Vehicle & Ship Based Mining
Mining Vehicles & Ships
The Greycat Remote Ore Collector(R.O.C.) is purpose built to mine medium surface gem deposits. The vehicle is quite rugged but can be prone to tipping if it hits an obstacle due to its high ground clearance.
It can be bought for 172,000 aUEC. It is operated by a single player and is roughly the size of a Cyclone meaning it can comfortably be transported by a Cutlass Black or similar ship. The ROC comes equipped with a single Size 0 Mining Laser and has 0.8 SCU of onboard storage. As with all vehicles and ships, the ROC can be upgraded with different Size 0 components although selection is very limited at this time. There is a slot for a shield generator but it is locked out and it is unknown if this will be a feature in the future. The only real drawback to the vehicle is its lack of an enclosed climate controlled cabin. Outside of temperate zones, players will need to equip environmental armor to survive in harsh environments.
The MISC Prospector is the starter for ship mining gameplay.
This ship can be rent(link goes to Rental Prospector Overview) or
bought ingame for 2,061,000 aUEC. It is a small, but rugged ship capable of mining large boulders or asteroids and is meant for the solo miner. For defense, it comes with a Size 1 shield generator and a pair of S1 distortion repeaters, but is not meant for combat. For extracting precious minerals/ores, it carries a basic S1 mining laser and 32 SCU for extracted ore storage. Later on, additional functionality will be added, such as detachable saddlebags and a filter system. The ship handles poorly compared to other ships of its size and does not slow down easily. Fly carefully to avoid any unfortunate accidents. Aside from this, the first order of business should be to upgrade the Mining Head as soon as possible to tackle bigger and better rocks.
The Argo Multi-Operator Laser Extractor(M.O.L.E) is the second ship added to the game for Mining and the first that presents a true multi-crew mining experience for a small group of friends looking to work together and tackle harder challenges.
This ship can be purchased for 5,130,500 aUEC. The crew complement is nominally 4(Pilot and 3 Laser Operators), though a 5th crewman could be utilized as a Co-Pilot if desired. For defense, it comes with a pair of Size 2 shield generators and two S2 laser repeaters. For mining the Mole comes with three S2 Arbor mining lasers. The Mole can hold 96 SCU worth of minerals and ore and like the Prospector, will eventually have detachable saddlebags and a filter system. The Mole is larger than the Prospector, but better despite its size. Hydrogen fuel should be monitored closely as the forward retro thrusters consume an inordinate amount of fuel. Similar to how the Prospector should upgrade its Mining Head, so should the Mole as soon as possible.
Transporting the R.O.C.
As a vehicle, the vast majority of what the ROC can mine is well and truly away from a convenient vehicle spawn pad. For the solo player, a Cutlass Black is ideal as a carrier. Driven in backwards, the vehicle fits well against the turret operator’s well wall allowing the player room to exit the ROC and go back and forth from the exit ramp and cockpit. A Freelancer can also be used albeit with great difficulty as the ROC will barely fit with no room for error. A better ship would be the Freelancer MAX or the Valkyrie with their extra-wide cargo bays. Other suitable ships are the Carrack which can hold several ROCs and the Starfarer with its large ramp and cargo bay enabling it to hold half a dozen of the vehicle.
Mole Crew Communication & Roles
Mole crews face different challenges than a group of Prospectors. Communication, first and foremost, is the key to a good mining experience on the Mole. Mole crews must be in constant communication with each other but not so much that it drowns out valuable directional, mining, or hazardous advisory information. It is best early on for Mole crew to adopt a mindset that the ship is meant for work and profit first and foremost when it is in its element trawling asteroid fields or floating across a moon looking for riches.
Pilot - The Pilot is in overall command of the operation and later is tasked with splitting profits once the cargo has been sold. Additional responsibilities include:
- Maneuvering the ship into the most optimal position.
- Monitoring surrounding space for threats.
- Adjusting power flow, monitor shield integrity, keep watch of fuel reserves.
- Communicate with the Foreman what rocks should be mined or avoided.
- Maneuver the ship away in case of rock overcharge.
Front Laser Operator(Foreman) - The Foreman is the front center laser operator and is in charge of the two side mining stations. The Foreman must have a good knowledge of Mining, not only for training new crewmen but to direct energy flow from multiple mining heads onto one rock for fracture if the need arises. Additional responsibilities include:
- Communicating to the Pilot optimal distance, position, angle.
- Communicating the Abort signal to the Pilot.
- Help train inexperienced miners on what to look out for and efficient laser operation.
