Mining for Dummies??

[Mikey2305]

so not inexperienced in ED and thought i would give this a go but much of the process seems opaque to me and not explained very well..

firstly how does one set up mining lasers, prospector drones and collector drones in firegroups and what buttons do you press to get from one to the other using standard keyboard commands? i should know this but ive only recently started doing combat so never grasped how firegroups work

secondly what the heck does 'unallocated' mean, and what do i do about it.

finally, why does it tell me the bin is full and how do i empty it?


is there a really good tutorial i could access which explains things at the most basic level and is up to date with the new mining changes?

 

[Spam]

www.google.com is a pretty good resource for mining tips.

Fire groups - Right hand panel. Assign a "1" or a "2" to each weapon, and have as many groups as you want.
When mining I generally have 3 groups.
1 - All combat weapons
2 - Mining Lasers grouped on 1, Prospector on 2.
3 - Mining Lasers grouped on 1, Collectors all grouped on 2

Run your Refinery from the Cargo Panel (right hand side). Either reject limps you don't want, or more likely, go and hit it when it all jams up, select the stuff in the hopper that for some reason hasn't gone into an empty bin.

Basic mining run goes something like:

Enter Pristine Metallic Ring (in a bright bit for denser 'roids)
Fire off a prospector limpit at a nice static 'roid. Target said limpet
Line up on next 'roid
Wait for limpet to land.
Reject limpit as its probably all Galite/Berty/Indy ("Woo" a bit for 49% palladium)
Fire off another Prospector
Crash into 'roid
Fire lasers at 'roid.
Select proper fire group as beam lasers aren't meant for mining with.
Scatter chunks everywhere.
Launch all Collector Limpits.
Marvel at the sound of limpits clanging of ya hull.
Open the Cargo Scoop that you had forgotten to do.
Wonder why "Collector Limpit Expired" keeps coming up.
Launch another 12 Collectors and wonder why they all they are all expiring.
Inadvertently smash all your Collector limpits against that other 'roid below you that you hadn't taken into account.
Repeatedly headbut refinery as it's getting jammed up for some reason only known to it.
Jettison all that Berty you didn't want.
Re-jetison it all as it's coming back for some reason
Realize your Collector Limpits are collecting it all like good little limpits.
Rage destroy them by turning your power off to the Collector Limpit Controller.

And remember - 4 pips to shields before faceplanting that 'roid. You will do it.

 

[Wasp0]

www.google.com is a pretty good resource for mining tips.

............................................

Or Google.co.uk if you are on this side of the Pond

or


Watch this excellent video.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljFXbT-S0WA

 

[RAMJB]

I made a video to help those who want to contribute to the mining CG but don't know the in and outs of mining yet:

[video=youtube;Hdo8VyJBQDg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdo8VyJBQDg[/video]

Hope it helps!

 

[Pilot in red shirt]

www.google.com is a pretty good resource for mining tips.

Fire groups - Right hand panel. Assign a "1" or a "2" to each weapon, and have as many groups as you want.
When mining I generally have 3 groups.
1 - All combat weapons
2 - Mining Lasers grouped on 1, Prospector on 2.
3 - Mining Lasers grouped on 1, Collectors all grouped on 2

Run your Refinery from the Cargo Panel (right hand side). Either reject limps you don't want, or more likely, go and hit it when it all jams up, select the stuff in the hopper that for some reason hasn't gone into an empty bin.

Basic mining run goes something like:

Enter Pristine Metallic Ring (in a bright bit for denser 'roids)
Fire off a prospector limpit at a nice static 'roid. Target said limpet
Line up on next 'roid
Wait for limpet to land.
Reject limpit as its probably all Galite/Berty/Indy ("Woo" a bit for 49% palladium)
Fire off another Prospector
Crash into 'roid
Fire lasers at 'roid.
Select proper fire group as beam lasers aren't meant for mining with.
Scatter chunks everywhere.
Launch all Collector Limpits.
Marvel at the sound of limpits clanging of ya hull.
Open the Cargo Scoop that you had forgotten to do.
Wonder why "Collector Limpit Expired" keeps coming up.
Launch another 12 Collectors and wonder why they all they are all expiring.
Inadvertently smash all your Collector limpits against that other 'roid below you that you hadn't taken into account.
Repeatedly headbut refinery as it's getting jammed up for some reason only known to it.
Jettison all that Berty you didn't want.
Re-jetison it all as it's coming back for some reason
Realize your Collector Limpits are collecting it all like good little limpits.
Rage destroy them by turning your power off to the Collector Limpit Controller.

And remember - 4 pips to shields before faceplanting that 'roid. You will do it.

+Rep for this - made me laugh.

