Noob questions

Killmeister · Post by **Killmeister** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:03 am

These are all in regards to EL.

First just to double check, enemies have infinite missiles, correct?

Second, I've been noticing that jettisoned cargo containers from my dead enemies keep disappearing. During a battle with 4 hostiles I saw that one dropped a container of "Solr - 21" but since I was busy with his wingmen I didn't have time to pick it up. The last hostile dropped its own container of "Meds - 1" and this was the only container in the area. Is this supposed to happen and if so why? Makes no sense for them to just disappear right in front of you.

Finally, is there a way to store equipment that you're not using in your cargo hold?

[Edited on 6-15-2009 by Killmeister]

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 12:08 pm

Hi Killmeister, Welcome to the Game and Forum.

I don't think they have infinite missiles only maybe the cap ships.

If you do not pick up dropped cargo immediatly then it seems they disappear but they get picked up by other vesels.

Yes, you can store equipment in an empty cargo hold by right clicking on it!;)

[Edited on 6-15-2009 by Maarschalk]

Killmeister · Post by **Killmeister** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 2:24 pm

Originally posted by Maarschalk
Hi Killmeister, Welcome to the Game and Forum.

I don't think they have infinite missiles only maybe the cap ships.

If you do not pick up dropped cargo immediatly then it seems they disappear but they get picked up by other vesels.

Yes, you can store equipment in an empty cargo hold by right clicking on it!;)

[Edited on 6-15-2009 by Maarschalk]

Well so far I've only gotten the 2nd hull which only has 2 missile slots so I dont know if others have more. The enemy ships I'm dog fighting fire missile after missile and though I haven't counted them all they seem to never run out.

Also after I made the post I was in another dog-fight where I saw some cargo drop after one died, then I killed another and it dropped another cargo crate and I saw the previous crate disappear right in front of my eyes. It was only me and the 3 remaining enemy ships.

Thanks for explaining that last bit.

DennyMala · Post by **DennyMala** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 2:56 pm

They may be using the Excalibur pack. It is an auto regenerating missile that will occupy all the 8 hardpoints and fire a volley of 8 missiles each time. Then it takes 30 seconds to reload.

It is indeed possible that cargo will disappear after some time. I never saw an NPC ship pick up one and I think they sort of decay staying out there.

Killmeister · Post by **Killmeister** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:01 pm

Originally posted by DennyMala
They may be using the Excalibur pack. It is an auto regenerating missile that will occupy all the 8 hardpoints and fire a volley of 8 missiles each time. Then it takes 30 seconds to reload.

It is indeed possible that cargo will disappear after some time. I never saw an NPC ship pick up one and I think they sort of decay staying out there.

That might explain it. I hardly use any missiles this early in the game.

Though cargo crate wasn't there for very long, maybe 1-2 minutes tops. Seems like it should take a bit longer to decay.

[Edited on 6-15-2009 by Killmeister]

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:21 pm

Several things can happen while cargo is drifting in space. The game though I think is hard coded to only show the cargo of the last ship destroyed, I never saw more than the cargo of one ship at a time. I think it is suppose to simulate real time eventhough you do not see the cargo being picked up by another vesel or destroyed or decay. As soon as you destroy a ship with cargo, the previous cargo dissapears!. Some players have suggested in some other threads to change this so that cargo does not disappear but I do not know how feasible this is.

Killmeister · Post by **Killmeister** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 5:00 pm

Originally posted by Maarschalk
Several things can happen while cargo is drifting in space. The game though I think is hard coded to only show the cargo of the last ship destroyed, I never saw more than the cargo of one ship at a time. I think it is suppose to simulate real time eventhough you do not see the cargo being picked up by another vesel or destroyed or decay. As soon as you destroy a ship with cargo, the previous cargo dissapears!. Some players have suggested in some other threads to change this so that cargo does not disappear but I do not know how feasible this is.

Seems rather strange to only allow for one at a time in a game like this. I hope it gets changed at some point.

Post by **Vice** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 5:20 pm

First just to double check, enemies have infinite missiles, correct?

No, they are limited (8 maximum, just as with your ships). But when you have 3-5 or more ships around you, that can amount to many missiles. Capital ships can often have over 200 on board.

Second, I've been noticing that jettisoned cargo containers from my dead enemies keep disappearing. During a battle with 4 hostiles I saw that one dropped a container of "Solr - 21" but since I was busy with his wingmen I didn't have time to pick it up. The last hostile dropped its own container of "Meds - 1" and this was the only container in the area. Is this supposed to happen and if so why? Makes no sense for them to just disappear right in front of you.

They will disappear if not quickly retrieved. They can also be substituted under certain conditions (new cargo entity at a closer range for example). One of the main reasons for this is multiplayer. More packet threads for more cargo entites increases the risk of lag and since the functionality of single player is designed to match multiplayer closely, the same conditions apply. I am considering not adding the potential motion system for cargo, which would require constant data updates to keep a cargo container's position current on all connected client. Doing so may allow for more stationary cargo object entities.

Otherwise, they can and will still be picked up by other ships eventually, so it's a good habit to get into to recover floating cargo as soon as possible before it's gone.

Finally, is there a way to store equipment that you're not using in your cargo hold?

Right click on it instead of left clicking.

Killmeister · Post by **Killmeister** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 5:56 pm

Ok then that clears things up. Thanks.

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 7:24 pm

Hello Killmeister, welcome to the forum and the Sim. C U in space soon.

Post by **Vice** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:07 pm

The next test build will add multiple cargo object entities, so we'll see how it works out