Questions about mining

shoggothfodder · Post by **shoggothfodder** » Thu Sep 20, 2012 2:34 am

Okay so for some reason I am completely hooked on mining. It doesn't make any sense and I have no idea why I love it more than combat or trade routes, but I do.

Anyway I have a few questions about mining asteroids:

1. When mining an asteroid does the type or location of the asteroid affect your chances of getting a certain thing over another? Like do certain asteroids carry more platinum than diamond?

2. Does it matter where on the asteroid I mine? Are certain minerals assigned to a certain geographic location on the asteroid or is it just randomized what I get?

3. Is there any truth to the idea that mining along the veins after shooting them to make them visible increases your haul?

4. Is there anything I can do to increase my chances of getting one thing over another?

5. Things seem to enter my cargo holds at pretty regular intervals based on how much I wiggle the beam. Does the game just know that I'm mining an asteroid and that I'm moving around at X speed so it just gives me a set loot per minute based off of that speed?

I'm not sure I worded #5 where it makes any sense...basically I'm asking an extension of #2...if it doesn't matter WHERE on the asteroid I mine, then is it just a regular interval from one pickup to the next based on my "wiggle speed"?

[Edited on 9-20-2012 by shoggothfodder]

Post by **Marvin** » Thu Sep 20, 2012 4:36 am

1. It's possible. Asteroids can contain up to three different minerals. But, if they contain less than three, then you're likely to mine faster what's there.

2. & 5. Moving the beam around hastens the time it takes to reach 25 units.

3. Never heard of that.

4. Yes. High-tech star systems often sell specialized tractor beams engineered to mine one specific mineral.

shoggothfodder · Post by **shoggothfodder** » Thu Sep 20, 2012 10:55 pm

You're as dependable as the sun, Marvin. Thanks.

Post by **Marvin** » Fri Sep 21, 2012 2:37 am

Only during years of high sunspot activity ... having been born the year of what is still the biggest solar flare caught on film.

Busch · Post by **Busch** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 1:18 am

In support of the Marv-ster:

1. "Does it matter matter where" - systems (?): Nope, not in the slightest. Although, there are certain locations where there are solid platinum asteroids. In Legends, it was Lost Rucker. In Mercs, not so much. For the eye candy, I'm using the asteroid mod. Good effort.

2. Nope, no specificity of locations for pulling Diamonds, Metal, or Platinum from an asteroid, with a standard mine/tractor beam. Specialized beams will pull ONLY that commodity, from an asteroid or planet site. But ya still gotta wiggle the beam. (Ya cain't pull gold from an asteroid, no way - no how. Not in the program.)

3. Heard dis one too. Unsubstantiated rumor - no imperical evidence as yet. Trust DaveK/Incoming to arrive at an appropriate resolution.

4. You might hire on a Science Opns Ofcr. Mining "speed" increases with this crewman's assistance. "It" apparently has to do with "packaging the product". Employ the specialized mining beams (ie: Metal, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) to draw specific metal commodities from an asteroid or a planet. Specialized beams also perform the "standard" tractor beam functions as well. One caution - a Platinum mining beam WILL NOT pull any commodity other than Platinum from an asteroid or planet location. It'll slurp water and oxygen though. (Hint) Same-same for all other specialized beams.

5. For this one, you can deploy your mining beam, at proximity to your target asteroid or on-planet, and just sit there doing absolutely nothing else, and your bays will still fill with metalic commodity. That's one "speed". You can "wiggle" the beam around whilst engaged - that's another "speed". Employ a Sci-Ops AND wiggle the beam - that's still another "speed". But, ya gotta pay the science guy too. Otherwise, they jump ship at the first opportunity.

5a. Try deploying a mining probe on an asteroid, or whilst on-planet. See whatcha get!

Hope this helps some.

Hail Chluthu! Hail Eris! All Hail Discordia!

:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P:P

[Edited on 9-22-2012 by Busch]

[Edited on 9-22-2012 by Busch]

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Sat Sep 22, 2012 1:38 am

On number 2 I must say there are some special astroids in some places that are pure Platinum and that is the only thing you can get form those astroids!....
Have not found any that have only diamonds or all metal!....