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If you prefer a solitary life, then mining is for you. This occupation
entails travelling from place to place collecting ore. There are two types
of mining: Asteroid Mining and Surface Mining, both have their merits and
drawbacks.
ASTEROID MINING
Asteroid mining is an old method but it is tried and tested. It is the
easiest and cheapest way of obtaining ore and requires you to have a 30 MW
Mining Laser, Fuel Scoop and a Cargo Scoop Conversion. You simply blast an
asteroid with the laser then fly over the bits of asteroid and the Scoop
collects as much ore as you can accommodate in the cargo bay. Not all
asteroids are mineral rich though, so you may end up with a bay full of
rubbish.
SURFACE MINING
Once you are established, this type of mining is a more predictable means
of getting ore. It does, however, demand a large initial outlay in order
to acquire the installations and possibly a larger ship (minimum of 30
tonnes of free cargo space) to transport them The only recommended device
is the MB4 Mining Machine which, alas is still not widely available. The
MB4 is impressive in that it not only mines but also refines the material,
so you put it in place, leave it and come back to pick up the results. The
MB4 can mine, separate and refine minerals, alloys and even on occasions
precious metals and gemstones.
The disadvantage is the risk of mining others' claims, resulting in an
aggresive response to your activities. In some areas it is illegal to mine
and police, depending their mood, may not be too interested in maintaining
a public image of fairness and understanding and may blast you to pieces.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Prospecting in Elite II was different, sure the graphics was dull as space dust, but the mechanic was a great.
What we got now is a very basic way of prospecting, and as such very limited to ONLY asteroids.
How could it be improved? well blasting asteroids as FDEV gave us a sneak peek of at the EXPO.
However I'm afraid that this will still not be as fleshed out as we actually would like it to be, thus I started this thread.
Instead of using a mining laser, you use explosives, they need to be attached to the asteroid and at a distance charged so you can collect all the nice chunks for further processing.
A drone or limpet to search the area for suitable candidates to be blown into smithereens would be one way to add depth to the mechanics.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
SURFACE MINING
Once you are established, this type of mining is a more predictable means
of getting ore. It does, however, demand a large initial outlay in order
to acquire the installations and possibly a larger ship (minimum of 30
tonnes of free cargo space) to transport them The only recommended device
is the MB4 Mining Machine which, alas is still not widely available. The
MB4 is impressive in that it not only mines but also refines the material,
so you put it in place, leave it and come back to pick up the results. The
MB4 can mine, separate and refine minerals, alloys and even on occasions
precious metals and gemstones.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
I love surface mining, it is one of my favorite occupations in any game. Unless it's just shoot rock, collect rock.
MB4 Mining machine is lacking in the game, or something similar, we need a large piece of machinery we need to set up at a location and where we can operate it for some time before we need to move it again. The logistic planning is what make that part of the game fun.
Activate the Unload Rig function which will cause the mining rig to be
unloaded whereupon it will analyse a sample of the crust with the x-ray fluorescence analyzer and relay the
results to your on board computer. If the prospects are good it will bed
itself in and begin drilling immediately. You may then take off and come
back later once it has mined the full capacity of XX tonnes.
Side effect for piracy
FINDING THE MB4 AGAIN
All the mines have a beacon which has your own coded signal allowing the
computer to pin-point its position. If you pick up someone else's rig,
your computer will automatically register the code of the owner. All other
rigs belonging to them in this star system will then be shown on your
inventory page. This means that stealing ore is possible however the same
can be done to you. A safeguard is to avoid placing numerous rigs in one
system, so that they are not so easily found should one of your rigs be
purloined. Your beacons will use a different code in each system.
We already got the assets in the game, they just need to be player activated.
If you prefer a solitary life, then mining is for you. This occupation
entails travelling from place to place collecting ore. There are two types
of mining: Asteroid Mining and Surface Mining, both have their merits and
drawbacks.
ASTEROID MINING
Asteroid mining is an old method but it is tried and tested. It is the
easiest and cheapest way of obtaining ore and requires you to have a 30 MW
Mining Laser, Fuel Scoop and a Cargo Scoop Conversion. You simply blast an
asteroid with the laser then fly over the bits of asteroid and the Scoop
collects as much ore as you can accommodate in the cargo bay. Not all
asteroids are mineral rich though, so you may end up with a bay full of
rubbish.
SURFACE MINING
Once you are established, this type of mining is a more predictable means
of getting ore. It does, however, demand a large initial outlay in order
to acquire the installations and possibly a larger ship (minimum of 30
tonnes of free cargo space) to transport them The only recommended device
is the MB4 Mining Machine which, alas is still not widely available. The
MB4 is impressive in that it not only mines but also refines the material,
so you put it in place, leave it and come back to pick up the results. The
MB4 can mine, separate and refine minerals, alloys and even on occasions
precious metals and gemstones.
The disadvantage is the risk of mining others' claims, resulting in an
aggresive response to your activities. In some areas it is illegal to mine
and police, depending their mood, may not be too interested in maintaining
a public image of fairness and understanding and may blast you to pieces.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Prospecting in Elite II was different, sure the graphics was dull as space dust, but the mechanic was a great.
What we got now is a very basic way of prospecting, and as such very limited to ONLY asteroids.
How could it be improved? well blasting asteroids as FDEV gave us a sneak peek of at the EXPO.
However I'm afraid that this will still not be as fleshed out as we actually would like it to be, thus I started this thread.
Instead of using a mining laser, you use explosives, they need to be attached to the asteroid and at a distance charged so you can collect all the nice chunks for further processing.
A drone or limpet to search the area for suitable candidates to be blown into smithereens would be one way to add depth to the mechanics.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
SURFACE MINING
Once you are established, this type of mining is a more predictable means
of getting ore. It does, however, demand a large initial outlay in order
to acquire the installations and possibly a larger ship (minimum of 30
tonnes of free cargo space) to transport them The only recommended device
is the MB4 Mining Machine which, alas is still not widely available. The
MB4 is impressive in that it not only mines but also refines the material,
so you put it in place, leave it and come back to pick up the results. The
MB4 can mine, separate and refine minerals, alloys and even on occasions
precious metals and gemstones.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
I love surface mining, it is one of my favorite occupations in any game. Unless it's just shoot rock, collect rock.
MB4 Mining machine is lacking in the game, or something similar, we need a large piece of machinery we need to set up at a location and where we can operate it for some time before we need to move it again. The logistic planning is what make that part of the game fun.
Activate the Unload Rig function which will cause the mining rig to be
unloaded whereupon it will analyse a sample of the crust with the x-ray fluorescence analyzer and relay the
results to your on board computer. If the prospects are good it will bed
itself in and begin drilling immediately. You may then take off and come
back later once it has mined the full capacity of XX tonnes.
Side effect for piracy
FINDING THE MB4 AGAIN
All the mines have a beacon which has your own coded signal allowing the
computer to pin-point its position. If you pick up someone else's rig,
your computer will automatically register the code of the owner. All other
rigs belonging to them in this star system will then be shown on your
inventory page. This means that stealing ore is possible however the same
can be done to you. A safeguard is to avoid placing numerous rigs in one
system, so that they are not so easily found should one of your rigs be
purloined. Your beacons will use a different code in each system.
We already got the assets in the game, they just need to be player activated.