 

[Muzz UK]

I have a good Youtube vid saved at home but at work this link is also handy https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDange...42s_complete_guide_to_14_mining_5_milhour_in/

 

[Mikey2305]

Thanks guys for your excellent replies... But can i take you back a step and repeat my earlier question. How do you move between the different assigned firegroups so that i can ping my prospector, or fire my mining laser, or set off my collectors. This is a question that to everyone else is blindingly obvious but to me is a complete mystery. Everyone knows but noone is telling. What button on my keyboard do i have to physically press in order to do each of the above

 

[PanicButton]

I got two firing groups:
1. Mining lasers and prospector limpets - this is the weapon group that will be active 99% of the time
2. Combat lasers and collector limpets - switch to this when you travel to/from the ring or when you need to fire off new collectors (assuming you are using A rated controller(s), you only switch to this every 12minutes)

The unallocated recources thing is a bug (correct me if I'm wrong). You have to look at your cargo panel, and unclog the hoppers manually (Like you had to do every time before 1.4...it was intended back then though)


A few tips for you:

-Don't mine in RES. They may give increased resources (currently this seems more like an urban myth). You want to mine, not fight. Drop off anywhere in the ring except for RES markers)

-Find out which way the ring is rotating, and then fly to the "morning" part of it, if you want to mine in light as long as possible Before entering the ring, target a RES, go to 0.20-0.50Ls, exit to normal space, throttle to zero. Line up the RES marker circle with a HUD element, and wait a few seconds. You should see the RES marker moving, which will help you determine which way the ring is rotating. (If someone knows a better way please let me know!!!)

-Make sure not to probe the same rock twice. Just keep heading for the planet to avoid flying in circles.

-Go for the holy P trinity. Palladium, Platinum, Painite. Alternatively go for Gold and Osmium. The rest are not really worth collecting.


-Don't mine oddly shaped rocks that are spinning fast. Your collectors will collide with the rock and explode. This means wasting time and limpets.

-A1 prospector is enough. Don't waste a class 3 or 5 slot on it.

-4PIPs to weapons when using mining lasers will let you fire them for a lot longer. (The python can fire them indefinitely with an A7 distributor)

Thanks guys for your excellent replies... But can i take you back a step and repeat my earlier question. How do you move between the different assigned firegroups so that i can ping my prospector, or fire my mining laser, or set off my collectors. This is a question that to everyone else is blindingly obvious but to me is a complete mystery. Everyone knows but noone is telling. What button on my keyboard do i have to physically press in order to do each of the above

Not sure what the question is.
-You need at least two weapon groups, because you need to use three types of equipment for mining: lasers, collectors, prospectors....and the game only lets you set up two firing group per....group...ehm...got it? You should group the mining lasers and the prospectors to the same group, because those are the ones you use the most.
-You set up the weapon groups on the right panel.
-There is a key bind to switch weapon groups. (can't step back any further than this )

 

[KillaALF]

Thanks guys for your excellent replies... But can i take you back a step and repeat my earlier question. How do you move between the different assigned firegroups so that i can ping my prospector, or fire my mining laser, or set off my collectors. This is a question that to everyone else is blindingly obvious but to me is a complete mystery. Everyone knows but noone is telling. What button on my keyboard do i have to physically press in order to do each of the above

Whatever button you set up to change firegroups, found under the WEAPONS heading in options > controls.

 

[RAMJB]

I use a similar setup as PanicButton does, and you can see it working in the video. 1st fire group is mining lasers&collector limpets. Button 1 fires the lasers, button 2 deploys limpets. 2nd fire group fires prospector limpets (only). As I have no weapons in my T-6 I don't need more than that.


So when I approach an asteroid, I fire off my lasers. Target the chunk I cut off the asteroid, see what it's got inside. If it's interesting, I switch groups, fire off a prospector limpet, switch groups again, and fire the lasers and deploy the collectors. Pretty simple, actually.

 

[Antinull]

Cannot remember the default fire group binding as I changed mine - just check in options.

You are looking for Next Firegroup and Previous Firegroup.

 

[Mikey2305]

think ive found my 'secondary fire button' thanks. the little rascal was hiding away on my joystick. have been looking for it ever since i got into combat a few weeks ago. and done some practice mining successfully. so primary firegroup is mining laser and collector limpets cos they are needed together. and secondary is my prospector. and rattle and shake the bin every few seconds because it gets clogged up at 1%! am i right?

all those red warning messages were confusing me... a bit stressful when metres from a large spinning lump of rock. anyways, think ive sorted it now so time later to head out and contribute to the CG. thanks eveybody for your help!!!