- Monitoring fractures by the Lancers and extractions
Side Cab Operators(Lancers L1(left) & L2(right)) - The Lancers are usually subordinate to the Foreman when tough rocks need cracking. When this is not the case they operate semi-independently, fracturing rocks into smaller extractable ones, and communicating to the Pilot and Foreman what has been found before extracting them into the cargo hold. Novice Lancers should have the Foreman watching their work so they do not accidentally overcharge the rock.
Co-Pilot(Optional) - In rare circumstances a Co-Pilot may be wanted. Perhaps the crew just want an extra person along to talk to or there is a rotation of miners so more people can gain experience on that mining run. Maybe the Mole is headed to a cave and an extra person could help out. Usually the Foreman will fulfill this role if the ship is not actively seeking rocks to mine. Whatever the case, the Co-Pilot is strictly optional.
Fracturing & Extraction
Fracturing The Rock
After entering Fracture Mode, find an optimal distance to the target, wait for the rock to be fully scanned, and then turn on the laser using the LMB. Clicking LMB again will immediately turn the laser off.
KEEP THIS IN MIND. Increase power to the Laser Throttle via the scroll wheel on the mouse until the Rock Energy Level meter starts to rise and then enters the Green Zone. During fracturing, distance adjustment may be necessary to mitigate laser energy loss or possible damage to the vehicle or ship.
As the Rock Energy level approaches the Green Zone, start dialing the Laser Throttle back to ease into and maintain this sweet spot. From here carefully adjust the Laser Throttle or distance as needed to maintain the Rock Energy level in the Green Zone.
If the Red Zone is breached, immediately decrease power, turn the laser away from the rock, or cut power all-together before restarting. The Prospector and Mole can equip the Brandt and Optimum Consumables to aid in keeping the Rock Energy Level in the Green Zone. The ROC has no such safety net and must rely on quick Laser Throttle adjustments by the operator. The Prospector and Mole may also equip a Rime Consumable which will immediately drop the Rock Energy Level into the Blue Zone if needed.
Keep in mind that going into the Red Zone for ship-based mineables not only destroys the contents of the rock but also increases the explosive potential of the rock if fractured while having an Overcharge Level. This creates a cumulative destructive effect of the rock’s contents with each breach. For vehicle-based mineables, the rock can explode yielding nothing or scatter the gems over a vast area making them nearly impossible to collect. While in the Red Zone, a rock will act similar to a nuclear reaction, building potential energy very quickly until an explosive end. At a high enough energy level, cutting power will do nothing and the reaction will be self sustaining, causing an explosion when the Overcharge Sensor reaches its limit. This can severely damage or destroy the vehicle/ship.
Once acquisition of the Green Zone is attained, the only thing left to do is wait until the Fracturing Sensor fills up and the rock breaks apart. For vehicle-based mineables, the fracturing process will only need to be performed once spawning numerous small gems, the same as would be found in hand mineables. On ships this fracturing process can be augmented by using a Stampede Consumable to increase the rate at which the Fracturing Sensor fills up. As large mineable rocks become more energized, red hot seams will begin to appear in the rock and show how it will fracture. This fracturing process will need to be repeated on any desirable rock still outlined in gold/yellow to finally break it down enough for extraction(purple outline). Please note that rocks small enough for extraction can not be broken down further and attempting to do so will cause them to be destroyed in the process.
The X Factor: Instability
The instability of the rock varies depending on rock content and the percentage concentration of each element present in the rock. Medium gem deposits generally have an instability ranging from ~1.5 to ~4 and large ship sized rocks can run the gamut from <1 to 10+. At this time Quantanium has the highest instability of any mineral/ore. Instability determines the magnitude of fluctuation in the Rock Energy Level meter. It will cause Rock Energy Levels to move erratically in either direction, which will require fast and careful adjustment to the Laser Throttle. High instability will make mining difficult while low instability means the rock will be predictable and easy to fracture. Instability can be greatly mitigated on the Prospector and Mole by using either the Lancet, Hofstede, or Helix Mining Heads. A Brandt Consumable can further reduce a rock’s instability.
A Word on Quantanium
Quantanium is the raw source of Quantum Fuel and can only be mined by a Prospector or Mole. It can bring great profit to the one able to extract it safely but it carries great risk.The initial risk to mining Quantanium is that Quantanium in any state has a high instability factor that, like other minerals and ores, only increases at higher concentrations. This instability coupled with a tiny Green Zone makes it particularly difficult to mine. Patience and careful watch of the Rock Energy Level will be required during this fracturing process, even more so than other minerals/ores. Even if the ore is successfully fractured and extracted it must be taken to a refinery to be sold within a short amount of time or it will decay and explode. All rocks containing Quantanium should be broken down first before beginning the extraction process. It is highly recommended that players looking to mine Quantanium purchase a Military-class Quantum Drive to shorten quantum travel times.
