I'd love to try the new Deep Core Mining but...

[Scoob]

Hey all... or is that Oh Seven Commanders...I've been away lol.

So, I've not played the game much of late, at all. I was last playing regularly before the Exploration changes were implemented, so I've zero experience of them. I have signed into the game to let it update, and I've checked my assets to make sure nothing was missing. However, other than that, and a short flight back to Shinrarta I've done nothing. Basically I'm rusty in things I knew and clueless about any new stuff lol. I did attempt to get back into the game again a while back, but other stuff got in the way.

What I'm looking for to get me back into the game is a relatively quiet, relaxing activity. I used to like Mining once upon a time - even before Limpets were a thing - and thought trying the new Deep Core mining might be a nice way to break myself back into the game - but I'm clueless where to start, though I understand DC Mining is linked to some of the new Exploration Tools added to the game, right?

I have ships that I think have potential for mining, from my Type 7 - still love that ship - an Anaconda as well as a Cutter. I was leaning towards starting out in the T7 - purely because I'm really rather fond of that ship - but I suspect the Anaconda or Cutter would be more effective. I could even buy a T9 I suppose, if it offer any advantage over the other two large ships in my fleet.

What I'm hoping for are some total beginners tips, bearing in mind I have zero experience with the new Exploration changes - I've not even defined controls for them. When I used to mine, I'd simply find a quiet location away from any marked locations and mine, largely in peace. That's pretty much what I'd like to try this time, but using the new mining mechanics of course.

If someone could guide me regarding which of the new Exploration features I'd be using, which gear is a must have and, specifically, which controls I need to ensure are mapped, I'd really appreciate it. I've been around since Beta, but the extended break has left me feeling a little lost lol.

I'd welcome any feedback, guidance or general commentary on people's experiences mining. I have found some videos, but the ones I've seen appear to assume familiarity with the new Exploration mechanics and tools, so I get a bit lost.

Finally, if mining turns into an activity where I'm constantly hassled by Pirates and cannot take my time to learn how to do it well, my interest in minimal. I play in a Private Group, so there's no PvP, just NPC's as a potential threat.

Cheers,

Scoob.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

OA has a good guide:

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIfZu1clbRg

 

[GreyAreaUK]

In terms of location, pretty much any ice-ring will probably have VO hotspots. I use Wolf 25 a lot as I'm based there. If you drop by, say 'hi'

 

[sinisalo]

Some good info in this thread

Newcomer / Intro - How to mine Opals?

Aloha, I am not a new player, just one who has not played in over a year and now wants to get back in the saddle. Any advice on the current opal mining scam money making opportunity would be gratefully received. Thanks CMDRs o7

forums.frontier.co.uk

My suggestion is to look for a smaller, more agile ship than those you listed. I like the Krait II for core mining.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

My suggestion is to look for a smaller, more agile ship than those you listed. I like the Krait II for core mining.

I'm using a 'Conda myself - it's surprisingly nimble in normal space.

 

[Shiro Akai]

For core exploding mining scrath T-7: this ship lacks medium weapon slot. For me it would be perfect ship for that kind of mining but it's useless at its current state.

If you want to mine, get Python or Krait and outfit with:

• prospector limper controller to get higher yield due to identification
• collector limpets for them to pick up things
• refinery, obviously
• mining laser for chipping chunks of ore
• deep charge launcher to poke asteroids with till they explode

Limpet cargo count - up to ~75% of your cargo capacity.

This is basic starting set you can play with. I had similar when I went out minig and it played well (Python).

 

[GreyAreaUK]

For core exploding mining scrath T-7: this ship lacks medium weapon slot. For me it would be perfect ship for that kind of mining but it's useless at its current state.

If you want to mine, get Python or Krait and outfit with:

• prospector limper controller to get higher yield due to identification
• collector limpets for them to pick up things
• refinery, obviously
• mining laser for chipping chunks of ore
• deep charge launcher to poke asteroids with till they explode

Limpet cargo count - up to ~75% of your cargo capacity.

This is basic starting set you can play with. I had similar when I went out minig and it played well (Python).

Abrasion blaster. Not vital and you can do without if you absolutely must, but fit one if you can.

 

[sinisalo]

I'm using a 'Conda myself - it's surprisingly nimble in normal space.

I'm sure it does a great job. Any ship that can mount the required apparatus can do the mission. For me core mining is actually fun, and having a nimble ship that can do FA-off flips around the rock as I position for firing the charges adds to how much fun I think it is. And the excellent cockpit visibility does too.

