Newcomer / Intro Getting to grips with mining basics

SportyScribe

SportyScribe
Today I thought I would try and get to grips with mining basics, armed with having watched a few YT tutorials.

I decided to start small with an Adder - good plan as getting an understanding of limpets and how to activate them and deactivate them was quite... entertaining.

Once I had earned a bit, I switched up to a Cobra and just because I could (and my Mk III was parked elsewhere) I decided to dedicate my Horizons Early Adopter Cobra Mk IV to the cause!

Headed out and on the first drop into some rings I found a rock with LTDs... but efforts to find more in subsequent trips was fruitless, so have invested in a Detailed Surface Scanner for next time. But with the bigger cargo, it made limpet management a lot easier... and I even remembered that thrusters help!

I need to improve dropping into rings in short order, but hoping that being able to scan rings for hotspots will also help.

Given that I found the standard tutorial AWFUL with no mention of Collector Limpets, it was bizarrely therapeutic to deplete a rock and then sit back and watch my little collector go.

All my ships are now back in one place so might do a bit o'trading, but I am beginning to see the appeal in Mining, and may well do some more so any advice for LTDs (I have links to the Mining Tools so was going to use that to find a spot near by and practice from there... I had thought of jumping to Borann and leave the Mk IV there and then just jump back in an Adder shuttle.

Thoughts/advice most welcome.
 

Para Handy

Para Handy
The Quattro is great as a small miner. I must admit I don't use mine for that since I got fed up trying to do explody-asteroid core mining (I just can't get the hang of it). Now that market price for mined goods is adversely affected by large loads I only use Python miners - I suppose Quattros are good in that respect too.
 

SportyScribe

SportyScribe
Ooooh I might have to change the name of my Mk IV to the immortal words from Gene Hunt (Ashes to Ashes/Life on Mars)... Fire Up the Quattro!

Actually last night I wondered I ought to switch to the Mk III but the optional modules slots in the Mk IV gives me the standard issue SuperCruise Assist and Docking Computer and able to put decent fuel scoop, sensor etc in there too - I would have had to store the included freebies if I wanted to try that on the Mk III. And at the end of the day it is a stepping stone onto an Asp or a Python in my view.

I looked up my old spreadsheets from my first life I seemed to go Sidey - Adder - Hauler(s) - Cobra Mk. III - Asp - and I achieved that doing rares. After getting blatted on my first rares run, I got a Viper and some RES play and now this little chomper.

I even managed to boost away from an NPC pirate in the Mk IV without too much damage and without too many upgrades to this model just now... so it will do for now.

So I am assuming that as I approach the rings, slow right down, scan and then aim for them? Every time I tried it yesterday (without a DSS) I dropped in with a smattering of hull damage...
 

Ant hill

A
I forgive myself a few percent hull damage entering rings. There is a magic number to enter without damage, I forget, 100 000 km/s? Target the rings and so at half throttle doesn't seem to bad.
 

Para Handy

Para Handy
SportyScribe said:
Ooooh I might have to change the name of my Mk IV to the immortal words from Gene Hunt (Ashes to Ashes/Life on Mars)... Fire Up the Quattro!

Actually last night I wondered I ought to switch to the Mk III but the optional modules slots in the Mk IV gives me the standard issue SuperCruise Assist ...
...........
So I am assuming that as I approach the rings, slow right down, scan and then aim for them? Every time I tried it yesterday (without a DSS) I dropped in with a smattering of hull damage...
Click to expand...
(... back before Keeley Hawes became a m i l f :) )

The SCA is a waste of space in my opinion - a slot that can be used for your DSS - essential for locating those hot-spots.

You only need to map a ring once, the hotspots will still show up for you in future visits as long as you have a DSS fitted.

The trick to approaching the rings (I find) is to travel the last little bit at zero throttle (or very close to that) - you then drop out "too close" but with no damage. The other point is to approach from (nearly) directly above (or below depending on your point of view ;) ) - if you come in at a shallow angle then you can't control the last bit of approach before the FSD decides to drop you out, a steep approach keeps you in control.
 

