storing modules as cargo on our ships

[fishbait]

simple suggestion please allow us to store modules as cargo on our ships.

this would help mostly with long expeditions,

storing them in our cargo racks, same tonnage as when their installed.

if we die they respawn with our ship(if we go sidey they are just gone), some will say "this make things too easy! where's the challenge if i don't have to choose between picking one thing, flying back to near wherever i last left my modules or paying out the to transfer them?!" this isn't for them, this is for the middle of the road players those people who want to fly around to different areas without, having to worry about planning what to do ahead of time or waiting for their modules to arrive.

well fellow cmdrs? what do you think of this idea?

 

[Scubadog]

That pretty much defeats the purpose of being a commander. You need to plan appropriately. There is enough flexibility in ships, sizes and modules that you can configure a ship to be as flexible or focused as you want. It is intentional that the game is designed so that you HAVE to make some choices. And one of the best things about the new scanning system is that you got a slot back. Actually, two, potentially. I am primarily an explorer. I have researched on the web/YouTube as well as applied my own experience and preferences to come up with ship configurations that give me the capability I want. There will always be certain trade-offs you have to make. That is the art of being a commander. You have to be thoughtful in the process. It's intentional that we don't have everything handed to us, and that we "pay a price" for poor choices. I do think transfer costs are stupidly set, no matter what. There is no way transferring should cost as much as it does. I'm okay with the time element. But, if you're starting out on a long exploration trek, you darn well should be triple-checking your ship loadout.

Let's face it: the larger your ship, the more you can take and less compromises you have to make. My migration from the core systems to Colonia, where I now call 'home', was also my longest trip at the time. I did it in a Diamondback Explorer, unengineered. I had the Advanced Discovery Scanner but sacrificed bringing a Detailed Surface Scanner so that I could bring both an SRV and an AFMS. I felt the risks of damaging modules that would end my journey outweighed being able to scan the surface of bodies. And I wasn't going to go all that way and not also scoot around on the planets and grab materials for my ship. The downside with my choices was a 20ly jump range. The trip took me THREE MONTHS.. Even with precautions I cruised in to Jaques Station with 30% hull left and a dead AFMS. But the cartographic data I cashed in game me a HUGE bank account and I bought two other ships and all the modules I wanted (that were actually available in the Colonia region).

So, you absolutely SHOULD prepare ahead of time. And when you don't, you hope to live long enough to learn from your mistakes. Take advantage of the experience of other commanders.

 

[fishbait]

That pretty much defeats the purpose of being a commander. You need to plan appropriately. There is enough flexibility in ships, sizes and modules that you can configure a ship to be as flexible or focused as you want. It is intentional that the game is designed so that you HAVE to make some choices. And one of the best things about the new scanning system is that you got a slot back. Actually, two, potentially. I am primarily an explorer. I have researched on the web/YouTube as well as applied my own experience and preferences to come up with ship configurations that give me the capability I want. There will always be certain trade-offs you have to make. That is the art of being a commander. You have to be thoughtful in the process. It's intentional that we don't have everything handed to us, and that we "pay a price" for poor choices. I do think transfer costs are stupidly set, no matter what. There is no way transferring should cost as much as it does. I'm okay with the time element. But, if you're starting out on a long exploration trek, you darn well should be triple-checking your ship loadout.

Let's face it: the larger your ship, the more you can take and less compromises you have to make. My migration from the core systems to Colonia, where I now call 'home', was also my longest trip at the time. I did it in a Diamondback Explorer, unengineered. I had the Advanced Discovery Scanner but sacrificed bringing a Detailed Surface Scanner so that I could bring both an SRV and an AFMS. I felt the risks of damaging modules that would end my journey outweighed being able to scan the surface of bodies. And I wasn't going to go all that way and not also scoot around on the planets and grab materials for my ship. The downside with my choices was a 20ly jump range. The trip took me THREE MONTHS.. Even with precautions I cruised in to Jaques Station with 30% hull left and a dead AFMS. But the cartographic data I cashed in game me a HUGE bank account and I bought two other ships and all the modules I wanted (that were actually available in the Colonia region).

So, you absolutely SHOULD prepare ahead of time. And when you don't, you hope to live long enough to learn from your mistakes. Take advantage of the experience of other commanders.

You'd still have to hit a station to equip them.

But you would have them In your cargo hold instead of waiting hours on end.

You'd still have to plan your load out.

 

[VR CMDR Novindus]

This makes so much sense.

There's no reason why you shouldn't be able to carry modules as cargo, and access them in outfitting when you dock at an equipped station.

