Here are some thoughts on managing cargo in Transcendence. I realize a lot of this isn't really doable since you can only have one cargo hold device at the moment, but if that were to change... Also, this keeps in mind that Transcendence does not have artificial gravity technology, so all the cargo is pretty much just floating around or strapped down somewhere. However, given a zero-G environment, a standard human would still have difficulty moving heavy objects simply because they're more likely to push themselves away from the heavy object than to move the heavy object where they want it to go. Thus, having devices attached to the ship to aid in moving cargo around will allow you to store much heavier cargo.
Some key ideas here:
- Various devices improve your cargo capacity a little bit, instead of just having a single cargo hold expansion device.
- Your ship is limited by the mass of the cargo it can bring aboard. Cargo that is too massive for your ship to handle simply cannot be brought on board.
- Some items might require special cargo management devices to be used, such as launching autons.
loading arms - these are essential on most ships, as they will allow you to move cargo that is heavier or bulkier than any human can easily move. All ships would come with these by default allowing the manipulation of perhaps 5 ton segments. Upgrades would allow them to manage heavier cargo.
cargo tractor beam - internal tractor beams used to move cargo around. While capable of moving much heavier loads than standard cargo arms, these typically require more power as well.
auton mounting clamps - while autons can be stored in cargo normally, in order to properly launch an auton, your ship would have to be equipped with the proper auton mounting clamps. This may not be required for all autons.
external cargo clamps - expand your cargo capacity by storing cargo outside your cargo bay through use of external cargo clamps!
cargo belt system - sort of a conveyor belt that holds down cargo and transports it throughout the ship, significantly increasing the efficiency of storing cargo in your hold and increasing your storage capacity.
Prophet suggested these ideas earlier as alternative ways to smuggle or mine without the proper hold.
mining arm - This is to properly extract ore from asteroids. It is the equivalent of a mining hold, only, without the hold.
security scanner shield - This blocks security scanners from penetrating certain sections of your cargo hold, allowing you to hide illegal goods from authorities.
