TGFT is looking to maintain and improve our convoy skills. As a trade guild we also need to secure contacts with skilled defenders and escorts. TGFT will start running daily convoys in Grey Space open to all players.

Non-TGFT hualers will get to keep the profits from the sale of the cargoes and XP.
Defenders will get a share of the profits from TGFT sales of cargo and XP.

Thursdays= 2pm and 7pm CST (19:00 and 0:00 GMT)

Tune into Radio TGFT on Thursday nights for convoy tunes.

Radio TGFT: http://www.live365.com/stations/dj_screwball

For more information: http://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/7/13423

These are proving popular events, and show that good convoy practice can be used to trade successfully in grey space.Thanks to all the defenders who join in , and for the good of the game thanks to all the pirates who make it interesting.

Now which 'Taur shall I use next time?

Ecka

The convoy today was a total drag. There were no moths and yet you still proceded ridiculously slow.

If I make it tomorrow, I'll show you sissys by trading in a moth (considering the FF prevented me from shooting the traders).

I was trying to hurry things up a little near the end (of the early one today), but yes, they do go rediculously slow.

We have a technique for convoys that we use to try to keep players coordinated. That may slow the process a bit. Also the purpose of the convoy is the safety of the cargo. It is reasonable to expect some escorts to go ahead to the WH and determine the safety for the transports. Often the escorts are told to engage hostiles and when they think they have you dead or distracted, word is given for the transport to proceed. We will also wait, if possible, for damaged players to repair or replace ships, this too will slow down the progress of the convoy.

Player convoys are not the same as NPC convoys, we move differently and have a stake in the safe delivery of the cargo.

Sometimes the pirates win and none of the transports make it to the destination. Other times we get all the transports through.

However, I'm always willing to listen to feedback, both warm and cool. How would you run a convoy?

TGFT convoys proved to be a good fun, especially the non-swarming kind, congrats Obsidian.:)

I understand convoy coordination is a bit hard to achieve with all hothead defenders rushing into battle, trade ships running to repair in all directions, getting everyone back into group on time, etc., etc.

Maybe you could try to establish enroute stop/check/rest points for getting everyone back in a group before proceeding to your destination.
One stop per system for repairing, replenishing ammo and regrouping should work ok. It will take you longer to reach your destination but imho convoy will be more organised.
Ingame msgs about convoy progress would also help.
Not like its some secret or valuable information for pirates trying to attack convoy...you know they will attack at whs and its all a vital part of the event.

Fair points all round.

I appreciate that from the observers point of veiw progress may be ponderous, but there is quite a lot of in group communication between convoy members which takes time, and is good fun for the those concerned. Hopefully our increasing use of TS will speed things up a bit.

We do use pre planned hold sectors for the defender and hauler segments of the voy, but if someone needs to repair the rest of the convoy can be held at the hold point for a while.

I strongly support Obsidians policy of getting newer players to join in ; for some of them this is their first experince of grouping and fighting in grey , and I would hope that experienced pirates would be tolerant of the bit of extra time this entails. There is a policy of reimbursing escorts for their losses, though many experienced traders and escorts fly convoys at their own expense for fun.

A mothful of Lux goods? Hey do you pirates want me to buy you breakfast as well ?

cheers

Ecka

I find convoys very entertaining and it sure is a good way for newbies to get some taste of real VO.
I dont mind that it sometimes takes long, only problem is lack of information during the event.
Thats why i think ingame info messages regarding convoy movement or delays would be very helpfull.

If I know who the pirates are officially I try to send a PM as an FYI.

When I was trying to lead and coordinate the convoy myself I had my hands full just keeping 7 other players moving as a team. However, now that I have experienced players frequently willing to help lead and organize the convoy, I can take on reporting info to channel 444, while I bop around making other things happen.