Pilots Trade Network Elite: Dangerous

PTN Booze Cruise Guide

This guide is origĀ­iĀ­nalĀ­ly from our DisĀ­cord servĀ­er, from where it has been reproĀ­duced with slight adapĀ­taĀ­tions. You will need to be in our disĀ­cord servĀ­er to parĀ­ticĀ­iĀ­pate in the booze cruise.
All names with a # in front of them are refĀ­erĀ­ences to chanĀ­nels on the servĀ­er, likeĀ­wise all names with an @ in front of them are referĀ­ances to roles. You can find this guide in #šŸ¹booze-cruise-guide. Click here to join our DisĀ­cord server.

What is the Booze Cruise?

The booze cruise hapĀ­pens when the peoĀ­ple at the staĀ­tion RackĀ­ham’s Peak in the HIP 58832 sysĀ­tem have a pubĀ­lic holĀ­iĀ­day. DurĀ­ing that time they ask for alcoĀ­hol and pay way way above galacĀ­tic averĀ­age for it. This allows for great trade opporĀ­tuĀ­niĀ­ties durĀ­ing the 48 h duraĀ­tion of the parĀ­ty. On a norĀ­mal day they already offer (an untypĀ­iĀ­cal) 33k cr/t for šŸ· but on a pubĀ­lic holĀ­iĀ­day they pay more than 270k cr/t for šŸ·! So 20,000 units of wine on a carĀ­riĀ­er equates to more than 5.5 bilĀ­lion credĀ­its total!
 
HIP 58832 is locatĀ­ed 5k ly above the galacĀ­tic plane. The view, lookĀ­ing down, is astonĀ­ishĀ­ing and unique. HIP 58832 can only be reached with a fleet carĀ­riĀ­er as most jumps of the jourĀ­ney are beyond the range of even a boostĀ­ed FSD. The sysĀ­tem’s staĀ­tion RackĀ­ham’s Peak has no L‑Pads, only M and S‑Pads. This makes the Type‑8 or Python the most viable carĀ­go ship to trade with that station.
 
RunĀ­ning a 280t carĀ­go Python leaves the pilot with +72 milĀ­lion per trade. About 14 Pythons full of Wine, and you go from PenĀ­niĀ­less to Elite TradĀ­er. With a T8 that becomes +102 milĀ­lion per trade and 10 trips to get to elite.
 
Booze Cruise is a bet. There is always the posĀ­siĀ­bilĀ­iĀ­ty of it not hapĀ­penĀ­ing, We do our best to preĀ­dict it as preĀ­cise as posĀ­siĀ­ble. Either way, you won’t get stuck at the peak: 7ļøāƒ£ TravĀ­elĀ­ling down on your own from HIP 58832 is always an option.

PYTHON //

Python

Booze Python shielded

Overview: A low cost shieldĀ­ed carĀ­go Python. The shields are there to give you time to get back into superĀ­cruise if you’re interĀ­dictĀ­ed as you won’t be able to outĀ­run NPC pirates withĀ­out engiĀ­neerĀ­ing. Also works for all regĀ­uĀ­lar M‑pad-to-carĀ­riĀ­er trades.

PYTHON //

Python

Booze Python tuned

Overview: Thanks to its engiĀ­neered thrusters and highĀ­er cost armour, this Python can run an extra carĀ­go rack instead of shields, relyĀ­ing on its speed and armour to surĀ­vive NPC pirate encounĀ­ters. Also the best M‑Pad-to-carĀ­riĀ­er tradĀ­er in general.

Type‑8 //

Python

Booze Type‑8 Shielded

āš ļøThe Type‑8 is only available for arx in Horizons, but is now available for credits in Odyssey.

Overview: A low cost shieldĀ­ed carĀ­go Type‑8. The shields are there to give you time to get back into superĀ­cruise if you’re interĀ­dictĀ­ed as you won’t be able to outĀ­run NPC pirates withĀ­out engiĀ­neerĀ­ing. Being SCO optiĀ­mised also makes long superĀ­cruise trips much faster.

Type‑8
Type‑8 //

Python

Booze Type‑8 tuned

āš ļøThe Type‑8 is only available for arx in Horizons, but is now available for credits in Odyssey.

