[SCR] Prospector [2010-7-13 - X3TC 3.2.07]

[Djindaar]

Hi peeps.

I have a problem ingame. Seems that in my particular game GOD has decided I cannot have Mobile Drilling Systems (MDS) lasers.

I have checked out every EQ station in a 7x10 sector area and nothing, all EQ's are out of stock. If I fit IRE's they refuse to go to work.

They gather smaller chunks okay but I have to generally babysit them with orders once full. I wanted to use 'Prospector' along with the other great Scripts, for the automatic trading and great utilty these scripts have. CAG, CLS, ETS.


Question then is, are these non-spawns of a particular item cyclic. or just random and never return. I suppose I could find and build a MDS Fact and make my own at some point, but just curious, as I have seen another post where someone mentioned that GOD can and often does hold back a Random item/station type for any new campaign, ie new game start.

Dont want to do a restart if I can help it, but no biggie if I have to I suppose.


Just curious if there is a workaround.


Thanks


Djin

[Schultski]

A-F-A-I-K, there is no MDS factories, or at least I've never found them be sold on any shipyards. But not only MDS, Rep-Las and Tract-Beam may not be found either.

I also having this GOD-related incursion. However, what belated me not long ago is that some in the threads are saying that the next replacements for these types are at least two hours game time frame...


Matsu-Taka
Matsuhiko Takagawa / Schultski Rheindland

[Djindaar]

A-F-A-I-K, there is no MDS factories, or at least I've never found them be sold on any shipyards. But not only MDS, Rep-Las and Tract-Beam may not be found either.

I also having this GOD-related incursion. However, what belated me not long ago is that some in the threads are saying that the next replacements for these types are at least two hours game time frame...


Matsu-Taka
Matsuhiko Takagawa / Schultski Rheindland

Thanks Matsu-, lets hope so.

I will have a fly around the sectors while my new traders and mine get into their roles.

Thanks

Djin

[Alan Phipps]

First of all, I know that MDS factories are sold at 4 Paranid and 2 Teladi Shipyards in my game, there are also tractor beam factories at 2 Paranid shipyards (this is Vanilla). You cannot buy repair lasers or their factories.

The issue is not one of non-spawning, each restart starts off with the same factories and stations on the initial Galaxy map. Instead, over time the game engine (GOD) removes NPC factories that are not doing much (many Terran Missile Fabs for example). It also builds new ones (randomly or to fill a niche?) but not at the rate it removes them in the early days. Once the system has settled down, you don't see so much change (unless you also do build missions) but by then everyone has a game environment that is unlike anyone else's. (That's why specific trading route guides don't work so well.)

Some key stations are always respawned when killed - docks, yards, outposts, etc. Pirate stations also respawn but not in the same place.

So if you have no MDS factories anywhere in your Galaxy due to GOD, then you will have to buy and build one yourself. Same with Tractor Beam. This might all change with patch 2.1 but who knows?

May I ask a question about your mobile-miners not working without MDS weapons - are you using Gazz's MARS script by any chance? (No I don't have any actual concerns about MARS - this is to do with another thread on mining.)

Sorry, I don't know anything about Prospector.

[Schultski]

@ Alan Phillips...
Paranid shipyards!? No wonder I've never found it. For even game play time reaching 10 hours game time, not even a single shipyards I've met sell any of those three spec-weapons. True, that I never went to Paranid sectors before.

About the key stations or objects, I'm currently having difficulties that GOD won't allow me to continue the main mission plot. The Station Saturn Research Station at which I supposed to dock keeps disappearing after I jump to Saturn, giving me objective "Dock at: <invalid>", and then unable to continue from there.


Matsu-Taka
Matsuhiko Takagawa / Schultski Rheindland

[Alan Phipps]

@ Schultski: That's Alan Phipps by the way.

OK, some advice. I really would not consider telling others that things probably do not exist in the game until I had thoroughly explored all the known race sectors at least. It will confuse people as it has done with Djin thinking you are a very experienced player who would know these things.

Regarding the station - if you really mean it disappears while you are actually in sector then something is seriously wrong with your game. I suspect that you either have a corrupted installation or you have a clash of scripts/mods that are overwriting models. If the latter, I can only suggest contacting the mod/script authors on the relevant mod/script threads to see what is compatable with what.

PS: I'm getting dizzy following this thread/topic about!

[jlehtone]

Good advice Alan.

I have checked out every EQ station in a 7x10 sector area and nothing, all EQ's are out of stock. If I fit IRE's they refuse to go to work.

They gather smaller chunks okay but I have to generally babysit them with orders once full. I wanted to use 'Prospector' along with the other great Scripts, for the automatic trading and great utilty these scripts have. CAG, CLS, ETS.


Question then is, are these non-spawns of a particular item cyclic. or just random and never return. I suppose I could find and build a MDS Fact and make my own at some point, but just curious, as I have seen another post where someone mentioned that GOD can and often does hold back a Random item/station type for any new campaign, ie new game start.

