Cargo Runs Risk/Reward Balance

@xraylexx I feel the rewards are low but you can complete multiple cargo runs in the one go.

E.g. on a Galleon you could put down 16 cargo runs before setting sail. Collect all the goods and the voyages dissapear (or cancel them, once you have the goods you are erm... good)

Then throw down a MA voyage, collect the cages and off you go.

You'll pick up the animals while delivering the goods. You get like 1.5 - 2 hours to deliver the goods.

Assuming 8 items per delivery @ 350 per item, times 16 voyages that's 44,800 gold just from cargo runs, add a good level 50 MA mission to that and we're talking 55,000 gold for 1.5 - 2 hours work.

Obviously that's assuming it all goes well, animals spawn on the islands you're visiting and nobody robs you but what I'm saying is that the earning potential feels about right to me if you do it right.

@xraylexx well yeah it has challenges. You can solve the plant one by leaving them on your lowest deck and throwing a bucket of water down there. Just keep the cloth on another deck. The rum means you've got to avoid getting shot and crashing, but those are good things to avoid in general. The cloth makes the rowboat a very useful item for the humble merchant.

I gave values and times from the original zones as I haven't tried cargo in DR yet and imagine it is much more difficult and time consuming.

I'll have to keep doing them to see if the novelty wears off but as someone who found that merchanting actually grew on him (ironically well after I had cheesed my way to level 50 MA) I think they're a good addition to the gameplay.

Even as a solo, there's no reason not to do a delivery while collecting some animals. Basically at minimum it's a free 2,800 gold with each merchant voyage for minimal extra effort, so long as you throw down a cargo run before you head off. Not exactly a game changer on their own, but when seen in context of the merchant profession as a whole I think they're a good addition.

I guess in the end it will come down to how people use them. I'm sure Rare will be tracking the statistics, they're probably wary of creating another "cheese".

If people aren't doing them because they're not worth it then they'll tweak them, just like they did the Skeleton fleets, which I did last night for the first time since we sent Wanda packing, rewards are much better now, I'll be having a crack at the ships every time I see them up so long as I've got the resources (especially the murder barrels)

Has anyone tried putting the rum up in the crows nest to keep it safe? I haven't tried that yet but the mast doesn't take damage and get affected by hits so theoretically it should be safe correct?

@RevanJStone Jumping in the water with rum bottles does not damage them

@xcalypt0x That is true but I've been avoiding storms like the plague so the cloth doesn't get wet either

I had my rum in the crows nest along with a couple of kegs only to have meg show up and somehow set it off. Very weird.

So, having tested this further, my earlier advice appears to be largely nonsense.

Only the 1st cargo run seems to go from the outpost you spawn at. So if you want to load up on them you will need to do a bit of sailing around.

You can still load up on crates for normal MA missions, cancel, then drop some cargo runs, collect the goods from the outpost, get the animals on the way and just keep dropping new cargo runs or animal missions while you are out at sea.

Coming around to the OPs POV though, the rewards are much lower than I thought for the time invested. If you complete them in conjunction with other voyages they do become a nice little side earner.

I enjoy that they are relatively short and normally don't involve too much running around. Overall I think they are a good addition, but I think it's best to think of them as a part-time job on the side rather than a full-time career.

1x MA and 4x Cargo runs did earn me around 20k but we're talking more like 3.5 hours than 1.5 hours. So it's not great money for the time when you consider some of the other money making options available. It is a relaxing and entertaining way of earning a bit of MA rep and gold though.

Don't worry too much about running out of time either, that's a funny one, the label falls off and it just tells you "Good luck" but so long as you remember who's getting what you seem to still get full price for the goods so long as they are in good condition.

It makes no sense given dr voyages give so much more.

@xraylexx

not worth reading the other posts, this is 100% correct. 350 should be the reward for ruined goods.

I was looking forward to these new play styles but they are rubbish. More effort for less reward.