Overview: A shieldĀ­less Type‑8 that relies on speed and armour to surĀ­vive NPC pirate encounĀ­ters. Being SCO optiĀ­mized also makes long superĀ­cruise trips much faster.

the Booze Cruise is a bet: there’s always a chance it won’t happen.

(We do our best to predict it as precisely as possible, though!)

How do I participate?

The Ship, Type‑8 or Python 
First buy a type‑8 or python with one of the loadĀ­outs from above.
 
Help loading wine šŸ· => ( / ) => =
Once you have your Ship docked on the snooze, switch to your best large pad haulĀ­ing ship to help to load the carĀ­riĀ­ers. MakĀ­ing sure that we have wine to sell latĀ­er on is a great way to spend the time while waitĀ­ing for the cruise to start.
Head to #⁠🚰wine-celler-loadĀ­ing to find carĀ­riĀ­ers to fill. The loadĀ­ing disĀ­cusĀ­sion hapĀ­pens in #ā šŸ„‚wine-celĀ­lar-delivĀ­erĀ­ies.
 
Traveling up šŸ›«
Next take your type‑8 or python and hitch a ride on a carĀ­riĀ­er to the peak, these will get postĀ­ed to #⁠🚠booze-cruise-deparĀ­tures. If you do not want to be sitĀ­ting up in HIP 58832 withĀ­out anyĀ­thing to do, you can take the ā #šŸš•šŸ…æbooze-snooze-and-garage. It travĀ­els up soon after the holĀ­iĀ­day is conĀ­firmed. MakĀ­ing you only miss the 6 to 8 hours it needs to travĀ­el up but keeps you availĀ­able in the bubĀ­ble until then.
 
Not in HIP 58832 yet
CarĀ­riĀ­ers are likeĀ­ly to park in N-2 (HD 104495) 2 sysĀ­tems before the peak, if the peak is already full. As soon as things move, any carĀ­riĀ­ers headĀ­ing up towards N0 from N2 will post a notice in #⁠🚠booze-cruise-deparĀ­tures and ping the @Hitchhiker role. You can opt in to that role in ā #šŸ¾booze-cruise-signup while you are in need of a transĀ­fer. To opt out, just click the butĀ­ton again.
 
The waiting game ā²ļø
Once you are there, you might need to wait for the holĀ­iĀ­day to start. Have fun an chill out with othĀ­er CMDRs or play your secĀ­ond favorite game.
 
The holĀ­iĀ­day will then start, lastĀ­ing for 48 hours. We will ping @PTN Booze Cruise when it starts. Hop in your Type‑8 or Python, buy wine from the carĀ­riĀ­ers in ā #🧃wine-celĀ­lar-unloadĀ­ing and sell it to the staĀ­tion. This is best done in solo mode, as there is only one M pad at the staĀ­tion. Expect to wait for dockĀ­ing NPCs.
It is also nice to keep everyĀ­one updatĀ­ed by postĀ­ing the carĀ­riĀ­er wine totals in #šŸøbooze-cruise-chat as you are haulĀ­ing to let everyĀ­one know how much wine is left on the carriers.
 
But how do i get back?
Once everyĀ­thing is over can choose your path back to the bubĀ­ble via carĀ­riĀ­er or handĀ­cuffs. See TravĀ­elĀ­ling down šŸ›¬

Can I advertise wine from my carrier?

Yes! It would be great to have you as a wine carrier.

Wine carĀ­riĀ­ers don’t earn a profĀ­it, but instead break even. It’s a great way to pay it forĀ­ward to newĀ­er memĀ­bers in the comĀ­muĀ­niĀ­ty. If you’re aimĀ­ing to earn lots of credĀ­its, going as a hauler is the betĀ­ter choice. Being a wine carĀ­riĀ­er means fillĀ­ing your carĀ­riĀ­er full with wine and sharĀ­ing all of it with the comĀ­muĀ­niĀ­ty at the peak, helpĀ­ing ensure there’s plenĀ­ty of profĀ­it availĀ­able for the haulers. You can find more info about what this involves in ā #šŸ‡wine-carĀ­riĀ­er-guide.

