Home » Stars! 2.6/7 » The Academy » Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
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Some answers about common MT questions... (long) |
Wed, 13 August 2003 15:05 |
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Trying to collect and organize some information in one place on what the MT does to annoy us so. Will refer people elsewhere for some details, but try to cover the generalities and identify the mysteries (for those who feel like exploring).
(1) What is the Mystery Trader (MT)?
The MT is a random Stars! event. IF the game does not allow random events (comet strikes, artifacts, etc.) then the MT will NEVER appear in that game.
Beyond that the MT is a mysterious vessel that enters the galaxy broadcasting a willingness to trade something to you in exchange for 5000kt of minerals (in a single fleet). Since it's broadcasting you always know where it is on the map (though other things on your scanners might occasionally obscure it.)
(2) When does the MT appear?
Appearance of the MT is a random event for that year. However, it seems that there is a validation check involved as well. This is possibly tied to year (2440 is the earliest I've ever seen an MT appear), and possibly some threshold of technology, resources, or minerals among the races in the galaxy.
The MT will enter from a border traveling at a speed between Warp 8 and Warp 13. Later random events might cause any given MT to change course, speed (faster or slower) or both. Claimed correlations between speed changes and imminent interception by a race are believed to be greatly exaggerated. :~ [Note: a Warp 7 MT has been reported, but is believed to be a Warp 8 or higher MT that slowed down due to another random event.] The MT will cross the galaxy and eventually exit.
Minefields do not affect the MT.
There is also a random event that will cause a previously exited MT to cross the galaxy again (the "entry" message is different.) This may or may not be lauded depending on what it is carrying and your previous luck in trading with it.
(3) What happens if I try to attack the MT?
It ignores warships. Unless they're carrying/escorting 5000kt of minerals and you haven't traded with that MT yet. In which case it will trade with that fleet (see below). Claimed correlation between annoying MTs and subsequent huge comet strikes on homeworlds are still being investigated.
(4) How does trading with the MT work?
You have to intercept the MT with a fleet containing 5000kt (or more) minerals. The MT will absorb this fleet (i.e. it is destroyed) and give you something in exchange. MTs move before your fleets do; so the trick is to be in position to get in your move that year where the MT will be *after* it moves. The general rule of thumb is to get ahead of it with enough fuel to move fast enough to catch it even if there is a speed change.
Attempting to intercept the MT with multiple fleets will not work. One will be absorbed, the rest will not be able to trade.
Interception of MT occurs *before* fleet merging. You need to have the 5000kt in one fleet the turn before interception. Intercepting and merging the same turn will not work. (Unless the MT is going slow enough you can keep up with it the next turn.)
(5) What do I get from the MT?
A given MT is giving out one of three things (and this appears to be set when the MT is generated - this is an exception noted below.)
(a) You get a unique part or hull type that you can build and use yourself if you have sufficient technology. There are detailed lists and discussion of these parts elsewhere.
(b) You get some technology levels.
"Some" levels is dependent on some additional factors. First, it *decreases* based on your total number of tech levels. Second, if you bring additional minerals you a bonus technology level per additional 1200kt you bring. This tops out at 9800kt of minerals traded. It is possible for the MT to give you zero tech levels. This also happens if you meet a "technology" MT when you already have max tech.
[Note: Research has not generated a widely accepted set of data on what the exact breakpoints are for the total tech penalty. My opinion is that the initial number you get is random, then the bonus is added and total tech penalty are subtracted. Thus you end up with an adjusted random number.]
(c) You get some MT "lesser" craft.
"Some" craft is actually highly random and decided independently for every intercept; i.e. 3 races trading the same year can/will get different numbers of different ship types.
There are two light craft; the scout and the probe. It seems that 1-6 of these are given of these at a time. Both are based on the mini-morph hull.
There is a heavy craft; the lifeboat. It seems that 1-3 of these are given out. The lifeboat is based on the Nubian hull.
(d) The "Random" MT
Some articles claim that there is a fourth type that gives out a random part. I've never seen a confirmation of this. However, I've seen a behavior that might be mistaken for an explicit "random" MT. If you trade with a type (a) MT (unique part) and you *already have that part* (from a different MT) then it appears that just for that trade the MT does a new random check for what it is trading and trades that to you instead.
[Example: You have the Cargo Pod from a previous MT. A new MT comes out that randomly is also trading the Cargo Pod (confirmed by someone who missed the previous MT meeting this MT and getting the Pod.) If you trade with this MT you get something else since you already have the part. This could be tech, ships, or (hopefully) a different unique part.]
I think this would explain "random" MTs if all races had met an earlier MT that just so happened to be trading the same part. They can all potentially get something different - and in essense it *is* a random MT.
(6) What do I do with what I got from the MT?
Given the messages seen in the various games and forums I think the answer is "bitch about it".
Comments and further clarifications welcome. I'll edit interesting information into this message and try to keep it useful.
