Elite Mining game!

[Crank Larson]

Today everyone is a miner as there are no other reasonable ways to make good money.

But also because it is a very enjoyable way to earn that money, for many people (I know some hate it). Mining is one of the most well developed features of this game, in my opinion. I like to take equipment so that on each trip I can do at least three different types of mining (usually laser, sub-surface, and surface). This makes the activities varied and interesting (and getting those subsurface deposits out of fast spinning asteroids is definitely one I enjoy). While I like to mine efficiently, I'm never in any rush - I find it a really relaxing experience.

 

[B1rdy]

This seems to be primarily an objection to someone being able to afford a top ship (for example) within just a few hours of gameplay? I agree that this has become far easier since the game's release. I spent a very long time in my AspX because I was unable to afford a bigger ship. But... I've also started another account and appreciated that because I knew the game (and because credits are now easy), I was able to progress far quicker.

The point I'm trying to make is that I don't object to either. I take the game as it comes. It most definitely is easier to get credits now, but I don't see that as a bad thing. If anything, it has increased my enjoyment as it has opened up the game (more features are available to far more people with significantly less effort - I think this is good ).

In the end the devs have to define the lengths of certain game loops or certain tasks to be archived, it is subjective to a certain extend. However, it is not subjective, if a new player can skip most of the content the devs created by using regular, intended mechanics, but only if the does it a certain way. That undermines your the game ultimately.

 

[space voyager]

I love the changes that were made to mining. Especially core mining brought some skill into mining - I wish it was still much more profitable than regular mining. But both mining types are far too profitable in general. A bit of toning them down would not hurt.

 

[Crank Larson]

In the end the devs have to define the lengths of certain game loops or certain tasks to be archived, it is subjective to a certain extend. However, it is not subjective, if a new player can skip most of the content the devs created by using regular, intended mechanics, but only if the does it a certain way. That undermines your the game ultimately.

In a sandbox game all content is optional. Nothing wrong with going straight to the big ships and then going back to smaller ones (many commanders seem to do that). This isn't a game with a storyline as such, so players will make their own way.

 

[CmdMarty]

This game hasn't had very good balance for some reason but as i see many don't care and thats probably why nothing changes. So i guess just spend at least double the time doing other professions for the same reward!

 

[Brrokk]

I am a miner before the core mining. I bought my forst python from osmium and platinum mining and if I am lucky some painite. It was fun to mine and it was less profitable than trading. Today everyone is a miner as there are no other reasonable ways to make good money. We need balance in money making between mining, exploring, trading, combat, passengers. and that can easily works by reducing the crazy values of LTD and VO to reasonable prices around 200K- 400K ranges, while increasing combat payouts. miners will still make good money but on par with the other activities. I often get bored and go for some combat missions but the payouts are ridiculous even if I stack several massacre missions.

Yes, what I've been trying to show with my number examples is that we already have this balance. Mining is indeed the best credits/hour ATM, but not by much (I make it 20% more than mission running). When the Borann hotspots are gone in June it probably won't be anymore.

The reason so many people are mining is that it's the "latest thing" and there are help videos. In a couple of months something else will be the new latest thing.

I agree that combat bonds for AX and CZ activities could do with a buff.

 

[Brrokk]

It's also important to note that the top mining prices are only available for short periods, and it always take a little time for them to be found. So, while it is possible to earn 750m in less than four play hours (that was my last tally from Borran), the actual timescale for that (for me) could be several days. I had to park my Cutter up for several days until there was a top price buyer available.

Interesting. What would you say your credits-per-hour-played comes to?

 

[avow555]

Don't exaggerate. You can also do passenger missions, regular trading, pirating, cargo hauling and bounty hunting.
No one forces you to do mining. Right?

Mining currently guaranteed credits at Borann.
When the beta was announced I was sitting on 1 bill. So the only way to participate was to make 4+ bill.
Incidentally I paid up front for beta privelages and not missed one yet.
Please feel free to post a video of you making 4+ bill doing any of the other ways in a short time frame.
Incidentally Bounty Hunting is my usual activity.
You'd be lucky to make 15 million in an hour, lol.

 

[Kamiyoda]

Eventually someone will realise Fleet carriers will be selling for 1 million credits towards the end of the Beta.


Someday....

 

[CardioTherapy]

Yes, what I've been trying to show with my number examples is that we already have this balance. Mining is indeed the best credits/hour ATM, but not by much (I make it 20% more than mission running). When the Borann hotspots are gone in June it probably won't be anymore.

The reason so many people are mining is that it's the "latest thing" and there are help videos. In a couple of months something else will be the new latest thing.

I agree that combat bonds for AX and CZ activities could do with a buff.

I personally never went to Boron. I don't like to use exploits. I am still doing core mining where I can develop my own techniques for efficiency. I still think the payout from LTD and VO should be reduces to be in par with the rest of the rare core mining materials.

 

[Crank Larson]

Interesting. What would you say your credits-per-hour-played comes to?

You mean over all time? And if you didn't mean that, once I'd thought that I had to look it up anyway (I've never worked it out, so after several years it seems like a appropriate time to do so)...

I've played 1814 hours and my current assets are just over 8 billion. On average, I've earned just under 5 million an hour over all the time I've played. But then, I've never played for credits. I traded until I could afford an AspX and then headed out into the black for months. And due to an argument with a station wall and really bad planning (don't drink when you've just returned to civilisation from a long journey past the core), I lost the vast majority of the data (hence credits) for that first trip!

 

[Brrokk]

You mean over all time? And if you didn't mean that, once I'd thought that I had to look it up anyway (I've never worked it out, so after several years it seems like a appropriate time to do so)...