To sign up, fill in the form linked in the pins of ā #šŸøbooze-cruise-chat.
If it’s your first time as a wine carĀ­riĀ­er, you’ll get a DM, and then be grantĀ­ed the @Wine CarĀ­riĀ­er role.
This role is per event, so you’ll need to sign up again each time. If you’re doing a secĀ­ond trip or using mulĀ­tiĀ­ple carĀ­riĀ­ers, fill out the form for each one — Pirate Steve wants accuĀ­rate numbers!
 

Some things you should be aware of though, before you sign up:
1. FillĀ­ing a carĀ­riĀ­er with 22000 t of wine and the 3784 t of TriĀ­tium needĀ­ed for the trip will cost in the region of 484 milĀ­lion credĀ­its. Your total cost may difĀ­fer dependĀ­ing on how much wine you load, which is usuĀ­alĀ­ly depenĀ­dent on any serĀ­vices you have installed if you fill your carĀ­riĀ­er full.

2. HowĀ­evĀ­er, all of the credĀ­its you spend loadĀ­ing your carĀ­riĀ­er will be recouped when your carĀ­riĀ­er is unloaded meanĀ­ing you don’t make any loss or profĀ­it overĀ­all for being a wine carĀ­riĀ­er. (For a carĀ­riĀ­er takĀ­ing 3784 trit and 22k wine)

3. JumpĀ­ing a carĀ­riĀ­er from the bubĀ­ble to the peak will take you approxĀ­iĀ­mateĀ­ly 6 hours, and anothĀ­er 6 hours to return from the peak back to the bubble.

What are the channels for?

 
⁠#šŸšbooze-cruise-staĀ­tus – Broad overview of the curĀ­rent cruise staĀ­tus. For examĀ­ple RunĀ­ning or on hiatus
#šŸ¾booze-cruise-signup – To opt in for notiĀ­fiĀ­caĀ­tions of key booze cruise events
#šŸ§‰booze-cruise-announceĀ­ments – For announceĀ­ments relĀ­eĀ­vant to the booze cruise from the manĀ­ageĀ­ment and sommeliers
#🚠booze-cruise-deparĀ­tures – ListĀ­ing of known carĀ­riĀ­er rides to/from the peak
#🚰wine-celĀ­lar-loadĀ­ing – CarĀ­riĀ­er adverts for loadĀ­ing carĀ­riĀ­ers with wine in the bubble
#šŸ„‚wine-celĀ­lar-delivĀ­erĀ­ies – CoorĀ­diĀ­naĀ­tion of the loadĀ­ing operĀ­aĀ­tion in the bubble
#🧃wine-celĀ­lar-unloadĀ­ing – CarĀ­riĀ­er adverts for unloadĀ­ing wine at the Peak (right click > NotiĀ­fiĀ­caĀ­tions > ā€œAll MesĀ­sagesā€ for unload notifications)
#šŸøbooze-cruise-chat – GenĀ­erĀ­al open booze cruise chat (Also used to post carĀ­riĀ­er wine total when unloading)
#šŸš•šŸ…æbooze-snooze-and-garage – The Garage a safe place to leave your ships and log off at the peak and the Snooze carĀ­riĀ­er that waits in the bubĀ­ble and only travĀ­els up if and when the cruise hapĀ­pens. (More info availĀ­able in the channel)

Facts

… about the Booze Cruise!

1. CarĀ­riĀ­er ownĀ­ers run at breakeven prices, This means that the carĀ­riĀ­er ownĀ­ers do not make a profĀ­it or a loss. HowĀ­evĀ­er there is an iniĀ­tial upfront cost of 486 milĀ­lion to load a carĀ­riĀ­er. (10k *22k = 220 mil for wine + 70k * 3784 = 266 mil for trit)
 
2. JumpĀ­ing a carĀ­riĀ­er up and down takes at least 12 hours of jumpĀ­ing (jumps at least 21 min apart)
 
3. CarĀ­riĀ­er ownĀ­ers parĀ­ticĀ­iĀ­pate mostĀ­ly out of genĀ­erosĀ­iĀ­ty, there is nothĀ­ing in for them besides maybe haulĀ­ing some wine themselves.
 
