Solid Fit for Gas Huffing: A Guide for New Players
This fit has been proven effective over time by many pilots and is designed for gas huffing, or ninja gas mining, in wormholes (WH) and other hazardous regions of space. This activity is especially suitable for newer players because it offers an excellent return on investment. The initial setup is inexpensive and can typically be recouped within a few minutes of gas huffing. The most significant upfront cost is a skill book.
I created this guide using a fresh character with no additional training or enhancements. Here’s how you can get started.
Investments
Even a completely new character will need to purchase two skill books: Gas Cloud Harvesting (currently priced at 34 million ISK in Jita) and, optionally, Drones for 125k ISK. The ship itself and its fittings cost around 11.3 million ISK. In total, you're looking at an investment of about 45 million ISK. You can cover nearly half of this by completing Career Agents' missions and perhaps running a few missions or mining regular ores while your Mining Frigate skill is training.
In terms of skill points (SP), you’ll need approximately 2 days and 18 hours of training to pilot the fit and another 2-3 days to do it effectively. However, you can instantly boost your skills with a free 1 million SP offer, which is available even after registering your account.
Fittings
The fit is designed to be capacitor-stable, allowing you to run all modules continuously. It includes a light tank to provide a buffer if your reaction time is not perfect, a Warp Core Stabilizer to help escape from player pirates, and rigs that enhance your escape speed by 40%. Additionally, you should equip a probe launcher for exploration and locating gas sites. Remember to carry at least 16 probes at any moment!
[Venture, Melamori's Gas Collector-3000]
Warp Core Stabilizer I
5MN Y-T8 Compact Microwarpdrive
Medium Shield Extender I
Compact EM Shield Amplifier
Gas Cloud Scoop I
Gas Cloud Scoop I
Core Probe Launcher I
Small Low Friction Nozzle Joints I
Small Low Friction Nozzle Joints I
Small Low Friction Nozzle Joints I
Hobgoblin I x2
Core Scanner Probe I x16
General Strategy
When mining in WH space, be aware that hostile NPCs ("rats") will spawn approximately 12 minutes after you arrive. These rats are extremely dangerous and will quickly destroy your ship if you're not vigilant.
Find a wormhole.
Create a safe spot within the wormhole.
Locate a gas cloud (avoid the Ordinary Perimeter Reservoir as it guarantees destruction).
Warp to the location and set a timer for 12 minutes.
Activate your Micro Warp Drive (MWD) and head towards the cloud. As you get into range, start mining it.
Begin harvesting as soon as you reach the cloud, then turn off your MWD.
Manually pilot your ship into the center of the cloud and stop.
As the 12-minute mark approaches, prepare to warp out to your safe spot or any celestial object.
Warp out immediately when the rats spawn (or if any player ships appear).
Notes: The reason you have exactly 12 minutes is that the site's internal timer starts as soon as you land. After it expires, NPC guards will arrive and swiftly eliminate any threat, including you. Do not wait for them to target or approach you; flee the moment they appear. Also, remaining in the center of the cloud may help decloak any hidden players, giving you a brief moment to react and escape.
Ship name: Melamori's Gas Collector-3000
Character Username: Melamori
Short description: This gas-huffing fit is ideal for new players exploring dangerous space regions like wormholes. It offers a high ROI with minimal investment, featuring a cheap setup and essential skills. The fit is cap-stable, moderately tanked, and equipped with escape mechanisms for quick retreats from threats.