Mining time vs cargo space

[TheAntitheist Crusader]

O7 CMDRs, i'm looking for feedback on a decision i made (i can reverse this decision tomorrow before leaving high tech port).

I chose to remove a collector limpet control (a five module) for a five module fighter bay (one fighter) , i did this to replace my six module fighter bay (two fighters) with a grade six cargo rack, i figured a refinery ship only needed one fighter and more space for valuable rocks would be valuable. However, this means my capability is down from six active collector limpets to three, what i'm asking you experienced mining folk, is whether or not you think i have made the right choice, or will i be regretting the longer wait to mine individual asteroids ?

I guess i'm also asking if anyone agrees that in the long term i may have made a good decision due to the fact future updates are to focus on current core gameplay presumably including mining, after all the thing most putting me off my current decision is the fact that we can't programme our collector limpets to avoid unnecessary fragments. o7 CMDRs, i look forward to feedback.

 

[CMDR Corlas]

O7 CMDRs, i'm looking for feedback on a decision i made (i can reverse this decision tomorrow before leaving high tech port).

I chose to remove a collector limpet control (a five module) for a five module fighter bay (one fighter) , i did this to replace my six module fighter bay (two fighters) with a grade six cargo rack, i figured a refinery ship only needed one fighter and more space for valuable rocks would be valuable. However, this means my capability is down from six active collector limpets to three, what i'm asking you experienced mining folk, is whether or not you think i have made the right choice, or will i be regretting the longer wait to mine individual asteroids ?

I guess i'm also asking if anyone agrees that in the long term i may have made a good decision due to the fact future updates are to focus on current core gameplay presumably including mining, after all the thing most putting me off my current decision is the fact that we can't programme our collector limpets to avoid unnecessary fragments. o7 CMDRs, i look forward to feedback.

I think it depends mostly on how many mining lasers you have. Ideally, you want enough limpets to keep up with how fast your lasers can mine.

Technically it's more profitable to have collectors that keep up and have less cargo space. But playing to only credits-per-hour is a good way to make you hate the game.

The real question is what's more fun for you?

 

[Stealthie]

What ship is it?

Personally, I'd stick a couple of class 1 beams on a mining ship, fit a decent shield and hull and leave it at that for defences.
The two things a mining ship should be optimised for are mining and running away.

If you're smart, the only time a mining ship will be attacked is during transit back to base and, in that case, you've got nothing (aside from a bounty - which is going to be small because you won't be killing anything impressive with a mining ship) to gain by fighting so you should be jumping away ASAP.

 

[Limoncello Lizard]

I like to have 4 or 5 active limpets per medium mining laser. Some players can get away with as few as 3 by being more careful where they position their ship, but I'm a little more careless.

I think cargo space is less important than active limpets. I don't like to have mining trips that last several hours, I'd rather return to base and sell/restock more frequently.

Survivability is always important, so fighter bays, shields, sometimes even SCBs. I'll happily mine in a shieldless Dropship, but my Type-9 needs a bit more protection.

 

[CMDR Corlas]

The two things a mining ship should be optimised for are mining and running away.

If you're smart, the only time a mining ship will be attacked is during transit back to base and, in that case, you've got nothing (aside from a bounty - which is going to be small because you won't be killing anything impressive with a mining ship) to gain by fighting so you should be jumping away ASAP.

I'm the exact opposite, I like miners that can fight. The good rocks are right in the middle of the RES's.

 

[Limoncello Lizard]

I'm the exact opposite, I like miners that can fight. The good rocks are right in the middle of the RES's.

I might take my new Corvette mining sometime soon. It should be able to handle being in the middle of a RES.

 

[TheAntitheist Crusader]

Thanks for the feedback CMDRs, i'm in an Anaconda, 272 cargo space, if i drop a module four cargo slot in favour of module four collector control, am i right in assuming i get another two limpets ? Or is it one ? i would check now but i flew back to my corvette last night to help a relatively inexperienced new CMDR on multi crew, i'm a few jumps away from the refinery Anaconda. o7.

 

[Limoncello Lizard]

I've mined in a Conda with 20 active limpets, but normally it's about 15.

Don't take too much cargo space. There is no reason to be out in a ring for hours on end. It's far better to mine more efficiently for shorter periods.

 

[Jethro49]

My experience of mining : a T9, 2x class 5 collector controllers, 1x class 1 prospector controller, 2x medium mining lasers, 256T of cargo, minimal shields for asteroid-ramming prevention, and a good speed for running away. When entering a RES, I fly 20 km away to leave pirates and security forces behind, so I end up alone with my rocks to break apart Never had a problem like that ! Just be sure to have an empty cargo bay (except for limpets) when starting your mining session to avoid tempting pirates.

