Newcomer / Intro Questions regarding mining/reserves

[Baklavah]

Okay. So. I know the markets fluctuate. That's all well and good. But with regards to the mining locations fully depleting over time... I understand the "want for realism", but we're all in space in highly advanced ships with equipment that we don't even know if we could make function in space itself, let alone get to the level of technology required to colonize multiple systems. So the "realism" argument is already moot. It's already unrealistic.

My question is this: What happens when new players come in? If things CAN and DO deplete and end up "empty", how's that fair for the newer players? So far I've run into completely depleted locations for the last few days... and while that might be realistic, it means that newer players suffer and cannot make money mining. Or, do asteroid rings/clusters eventually replenish their reserves? In which case it isn't terrible if it's a time constraint. But if they do completely deplete forever, then what are new players supposed to do?

Asking these questions to get an understanding of how this is supposed to work? I get that if they do permanently deplete, it's to force people away from the bubble. "Explore the galaxy". Fine. Well and good. But ultimately frustrating, tedious and painful for newer players to experience.

For context, I am not a new player. I do KNOW some new players though. They're having a lot of trouble finding good mining spots. And Inara and the ED Mining Tool have been showing many inaccurate prices and mining locations pretty consistently for the last few days. So some could understand the concerns.

 

[Ashnak]

Regarding "the last few days": ED's economy is on the process of being rebalanced - see the various more or less informative and rage-y threads in Dangerous Discussions and Announcements for details. Price info on EDDB/INARA is now even more volatile than before.

Mining locations and depletion: core asteroids are persistent across instances and need a long time (last I saw someone claim two weeks) to regenerate.
Reserve levels have so far (i.e. the last 5 years) been static. Laser mineable resources are not persistent across instances, i.e. whenever you (or anyone else) drop into a ring, you'll get a fresh set of resources.

You say you've run into competely depleted locations - which locations, depleted of what, and how do you tell that there had been something there at some time in the past?

 

[Baklavah]

Regarding "the last few days": ED's economy is on the process of being rebalanced - see the various more or less informative and rage-y threads in Dangerous Discussions and Announcements for details. Price info on EDDB/INARA is now even more volatile than before.

Mining locations and depletion: core asteroids are persistent across instances and need a long time (last I saw someone claim two weeks) to regenerate.
Reserve levels have so far (i.e. the last 5 years) been static. Laser mineable resources are not persistent across instances, i.e. whenever you (or anyone else) drop into a ring, you'll get a fresh set of resources.

You say you've run into competely depleted locations - which locations, depleted of what, and how do you tell that there had been something there at some time in the past?

I've run into depleted Void Opal and Painite hotspots the world over. The market tools seem to be consistently wrong lately, and finding a place to sell where I don't make a pathetic profit is... well, more time consuming than should be allowed. I work the graveyard shift and it already leaves me with a limited amount of playtime. I can't even imagine what that would feel like for new commanders who have as much or less limited playtime than myself. I would have refunded the game if I were in that position. But I've had the game since the beta came out and have been an on-and-off player since then. So, when new things are excessively tedious or pointlessly frustrating, I tend to notice.