there are few simple things that could make game bit better IMHO:
1) add "guard" order to wingmans and autons, ( it was in ug wingman mod, among pletny other things , but i used that mod solely for "guard") it should be guard friendly and if none selected,guard player.
also optionaly "explore" for wingmans
2)Add hardcoded Tinker station in Rigel Aurelius or St Katharine- in huge percent of games random topology doasnt create evn 1 in all systems and thats a shame.
3) MIning: there was zilions mods for that and even some utilities has been added to mining cargo hold and those scaning and mining pods was created, Thing is problem isnt solved
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
Pods are ineficient and expensive. What we need is something like "mining scanner ROM" that would detect ore close to playership when installed. (dunno maybe 20 LS)
So you still need to fly to those asteroids to find ore, but you dont need to shoot at evrything.
Reason: I cleared game in 99c in all default ships without any cheating aka mods, and ofc to do so needed to mine most of ore evrywhere. Ok it was maybe bit funny first time, 2nd time and maybe even 3rd, but replayability of mining without scanner is very low. After couple of games you have woleheartedly enough of that.
Cheers, please think about it.