Smuggler: Difference between revisions

| image            = Orbis Planet Type-6 Transporter.png

| suggestedships    = [[Adder]]; [[Cobra MkIII]]; [[Diamondback Explorer]]; [[Asp Explorer]]; [[Python]]; [[Krait MkII]]; [[Type-8 Transporter]]; [[Type-10 Defender]]; [[Imperial Cutter]]

| suggestedupgrades = [[Heatsink Launcher]]; [[Power Plant]] (A-Rated); [[Thrusters]]; [[Cargo Rack]]; [[Passenger Cabin]]

'''Smugglers''' are similar to [[trader]]s except that they sell goods where it is illegal, on the [[Black Market|black market]]. Smugglers have to use stealth, cunning, and special equipment to outwit any local law enforcement and sometimes military authorities, especially around [[station]]s, to sell their [[commodities]] at a profit while escaping fines and a criminal record. Smugglers can also be a special case of [[courier]]s, where the player is asked to transport forbidden items.

When dealing in stolen items looted from wrecks or from piracy, smuggling is also necessary as cargo is tagged and detection of stolen goods on a ship will carry consequences as well. For this reason, most [[pirate]]s are also typically skilled in smuggling items into stations.

== What to smuggle ==

Smuggling usually involves the sale of two types of commodities: illegal commodities, which are prohibited in certain systems and stations by the laws of a specific minor faction, and stolen commodities, which have been tagged as having been criminally obtained from their legitimate owners. These commodities can be obtained from a variety of sources, such as salvaging wrecks, raiding [[Settlement]]s, pirating other ships, or even simply purchasing them from stations where they are not considered contraband. One commodity that is popular among smugglers are [[Imperial Slaves]], which can be purchased legally from stations under [[Empire|Imperial]] control, but are illegal in most other systems and can be sold on the black market for a decent profit.

Smugglers can also accept passenger contracts to illegally transport wanted criminals or other secretive individuals to locations where authorities are seeking them. Smuggling passengers has little practical difference from smuggling commodities other than the module used: commodities must be transported with [[Cargo Rack]]s and passengers must be transported with [[Passenger Cabin]]s.

 

 

 

 

** The [[Diamondback Explorer]] is an excellent heat efficient ship and a good option if you're on a budget, but has less cargo space.

* If you have access to the following Engineer blueprints, they will aid your smuggling:

**[[Shielded Frame Shift Drive|Shielded]] [[Frame Shift Drive]]s reduce thermal load when charging for a jump, while [[Increased Range Frame Shift Drive|Increased Range]] is more useful for longer routes.

* If you use shields to protect your hull from damage while docking (to prevent your passengers from complaining for example) the lightest powered shields will allow your ship to run cooler. This is based on power draw: a lower power shield is weaker, but will be cooler. It's more efficient in terms of shield strength per watt to use E or D rated shields, than to use those of class A.

* Reducing your system count will make "cool-running" (having every nonessential module disabled) much easier to initiate, since there is no shortcut to accomplish such a thing. [[Silent Running|Silent running]] is also possible, however you if take too long you ''will'' get cooked.

 

Smuggling to outposts and planets is significantly riskier than smuggling to [[Starport|starports]]. When landing at an outpost, or on a planet, you do not have a mail-slot that stops your scan. To be un-scannable in these situations you must land and retract your ship underground. Outposts in general have low occurrences of patrol ships. If there are patrol ships, enter supercruise and return after a short while: it will be likely that the patrol ships will have left the area.

 

===Docking at Starports===

*Disable every module except for [[Thrusters]]. [[Life Support]] can also be disabled if you have sufficient air capacity. Also do your best to reduce your heat to 20%: a [[Heatsink Launcher]] aids in this.

*Head towards the docking slot at speed. As soon as possible, engage [[Silent Running]] (Delete key by default, or from the [[HUD/Right|right panel]]). This closes the heat vents on your ship to help hide it, but makes heat build up inside; this is why we allowed the ship to cool. 'Ship Scan Detected' does not mean the scan was completed. Scanning takes a moment, and if you enter the docking ring or escape before it can be completed, the scan will fail (thus no [[fine]] or reputation loss).

A sufficiently-skilled pilot is able to accomplish the task of entering the station without any special preparations, by requesting docking at a distance and then entering the station at considerable speed. This method is, when performed by a skilled pilot, by far the fastest and most likely to succeed undetected, but carries the highest consequence when failed: impact with the station and immediate destruction.

While in [[Silent Running|silent running]] if your ship starts to overheat you can pop a heat sink then head in the [[Access Corridor]] (mailslot) of a [[station]] to avoid scans. If there's a security vessel near the mailslot then it might be close enough to scan you. Pop a heatsink when scanned. Go in cold and fast reduces the chance that security can lock and scan your ship. Once past the letterbox you can go normal speed. Another method is to boost once and turn [[Flight Assist|flight assist]] off to drift inside.

Smuggling is a [[Crime & Punishment|crime]] that incurs penalties if the smuggler is caught. If [[System Authority Vessel]]s finish a scan on the player's ship while it is holding [[Illegal Goods|illegal]] or [[Stolen Goods|stolen]] cargo they will be [[fine]]d and their reputation with the [[star system]]'s controlling [[Factions|faction]] will drop. It is recommended to not smuggle in systems where the controlling faction is one that you want to continue to be friendly with.

If a pilot is caught transporting wanted criminals, the penalty is very severe. Being scanned with a criminal onboard incurs an immediate [[bounty]]; if the pilot is inside a [[Starport]] or [[Asteroid Base]] and not docked at the time a bounty is placed, the station's interior defence turrets will fire upon their ship.

* In the vast majority of cases, NPC ships will not be able to finish any scan they have started once you are inside of the docking ring, however, players can continue to scan you through the station if they so choose. It is also important to note that once landed and have entered the hangar, you are safe. You are scannable when you have touched-down on your pad, but not once you enter the hangar, which can be most efficiently done by pressing the top right most button in the station UI ("Go to hangar").

==See also==

File:Elite Dangerous How To Make Money Smuggling The Hauler

File:Elite Dangerous Odyssey - Smuggling Mission Playthrough

 

{{CareerNavbox}}