Cargo carrying - is it worth it? (newbie question)

[Switeck]

So a little from column A and a little from column B...while the battles rage on while you're docked, they may be doing so at "real time" rather than the huge jump that would result from the added times from instant-docking and launching.

...And here I was hoping you could report cargo reputation decaying from docking/launching too much.

[Makandal]

The most profitable is to shoot a python and scoop the cargo. With 3-4 python, you get plenty of cargo for free, 5-6 cargo pods per python = an average of 170 credits of net profit per python (30 in average per pod). Python are not too tough for beginners and not too aggressive. Problem: these pythons are escorted by wicked Sidewinders or Adder.

[Commander McLane]

...And here I was hoping you could report cargo reputation decaying from docking/launching too much.

I'm not sure about it, but I assume that the reputations decay on a per-jump basis, not a game-time basis.

Docking/launching time only comes into play if you still have an active delivery to make while you're hopping from station to station inside a system.

[Commander McLane]

The most profitable is to shoot a python and scoop the cargo. With 3-4 python, you get plenty of cargo for free, 5-6 cargo pods per python = an average of 170 credits of net profit per python (30 in average per pod). Python are not too tough for beginners and not too aggressive. Problem: these pythons are escorted by wicked Sidewinders or Adder.

Anacondas and Boas are also usually well-stocked. And they sometimes come even without any escorts...

[Switeck]

You can sometimes really luck up with escape pods giving 500 credits reward.
Or a cargo canister giving ~10 kg of gold/platinum or ~20-30 g gemstones.
These can get the value per ton cargo over 100 credits.

It's sometimes worth coming to a dead stop, dropping your least valuable cargo, and picking up floating cargo just to see what it is. I'm a fan of temporarily selling my cargo at a nearby station (rock hermits or main station in plain Oolite) then scooping everything nearby I can.

With luck and/or lots of fast trading, you can get rich without firing a shot.

[Mauiby de Fug]

It's sometimes worth coming to a dead stop, dropping your least valuable cargo, and picking up floating cargo just to see what it is.

I do this on occasion. Problem is, the least valuable cargo often extends to poor helpless slaves... Let's just say I'm not the most sympathetic squirrel in the space lanes!

[Commander McLane]

It's sometimes worth coming to a dead stop, dropping your least valuable cargo, and picking up floating cargo just to see what it is.

I do this on occasion. Problem is, the least valuable cargo often extends to poor helpless slaves... Let's just say I'm not the most sympathetic squirrel in the space lanes!

I'm always trying to go for food first and then for textiles, if I have to jettison some. Usually that gives enough room.

The alternative is to drop a homing beacon, sell the first lot, and return for more scooping fun.

[Eric Walch]

...And here I was hoping you could report cargo reputation decaying from docking/launching too much.

I'm not sure about it, but I assume that the reputations decay on a per-jump basis, not a game-time basis.

Yes it is on jump basis. Or better: every time "market_rnd" is below 8 on entering a system. market_rnd varies between 0 and 255 so, 256/8 = 32 means on average is decays every 32 jumps but it is fully random and reputation could decay in two successive jumps.
However, reputation also decays on misjumps, with a chance of 10% on every misjump. The logic behind that feels very strange. (read: wrong)

You could do some ups missions. They also help building your reputation.

[Makandal]

It's sometimes worth coming to a dead stop, dropping your least valuable cargo, and picking up floating cargo just to see what it is.

I do this on occasion. Problem is, the least valuable cargo often extends to poor helpless slaves... Let's just say I'm not the most sympathetic squirrel in the space lanes!

Don't worry for that. Slaves in the Ooniverse are not labour works per se, except in tech level < 3. In other, they are used for organ farms and will end up on life support system being butchered pieces by pieces. Frozen slaves can still be used but in very limited occasions. Thus, you are doing a semi-ethical move in dropping a slave container in space.

[Mauiby de Fug]

It's sometimes worth coming to a dead stop, dropping your least valuable cargo, and picking up floating cargo just to see what it is.

I do this on occasion. Problem is, the least valuable cargo often extends to poor helpless slaves... Let's just say I'm not the most sympathetic squirrel in the space lanes!

Don't worry for that. Slaves in the Ooniverse are not labour works per se, except in tech level < 3. In other, they are used for organ farms and will end up on life support system being butchered pieces by pieces. Frozen slaves can still be used but in very limited occasions. Thus, you are doing a semi-ethical move in dropping a slave container in space.

*laughs* Most amusing!

[The Black Albatross]

I'm pretty sure that I've docked in the middle of a firefight to re-arm, refuel and have rejoined the battle with lots of debris from both sides and fewer ships to fight - I think I've even heard the odd laser fire strike the hull of the station - definitely not on hold!

Whaaaat? Does this really happen? I've never tried to dock during a battle near a station, so I don't know.

[JensAyton]

Whaaaat? Does this really happen? I've never tried to dock during a battle near a station, so I don't know.

Yes. NPC ships carry on as usual while you’re docked (and, for that matter, before you start the game).

The simulation really ought to be sped up to try to “catch up” with the ship’s clock adjustments, but it isn’t.

[Switeck]

You can even be forcibly ejected/launched from a station that's about to die. Beats the alternative, but can come as quite a shock. This can only happen to secondary stations, never the main station. In the plain game with no OXPs, this is only Rock Hermits...but the only ships that tend to shoot at them are Thargoids. I've seen it happen. I was docking for the "quick" shield regeneration boost.

[Commander McLane]

You can even be forcibly ejected/launched from a station that's about to die. Beats the alternative, but can come as quite a shock. This can only happen to secondary stations, never the main station.

It can happen to the main station as well if it's destroyed through a script. Main stations are indestructible in "normal" game play, therefore you usually don't witness it happening. But they can be destroyed or removed through a script, and you are launched into the debris if you happen to be docked at the time.

If you have the JS-console, just try typing system.mainStation.explode() while you're docked.

[ClymAngus]

Whaaaat? Does this really happen? I've never tried to dock during a battle near a station, so I don't know.

Yes. NPC ships carry on as usual while you’re docked (and, for that matter, before you start the game).

The simulation really ought to be sped up to try to “catch up” with the ship’s clock adjustments, but it isn’t.

Meh, relative time dilation. What can you do? Damn you Einstein!!!