Getting to a CG

FD can't seem to win in regard to CG's, whatever they do it seems it annoys some players, at least going by the various threads and comments here. Some just inherently don't like the entire concept of a CG, some think they are a waste of time/resources and I suspect there are some that would complain no matter what FD did (lol). But one of the more relevant complaints about CG's is that players just can't get to the location in time, or don't want to spend more time travelling to the area, and then returning back to their neck of the Universe than actually participating in the CG. And that is a valid concern I think, not everyone has got several playing hours spare to scoot across the galaxy map to a CG, yet they would be part of the CG if they could.

So here is my 'out of the box' idea (no, it's not a suggestion, otherwise it would be in the suggestion's sub-forum wouldn't it - although if enough feedback indicates it is a solid idea I will then submit it in the appropriate forum).

Anyway, here it is: When you sign up to a CG, you are given an option to transport you and your ship to the station that is hosting the CG. The cost will be the minimum reward amount, what you get if you make the Top 100. As an example, the current CG is Operation Andronicus with the minimum reward amount of 300,000 credits, so if you take up the option, it will cost you 300K. The actual movement could be instantaneous (think of it like your ship just got the 'FD Magic FSD' from the Life Pod :) ) or it could be a delay of 30 minutes or whatever, although I would prefer the former cos I know how some here hate waiting for anything. At the conclusion of the CG, you will again have the option of using this 'fast travel' to get back to your home station and ideally it would only be to the station you originally departed on. Again, the cost will be the same. minimum reward amount. And so players actually stay for the CG, the return travel is only available when you log into the Mission Board to claim your reward (which from memory is normally at the hosting station right).

Of course you don't have to chose to take up the option either to get there or get hom, I am just trying to think how to get more people participating in CG's. This form of fast travel will only be available if you commit to a CG, it won't be available for general 'getting around the galaxy' or doing a 'mission with a ship load of tourists'.

I know I will be ridiculed for this, but sometimes you have to step outside of the box to get things happening.
 
Don't you have to be at the station already to be able to sign up for the CG?

I've always been under the impression you can sign up at any station via the Mission Board - I could be wrong of course, but I just checked and the 'Sign Up' button for the current CG isn't red and I am nowhere near the CG station.
 

Ian Phillips

Volunteer Moderator
Ah. I always go to the station to sign up, so haven't really checked if it is possible to sign up from elsewhere.
 
Not sure what some are on about in regards to needing hours to get to the CG, it doesn't take hours going from one side of the bubble to the other or out to the pleiades. And since they usaly go on for a week I don't see the problem here. Having to spend time traversing the galaxy is a core premise of the whole game.

Also don't see a problem with not enough people participating in the CGs, there are normaly plenty people doing it.
 
You can sign up for any CG from any station with a mission board.

While I appreciate the plight of people without enough playtime to travel around the bubble on a whim, I'm really not a fan of fast travel creeping into the game.
 
If it's taking you hours to get to any CG system (other than colonia) then you're doing it wrong (within a day of starting a new CMDR I had a 40+ ly dbx for shuttle runs). Plus your solution would be exploited if it provides instant/fast travel : want to get back from colonia? sign up to a CG!

Otherwise a great idea :)
 
As an example, the current CG is Operation Andronicus with the minimum reward amount of 300,000 credits,
The minimum reward amount is dependent on the current tier, so this would vary from free (CG has not reached Tier 1) to 900,000 (CG is an extended one and has reached Tier 9/10)

In practice, compared with normal ship transfer costs and times, this would effectively be free travel regardless, though.

Do CGs generally have a participation problem in the first place, though? Typical trade CGs tend to get 6-8,000 participants, typical bounty hunting CGs over 10,000. With the exception of CGs out at Colonia - and those no-one is expected to travel out there just to participate - you can get between any two CG locations in 15 minutes with a fast ship, and now that there are shipyards at the Pleiades, you can have a slower ship transferred there pretty quickly too.

Generally the most common complaints I see on the forums about CGs are:
- this isn't profitable enough for me to care about because I only care about money
- CGs are a repetitive way to advance the plot
- the CG station is too far from the star / an outpost / the wrong colour
- this isn't a combat-farming CG
Not physically being able to show up and participate is rarely (Colonia-based ones aside) raised as a problem.
 
Aaaaaah good ol' instant travel is back, I missed this one. :D
This should be fun.

b6FLhjP.jpg
 
Doesn't need to be "think of it like your ship just got the 'FD Magic FSD' from the Life Pod "

Just putting you ship on Any one of these, or similar, going to the destination station

https://canonn.science/codex/banner-class-bulk-cargo-ship/

https://canonn.science/codex/gordon-class-bulk-cargo-ship/

https://canonn.science/codex/henry-class-bulk-cargo-ship/

https://canonn.science/codex/hercules-class-bulk-cargo-ship/

https://canonn.science/codex/hogan-class-bulk-cargo-ship/

https://canonn.science/codex/samson-class-bulk-cargo-ship/

https://canonn.science/codex/thomas-class-bulk-cargo-ship/

One of those class of ships would be the conveyor of ship transfers no doubt if you need a how in lore
 
The minimum reward amount is dependent on the current tier, so this would vary from free (CG has not reached Tier 1) to 900,000 (CG is an extended one and has reached Tier 9/10)

In practice, compared with normal ship transfer costs and times, this would effectively be free travel regardless, though.