If this is a 'Prospector' question, then by [url=http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=216696][b]T[/b][b]C[/b] [b]S[/b]&M Posting [b]R[/b]ules[/url] No 12 it has a place. Merged.

There seems to be an option to use M3 with PAC in turret, instead of MDS in turret of TS.

Behaviour of GOD and places to get something from are not actually S&M guestions, but about vanilla Gameplay (since those objects are vanilla). AFAIK, the X-Universe is larger than 10x7. X3R was already 21x17. ED's are empty if nobody delivers to them. Nobody delivers, if for example the Forges are empty. Forges remain empty if they don't have enough resources to start a production cycle. They don't if nobody delivers resources to them ... The nursing of NPC economy is an opportunity for profit as well.

There are scripts to add ware/create stations, but generally they should not be necessary.

[Djindaar]

First of all, I know that MDS factories are sold at 4 Paranid and 2 Teladi Shipyards in my game, there are also tractor beam factories at 2 Paranid shipyards (this is Vanilla). You cannot buy repair lasers or their factories.

The issue is not one of non-spawning, each restart starts off with the same factories and stations on the initial Galaxy map. Instead, over time the game engine (GOD) removes NPC factories that are not doing much (many Terran Missile Fabs for example). It also builds new ones (randomly or to fill a niche?) but not at the rate it removes them in the early days. Once the system has settled down, you don't see so much change (unless you also do build missions) but by then everyone has a game environment that is unlike anyone else's. (That's why specific trading route guides don't work so well.)

Some key stations are always respawned when killed - docks, yards, outposts, etc. Pirate stations also respawn but not in the same place.

So if you have no MDS factories anywhere in your Galaxy due to GOD, then you will have to buy and build one yourself. Same with Tractor Beam. This might all change with patch 2.1 but who knows?

May I ask a question about your mobile-miners not working without MDS weapons - are you using Gazz's MARS script by any chance? (No I don't have any actual concerns about MARS - this is to do with another thread on mining.)

Sorry, I don't know anything about Prospector.

Hi Alan,

I am using Lucikes 'Prospector.

The Caiman I have can only mount MDS and no other Lasers, but the problem I have is that no EQ stocks them and has not since start of game. Think I am on Character day 7 atm and still no MDS's anywhere in any of the EQ's I have visited amongst the over 100 sectors I have been to.


Its not a great problem as I can use the vanilla 'Mine Minerals' okay, but it does not have the functionality that 'Prospector ' has. @Prospector needs MDS's to on its list of must have's.


So even using other Miner Race ships, the lack of MDS's in game means 'I cannot use the functionality of @Prospector along with the other utilities in Lucike's suite of good mods.

Not tried looking for the MDS Facts yet, this link Names 4 sectors, so spoiler if clicked. May go check these factories out over the weekend, if they are still in my game.

http://eng.x3tc.ru/x3_tc_map/factory-li ... ing+System


Djin

[jlehtone]

Its not a great problem as I can use the vanilla 'Mine Minerals' okay, but it does not have the functionality that 'Prospector ' has. @Prospector needs MDS's to on its list of must have's.

I see word "Optional" there.

[Djindaar]

Good advice Alan.

I have checked out every EQ station in a 7x10 sector area and nothing, all EQ's are out of stock. If I fit IRE's they refuse to go to work.

They gather smaller chunks okay but I have to generally babysit them with orders once full. I wanted to use 'Prospector' along with the other great Scripts, for the automatic trading and great utilty these scripts have. CAG, CLS, ETS.


Question then is, are these non-spawns of a particular item cyclic. or just random and never return. I suppose I could find and build a MDS Fact and make my own at some point, but just curious, as I have seen another post where someone mentioned that GOD can and often does hold back a Random item/station type for any new campaign, ie new game start.

If this is a 'Prospector' question, then by TC S&M Posting Rules No 12 it has a place. Merged.

There seems to be an option to use M3 with PAC in turret, instead of MDS in turret of TS.

Behaviour of GOD and places to get something from are not actually S&M guestions, but about vanilla Gameplay (since those objects are vanilla). AFAIK, the X-Universe is larger than 10x7. X3R was already 21x17. ED's are empty if nobody delivers to them. Nobody delivers, if for example the Forges are empty. Forges remain empty if they don't have enough resources to start a production cycle. They don't if nobody delivers resources to them ... The nursing of NPC economy is an opportunity for profit as well.

There are scripts to add ware/create stations, but generally they should not be necessary.

Aye I have PACS in my other mining ship. I will have to scope out further afield, I have only visited about 130 sectors and the EQ's in amongst those as yet. So time to find some still I suppose. I will try and find the MDS Factories and see if they need stocking on any resources if production has stopped in any that are out there.

Thanks for the input anyways peeps, being new to the X-Universe I still have a lot to learn. Your input is priceless for us aliens decending on this particular newniverse.


