Oolite Bulletins

At the moment, I think, the largest merchant convoys a player is likely to encounter is one large freighter and maybe five escorts. Is this because of how convoys/mothers/escorts work? Is there anything preventing the formation of an occasional larger convoy - say, three merchantmen and a dozen escorts?

Where would larger convoys go? Maybe traders en route to to Anarchy systems might look to team up - but then, maybe there just aren't that many traders travelling to these dangerous systems. Perhaps large convoys would be seen in safer systems, where ships want to defend themselves against occasional pirate raids and where such a large target would be unlikely to attract a swarm of hostiles.

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Oofiction: Calliope: a Captain Hesperus adventure | Stranglehold: a Captain Hesperus adventure | Local Midnight in the Vacuum Bar | A Farewell to Arms, Legs, etc.: the Blaze O'Glory Story

Occasional larger convoys would look good too. I once saw three Anacondas, with six escorts each, all heading in-system in close proximity. Of course, they weren't actually acting as one convoy, but it was quite a sight to behold. A single convoy of that size would make a tough target for bandits.

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Knowledge is a deadly friend, if no-one sets the rules
The fate of all mankind, I see, is in the hands of fools

"Occasional" is the right word … this would mostly just be for the look of the thing, a now-and-again "Look at that!" moment, rather than something which would impact gameplay very much (hence why I think they should probably only show up in safe systems). But a core group of three Annies - or even a Boa and two Pythons - inside a shell of escorts would be something to see. It would also help emphasise the player's lone-wolf (AKA Johnny No-Mates ) status.

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Oofiction: Calliope: a Captain Hesperus adventure | Stranglehold: a Captain Hesperus adventure | Local Midnight in the Vacuum Bar | A Farewell to Arms, Legs, etc.: the Blaze O'Glory Story

I really like these ideas as well!

There is a maxEscorts variable which is limited to 16 so it is possible to put even 8 freighters and 8 escorts into a group.

Anaconda currently use the following escort_roles:

escort_roles = (
        { role = "escort"; min = -2; max = 2; },
        { role = "escort-medium"; min = 0; max = 4; },
        { role = "escort-heavy"; min = -4; max = 2; 
        { role = ""; min = 0; max = 2; } // spare slots for wandering escorts
);

A single leader is a must in a shipGroup, but you can replace the first "escort" role to "trader" and every max to 8 for larger convoys with more freighters.

I also recommend to install Escort Formations for more variety.

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OXPs by Norby

With the creation of the Convoys OXP, the discussion continues here: http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=18941

About these lager convoys - they sound like fun!

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Knowledge is a deadly friend, if no-one sets the rules
The fate of all mankind, I see, is in the hands of fools