Cargo shuttle freeing its contents for base building contracts

[Ash Tré]

I'm not sure that this is a bug, since I haven't seen other people posting anything about this. It could be my own lack of understanding of how this is supposed to work. However, every time I take up a random "Build [X] Outpost", I seem to run into the same issue.

Everything goes as expected up until the point that I claim an asteroid, place a landing space for a Cargo Shuttle, click the button to release the shuttle, and finally try to unload the contents. The contents (shown when clicking on the inventory of the Cargo Shuttle) tend to be a generous pile of hull / infra / tech / energy blocks. The problem is that the contents never empty into the inventory of the outpost, showing the inventory as selected to transfer.

What I've tried:
- making sure that there is enough storage facility space on the station
- making sure there is power (conduit) run to the Cargo Shuttle landing pad
- making sure the landing pad "front" is turned to face the hull of the outpost (in case this is necessary for logistics, who knows)
- using the same process to empty the Cargo Shuttle inventory which always works for transferring the contents of random Cargo Shuttles found on derelicts to my ship
- selecting the landing pad and clicking "Abandon" on the Cargo Shuttle (the game auto-fails the outpost-building mission if this is done)

I try to keep unnecessary inventory on my ship low, so I only keep a handful of blocks by default. These Cargo Shuttles would really help to finish these missions without emptying my ship's own stockpiles. If this is a bug that I'm running into, it might be that others don't notice it if they keep larger inventory of infrablocks and other things.

[Nordil(Hun)]

By default they dont empty into the storage units.
They stay in the cargo shuttle, however, if you selected to unload them, they will become available as part of the inventory even if they are not in the storage units.
So folks can take them, you can even transfer them etc.
However if i recall well, they need to be "unpacked" from the cargo shuttle. As in a fellow must go on and lift them and place them down again.
The way to get this done is to focus on logistics.
But perhaps i am misunderstanding something. Or since my last base building mission something happened with the game. (the new update on march 27)

[Ash Tré]

I see. It seems that I'm following the same procedure, and my crew are not very busy, none of the other logistics tasks are backed up, so they should be unloading the Cargo Shuttle.

But it's remained in the same state for several game days. When I first pushed the "release" button to make the shuttle contents available, it spilled a bunch of blocks onto the landing pad, and those got taken away. After that, the visual shows a closed door on the Shuttle and the platform where the crew pick up things is empty. But clicking on the shuttle shows obvious inventory, of which, again, the numbers haven't changed for many in-game days.

It seems like an unfortunate way to lose a contract -- build a base about 90% of the way, run out of your own inventory on your ship (including raw materials in the supply chain, like basic metals), and then be slapped with the punishment from that faction, even though the infrablocks are there in the Shuttle, and the player is allowed to use them (but technically unable).

[Nordil(Hun)]

Originally posted by Ash Tré:

I see. It seems that I'm following the same procedure, and my crew are not very busy, none of the other logistics tasks are backed up, so they should be unloading the Cargo Shuttle.

But it's remained in the same state for several game days. When I first pushed the "release" button to make the shuttle contents available, it spilled a bunch of blocks onto the landing pad, and those got taken away. After that, the visual shows a closed door on the Shuttle and the platform where the crew pick up things is empty. But clicking on the shuttle shows obvious inventory, of which, again, the numbers haven't changed for many in-game days.

It seems like an unfortunate way to lose a contract -- build a base about 90% of the way, run out of your own inventory on your ship (including raw materials in the supply chain, like basic metals), and then be slapped with the punishment from that faction, even though the infrablocks are there in the Shuttle, and the player is allowed to use them (but technically unable).

Hm. The only thing i can think on that you did not click on the "unload button".
You need unload every single batch of items in there to make them available. That is when they appear in the "cargo shuttle door". Elsewise they are not present and are just stored in the shuttle.
When you click on the shuttle, you should see something like this:
Hull blocks 64(-34) -> this means you have selected to unload 34 hull blocks from the shuttle.
If the negative number is missing you forgot to unload them.
Luckily now you can unload EVERY ITEM AT ONCE. Just max them out, then click on unload and all items are available. (Well in non base building missions at least, dunno maybe with base building you still need to unload max of them one by one.)

[Alex_D]

On those build contracts, I make just enough hull for the airlock, the cargo port, and a large storage container, with the first two as high priority. Once these are build I ask the cargo container to be delivered to the cargo port. At arrival, I select the container, and selecting each and all items, then click on unload all. The items will be transferred from the cargo container to the storage container. All of which happens while the rest of the buildings are constructed.
After the job is done and before the handover, I transfer the surplus back to my ship as my "bonus".

[Nordil(Hun)]

Originally posted by Alex_D:

On those build contracts, I make just enough hull for the airlock, the cargo port, and a large storage container, with the first two as high priority. Once these are build I ask the cargo container to be delivered to the cargo port. At arrival, I select the container, and selecting each and all items, then click on unload all. The items will be transferred from the cargo container to the storage container. All of which happens while the rest of the buildings are constructed.
After the job is done and before the handover, I transfer the surplus back to my ship as my "bonus".

