Spoiler: Using this "loophole" in Escape Velocity Nova, a Traveller-ish computer game (Mac and Windows) makes it pretty easy to earn enough money for a good, well equipped ship in a pretty fast period (from shuttle to modified starbridge, well loaded, in an hour if not two). The downside is that following this scheme lessens the enjoyment of struggling to upgrade your lowly shuttle to a better ship bit by bit. So, follow at your own risk.
The scheme takes advantage of the fact that you can hire cargo escort vessels and that commodity prices are fixed and do not seem to ever be adjusted. So, once you find a good cargo route, you can continue using that route until you get bored.
The first step is to build up some cash by running passengers (not cargo) missions. You'll always want to save at least 3 tons in your cargo hold in case you come across a drifting derelict with a crew onboard.
Once you have a decent operating fund (how much depends on the next step), you hire an escort and then start on a good cargo route at Sol (or another system with a good roundtrip route).
Here are two good routes:
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After you've hired an escort and purchased the goods, just make the run to the endpoint of the run, sell the goods, buy the return goods, and come back. The money piles up pretty quickly, particularly when you start hiring more escorts.
Don't worry about weapons or armed escorts. Used terrapins work just fine, and you can have 5-6 of them.
Don't run any special "bar" missions during this time period if you can help it.
The scheme also works well later in the game once you can hire Pegasusi (but make sure you have *lots* of money). I didn't think that hiring Leviathans was worth it.
But, as I said, following the scheme can take a bit of the enjoyment of struggling out of the game.
Ron
The scheme takes advantage of the fact that you can hire cargo escort vessels and that commodity prices are fixed and do not seem to ever be adjusted. So, once you find a good cargo route, you can continue using that route until you get bored.
The first step is to build up some cash by running passengers (not cargo) missions. You'll always want to save at least 3 tons in your cargo hold in case you come across a drifting derelict with a crew onboard.
Once you have a decent operating fund (how much depends on the next step), you hire an escort and then start on a good cargo route at Sol (or another system with a good roundtrip route).
Here are two good routes:
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- Sol -> Tichel -> Kania -> Tichel -> Sol : Buy Medical Supplies at Sol; sell at Kania. Buy Equipment at Kania; sell at Tichel (Viking). Buy Industrial at Viking; sell at Sol.</font>
- Sol -> Nesre Secundus -> HJG-1034 -> New Ireland -> HJG-1034 -> Nesre Secundus -> Sol: Buy Medical Supplies at Sol; sell at New Ireland. Buy Luxury Goods at New Ireland; sell at Sol.</font>
After you've hired an escort and purchased the goods, just make the run to the endpoint of the run, sell the goods, buy the return goods, and come back. The money piles up pretty quickly, particularly when you start hiring more escorts.
Don't worry about weapons or armed escorts. Used terrapins work just fine, and you can have 5-6 of them.
Don't run any special "bar" missions during this time period if you can help it.
The scheme also works well later in the game once you can hire Pegasusi (but make sure you have *lots* of money). I didn't think that hiring Leviathans was worth it.
But, as I said, following the scheme can take a bit of the enjoyment of struggling out of the game.
Ron
" ). I guess too many people were never putting up the very reasonable purchase price.