The devs would have to modify some logic on cargo storage, as unless there's something I haven't encountered that says otherwise, all current cargo is divided into 1 tonne units, which means it can be easily spread across cargo racks, whereas stowing modules will require a check to ensure that a single cargo rack has enough free room for the entire module, as it's indivisible.

The only module that wouldn't fit in your ship's cargo bay is the 8A Prismatic Shield Generator, which weighs 320t.

The other aspect to this, is that it will make piracy potentially more lucrative, and being pirated potentially more devastating lol.

 

[Lestat]

I felt the risks of damaging modules that would end my journey outweighed being able to scan the surface of bodies. And I wasn't going to go all that way and not also scoot around on the planets and grab materials for my ship. The downside with my choices was a 20ly jump range. The trip took me THREE MONTHS.. Even with precautions I cruised in to Jaques Station with 30% hull left and a dead AFMS. But the cartographic data I cashed in game me a HUGE bank account and I bought two other ships and all the modules I wanted (that were actually available in the Colonia region).

I did something just like you. Took around a year Had no engineered stuff. But I know someone who can get to Colonia under two hours and 107 jumps.

So, you absolutely SHOULD prepare ahead of time. And when you don't, you hope to live long enough to learn from your mistakes. Take advantage of the experience of other commanders.

I have to agree. Think before you take a trip.

 

[fishbait]

You still do have to think you'd have to plan a deep space station to swap modules at,

this way though you will have them to swap and not have to wait over half a day to get them.

 

[BinakAlgo]

I think that I like the idea. It's funny that I can haul tons and tons of cargo but I can't haul my own modules. But it would be for practical sake and to haul your own stuff, I doubt it will have a real value for exploration as you need a station or some kind of installation to change them.

 

[fishbait]

With deep space stations outside the bubble it might have more value then you'd expect

 

[Lestat]

You still do have to think you'd have to plan a deep space station to swap modules at,

this way though you will have them to swap and not have to wait over half a day to get them.

I think you are a player who doesn't have many credits or a large ship and you seeing Modules transfer time and cost as an issue. Best idea is to play longer and earn credit so you can transfer your ship and Modules over. Or Buy Multiple ships with different module builds.

 

[fishbait]

I think you are a player who doesn't have many credits or a large ship and you seeing Modules transfer time and cost as an issue. Best idea is to play longer and earn credit so you can transfer your ship and Modules over. Or Buy Multiple ships with different module builds.

If i saw costs as you say i wouldn't have the modules to haul around with me.

 

[fishbait]

[deleted]

 

[trollson]

Okay...

Cargo is handled in standardized 1 tonne containers (which includes some mass for the container).

Your 30 tonne module will need to be sliced-and-diced into 30+ containers for transport, each unique. Don't accidentally lose one or else the rest are just scrap.

Now before you can install the module at a dry dock, someone has to reassemble it, weld the bits back together. This will take time and effort - and therefore expensive. (The same will be true when it is sliced-and-diced, if you want to have any hope of putting it back together again).

This is nothing as simple as assembling IKEA furniture, or even a kit car.

It appears that in the Elite universe most complex systems are manufactured by 3D fabrication -- they were never at any point a bucket of parts (other than various powders), and never meant to be disassembled. This is already happening in RL - some rocket engines are now being 3D printed rather than manufactured - reducing the number of parts involved by 90%.

So when I said "slice-and-dice" it was quite literal, and not a euphemism for disassembly.

 

[Scubadog]

NO NO NO NO NO!!!! People, I just don't get you. That is NOT planning ahead. And you SHOULD have to wait the time for modules to be delivered. That is the "reality" of space travel in this game. Sheesh. If you are going to a station, THEN BUY THE MODULES THERE. I'm sorry, but there is no universe where you convince me you should be carrying modules as cargo. Either you plan your loadout right at the start, you buy or transfer different ones at a planned point, or you deal with the learning experience from having planned badly.

 

[Scubadog]

I think that I like the idea. It's funny that I can haul tons and tons of cargo but I can't haul my own modules. But it would be for practical sake and to haul your own stuff, I doubt it will have a real value for exploration as you need a station or some kind of installation to change them.

You CAN haul your own modules. IT'S CALLED INSTALLING THEM.

 

[Stewart_]

Actually, no it doesn't defeat the purpose, neither is installing them an option always.

I've just got to Colonia and there are very little decent modules. I'd very much like to take some higher quality modules with me and fit them at Colonia without having to ship them there from the bubble.

If a module can fit into a storage container, then I don't see the problem of not being able to carry them around like any other cargo items.

Not to be able to carry modules around in your cargo space is a strange and artificial limitation.

That pretty much defeats the purpose of being a commander. You need to plan appropriately.

