Version: 3.4.00
Date: 22.07.2006
Scripter: Lucike
- Overview:
This software supports the pilot in coordinating his internal production logistics. It will collect orders of the different consumers inside your enterprise and coordinate those with chosen suppliers. Therefore it is possible to deliver the products from several suppliers of a single resource to different consumers.
The software was originally developed by an Argon software engineer and as such is being sold in every Argon Equipment Dock. It is also available in the Trading Station located in Herron's Nebula.
Consumers will generally be sorted and supplied according to the urgency with which they need the wares. Stations will only be considered for a delivery if they have less than 90% of the storage space filled. The same principle applies to your producers which will only be allowed to ship wares if their storage is filled by 10% or more. Said a different way, stations will not receive wares if they are almost full, and suppliers will not send out wares if they are almost empty.
Over time the pilot will learn to use this software more efficiently; nobody starts out as an expert. Additionally, he might participate in special training courses by utilizing his trading computer extension. Those training courses are offered in the pilot's homebase at specified time intervals.
Quickstart:
1. Equip a TS class transporter with navigational software MK1 and Commodity Logistics Software MK1
2. Assign a homebase
3. Choose the command "Add/remove products" from the Additional Ship Commands menu and select a product and a price
4. Choose the command "Add/remove stations" from the Additional Ship Commands menu and select a number of stations
5. Choose the command "Start internal commodity logistics"
Pilot qualifications:
Apprentice
The apprentice is able to collect commodities from one supplier and to deliver those to up to three consumers (excluding equipment docks and trading stations). The apprentice is carrying out his probationary period in your enterprise and doesn't get a salary during this time.
Auxiliary courier
The auxiliary courier is able to collect commodities from up to two suppliers and deliver them to up to five consumers. Additionally, he will be able to deliver commodities to equipment docks and trading stations. The auxiliary courier gets a wage of 10 credits per mizura flown, paid after completing each trip.
Courier
The courier is able to collect commodities from up to three suppliers and deliver them to up to five consumers. Additionally, he will be able to supply TL class ships. He will equip his ship with more speed and agility, and fighter drones if they can be bought in the current sector. The courier gets a wage of 15 credits per mizura flown, payable upon completion of each trip.
Freighter Pilot 2nd class
The freighter pilot 2nd class is able to distribute commodities from five suppliers to ten consumers. He is also able to use modern jump drive technology to move around more quickly. The freighter pilot 2nd class is paid a wage of 30 credits per mizura flown, paid after each trip.
Freighter pilot 1st class
The freighter pilot 1st class is able to distribute commodities from five suppliers to ten consumers. Furthermore, he pays close attention to the commercial radio network and will not enter any sectors in which enemy ships have been reported. The freighter pilot 1st class is paid a wage of 35 credits per mizura flown, paid after each trip.
Freighter pilot
The freighter pilot is not restricted in the amount of suppliers or consumers. Furthermore, he will repair his ship on his own by visiting a shipyard if necessary. The freighter pilot is paid a wage of 40 credits per mizura flown, payable after each trip.
Equipment and Prerequisites:
- A small class ship (M5, M4, M3, TS, TP) or a ship of the corvette class (M6)
- Commodity Logistics Software MK1
- Navigation Command Software MK1
- Boost Extension (optional: increases the jump energy reserve from 10% to 20% of maximum cargo)
- Duplex- and Triplex-Scanner (optional: decreases the minimum jump range by one sector)
- Cargo Scanner (optional: affects the collection-strategy)
- Trading System Extension (optional: needed to participate in training courses)
- Fight Command Software MK1 (optional: change the behaviour at contact with the enemy)
- Jump drive (optional: can be utilized after a special training course)
- Transporter Device (optional: if big ships like TL class transporters are chosen as a viable destination and the transporter may not dock at the ship)
Usage (Logistics for factories, equipment docks and TL class transporters):
The main command is started from the Trade Menu. The command "Start internal commodity logistics" is visible when you installed Commodity Logistics Software MK1 and navigational software MK1 in the ship and assigned a homebase.
The list of stations is maintained using the Additional Ship Commands menu. After choosing a number of stations or TL class ships with the command "Add/remove stations" the software will determine if it is a supplier or consumer. If the maximum number of stations is not yet reached a sound will be played as a confirmation, else you will see an error message.
If a station or TL transport is chosen that already exists in the current list of logistic destinations it will be removed from the list.
It doesn't matter in which order the consumers are being selected. The pilot is visiting consumers always in order of urgency. Only suppliers are visited in the order in which they were assigned to the software. If the ship is equipped with a cargo scanner, the suppliers are visited in order of resource availability. The stations are ordered alphabetically for the report.
If you choose your own homebase or the ship itself while configuring the destinations a report is generated containing an overview which stations are currently being flown to and which products are to be transported. You can clear the list completely by targetting any ship.
The list of products is also maintained with the Additional Ship Commands Menu. After choosing this command you have to select a commodity which is a product on the homebase. After that a second numerical input is required which determines the price at which the commodity is transferred. If you put in a value of "-1" the price of the target station itself will be used.
Special Notes:
Note: You can change the lists mid flight but the changes become effective only after finishing the current tour.
Special: On the initial start no commodity is allowed to be loaded on the ship, except installed weapons and shields, missiles of any type, combat drones and jump energy. If you deliver commodities to a tl class transporter no credits are being transferred. You can only select trading stations, equipment docks or tl class transporters as suppliers if they are set to be the homebase of the ship. No credits are being transferred in this case, too.
Jump Drive: If a jump drive is installed, the pilot will supply himself with energy from the homebase. He may buy energy from other sources, too, if he is not doing a chain supply tour. The pilot may jump to adjacent sectors if both scanner types (duplex/triplex) are installed. Normally a jump will only be done if the distance is at least one sector in between. Scanner range is not being enhanced.
Enemy contact: If the freighter has the Fight Command Software MK1, then the pilot may make his ship safer. He buys fight drones in the current sector and equip his ship with more speed and agility. If the experienced pilot has a jump drive, then he can venture into unsafe sectors.
Hint: If you buy the Commodity Logistics Software at the software producer's offices at the Free Argon Trading Station in Herron's Nebula, the producer tries to provide qualified personnel. If you start the software at the trading station you might get lucky and receive qualified pilots from the very beginning.