[VR] Orodruin

[VR] Orodruin
Para Handy said:
The trick to approaching the rings (I find) is to travel the last little bit at zero throttle (or very close to that) - you then drop out "too close" but with no damage. The other point is to approach from (nearly) directly above (or below depending on your point of view ;) ) - if you come in at a shallow angle then you can't control the last bit of approach before the FSD decides to drop you out, a steep approach keeps you in control.
Click to expand...
I usually approach at the usual 75% throttle without taking damage. Of course, this will depend on your actual speed, not the throttle setting.
 

aRJay

aRJay
I find the 75% works fine for a targeted RES but usually leads to damage anywhere else in a ring so I drop to 50% then keep an eye on the ring and as soon as it gets a granular look throttle back to almost zero this gets me in without damage.
Then I just bumble along setting my ship up for mining and starting prospecting until the first visitors have turned up if they are pirates I wait until they have gone before getting stuck in anyone else I start mining right away.
 

SportyScribe

SportyScribe
I might have to put that DSS to use in other undiscovered areas... I have tried dropping into hotspots but i guess Borann is getting mined out....
 

Para Handy

Para Handy
SportyScribe said:
Really struggling to get the hang of this - and not a LTD rock in sight. Must be something super obvious I am (not?) doing...

Try again tomorrow -
Click to expand...

The sweet spot is inside the LTD triple hotspot - as shown in this image (not mine).

triple LTD.jpg
 

SportyScribe

SportyScribe
Should I be investing in a pulse wave analyser? I watched one video where the guy didn't even show how he dropped into the zone, and was using a PWA and then used his regular mining laser....?
 

Para Handy

Para Handy
SportyScribe said:
Should I be investing in a pulse wave analyser? I watched one video where the guy didn't even show how he dropped into the zone, and was using a PWA and then used his regular mining laser....?
Click to expand...

As @Orodruin rightly says the PWA is of no use in laser mining. If you decide to do some explody-asteroid-mining (core mining) then yes it is supposed to be the canine's testicles. BTW your Quattro is OK for core mining if you want to give it a go - just that laser-mining LTDs is the best payout at the moment.

Another BTW - if you are just mining for a single product (LTDs in Borann for example) then you can just fit a 2A refinery - it has six bins to carry 6t of LTD when your cargo racks are full - whereas a 2E cargo rack only carries 4t. - Just sayin'. ;)
 

JetsonRING

JetsonRING

When I started mining I fitted out an Asp-X and went deep-core VOpal mining. Did pretty well, great visibility too and I would suggest using an Asp-X for the job. A couple trips in an Asp-X should earn enough for a Python and from there you can start getting rich with credits.
 

SportyScribe

SportyScribe
JetsonRING said:
When I started mining I fitted out an Asp-X and went deep-core VOpal mining. Did pretty well, great visibility too and I would suggest using an Asp-X for the job. A couple trips in an Asp-X should earn enough for a Python and from there you can start getting rich with credits.
Click to expand...
That would be great if I could afford one, and the hope is...if I stop being seemingly the only commander who can’t find LTDs in an LTD hotspot, that should be my next ship.
 

SportyScribe

SportyScribe
Para Handy said:
As @Orodruin rightly says the PWA is of no use in laser mining. If you decide to do some explody-asteroid-mining (core mining) then yes it is supposed to be the canine's testicles. BTW your Quattro is OK for core mining if you want to give it a go - just that laser-mining LTDs is the best payout at the moment.

Another BTW - if you are just mining for a single product (LTDs in Borann for example) then you can just fit a 2A refinery - it has six bins to carry 6t of LTD when your cargo racks are full - whereas a 2E cargo rack only carries 4t. - Just sayin'. ;)
Click to expand...
I have a 6-bin refinery and I think I found that out by mistake when I was hoovering up Bromellite.
I am obviously missing something obvious when I come into the rings in the first place, but hopefully winging up with a couple of commanders tomorrow to see just what I have been doing wrong. Then just hoping practice will help get me out of the Quattro and into something a lot more useful.

It must be something glaringly stupid and I will no doubt kick myself repeatedly ....
 
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