I've played 1814 hours and my current assets are just over 8 billion. On average, I've earned just under 5 million an hour over all the time I've played. But then, I've never played for credits. I traded until I could afford an AspX and then headed out into the black for months. And due to an argument with a station wall and really bad planning (don't drink when you've just returned to civilisation from a long journey past the core), I lost the vast majority of the data (hence credits) for that first trip!

No, sorry, I meant if you say "I'm now going mining" and after the mining and hunting out a good price, finally selling, what's the credits divided by number of hours? That was how I came up with 60Mcr/hr.

 

[Crank Larson]

No, sorry, I meant if you say "I'm now going mining" and after the mining and hunting out a good price, finally selling, what's the credits divided by number of hours? That was how I came up with 60Mcr/hr.

The finding the station to sell doesn't take a lot of time as such, though it does mean I can't do anything else in the meantime (not a lot you can do with a hold full of LTDs). I just check Inara a couple of times a day and wait for a suitable sell price. And checking Inara is out of game, so really there's no additional play time involved at all. For total time, though - last time I was filled up my hold in one session one evening (about four hours, probably less) and was then parked for the next four days. So, that would make a round 100 hours and 7.5m an hour. But I don't think it's reasonable to compare the earnings that way.

I don't always do this - if I want to do something else in-game then I would just go and find any station that gave me somewhere around 1m per ton.

 

[B1rdy]

In a sandbox game all content is optional. Nothing wrong with going straight to the big ships and then going back to smaller ones (many commanders seem to do that). This isn't a game with a storyline as such, so players will make their own way.

Sure, but the way it is now, like you can earn enough to buy a Cobra by two missions in the noob bubble, and be in an Anaconda within a day, seems really disconnected from the way the game was before mining became a "money exploit by design".
Additionally sandbox does not mean you can do everything without meeting special requirements.

 

[Shir]

Right now, mining with a 512 cargo space Cutter in Borann, I can fill it up in about 3 hour long sessions, making around 700-750 millions afterwards.

No other activity in the game comes even close to that, and that's unfortunate. I hope balance doesn't come at the cost of severely nerfing mining - that would be great, but good luck covering carrier upkeep if it happens..

In my opinion, neither profits nor costs should have gone to that extreme. Game finance seems pretty balanced excluding these.

 

[Crank Larson]

Sure, but the way it is now, like you can earn enough to buy a Cobra by two missions in the noob bubble, and be in an Anaconda within a day, seems really disconnected from the way the game was before mining became a "money exploit by design".
Additionally sandbox does not mean you can do everything without meeting special requirements.

I'd say it's more an evolution of the game. Rather than reducing payouts from mining, I hope FD introduce other mechanics for other professions that can earn very high profits (preferably with enjoyable gameplay, as mining is for me). There are still many parts of the game that have other requirements, as you say, so I don't think we need to have credits as an additional one. It doesn't bother me if a new player can buy an Anaconda within a day. They won't be able to fly it properly for months.

 

[Morbeus Kain]

Edit: Quote failure.
This is in response to Crank Larson's response to Brrokk
You're skirting the question with what you know are unreasonable responses in order to skew the data to favor your argument. You must be a used car salesman.
I'm a new player, and my eyes and experience tells me that if I want to make money fast, go core mining. My friend and I got this game at the same time, and we have tried a little of everything, together, and solo. He does more mining, while I do more trading and combat.
He plays less than half of the time I do, and has 4 times as much credits.
I'm higher ranked in all categories than he is, and last night he just passed me in trade rank due to his mining.
For a reference, we have had the same ships, while i've had more credits (due to play time) up until 2 days ago.

 

[Crank Larson]

Edit: Quote failure.
This is in response to Crank Larson's response to Brrokk
You're skirting the question with what you know are unreasonable responses in order to skew the data to favor your argument. You must be a used car salesman.
I'm a new player, and my eyes and experience tells me that if I want to make money fast, go core mining. My friend and I got this game at the same time, and we have tried a little of everything, together, and solo. He does more mining, while I do more trading and combat.
He plays less than half of the time I do, and has 4 times as much credits.
I'm higher ranked in all categories than he is, and last night he just passed me in trade rank due to his mining.
For a reference, we have had the same ships, while i've had more credits (due to play time) up until 2 days ago.

I'm not skirting anything. I'm simply expressing my opinion. Your example doesn't bother me in the slightest - so long as you have both been enjoying the game, what do the credits you have earned matter? I've been coaching a friend through the game since he started a few months ago, and he's progressed really quickly to have a reasonable combat ship and miner, with lots of spare cash. But this means that we can both do other things we enjoy that don't earn credits.

Credits only matter when you haven't got enough of them to do what you want. And the fact that you can remedy that within a couple of hours by mining is a very good thing, in my opinion.

 

[Morbeus Kain]

lol ok, man.

 

[CardioTherapy]

Right now, mining with a 512 cargo space Cutter in Borann, I can fill it up in about 3 hour long sessions, making around 700-750 millions afterwards.

No other activity in the game comes even close to that, and that's unfortunate. I hope balance doesn't come at the cost of severely nerfing mining - that would be great, but good luck covering carrier upkeep if it happens..

In my opinion, neither profits nor costs should have gone to that extreme. Game finance seems pretty balanced excluding these.

Game exploits like Borann are breaking the game. Devs take too long time to fix them. I am currently doing core mining in rings I have discovered myself after long searching for the right ones. I can say with this method without looking at any guids and tutorials I started making about 100 mil / hour. I use my old veteran mining Python.