Mining - any love?

[Sexydino]

Don't you see from the system map which are pristine metallic reserves without jumping and checking? Or am I missing something.

Yeah you can see them from the system map provided you have the cartographics..

Mining needs a serious buff imo, I actually quite enjoy it as an early game way of making money - I made about 8M from the reserves at Coelrind.

There needs to be a serious equipment drop, things like drones, scanners, upgraded mining scoops or something, because it seems ludicrous that there's that much money sitting in rocks, and the best you can do is float around with a C2 mining laser and built-in refinery, suprised there arne't any mining ships.

 

[Pianoman]

Was getting the hang of mining. But after 1.1, problem is getting interdictionized trying to sell. Going broke now, so parking until devs fix that.

 

[BlackReign]

I see very little love for mining around here and I've been tossing around the idea of trying it out. Anyone out there making their fortune seven dwarves style?

Mining is only viable in the early stages of your economic development. Once you get a Type6, there's no reason to mine anymore and that's really too bad. Here are some quick things (off the top) would improve it:
- greater variance in yields
- greater varience in payouts
- Supply/Demand should drive prices. For example, if a port is under construction, precious metal prices should skyrocket in that area
- more choices of mining lasers
- more modules to improve mining, perhaps deployable bots
- missions that encourage mining
- introduction of rare metals of huge value
- bonus CR/rewards for bounty's served at extraction points.
- improved cargo bays (more choices), perhaps a gimballed cargo bay that reaches out and grabs chunks.
- Bigger ships should have bigger lasers for bigger chunks, resulting in higher payouts.

...just a few thougts.

 

[Dominico]

Prospecting! This is a great idea and another job alternative, really like that idea.

I would also like the odd alien artefact "find" every now and then, just to add that extra element of discovery




Inspirational, like this one also! The planetary landings with us being able to leave mining machines. Then returning to harvest the ore. Unless some pirate has got there first and nicked your load! That's another "job" we may add to the "to do" list for Elite Dangerous. Also another career for the pirate "criminals", so everyone is happy!

Hmm, I hope FD implement this, when/ if the landings come about. Then no need to march up and down with a placard

The problem is many "less brave" players who think the game is about money will just drop it in solo mode. ..

 

[Ketzerfreund]

The problem is many "less brave" players who think the game is about money will just drop it in solo mode. ..

...unless the machine is handled as part of the 'verse by the game, so it exists for everyone.

 

[CMDR Sheehy]

Don't you see from the system map which are pristine metallic reserves without jumping and checking? Or am I missing something.

Yeah. But then you might as well play a spreadsheet.

Real prospectors go in and actually prove the scan. Besides, a little healthy mining will actually double (and sometimes more than double) the return from a system scan. So you get to:

A) Do exploring AND mining
B) Not stick around in the same place all the time
C) Make some cash

Oh, yeah, and not forgetting that mining means you sometimes have to earn a few bounties. Plus scanning dots from a distance is meh, going in close, especially rings, makes for some very nice screenies. Oh, and I left the system tags on so you can spot which system this is in. Nice Metal Rich ring next to one of the gas giant. Plenty of Gallite and a bit of Silver.