Exploration Pays Off - Mining training begins
11 Jun 2016Token Star
My exploration run out to Witch Head Nebula paid off pretty well; I estimate that I spent about 8 hrs on the trip.I collected cartographic data from about 55 different systems, including several from the Witch Head Sector.
On the trip and and back I managed to discover a couple planets and several Gas Giant Moons; so I collected a discovery bonus on about 10 bodies.
I landed on a few of the planets and explored with my SRV, I figured out how the scanner works and managed to collect some materials.
It appears there is some sort of cartographic bonus for collecting certain materials for the first time.
I only found rocks on these worlds, which when shot with the SRV turret yielded from 2-4 materials.
I traveled just under 1000 LYS from the starting system and returned to ADITI.
My friend Mickk said that I wouldn't get discovery credit unless I was the first person to turn in the data.
So now systems 'Synuefe SN-T B35-1', and 'Synuefe BZ-B C15-1' has my name on them.
I sold over 850k worth of data from that trip which really boosted my faction rep with the controlling Empire faction in ADITI.
I feel like I've sorted the fundamentals of exploration and running cargo missions.
I ran enough cargo in my Python to build up over 100M credits in cash, then I went and purchased a second Python which I configured for the mining role.
I spent around 73M on the mining Python version.
I had to get over a bit of a learning hurdle when trying to buy limpets for the first time. The key was to click the small arrow next to the price in the Reload screen.
So I've practiced a bit of asteroid mining, and I must say that the mechanic is pretty horrendous.
I visited a Low RES site located in the rings of a gas giant planet and managed to mine 7 units of Coltan before I was attacked.
I managed to evade my attacker and fly back to the local station where I sold my ore for a measly 12k.
I did, in the process figure out how to use the prospector limpets.
The real challenge in doing the mining missions is gonna be locating a specific ore type, so I am still learning the fundamentals of mining in ED.