Extraction, Volatile Ore, ROC Inventory & Interaction
Extraction
To change mining modes click RMB to enter Extraction/Collection Mode from Fracturing Mode. In this Mode, the Mining Scanner is still available to get precise measurements of rock composition by hovering the cursor over each rock. Fractured ship mineable rocks have a variable percentage composition of what the original rock contained. Any gem or rock can be extracted into the cargo hold so long as it is outlined in purple and there is cargo space available. To activate the extraction process, hit LMB. To gather gems, hover the extraction laser over the gems for several seconds, they should visibly be pulled into the mechanism at which point the extractor can be aimed at another location. This process will not automatically turn off and will require the player to hit LMB again. When a ship mineable rock is fully extracted, the process will power off automatically and the rock outlined in purple will disappear. Partial extractions are allowed on ship mineables but, continuing to hold the extraction laser on a rock after filling the cargo hold will result in the rock disappearing and its remaining contents lost.
It is possible that fracturing a ship mineable will yield a 100% pure rock. 50 Mass is equal to 1 SCU of cargo space. For example, a pure 100% Agricium rock with a mass of 200 will yield 4 SCU of Agricium. It is up to the miner to decide personal thresholds of what is good enough to be taken and what will be left on the field. Once the cargo hold is full on the ship then it is time to head back and sell. The ROC however can keep going as it can empty its cargo into a box. Ship mined ore can only be sold at major landing zones. Gems can be sold at any commodity terminal at an Administration Office or inside the Storage building at a Mining Outpost.
Volatile Cargo
Extracted Quantanium is the only volatile cargo at this time. Once extracted it will degrade inside the ship’s ore storage limiting the amount of time it can be carried. This is denoted by a light on both the Prospector’s and Mole’s control panels which will light up and begin to flash along with an audio que. After a while it will begin by slowly flashing a yellow light with a beeping sound. After some time has passed it will escalate to a frequently flashing red light and accompanying audio. Jarring the ship harshly, impacts to the hull, or landing hard will significantly increase the degradation and shorten the time it takes for the ore to explode.
The degradation of the Quantanium ore can be broken down into four stages and depending on the aforementioned factors may have shorter or longer times than the ones listed here. Stage one decay begins shortly after the first piece of Quantanium is extracted. The first stage generally lasts ~8 minutes. Stage 2 should last ~6 minutes and the ship will begin to warn the player about the state of the volatile cargo. Stage three decay is much shorter and will only be ~4 minutes. Reaching Stage 4 means that an explosion is imminent and it lasts about 30 seconds.
Depending on the quantity of Quantanium present in the ship and current decay state, the final explosion may only destroy the saddle bags or the entire ship. At this time there are only three methods for stopping the degradation. The first is to simply eject the cargo. This can be done by pressing LALT+J or through Interaction Mode on the upper right panel(see picture below). If both volatile and non-volatile cargo is being carried, all of it will be ejected. Non-volatile cargo can not be ejected by itself. For example, a cargo hold full of Beryl can not be ejected to make way for Taranite.
The second way to stop the decay is to simply store the ship at the landing zone. This is dependent on the game registering the ship properly but if it does then the ASOP terminal will have a ‘Store” option where “Retreive” would be. Alternatively spawning a new ship will force the first ship into storage. Finally, the third way to stop the degradation is to simply sell the Quantanium at a Refinery Terminal before it decays to the point of explosion.
ROC Inventory & Interaction
Unlike the Prospector or Mole, the ROC is not limited to being filled up once before it has to go sell its cargo. The back of the ROC has a hatch which can be opened to extend the vehicle’s internal storage compartment. To continue mining in the vehicle, this hatch should be closed.
Once this compartment is extended, use Interaction Mode to click on ‘Cargo Bay’ to bring up the vehicle’s inventory UI. This will also bring up the player’s personal inventory. From here gems can be put into a player’s personal inventory or vice versa if so desired. The same options that the personal inventory(see above) has for dealing with gems are also present here.
The same rules for storing the gems in a box also apply: it can not be done on a planetary or moon surface, only inside a ship. It should be noted that anyone can access this compartment, party member or not, and take items from it. This also applies to the boxes which are created from the ROC or personal inventory. In other words, cargo can be stolen. Boxing and then independently transporting the gems to a sell point will mean less downtime for the miners and more profit over time.