And yup, I guess my question albeit relating to a mod, has sort of morphed somewhat, it covers two areas I guess. I originally posted it in X-Universe but was re-directed here. But I can check all options covered in response , so thanks again.


Djin

[Djindaar]

Its not a great problem as I can use the vanilla 'Mine Minerals' okay, but it does not have the functionality that 'Prospector ' has. @Prospector needs MDS's to on its list of must have's.

I see word "Optional" there.

Aye, its this bit though.

"If the prospector does not have a mobile drilling system, he will only collect minerals. He will not crush anything."


Some sectors I have seen have Large droids and no lose chunks, and I hope to scour these at a later date. I can always go in there and manually crush them though so its probably no big deal after all said and done. So again, all the responses have put my mind at ease somewhat.


Still a few options to check out, and Prospector may well work fine on the collecting of the ready crushed minerals okay, so I am probably now after the responses, not as concerned as when I initially looked at the situation.


Thanks

Djin

[jlehtone]

"If the prospector does not have a mobile drilling system, he will only collect minerals. He will not crush anything."

But there is also a bit about M3 and PAC, so that should crush debris.

I have X3R and its (BP) Mining scripts. Dolphin SF collecting, and Buster crushing. Squads of them. Perhaps not optimal, but works. And those scripts will never break Asteroids.

Larger missiles should break Asteroids too, if you really want to mobile mine them.

[Djindaar]

"If the prospector does not have a mobile drilling system, he will only collect minerals. He will not crush anything."

But there is also a bit about M3 and PAC, so that should crush debris.

I have X3R and its (BP) Mining scripts. Dolphin SF collecting, and Buster crushing. Squads of them. Perhaps not optimal, but works. And those scripts will never break Asteroids.

Larger missiles should break Asteroids too, if you really want to mobile mine them.

Squad sounds good actually, as I wanted to RP my Char as mentioned in my first posting back in May.:-
http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=248195

Since then I have built an Ore Mine to start cashing up for said rp style, along with, at this time, A Super freighter, A Mercury, Two Miners and a Disco so far. Used these ships as they were relatively cheap and since my first post, I learned a lot messing with them and climbing the learning curve with them as test ships.

So A Squad approach IS definately something I am looking to do once I get more credits and better clued up. I was going to use Prospector to facilitate the cashing up process as I delved deeper into games many aspects. But Building a small squad would be ideal to learn that which I want to do on a larger scale.


Thanks, you got me thinking back on track a little, the game keeps side tracking me with its many potentials.


Djin

[Alan Phipps]

@ jlehtone: I'll be brief here because I don't really want to use this thread as my points are about Vanilla TC. There is a world of difference between the X3R bonuspack mining signed scripts and the TC hardcoded methods. There's no break rocks with fighters command in TC. AFAIK you need a XL cargo-capable ship with a turreted weapon and some extensions to use any of the mining commands (eg Falcon Hauler or TS and up). There is an ongoing discussion with Nanook as to why I can mine debris with any laser in Vanilla, while he can only mine debris with MDS fitted - see towards end of this: http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=248711

[cygnetsong]

Is there a list of sectors in x3tc that have lots of small rocks to prospect? What are the best sectors to set up prospectors?

[Johnnierocker]

Ok I have a problem

I have invested in a mobile mining base ship and fitted with all the necessary equipment mobile drilling ore collector, mineral scanner, triplex scanner special command software, navigation command and flight command 1 and 2
a jump drive for the future,

laser bays front and up have the mobile drilling system installed. full shielding etc.

Now as the instructions loosely say you need to be docked.

The mobile rig can only dock at either equipment docks, shipyards, player docks and military bases IIRC.

So I dock the ship

go into special commands and run what you say is mine minerals however greyed out is "Start minerals Mining"

very confused.


I am running version 3.300 of the libraries and version 3108 of the prospector



After running command mine minerals there is no pilot being transferred under show info. Shows me as pilot.

Any ideas ? Have I missed something

[Saetan]

Do you have already a pilot on your TL? You need at least a pilot of the rank "lead miner" on your TL, so I guess, you won't be able to hire an apprentice with your TL docked at a station.

You will have to train a pilot to the needed rank on a TS first.

[Johnnierocker]

Thanks for your reply


Ah ok that makes sense, I take it you can't actually use the mobile base mining ship for this script as it's only st class contaners and not xl

?

Ok which Mercury would I be looking at for mining and collection /

[Saetan]

Ah ok that makes sense, I take it you can't actually use the mobile base mining ship for this script as it's only st class contaners and not xl

ST (=stations) is bigger than XL (=xl wares), so can't be a reason. Every TL is a ST-class freighter.

[Johnnierocker]

Ah ok that makes sense, I take it you can't actually use the mobile base mining ship for this script as it's only st class contaners and not xl

ST (=stations) is bigger than XL (=xl wares), so can't be a reason. Every TL is a ST-class freighter.

Oops My bad