And I don't think I would ever get anywhere near filling a Conda before I grew tired of it and wanted to cash in. A Krait is big enough for me. I just find it is ideally suited for this particular role, which doesn't make it better than any other ship necessarily, just better for me.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

I'm sure it does a great job. Any ship that can mount the required apparatus can do the mission. For me core mining is actually fun, and having a nimble ship that can do FA-off flips around the rock as I position for firing the charges adds to how much fun I think it is. And the excellent cockpit visibility does too.

And I don't think I would ever get anywhere near filling a Conda before I grew tired of it and wanted to cash in. A Krait is big enough for me. I just find it is ideally suited for this particular role, which doesn't make it better than any other ship necessarily, just better for me.

Oh, totally. And I think if I were re-doing a mining ship I'd probably go with a Krait or Python. A Python feels right

 

[Scoob]

Thanks for the replies guys, I'll check out that video @GreyAreaUK

I actually have a Python parked up at Jameson Memorial, can't recall what its current load-out is though, so I may use that first.

Edit: I watched the video, seems to cover the basics pretty well. I'm a bit disappointed that FD chose to put a strict time limit on placing charges - so we have two minutes to set them all - I guess that's why many people prefer more nimble ships. The thing is, any sort of time limit takes away the "relaxing" element of a task for me, so, I'll ask how are people finding this time limit? Can I place a few charges, detonate them, then place a few more etc. before I finally break the asteroid? Or, do I have to do it all in one go or fail? I'm assuming the former, which takes the pressure off a bit, but would like to know what people think about this.

Finally, do the number of spots for charges vary by asteroid size? Are there even different sizes? I.e. could I potentially hit one HUGE asteroid while in a larger ship, rather than multiple smaller ones?

Scoob.

 

[Sylow]

Edit: I watched the video, seems to cover the basics pretty well. I'm a bit disappointed that FD chose to put a strict time limit on placing charges - so we have two minutes to set them all - I guess that's why many people prefer more nimble ships.

Nah. I use a Cobra MK IV when i go core mining. It's not exactly famous for its speed or agility. Yet i can easily place the charges in less than a minute, fly away and still manually trigger the detonation so i don't have to wait.

The actual reason why i prefer the small ship comes afterwards: it's more easy to squeeze in between the chunks of rock and use the abrasion blaster more easily. But many people also do fine in medium sized ships and, if you wait a little for the rocks to drift further apart, even large ships can get in and do the job.

The thing is, any sort of time limit takes away the "relaxing" element of a task for me, so, I'll ask how are people finding this time limit? Can I place a few charges, detonate them, then place a few more etc. before I finally break the asteroid? Or, do I have to do it all in one go or fail? I'm assuming the former, which takes the pressure off a bit, but would like to know what people think about this.

You have to do it at once. But as stated above, it's really not that much of a hassle. Yes, the first two or three times i had to hurry up. There was still enough to learn on how to do things well. But after cracking just a few rocks, it all became quite easy and relaxed. The trick is to first check a few of the fissures and decide where you want to place your charges and see how the rock rotates. You can let the rotation do part of the work for you, making it rather easy going.

Finally, do the number of spots for charges vary by asteroid size? Are there even different sizes? I.e. could I potentially hit one HUGE asteroid while in a larger ship, rather than multiple smaller ones?

No. Crackable rocks come in one size only. How many fragments you get in the end depend mostly on how well you did the cracking, but from what i gathered also on the state of the ring you are in. (Pristine ring for the win. )

The real difference on ship size is what i described above: how easily you can squeeze in between the rocks. Smaller ships do better there. While bigger ships of course can have a bigger cargo hold, so you can bring more limpets and mine for longer. (A bigger refinery isn't that essential in the end. When core mining, you don't end up with such a big variety of materials that you really make use of the 10 bins of a huge refinery. So it's really cargo racks making the difference in the end. )

It then depends on how you work. I like to do shorter tours. It fits better in my game timing. (My wife always finds something for me to do if I try to schedule too long gaming tours... g ) Which means i rather sell at good prices near where i go mining and do more trips, distributed over several days. Thus the smaller ship works perfectly fine for me. If you'd rather travel further to get the perfect sales price, you're of course better off in a bigger ship. The bigger cargo hold will be worth it then.

 

[Scoob]

Thanks @Sylow I appreciate you taking the time to provide additional information.

