Now that megaships are an established part of the game, and have the ability to be moved around in the BGS, at least via manual control from FDev, can we have megaships that follow pre-arranged shipping lanes and loops?
These loops could be published onto galaxy map, to show where the arterial trade lines for various goods flow, and could offer a moving base for new players, especially traders, to help them explore the bubble, and possibly beyond.
In the systems immediately ahead on the shipping route would get a slight boost in system security, and slightly increased prices on the goods that megaship carries, you know, premiums paid for delivery the day before the bulk goods arrive and so on. In the system the megaship is in, the security remains high, but prices on those goods drop. They are in bulk stock after all. Immediately behind in the route, and increasingly further back through a few systems, piracy climbs as security dwindles. Goods are in healthy supply, and as security moves along with the megaship, pirates make their move.
When in the same system as a major station, the megaship and station should be in the same instance. Some very large and prosperous stations could have multiple megaships "in port" at once, with small tugs moving goods between the vast structures.
Imagine dropping at Mars High, Dawes Hub or Lave Station and seeing the station flanked by two or three megaships, stationkeeping in close proximity as small SLF sized tugs and swarms of limpets shuffle goods into and out of each.
Goods could be bought and sold between the station and the megaships, but at very little profit. It might be a way to scrape together a small nest egg in safety if you found yourself really out of luck.
Alternatively, on these days, the megaships close their services, redirecting you to the station (either directly closing landing pads, or via having the Station UI appear even if docked at the megaship in this instance) But the station inherits any services, ships in shipyards and outfitting options that the megaships had that station does not, effectively pooling their resources.
Some megaships could also regularly make the journey to and from Colonia, and with their flight schedule visible on the galactic map, pilots could dock with them to ferry across the intervening space. This would take longer than flying the journey yourself, but would allow players to make the journey knowing they have a safe port to return to along the way.
These loops could be published onto galaxy map, to show where the arterial trade lines for various goods flow, and could offer a moving base for new players, especially traders, to help them explore the bubble, and possibly beyond.
In the systems immediately ahead on the shipping route would get a slight boost in system security, and slightly increased prices on the goods that megaship carries, you know, premiums paid for delivery the day before the bulk goods arrive and so on. In the system the megaship is in, the security remains high, but prices on those goods drop. They are in bulk stock after all. Immediately behind in the route, and increasingly further back through a few systems, piracy climbs as security dwindles. Goods are in healthy supply, and as security moves along with the megaship, pirates make their move.
When in the same system as a major station, the megaship and station should be in the same instance. Some very large and prosperous stations could have multiple megaships "in port" at once, with small tugs moving goods between the vast structures.
Imagine dropping at Mars High, Dawes Hub or Lave Station and seeing the station flanked by two or three megaships, stationkeeping in close proximity as small SLF sized tugs and swarms of limpets shuffle goods into and out of each.
Goods could be bought and sold between the station and the megaships, but at very little profit. It might be a way to scrape together a small nest egg in safety if you found yourself really out of luck.
Alternatively, on these days, the megaships close their services, redirecting you to the station (either directly closing landing pads, or via having the Station UI appear even if docked at the megaship in this instance) But the station inherits any services, ships in shipyards and outfitting options that the megaships had that station does not, effectively pooling their resources.
Some megaships could also regularly make the journey to and from Colonia, and with their flight schedule visible on the galactic map, pilots could dock with them to ferry across the intervening space. This would take longer than flying the journey yourself, but would allow players to make the journey knowing they have a safe port to return to along the way.
