Science & Industry

In a previous thread, I noted that my orca-skilling alt in command ship with mining link was not providing much benefit - so I shifted him to a barge, as recommended.

Given the various changes in the last patch, does it even make sense to use an Orca multi-box? Wouldn't two yield fitted barges/exhumers, plus one barge/exhumer fitted for cargo/hauling, be able to mine fast enough to overcome the loss of orca bonuses, at least until the very highest skill trainings/implants/link

My question is really about high-sec mining, but if the answers changes for low/null that would be helpful, also.

Pre-patch it was beneficial to use an Orca/Hulk combo simply because you could easily dump and haul once every hour while offering boosts to the Hulk pilot.

Now that we have barges that have more cargo hold the primary usefulness of the Orca is lost for dual account players.

Mining with an Orca is still beneficial, but now basically have to have 3 or 4 accounts for the bonuses of the Orca to surpass the yields you make instead with an additional mackinaw.

Here's a pretty basic example (using general yield expectations):
Hulk yield = 120%
Mack yield = 100%
Orca boost = 50% (implant) 30% (no implant) (per ship additional yield, perfect boosts)

2 accounts
Hulk + Orca = 180% (160% without Mindlink)
Mack + Mack = 200%

3 accounts
Mack + Mack + Mack = 300%
Orca + Hulk + Hulk = 360% (280% without mindlink)

4 accounts
Mack + Mack + Mack + Mack = 400%
Orca + Hulk + Hulk + Hulk = 540% (480% without mindlink)

As you can see with the Mindlink implant you will get better yields with and Orca + 2 Hulks over 3 Mackinaws, but without the implant you are receiving less yield per hour. The sweet spot now for use of an Orca is 3 Hulks + Orca.

Keep in mind to that with the large cargoholds you do have the added bonus of not having to spend nearly as much time unloading into the Orca (every 2 minutes per-ship) which may be much more valuable to many players over the additional hourly yield.

So if you are not worried about AFK ability and going for maximum yield/hour you will want to use the following setups.

Orca with perfect boosts, and Mindlink implant setup
Mack + Mack
Orca + Hulk + Hulk
Orca + Hulk + Hulk + Hulk

Orca WITHOUT perfect boosts, and NO Mindlink implant setup
Mack + Mack
Mack + Mack + Mack
Orca + Hulk + Hulk + Hulk

TBH?

Two accounts. Two mackinaws. One hauler in station. Start one account mining, wait a minute or so, start the other. When the first one fills, dock, empty ore hold, undock in hauler to warp to and empty the other one, dock up and switch back to the mack.

This allows for use of jetcans as very temporary storage. Hauler shows up, drop the can to empty the ore hold into.

Or just right click on your ship, save location, and warp right back to where you both were ;)