Help with a \"Warrior Miner\" in EL?

[spelk]

As a bit of a newbie to the Evochron Universe, I'm starting out heeding peoples advice here, but I wondered if there was some things I should pursue first to enable my ultimate goal of creating a character who is a sort of "Warrior Miner" for want of a better term.

I've got a mining laser/tractor beam and have been raking some 'roids for Platinum and Diamonds mainly, to fund my fuel and upgrades addiction. I'd like to be able to pursue a bit of a Military career also, once I've managed to afford a combat ready vessel.

I wondered if the seasoned Evochron vets here, could point me in the right direction when it comes to sustainable mining so that I can fund my climb up the military ladder. I've yet to take on any combat, not sure whether I'm up to the job in my starting ship. Anyway, any pointers would be very much appreciated. I'm playing Evochron Legends.

A couple of newbie questions to tack onto the end of this plea..

1) Can you get a scanner or surveyor that gives you the composition of the Asteroids?

2) Does strafing the mining beam across the surface of the 'roid actually facilitate a faster collection?

3) When you jettison cargo, are they actually visible and or trackable in any way? I've tried these courier missions a number of times, and I've jettisoned my cargo beneath the target ship, but the ship usually sails off into the distance, doesn't pick up the cargo, and then I can't find the cargo again.

4) Is there a way to set the target screen onto your own ship, revealing your cargohold contents without having the F3 Inventory screen visible and obscuring your vision?

5) Is there a way to set the target as a Station or a Point of Interest/Base? Basically, is there a way to set it as a target rather than a NAV point?

6) Should I be thinking about crew from the very beginning, or perhaps spend time to get a base of funds and hire crew when I start to progress onto bigger vessels?

[Vice]

1 - No, only 'uncovered' cargo such as containers, cargo bays in ships, and cargo in open space. For asteroids, you need to cut into them to find out what they contain.

2 - Yes it can, as does hiring a science crew member who can help optimize the results of your mining system.

3 - If you jettison it close to the ship, they will retrieve it and usually warp away. Yes, if you jettison cargo outside of a delivery contract, it will remain behind. Make sure to use the 'J' key and do not click on the cargo listing in the inventory console (this discards it, destroying it).

4 - There is a HUD mod you can apply to display cargo bay contents, details are in the Renegades customizing kit (this mod works for Legends as well). http://www.starwraith.com/evochronreneg ... nloads.htm

5 - Not with the ship tracking system, instead with the navigation tracking system. In this game, you can track both types of objects simultaneously with different systems designed to give you the information you need for each type, rather than having to give up tracking one or the other.

6 - Up to you, but I would recommend waiting until your reputation has earned you enough credit to earn high enough pay to justify the expense (depending on how many crew members you want to hire). Or at least, take on contracts in systems that pay high enough. It's not a big deal if you just want to hire a cheap engineer or weapon ops, but hiring several can add up fairly quickly.

[tha_rami]

Personally, I'm a miner. If you'd like to balance out, try and find a fast ship, and have 5 cargo bays and focus on shields in the shipyard as well.

[Blackthorne]

Both mining and combat are a bit tricky to combine. For mining, you need a mining beam (obviously), large cargo space and at least 800 units of fuel if you intend to mine planetside (as you need quite a bit for the descend/ascend, and to keep you afloat while mining.

So, given a standard frame, you can only cut back on shields and engine. Which are both vital for staying alive while killing things.

You can build an "allrounder" type ship with 2-3 cargo bays, decent handling and an 800+ top speed that will allow you to succeed at most missions, but you'll stand little chance against someone in a dedicated combat craft (which are basically consisting of engines, wings and shield generators, with little else. The military ships go one step further and ditch the cargo bays and hull strength for truly ungodly speeds up to 1200 with class 10 shields and an ample fuel supply).

You might want to try one of the heavier frames, like the Leviathan or Renegade. Both of those can take a beating and provide enough space for shields and cargo bays. Fast however, they ain't - you won't be able to outrun anything, but you might be able to outgun them.

