Overcharged Seizmic Charges. Yay or nay?

[Stealthie]

When I'm d/c mining I tend to apply the "correct" strength of charge to my seizmic charges.
I deliberately ignore at least one high-strength fissure so that, if necessary, I can under-charge it if I need to add just a little bit to the overall yield, and nudge it solidly into the blue-zone.

In my experience, overcharging seizmic charges will increase the overall yield by a lot but it also seems to create a lot of spikes in the yield, which means it'll be harder to get the yield solidly into the blue zone - it'll either be spiking down into the yellow or up into the red.

Just wondering if others are finding this, or whether people happily stick high-strength charges into low-strength fissures to create a big boom using a minimal number of charges.

 

[Sea_Kerman]

2 high charges in 2 low fissures is EXACTLY enough to get optimum yield.

 

[Stealthie]

2 high charges in 2 low fissures is EXACTLY enough to get optimum yield.

Thanks for the response.
Given the popularity of mining, it was a bit disappointing that nobody seemed interested in discussing this.

Can I assume that those 2 high charges do produce a stable yield, solidly in the blue zone?
Like I said, whenever I overcharge the charges it seems to add spikes to the yield.

I'll definitely give that a try later on though.
It'll actually be a bit of a shame if there is a guaranteed way to get the correct yield but, hey-ho.

 

[NascentChemist]

I usually over-charge the first couple nukes I place in an asteroid. Rarely have any problem with shooting past the optimum yield, and 2 minutes is enough time to cancel a charge and try again.

However, I do want to confirm that doing this does not effect the number of fragments released upon detonation. The UI used to list it, but no longer. OP, do you still see around 17-20 chunks when over-charging?

 

[Stealthie]

However, I do want to confirm that doing this does not effect the number of fragments released upon detonation. The UI used to list it, but no longer. OP, do you still see around 17-20 chunks when over-charging?

I've never noticed a reduction in the number of chunks after using overcharged charges but I DO always ensure that the overall yield is solidly in the blue zone.

My issue was more that I tend to find using standard charges makes the detonation yield increase steadily whereas using overcharged charges seems to cause spikes which cause the yield to spike up into the red or down into the orange... which does reduce the number of chunks.

Honestly, I'm not sure that overcharging causes these spikes but it's just something that I only seem to have a problem with when I use overcharged charges.
It might just be luck, but that's why I was wondering if other people had noticed the same thing.

 

[Helvellyn]

I ought to check yields... I figured if it says "optimum yield" then that'll do. Two overcharged in low strength fissures usually gets me nicely in the blue but occasionally it's too much or not enough.

 

[Vedmo]

I did several hundred tons of core mining before it dawned on me that low, med & high fissures might actually correlate to the three bars on the hud when charging a blast. I regularly got 13-15 chunks on average without paying any attention and just slamming max charges into whatever fissure was closest until in the blue zone, then once I started to try to put appropriate yields into corresponding fissures my results went down the tube, so I went back to just tossing a max charge into whatever fissure was available until in the blue zone.

 

[Lestat]

I set the charges to what the Fissures recommending. So I tend to start off with a few high-strength fissures With high seismic charges and sometimes Avg-strength fissures with seismic charges and a low fissures with Low seismic charges. I tend to hit around 10 to 18 Cargo.

 

[Lightspeed]

If I overcharge, I definitely see a drop in yield, so I tend to follow the guidance indicated for the fissure. That produces a good yield ... the list of material in the left window is long enough to require scrolling.

 

[Stabby_Dave]

I always go max charge in the first two and low/medium depending on fracture strength on the third. Rarely does it need a fourth. Always goes in the blue and get an average of 17 per rock.

 

[Tikanderoga]

I usually hit the high ones first, then balance it out with medium and Low then detonate. I usually get about 13-15 chunks.

 

[metatheurgist]

I've never noticed a reduction in the number of chunks after using overcharged charges but I DO always ensure that the overall yield is solidly in the blue zone.

My issue was more that I tend to find using standard charges makes the detonation yield increase steadily whereas using overcharged charges seems to cause spikes which cause the yield to spike up into the red or down into the orange... which does reduce the number of chunks.

Honestly, I'm not sure that overcharging causes these spikes but it's just something that I only seem to have a problem with when I use overcharged charges.
It might just be luck, but that's why I was wondering if other people had noticed the same thing.

Considering that 2 high charges in 2 low fissures often results in a perfect blue optimal yield I'd have to say that theory is a bit busted. I've been told that the fissure strength is not a indication that you need to match the charge but more an indication of how effective the charge is in that fissure. ie Low fissures are easy to break, High are harder and I think using that in mind while breaking rocks it's actually a been a lot easier to not overcook since I learned that.

 

[Spike K]

It would not be a good space sim if you put a charge of specific type in a certain fissure and always got the exact same result.
Knowing this, the Devs have placed a small amount of variance in the spawning mechanic.
We, as players, can try to understand what those variables are, and work with them.
We are going to need some facts to do so.

Here is an example: When the player relogs, the asteroid rolls a new variable which produces a new 'strength/pattern' across its fissures.

Please test this, and post a result. Watch for pirate spawns.

-prospect. Note count of fissure strengths. Relog. -prospect. Note count of fissure strengths.. more low than previous? more high? Same internal components? Surface Deposits still at same percentage with same component?

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Spike.K

 

[Northpin]

There is a degree of variation in asteroids strength.
For Optimal Yield sometimes i use 2 high charges in 2 low fissures, sometimes 1 high and 1 medium charges in 2 low fissures and some other times i have to use 3-4 charges to get optimal.

 

[Mr Cynical]

This is interesting I've not seen this discussed.
I usually tend to stick to putting high charge in high strength fissure, low in low etc.
Nearly always optimum yield full blue zone, and if one accidentally goes over its adds a bit of drama and excitement (i know, mining right?) when then disarming one and firing off a final charge while clock is running out (i managed one once where detonation countdown hit one second before the final charge landed to get full blue zone).

Will definitely try experimenting with high charges in low strength to start with next time I'm blasting rocks.

 

[Spike K]

Also, what if there is a difference made when all Surface and Subsurface deposits are removed. Perhaps even a new prospector, and then try two HIGH in two LOW fissures.
This would give a miner more control in his core-punch attempt.
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Spike.K

 

[ithinkiam]

Useful thread.

I was mining last night and I noticed that some rocks blow quite far apart and others don't. Is that just random or is it related to explosives? I couldn't tell.

Edit: I put the appropriate charges to the strength of the fissure.

 

[Westcoastred]

I'd say 1 in 20 times does 2 High charges in 2 low strength fissures not get me perfectly in the blue zone. Its the most efficient way to crack the rock. I've not heard the theory that the yield may be affected before but would be relatively easy to test - map the exact same rock and wait 6 days for respawn, crack using both methods =voila!

 

[Sylow]

I do the same. First I put high charges in low strength fissures. Then in the unlikely case that adjustments are needed, I put low charge into medium or high strength fissures to adjust.

Works well enough for me, but I am far from an expert here.