Newcomer / Intro Need help with logistics

[Touchwood]

I'm a little confused as to the best way to proceed here - this is the problem......

I've just done some exploration and now have access to two more engineers - one being Felicity Farseer. I thought I'd start building rep. with her for some upgrades which will help with exploration - easy enough, I just need to sell exploration data at Farseer. Problem is, to unlock her I need to supply a ton of Meta Alloy - I've yet to figure out where to get this, but a more pressing problem is how to carry it - my Cobra, equipped for exploration, has no cargo space!

So - do I first swap something out for cargo space, then get the meta-alloy, take it to Felicity, then swap back to exploration mode? Where will I be able to buy the necessary kit?

Ho hum - I guess I can solve this myself, it just seems a bit complex, but that's what I'm learning to expect from this game!

 

[Chris Simon]

Yes, first you need to equip a cargo rack.
Next you need to visit one of the nearby nebulae (Pleiades are the closest) and find an alien "barnacle" on a planet surface and with a bit of luck, you'll get a meta alloy or two, out of this.

There was a spreadsheet with known barnacle locations, somewhere, but I can't search for it, right now. Try to google it.

 

[goemon]

the station, that sells (sold?) meta-alloys has outfitting ...

so you can buy a cargo rack there to transport your MA.

the coriolis station in fraseers system has very good outfitting.

and your cobra has a lot of internals.

 

[goemon]

btw: with engineers you want to have cargoracks on any ship you store...

 

[Winterwalker]

Yes, first you need to equip a cargo rack.
Next you need to visit one of the nearby nebulae (Pleiades are the closest) and find an alien "barnacle" on a planet surface and with a bit of luck, you'll get a meta alloy or two, out of this.

There was a spreadsheet with known barnacle locations, somewhere, but I can't search for it, right now. Try to google it.

You can also try Obsidian Orbital in the Maia system, which might sell you meta-alloys from the commodities market, for convenience' sake.

edit: there is a also a whole survey project going on in the Pleiades Nebula, mapping barnacles (source of meta-alloys) and similar .. thread

You will need a cargo rack installed but almost any station outfitting will support this.

 

[Touchwood]

Yes, first you need to equip a cargo rack.
Next you need to visit one of the nearby nebulae (Pleiades are the closest) and find an alien "barnacle" on a planet surface and with a bit of luck, you'll get a meta alloy or two, out of this.

There was a spreadsheet with known barnacle locations, somewhere, but I can't search for it, right now. Try to google it.

Thanks Chris. I can buy meta-alloy, apparently at Maia - but it's over 500 LY from me - 113 jumps. Frankly I can't be bothered, I'd sooner just do some more exploring. As to the barnacles, before I read your post I'd just come to the conclusion that the only way to equip cargo racks in my Cobra is to dispense with the vehicle hangar - if I did this I couldn't get the barnacles! Am I missing something?

So I've had a bit more of a think - I guess I could (temporarily) lose either the discovery scanner, or the surface scanner, or the Field Repair Unit. Not keen to do this, actually - as I say I don't think I'll bother.

 

[Winterwalker]

Thanks Chris. I can buy meta-alloy, apparently at Maia - but it's over 500 LY from me - 113 jumps. Frankly I can't be bothered, I'd sooner just do some more exploring. As to the barnacles, before I read your post I'd just come to the conclusion that the only way to equip cargo racks in my Cobra is to dispense with the vehicle hangar - if I did this I couldn't get the barnacles! Am I missing something?

So I've had a bit more of a think - I guess I could (temporarily) lose either the discovery scanner, or the surface scanner, or the Field Repair Unit. Not keen to do this, actually - as I say I don't think I'll bother.

Obsidian Orbital does have an outfitting by the look of it .. source

But 113 jumps for 500 Lys?? Meaning your Cobra has less than 5Ly jump range?

In the Galaxy Map, for route setting .. look near the bottom, you have option to choose "economical route" or "fastest" .. choose fastest .. it sounds like your route plotter is making you visit every star en route? Pretty sure you'll find it's far fewer jumps away than that.

 

[Touchwood]

Obsidian Orbital does have an outfitting by the look of it .. source

But 113 jumps for 500 Lys?? Meaning your Cobra has less than 5Ly jump range?

In the Galaxy Map, for route setting .. look near the bottom, you have option to choose "economical route" or "fastest" .. choose fastest .. it sounds like your route plotter is making you visit every star en route? Pretty sure you'll find it's far fewer jumps away than that.

Doh! 25 jumps! I wouldn't care, I had figured this out myself but just forgot about it! Thanks!

 

[Winterwalker]

o7

warning : CRITICAL CORRECTION .. (pm sent)

Obsidian Orbital it seems does NOT have (repeat does not have) an outfitting section (secondary source)
Fit a cargo rack before you travel !!! Or it's my 25 (x 2) jump .. bad!!

 

[BigBANGtheory [VR]]

You will need to source the Meta-alloy, buying it is the quickest if you harvest it from a Barnacle you'll need to land and retrieve it with an SRV after you found one. Yes you need a cargo rack not a large one mind.

