Problem; usage of mine/tractor beam

Megalon · Post by **Megalon** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:35 pm

Hello all, I'm new to evochron mercenary.

I've been following some tutorials about the interface and gameplay on youtube and there they demonstrated how to do a pick up quest which requires the usages of the tractor beam.

It said;
-fly to the waypoint
-search for a purple bliep
-get visual on the object
-and use the beam.

Done all that and the object is right in front of me. I pressed on B in order to activate the beam and it all works nicely, but I'm not picking up anything.
I hold B for 10 seconds and dothing happens though the tutorial shows it is done withing a second. The beam penetrates the crate and nothing happens(I got as close as hitting the crate and went farther away to test various distances). Tried to allign as much as I can according to my HUD, but I just can't get it done.

I checked my cargohold and it is empty (having 3 empty slot) and my mine/tractor beam is indeed mounted in slot 3.

Is there anybody with a similar problem? Am I missing something?

Kind regards,
~Megalon

Dingo · Post by **Dingo** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:43 pm

You seem to be doing things correctly. This one is new to me. Hopefully someone will be along to help.

Flash · Post by **Flash** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:44 pm

Welcome to the board and Sim Megalon

I can't see how far you are away but you need to be very close. Can't remember the exact distance. Can someone post it for Megalon?

Flash

Post by **Vice** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:46 pm

Yup, looks like it may just be distance. Move in to within about 100-150 or less.

Cindy · Post by **Cindy** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:47 pm

I believe the exact distance is under 100. You need to be very close and I think a warning pops up when you get close enough.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:57 pm

Also make sure your not confusing Cargo bays or Cargo slot with equipment slots!
Since your beam is working it must be installed in an Equipment slot. Now if you have empty equipment slots and no cargo bays, you will have to install some Cargo bays that are empty!
Otherwise like the others said you have to be within 100 minimum distance!;)

Megalon · Post by **Megalon** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:24 pm

Thank you all for your reply,

I'm right in front of the crate and nothing is happening. I'm quite sure about being close enough, because I can see the beam piercing the crate. You could say I got my nose touching the cold bare metal, I'm that close. In response to Maarschalk, I'm assuming the 'Cargo Bay' is where the crate will be stored when I pick it up. I have 3 slots and they are empty.

My ship is clearly smaller than the crate. Do I have to worry about size ratios?

Any other thoughts? Or should I post a ticket for the devs?

SeeJay · Post by **SeeJay** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:29 pm

You might mix the contracts up a bit.

Some are visual inspection only (Can't beam that item onboard).

Others are retrieve the object and return to station!

[Edited on 2012-1-17 by SeeJay]

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:31 pm

Hello Megalon, welcome aboard. There are a few tractor beams that are for specific materials and One that is for all types. Does yours say anything about what it is used for? I.E. if you have a beam for Platinum it won't pick up Gold. Could you post a picture of your equipment screen?

Flash · Post by **Flash** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:37 pm

though you have slots for cargo bays doesnt mean you actually have them. Try going to a station and entering. Go then to the shipyard located lower left. Find where it says Cargo Bays middle left and drag 1 or 3 Cargo bays over to your ship. This will assure you you actually have Cargo Bays installed. Hit Save and exit. Go back to the container. Then switch your view by hitting the H and V key till you can see your speed. Approach very slowly til you hit it. Stop and turn on your tractor beam. See what happens

If that doesn't work try the same with an asteroid. See if that works. If so maybe SeeJays right and there is nothing in that container.

[Edited on 1-17-2012 by Flash]

Megalon · Post by **Megalon** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:51 pm

SeeJay might have a point, but the mission doesn't tell me to either pick it up or just lay a visual on it.
In response to thetiebers; good to know that some tractor beam are material specific, but this beam tool I got for free as a new player.

I've made a screenshot of the items mounted in my vessel which can be seen in the link below;

Hope this helps..

Flash · Post by **Flash** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:55 pm

Well, ya you got everything you need. You should be able to pick up something if its there. Ship size is not a factor.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:03 pm

I notice you are missing a Beam weapon in your weapon slot. I never tried the tractor beam without a beam weapon. Maybe you need a beam weapon installed.....I'm sure it is not supose to work that way but maybe that is a bug!....Try installing a beam weapon and see if that works!

Also the contract should tell you to pick it up and return to the Station is one possibility.
The other is Fly close enough! and should automatically complete the contract and in this case you can not pick up the crate.....

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:10 pm

Yes Maars is right. if it is a search mission then you can find the item but you can NOT pick it up. Only search and return missions let you pick up the item and then you lose it when you dock at the proper port.

Megalon · Post by **Megalon** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:14 pm

It looks like some mission aren't very clear what to do with the item, I guess, in case a mission doesn't specificly says you have to return the item, then you just have to take a look at it.

I've just completed a mission that specificly said to return the item (first time I saw it) and I was able to pick up the mission objective (without beam weapons installed).

Thank you all for the help you have provided me.
"See you later, space cowboys"

Post by **Marvin** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:18 pm

Btw, if it's one where you just need to "find" the cargo pod ... well, that's a good one to do when you don't have a tractor beam.

Viper · Post by **Viper** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:11 pm

Well it seems you have your problem sorted, so all that remains is a 'Welcome to the game and forums Megalon. Hope to see you online some time!"

Twilly Frost · Post by **Twilly Frost** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:39 pm

I don't know if it means anything, but I remember when I did one of my first missions that required beaming a crate aboard I had trouble with it. I was asking a lot of questions in MP while I was doing it, some people may remember. I was right on top of the thing, with three cargo bays...it just wouldn't take. I kept moving around and trying it, and finally it took for no particular reason. Dunno bud. Space is a mysterious place.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:25 am

From post: 123737, Topic: tid=8336, author=Twilly Frost wrote:I don't know if it means anything, but I remember when I did one of my first missions that required beaming a crate aboard I had trouble with it. I was asking a lot of questions in MP while I was doing it, some people may remember. I was right on top of the thing, with three cargo bays...it just wouldn't take. I kept moving around and trying it, and finally it took for no particular reason. Dunno bud. Space is a mysterious place.

What are your system specs? It might be a problem of delayed packet updates if your syatem is on the slow or low end of available resources!