth based on their Trade rank (similar to combat); they can still receive the trade dividends if they stick around until the helm sells the cargo. These rewards would be immediate.

Exploration- allow the gunner to enter 'gunner' view in supercruise and target other planets in the system and scan them; if targeting the same body as the helm the scan time is reduced. The multicrew member receives a portion of the scan's worth based on their exploration rank. The crew member could also possibly have their name with the helm's when the data is finally turned in.

Piracy and smuggling doesn't make a whole lot of sense for multicrew, at least not at the moment. Piracy is useful in launching fighters but fighters can't retrieve cargo and no profit is made from shooting clean targets.

 

[Teh Smoo]

The main problem is, I never survive the trip in a miner (un-crashed) to go sell stuff. Combat bounties work because they're instant.

I'm a bit wary of player-file size, though. An explorer tracking hundreds of systems, and dozens of people multi-crewing in for a while? Is that too much? While, if you just pay explorers money every time the helm finds something new, only ONE player file needs detailed info, along with a list of other people and how much is in their escrows.

Then, when the explorer sells data, the list of players gets their money delivered. They can still re-explore it themselves, or re-explore it with someone else. But so what? They get paid for putting time in.

 

[Konnivar]

I'm saying make both exploring and mining instant payouts; the second a ton of ore is refined the multicrew members get paid a portion of that item's worth. Same goes for exploration, as soon as a body is scanned they receive a payment.