Once you deliver the goods back to Farseer you can then start your lvl1 modifications subject to the recipe ingredients. What you will want to do though is get Farseer to eventually offer lvl5 upgrades and to do that requires selling more exploration data and building modifications with her. How you approach it is up to you but my advice is to ask yourself "what do I really want out of this engineer" (with Felicity it is usually the FSD increased range) make a list of the materials and start collecting them on your travels. If you try to do the upgrade one at a time it can take you a long time a bit like shopping for 1 item at a time to make a cake [wacky]

 

[Chris Simon]

Just a side note, I don't think we can buy meta alloys, any more. It was just a temporary workaround when barnacles were not regenerating due to a bug.

And yes, don't count on outfitting in Maia. And I don't understand your problem with space. Cobra has six internal compartments surely you can sacrifice one for a cargo. (ditch AFMU, or potentially a surface scanner for this mission) You just need a shield, fuel scoop, SRV, cargo rack and discovery scanner.

 

[mistohise]

meta alloys were still available to buy from the surface station in Maia (I forget the name, it's on the planet that Obsidian orbits around IIRC), up to as recently as about a week ago, as that's when I bought mine. Not cheap, but you only need to buy 1.

 

[fossil]

meta alloys were still available to buy from the surface station in Maia (I forget the name, it's on the planet that Obsidian orbits around IIRC), up to as recently as about a week ago, as that's when I bought mine. Not cheap, but you only need to buy 1.

Darnielle's Progress - and it still had meta-alloys for sale last night.

I've had no luck recently with Barnacles in the Pleaides Sector - they all seem to be dead or guarded - but there are plenty in the California Sector that are harvestable - but its a good bit further than Maia.

 

[Touchwood]

Just a side note, I don't think we can buy meta alloys, any more. It was just a temporary workaround when barnacles were not regenerating due to a bug.

And yes, don't count on outfitting in Maia. And I don't understand your problem with space. Cobra has six internal compartments surely you can sacrifice one for a cargo. (ditch AFMU, or potentially a surface scanner for this mission) You just need a shield, fuel scoop, SRV, cargo rack and discovery scanner.

Well, here's a tale of woe. I ditched my surface scanner, equipped a cargo rack, and off to Maia. Bought my meta-alloy (this was last Tuesday) and hauled back to Felicity Farseer - only to get interdicted on the final leg! Not sure if it was an NPC or maybe even a human player - outcome was inevitable, I'd left my Cobra equipped for exploration in all other respects; no weapons, no defences, not even good speed to run. Outcome - trashed and back at Maia. I can really understand the rage quit syndrome!

 

[Chris Simon]

Well, here's a tale of woe. I ditched my surface scanner, equipped a cargo rack, and off to Maia. Bought my meta-alloy (this was last Tuesday) and hauled back to Felicity Farseer - only to get interdicted on the final leg! Not sure if it was an NPC or maybe even a human player - outcome was inevitable, I'd left my Cobra equipped for exploration in all other respects; no weapons, no defences, not even good speed to run. Outcome - trashed and back at Maia. I can really understand the rage quit syndrome!

Ouch. Yeah, that sucks...
I hope this time you'll equip at least the shield and good thrusters.

 

[Winterwalker]

Well, here's a tale of woe. I ditched my surface scanner, equipped a cargo rack, and off to Maia. Bought my meta-alloy (this was last Tuesday) and hauled back to Felicity Farseer - only to get interdicted on the final leg! Not sure if it was an NPC or maybe even a human player - outcome was inevitable, I'd left my Cobra equipped for exploration in all other respects; no weapons, no defences, not even good speed to run. Outcome - trashed and back at Maia. I can really understand the rage quit syndrome!

Ooops.

Man, it can be dangerous out there. At least you're back at Maia .. I guess?? (So at least don't have to make the out-bound trip again??) That's looking for upsides of course. Hope your cash situation is OK ... Doing my best to supress "stuff-happens type" chuckles, by offering a knowing nod instead (been there, done that) o7

(feel free to pm (secure channel) if you want a wing escort for a laugh. happy to see what I can do).

 

[lone]

Yes, first you need to equip a cargo rack.
Next you need to visit one of the nearby nebulae (Pleiades are the closest) and find an alien "barnacle" on a planet surface and with a bit of luck, you'll get a meta alloy or two, out of this.

There was a spreadsheet with known barnacle locations, somewhere, but I can't search for it, right now. Try to google it.

I am aware of this spreadsheet for barnacles, I am not sure how up to date it is but the 4 or 5 I have visited have been accurate.

 

[Winterwalker]

I am aware of this spreadsheet for barnacles, I am not sure how up to date it is but the 4 or 5 I have visited have been accurate.

I haven't seen the barnacles yet .. you haven't grown an extra head, or contracted any other, alien type infection I hope I have you?

 

[lone]

I haven't seen the barnacles yet .. you haven't grown an extra head, or contracted any other, alien type infection I hope I have you?

You should go at least see the ones in the pleiades and do a CG run while there.

The extra head isn't all that bad, he tells pretty good jokes and keeps the long jumps entertaining, 10/10 would do it again.

 

[Winterwalker]

You should go at least see the ones in the pleiades and do a CG run while there.

Nice

I did a run to Maia before the Barnacles existed, going just to see the Pleiades Neb. Then did a focussed run like Cmdr Touchwood, to open Farseer inc., but even that was before the barnacles were really mapped. At the moment, as far as surface features go, am stoked to see the geyser/fumaroles coming in 2.2 and when I eventually do head out on galactic tour, definitely aim to take them in. Won't be doing that for some time though as really aiming to explore in considerable style .. eventually. (Currently mining in a hardened Python). o7