OK, I get the idea. Install some sort of mining device & an appropriate cargo hold, then go around shooting asteroids & pick up any ore they give out. Fine. But is there a more efficient way?
a) Do earlier systems produce lower-tech ores, or is it completely random?
b) Is there a way to tell a likely-looking 'roid from another (in general I mean) or is it random again?
c) I read in a post a couple of years ago maybe that igneous rocks are likely to be better producers. How can you tell which is which & is it true?
d) I suspect (& from reading some previous posts) that a higher-powered weapon is unlikely to produce /more/ ore, but is it likely to produce it more efficiently or a at a higher grade (higher-powered weapons more likely to boil off low-grade ore, leaving the decent stuff to pick up)? Similarly, & harping back to point (a), does ore get better (ie denser) the further in to the Core/star you are (as in a real galaxy/solar system model)?
e) Is it worth carting a mining hold & weapon around from system 1 until meeting the Ringers? Is it worth mining anything on the way, or is it pretty much peanuts?
f) Is it worth keeping the mining equipment after meeting Ringers or is everything there pretty much mined out for elements exchangable for Rins?
g) I'm sure there's more.. but I can't read the code that well, so I thought I'd ask
Surely there's a bit more to it than shooting every single rock you encounter a few times & hoping?
Cheers
Asteroid mining - the details
You've got the basics. In the vanilla game, there's only three mining tools (The mining laser, the plasma torch, and the Ferian Plasma Cannon).
You really need a miners cargo hold as well to be really efficient. it will always be boring though, with Vanilla tools.
Ore IS levelled, so you won't be getting tetramite and ithalium ores in Eridani.
Ice asteroids are white/light grey, rocky ones (not sure of specific name) is a darker grey, and volcanic (the best type) are blackish with lava-ish patches. You won't find volcanics until after St. katherines Star, however.
Mining after ringers is often VERY profitable, albeit boring. Especially with volcanic asteroids.
And sadly, there's no way of telling which asteroid has ore without installing a mod.
You really need a miners cargo hold as well to be really efficient. it will always be boring though, with Vanilla tools.
Ore IS levelled, so you won't be getting tetramite and ithalium ores in Eridani.
Ice asteroids are white/light grey, rocky ones (not sure of specific name) is a darker grey, and volcanic (the best type) are blackish with lava-ish patches. You won't find volcanics until after St. katherines Star, however.
Mining after ringers is often VERY profitable, albeit boring. Especially with volcanic asteroids.
And sadly, there's no way of telling which asteroid has ore without installing a mod.
Mischievous local moderator. She/Her pronouns.
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Curudan
- Militia Lieutenant
- Posts: 141
- Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:09 pm
- Location: Hiding in a packing crate, binging on Salmonite.
No, installing better mining equipment does not give you better ores. It just gets the ore out of the rock faster.
And it is pretty much just a matter of hitting every rock a few times to see if it is an ore-bearing asteroid.
And it is pretty much just a matter of hitting every rock a few times to see if it is an ore-bearing asteroid.
Ferian Plasma Cannon is the best I think because of the particle distribution. Shoot right and you 'mine' a few rocks with one shot.
If I go mining early game, I usually do it in Eridani. I get the miner's hold and laser, clear out everything (ideally no charon in-system, reduces risks), disable everything except my mining laser, and go mining with about 20 helium rods.
I rarely mine in late-game, I prefer to scavenge.
If I go mining early game, I usually do it in Eridani. I get the miner's hold and laser, clear out everything (ideally no charon in-system, reduces risks), disable everything except my mining laser, and go mining with about 20 helium rods.
I rarely mine in late-game, I prefer to scavenge.
My first mod, mostly done, still balance testing.
http://xelerus.de/index.php?s=mod&id=789
http://xelerus.de/index.php?s=mod&id=789
Best way to mark 'roids in my opinion is work with each belt and cluster individually. Go from top to bottom, left to right, whatever. You might shoot a few 'roids more than once, but it's better than willy-nilly.
My first mod, mostly done, still balance testing.
http://xelerus.de/index.php?s=mod&id=789
http://xelerus.de/index.php?s=mod&id=789
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ThePrivateer
- Militia Captain
- Posts: 943
- Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 5:12 am
- Location: Starton Australia
Early on, I find that the Greenwich Industries pays most for the ore, as well as Centauri rice (110c for the rice, not ~50c at the Starton).
Once Greenwich doesn't want any more ore, then take it to Starton. After that, move to the next system. I racked up 10000c in about twenty minutes of mining/selling once.
Once Greenwich doesn't want any more ore, then take it to Starton. After that, move to the next system. I racked up 10000c in about twenty minutes of mining/selling once.
If you have a hotel or an ice farm in your initial system(s) it can be worth holding on to food until then. Mining outposts are OK tooThePrivateer wrote:Early on, I find that the Greenwich Industries pays most for the ore, as well as Centauri rice (110c for the rice, not ~50c at the Starton)..
Dom 
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Curudan
- Militia Lieutenant
- Posts: 141
- Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:09 pm
- Location: Hiding in a packing crate, binging on Salmonite.
According to this page on the wiki, Ice farms pay the most for food, followed by the Corporate Enclaves, then the Hotel and Medical Suburb; the Mining Stations pay the worst of all the specialty stations.
In the early game, I save my ceralloy and any duranium to convert to armor segs at a tinker. Converting titanium is not worth the creds.
The manufacturing plants are potentially the best place to sell your ore. The kinds they will buy are random and so is their buy margin so you can't rely on them every game but if you happen to find one, use it!
The manufacturing plants are potentially the best place to sell your ore. The kinds they will buy are random and so is their buy margin so you can't rely on them every game but if you happen to find one, use it!
Coming soon: The Syrtian War adventure mod!
A Turret defense genre mod exploring the worst era in Earth's history.
Can you defend the Earth from the Syrtian invaders?
Stay tuned for updates!
A Turret defense genre mod exploring the worst era in Earth's history.
Can you defend the Earth from the Syrtian invaders?
Stay tuned for updates!
There should be way more to the economy in the game than there is, now. Different places should pay different prices for different commodities more often than they do, now.
Also interesting would be certain stations, maybe commonwealth ones, that have a "specialty" which is randomly generated. They could sell that specialty for low prices, and would not buy it. On the flip side, things needed to make that specialty would be bought for higher prices.
Also interesting would be certain stations, maybe commonwealth ones, that have a "specialty" which is randomly generated. They could sell that specialty for low prices, and would not buy it. On the flip side, things needed to make that specialty would be bought for higher prices.