- Kurt
[Updated on: Sun, 17 August 2003 09:35] by Moderator
Time flies like an arrow.
Fruit flies like a banana.
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Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Micha on Thu, 14 August 2003 04:14
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Orca on Fri, 29 August 2003 03:03
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Zathras on Sat, 20 September 2003 20:59
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: alric on Fri, 26 September 2003 08:29
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Sinla on Sat, 04 October 2003 19:03
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: iaznab on Thu, 30 October 2003 06:11
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Sinla on Thu, 30 October 2003 11:20
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Ashlyn on Thu, 30 October 2003 13:18
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: LEit on Thu, 30 October 2003 16:15
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Robert on Wed, 07 January 2004 07:10
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Robert on Wed, 07 January 2004 08:32
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A note on trading MT parts
By: Ptolemy on Wed, 25 February 2004 18:34
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Re: A note on trading MT parts
By: Robert on Thu, 26 February 2004 02:35
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Re: A note on trading MT parts
By: Ptolemy on Thu, 26 February 2004 04:04
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Re: A note on trading MT parts
By: Robert on Mon, 01 March 2004 05:16
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Re: A note on trading MT parts
By: LEit on Tue, 21 June 2005 22:46
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Re: A note on trading MT parts
By: iztok on Wed, 22 June 2005 04:46
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Re: A note on trading MT parts
By: mazda on Wed, 22 June 2005 11:55
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Re: A note on trading MT parts
By: LEit on Wed, 22 June 2005 12:22
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Re: A note on trading MT parts
By: LEit on Wed, 22 June 2005 12:17
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Re: A note on trading MT parts
By: mazda on Thu, 23 June 2005 03:51
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Re: A note on trading MT parts
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Re: A note on trading MT parts
By: iztok on Thu, 23 June 2005 08:24
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Re: A note on trading MT parts
By: LEit on Thu, 23 June 2005 11:38
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Hyena on Mon, 08 March 2004 11:23
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: craebild on Mon, 08 March 2004 12:13
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: mlaub on Fri, 06 August 2004 01:20
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: perece on Fri, 06 August 2004 01:55
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Micha on Fri, 06 August 2004 07:52
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How often does an MT appear ?
By: mazda on Mon, 04 April 2005 06:37
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Re: How often does an MT appear ?
By: donjon on Mon, 04 April 2005 06:50
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Re: How often does an MT appear ?
By: mazda on Mon, 04 April 2005 07:52
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Re: How often does an MT appear ?
By: mazda on Tue, 17 May 2005 07:32
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Re: How often does an MT appear ?
By: LEit on Wed, 01 June 2005 12:19
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Re: How often does an MT appear ?
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Re: How often does an MT appear ?
By: Robert on Sun, 31 July 2005 07:44
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Re: How often does an MT appear ?
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Re: How often does an MT appear ?
By: Robert on Mon, 01 August 2005 06:46
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Re: How often does an MT appear ?
By: Robert on Sun, 31 July 2005 07:23
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Re: How often does an MT appear ?
By: gwellman on Sun, 09 January 2011 02:05
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: mlaub on Thu, 12 May 2005 22:24
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: mlaub on Fri, 13 May 2005 12:49
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Kotk on Thu, 02 June 2005 13:04
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Robert on Sun, 31 July 2005 03:05
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: iztok on Wed, 13 April 2005 08:35
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: wumpus on Sun, 05 March 2006 06:46
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: wumpus on Wed, 15 March 2006 06:37
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By: shiver on Thu, 16 March 2006 04:31
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By: wumpus on Tue, 11 April 2006 16:59
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Madman on Wed, 12 April 2006 00:39
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: wumpus on Wed, 12 April 2006 00:59
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Madman on Wed, 12 April 2006 02:15
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: mazda on Wed, 12 April 2006 06:15
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Madman on Wed, 12 April 2006 09:39
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Madman on Fri, 14 April 2006 07:08
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: wumpus on Fri, 14 April 2006 10:23
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: LEit on Tue, 18 April 2006 00:05
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: yoey on Wed, 26 July 2006 11:56
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Micha on Wed, 26 July 2006 16:29
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Marduk on Wed, 09 August 2006 16:38
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: iztok on Fri, 11 August 2006 15:23
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By: tgellan on Mon, 15 January 2007 03:16
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: gwellman on Tue, 06 February 2007 02:05
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
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How often does MT change direction/speed?
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Re: How often does MT change direction/speed?
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Both StarsCal and common sense fail to predict M.T. location
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Re: Both StarsCal and common sense fail to predict M.T. location
By: PaulCr on Tue, 12 June 2007 04:59
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Re: Both StarsCal and common sense fail to predict M.T. location
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
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By: PaulCr on Fri, 24 April 2009 19:29
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By: Micha on Sat, 25 April 2009 06:00
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Re: Some answers about common MT questions... (long)
By: Bukane on Fri, 30 October 2009 06:10
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