Why do you need a long range laser mining?

VR SenseiMatty

VR SenseiMatty
In the current CG one reward is s long range mining laser.
I was wondering why one would need that.
The most efficient way to mine an asteroid is to stay as close as possible to it in order to reduce the limpets travel so I never felt the need for a longer range. I always park my ship nose at few meters from the asteroids and then the limpets start dancing.
So what am I missing?
 

varonica

varonica
VR SenseiMatty said:
In the current CG one reward is s long range mining laser.
I was wondering why one would need that.
The most efficient way to mine an asteroid is to stay as close as possible to it in order to reduce the limpets travel so I never felt the need for a longer range. I always park my ship nose at few meters from the asteroids and then the limpets start dancing.
So what am I missing?
Click to expand...
scratch mining!
 

Northpin

Northpin
VR SenseiMatty said:
In the current CG one reward is s long range mining laser.
I was wondering why one would need that.
The most efficient way to mine an asteroid is to stay as close as possible to it in order to reduce the limpets travel so I never felt the need for a longer range. I always park my ship nose at few meters from the asteroids and then the limpets start dancing.
So what am I missing?
Click to expand...

Probing - you can scratch an asteroid from distance to see what you get instead of using a prospector

But the CG reward not only has longer range - it also has half power draw and half distributer draw, which might make it desirable for an explorer for emergency mining jumponium materials in rings or belts (it is known that explorers do not pack big powerplants nor big distributers)
 
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Jmanis

Jmanis
VR SenseiMatty said:
In the current CG one reward is s long range mining laser.
I was wondering why one would need that.
The most efficient way to mine an asteroid is to stay as close as possible to it in order to reduce the limpets travel so I never felt the need for a longer range. I always park my ship nose at few meters from the asteroids and then the limpets start dancing.
So what am I missing?
Click to expand...
You don't consider alignment to your cargo hatch?

I would've thought that a longer range laser gives you a better range of angles onto the asteroid to ensure the chunks pop out below your cargo hatch, which is way more important than being close since most limpet travel time when collecting is aligning with your cargo hatch, not travel time to the chunk.

(In fact, I'm fairly sure it's possible to be too close...)
 

VR SenseiMatty

VR SenseiMatty
Jmanis said:
You don't consider alignment to your cargo hatch?

I would've thought that a longer range laser gives you a better range of angles onto the asteroid to ensure the chunks pop out below your cargo hatch, which is way more important than being close since most limpet travel time when collecting is aligning with your cargo hatch, not travel time to the chunk.

(In fact, I'm fairly sure it's possible to be too close...)
Click to expand...
I shoot so that chunks detach going down in the cargo hatch direction rather than spinning the ship around
 

Kissamies

Kissamies
I already have longer range mining available through lances. It is sometimes nice to start blasting at the asteroid earlier on approach or start mining the next one, when your limpets are being inefficient with the first one for some reason. A class 2 mining lance might have been interesting, though the distributor draw would probably been prohibitive.
 

Navigare Necesse Est

Navigare Necesse Est
Jmanis said:
You don't consider alignment to your cargo hatch?

I would've thought that a longer range laser gives you a better range of angles onto the asteroid to ensure the chunks pop out below your cargo hatch, which is way more important than being close since most limpet travel time when collecting is aligning with your cargo hatch, not travel time to the chunk.

(In fact, I'm fairly sure it's possible to be too close...)
Click to expand...
Increased range usually comes with smaller angular changes. Unless "long range" actually means like medium range. Anyway, when your hatch is in your bottom belly no better angle will offset that, unless you can pivot the guns 90 degs.
 

Codger

Codger
My answer is that I have no use for one. When I mine, I do it up close to the asteroid. And besides, my mining ships are already fully outfitted and ready to go if I need them.
 

Sensei Jacksama

Sensei Jacksama
It has a lower power / distro draw. I can sample the contents of rocks without a prospector. I can start mining a rock as I approach then switch over to the mediums when I get in range so the asteroid is mined quicker overall. I can sit and mine a neighboring asteroid while still collecting the current one. Finishing up an asteroid quickly allows more time to begin launching prospectors to other roids or just gives me time to let my fingers rest for a few seconds.
 

veryDead

veryDead
Wing mining. Less moving around while the others fill their holds with all that cargo and you can hit more asteroids quicker. All about efficiency.
 
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