A Comprehensive Guide to Cargo
In this guide, I’ll try to detail all of the nuances and gimmicks of the Supply department; we’ll cover the basics of each subprofession, as well as the more advanced techniques experienced Quartermasters might know.
Jobs
Cargo Technician
“Welcome to Cargonia, technician!”
In this brief section, you will learn all the ins and outs of the workings of the mysterious Cargo Bay.
The Basics
As part of the Supply Department, you are responsible for keeping the station well stocked on supplies. How to get those supplies, you ask? You’ll have to make use of the highly sophisticated transaction system between you and Central Command.
The Supply Console
The Supply Console is your primary tool for buying and selling; below is a breakdown of the interface.
The button at the top (initially labelled “CentCom”) lets you call the Supply Shuttle, which takes one minute to go to and from Central Command. The Supply Shuttle can be loaded with crates, water and fuel tanks (which sell for 500 cr each). Other items sell too, including specific gas canisters, wrenches, and more; if you’re not sure if something has value, use your Cargo Scanner to check.
Bounties
The Bounty Console lets you check and claim bounties issued by Central Command. To complete a bounty, load it onto the Supply Shuttle. Bounties have no time limit to complete.
An event can occur that uploads a high priority bounty to your bounty console. These bounties reward more money than standard bounties.
Manifests
Manifests are the small, easily forgettable pieces of paper that appear when you try to open a crate; these, when stamped with any stamp, will sell for 200 cr. This is fairly important early into the shift when you haven’t set up your stupidly efficient gas farm.
MULE Bots - the Cargo Technicians of the future!
The MULE Bot is a convenient way to deliver crates and supplies to departments when your lazy ass can’t be asked.
- Drag your crate onto the MULE Bot
- Unlock the MULE Bot using either your ID or your PDA
- Select the destination
- Press Proceed
- Lock its controls before it runs away
The Delivery System - the MULE Bots of the future!
This is just as fast as using MULE Bots - just easier! All you have to do is wrap the package/bomb/crate you want to send in wrapping paper and use a destination tagger on it (both found in the Delivery Office in Cargo), and send it off via the nearest disposals outlet! It could not get any easier!
Sending the Head of Security a housewarming gift
Conveyor Belts
You can construct additional conveyor belts to aid in loading/unloading the Supply shuttle. You can print conveyor belts and switches at your local autolathe. To connect the two, use the conveyor belt switch on a stack of conveyor belt assemblies. Conveyor belts can be rotated with a wrench, their direction can be reversed with a screwdriver, and they can be dismantled with a crowbar. The switch can be placed anywhere - the conveyor belts will be connected regardless of distance or z-level.
A potential conveyor layout is shown below.
Do note that placing the switch in the shuttle is not usually recommended as running on conveyors makes it harder to flick the lever.
Quartermaster
As the Quartermaster, you are the master of Cargo; it is your job to keep your miners alive (by shouting at them constantly) and getting your cargo tech out of trouble.
Your Locker
Inside your locker you will find:
- A dope cloak
- The Cargo Budget Card - keep it safe!
- Clothes
- The Supply door remote - it can open/close doors, bolt them, and set them to emergency access
- A box full of medals to give to your faithful servants
- Export scanner - for checking prices of items
- Supply megaphone - to make your voice LOUD
Station Projects
It may happen that at the start of a round you’ll receive a message like this:
This means that your station is lucky enough to participate in the Nanotrasen Project Programme! You may now order parts to the project your station has been assigned (note that these projects are not necessary to complete; they just add some fun to the round).
The Vault
The Vault houses two very important pieces of equipment - the Ore Silo and the Deposit Machine.
The Ore Silo stores all of the ore that your miners have collected; if it is destroyed, no one will be able to make anything!
The Deposit Machine is used for depositing money into the Cargo Budget - but it can also withdraw money, meaning people can steal your precious dosh! If this happens, the machine will blare “Unauthorised withdrawal in the Vault!” Over the common radio, giving you time to apprehend the unsavoury individual who decided to rob you blind.
