Miners' Corner: share your experiences, strategies, and pastimes

Alex Sinclair · 2024-08-21T09:20:07.378Z

So you've heard of Members' Corner (https://justabout.com/just-about/36643/members-corner-stella-finds-her-groove-with-habibi-funk-records), but have you heard of Miners' Corner? The life of a miner can be lonely, but it need not be. We've previously solicited beginner mining tips (https://justabout.com/eve-online/33133/your-beginner-friendly-eve-online-mining-tips) from you and more recently mining fits (https://justabout.com/eve-online/36184/ccp-guest-bounty-share-a-mining-fit-and-get-your-name-featured-in-game). For this EVE mining bounty, we're looking for something a little different. It's an idea from @Sturmer, and we'll pass over to him to explain: We're looking for at least 50 word answers, but fuller, more interesting answers are more likely to win prizes....

Limal 8/28/2024, 10:41:25 PM

I sometimes mine in EVE, both solo and in groups. For me, it's more about the meditative experience than pure profit. My activity usually revolves around three things, depending on my mood:

Chatting about anything, whether on Vent or in the in-game chat.
You guessed it - ship spinning (I really wish they'd add more moving parts to my Orca!).
Peeking on my drones with the 'look at' feature

But now that I think about it, it seems like I’m doing everything but actually staying engaged in the game

can you guess which mining drone that is?!

Sturmer 8/28/2024, 1:56:02 PM

Yay, my bounty highlight! Ironically, I can't call myself a great miner- my experience is mostly limited to occasional mining sessions in the Curse region from 2004-2006, using an Apocalypse (which was a top mining ship back then). It was all about jet-can mining, so you couldn’t leave the game for long due to cargo limitations.

While mining, I'd hang out with other miners on TeamSpeak and surf the in-game web browser. We had some interesting entertainment, like gambling with ISK on EVE-CASINO or browsing certain "niche" adult content for miners, again, access via ISK transactions lol.

One day, someone introduced me to a site with free Flash games, where I discovered Motherload by XGen Studios. This led me to ArmorGames, where I got hooked on Gemcraft and eventually my all-time favorite tower defense game, Kingdom Rush.

XGen Studios - Motherload Goldium Edition (they rebuild that game for Steam)

GemCraft - Play on Armor Games

So yeah, my mining entertainment was playing other free games in a web browser during those relatively short play sessions.

Limal 8/28/2024, 10:42:59 PM

Sturmer

oh i remember gemcraft, there was similar game, where you need to protect gems from thief, the website called Kongregate or something like that

JHenckes 8/28/2024, 3:30:53 AM

Mining in EVE Online is often seen as a simple, passive activity, but it can be incredibly rewarding and strategic if approached correctly. Whether you're mining solo in high-sec or coordinating a fleet operation in null-sec, mining can be both a relaxing pastime and a lucrative venture.

Before I even undock, I make sure my ships are fully fitted and stocked. For high-sec mining, I usually fly a Retriever for its large ore hold, while in null-sec or more dangerous areas, I switch to a Skiff for its tankiness. I also have a Porpoise or Orca nearby for boosting and hauling, depending on the scale of the operation.

I always scout out potential mining spots beforehand. Using a fast, cloaky ship, I warp to asteroid belts, moons, or ice fields to scan the available resources. I create bookmarks at optimal mining ranges, ensuring that I can warp in and start mining efficiently without wasting time.

I have two styles of mining: active and AFK. Active mining involves constantly monitoring the game, moving between asteroids, and maximizing yield. AFK mining, on the other hand, involves setting up your lasers and checking in periodically. I tend to combine both depending on my mood. When actively mining, I aim to maximize yield by targeting high-value ores and continuously repositioning to stay in optimal range.

As a tip, I advise you to optimize your fits, fleet mining, use marketing tools, learn when to bail and invest in ice and moon mining.

For me, mining in EVE Online is more than just a way to make ISK—it’s a time to relax and reflect. I often put on a podcast or some music, settle into a comfortable routine, and let the lasers do their work. There’s something incredibly soothing about the hum of the mining lasers and the sight of asteroids slowly breaking apart.

