Tractor Beam

[lemonylime]

So, I have some mines waaay off in the distance, that I'd like to bring closer to the action, but the tractor beam isn't even in the encyclopedia in my game, so I have no clue where to get it. Could someone tell me which system to get them in?

Btw, the NPC traders do have to actually see a station before they come trade with it, right? Or will they still go to it, if they're trading with my other stations in the same system?

[StarSword]

There are two tractor beam factories in Third Redemption.

[Catra]

No, your station can be wayyyyy off the map and still get NPC visitors.

[lemonylime]

Huh... so, how exactly does it work? I literally can't figure out how to use it. =/

[Allan F]

You need a ship big enough to power the tractorbeam. That's a M6 as minimum. Some TS can also mount the tractorbeam, but not power it.

Mount the tractorbeam in a turret (or front if you don't have turrets). Move close to the mine you wish to move. Shoot it with your tractorbeam. If the beam locks on, you'll see a purple beam between the mine and your ship. Turn your ship towards the position where you wish to position the mine. Start flying. Note the top speed when using the tractor beam is 80 m/s. You can use the external view to judge the position of your mine. Be very carefull NOT to touch any other stations with it, because the mine or the station will be destroyed.

When you wish to disengage the tractor beam, point it towards an empty place in space, and fire it again.

[galaxy_quest]

You can use the tractor beam on Caiman miner.

[Ripskar]

I prefer a Dragon if I'm dragging Mines around, with a turbo booster if you can afford it. It makes the operation a lot quicker.

[Carlo the Curious]

http://www.egosoft.com/support/faq/faq_ ... &version=9

[Mileron]

In my game's universe, I too had problems finding tractor beams.

I checked Third Redemption (as StarSword mentioned) but there were no TB Facs there.
And even speeding around in a fast Discoverer I couldn't find any.

So I ended up building my own. It doesn't sell much, but it stays profitable.

[David Howland]

Yes I too move more mines by tractor than anything else, not for trade purposes but to arrange my larger complexes in as effective a manor as possible. Whilst all the previous posts are good I would say, after trying M6, TLs and M7s the best ship for towing heavy mines is the Shrike. It has good size and shielding, plenty of forward gun slots to take a couple of tractor beams with plenty left over for other powerfull cannons and if you do not want to fight enemies during a tow it has a hanger you can carry M3+ fighters in.
Good luck and may you and Egosoft give em plenty of welly!

[Ripskar]

You build complexes in sectors where you need M7 firepower?

[Allan F]

You build complexes in sectors where you need M7 firepower?

I've got a large complex (200 stations) in a sector where I need 4 M2's working together just to avoid loosing M2's.

[StarSword]

Yes I too move more mines by tractor than anything else, not for trade purposes but to arrange my larger complexes in as effective a manor as possible. Whilst all the previous posts are good I would say, after trying M6, TLs and M7s the best ship for towing heavy mines is the Shrike. It has good size and shielding, plenty of forward gun slots to take a couple of tractor beams with plenty left over for other powerfull cannons and if you do not want to fight enemies during a tow it has a hanger you can carry M3+ fighters in.
Good luck and may you and Egosoft give em plenty of welly!

I also favor dragging stuff around with an M7. My M7 of choice is the Panther. It has everything the Shrike does and more (particularly speed and agility).

Whenever I need to tow something, I get close to it, hop into the front turret and exchange the gun in slot 1 for the tractor I keep in my cargo bay. I then switch to group 2, which only fires gun slot 1, and fire the tractor.

[cj-spartacus]

If your game is a few days old the tractor beam factories might already have been removed by GoD for not doing anything. If you do find one, however, it is very straight forward.

Replace the rear turret with a TB. Aim and fire at the mine then fly to where you want to dump it and be glad you're not playing Reunion. God I hate towing mines in Reunion.

[berth]

In my game's universe, I too had problems finding tractor beams.

I checked Third Redemption (as StarSword mentioned) but there were no TB Facs there.
And even speeding around in a fast Discoverer I couldn't find any.

So I ended up building my own. It doesn't sell much, but it stays profitable.

Yeah, I had this. It took me a while to get the three eyes to like me enough to buy the factory to build the TB to drag the plot ship.

Damn sight easier than X3R's TB, though - that was hellish, this is pretty much fire and forget.

I intend to go back to Paranid hunting in the near future

[lemonylime]

If your game is a few days old the tractor beam factories might already have been removed by GoD for not doing anything. If you do find one, however, it is very straight forward.

Replace the rear turret with a TB. Aim and fire at the mine then fly to where you want to dump it and be glad you're not playing Reunion. God I hate towing mines in Reunion.

Mine's coming up on 20 days now, and both of the tractor beam forges were there.

[Nanook]

The problem with Tractor Beams is that no one buys them. So the NPC's won't trade in them. So the TB forges fill up and GoD eventually removes them. I solve the problem in my games by using Cycrow's cheat pack to put tractor beams in the wares lists of a couple of Paranid equipment docks, giving the NPC's a place to sell them. The NPC weapons and high tech traders do the rest. Problem solved.

[StarSword]

I think it's simpler to build your own.

[NavyAICS]

The problem with Tractor Beams is that no one buys them. So the NPC's won't trade in them. So the TB forges fill up and GoD eventually removes them. I solve the problem in my games by using Cycrow's cheat pack to put tractor beams in the wares lists of a couple of Paranid equipment docks, giving the NPC's a place to sell them. The NPC weapons and high tech traders do the rest. Problem solved.

another solution to keep GoD from removing the station is to buy a cheap ship that can carry the TB in the cargo bay then send it to a shipyard and sell the whole ship filled w/ TBs in the cargo hold.

it's a bit over-the-top but i do this w/ nividium and make plenty of profitssss.
-NavyAICS.

[Nanook]

I think it's simpler to build your own.

But it certainly isn't 'cheaper'. And is moot if you're at war with the Paranid. Which I often am.

The way I figure it, someone at Egosoft simply forgot to add a buyer for Tractor Beams, so I supplied a couple. And since there are buyers, there'll be traders carrying them. So I can acquire a few by nefarious means if the Paranid don't like me.