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Background and How We Started

05 Jun 3301 - CMDR Surly Badger

I'm a grumpy old fart; not the leader type. I chose the title "Rats" because my mental image is something like a bunch of scruffy squabbling warf-critters who might swarm out to board a weakened ship - mostly to help but also perhaps to relieve them of excess weight in the form of valuables. "Vent that palladium and you'll be able to jump farther (nudge) (nudge)" I wouldn't want to be at the top of a hierarchy like that because your tail gets chewed a lot.

But: thank you for the idea.

This thing is going to evolve (I hope) and I'm concerned that it may become unwieldy (if it does, it'll evolve more) My original vision was that someone would friend all the rats and we'd go find them. But that's a lot of friend requests (Thanks CMDRs for your amazing ratlike squeals of support. I salute in your general direction. You bring a tear to my beady little remaining eye!)

I think a couple things:

This is just going to become a long thread for now. If someone need fuel and posts here, we can swarm to help, or fold our arms and watch them die. Either way, it'll be entertaining. So I suppose we just keep an eye on the thread and if there's a call for help, we'll evolve our response.
As future game-play evolves we will evolve with it. Someone needs to experiment with refuelling in 1.3 and make some official recommendations for a procedure, whether there are any "gotchas" or things we should watch for. I don't want to go 10 kylie just to blow up the person I am rescuing and I certainly don't want to end up needing rescuing myself.
I don't want to do a set fee for rescue; I'm going to rescue people for the pleasure of rooting through their underwear drawer in their cabin when they're not looking. My opinion is that having no set fee allows for some fun role-play. Will you get cheap assistance, fast assistance, or good assistance? You won't get all three.
We will need to evolve (via discussion in this thread) our methods and recommendations for both the rescuee ("stay with your ship. pray." I love the sign!) and Fuel Rats: how much to bring, whether to show up armed or not, etc. That will evolve as well; like proper rats we will remain nimble, selfish, and bitey.
I am concerned that someone might conceive the idea of wasting a rat's time by summoning help to where they aren't. That's why I cooked up the 'friend' idea. I would enjoy it highly if someone summons me to help and tries to dry gulch me. If you think rats bite, try a badger. I intend to show up in at least an A-rated Clipper with fuel and plenty of missiles and beams. If it means I make a few extra jumps getting there, so be it.

I go through bursts of RL busy and often check the forums via airport internet and smartphone; if I miss something, it's no surprise and if you think I missed something I shouldn't feel free to PM me or throw a wet, chewed-up cigar at my head.

06 Jun 3301 - CMDR Surly Badger

(Some respectful disagreement here; I think you're asking the right questions, I'm not sure my answers are the ones you're looking for. I am not an authority, though...)

I came up with the name "Fuel Rats" in part because of a cartoon I saw long ago, of a "desert rat" - a rat in the desert selling water. It seemed like a good visual and I picture the Fuel Rats as an anarchic collective of wildly disparate CMDRs who have their own reasons and agendas and who sometimes compete and sometimes gouge and other times are nobles. When you call on the Fuel Rats you may get an Imperial Noble in a Clipper or you may get a "used goods re-allocator" from the docks of Lave, in a T-6 held together with broken dreams and beer cans. In that sense I imagine us reflecting the overall randomness and nastiness/glory of humanity.

My ventures as a used goods reallocator and black hole mapper have been very successful so I am rolling in credit (right now) and I cannot possibly drink all my credits if I convert them to beer, so I'm doing this for fun. And for the opportunity to do a bit of role-play!

Rat: "Yo! Gotcher fuel here!" (jumps into system)
Noob in Orca: "Oh, thank goodness!!! It's amazing that you came to rescue us!"
Rat: "Not so fast. My kid's going to university on this."
Noob in Orca: "What do you mean?!"
Rat: "You wouldn't happen to have 20t of palladium bars on ya, would ya?"
Noob in Orca: "No! We're just a sightseeing cruise ship!"
Rat: "Uh oh. (thinks) Are any of your passengers really good-looking?"
Noob in Orca: "This is extortion!!! We're 10kylie from human space and you're extorting me!?"
Rat: "We call it 'encouraging good service' and 'customer relationship management' (in background: 'friendship drive... charging...'")
Noob in Orca: "WAIT! WAIT!!! Would you like to be part owner of a cruise line?!?!?"
Rat: "(cancels drive charge) Now... we are talking..."

Let's keep this simple and anarchistic and evolve if and when we need to.  Students of history here may recall that during the early days of fire departments, fire-suppression was a competitive business and it was not uncommon for firemen to get in huge fights over who would put out a fire, while the fire burned. I can see a bidding war between rats while the 'customer' listens and fumes.

  Originally Posted by lexrax  (Source)
Can people be trusted to pay up for services rendered and NOT TURN ON YOU AND KILL YOU after you have filled them up ( *IF* they have that capability) ?
That would make for interesting game-play. We can't "name and shame" on the forums but if that ever happens I'm sure we'll discuss it and maybe the next person I refuel, the cost will be: "if you ever see CMDR so-and-so, attack them for me." I do my exploring in my Asp, The Longshot, but I'll do my refuelling in a combat-geared Clipper. If it means it takes me a bit longer to get there, well, the customer can wait. I want to show of my Clipper's excellent paint-job.

