Your Mining system is TERRIBLE!

[Mortac]

The mining system is outright TERRIBLE, and the main culprit is the scooping system. It's like the developers decided that they needed some kind of extra mechanic for mining over just aiming your laser, so they added the scooping and refining system. Refining is quite fine, though it is very tedious having to constantly open a menu to dump stuff you don't want. Scooping however is a complete game breaker. When you mine an asteroid, the ore will shoot out in any random direction, often times on the OPPOSITE side of the asteroid you are mining.

Now, going around chasing nuggets of ore all over the place is a frustrating experience as is. Add to this that you have to aim your scooping properly as well, and everything will take even longer. Once you're done picking up some nuggets, well, you often times lose track of which asteroid you were mining in the first place, because you can't mark them in any way.

This whole system is mind-numbingly boring, tedious, annoying and frustrating. You name it. My impression is that the devs spent time and energy on making an interactive mechanic to steer away from the usual "push-a-button-and-wait" system used by many games, but forgot the detail that it would probably be helpful if said mechanic was fun at least. I much prefer the click-and-wait style of Eve Online (unless it has changed in recent years) because the current implementation is nothing but frustration. I tried it, and will never try it again unless it changes.

Implementing some kind of tractor beam or automatic ore scooping device to equip your ship with would probably be the easiest way to fix this mess. Doing something about the constant need to enter a menu to manage the refinery would help too, but is less important.

 

[Lestat]

Sorry this game not EVE. But with practice you can scoop ore really easy. Also use more of your Horizontal and lateral thrusters. It will help.

 

[Cmdr Andy B]

find the center axis of the asteroid and hit it with you mining laser from a distance of around 100 meters and the chunks come almost directly towards you, to scoop them adjust your position with vertical and horizontal thrust, don't use pitch, roll or forward thrust AT ALL.

you will find after some practice you hardly need to move your ship and you can keep the asteroid in sight at all times.

its not the game, you just need practice is all, also make sure you have a D2 mining laser fitted, it goes on a medium hardpoint and chips off the chunks a lot quicker than the D1.

 

[Joe Spivey]

So the EvE system of click and wait is better than having to actually do something? I disagree. Oh and if you chip off a single chunk and then snap it up you will find the mining is faster and you never loose the asteroid. With practice you can chip a chunk and snap it up like a dog catching treats in a few seconds. get yourself a 5 bin refinary and this will greatly reduce the amount of menu poking.

Honestly, just because YOU find mining boring does not validate your thread title.

 

[Lestat]

I would always suggest 2 bin or higher.

 

[Seboss]

It works. It's just so painfully slow and boring right now I don't understand how anybody in their right mind would do that for more than a couple hours before giving up. Not mentioning it requires pretty costly equipment. But to each his own I suppose.
A FD designer admitted the current implementation is the absolute bare minimum that makes mining possible (even though the whole refining process is pretty convoluted imo), so we can expect it to improve considerably in the future. I would stay away from it for now.

As for actual suggestions, I suppose more powerful mining lasers could liberate larger chunks and collection could be automated using drones. Some way to scan and mark asteroids for prospecting would be nice too.

 

[Boff'in]

I was about to give up on mining until I hit some random platinum and then a system to flog it in, and it made ALL the difference.
(And then some silver)

I'm in a sidewinder at the begining of it all.

Going off a video I just saw, was all about Cobra and bigger ships.

The stronger mining laser is the trick because then you can blast the rock "quick enough" to get all the Rock Drops in a few blasts and they all fly off in roughly the same direction if you are consistant.

Shooting at the pole (no spin) at a "flat" bit, (it's sort of spin of the asteroid plus the "normal" of the polygon you shoot at that creates those weird angles)

This will create a chain of rocks to scoop up.

Having a multi-bin refinery is where it's at.
(4 bins for usefull metals, and 1 for that dumb mineral you pick up)

1 hour works translates (in rich metal rings in prestine condition)
will dish out 250'000 creds, claims the vid.

Between that and exploring, these boring mechanics are where it's at for me, I just want to play the few "wee" moments I get and have it chilled.

I just got to put this all into practice myself When I get the time.

it's that multibin Refinery which is the goal, or maybe a hauler first...not sure, as that and the scooping are the big issues, once you learn where to mine.

 

[Adept]

The mining has issues, in that it doesn't encourage mining lower value ores at all. Rutile, bauxite and so forth should spill forth in almost pure chunks, so you'd only have to scoop up a few. Palladium and platinum are worth picking up in 6 and 7% purity nuggets, but the same isn't true for anything else.

 

[Seboss]

The mining has issues, in that it doesn't encourage mining lower value ores at all.

