Is The TP class Relevant to the Game At All?

twilight_echoes · Post by **twilight_echoes** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 18:18

In light of the recent changes this has to be asked.

The only non-trading use for TPs is passenger transport.

The tour of a lifetime mission is Buggy; apart from that only the odd random BBS refugee mission or capturing slaves could conceivably use a TP. And capturing slaves can be done in any ship.

So if not for use as a trading vessel - whats the justification for buying a TP anyway?

Al · Post by Al » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 18:20

I'm hoping Egosoft are going to do something about this. They obviously dont want them used for factories so I hope they are going to provide an alternative.

Ferd Harling · Post by **Ferd Harling** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 18:23

They are meant to be used for the BBS misions, But quite a few peeps use them instead of TPs as they are a lot faster & if you know what 1s to buy, they are very good at the job. And yes the BBS missions do need some attention

twilight_echoes · Post by **twilight_echoes** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 18:24

never mind balancing issues...this really is the crux of the matter. There is absolutely NO justification for saying the TP is for passenger transport when there is barely any scope for transporting passengers in the entire game!

jester688 · Post by **jester688** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 18:27

As long as they don't get slower....this change will not be that bad...
Smaller cargo holds will kinda suck...but, this will only effect SPP sales and other places that produce large quanities of product...that you have ships assigned for selling...

Only thing I really sell is Argnu and E-Cells...so no big deal here....

JackScratch · Post by **JackScratch** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 18:28

There are actually two types of TP bbs missions: 'Tour' and 'Rides to Nowhere' (which is one more exclusive job than most ship classes have) and I'd expect alot of mission debugging in the next patch. Apoch said so, and If he didn't know, who would? Plus you never know what other goodies they have in mind for the ship.

Removing XL doesn't make the ships useless for buying in any shape or form. I'm not one of them, but there are a herd of people who buy the Split Iguana, not for tour nor for trading, but for a versatile fast ship that they can capture in.

You need to relax a smidge on this whole TS/TP thingie until you actually see the changes. In the time people spent fretting they could have completely replaced the ships actually affected by it!

twilight_echoes · Post by **twilight_echoes** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 18:31

im not even attempting to bring trade issues into this debate.

If the only use for TPs is passenger transport then why is there so little scope for transporting passenger?

And given how little scope there is - how does that justify every single race producing a TP the sole purpose of which is meant to be transporting passengers.

red assassin · Post by **red assassin** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 18:31

The Split Iguana can be used as a capturing ship. Other than that, it's only trading really.

Ferd Harling · Post by **Ferd Harling** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 18:32

twilight_echoes wrote:never mind balancing issues...this really is the crux of the matter. There is absolutely NO justification for saying the TP is for passenger transport when there is barely any scope for transporting passengers in the entire game!

I beleave that all, if not most, Sectors have a Trading port, which is where these BBS missions can be found.

Personally, I think these missions are too bugy, so don't do them anymore. Besides, My empire is now overloading me with credits, so I normally manage my business from 1 of my bases, leaving my fleet to take care of any trouble.

If I want a bit of fun, or want to up my caombat rating I go Xenon Killing, in there own sectors. A 'Odyssus' fully fitted out with PSGs can handle a whole Xenon sector with ease.

slogger · Post by **slogger** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 18:38

As was stated above, the exception to the TP rule is the Split Iguana.

Its not even really a passenger ship since you rarely get any of the BBS tour missions with it due to lack of capacity.

It really is a Heavy Fighter in all respects.

I keep on picturing it as some sort of Mafia Limo or Mad Max Bus.

Still love that boat for Capping.

The_Abyss · Post by **The_Abyss** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 18:42

As was seen with Bounty missions in 1.3, other missions can be added or the frequency increased in the future, so yes, it is relevant. It can still also carry other cargo too.

twilight_echoes · Post by **twilight_echoes** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 18:44

So has *anyone* actually ever bought a TP for the sole purpose of transporting passengers, and if so - have you bought more than ONE?

The_Abyss · Post by **The_Abyss** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 18:47

I bought 1 for this purposes, and I only have 1 anyway

JackScratch · Post by **JackScratch** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 19:01

So has *anyone* actually ever bought a TP for the sole purpose of transporting passengers, and if so - have you bought more than ONE?

This is a silly arguement seeing as you only need one ship to do bbs jobs. That would be like saying m4s are worthless because M3s can do anything they do better except take m4 bbs jobs. If you bought m4s for the sole purpose of doing those jobs you'd only need one. But there are certainly plenty of uses for an m4, and like the TP, trade is one of them.

But to answer your question I own two for that purpose. A Split Iguana, and a Manta for the likely occasion when no other TP has enough space for the job. Which is actually the real bug about those BBS jobs. Only one TP can reliably qualify for all of them. The cargo requirements are too rediculous.

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 19:05

I bought an Iguana to stick on my TL just so I could do any passenger missions I happened across...

Know what? Cant do em in an Iguana anyway... &*^%£%^!!!!!!!!!!

twilight_echoes · Post by **twilight_echoes** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 19:15

and thats exactly why I find the argument that passenger transports shouldn't be used to carry freight totally ridiculous.

If it were true, then it would be pointless to own more than one (ok maybe two) TP class ships.

Kitch · Post by **Kitch** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 19:18

That should be addressed as a seperate issue, connected to why there are no AI TP's ferrying people about - adds depth and a fine target for slavers, also escort BBS missions - I could go on for hours...

TP's need reducing
TS's need improving
TP's need more purpose
AI TP's needed

JackScratch · Post by **JackScratch** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 19:26

and thats exactly why I find the argument that passenger transports shouldn't be used to carry freight totally ridiculous.

If it were true, then it would be pointless to own more than one (ok maybe two) TP class ships.

I think you're altering what everyone's saying to fit your own point. No one ever said the TPs shouldn't be able to haul cargo. Every ship in the game (even the Pegasus, vaguely) have that ability. TS & TP are close siblings, but each should have something one can do that the other cannot. For TS it's XL cargo. For TP it's passengers. It's incredibly simple.

By your own arguement it's pointless to own more than one (okay maybe two) TS class ships in the current game, just to do BBS jobs. We both know the change is right, even if it's initially inconvenient.

BoodaH · Post by **BoodaH** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 19:27

here's an idea...

Have passengers as a resource on trading stations. create new software called "passenger liner mk1", which allows the creation of "bus routes" between systems. passenger profit depends on time, distance, number of passengers, and relative danger involved (passing through pirate or xenon sectors)

Much like the way Railroad Tycoon included passengers.

Then, there would be a profitable use for the nerfed TPs, as well as increased attention paid to guarding profitable passanger routes...

Just a thought...

twilight_echoes · Post by **twilight_echoes** » Tue, 13. Apr 04, 19:31

JackScratch wrote:

TS & TP are close siblings, but each should have something one can do that the other cannot. For TS it's XL cargo. For TP it's passengers. It's incredibly simple.

I actually agree with this, but I dont see why 1.4 should screw up my many hours of gameplay on the basis of a such a blindingly obvious fault which should have been done right to begin with; and if it is changed - should be changed in a manner that doesn't PUNISH me for playing the game deploying the best available ships to do the job.

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Is The TP class Relevant to the Game At All?

Is The TP class Relevant to the Game At All?