Smuggler: Difference between revisions

'''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 the Police and sometimes military authorities, especially around [[station]]s, to sell their [[goods]] 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.

The important thing with smuggling is to get your ship under 20% heat, this reduces the range at which other ships can scan you, giving you a larger window to fly through.

** Asp Explorer is optimal with it's excellent cool running and medium cargo capacity

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

** The Python has much larger cargo capacity, however the 7A power plant costs more than a fully A-Rated Asp Explorer.

* Upgrade your power supply based on Heat efficiency:

** Heat efficiency is measured in terms of Per Watt Used. Turning your systems off to use less MWatts will generate less heat.

** A Rated power supplies are the most heat efficient.

** All A Rated power supplies (A1, A4, A7 etc) have the same [[Power Plant#Specifications|heat efficiency]].

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

** For thrusters, choose [[Drive Strengthening]] or [[Clean Thrusters|Clean Drive Tuning]] as either modification will reduce the thermal load produced by thrusters while maneuvering.

** [[Enhanced Low Power Shield Generator|Enhanced Low Power Shields]] have reduced power draw.

** Frame shift drive: [[Shielded Frame Shift Drive|Shielded]] reduces thermal load while 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, the less power your shields use the cooler your ship will run, but conversely the weaker your shields will be. It's more efficient in terms of shield strength per Watt to use E or D rated shields, than to use A rated of a class below.

* Have as few systems as possible, every system you fit is another system to turn off before you dock and another system to turn on again once you are clear of the station.

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 fly a little bit then return the chances are the patrol ships will have left the area. Planetary landings usually come supplied with patrol ships flying around the surface near the space port. The number will depend on the Security rating of the system you are in.

*Disable all but the following modules: Life Support, Thrusters. Allow your ship to cool below 20% heat if possible. A Heatsink Launcher aids in this.

*Head towards the docking slot at speed. As soon as possible, engage [[Silent Running]] (Delete key by default). 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, but carries the highest consequence when failed: impact with the station and immediate destruction.

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 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 hangar/go down".