  Originally Posted by lexrax  (Source)
Are we going to have some sort of Code of Conduct , Rules for people in this refuelling group ?
I'm not a fan of rules. Perhaps we should keep it simple:

The Fuel Rat's Code of Conduct:
I have fuel
You don't
Any questions?

I think we can all follow those simple rules, no?

05 Jun 3301 - Forum: Traveller_GG

A few idle thoughts:

Did you know a group of rats is called a mischief? How utterly appropriate

The aglie kangaroo rat's taxonomy is Dipodomys agilis. Given our willingness to jump great distances I can't help but think this would be a suitable Latinname for the group. We need shoulder patches!!

If someone posted that they were out of fuel and a nearby rat jumped to help, but it turned out to be a pirate; would this be a Rat Trap (and you've been caught)

Notable Operations and Rescues

09 Jun 3301 - CMDR Kancro Vantas

***ATTENTION***

1st Potential Customer

I received this private email 7 hrs ago, while I was asleep.

Can you help me out with some fuel in a Core system? I saw you mentioned you are spending some time in the urban space.

Just upgraded to Python and made a classic mistake spending all money on cargo forgot to refuel and jumping into a system without stations. No fuel scoop but no scoopable star anyway.
And most important No money to pay the insurance :-(

It might be a problem that I tried to fly to my end destination Gliese 868 but found out I cannot reach that place. I only have a quarter of internal fuel tank left. I'm .18 LY from the start

Can you place help me? I will loose weeks of grinding for the Pyhton :-S

Kind Regards,

Kuif

Replied saying that I wasnt back yet but that other rats could help and that he should come to the forum for help.

Stay tuned.

09 Jun 3301 - CMDR Surly Badger

I'm 1000ly out and could get to him later tonight; I've got stuff going on today that'd keep me from reaching him. Anyone in-core?

If nobody else can do it, I can be there with Longshot late tonight.

Edit: Servers down.

Robinjb contributed this:

(He repurposed a pose, etc, from Banksy, which is highly amusing really)

09 Jun 3301 - CMDR Kuif

Well as Kancro Vantas already mentioned I'm desperate for fuel in the Core system (close to Gliese 868).

It's embarrassing to say but after long grinding for the Python I upgraded yesterday and outfitted the Python for trading. Because I needed more credits to get my hold full I downgraded the FSD to a A6 to B6 and forgot to refuel the tanks and I noticed the empty fuel tank to late. Also cannot remember the "Out of fuel" warning. I do not have enough credits for insurance so basically without a refuel I'm fracked :-(

One more problem is that I tried flying to the system I was going yesterday so I'm 0.18 LY from the star from the system I jumped into and I have something like a quarter of fuel in the internal tank left.
Guess I can continue for 15/30 minutes in game. Also I was solo mode, not sure if that is a problem (was mentioned somewhere in this thread).

My CMDR name is also Kuif

09 Jun 3301 - CMDR Kancro Vantas

CMDR Kuif,

Please state what system exactly you are?
What's the size of tank you have?
how far is the closest station you need to reach for full re-fuel? (in other words, what's the length of jump you need to safety?)
what is your time zone?
what time would you be able to log in for the operation?

09 Jun 3301 - CMDR Kuif

Exact system I do not know yet (cannot get in the game right now)
Closest station is Gliese 868 which is around 8,4 LY away
Time zone (CET, Amsterdam/Paris timezone)
Time I'm not sure yet but I guess tonight at 10-11 PM CET

09 Jun 3301 - CMDR Anuranium

I am standing by in Gliese 868 with a special custom build. I don't know what CET timezone is... (Central Empire Time?), I prefer to use GMT since that's what the stations and galmap usually display

09 Jun 3301 - CMDR Anuranium

Report:
Made up-link with distress caller. Currently traveling at 1400C, but the object is still 0.15LY away.
Will update upon arrival.

EDIT:

09 Jun 3301 - CMDR Anuranium

Fuel transfer complete. Mission accomplished.

Video documentation:

Python Rescue

Time from distress call reaching Fuel Rats upon finished rescue: 5h 30mins (est)
Drones used: 23
Customers satisfied: 1

Lessons learned:
- Ask customer first how far he/she is from entry point, this to avoid potential (huge) wear and tear cost.
- Thank you Alex Brentnall for your foresight (Hutton Orbital reference)
- Calming and soothing words really help to calm a panicking customer. A professional approach is to be recommended for all fuel rats.
- There is no such thing as too many limpets.

From Surly:

Neospike got stranded 2800ly from the bubble, and was down to nearly no air. Worse of all, he had a broken fuel scoop! (huge damage from a stellar encounter) Domaq managed to get him fuel in an epic run and saved his life. Then a handful of other rats made a bucket brigade of limpets – over 500 – and he got back to civilization in safety.

My role in all this was very minor. I got in MV Longshot and jumped out 2000ly or so and refuelled Neospike once. Then he had to log off for the evening, and the rescue was completed by other rats the next day. So I went a really long way to deliver one top-up.