I think I may outfit my Python or even my own Cobra MkIII which I've never really used. I got it free due to my backing tier but never used it as it felt like quite a cheat to have it available from the start. Only when I'd earnt enough to buy and equip a new Cobra MkIII did I allow myself to use it, but by then I had other ships available to me.

Scoob.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

I'm a bit disappointed that FD chose to put a strict time limit on placing charges - so we have two minutes to set them all - I guess that's why many people prefer more nimble ships.

That's one of those things that sounds far worse than it actually is. The first couple of times you'll be frantically mucking it up (I did ) but very quickly you not only get the hang of it, you accelerate the detonation.

 

[GreyAreaUK]

Finally, do the number of spots for charges vary by asteroid size? Are there even different sizes? I.e. could I potentially hit one HUGE asteroid while in a larger ship, rather than multiple smaller ones?

This bit's a bit naff - there's only one type of asteroid (per ring type) that's crackable, so (for instance) in an Ice Ring all the crackable are identical. Hopefully FDev will change this sometime.

 

[thistle]

Thanks for the replies guys, I'll check out that video @GreyAreaUK

I actually have a Python parked up at Jameson Memorial, can't recall what its current load-out is though, so I may use that first.

Edit: I watched the video, seems to cover the basics pretty well. I'm a bit disappointed that FD chose to put a strict time limit on placing charges - so we have two minutes to set them all - I guess that's why many people prefer more nimble ships. The thing is, any sort of time limit takes away the "relaxing" element of a task for me, so, I'll ask how are people finding this time limit? Can I place a few charges, detonate them, then place a few more etc. before I finally break the asteroid? Or, do I have to do it all in one go or fail? I'm assuming the former, which takes the pressure off a bit, but would like to know what people think about this.

Finally, do the number of spots for charges vary by asteroid size? Are there even different sizes? I.e. could I potentially hit one HUGE asteroid while in a larger ship, rather than multiple smaller ones?

Scoob.

Python is ideal.

From my experience running out of time occasionally when setting charges, you can set off additional ones in some remaining fissures to crack the asteroid. But I cant say if it's meant to work that way.

To be honest you have to mess up to end up in that situation, I dont think the countdown is particularly oppressive, although i can see how it might be for some.

Overall it's a great way to relax in Elite I think. Love it.

 

[thistle]

That's one of those things that sounds far worse than it actually is. The first couple of times you'll be frantically mucking it up (I did ) but very quickly you not only get the hang of it, you accelerate the detonation.

Yes exactly, you'll end up detonating early most times once you're used to it.

 

[Sylow]

I think I may outfit my Python or even my own Cobra MkIII which I've never really used.

A few months ago i would've still said that the Cobra MKIII is just a tad too small. While technically being able to carry all necessary things, it would be an extremely tight fit with very little cargo hold. But thanks to the lat big patch, where some small internal slots were added, it by now actually is an acceptable choice.

Mind you, you'll still return to the station often enough, to sell what you collected. But if you like short and relaxed mining trips, it now can do the job.

Oh, and a sidenote of the detonation: make sure you get your distance. The blast range is bigger than you'd think. I almost lost my ship the first time i cracked a rock. Would i have been in the Cobra MK IIII, i would've visited the rebuy screen.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

Once you Type-9, it’s the only way to mine.

Forget those little toy ships, go big. The Type-9 has all the room for all the hard points and modules and storage to turn profit all day - or to let you park yourself among the ‘roids and mine until you grow some of your own (iceter-, aster- and hemmer- that is).

No new exploration devices are needed, but there are some mining-specific devices you will. For Deep Core, you’ll need Seismic Missiles and a Pulse Wave Scanner. The PWS will “highlight” the “more interesting” ‘roids, among which you’ll find the ones to blow apart for DC mining.

I still find mining to be a relaxing activity.

 

[Red Rocket]

I use a Python for deep core, It,s perfect.
128 tons of storage and all the stuff for deep cord mining. Great maneuvering for blasting off those bits off chunks.
You really need a ship with good maneuably

 

[IndigoWyrd]

I use a Python for deep core, It,s perfect.
128 tons of storage and all the stuff for deep cord mining. Great maneuvering for blasting off those bits off chunks.
You really need a ship with good maneuably

You might, I don’t. There’s plenty of time to slough a T-9 out of the blast radius of a core detonation. And limpets are plenty maneuverable for gathering all the bits.