[Suggestions] for mining

[disorganise]

So I've spent the last few days mining as I'd never really tried it. I'd picked up a couple of mining missions but will only complete 1....maybe 2 if I'm lucky because it is quite a slow process. Nonetheless, some suggestions for improvements.

1) when I launch a collection limpet, why not open the cargo door automatically if it is closed? If I *really* want it closed I can close it again, but I can't think why I would want that. If I'm launching then I'm planning to collect.

2) when the limpets are about to expire, have some notification...eg have them change colour on the scanner (or flash) for the final 10 seconds. This let's me get prepared to launch a replacement. If it could be tied to the actual controller in the hud by matching colour/flash, that would be even better (I have 2 controllers on different firegroups)

3) look into optimising the limpet routing engine to better avoid obstacles. Several times limpets expired for no apparent reason and the only explanation I can think of is that they attempted to take a shortcut *through* a rock and failed.

4) add some indicator when limpet is close to being out of range so I have chance to reverse or similar to 'save' it

5) add a collection filter so uninteresting fragments can be ignored (or deprioritised). When a mission needs one particular thing it is annoying to waste time collecting other items.

6) perhaps add an option to "auto launch" limpets as they expire until I toggle the setting off again

7) some way to scan a rock to determine its make up before firing up the laser would be great. Bonus points if this could (also) be done from a modified fighter and we can "paint" markers on the rocks deemed interesting so when we switch back to the mothership we can flit from marked rock to marked rock, limpets dutifully following.

 

[YinYin]

1) when I launch a collection limpet, why not open the cargo door automatically if it is closed? If I *really* want it closed I can close it again, but I can't think why I would want that. If I'm launching then I'm planning to collect.

You are much slower with the hatch open. Depending on the situation (not only miners use collectors) you may want to issue a collection task but still adjust your position until the collector comes around. I often deploy the whole swarm while I'm creating the first fragments, but am still fine tuning my position to the asteroid - and only open once the collectors are coming back. I would be annoyed if I had to close it again every time.

7) some way to scan a rock to determine its make up before firing up the laser would be great. Bonus points if this could (also) be done from a modified fighter and we can "paint" markers on the rocks deemed interesting so when we switch back to the mothership we can flit from marked rock to marked rock, limpets dutifully following.

We have prospector limpets for that.

 

[disorganise]

We have prospector limpets for that.

Ooh. Not realised/come across them. Must be a different controller type I'm guessing? Will take another look, thanks for the tip o7

Haven't come across the need to speedily adjust position upon initiating collection since it seems to get out of range...but I'm new to this and find too often I forgot the hatch. Maybe as more experience is built I will change my view. Maybe it could be a toggleable option in the 4th panel where you set turrets to fire at will/forward only and so on. That way you can set it to suit your needs?

 

[YinYin]

Toggle options always work

I'm sure I'm in the minority when it comes to consciously deploying the cargo hatch.

 

[Konnivar]

Good ideas to be sure. It would also be nice if mining was a bit more interactive and less repetitive, maybe add ore nodes to random asteroids that give extra fragments when directly targeted. Also, Engineering for Mining Lasers, collector limpets, and prospecting limpets needs to be a thing; not just shielded or heavy duty either.

Things like increased limpet speed, increased lifetime, increased # of limpets for the collectors. Prospectors should also have something that increases the concentrations of materials in the asteroid, and another that increases the number of fragments that can be broken from an asteroid.

Mining lasers should have Lightweight (for explorers), Efficient, and Overcharged mods. Overcharged in this case should break off fragments faster than the standard mining laser.


I have a purpose built Mining ship, and would love to be able to engineer it to be a more efficient miner.

 

[Lord Hexias]

I love the idea of "nodes" to hit that score you bonus fragments. Would also be pretty neat if we could scan Asteroids with more precision and target areas that have what we want. For example, if a rock as 18% Painite and 32% Gallite it would be handy to be able to use a scanner to determine where (if any) the denser Painite deposits might be. Would at least give us something to aim for and do while mining.

 

[Konnivar]

I love the idea of "nodes" to hit that score you bonus fragments. Would also be pretty neat if we could scan Asteroids with more precision and target areas that have what we want. For example, if a rock as 18% Painite and 32% Gallite it would be handy to be able to use a scanner to determine where (if any) the denser Painite deposits might be. Would at least give us something to aim for and do while mining.

Especially on those asteroids that rotate rather quickly, only skilled maneuvering would allow mining of that fast rotating painite node!