03 Jun 3301 - CMDR Rusticulous

EDShipyard has the 1.3 features. Looks like a 1D controller is optimal for exploration (low mass) as speed of transfer and range would not be critical - this will transfer 1 tonne of fuel at a max range of 0.8km. I think the limpets take up cargo space but you only need to get the stranded CMDR to the nearest scoopable. Which means that you need to know how far they need to travel and what sort of ship they are in to work out how much fuel they need. Get that wrong and you could end up with two CMDRs stranded without enough fuel to get to the nearest scoopable

A quick build to test the weight of kit: http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=70g,,2...fa05UmpU2jw2UI

EDIT: BTW, limpets are one time use - they go bang in a satisfying way

04 Jun 3301 - Forum Name: Gimi

Anyone know if you can actually scoop to fill the additional auxiliary tanks.
If that is the case, you could build an asp with an 8t auxiliary tank, stock up on drones and if you have to, make additional runs to nearest scoopable star if more than 8 tons are needed.
It would also allow you to run out with an empty fuel tank for extended range.

Can't test this right now....

06 Jun 3301 - CMDR Surly Badger

Anuranium, that's great stuff. I like your role-play and the theme music was well-chosen!!!

So, have I got this right, the procedure is:
1) Friend the Fuel Rat/Recipient
2) Wing up
3) Fuel Rat gets in system
4) Recipient drops beacon and powers up systems (fuel scoop, shields)
5) Fuel Rat goes to beacon (I enjoyed the ultra-close flyby)
6) Fuel Rat targets recipient and launches drones
7) Done

Looks like he transferred 8 or so... That's how many I will carry from now on. Are we agreed that's a good number?
It doesn't look likely that any given Rat will be doing multiple rescues in sequence, so a rescue-and-reload approach means not needing to haul a large number of probes.

04 Jun 3301 - CMDR Surly Badger

We need a poster version like a railway warning:

IN CASE OF FUEL SHORTAGE
- Remain with your vehicle
- Stay calm
- Reduce your breathing and food consumption
- Call the Fuel Rats
- Praying is optional
- The penalty for loitering is death

etc.

04 Jun 3301 - CMDR Murishani

05 Jun 3301 - CMDR Alec Turner

You know what? Like any half decent volunteer force, we need training! Once 1.3 launches we should have a rota of people willing to go somewhere and deliberately strand themselves so they can be rescued.

06 Jun 3301 @ 8:01 am- CMDR Anuranium

Day 2 with this feature and I believe it's high time for:

*EXCERCISE EXCERSICE EXCERCISE*

Help! I don't have fuel! I was chasing the annoying dancing dot around and suddenly my main fuel tank is empty, and I can't jump anywhere! Please dear Fuel Rats, I beg you, I don't want to die out here, I have a family and a goldfish back home, and I want to see them again.

CMDR: Anuranium
Ship: Diamondback Explorer
Ship name: Dwarfchaser
System: AMADIOHA

Please help me as soon as possible!

*EXCERCISE EXCERSICE EXCERCISE*

Clock has been started and is ticking.

06 Jun 3301 @ 8:38 am- CMDR Iron Orchid

I'm in Amadioha with some fuel.

06 Jun 3301 @8:47 am- Forum Name Gimi

Is this still ongoing. I'm 55 ly away in Shinrarta with an equiped ASP. Never tried this and would like to.

Edit: I jumped so I'm in Amadioha now.

06 Jun 3301 @9:05 am- CMDR Iron Orchid

I've just dropped off fuel it works and was fun. I only had 8 drones and I didn't really need an aux tank (but did have one installed). takes a few seconds for each drone and it's a bit unnerving when the drone expires with a bang.

06 Jun 3301 - CMDR Anuranium

Result of "Excercise Fuel Rat"

First long distance distress hail: CMDR Rusticolus - 13 mins
First Fuel Rat in system CMDR Iron Orchid - 38 mins
Fuel transfer complete - 44 mins

Some pointers:

1. When first recieved a call of distress, please notify your fellow Fuel Rats in this thread your intent to give support. That way other Fuel Rats can either go about their business or turn it into a race

2. Send the person in distress a friend request as soon as possible. This is needed for you to form a wing in order for him/her to turn on the wing beacon so you actually can find him/her. Also there is a great mental boost in actually seeing on the map that help is underway.

3. Unless you are in a small ship ie. sidewinder, or have an exceptionally small fuel tank, there is no need for large extra fuel tanks, as there is usually very little fuel required to get to the nearest scoopable star/station.*

4. Unless the person in distress is in a conflict zone or is being attacked by Thargoids there is no need to have more than a class 1 fuel controller. Time is only of the essence when going to the ship in need. The only real limitation here is the amount of limpets you bring.

*There may be situations on the fringe of our galaxy or in the unholy sea of Aucocks that require special customised fuel tankers or "daisy chaining" of Fuel Rats. In these cases consult your fellow Fuel Rats in this thread.

Video documentation:

EXERCISE FUEL RAT

This concludes Exercise Fuel Rat