4. A carĀ­go python sellĀ­ing to RackĀ­ham’s Peak durĀ­ing PH gives a profĀ­it of 72 milĀ­lion. (280 t * 256k cr/t)
 
5. A carĀ­go type‑8 sellĀ­ing to RackĀ­ham’s Peak durĀ­ing PH gives a profĀ­it of 102 milĀ­lion. (400 t * 256k cr/t)
 
6. LoadĀ­ers in the bubĀ­ble do this so peoĀ­ple at the top can have fun makĀ­ing profĀ­its. The profĀ­its in the bubĀ­ble are sigĀ­nifĀ­iĀ­cantĀ­ly lowĀ­er than they are at the peak.
 
7. CarĀ­riĀ­ers are availĀ­able to unload when the ownĀ­er is availĀ­able and finds time, not when Pirate Steve is thirsty!
 
8. ā—Booze Cruise is a bet. There is always the posĀ­siĀ­bilĀ­iĀ­ty of it not happeningā—

Traveling up šŸ›«

When travĀ­elĀ­ing up the ā #šŸš•šŸ…æbooze-snooze-and-garage is the recĀ­omĀ­mendĀ­ed method, This carĀ­riĀ­er leaves as soon as the pubĀ­lic holĀ­iĀ­day in rackĀ­hams is announced and gets there ~6 hours into the event, leavĀ­ing you 42 hours to haul wine. If you want to head up before that though and make use of the first 6 hours you can pick any carĀ­riĀ­er in ā #🚠booze-cruise-deparĀ­tures that is adverĀ­tised as headĀ­ing up to N0.
 
If you find yourĀ­self at any point stuck in N1, N2 or N3. Get the @Hitchhiker role from ⁠#šŸ¾booze-cruise-signup. Then pay attenĀ­tion to ⁠#🚠booze-cruise-deparĀ­tures, any carĀ­riĀ­ers headĀ­ing towards the peak will ping that role givĀ­ing you the best chance to get to N0.
Please note, this role is removed after each cruise, and will need to be re-applied for each cruise you are takĀ­ing part in.

Traveling down šŸ›¬

.…. you have more options: We recĀ­omĀ­mend 1 or 2:
 
1. The :fleetcarrier:-way: Take a carĀ­riĀ­er down. See #🚠booze-cruise-deparĀ­tures (or if unlocked, the #šŸš•booze-snooze)
 
2. The handĀ­cuffs-loiĀ­ter-way: HovĀ­er over the landĀ­ing pad of the staĀ­tion until getĀ­ting shot down > pay the rebuy + small fine > after the rebuy, spawn with your ship on a prison ship in COL 285 SECTOR YG-Y B16-1 (157Ly from Gali in the bubble)
 
3. The handcuffs-šŸ”«-way: Shoot a ā€œcleanā€ ship at nav beaĀ­con once > fly to RackĀ­ham’s > dock > conĀ­tacts > authorĀ­iĀ­ty > turn yourĀ­self in > withĀ­out a rebuy, spawn with your ship on a prison ship (HardĀ­points are sold at RackĀ­ham’s Peak.)
 
4. The I‑don’t-want-my-ship-way: You perĀ­maĀ­nentĀ­ly lose your ship with this one (ideĀ­al if you are in a spare stock sidewinder): destroy your ship > don’t pay the rebuy > spawn in bubĀ­ble in a stock Sidewinder

FAQs šŸ›¬

How to get the NPC off the Medium pad at HIP 58832 šŸ§¹
  • Get real close to Pad 5 (the sinĀ­gle mediĀ­um pad), yaw your ship to the right so you can see the NPC ship + your conĀ­tacts panĀ­el to the left
  • Spam the DockĀ­ing Request butĀ­ton 3–4 times; the NPC will try to quickĀ­ly undock (<10 sec on the pad)
  • Wait for the orange guidĀ­ance light to turn off (takes about ~10 secĀ­onds from the time the NPC launches)
  • QuickĀ­ly press the DockĀ­ing Request butĀ­ton again

Or watch this mini tutoĀ­rĀ­iĀ­al video made by Dbandy: https://youtu.be/G5qx87K7PHE

What can I do when waiting in HIP 58832 for the cruise to start? šŸ’¤

Play your secĀ­ond favorite game or try sometĀ­ing of the below. It might be worth askĀ­ing who else would be interĀ­estĀ­ed in doing someĀ­thing and group up for it. That is usuĀ­alĀ­ly the most fun, whatĀ­evĀ­er you do.

