The mining system

[Fossaman]

So, I really like the new mining feature. Shoot rock, move, shoot rock, move, Shoot rock--ooh! There was ore in that one! Shoot it again to see if there's more! No? Okay. Gather ore. Move, Shoot rock, move, shoot rock...

But there should be another way (or three!) to accomplish this. So, a few suggestions:

1: Explosives! Drop a mining charge with the 'u' menu and all the asteroids within a certain area spit out their ore.

2: Mining autons? Not as sure about these, but they could be cool. Just little ships that fly around and zap rocks. Two different versions, Mining Laser and Plasma Torch models. Perhaps paired with salvager/collector autons, to make it a little more complicated. It would be nice if they were retrievable, but that's just a plus.

3: It would really, really cool if asteroid mines actually, you know...mined. I'm not sure how difficult this would be to code, but it seems doable based on the stuff that other ships (salvagers, Gaian Processors) can do. When a certain weight of ore is collected, off a ship goes to the gate, carrying the loot. This adds more potential for doing something other than blowing everything up.

Incidental to that last one, what if the amount of reinforcements delivered to a system was proportional to the amount of ore mined there? This would of course need to be seperated into friendly and hostile mining, of course, but it could add some lovely depth to the game.

Thoughts, additional suggestions, shameless destructive criticism?

[Betelgeuse]

I think there is a misunderstanding with mining. You are not guaranteed to get the ore on the first shot even if there is ore in there. There is a chance of mining. Ice and lava rocks are easier to mine (meaning you have a better chance of getting ore out of it when you hit one with ore in it)

Personally while I like the concept but in practice it seems very slow. You stay in the same general area for quite awhile.

I do like the idea of Mining autons more useful autons are always welcome. If you want you can dump lots of money into buying them trying to get lots of money but with a risk. (risky money is fun)

I would spend several slots on a devise that caused the rocks that have ore in them to glow or indicate in some way. (kind of like targeting squares)

[Sponge]

I like your ideas, especially the mining autons. I think mining could be expanded into a really cool system. Would it be possible to create a mine, like the ones ingame, and add the mining damage or whatever it is?

I've also got another point. I've been wanting to try out mining, and I cannot find a mining laser/plasma torch. I'm not about to PAY for a plasma torch, and I'm not wasting an order on the laser. Mining lasers should be commonly found in mining colonies.

[Betelgeuse]

All mining colonies have mining lasers look under dock services.

[FAD]

I've also got another point. I've been wanting to try out mining, and I cannot find a mining laser/plasma torch. I'm not about to PAY for a plasma torch, and I'm not wasting an order on the laser. Mining lasers should be commonly found in mining colonies.

Kill Ferians, you may find an intact plasma cannon in loot.

[Fossaman]

The more I think about it, the more it seems that the 'mining charge' idea is a bit flawed. There's nothing to transmit the shockwave in space; any sort of explosive would need to be placed directly on the asteroid for it to be effective.

Perhaps just another missile type for the NAMI? Really slow, seeks asteroids, knocks the ore out of them when it hits.

I like the idea of an 'ore highlighter' type of thing. That would be super useful.

[george moromisato]

Yeah, I like the idea of a missile type for the NAMI--I'll probably do that next version.

Also, I think mining colonies should sell the location of asteroids with ore (with some chance of being wrong, of course).

And I do like the idea of an 'ore highlighter' and a mining auton.

[BTW, all of the above, except the ore highlighter, are possible with extensions, I think.]

[Frits]

3: It would really, really cool if asteroid mines actually, you know...mined. I'm not sure how difficult this would be to code, but it seems doable based on the stuff that other ships (salvagers, Gaian Processors) can do. When a certain weight of ore is collected, off a ship goes to the gate, carrying the loot. This adds more potential for doing something other than blowing everything up.

Good thinking! And then we can be waiting at the gate to pick them off.