And don't forget to stock limpets before leaving the station

 

[Deleted member 38366]

For large rigs, I like to have 6-8 active Limpets.

My Mining is then done by usually 4 Mining Lasers (2x Class 1, 2x Class 2).

The Mining Lasers will finish the rock quite a bit faster than the Limpets can scoop, so I'm using that time to already prospect other Asteroids as the Collectors do their job.
Perfect world, when they finish I already have the next Prospector sitting on a good rock to move on to.

In case the next Asteroid is found very quickly, I place the Cargo hatch ~50m above the fragment cloud to facilitate Turbo-Scooping.
(usually the Server lags will restrict performance at this point, as the Collectors now bring in Material much faster than the Refinery Server can validate it all)

 

[YinYin]

Efficiency over space any day.

 

[Red Anders]

Thanks for the feedback CMDRs, i'm in an Anaconda, 272 cargo space, if i drop a module four cargo slot in favour of module four collector control, am i right in assuming i get another two limpets ? Or is it one ? i would check now but i flew back to my corvette last night to help a relatively inexperienced new CMDR on multi crew, i'm a few jumps away from the refinery Anaconda. o7.

You can't get a class 4 collector they only come in odd-numbered classes. You get 2 limpets with a class 3 controller and 3 limpets with a class 5. Assuming you can't find a more effective way to re-jig your build, a class 3 collector in your class 4 slot would give you 2 more limpets.

 

[Stealthie]

My experience of mining : a T9, 2x class 5 collector controllers, 1x class 1 prospector controller, 2x medium mining lasers, 256T of cargo, minimal shields for asteroid-ramming prevention, and a good speed for running away. When entering a RES, I fly 20 km away to leave pirates and security forces behind, so I end up alone with my rocks to break apart Never had a problem like that ! Just be sure to have an empty cargo bay (except for limpets) when starting your mining session to avoid tempting pirates.

And don't forget to stock limpets before leaving the station

What else have you got taking up space in the T9?

My T9 runs 3 x class 2 mining lasers, has class 7a, 5a and 2 x 3a collectors, a 3a prospector, a 4a refinery and has 256t of cargo space.

Mining in it is pretty efficient and the lasers/collectors are pretty well-matched.

 

[yolomcbobbinz]

You don't need a fighter bay who mines where there's pirates and interdictions are a joke I'd remove it and keep 6 collector limpets and and extra cargo rack

 

[Jethro49]

What else have you got taking up space in the T9?

My T9 runs 3 x class 2 mining lasers, has class 7a, 5a and 2 x 3a collectors, a 3a prospector, a 4a refinery and has 256t of cargo space.

Mining in it is pretty efficient and the lasers/collectors are pretty well-matched.

A fuel scoop, an ADS and a docking computer :x

I know, not really optimized. The fuel scoop could be ditched, I could git gud for docking the Big Cow... Your's seems quite a rock basher beast though !

But I don't plan on going mining soon, I've done Selene and Bill, that's enough for now

 

[GG7]

I might take my new Corvette mining sometime soon. It should be able to handle being in the middle of a RES.

The Corvette is a great mining platform. I used mine extensively back in the day for this kind of work. With the largest refinery installed and maxed cargo capacity, you can stay out there for a very long time and come back with millions worth of stuff.

Plenty of module slots so no compromises required whatsoever.

 

[TheAntitheist Crusader]

You can't get a class 4 collector they only come in odd-numbered classes. You get 2 limpets with a class 3 controller and 3 limpets with a class 5. Assuming you can't find a more effective way to re-jig your build, a class 3 collector in your class 4 slot would give you 2 more limpets.

Thanks, looks like i have a decision to make regarding the modules. o7.

 

[Godsailsaqueen]

Too much cargo and too few limpets.

Even with the best positionning, you'd put hours filling up that cargo with only 3 limpets - maybe less if you take every kind of rock, which I don't really advise.
You can really go mad on the equipment department of an anaconda, so I'd be curious to see what prevents you from a little more effective build. What else is there in those multiple internals of yours?

 

[CMDR Corlas]

With 272 tons, I'd drop cargo for more collectors, myself. Unless you're mining more for the relaxation you can get into.

My favorite serious mining Conda builds usually started out with something like this and then customized from there.

 

[TheAntitheist Crusader]

Too much cargo and too few limpets.

Even with the best positionning, you'd put hours filling up that cargo with only 3 limpets - maybe less if you take every kind of rock, which I don't really advise.
You can really go mad on the equipment department of an anaconda, so I'd be curious to see what prevents you from a little more effective build. What else is there in those multiple internals of yours?

I insist on SRV bay and module five Fighter bay, it's not exactly ideal but i like to have them there.