Player Ships with self contained cargo ferry ships

[Jumpin' Jack Flash]

Hi

I've just been using an Imp clipper to do some cargo missions, and quite a few missions don't allow me to use it as the ship is too large to dock at Outposts.
While I can see the reasons for doing this eg...to make you use a Python or something smaller, it would be (imho) great to have a (new) ship along the lines of a 'Tiger Trader' or 'Puma Clipper' maybe that could hold a 'transfer ship' in it's hold (Player operated) that could transfer cargo to and from the Outpost to a larger ship (Tiger Trader) in the vicinity of the station.
Just thought it would be some more varied options to make trade & missions a bit more interesting/varied. The 'ferry' ship limited to 5-10 tons/containers capacity.
.
3 new ships!........okay, pigs might fly, but it might give more options for trading.
Just a thought

Jack

 

[Kingtutuk]

Good Idea
They gave us fighters why not traders?

 

[Ashnak]

Could be simplified somewhat - short distance cargo transfer doesn't need a pilot. What about cargo transfer limpets? Similar to a cross between collector limpets (finds stuff and brings it to you) and fuel transer limpets (takes your fuel and brings it to your target, but single use), you could use cargo transfer limpets to shift cargo to a target (station).

Currently (? - some time since I looked), when dropping cargo, you have two options: "drop" and "abandon". Add a third one "target". Target the station (or maybe one of several, on large stations or even installations, cargo docks) and drop the cargo with option "target". Then trigger a cargo transfer limpet. Limpet picks up the container and pushes it to the cargo dock, then returns to your ship to pick up the next container. Lifetime as usual depending on controller class.

Since we're talking large cargo ships, limpet controller requirements could be a bit larger than for collectors, so e.g. a size 3 controller for one limpet, size 5 for two.

Picking up cargo from the station is discussable, but no station services (repair/refuel/restock/R&R/pilot's lounge/passengers/contacts/black market).

 

[Stealthie]

This is another reason why I'd love to see docking between ships possible.

It'd create opportunities for co-op play if we had the situation where somebody in, say, a Cutter had to enlist the help of somebody flying a Cobra to meet them at a platform so the Cobra could dock, buy cargo, lift off and then dock with the Cutter to transfer cargo and then repeat the operation until the Cutter is full and can embark on a trade run.

Despite the fact that it's annoying, I understand why FDev have prevented large ships from being able to dock everywhere so I'm not sure I like the idea of "trade limpets" or "drone ships" that could ferry cargo from a platform to a large ship cos that would rather undermine the point of preventing large ships landing in the first place.

In a similar vein, if docking was possible, it could be set up so that, say, a player in a mining ship could be doing their thing with, say, a couple of players in Cobras "servicing" them by flying CAP and doing runs to deliver minerals back to the starport and collect limpets to resupply the mining ship.

The profit-sharing for all this stuff could just be handled using the current mechanics whereby, for example, the CMDR of a trading ship could just give the CMDR of a "shuttle ship" a couple of barrels of gold as payment for their services and the CMDRs involved in a mining operation could just buy other commodities and then split them up proportionally.

Which, of course, would create even more gameplay because there'd always be the temptation for one party to try and screw over the other one (by, say, doing a bunk with a cargo-hold full of painite rather than selling it for your mining ship or a trader refusing to pay the CMDR who'd done cargo deliveries for them).

 

[777Driver]

Hi

I've just been using an Imp clipper to do some cargo missions, and quite a few missions don't allow me to use it as the ship is too large to dock at Outposts.
While I can see the reasons for doing this eg...to make you use a Python or something smaller, it would be (imho) great to have a (new) ship along the lines of a 'Tiger Trader' or 'Puma Clipper' maybe that could hold a 'transfer ship' in it's hold (Player operated) that could transfer cargo to and from the Outpost to a larger ship (Tiger Trader) in the vicinity of the station.
Just thought it would be some more varied options to make trade & missions a bit more interesting/varied. The 'ferry' ship limited to 5-10 tons/containers capacity.
.
3 new ships!........okay, pigs might fly, but it might give more options for trading.
Just a thought

Jack

Sandro mentioned that he liked the idea, followed by the usual no ETA or current plans. Personally I like the idea, although the usual min time/max profit crowd would likely complain that the mechanic is pointless, faster to make money flying to the countless large pad capable stations or surface ports.