In general, except when they are required by missions, there's not much point in trading with low value ores at all. You will always find a station where high value metals are in demand, and usually in the hundreds of thousand tons.

I'm not sure there's any way around that until we get some crafting system (if any), or more insight into how supplied raw materials can influence a station production, or something.

 

[Raven]

Mining feels very soul crushingly boring right now, it isn't because I'd favour something like Eve Online (good lord that's even more so, at least you have something to do!) but as it stands you are massively limited to really mining in a smaller ship as the larger mining lasers only improve the speed of chunks that get taken off not the size; so I'd probably stick to mining in a Cobra Mk III at the absolute most... especially as it can take 5-6 chunks on Medium Demand Ores to refine into 1Tn of Ore.

Multiple Bins does speed this up a bit, but the investment is hardly a worthwhile pay-off without finding the Rare Metals like Silver, Gold, Palladium, Platinum.
I think what really puts me off right now is the Cargo Scoop just isn't good enough, as you still have to scoop everything up individually; be incredibly precise and there is a time limit (that is massively short) to how long chunks last in space.

Mining would definitely see a vast improvement if you could have an Ore Scoop (similar to the Fuel Scoop) that automatically activate within 1km Proximity to an Asteroid, where the Class determines the Chunk Size they can Scoop; while Grade determines the distance that it can 'Suck' up at... say E (100m) to A (450m) or such. This would then mean that instead of Mining Lasers being 'Speed' (that could be the Grade) instead they would indicate the Chunk Size, where the Larger Mining Lasers would be more useful for Bulk Mining; while the Smaller Mining Lasers would be better for Precision Mining.

This would then come in to its own, if the Asteroids procedurally reduced in size based on the Chunks Taken; in-part this indicates how much is left to mine, but then in a way there could be something similar to how Landmark (for example) works... where the vast majority of the Voxel Space is taken up with useless Rock Ores, while there are pockets / layers of varying useful materials. This means that each time you mine, you're not getting either Useless / Useful materials; rather merely a Chunk (size dependant on the Mining Laser) that you slice off for Refinery Processing.

As it is an asteroid just looking at it shouldn't reveal what is valuable and what isn't, instead you would use a Device to check Composition that when 'Pinged' (like the D-Scanner) would show the Content up to the Depth it can scan with a basic overview of % numbers of materials; but also would display a False Colour overlay on the HUD over the Asteroid that would gradually fade allowing you to target sections with larger amounts of the Ores you want. If this was coupled with a Utility Device, that was similar to the Cargo Scoop HUD where for Rare Materials you had to line up and keep adjusting yourself as you cut in order to get a Higher Percentage of that material (as oppose to simply blasting off a chunk that would greatly reduce this via the refining, that would only be as effective as the purity of the chunk to begin with) then this could add a definite skill-based aspect to mining, especially Rare Materials.

Separating the Refinery and Resource Bins also would be useful, as a Refinery itself should only need to be the same Class Size as the Mining Laser; while the Bins could be like the Fuel Bay, being a Multiple of the Class holding Processed Results of the Refinery that could take time to process the materials; in-fact this could use the Ships Power Management to determine if you want a Fast'n'Dirty, Slow High Yield or Multiple Materials based on focus towards Sys-Eng-Wep power management.

This on the whole would then allow Mining to be as involved (for High Value) or uninvolved (for High Quantity) as the Miner wishes to be.
Just a thought ^_^

 

[thidarknes]

Totally agree with OP, we should be able to have automatic mining laser, automatic ore scoop and automatic tractor beam. So I could let my computer alone for 2 hours and when I come back my cargo is full with at least 64 tons of gold.

 

[GerminVermin]

its not the game, you just need practice is all, also make sure you have a D2 mining laser fitted, it goes on a medium hardpoint and chips off the chunks a lot quicker than the D1.

Well said.

So the EvE system of click and wait is better than having to actually do something? I disagree.

Honestly, just because YOU find mining boring does not validate your thread title.

Very well said!

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

Mining feels very soul crushingly boring right now

Well, good thing there are other things to do in the game if you don't like mining, eh?

 

[Dweezil_Moon]

I agree with Joe Spivey, but there is one thing I must give the OP credit for : "click and wait" is the perfect description of everything Eve.

 

[Non Grata]

Game requires hand-eye coordination, and enjoyment thereof. They should include that in the system requirements.

 

[Seboss]

Okay, snarky comments aside, sure mining works, and one can get better with the cargo scoop and learn to fill a Sidewinder hold in a reasonable amount of time. But does it scale to later stages of the game? Would you take an Anaconda or Type 9 to the asteroid field and fill their 300-500 tons cargo haul? I certainly wouldn't, as the current implementation doesn't support that and because it doesn't make sense financially anyway.

