[Bonus Plugin] Commercial Agent

[jlehtone]

It takes at least Freight Pilot 2nd to handle Intermediate products. For training, remember that CAG and CLS pilots share the same level variable, ie an experienced Logistics hauler is an experienced Agent too.

These pilots (ie scripts) are very "profitable". The need to train is a price to pay. And when you do demand "smart-from-word-go" remember that other players do not want experienced pilots. Yes, there are tasks where Apprentice is all you need.

[londonloonie]

CAG has a flaw in that if you have many stations in a sector with an XL power plant CAG pilots will "communicate" with eachother as and when they want to replenish stocks of ECELLS.

This means that even if the price is 12CR and stock levels are >45K then only one trader will buy ECELLS even if all stations are empty of ECELLS.

Effectively this makes CAG useless.

cya

[vyndicator]

What do you mean by a logistics hauler exactly? Not sure if I still know all the terminology for the same stuff that I do in game.

I tried using the station manager script, however, I didn't have satellites in all sectors as over time they get blown up. Hence, when i converted to the station manager script it didn't do anything and they all sat in dock. Then I discovered the Commercial Agent script and thought problem solved, I have an intelligent script that'll avoid dangerous sectors so my TS can sell my goods.

I really don't need to buy any goods as the station is self sufficient, unless I overload it as I don't have enough silicon mines to keep up full production on all the stations.

I basically want a steady way to sell my goods without losing that many ships, and one that is low maintenance. Preferably one that would use jumpdrives as well, as flying everywhere with a normally sell for best price is sooo... inefficient.

So... how can I train up these agents to the second level when I don't have any goods to buy?

[jlehtone]

So... how can I train up these agents to the second level when I don't have any goods to buy?

Commercial Agent keeps track of how much it has flown (in minutes). Level increases after each flown two hours (if Trading Extension is installed). For example, it takes four hours to reach Courier.

Commodity Logistics does exactly the same thing. These two scripts even share the "time flown" and "current level" variables. Thus, if a ship advances a level by running Commodity Logistics, then it has advanced a level as Agent as well. And you can define a route for Commodity Logistics Mk2, where the ship flies almost non-stop (without doing any trade).

If a Commodity Logistics "pilot" (either Mk1 or Mk2) is started first time while the ship is docked in Trade Dock of Herron's Nebula, the initial level will be set randomly, up to Courier. Thus, if lucky (or reloading), you can get a "level 2" instantly.

Or you can set up a training course. Kor'ah wrote instructions/howto couple days ago.

Effectively this makes CAG useless.

You really do not want a script to keep track of every ship and every stock in order to reach maximum "efficiency". Too much computational overhead. When the ship does reach the SPP, it should get enough ECells to last a while. L-scale factory consumes 4500 ECells per hour, so a SuperFreighter can fetch two hours need in one go. IME an Agent can do 4-5 trade runs per hour, so 8 factories should have "fair chance" to visit the SPP once every two hours. I would not call CAG "effectively useless". "Not suitable for certain tasks" yes, but not "useless". Besides, only the higher level CAG do "communicate", so snatch their Trading Extensions before they level up. Should do fine with simple Factories.

[RichG]

I'm having the 40 ecell problem but would like to say upfront that I don't have any vision enhancement goggles on my CAGs (I've checked several times just in case) just the required items in the bonus pack readme. Please let me know how I can sort it out as they keep drifting at the speed of sludge when they could be jumping their little hearts out

[Uzi77]

I'm having the 40 ecell problem but would like to say upfront that I don't have any vision enhancement goggles on my CAGs (I've checked several times just in case) just the required items in the bonus pack readme. Please let me know how I can sort it out as they keep drifting at the speed of sludge when they could be jumping their little hearts out

They're the right experience level too? If they are, try manually setting the number of Ecells they hold for jumps yourself, say 200 or something.

[RichG]

They are fully levelled up, Is the manual setting available on the bonus pack or do I need the patch from page14 of this thread?

[Uzi77]

I don't think I used any 'patch' for this plugin. If you have the latest Bonus Pack then it all should be up to date. Try the manual Ecell number setting, and see if it has an effect.

[RichG]

Cool I'll give that a try tonight, cheers Uzi77

[jjalison]

THis script is great, but what if the station is self sufficient. The level 0 apprentice doesnt have anything to buy and will not start selling until he gets to level 1. Is there a modification that can be made to let them start selling right away?

[X-Explorer]

I've just figured out how to roughly setup my CAG so that it is buying ECell's for my Wheat Farm.

But I got a couple of question's/problems.

I've tried to set it so that it wont buy any more ECell's untill I am below 10% stock or buy more if my station is above 500,000Cr (In the hope it will only wait till I am below 10% ECell's before buying as it shouldnt hit the 500k mark).

But after watching it my CAG has just left the station on its way to buy more ECell's when my ECell stock is still at 20%...?

Also, I've seen it fly to a SPP that was at 14Cr. Arrive to find they are now 15 - 16Cr and fly away again. At what price does it buy? Is it defined by the price at the Station or does it just buy at best price?

Thanks in advance for any help!

[hatswell]

I have a CAG working for my HQ but he wants to buy everything that my HQ has. Instead of buying the resources needed for ship production, he keeps trying to buy things like ion disruptors. How do i get him to only buy resources needed for ship production?

[Carlo the Curious]

Lock the wares you don't want the CAG to deal with (Ware Lock/Unlock in Additional Ship Commands).

Incidentally, posting the same question in multiple threads is frowned upon.

[hatswell]

when i go to lock wares do i have to do each one specifically, because that would take a long time.

Also, when i do that, how do i know if it is in fact locked, there is no list. i'm afraid that i might re unlock a ware or something

Its really annoying to deal with... i wish i could just say one command, buy only primary resources

[Carlo the Curious]

iirc (and I could be wrong) you get a double beep when you unlock a ware.

You should be able to check the locked ware list by requesting a status report ({0} {0} {0} in Configuration).

[hatswell]

so do i actually type "{0} {0} {0}" just like that?

also... sorry i don't know what iirc is?

Lastly, if i set up a supply complex (not fully self-sustaining) in the same sector as my HQ how do i tell the CAG for that complex not to take resources from the HQ?

Thanks for the help btw

[Terre]

Hi,

so do i actually type "{0} {0} {0}" just like that?

zero then press enter
zero then press enter
zero then press enter

i don't know what iirc is?

It is, "If I Recall Correctly"

Lastly, if i set up a supply complex (not fully self-sustaining) in the same sector as my HQ how do i tell the CAG for that complex not to take resources from the HQ?

I think what you are looking for is in the PHQ station commands list 'Trade barrier (CAG)'

[XA_Chewy]

when inputting the recommended commands are the capital letters required?

[XA_Chewy]

I have a really dumb question. what do the letters represent when configuring the commercial agent?

[jlehtone]

You mean as in

Input - {3} {1} {A}
Apprentice or higher: Resources are bought when stock is below A% (default 80%)

As it says, if you want A%, you enter A. Wait, there is no "A%". you probably want 1%--100%, right? Let say you want 40%. That is still plenty, and more than the factory needs in one cycle. So the value is '40'. Replace 'A' with '40'. So you enter
{3}{1}{40}

The letters are names for values. You enter numbers.