I'm not using the best Viator setup. The lows are all Expanded Cargohold IIs and the rigs are Medium Cargohold Optimization Is. Nothing to help increase align time, which is probably a no-no with most folks using blockade runners. My setup has 10279m3 cargo space, which gives me more choices in the types of cargo I can accept. Until I'm blowed up good, I'll likely stick with this for lowsec hauling. I know it is vulnerable due to lack of align buffing, so am playing it cautious.
I'll take any lowsec run (which of course sounds like I am throwing caution to the wind.) Have delivered to Auga, Amamake and Criliere, some of the more infamous lowsec systems. I do all my Jita to Hek/Rens runs through the Rancer pipe, it saves 10 jumps -- it's all about the ISK per jump in the hauling trade.
I am playing it safe, though. I make good use of the starmap to show me which systems are PvP active. If there's currently a lot of ship losses in the last hour along a particular lowsec route (or destination), I'll sit on the cargo and deliver something else, until those ships losses are down to under five per hour. Five per hour, I've determined, is acceptable risk going through a lowec system. Any more than five per hour, I deem the system too active.
I'm still doing most of the blockade runner hauling away from the keyboard. If there's lowsec along a route, I'll simply set a waypoint for the last highsec system. When I hear Aura announce "Autopilot disabled; waypoint reached", it means it is time to tab over to the hauler alt, and begin manually piloting through the lowsec systems.
The earnings so far:
I've got my three hauling setups. The Obelisk (862500m3), highsec only. The Iteron V (38000m3), highsec only. The Viator (10279m3), high/lowsec.
I've been tempted by a couple of nullsec (NPC systems), but have not yet taken one. If I do, I'll have to build out a proper Viator for nullsec runs, align and warp disruption buffed.
It's honestly just not worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteYour best effort is 351k ISK/jump .. or 12mil for 35 jumps. You're making less than 20mil per hour, and risking a >100mil ship/fit to do it. Worse, most of it needs a lot of attention.
Your fit is also bad enough, that an Interceptor/Dramiel and T1 cruiser combo could take you out. (Dram inty burns to where you decloak to align, can get to you and decloak you before you warp).
best to have a scout for null, you don't want to jump the viator into a bubbler.
ReplyDeleteIf you are serious about losec hauling, look at the Occator. It's got built-in stabs, and can also have a tank to survive a gate camp. It can't covops cloak, but it can fit an MWD and Improved Cloak II for idle-in-space safety.
ReplyDeleteSo you afk-autopilot the hauler thru hisec...and nobody's suicide-ganked you yet? or you just generally don't carry anything worth the effort? I mean, if I were Average Joe Piwate I'd see an uncloaked Viator on autopilot and shoot first, scoop loot later. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAs for null, that can be done, fairly well, though you'll need to plan your trade routes, take a covops or SB in (also fitted for max agility), and make yourself some gate obs points, station undock instas for stations you plan on visiting, and a handful of good safes -- in each system you want to haul through/to. Also keep in mind drag bubble mechanics and the ways around them. :-)
There is a good trick you can use for lowsec hauling, I do this with an iteron 5 on my alt. Put an improved cloaking device 2 in the top spot. Mow when you jump in to lowsec click in the destination gate in overview and click align at the same time hit your cloaking device. This messes up the lock timing of anyone trying to lock you. Once you are aligned uncloak and warp to the destination. Unless you have come across a pro gatecamp this will mitigate their locking you before you can warp off.
ReplyDeleteZandramus
@anonymous It doesn't require much attention at all. It's a reasonably passive activity. I can do other stuff and just wait for Aura to announce arriving at waypoints. But yes, the money isn't that great, but for a mostly passive activity, I'm enjoying it.
ReplyDelete@hong Have never come close to being ganked yet. (Knock on wood.)
@whdenizen I used to do that with my Iteron III. (See http://poeticstanziel.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-you-so-risk-adverse-bro.html)
Unless you are hunted for joke contracts, its not worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteIts a low static payment.
I started trading, and at this point, i make more being on for 1-2 hours than you do in all that time.
I can make just as much running 5 sites in my wh, which takes 1.5 hours max, and there is almost no risk in either.
@Marcus Hauling is not the road to vast riches. But many people enjoy doing it. And it is a job that needs to be done. (I'm sure you've either hired Red Frog or set-up courier contracts.) For people drawn to the idea of hauling, I'm posting some of my experiences and tips. You are obviously not someone who enjoy hauling, so you're not the audience for this post.
ReplyDeleteNot to say that i hate hauling, I always haul my own stuff. I can use a charon, and my alt can use a rhea and charon.
ReplyDeleteI have not used RED Frog for some time. The only reasons i used them, were for picking up remote buy orders, that i had no patients for.
I can't say that hauling in highsec or lowsec is fun, but in nullsec the adrenaline makes it work.
You cant make generalizations btw