Budget Cards
Budget cards are used by heads of departments to order items. With the Exploration Update, money is added to all budget cards, including your own, whenever a mission is completed.
To use a budget card, either buy privately using it or use Alt + Click to remove the funds and transfer them into your own Supply Budget Card.
Shaft Miner
I’m a shit miner, so take this very good guide instead: Mining Guide
Take this guide for tips on powergaming playing mining to its full extent: Tips and Tricks for Miners
Improvised Shelter
Found yourself out in the wild without a BS pod? Use this simple trick to survive any storm - for free!
- Gather some sand and make 10 sandstone.
- Dig a hole 2 tiles deep into rock.
- Make a door to make a 1x1 hole.
- Use this button to make it stormproof:
- Make a new area; name it anything you want.
Your hole is now stormproof! Enjoy the comforts of your new home. Make it fancy! Invite some natives over! I can’t tell you what to do, I’m not your mother.
Opening Locked Crates
The Shotgun
The shotgun method is quite slow but easy to use - provided you have access to a shotgun; for this, consider making a deal with the bartender for his double-barrel or stealing one from security.
The Fireaxe/Spear
This technique is rumoured to date back to the neolithic times, back when all Cave Cargo had been axes and spears; simply bash the crates open with a wielded fire axe or throw spears at it until it pops open. Unga bunga!
Lava
This method will require you to have access to the mining base; dunk the crate in lava, and it will break open within a minute or two. Make sure not to keep it in the lava too long, lest you want your guns to melt!
The Furnace ™
This method was taught to me by one called Billy Schmit. Get some reinforced plasma glass, airtight plastic flaps and plasma sheets. Then you have to set the plasma on fire - make sure to reinforce the floor first! - and enjoy your very own plasma fireplace!
The Emitters
Emitters require the least amount of skill, but they do require Engineering access (or breaking the emitter crates open) and a pair of insulated gloves.
- Buy one/two emitter crates
- Set them up as shown below, with the correct wiring
- Put the crate on the “X”
- Turn them on and watch the sparks fly!
Or if you prefer to have your items safe from laser beams, arrange them like so:
The APLU method requires you to have access to robotics - they need to make you a mech with a drill; drill the crate, and you’re done!
To create an EMP wave, mix together ground iron and uranium sheets. The scale of the EMP wave is proportional to the amount you mix together.
The E-Mag
Self-explanatory; Cargo Technicians hate him - see how to unlock a crate in less than a second!
Other Money Making Techniques
Farming
Did you know that money grows on trees? Well, not really. But we can get close!
If you manage to get your hands on a hydroponics tray with perennial growth tower caps, you can make wooden crates out of the logs and planks. They are as valuable as standard metal crates.
Armed Robbery
Not for the faint of heart!
Are you willing to sell away your freedom and become an outlaw? Buy/make some weapons, and start your robbery spree!
Rage Cage bets
A man has fallen into a rage cage in the station! HEY! Create some baseball bats, start a betting system, and make some money!
Custom Vendors
Create a custom vendor to sell all the stuff your miners bring back/stuff you buy at an exorbitant price! The #1 way to anger assistants!
Create a fake Rev panic
Nothing boils the blood of people with money like the possibility of losing that money! With some clever tricks, you can convince the heads to give you their budgets and let you buy guns - double win!
Rimworld - the illegal organ harvesting game
In need of money? Don’t worry - just hack your local supply console and illegally sell organs to the black market!
Miasma Farm
Its as simple as shoving some monkeys into a box and scrubbing out their gas!
While corpse flowers are indeed more efficient, they require you to not only have the seeds, but also the necessary botanical supplies or a supply of ambrosia gaia. For this reason, it is much faster for your average simple-minded Cargo Technician to use monkeys instead. In addition, gibs can be stacked almost infinitely on the same tile - just don’t let the Janitor in!
Gas mining has been outlawed by Central Command for its negative impact on space-time dilatation.
