I don't know but I'll try and find out <img src="' http://spacesimcentral.com/forum/public/style_emoticons//icon_e_smile.gi f"' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

What ship are you using?

The last ship I used was an Adder. Hmm, it might actually depend on the type of vessel?

I just want to make sure that I'm doing the right thing, and also yes to eliminate the chance that it might be a problem with the ship model.

Well I successfully used the cargo-scoop on the Adder <img src="' http://spacesimcentral.com/forum/public/style_emoticons//icon_e_biggrin.gi f"' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />

However, that is the most ridiculous piece of precision flying I have ever done! Getting it to hit, specifically the triangle/quad that is the collision region on an adder is daft. I also had to change it to be visible on all LODs before I could find where it has to hit.

There has to be a better way, it is tiny.

I might propose on the mailing list that the ship just has to contact cargo rather than hit specific triangles.

For example this is the current scoop target area:

Whilst it's great that it's very "realistic" or something it is also not very much fun!

Known issue: #1128. Last I remember the consensus was that doing away with the scoop collision surface is the right solution.

I'd say keep the tiny cargo scoop exactly how it is... actually I'd say ditch the cargo scoop as a specialized piece of gear (it's really just a door...) and instead have (basically the same thing) a cargo "handling" system. Every ship would have the ability to scoop cargo, but ships with special gear can do it better and easier. This approach would let any ship that comes across something interesting drifting through space to carefully manuver to grab it (get close, match velocity then reach out the airlock with a hook on a stick or a magnet on a string...) or for specialized cargo/salvage/mining ships to be able to just reach out and grab floating objects with their grappling hooks/tractor beams/robot arms.

If a ship model doesn't have a place defined as a scooping area... then default to the cockpit to represent the pilot suiting up and opening the hatch.

Was just trying to mine with the MF and just couldn't get anything to go in the hole (as the actress said to the bishop!). Tried multiple angles/approaches, and even hovering just above the planet and blasting away hoping something would fly in (no, just a few collisions).

Ill add my voice to those asking for collision with goods being "sucked" in if you have a cargo scoop fitted.

Whilst I'm all for realism, if increasing realism results in a decrease of fun then you're onto a loser. Scooping cargo just isn't fun right now.

I don't think I explained myself properly <img src="' http://spacesimcentral.com/forum/public/style_emoticons//icon_e_smile.gi f"' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

I agree that with a "cargo scoop" fitted, anything that touches the ship should get sucked right in. What I meant was that even if you DON'T have a cargo scoop on your ship you should still be able to collect drifting cargo... doing it the way it is right now, incredibly difficult and usually not worth the trouble! <img src="' http://spacesimcentral.com/forum/public/style_emoticons//icon_e_smile.gi f"' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' />

fluffyfreak provided a patch (#1674) that makes it so you only need a collision with the ship to scoop, rather than a single tiny part of it. Its on master now, and will be in nightly builds next week after alpha 28 lands (nightlies are currently tracking 28 release candidates).

Probably not the last word on scooping, but for now it should be much easier.

Yay! <img src="' http://spacesimcentral.com/forum/public/style_emoticons//yahoo.gi f"' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

What ships am i able to buy a cargo scoop on cuase every ship i get i cant buy one and also how do i use it??

Eagle Mk IV "Bomber" can fit one... hit ctrl-M for money cheat <img src="' http://spacesimcentral.com/forum/public/style_emoticons//wink3.gi f"' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

I know about the money cheat how you think i tried out so much ships?

Well, the simple way would be to type in the console command that changes your ship into a new one.

I can't seem to get the mining cannon to work in v28... it shoots but there's no explosion and no cargo appearing. The cargo scoop is still a bit tricky, too... can't seem to be able to grab anything :/

Ah, meant to report that. It is shooting, and if you are close to a planet it does hit... check your radar, stuff does appear. But the beam seems to be going off at a tangent. Ill do a little testing then raise an issue.

Oh, and the cargo scoop update apparently isn't in 28, Robn said he would drop it into the nightlies though.

Update. Nothing wrong with the mining canon with my tests. Tried it out on three ships.

However, the issue i was experiencing is only with the Millennium Falcon. Its now firing vertically regardless of weapon fit. Maybe something changed with how the game reads hardpoints or something...?

Tried the nightly build. Cargo scooping works like a dream in that. Also finally happy to say i discovered how to fuel scoop.

Still same problem with lasers on the MF though.... guess ill have to fly upside down when wanting to mine stuff. Glad i'm not into combat.

I'm trying with a constrictor and eagle bomber...

Nothing... there isn't any cargo, no animated "kaboom"... I can see the gun is shooting straight, it just isn't doing anything...

The cannon WAS working just before the v28 release... I see the shot speed has changed, could that be screwing with the mining cannon?

Try a Viper, i tested in that, worked fine.

We increased the laser bolt speed in 28, but I don't think the mining laser were tested. There may be something in the cargo spawn code that assumes a slower bolt rate. I'll check it out as soon as I can.

Mining works perfectly on Asteroids in the nightly build... Nov 10, f881091...

Still can't mine anything from anything bigger than a small asteroid, though... is that by design? No lunar prospecting?