Newcomer / Intro Out of Fuel?

[Gene Starwind]

So I'm carrying some important cargo for a mission, and I'm one Jump away from my destination... and I'm out of fuel. In a system with no Stations.

I think I know what I have to do, but considering the amount of time it took to get the money to acquire these goods, I'm not very happy about it.

 

[49rTbird]

It depends on when you want play. They will be adding fuel drones soon but not sure when. Some one can bring you fuel when it happens.

 

[Undecided]

Fuel drones are coming in 1.3 and details won't even be announced for another 3 weeks, so I wouldn't I wouldn't wait for rescue if I were you.

 

[Gene Starwind]

Yeah I auto-destructed

 

[Undecided]

Commiserations, but it's a good lesson to learn early. If you don't have a fuel scoop make sure to check the galaxy map to check that you have enough fuel to reach your destination.

 

[NeoMorph WTH]

I made a similar problem... but I had enough fuel and STILL couldn't reach the next system.

My last jump was 0.1 light years TOO FAR TO GO FOR MY FULLY LADEN SHIP. Yup... I had the fuel but to get to the station I had to ditch my cargo. Would have been good design if the game had of warned me that putting cargo in the ship reduces the jump range.

 

[Gene Starwind]

Yeah, I've had setbacks before and learned from them. Still sucks... heh.

I made a similar problem... but I had enough fuel and STILL couldn't reach the next system.

My last jump was 0.1 light years TOO FAR TO GO FOR MY FULLY LADEN SHIP. Yup... I had the fuel but to get to the station I had to ditch my cargo. Would have been good design if the game had of warned me that putting cargo in the ship reduces the jump range.

It's probably in a guide, somewhere... but I didn't know that, either.

 

[Dommarraa]

Always plot your route when fully loaded. The load effects the amount of fuel as well as jump range.

If you are still planning, the nav map had a slider to allow you to plot the route with added cargo

 

[soma]

Things you can do to avoid running out of fuel:

• plan your route after you have filled your cargo hold (or use the slider to set your cargo weight before you plan the route)
• regularly check your route on the galaxy map. The part of the route that is displayed as a solid line is the part which you can reach with your remaining fuel. The dashed part of the route is beyond your fuel reserves. Check the star systems near the end of the solid line. Are there stations where you can refuel? Are there scoopable stars?

When you made a mistake and discover you are low on fuel:

• switch routing to "economic" and re-plan you route. Fuel use is not a linear function of distance --> longer jumps take way more fuel than shorter jumps. So you might not have enough fuel to make the one long jump you have planned, but you might be able to make 3 shorter jumps which get you to the same destination
• Take a detour to a system with a station or a fuel scoopable sun (if you have a fuel scoop). Look at the galaxy map. Use the filters to find nearby systems with stations. You can also use the "star class" filter to identify scoopable stars (remeber the mnemonic "KGB FOAM" to identify scoopable stars). Once you find a destination where you can refuel, make sure you use the economic routing setting to get there..
• If all else fails and you are about to self-destruct, first try to empty your cargo hold. Your jump distance will increase, maybe you can now reach a system with a station or a scoopable star.

 

[quickr]

Things you can do to avoid running out of fuel:

• regularly check your route on the galaxy map. The part of the route that is displayed as a solid line is the part which you can reach with your remaining fuel. The dashed part of the route is beyond your fuel reserves. Check the star systems near the end of the solid line. Are there stations where you can refuel? Are there scoopable stars?

This^^^^
Even with a fuel scoop you can get stranded when you jump in a system with a brown giant, than you jump in another, then another....

 

[robbiejuve]

That was my first death, made the same mistake and lost all my wealth in the cargo I was carrying.

Wasn't even the most painful death, that came after a long mining grind, cargo bay full, full power into an asteroid.

I am looking forward to many more stupid expensive deaths.

 

[dsmall417]

I made a similar problem... but I had enough fuel and STILL couldn't reach the next system.

My last jump was 0.1 light years TOO FAR TO GO FOR MY FULLY LADEN SHIP. Yup... I had the fuel but to get to the station I had to ditch my cargo. Would have been good design if the game had of warned me that putting cargo in the ship reduces the jump range.

I came across this as well, but before I opted to self destruct or jettison cargo, I simply changed my route from fastest to cost efficient which allowed me an additional jump to a system with a port. This should be the first choiceover sacrificing yourself or your hard earned cargo.

 

[andyraptor]

I made a similar problem... but I had enough fuel and STILL couldn't reach the next system.

My last jump was 0.1 light years TOO FAR TO GO FOR MY FULLY LADEN SHIP. Yup... I had the fuel but to get to the station I had to ditch my cargo. Would have been good design if the game had of warned me that putting cargo in the ship reduces the jump range.

The information about jump range, carrying cargo (laden), is shown in at least two places in your UI .

you are correct that you don't get a big flashing warning on screen..... but do you want this feature every time you are about to make a lethal mistake ?

 

[cmdr lowest]

This^^^^
Even with a fuel scoop you can get stranded when you jump in a system with a brown giant, than you jump in another, then another....

Yes it is possible but when exploring and you find this pattern happening check the galaxy map when your fuel tank gets below half, filter the map by star type and take a quick detour to a system which has a scoopable star. Then continue.

 

[PiLhEaD]

Ouch - I feel your pain.

Also worth watching out for are juicy cargo missions. Whilst you may have the range to collect the cargo, be careful that you'll have the (now laden) range to come back with it.

This caught me out a couple of times!

 

[lam75]

Just done this !!

Changed route as a station that was supposed to be there wasnt........ ITS NOT MY FAULT

Gonna turn off life support rather than self destruct........ learn the lesson a hard way.

 

[TiberiuS]

It depends on when you want play. They will be adding fuel drones soon but not sure when. Some one can bring you fuel when it happens.

But fuel drones need 2 things:
1) another player wanting to help you out
2) this player has to actually carry a fuel drone in his cargo hold

 

[Juby]

This^^^^
Even with a fuel scoop you can get stranded when you jump in a system with a brown giant, than you jump in another, then another....

Yup! I've had a couple of squeaky bum moments when I have plotted a route that (unbeknownst to me) contains a series of brown, red or white dwarfs - none of which can be scooped. What is worse is that I ignored some of the decent, scoopable, stars on the way past!

Always best to check what star types you will be hopping to next to make sure you're not going to get a run of unscoopable ones.

 

[Dommarraa]

Yup! I've had a couple of squeaky bum moments when I have plotted a route that (unbeknownst to me) contains a series of brown, red or white dwarfs - none of which can be scooped. What is worse is that I ignored some of the decent, scoopable, stars on the way past!

Always best to check what star types you will be hopping to next to make sure you're not going to get a run of unscoopable ones.

I always keep it topped up at every star that allows. Sometimes its just a few drops if the next system is behind me, but it is fairly easy to keep it above 75%. Mental alert to pay attention if below 75%, consider taking action (check your route) if below 50%, divert to nearest scoopable if below 25%

 

[Ian Skippy]

My last jump was 0.1 light years TOO FAR TO GO FOR MY FULLY LADEN SHIP. Yup... I had the fuel but to get to the station I had to ditch my cargo. Would have been good design if the game had of warned me that putting cargo in the ship reduces the jump range.

That is why jump range is mentioned explicitly in the outfitting menu for both empty and fully filled-up situations , and why you can select how much cargo you expect to be carrying in the navigation menu before plotting the route. Both are ofcourse also explained in the manual.