[TC] Where To Buy/Train Boarding Troops [Spoilers] {Ver. 1.0.3} (Updated May 31st, 2010)

[zazie]

I don't know if this is new but I realized recently (and I have never seen that before) that you need a Bioscanner in the docked ship AND in the ship you are flying actually. (Actual, new game under 2.7.: Poisened Paranid)

I can't prove it but I have my doubts that in my former game (Goner, about 46 ig-days) ALL my Marine-dealing ships have been equipped with the Bioscanner. My Springy had it, obviously

[Deadbeat_Spinn]

......I knew it, I knew it.

From the Corporate Guide (4 days ago): I know it's just a matter of time before my other guide gets the dredging as well.

@strude,

It's possible that all the Marines currently at the Outpost in BHS have no stars overall. I've seen it happen a few times but tends to be a rare occurance.


@zazie,

It's entirely possible that both the AI controlled ship and player ship need the BioScanner onboard. I never really gave this much thought since my personal ship has always had the BioScanner onboard and does go on runs to pick boarding troops every now and then because a couple places in my universe are quite hostile and I don't trust the AI to make the runs.

[pH7.0]

I've just done a bit of testing (3.0). The marines' individual attribute ratings show whether or not the docked ship has a bioscanner as long as the player ship has one.

Love the guide - hated looking for training spots before this.

[Thunders]

Buying a second-hand M6 can also get you trained marines. I've just bought such a Centaur that had a 4-star marine in it! Its stats are too good to sell it along with the ship:

Fighting: 89
Engineering: 71
Mechanical: 75
Hacking: 83
Overall: 79.

[jwigeland]

AWESOME GUIDE!!!

However, as long as the player has a ship equipped with a bioscanner you can see the individual star ratings and numerical values for all four skills as you browse the available marines (either docked at the station or remotely via the Trading System Extension), not just the overall star rating. If done remotely, the docked ship does not need a bioscanner.

Also, you may want to note for newer players that one should never buy a used ship that's floating out in space if you want it to keep its equipment / weapons / marines / etc. When ownership is transferred the bail script will strip the ship down to an empty hull (even though you paid a premium for all the stock it used to have). It's only safe to buy these kinds of fully-equipped ships when they are docked at a station.

When looking at used ships you may get marines (some are trained) only from TMs or M6s at 100% hull. If you have a freight scanner and you dock at the station that's offering the ship for sale, you can see exactly what it's carrying by clicking on the other ship's "info" tab.

I've also had luck with getting the Firewall, Polariser, and Sentry Lasers from ships like these (though they have no value to the player's ship other than being cool).

[Rhox]

EDIT: deleted request for re-upload, the download link now works.

best regards,
Rhox