Using L/XL ships for transshipment of cargo between M ships.

[Avimimus]

It'd be really great if some L/XL ships could act as tenders for M/S ships to engage in transshipment.

The basic idea is that a trader/courier or miner when docked could transfer some of its cargo into storage. Then another trader/courier could load up the cargo for local delivery. I think having a very limited ability for miners and transports to swap cargo via builders or support carriers could add some interesting gameplay, particularly an ability to temporarily operate in territory one wouldn't establish a station in.

Thoughts:

- Compared to using a station - It wouldn't be very effective, it would be relatively be slow, and have limited capacity etc.

- This would be a particularly neat capacity for Auxiliary ships / support carriers, but also give builders an additional use when they're idle, and some other capital ships could use it occasionally too.

Question:

Is this even possible? Could such a behaviour be scripted?

If so, how would one go about it?

[ChemODun]

If it will be effective from a cost point of view?
Cost of buying XL vs small station building?

From my point of view, it can have sense for the miners ... but we have no XL ships with appropriate cargo type ...

From script points - it technically possible ...

[Avimimus]

If it will be effective from a cost point of view?
Cost of buying XL vs small station building?

From my point of view, it can have sense for the miners ... but we have no XL ships with appropriate cargo type ...

From script points - it technically possible ...

So appropriate cargo type would have to be added to the ships? That should be a fairly simple edit? It has been a while since I looked into modding this series.

Regarding the cost question:

1) I wouldn't want to undermine the existing game cycle. Building stations should be the way to go if one is maximising industry.

However, there are still some arguments:

2) For less combat oriented players, some dual-use/dual-role capability for carriers would give a reason to build them earlier in the game. One could have the combat capability, but still have an economic role for the ship when one isn't fighting anyone.

3) It might be interesting for exploration or as a way of having a certain amount of nomadism. It wouldn't pay as well, and one couldn't manufacture goods. However, one could still have a few autominers and autotraders following around a fleet as it explores (and helping replenish it or fund it). It would make an interesting change to the gameplay.