Mining should be an interesting activity for the big ships, and it only makes sense financially if you're able to haul ore in very large amounts, especially the low valued ore like bauxite, rutile, etc, in a reasonably short amount of time. I'm curious to see suggestions to support that in the game in an interesting way. I agree that pressing a "deploy mining drones" button and wait for twenty minutes for the hold to fill up automatically doesn't sound particularly exciting.

 

[subversion]

I having fun in mining. Its also a good way to learn to fly your ship. I use it as Training for my Flying skills.

Totally agree with OP, we should be able to have automatic mining laser, automatic ore scoop and automatic tractor beam. So I could let my computer alone for 2 hours and when I come back my cargo is full with at least 64 tons of gold.

And automatic fly back, sell and repeat.
Making millions with one click on a button. Sounds fun.

 

[NatoNine]

The current mining system is so bare bones that once it does get the attention it needs to make professional mining a okay profession almost the current method as is should be carried over for non miners who have no specialization (just so they can make some money off pristine ore if they stumble across it) . How it could work is by making any weapon capable to different effectivenesses of blasting off bits of ore, they could then scoop the ore (filling their cargo bay directly with it) and sell it unprocessed for a lower percentage of the metals worth and with the disadvantage of hauling the non metallic waste.

In comparison perhaps in future updates professional miners could not only have a automated ore collection and refining method but also the ability to mark/claim sites (temporary exclusive rights) . Maybe they could start to use some of that Bioreducing Lichen too.

 

[GerminVermin]

Okay, snarky comments aside, sure mining works, and one can get better with the cargo scoop and learn to fill a Sidewinder hold in a reasonable amount of time. But does it scale to later stages of the game? Would you take an Anaconda or Type 9 to the asteroid field and fill their 300-500 tons cargo haul? I certainly wouldn't, as the current implementation doesn't support that and because it doesn't make sense financially anyway.

You CAN if you want. It doesn't make sense to me to mine in a Sidewinder because it's got a whole whopping 4 tons of cargo space and requires wasting a TON of time going back and forth to the station to empty and go back out. See, to YOU, it seems reasonable. To ME, it doesn't seem reasonable.

Is it inconceivable to you that someone else might find it reasonable to mine in an Anaconda or a Type 9 and that those people aren't wrong just because you don't agree with them?

Just because YOU hold an opinion one way doesn't mean that someone else's game should be changed. Certainly, there could be improvements to mining but since there's absolutely nothing to be done with mining materials beyond selling them (no construction, as an example), if someone wants to go mining to make money or to pass the time or because they find it fun, then they should be able to do that and not be worried about what they find fun being changed just because someone on the internet wants to launch Elite Dangerous but play Eve.

Mining should be an interesting activity for the big ships, and it only makes sense financially if you're able to haul ore in very large amounts, especially the low valued ore like bauxite, rutile, etc, in a reasonably short amount of time. I'm curious to see suggestions to support that in the game in an interesting way. I agree that pressing a "deploy mining drones" button and wait for twenty minutes for the hold to fill up automatically doesn't sound particularly exciting.

Who says mining is NOT interesting for big ships? I'm sure there's someone out there who IS in a big ship and DOES find it interesting.

If your argument hinges completely on making money in an ideal fashion or at an ideal rate, then your argument should be "Hauling cargo is more efficient at making money than mining so mining should be changed to make as much money as hauling so that the game is bland and boring and everyone gets a participation trophy no matter what career they choose."

Mining doesn't NEED to be the fastest way to make money. It doesn't HAVE to be the most fun task in the game. That's the beauty of this game! That's the beauty of EVERY game! You do what you find is FUN and you don't do what you don't think is fun. If your idea of having fun is making as much money as fast as possible, then buy yourself a Type 9 and get to work.

 

[Seboss]

Who says mining is NOT interesting for big ships? I'm sure there's someone out there who IS in a big ship and DOES find it interesting.

Just like you can find people who enjoy shoving screwdrivers down where screwdrivers *really* don't belong, if you know where to look. Wouldn't be nice if you actually tried to contribute something new in this subforum except of trying to systematically oppose every suggestion with the same rebuttal? The game is still in its infancy, it's in no way perfect, and believe it or not, I'm sure even FD designers know very well that many parts of the gameplay are lacking. I never suggested mining should be easier or more profitable, my question is all about expanding and improving the gameplay, so please refrain from using cheap strawman rhetorics.

 

[GerminVermin]

Wouldn't it be nice if you actually read through my posts to see that I very well do contribute to this sub forum like positive ideas that ad value without instituting hand-holding measures, solve problems including fixing bugs, and answer questions?