You CAN haul your own modules. IT'S CALLED INSTALLING THEM.

 

[dm06]

I think the idea of the Colony is that players should get how it is not comfortable to live far away from civilization.
Getting to the Colony in two minutes and feel there exactly same way you feel in the Bubble brings nothing new to the game.

 

[CMDR Big Mike]

simple suggestion please allow us to store modules as cargo on our ships.

this would help mostly with long expeditions,

storing them in our cargo racks, same tonnage as when their installed.

if we die they respawn with our ship(if we go sidey they are just gone), some will say "this make things too easy! where's the challenge if i don't have to choose between picking one thing, flying back to near wherever i last left my modules or paying out the to transfer them?!" this isn't for them, this is for the middle of the road players those people who want to fly around to different areas without, having to worry about planning what to do ahead of time or waiting for their modules to arrive.

well fellow cmdrs? what do you think of this idea?

I think the better option would be the ability to order modules or ships to different locations. For example, I recently wanted some different types of AX weapons available to my AX ship. I had to buy them at a station that had them, then fly out to the station where my AX ship was stored, and request the transfer. It would be better if you could transfer modules from the station you buy them in.

It would also work well for ships. If i know I want to do combat on the other side of the bubble, then I could order my Corvette there and fly over in my Krait or Conda. It doesn't really make sense that I have to physically be there to request my ship.

I think this would appease those that want their stuff to be more available, as they would be able to fly while their stuff is being delivered (de facto "shorter wait"). It would also keep the realism alive because the transfers would not be instant.

I do not think being able to carry extra core modules makes sense. IF a ship could carry 2 FSDs or life supports, then it would just be built with a bigger FSD/life support. Carrying an optional module in a cargo rack doesn't make sense either, as you could just equip it

 

[Scubadog]

I think the better option would be the ability to order modules or ships to different locations. For example, I recently wanted some different types of AX weapons available to my AX ship. I had to buy them at a station that had them, then fly out to the station where my AX ship was stored, and request the transfer. It would be better if you could transfer modules from the station you buy them in.

It would also work well for ships. If i know I want to do combat on the other side of the bubble, then I could order my Corvette there and fly over in my Krait or Conda. It doesn't really make sense that I have to physically be there to request my ship.

I think this would appease those that want their stuff to be more available, as they would be able to fly while their stuff is being delivered (de facto "shorter wait"). It would also keep the realism alive because the transfers would not be instant.

I do not think being able to carry extra core modules makes sense. IF a ship could carry 2 FSDs or life supports, then it would just be built with a bigger FSD/life support. Carrying an optional module in a cargo rack doesn't make sense either, as you could just equip it

I've been thinking the same thing...the ability buy something and ship TO a prescribed station. I recently flew back to the core to pick up a Mamba and some A-rated modules and engineer them. I had to wait until I got back to Colonia to call for them to be transferred. It would be nice (and realistic) if I could have directed them to be transferred to Colonia Dream. Even if I got back quicker than the modules arrived at my destination (it takes me about 3.5 days to make the trip now), that would save me at least some wait time.

 

[CMDR Cosmic Spacehead]

We could have "module storage racks".

Different to cargo holds in the way they only hold modules, and any modules inside can not be jettisoned (they don't fit out of the hatch), and can only added and removed via outfitting.
Each class of module rack could hold X modules "flatpacked", kinda like the SRV bay. They still have the same mass, but are compact.
Obviously, these modules do nothing while in the modules rack.

Being blown up while carrying one is covered under rebuy, because it's outfitted technically.
So your rebuy goes up, as does your mass.

Done!
Transport your own modules.

 

[fishbait]

I think the better option would be the ability to order modules or ships to different locations. For example, I recently wanted some different types of AX weapons available to my AX ship. I had to buy them at a station that had them, then fly out to the station where my AX ship was stored, and request the transfer. It would be better if you could transfer modules from the station you buy them in.

It would also work well for ships. If i know I want to do combat on the other side of the bubble, then I could order my Corvette there and fly over in my Krait or Conda. It doesn't really make sense that I have to physically be there to request my ship.

I think this would appease those that want their stuff to be more available, as they would be able to fly while their stuff is being delivered (de facto "shorter wait"). It would also keep the realism alive because the transfers would not be instant.

I do not think being able to carry extra core modules makes sense. IF a ship could carry 2 FSDs or life supports, then it would just be built with a bigger FSD/life support. Carrying an optional module in a cargo rack doesn't make sense either, as you could just equip it

You couldn't just equip it without a station.

There are a few deep space stations

Although i do support the ordering things to places as that would help give options to people

I haven't said we should be able to equip them without a station just that we should be able to haul them around.