Preparing For the Worst
A resourceful department such as yours will undoubtedly be the focal point for many round types, and a prime target for sabotage. You must stay vigilant; use this section as a guide for when shit hits the fan.
On Guns
“Why does the Quartermaster have more guns than me?” - Jeremiah Swift, Head of Security
Note that buying guns and other weapons without probable cause is deemed as powergaming and self-antagging on the Beestation Sage server, both of which are bannable offences (see M2).
Revolution - the ultimate money drainer
“Confirmed Revs? Mindshields and nothing but!” - Anonymous Quartermaster shortly before suffering a tragic work-related accident.
During the Revolution game mode, the Quartermaster quickly becomes the most powerful figure on the station; they control the supply of guns and other weapons, but more importantly, they are the principal source of Mindshields - if you are not a Revolutionary, buy as many of these as you can. However, make sure to buy other essentials necessary for fighting such as shotguns (which never miss) as well as medical supplies when Medbay is eventually overrun.
During this game mode, the heads of staff will give you their budget cards at the slightest whiff of a revolution - meaning more spending power for you. Keep your workplace well defended (using guns and the sandbags found inside your miners’ lockers) but don’t let your guard down.
Work with Security and Command to keep control of the station and eradicate those filthy commies once and for all!
Nuclear Emergency
“Why is that fish beeping?” - Cargo Technician Scotty Jones, shortly before becoming red paste at the hands (fins?) of an explosive fish.
The same advice applies as for Revolutionaries, except now you know exactly who’s the enemy (psst, it’s the guys wearing red).
Against Nuclear Operatives, laser guns are the go-to weapon. Use them to shoot through windows, allowing you to not be peppered with bullets.
Swarmers and Morphs
“Tasty metal, yum!” - Swarmer (256)
Swarmers and morphs are drawn to your ore silo and the delicious materials inside. If you hear rumours of either of them skulking about, it is time to act.
Quickly head over to your Vault, usually located somewhere near Cargo Bay, and weld all of the vents and scrubbers shut with a welder. This should stop them in their tracks, and keep your hard-earned ores where they belong - in your pocket!
Cargonia - the Land of the Free!
“For Cargonia!” - Anonymous Quartermaster before an untimely end.
If you’re planning to secede from the station - or worse, declare war on Nanotrasen - don’t expect to last very long. Station dwellers know that those blood-thirsty maniacs at Security will jump at the slightest opportunity to use their fancy toys - probably resulting in you losing your face. Here are some hints to establishing a long and lasting regime:
- Recruit - manpower is everything!
- Get a steady income - without money, you’re sitting ducks
- Supply your people with weapons for the inevitable Security raid
- Create alliances with other departments
- Get at least one head of staff on board
- Don’t declare independence when a particularly nasty admin is online
- Don’t disconnect the ore silo from every lathe - it will rally everyone against you. I’m not kidding.
- Fortify your department - what good are twenty guns if any assistant can come in and do what they please?
- Don’t harm civilians - they’re your friend! (unless they’re not, then gun-ho!)
- You are strongest in a war of attrition:
- Disconnect the Security lathe from the ore silo
- Keep chipping away at their ranks
- Don’t engage directly/raid them
- Don’t give up
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn’t my export scanner work?
You have to connect it to the supply network. To do so, click on any supply console using your export scanner.
Security keeps taking away my toys! Help!
While contraband is fun (and you’re all about fun), you have to remember that contraband is contraband; because it is illegal, Security has every right to do with it (and you, for bringing it onboard) whatever they want. Security will often panic about a Quartermaster better equipped than they are, so keep your ill-gotten gains hidden and secure until they are needed.
Additional Reading
- A little strat to speedrunning mining and getting the hiero staff (part one)
- Fraud’s big list of mining tips
- Mining Guide
- How to Survive a Meteor Round (Renovating the Lavaland Mining Station for Homeless Spessmans)
- The Atmospherics Cookbook
- Guide to Lavaland
- PricklyTomato’s Tips and Tricks for Miners
- Winners Don’t Use Drugs: An advanced mining guide