Do CGs generally have a participation problem in the first place, though? Typical trade CGs tend to get 6-8,000 participants, typical bounty hunting CGs over 10,000. With the exception of CGs out at Colonia - and those no-one is expected to travel out there just to participate - you can get between any two CG locations in 15 minutes with a fast ship, and now that there are shipyards at the Pleiades, you can have a slower ship transferred there pretty quickly too.

Generally the most common complaints I see on the forums about CGs are:
- this isn't profitable enough for me to care about because I only care about money
- CGs are a repetitive way to advance the plot
- the CG station is too far from the star / an outpost / the wrong colour
- this isn't a combat-farming CG
Not physically being able to show up and participate is rarely (Colonia-based ones aside) raised as a problem.

Thank you for your response. Just had a look at the current CG (the Kill flowery looking ship things) and that has 221 participants, the corresponding Rescue one had 2038. In fact the post 'popular' ones that are still listed in the CG sub-forms are the ones that were blasted for being silly, the two Apple Bobbing ones (Trade had 5890, Combat had 8934). The worst by a long way were the dual Combat ones in Colonia (44 and 305 respectively). The last Aegis one, the Fourth Aegis Initiative has 3840 and the Remembrance one (that I can't remember lol) had 1811.

In fact it was partly the complaining about the Colonia CG's that started my train of thought. Up to those, there had been a series of Trade only CG's and the Combat fraternity were up in arms (pun intended) that there was no pew pew. So the next CG's were bot pure combat, and again the complaints came in about Colonia being too far away for them, hence the pathetic numbers of participants.

Generally, I am beginning to think some here think every commander has a ship capable of 30+ LY jumps and has the free time to spend a few hours just getting somewhere. And if FD did have some mechanism to get players to a specific location (no not my idea, that is, in hindsight, stupid), they could have CG's anywhere, it might help get people out of the bubble.
 
Doesn't need to be "think of it like your ship just got the 'FD Magic FSD' from the Life Pod "

Just putting you ship on Any one of these, or similar, going to the destination station

https://canonn.science/codex/banner-class-bulk-cargo-ship/

https://canonn.science/codex/gordon-class-bulk-cargo-ship/

https://canonn.science/codex/henry-class-bulk-cargo-ship/

https://canonn.science/codex/hercules-class-bulk-cargo-ship/

https://canonn.science/codex/hogan-class-bulk-cargo-ship/

https://canonn.science/codex/samson-class-bulk-cargo-ship/

https://canonn.science/codex/thomas-class-bulk-cargo-ship/

One of those class of ships would be the conveyor of ship transfers no doubt if you need a how in lore

Thanks, I actually thought of ships first but then discounted it. Players would still have to travel to where the ship is located (I am envisaging only a small number of these transport ships) and you could bet your house that people would complain if they missed the departure window because they were AFK doing their violin lessons or something. Ideally, transport ships are the logical choice, I just couldn't work out a way that they would be available to the majority of the players within the given timeframe of the CG.
 
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Better idea.

4 Mega-Ships stationed around the bubble. Departing on the first day of the CG, the destination will be systems close to the CG.

There, more immersive, using current mechanics, and traveling by mega-ship is always fun. Always had a good laugh with other "passengers". Would be also cool for any future group CGs, cause this way you can find buddies for a group even before you arrive at the CG.

EDIT: Meh. I see I'm not the first one :D
 
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Although I appreciate the idea of fast travel to get to a CG, I think the whole concept needs a rework.

I’ve only taken part in a couple of them but neither were particularly positive experiences.

Mundane, boring and rewarding the time rich players. It was fairly disheartening to know off the bat you weren’t going to make the top tier of anything.

Making them easier to get to might help but I’d say they need to make them a lot more diverse and interesting before I get involved again.

I’m hoping beyond will add new mechanics to make CGs based on skill not just time invested.

A big ask I know but we live in hope.
 
I feel that travelling to the CG destination is part of the CG itself. It requires careful ship choice (e.g. fastest one vs most suitable) and gives you the chance to pick up cargo (assuming its for a commodities CG) on route.
Usually CG's have a geographical reason for them - a specific minor faction or space station in a particular part of space - so travelling to them is designed in. If this wasn't the case then FD could simply make all CG's happen at a location in the bubble.
 
Generally, I am beginning to think some here think every commander has a ship capable of 30+ LY jumps and has the free time to spend a few hours just getting somewhere.

Please explain to me what journey you are making within the bubble that takes over an hour, let alone 'several hours'? I mean an hour is time to fly right across the bubble and then land at a station 500k ls away from the jump point, which is hardly representative of a typical CG. More like you're 300 LY away from it at worst most weeks and the station is under 10k ls away. That's 20 minutes tops in a ship with a sensible jump range.

As for jump length, here's a ship that jumps 29.98 LY and costs less than 500k credits. So yeah, pretty sure everybody does have access to that.

https://coriolis.edcd.io/outfit/hau...19A===.Aw19A===..EweloBhAWEoUwIYHMA28QgIwV0A=

If the problem is jumping in a ship with an 8LY jump range because you can't be bothered engineering stuff, use that (or something you own that does have a decent jump range) to get to the CG location and transfer your ship.
 
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