When I mine with friends, it becomes a social activity. We chat about our day, plan future operations, and share stories of past adventures. It’s a low-stress way to enjoy the game and stay connected with the EVE community.

orik Kado 8/24/2024, 4:25:00 PM

Mining in EVE is undoubtedly one of the activities that most consider boring and monotonous (though very necessary for the ecosystem). Here are my strategies to make it more fun:

1. Invite Your Companions to Mine: If you usually mine alone with your own mining fleet, it’s highly recommended to invite smaller miners to join your operation. This way, you help your companions grow, have someone to talk to, and will likely learn something new. And last but not least: the more eyes on the grid, the less likely a fatal accident (especially in systems with a high number of players).

2. Plan Your Next Assets for Manufacturing: If you are into industry, mining time is a good opportunity to plan your next assets for manufacturing (if you haven't done so yet).

3. Install PI Extraction Cycles: If you do Planetary Interaction (PI), it's a good time to set up the extraction cycles. Remember, you don't have to be in the same system to do this.

4. Entertainment During Mining: And finally, the classic and always reliable option: watch series or movies. However, those seconds when you take your eyes off the grid can be deadly, so instead, I would advise you to listen to a good podcast or have a playlist with your favorite music to keep you alert.

These strategies can help make your mining sessions more engaging and enjoyable while ensuring you stay productive and safe in EVE.

Amoni P 8/23/2024, 7:35:14 AM

Do You Have a Moment to Talk About Our Malevolent Lord of Jspace?

I am a big advocate for newer players to get into gas harvesting ("huffing") as opposed to hisec mining. Yes, the risk is significantly higher than the rando catalyst gank, but the ISK is also infinitely better as well. The nice thing about gas huffing is that there aren't a ton of support skills necessary to get good results. The biggest investment is the 50m ISK skillbook you'll need for gas harvesting itself. Once you have that, you can dive into wormholes in a venture fitted with a T1 core probe launcher and some sisters core probes and you're set.

The advantage of doing this is that it develops a bunch of useful skills: scanning, dscanning, situational awareness (soft skill), sig tanking, and so much more. It's scary at first and rather easy to make a mistake that'll cost you your ship, but that's why you do it in a venture. Once you've got a handle on things, you can upgrade to a prospect if you really want to, but even just a venture can be enough to extract 80-100m from lower tier gas sites. The skills you learn in order to gas huff will easily transfer to mining in low and nullsec where the real ISK can be made from mining. After some time wormhole diving for gas, you'll be a pro at staying aware of potential danger and you won't be relying on third-party tools to do so.

To clarify, I am not advocating doing anything specific while mining. I am advocating for how to develop your skills so that you can be the sharpest miner on field. My favorite thing to do while mining is either listening to podcasts and audiobooks or chatting with corp mates on comms.

PandoraRupture 8/24/2024, 12:37:52 AM

Amoni P

Paying attention while mining is hugely underestimated by a lot of players and then they wonder why they died with their ORE Strip Miner on board in high-sec.

I haven't done gas-huffing myself could you give me an estimate of what you could earn per hour in a prospect and or venture?

Amoni P 8/24/2024, 3:46:50 PM

PandoraRupture

Depends a bit on the RNG and how fast you are at scanning, but I've made something like 50-100m ISK in a venture and a prospect is double that because of the larger cargo hold.

PandoraRupture 8/22/2024, 3:39:23 AM

While mining, I often read something, listen to music, or watch some videos.

If I want to play EVE more actively while also mining, I usually do some ratting on one or two accounts in null-sec while moon mining with the rest of my accounts in high-sec. But I also switch it up with some mission running or abyssal, depending on what I feel like at the moment.

Reading the chat from my alliance, as well as the Discord, and actively replying while also staying in voice comms makes me feel much more connected with the game and the community itself, but that’s not always an option.

Mining in null-sec while staying on comms and switching to PvP ships is something I enjoy as well. It’s often very fun to switch ships from time to time to defend against intruders and show them that even a miner can PvP. Just mining all the time can become boring very fast, so I switch it up with the activities mentioned above.

