EVE New Citizens Q&A

I'm new to EVE and I like it so much especially mining. So I have a question about Mining Barges and for example Retriever. It have 2 high slots but 0 turret hardpoints. So what's the point of having this barge without being able to install Mining laser?

All 3 Mining barges for ORE have 0 turret hardpoints, I don't get it.
ORE Mining Barges

Mining Barges and Exumers use Strip Miners

Consider as an intermediate ship, using a procurer.

Far better tank, similar yield, smaller ore hold.

And a lot cheaper, at around 12 million, rather than 27 million, and 1 less strip miner to buy (It gets a 200% bonus to yield, to the retrievers 66% bonus. both work out at around 3 strip miners worth)

What you have to remember, is that up until recently both the Procurer and Retriever and their T2 versions were just viewed as stepping stones until you could fly the might Hulk.

But about a year ago CCP re-jigged them all to give them a different role,

So now you have the;

Procurer/Skiff. for dangerous area mining. Lots of good resists, a single Strip miner, which mines 3 times the amount as a Coveter/Hulk. But only has a moderate sized ore hold.

Retriever/Mackinaw. Ideal for the solo miner. Huge ore hold, only two Strip Miners, which each mines 1.5 the amount of a Coveter/Hulk

Coveter/Hulk. Designed to shred roids fast, they can chew through at an incredible rate. They get massive bonus to their yeald rates, So although the other classes match them, on paper, with less miners running. The Coveter/Hulk will still strip faster and better with a well skilled pilot in them.
But, a small ore hold means you have to have a hauler in support or you are going to be docking just about every cycle

So, now it's not the case of bigger is best, it's using the right ship for the job

Sorry, bad wording on my part. You are right. On paper they are all ballanced to act as if they has 3 strips fitted. But, because of the bonuses the Covertor / Hulk get, they rip out a hell of a lot more when the math is done

There's give-and-take among the various barges. The Procurer has a moderate ore hold (12,000 m3) and two low slots for mounting mining laser upgrade units, but is the toughest of the mining barges, capable of fielding a battleship-grade shield tank. The Retriever has three low slots for MLU's, which can boost its yield-per-minute beyond the Procurer's, and has a much larger ore hold (up to 27,000 m3, depending on Mining Barge skill) for extended loiter time, but has much weaker defenses. The Covetor has bonuses to yield tied to the Mining Barge skill, along with two low slots for MLU's, but sacrifices both loiter time (its ore hold is only 7,000 m3) and defenses; it's ill-suited for solo work, geared more towards mining fleet operations.

[Procurer, tank]

Damage Control II
Reinforced Bulkheads II

EM Ward Amplifier II
Thermic Dissipation Amplifier II
Medium Shield Extender II
Kinetic Deflection Amplifier II

Strip Miner I

Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I


That's around 30 million in ship and fittings. 66.9k ehp uniform. 74.1k vs antimatter.
15 days to train with no implants or remaps (though you won't get the levels with that. that's with 5s across the board)

If you go active on the tank (fields, rather than amps) you'll get around 5k ehp more. At the cost of 5 days more training.

That's exactly why I like the procurer, ha ha!

[Procurer, tank]

Damage Control II
Power Diagnostic System II

Medium Shield Extender II
Medium Shield Extender II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II
Adaptive Invulnerability Field II

Modulated Strip Miner II, Veldspar Mining Crystal II

Medium Ancillary Current Router I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I
Medium Core Defense Field Extender I

81k EHP (omni)

No implants needed. Shield Upgrades 5 not needed.

Only modules/rigs that don't contribute to your tank are strip miner and ACR rig. PDS gives you nice buff to shield HP.