 

[America Shaftoe]

Fire off another Prospector
Crash into 'roid
Fire lasers at 'roid.
Select proper fire group as beam lasers aren't meant for mining with.
Scatter chunks everywhere.
Launch all Collector Limpits.
Marvel at the sound of limpits clanging of ya hull.
Open the Cargo Scoop that you had forgotten to do.
Wonder why "Collector Limpit Expired" keeps coming up.
Launch another 12 Collectors and wonder why they all they are all expiring.
Inadvertently smash all your Collector limpits against that other 'roid below you that you hadn't taken into account.

Have you been shadow stalking me in the belts...That's My Move!!! :0 LOL, thanks for that!

 

[Weps]

-Don't mine in RES. They may give increased resources (currently this seems more like an urban myth). You want to mine, not fight. Drop off anywhere in the ring except for RES markers)

So is this actually a myth or not? I remember a dev speaking about making RES more profitable, but I cannot find any reference at this time, nor can I find any kind of confirmation from other players that yields are indeed better. For a pilot looking for a challenge it would be better to mine in a RES if it would have better yields.

 

[Darth Krayt]

If your HOTAS can be programmed and has appropriate hardware, set up a toggle switch that causes your primary or secondary fire to be held down continually. Depending on how you set your fire groups, this can be used to rapid-launch your collectors when they expire or fire your mining lasers while you sit back and smoke your cigar.

 

[SpocksOddSocks]

www.google.com is a pretty good resource for mining tips.

Fire groups - Right hand panel. Assign a "1" or a "2" to each weapon, and have as many groups as you want.
When mining I generally have 3 groups.
1 - All combat weapons
2 - Mining Lasers grouped on 1, Prospector on 2.
3 - Mining Lasers grouped on 1, Collectors all grouped on 2

Run your Refinery from the Cargo Panel (right hand side). Either reject limps you don't want, or more likely, go and hit it when it all jams up, select the stuff in the hopper that for some reason hasn't gone into an empty bin.

Basic mining run goes something like:

Enter Pristine Metallic Ring (in a bright bit for denser 'roids)
Fire off a prospector limpit at a nice static 'roid. Target said limpet
Line up on next 'roid
Wait for limpet to land.
Reject limpit as its probably all Galite/Berty/Indy ("Woo" a bit for 49% palladium)
Fire off another Prospector
Crash into 'roid
Fire lasers at 'roid.
Select proper fire group as beam lasers aren't meant for mining with.
Scatter chunks everywhere.
Launch all Collector Limpits.
Marvel at the sound of limpits clanging of ya hull.
Open the Cargo Scoop that you had forgotten to do.
Wonder why "Collector Limpit Expired" keeps coming up.
Launch another 12 Collectors and wonder why they all they are all expiring.
Inadvertently smash all your Collector limpits against that other 'roid below you that you hadn't taken into account.
Repeatedly headbut refinery as it's getting jammed up for some reason only known to it.
Jettison all that Berty you didn't want.
Re-jetison it all as it's coming back for some reason
Realize your Collector Limpits are collecting it all like good little limpits.
Rage destroy them by turning your power off to the Collector Limpit Controller.

And remember - 4 pips to shields before faceplanting that 'roid. You will do it.

You did forget an important step after the line in bold though:

"Swear loudly at yourself for firing off another prospector and thus destroying the one attached to the 49% palladium rock and realise you can't find it again."

Even with 2 prospector controllers in my Anaconda, I often forget which one I used to fire one off last.

 

[Deleted member 38366]

Here's a neat small detail I found out concerning optimizing the Collector Limpet efficiency :

Want to have 3 Limpets collect as fast as 10 or even more?

Easy :

- try to fire at the Asteroid from a static position, causing all/most fragments to form a fairly dense bulk (obviously works best at a rather stationary Asteroid - but when done right even possible on a "tumbleweed" one)
- after finishing off the Asteroid, carefully rotate and move your Ship so that your open Cargo hatch is 25-50m above that cloud of fragments (proxy alarm going off as soon as you move any closer)
- Collector Limpets have no issues snatching up fragments even if they basically hit your Ship

Now see how fast even a low number of Limpets can turbo-scoop that entire cloud into your hold in no time, as they now don't have to do the long way anymore (all the way 150m below your Ship and then back up).
They'll just "short-hop" straight to the very nearby fragments and straight back.

That way, I can 'tidy up' even a very large cloud with a low number of Limpets very fast.
Just place the Cargo Hatch very close to what needs to be collected - then it's almost like a vacuum cleaner

Additionally, i.e. 2 or 3 Limpets are now quite sufficient. No more need for a whole army of Collector Internals and thus more efficient use of existing Collectors, as well as more room for Cargo space

Visual Aid :

Spoiler

(that's the optimum distance - at this distance, a single Collector is easily able to swoop a whole fragment cloud; est. turnaround time : ~3-4 Seconds)

(that's how it looks on the Scanner)

 

[hutch45069]

It is normally bound to the "u" key, but you can change this to any key in settings off the main menu