Bear also in mind that with 5 full cargo bays, handling and acceleration will be sluggish at best and positively glacial most of the time. You might be better off jumping out as soon as the capacitors are charged again.

-Blackthorne

[Skiiwa]

Great Advise Blackthorne!! I need a hangar like I have in eve so I can grab my mining ship when I want to mine(which is most of the time) and change to my combat vessel when I want to do some kill contracts...

[Daedalao]

Actually, with Evochron Legends, usually the cost to upgrade at a station is negligible if you're trading between two ships in the same sector. It's a 1:1 trade ratio for parts. I mine and fly combat in a phoenix. 5 cargo bays, somewhat slow, with a Clan Richton engine, I can't remember the name of the wing sys, but it's #3 or #4 on the list, I carry 1200 fuel, and a level seven shield. I also have five cargo bays. As an intermediate fighter, it's not so good for fighting other players, but for the AI, inventive usage of afterburners, shield/energy management, and strafing, I can hold my own even against Vonari fighters.

Edit: To paraphrase [SW]Eclipse, "It's not always about hitting them, it's about not letting them hit you."

[Edited on 2-8-2009 by Daedalao]

[tha_rami]

The Renegade or Leviathan frame aren't smart options for combat purposes unless you use stealth, or simply outgun them. They have more of a support/transportation role, and are good for miners. If you'd like to combine them, I'd really go for something halfway the list and up the cargo, shields and engines to the maximum with a main focus on shields.

From there on, I'd probably get a Cannon Relay System, a Weapons Op crewmember, Mining/Tractor Bay, Repair System, Fulcrum Drive. Take weapons around the 10-13 class and search for a class 5 beam weapon.

If you run into an Excalibur missile pack, for single player it works wonders.

[BraveHart]

If you choose to go with the Heavier class ships it would be a good ideal to *Find* and use the new Stealth Generator.....It is an excellent device to use when Hostiles are around and with practice it is a great way to surprise another Pilot, be it Ai or Human....the new Proximity Mines are an excellent way to get rid of unwanted intruders too.....So many new toys in Legends

[Blackthorne]

It is an excellent device to use when Hostiles are around

I don't know...I'm a bit wary of that one. I basically short-circuits your shield capacitors and then starts draining the weapon energy banks. Once it runs out, you're unshielded, unstealthed and out of ammo. The one-shot stealth pods retrospectively look like a better deal, especially with the price tag of the stealth generator (who is indeed the single most expensive item in Evochron: Legends).

-Blackthorne

[Edited on 8-2-2009 by Blackthorne]

[verbosity]

yeah be wary of it!

but used well it is a fabtastically brilliant piece of tech, sneak up on your opponents time and time again.

I've fought 2 stage battles against the vonari, and it works fantastically for guerillia techniques against them.

Also remember while you are vunerable when you appear, you get at least one 'free shot' if on the attack, and if on the defence the chance to give yourself some breathing space.

Its worth remembering that you need full shields to activate, so before hand has your energy set to shields if needed, switch to weapons to last as long as possible under the cloak, and switch back to energy to recover your shields ( or at least half way if you're going to attack.

Tricky? yes, dangerous? very, Brilliant? utterly!

[BraveHart]

Originally posted by verbosity

Tricky? yes, dangerous? very, Brilliant? utterly!

Yup... Practice using it and one can become a Master with it....Yeah your shields drop and more energy is used the longer you are in stealth mode, But increase energy to shields when you come out of cloak and in no time at all you will be back up to full shields... Just remember coming out of cloak in front of your enemy is a no-no . Learning how to fly defense tactics is a must....I always liked a Hunter Frame for mining and fighting. Everyone has at least one frame they prefer....8 hard points is a good sell point. Just try out the one that suits your needs best by experimentation....whats good for the goose is not always good for the gander.

"Good Luck and Good Flying"

[Vice]

That's the kind of thing I really like to see. Two different approaches and priorities for devices that essentially do the same thing, but in different ways. One player's approach or gameplay style may work better with one, another's with the other.

[Edited on 2-9-2009 by Vice]