 

[YinYin]

Especially on those asteroids that rotate rather quickly, only skilled maneuvering would allow mining of that fast rotating painite node!

I'm always cautious with that idea when even some long time miners still complain about losing their collectors. The skills required for hitting a certain spot and keeping them alive aren't very different.

 

[Limoncello Lizard]

1. I definitely don't want that. I often mine with the cargo door intentionally shut, I open it when I want the collectors to deliver. All you need to do is press one button.

3. With experience, you will learn how to avoid having limpets expire needlessly.

4. Not really going to be an option when you have several active limpets. I normally use at least 10 at a time, though I've mined with 20 active limpets. Also, B-rated limpets have the longest range.

6. Bind all your the collector controllers to the same fire key as your mining lasers. They will automatically deploy when you fire.

7. Prospector limpets

 

[Davor Granic]

Collection fillter would be awsome especialy for miners with small rafinaries with few slots. Nodes also.

 

[hammer326]

4. Not really going to be an option when you have several active limpets. I normally use at least 10 at a time, though I've mined with 20 active limpets. Also, B-rated limpets have the longest range.

6. Bind all your the collector controllers to the same fire key as your mining lasers. They will automatically deploy when you fire.

Had the game close to two years and mined for much of it; the latter never occurred to me but sounds really smart, thanks.

As for the former... just out of curiosity, what do you mine with that warrants, not to mention efficiently uses, that many collectors? And how many lasers? A T9 maybe? My mynethon shredded rocks with two medium lasers and I think 7 collectors tops LOL.

 

[hammer326]

Hey disorganise!

Solid suggestions overall. I particularly like the sound of 1-4 even as a veteran miner who's worked around many of these issues. In terms of the latter (4), I don't find it much of an issue if you just rip a rock at a time, which doesn't often mean moving very far.

#5 is a good one too, but just before 2.3 was all but solved (admittedly by a few extra button clicks) by jettison (abandon)ing unwanted cargo post-refinement, which collectors subsequently ignore, as they should've since launch but not going to go off on a rant here.

#6 as explained above is essentially doable by binding both your lasers and limpet controllers to the same button if you so choose; I myself have left mouse button for lasers, right for prospectors, and all collectors on a separate group just so I'm not wasteful with them as, with my mining python, I can easily run with 5 or 6 rather than 7 for awhile.


Anyway, great post!

 

[Limoncello Lizard]

As for the former... just out of curiosity, what do you mine with that warrants, not to mention efficiently uses, that many collectors? And how many lasers? A T9 maybe? My mynethon shredded rocks with two medium lasers and I think 7 collectors tops LOL.

It was an Anaconda with 4 medium lasers. It was a while ago, when the refinery seemed to work better and didn't stick all the time. Lots of limpets means you can mine wildly tumbling roids efficiently.

 

[Lestat]

The only thing I would not mind having is 2 timer for collectors.

1 One for the Newest Collector Limpet released

2 One for the Oldest Collector Limpet released

The other 3 to 8 collectors don't matter. Because they will become the oldest Collector at one point of time.

Now if your complaining about Collectors crashing into Asteroid. That your fault. When you see a Asteroid spin. you need to study that Asteroid and find the area that will cause little or no damage of your collectors. It a skill you need to learn.

1. I definitely don't want that. I often mine with the cargo door intentionally shut, I open it when I want the collectors to deliver. All you need to do is press one button.

Agree I tend to leave mine open but I just in a Anaconda.

3. With experience, you will learn how to avoid having limpets expire needlessly.

Agree. You can fill your whole cargo with Limpets until you learn the skill lol.

4. Not really going to be an option when you have several active limpets. I normally use at least 10 at a time, though I've mined with 20 active limpets. Also, B-rated limpets have the longest range.

Dang I was doing good with 6. 20 Cool deal. My Alt account Just got my Anaconda

6. Bind all your the collector controllers to the same fire key as your mining lasers. They will automatically deploy when you fire.

Hum not a bad idea. I might try that. Use my other flight stick for prospector.

 

[Limoncello Lizard]

The time remaining on a limpet displaying when it is targeted would be handy.

 

[Konnivar]

The time remaining on a limpet displaying when it is targeted would be handy.

Having it visible next to the name in the contacts panel, that way you can quickly check the lifetime of all limpets without needing to target them individually.

 

[Limoncello Lizard]

Having it visible next to the name in the contacts panel, that way you can quickly check the lifetime of all limpets without needing to target them individually.

Damn, your idea is better than mine. Fragments already do this, so adding this to limpets shouldn't be too difficult to do.