where's the big money for a Cobra ship?

[Cody]

The next run is looking up: I've got about 30K+ contracts so far lined up for a bottom-left to upper-right run...

Pedal to the metal, amigo! Every second counts if you're after the early-delivery bonuses, which can be over 60% (best I've earned was 84k for a 52k contract).

[Bogatyr]

Well, I'm making some decent money on corner-to-corner parcel runs, but not close to 100K, more like 30K. I guess it's still pretty good considering no down payments and no inventory cost.

I made the "upgrade" to the Cobra Mk I and kind of wish I hadn't. The Adder is hit far less in combat, with attention to dodging one can maintain shields at pretty near maximum, not to mention has a really high yaw rate so can spin around on a dime. I prefer small, speedy, nimble fighting ships, as I generally go in for Escort/Bounty Hunter/Assassin roles. 5TC and a vaccuum pump is enough to pick up all the gold/platinum/gems from pirates.

Guess I may try an Aquatics Shark or something like it after all. It's going to be a loooong haul before I can afford my favorite Contractor.

I'll continue earning and upgrade to the Cobra Mk III and see how it fits.

[Cmd Northgate]

I'm in the Galaxy of Proximus, and going to Zaaner with two passengers, one who agreed to pay 35687, the other offered to pay 4973.

Let's hope they don't compare fare prices!

I've also got some packages to deliver on the way, and check at every planet I visit no one else needs stuff delivering along the route.

I'm in a Cobra III.

[Bogatyr]

I notice that unless you're on the very edge of the galaxy, the parcel contracts at the top rating have a maximum value somewhere around 3-5K (and involve still flying to the opposite edge/corner). Just not worth it if you're in a Cobra Mk III where you can make 1.4K per jump on a milk run (not to mention pirating or salvaging the aftermath of battles where you can make 2-5K per ship), unless you get lucky and can stack up a huge pile of parcels all along the same route.

But in a tiny/no cargo ship parcels are still a good option.

[Malacandra]

I notice that unless you're on the very edge of the galaxy, the parcel contracts at the top rating have a maximum value somewhere around 3-5K (and involve still flying to the opposite edge/corner). Just not worth it if you're in a Cobra Mk III where you can make 1.4K per jump on a milk run (not to mention pirating or salvaging the aftermath of battles where you can make 2-5K per ship), unless you get lucky and can stack up a huge pile of parcels all along the same route.

But in a tiny/no cargo ship parcels are still a good option.

This is really what you need to be gunning for - and it's also the case with passenger contracts. One at a time isn't worth the bother, but the idea is you find some more with compatible routes so you can collect on a bunch at the end of the run. They don't all need to run to the same destination as long as you're able to complete them all in good time.

Of course, the math becomes difficult when you're trying to decide whether you need more contracts or just to beat feet and get the early delivery bonus on the ones you already have. But the game is more fun that way.

I'm having no end of fun delivering parcels in a Sun Ray, which is a pretty good courier ship and also lets you carry a few odds and ends even if objectively it's probably a full tier below an Asp. (It has a cute paint job and looks like a flying saucer.)

[iperich]

After some time, I will answer myself in case someone is having the same question: The biggest money I made in my Cobra was in the Feudal States, going to the Hunting Lodges (marked as "F" in the scanner) and challenging some nobles. You can make up to 100.000Cr for a short fight!! I made a lot of money very quickly.