  • SRV ralĀ­ly,
  • BounĀ­ty HuntĀ­ing,
  • FightĀ­er loops of RackĀ­hams Peak,
  • Ship racĀ­ing – wing from carĀ­riĀ­er to the M pad, first to dock wins,
  • Try and get an SRV into orbit,
  • Odyssey mat grindĀ­ing on P2,
  • Farm raw mats at planĀ­ets 1 and 2,
  • Find Raxxla,
  • Farm encodĀ­ed emisĀ­sions for manĀ­uĀ­facĀ­tured mats.,
  • Farm encodĀ­ed data by scanĀ­ning satelĀ­lite at RackĀ­ham’s Peak.,
  • Map all planĀ­ets in sysĀ­tem.,
  • CouriĀ­er JoustĀ­ing,
  • Snipe SpeĀ­cious CobĀ­ble with a plasĀ­ma sniper rifle and play footĀ­ball,
  • Slide down the side of a steep mounĀ­tain on foot,
  • SRV barĀ­rel rolls over ships,
  • let a pirate destroy you cockĀ­pit canopy and make it back to the FC and repair it before you run out of air. (attenĀ­tion, you have no HUD when the canopy is gone),
  • CQC,
  • Meet up in the Odyssey staĀ­tion conĀ­course,
  • Meet up on foot on any planĀ­et that is landable
The SuperCruiseAssist Trick

How to drop faster on the station/carrier

It makes the approach faster and skips the last part of the decelĀ­erĀ­aĀ­tion phase. If done corĀ­rectĀ­ly you’ll be dropĀ­ping in on the staĀ­tion at high speeds. SomeĀ­times you’ll drop out on the othĀ­er side of the staĀ­tion (no risk of damĀ­age durĀ­ing the drop). Do not do this with bodĀ­ies, only staĀ­tions, carĀ­riĀ­ers and nav-beaĀ­cons. AnothĀ­er name for it is doing a ā€œHot Dropā€.

SCA Trick With Manual Throttle

Set keyĀ­binds to throtĀ­tle 100% and 75% – the quickĀ­er you can shufĀ­fle between the 2 the betĀ­ter. Set SCA in ship-options to manĀ­uĀ­al throtĀ­tle.

ActiĀ­vate SCA, point to the desĀ­tiĀ­naĀ­tion, use 75% throtĀ­tle to realĀ­ly actiĀ­vate it and fine-tune the direcĀ­tion. When you are about 5 ls away from the tarĀ­get, set the throtĀ­tle to 100%. ConĀ­tinĀ­ue accelĀ­erĀ­atĀ­ing until your ETA is 5 secĀ­onds. Now go back to 75% (= reacĀ­tiĀ­vate SC).

SCA Trick With Auto Throttle

Go 100% speed, at 10s to tarĀ­get or earĀ­liĀ­er let SCA take over. When 5ls away, accelĀ­erĀ­ate to the 100% from before, by aimĀ­ing away from the tarĀ­get, which deacĀ­tiĀ­vates SCA. Then at 5 secĀ­onds to desĀ­tiĀ­naĀ­tion, back on tarĀ­get for SCA to take over and drop you on the target.

What does N2 mean? What route are we taking? 
It is just ā€˜N’ with it’s valĀ­ue as the counter for fleet carĀ­riĀ­er jumps towards the peak. No need to rememĀ­ber all the names of N15 to N3. All 4 PTN Squadrons bookĀ­marks have these sysĀ­tems saved as well.

LadĀ­der SysĀ­tem List:

N‑0: HIP 58832 (RackĀ­ham’s Peak)
N‑1: HD 105341 (CarĀ­riĀ­er BotĀ­tleĀ­neck SysĀ­tem)
N‑2: HD 104495 (CarĀ­riĀ­er ParkĀ­ing SysĀ­tem)
N‑3: HIP 57784
N‑4: HIP 57478
N‑5: HIP 56843
N‑6: HD 104392
N‑7: HD 102779
N‑8: HD 102000
N‑9: HD 104785
N10: HD 105548
N11: HD 107865
N12: Plaa Trua WQ‑C d13‑0
N13: Plaa Trua QL‑B c27‑0
N14: WreĀ­goe OP‑D b58‑0
N15: WreĀ­goe ZE‑B c28‑2
N16: Gali (ChadĀ­wick Dock)