Horizons Whats the story with using limpets to pick up floating cargo? Grrrrrrr

[Kinky Jalepeno]

Hello Commander's,
I was doing some data/cargo salvage missions to change rank grind up a little, and decided to try using a collector to grab my target canisters (i'd ruined a couple of missions by rushing and accidentally ramming my target thus destroying it - DUH ! C'mon admit it, you've done it as well ), I was expecting my limpet to run off and grab the canister, bring it back then take up position below me by the cargo scoop ala mining to wait for another collection target. Imagine my surprise when it self destructed as soon as it brought 1 canister back.

Question: Is there a way of keeping the limpet alive for multiple targets (these missions usually want us to recover two canisters)?

EDIT: Hold on, I just had a thought I wished I'd tried last night, maybe the limpet won't fail if I've already lined up a second target before it gets back with the 1st? I'm thinking the limpet fails because it believes it's its job is complete (no more targets)?! Hmmmm

Advice appreciated

o7 Kinky

 

[lokvette]

Its been a while since I did any black box missions but I think your right in saying one at a time will keep the limpet alive, I used just fill up with a 100 or so grab a load of missions and go and do them, ok I was in a conda or a python so had the space. Most of the time it was target pop a limpet whislt targeting the next one, but I sort of remember some limpets lasting longer than others hence why I think if you do one at a time....

 

[Raino]

if you select a target and shoot a limpet it will only take the selected item and die
if you do not select any it'll go until lifetime is over and pick as many items as possible (in time)
you just have no control about which ones be picked or lets say about the order in which those are picked

 

[SharkBiscuit]

Question: Is there a way of keeping the limpet alive for multiple targets (these missions usually want us to recover two canisters)?

Yes, here's the thing.
The collector limpets work in two modes:
1) if you have a cargo targeted and launch a collector => it will pick up just that one cargo, return to your ship and self destruct.
2) if you DON'T have any cargo targeted and launch a collector => it will roam around picking up & deliver every bit of cargo/material it can find.

easy! Not a documented feature as far as I can tell, but very handy to know.

I've been playing elite since it launched, and only just learned this one when a random multicrew session taught me NPC piracy. My new favorite & very profitable profession.

if you select a target and shoot a limpet it will only take the selected item and die
if you do not select any it'll go until lifetime is over and pick as many items as possible (in time)
you just have no control about which ones be picked or lets say about the order in which those are picked

SNAP! Beat me to it.

 

[Kinky Jalepeno]

if you select a target and shoot a limpet it will only take the selected item and die
if you do not select any it'll go until lifetime is over and pick as many items as possible (in time)
you just have no control about which ones be picked or lets say about the order in which those are picked

Yes, here's the thing.
The collector limpets work in two modes:
1) if you have a cargo targeted and launch a collector => it will pick up just that one cargo, return to your ship and self destruct.
2) if you DON'T have any cargo targeted and launch a collector => it will roam around picking up & deliver every bit of cargo/material it can find.

easy! Not a documented feature as far as I can tell, but very handy to know.

I've been playing elite since it launched, and only just learned this one when a random multicrew session taught me NPC piracy. My new favorite & very profitable profession.



SNAP! Beat me to it.

Excellent and very useful answers peeps, thankyou..

 

[FrogsFriend]

Also, if your limpets collect cargo that you don't want, jettison the unwanted goods using the 'Abandon' option and they won't pick it up again.

 

[SharkBiscuit]

Also, if your limpets collect cargo that you don't want, jettison the unwanted goods using the 'Abandon' option and they won't pick it up again.

Yeah, that's right. Incidentally, has anyone else noticed that STOLEN cargo doesn't get the "Jettison (abandon)" option? I only get the regular "Jettison" option. Which is annoying, because often I need to make room for more precious loot - the collectors just go and pick it right back up again. :/
I raised it as a bug in the beta here... https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/374368-Discard-Abandon-option-missing-for-stolen-cargo

 

[Kinky Jalepeno]

Yeah, that's right. Incidentally, has anyone else noticed that STOLEN cargo doesn't get the "Jettison (abandon)" option? I only get the regular "Jettison" option. Which is annoying, because often I need to make room for more precious loot - the collectors just go and pick it right back up again. :/
I raised it as a bug in the beta here... https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/374368-Discard-Abandon-option-missing-for-stolen-cargo

Jetison the unwanted stuff then thrust downwards a bit and you'll destroy it....

 

[SharkBiscuit]

Jetison the unwanted stuff then thrust downwards a bit and you'll destroy it....

LOL. It just might work!