I never have surplus, i actually invest huge amount of resources in such bases.
Because if i build it up, it means i can dictate what it consumes, what it produces.
Set their production limit to 100 energy rods and 60 hyperfuel:) They will be buying my excess resources for quite a while.
Set them to use biomass in their 5 composters continuously-> a place where i can sell it en mass.
Building up 8-10 growing beds? Now they are mass producing all the food i need.:)

[Alex_D]

Originally posted by Nordil(Hun):

I never have surplus, i actually invest huge amount of resources in such bases.

Yes, I noticed other people did that when I started building my later bases.

I kind of stopped as the MF, my main client, went to war against the MA. And all their bases including the ones I built got blew up. So I started arming them, with jammers, shields, PDs, more hull platings, etc. Those lasted a bit longer. But those MA a-holes shop in large numbers and trend to overwhelm their defenses, or simply land more soldiers than the defenders.

Next base will be armed to the teeth.

[Nordil(Hun)]

Originally posted by Alex_D:

Originally posted by Nordil(Hun):

I never have surplus, i actually invest huge amount of resources in such bases.

Yes, I noticed other people did that when I started building my later bases.

I kind of stopped as the MF, my main client, went to war against the MA. And all their bases including the ones I built got blew up. So I started arming them, with jammers, shields, PDs, more hull platings, etc. Those lasted a bit longer. But those MA a-holes shop in large numbers and trend to overwhelm their defenses, or simply land more soldiers than the defenders.

Next base will be armed to the teeth.

Target Jammer + Shields, Starfighters and PDT-s. If you make a good spread, they cant even board them, and eventually just give it up. Giving them weapons is usually not worth it. Also Starfighters are more worth than PDT-s. So at least 2 Star fighters for them and no issues with the asteroids. (And shuttles:D) Also a builder helps a lot, so if they would get a hull breach they can repair it.

Though to get the MA and MF to fight, is bad. The game has to bug out or you eff up really bad to get that going afaik.

[Ash Tré]

Huh, it sounds like I might be the only one with this issue, since you guys keep getting it to work no problem. I wonder if my save file got into some weird state in which it behaves differently from how it should be. I might start a new game from scratch, and see if the outpost-building missions start working as they do for you.

And yes, I do the same procedure of unloading the Shuttle as with any other transfer -- selecting the Shuttle, then selecting the specific item and using the "right-arrow" button on the screen for maximum inventory, then clicking "Unload". However, the items get "hanged up" at this point, where nothing transfers and the numbers stay in the format of "0 (-64)", i.e. "0 infrablocks will remain after 64 in the Shuttle get unloaded". When this happens, the arrows or plus / minus buttons do not change the numbers, so I can't set the unload command to cancel, and nothing happens at all.

I'm documenting the details for the developers, so hopefully it'll be useful for debugging. I figure if it happens in my playthrough, it's an active bug and it might happen in others'.

[Nordil(Hun)]

Originally posted by Ash Tré:

Huh, it sounds like I might be the only one with this issue, since you guys keep getting it to work no problem. I wonder if my save file got into some weird state in which it behaves differently from how it should be. I might start a new game from scratch, and see if the outpost-building missions start working as they do for you.

And yes, I do the same procedure of unloading the Shuttle as with any other transfer -- selecting the Shuttle, then selecting the specific item and using the "right-arrow" button on the screen for maximum inventory, then clicking "Unload". However, the items get "hanged up" at this point, where nothing transfers and the numbers stay in the format of "0 (-64)", i.e. "0 infrablocks will remain after 64 in the Shuttle get unloaded". When this happens, the arrows or plus / minus buttons do not change the numbers, so I can't set the unload command to cancel, and nothing happens at all.

I'm documenting the details for the developers, so hopefully it'll be useful for debugging. I figure if it happens in my playthrough, it's an active bug and it might happen in others'.

Send in the bug report it sends your save as well so they can have a look at it.
But if you have an issue with both the MA and MF and the cargo shuttle it pretty much seems you bugged out.

[Alex_D]

Originally posted by Ash Tré:

numbers stay in the format of "0 (-64)", i.e. "0

If I remember correctly, the same happens to me, but the container items do get moved into the large storage by the airlock. You will see things moving.

If they are 5 items in the container, it will say 5(-59). When they are zero in the container, then 0(-64). Indicating 64 items were moved out and zero remain inside.

Maybe check if what I said is true. I cannot open the game at the moment.

[Alex_D]

Originally posted by Nordil(Hun):

Though to get the MA and MF to fight, is bad. The game has to bug out or you eff up really bad to get that going afaik.

I don't know if it's something I did or didn't. I don't know what it might be. I was and still am friendly to both. I only destroy PC ships if attacked or if there's a capture mission.

I noticed the MA and the MF fighting when I dropped in one of their shared sectors and saw the ship gun projectiles fling over my ship. I checked the relationship matrix and even they were at a large + value they were hostile to each other.

If the game has the option, I could play the side quest of bringing those two to the peace table :-)