C

capt-fishbones 8/21/2024, 6:34:17 PM

A treatise on Mining by the Master of the Venture "Miss AdVenture"

When I mine it's often in Nullsec; it's all about SPEED. Get close to the rock - preferably two or three - and set your miners on two different, close, asteroids. Then send your mining drones... you did bring mining drones, right? Send those to the Rock you parked right next to, as in 300-500 meters. Parking close means the drones have a very short flight to drop their load and return to mine more. Crank up your skills, so that your drills and drones all mine fast. The Rats in Nullsec Do Not give you a lot of time to work. They also come in Tyrannosaurus size, so better to bring mining drones than fighting drones if you're alone, and plan to RUN when the Rats show up. Kernite is the hot item at the moment, and we can clear 4.1 mil, per load, but you have to stay alive. If anything warps in, you warp out. Rats are slow enough that you can recall your drones. Unknowns... don't risk it; just warp to safety, and buy new ones. Drones are cheap, new ships are not.

What you are mining depends on your Region of course, and your needs. It isn't always about price. Lately, I've been producing shuttles, and have been needing a ton of tritanium to do so. That means Veldspar, or its cousins, so I moved 9 jumps from my usual haunts just to mine Veldspar.

This is High Sec. Here you can change tactics, and as a Miner you need to be Flexible.

I found the system had abundant resources, and tiny little ROUS's<sup>1</sup>, compared to the TyRatasaurs I was used to in Nullsec. So I switched to combat drones to fend off their feeble attempts to stop me, and went to work.

I'd quite forgotten what it was like to Mine in High-Sec. Same basic theory, except in this particular asteroid field, the rocks were frikken HUGE! My normal recommendation of putting the miners on different rocks is due to the fact that in Nullsec, the rocks are small, and quickly depleted. Focusing on more than one helps minimize having to reacquire targets in an already hostile environment. In High Sec fields, my friends, you will find that the rocks are roughly the size of Dreadnoughts, and just one will fill your hold several times over, at least if you have a small ship like a Venture.

With E and Gor easily dealing with the tiny Rats, I found myself growing bored, and whilst the hold filled with ore, I began to watch videos from a local doctor, draining the most disgusting pus-filled acne imaginable. Hey, at least I wasn't looking at nude girls, give me a break.

When the hold was full, I could make the short run from the asteroid field to a handy processing plant and have it compressed. I left it there, then wash, rinse and repeat to gather more ore. This makes for a very efficient operation before you return to your Industrial site, as the compressed ore takes up little room. A sole mining ship, working around the clock could fill a small transport with ore to keep a plant running for a long time. If the space in between is hazardous (in my case, it most certainly is) then a specialized ship can move the ore efficiently, and safely to where it is needed.

Captain Rege, Master of the Miss AdVenture

1 Rodents of Unusual Size - The Princess Bride

PandoraRupture 8/24/2024, 12:35:10 AM

capt-fishbones

How come you are scared of the rats in 0sec?

Are you often mining alone or do you have only a venture that can't defend itself very well if at all?

JAKEL33T 8/21/2024, 5:35:52 PM

Project Discovery: This is by far the best thing to do while mining. Most miners are all about ISK/hour, and PD supplements that by ~20 million ISK per character per day and can be done docked or while mining in less than an hour.

PI, managing or tinkering with it

Salvaging wrecks from rats is also a good thing to do while mining so you don't leave evidence of your presence

Scanning for WHs so you don't get surprised.

Notable mention: Hitting 'v' every few seconds.

PandoraRupture 8/24/2024, 12:32:35 AM

JAKEL33T

Can you manage your PI while mining? As far as I'm aware thats not possible or is it? Haven't done any PI for a long time myself, so I might be wrong here.

Do you use a 2nd account while mining for scanning or just before you start mining in your system?

While mentioning hitting "v" you are probably mining in WH right? How are the ores there? I have mined only in high/low/0-sec so far.

orik Kado 8/24/2024, 4:27:27 PM

PandoraRupture

You can indeed install the extraction cycles for Planetary Interaction (PI) from anywhere, but to actually "extract" the materials, you must be in the same system as the planet.